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Hung-Min Chiang is remembering a special anniversary this New Year's Eve centred on the kindness of strangers.
Chiang's first holiday season on Prince Edward Island was in 1967.
He was working at the Prince of Wales College, and his colleagues suggested that he get off the Island and spend some time with family.
"We took their advice, but they forgot to remind us of the very unpredictable weather of the Island and driving conditions," he said.
I had the strangest sensation. A terrifying sensation of spinning and falling and falling. — Hung-Min Chiang
It was December and he piled his family of five into a station wagon.
They headed about 1,400 kilometres south to New Jersey to visit Chiang's brother-in-law and family.
How the trip played out, and the help the family got on their journey, Chiang said, was "a big part" in deciding to make the Island home.
No problems, yet...
Driving down to New Jersey was "no problem. It was very smooth," he said. On the trip back to the Island on New Year's Eve, things took a turn.
"We planned to drive all the way back to P.E.I. The day and the night," he said.
Chiang said he was the primary driver on the expedition back to the Island. He said he drove for five hours and when he reached a turnpike in Maine his wife offered to take over the driving for a while so he could take a nap.
"No sooner, I doze off, I heard her scream and then I had the strangest sensation. A terrifying sensation of spinning and falling and falling," he said.
We skipped all the rest stops, meal stops. And mostly foolishly, we skipped the last fuel stop just to save a few minutes. — Hung-Min Chiang
In his sleepy state he braced himself "for deadly impact." Chiang said he thought his car had gone off a cliff.
"Then it was followed by complete silence," he said.
In a daze he said he sat up and realized his car was still on the road. He looked out the windshield.
"I could see the black ice on the road," he said.
Heading for the ferry
The family continued toward the Canadian border at a "snail's pace" putting them behind schedule.
The spinout wasn't the only thing the family had to worry about — when they reached the border it started to snow heavily.
To survive we had to keep the car engine running. — Hung-Min Chiang
Chiang said they were behind schedule and eager to catch the last ferry leaving Cape Tormentine, N.B., for Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., at 11 p.m. New Year's Eve.
"We skipped all the rest stops, meal stops. And mostly foolishly, we skipped the last fuel stop just to save a few minutes," he said.
"Thirty kilometres to the ferry place and we had exactly 30 minutes left."
Missing the ferry
The snow was so heavy the family couldn't see the road in front of them, Chiang said.
"Finally we reached the ferry place and our heart nearly stopped, because that very last ferry of the year was slowly pulling away from the dock," he said.
Chiang holds up a story about the ferry his family rode to get back to the Island in 1967. (Stephanie Kelly/CBC)
The family's station wagon was the only car left in the parking lot, with barely any fuel in the tank and it was cold, he said.
"To survive we had to keep the car engine running," he said. "To make the matter worse our three little girls [were] carsick."
Chiang said his wife began to sob and he thought, "I have to do something."
Find the captain
He said he got out of the car and stumbled upon a worker in the process of closing up the terminal building. Chiang said the worker told him the next ferry wasn't until 6 a.m. the next day, but that there might be a captain of another ferry who may be able to help.
So, Chiang boarded a ship and found a captain in his room, getting ready for bed.
It's a long story, 80 years of my life, and I am glad I live in P.E.I. for the last 52 years and counting. — Hung-Min Chiang
"He was surprised of course," Chiang said.
However, he listened to Chiang's story about missing the ferry and that his family had nowhere to go.
When the captain told him, "Don't worry, we'll send you home," Chiang said he was astonished.
"Immediately he gave an order to sail," he said.
The five members of the Chiang family were the only ones on that ferry in the middle of the night on New Year's Eve.
I pulled the car into the snow filled driveway and parked the car and the engine stopped by itself. — Hung-Min Chiang
"The boat left the terminal and it felt so good," he said. He said the ferry was loud and the engine rattled and vibrated.
"We felt so good listening to that sound of engine," he said. "It sounded so assuring and comfortable, just like listening to the heartbeat of life."
However, he was worried there would be no gas station open to refuel when they reached Borden-Carleton.
All the gas stations were closed. He said to conserve gasoline he would shift to neutral going down hills and he didn't see any cars on his way to Charlottetown.
"I pulled the car into the snow-filled driveway and parked the car and the engine stopped by itself," he said.
Chiang said there wasn't a single drop of fuel left in the vehicle.
Connecting with captain
Chiang said the man that brought him to the Island was Capt. William Batt. Chiang wrote him a letter two years later.
Chiang said the captain replied that if the family was ever on the ferry again to reach out to him so he could show the family around. Batt even invited Chiang to call and come visit him at his home in Cape Tormentine.
Chiang wrote about his experience in 1997 as a farewell to the ferry when Confederation Bridge opened up. (Stephanie Kelly/CBC)
This is just one of the stories Chiang is sharing in his upcoming autobiography to be published next spring.
He originally wrote a story about the ferry crossing in 1997 for The Guardian newspaper in Charlottetown, but that same story will appear in his book, among others.
"It's a long story, 80 years of my life, and I am glad I live in P.E.I. for the last 52 years and counting," he said.
"Very incredible luck we had and I will never forget the captain."
More P.E.I. news | Long lineups didn't seem to deter the spirits of people waiting to meet and greet a variety of government officials and community representatives at P.E.I. levees on New Year's Day.
Some people spent Jan. 1 going to various locations, shaking hands and enjoying refreshments as a way to celebrate the new year.
Lt.-Gov. Antoinette Perry had to shut down her levee before everyone could get in.
"Those who were turned away, sorry about that, but that's the reality of it. I enjoyed meeting everyone that came through," she said.
Perry said about 750 people attended her levee at Government House in Charlottetown and called the turnout amazing, but she had to end the festivities early to visit five other levees that were expecting her.
Laura Meader/CBC More
She said the warmer weather made it easier to travel and take part in the annual tradition.
Evelyn Monkley said it's an honour to take part in the levees and meet government officials. She and her husband, Errol, go to multiple levees every year.
Laura Meader/CBC More
She said it's not just about meeting officials, but also the people you run into in the lineups.
"It's the togetherness and all the people getting together, and seeing people you haven't seen for years," she said.
Errol Monkley said the lineups seem to get longer each year.
Laura Meader/CBC More
Story continues | 2 |
PARIS — French hardline union CGT called on Wednesday for more strikes in France this month after president Emmanuel Macron pledged to push through an overhaul of the pension system following weeks of nationwide strikes by trade unions.
Macron said in a traditional New Year’s Eve address on Tuesday that he expected his government to quickly find a compromise with unions on the reform, but without departing from the principles laid out by ministers.
Unions are trying to force the former investment banker to abandon his overhaul of France’s pension system with nationwide strikes since Dec. 5 that have crippled public transport.
“I was under the impression of having heard these words a thousand times,” Philippe Martinez, the head of the CGT union, told BFM television of Macron’s address.
“I still do not see anything new in the government’s position. The alarm signal needs to be louder, we need strikes everywhere,” Martinez said.
Martinez said his organization would take part in a meeting between unions and the government on Jan. 7.
(Reporting by Matthias Blamont; Editing by Louise Heavens) | PARIS — Emmanuel Macron embarked Wednesday on what is shaping up to be another rocky year for his presidency of France, facing a fresh barrage of anger from critics for using a new year’s address to reaffirm his commitment to fiercely contested pension reforms.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon tweeted that Macron’s televised speech was “a declaration of war against the millions of French people who refuse his reform” and likened him to “an alien.”
The far-right National Rally party was equally damning, with spokesman Laurent Jacobelli accusing Macron of sticking to his pension overhaul “like a spoiled child clinging to his toy.”
The National Rally — then called the National Front — and Melenchon’s France Unbowed were among the biggest vote-getters in the 2017 presidential election that Macron won with a centrist, pro-European Union platform of labour reform and promises to reshape French politics.
Macron’s party has a large majority in the powerful lower house of parliament, so the streets have emerged as the primary battleground for opponents of his retirement overhaul, with trade unions in the vanguard. Wednesday marked the 28th consecutive day of union-led strikes that have hobbled France’s much-vaunted train network and have made getting around Paris into an odyssey, with Metro lines mostly closed or spotty.
Unions are gearing up for further walkouts next week, when schools reopen following a Christmas/New Year break and negotiations are set to resume with Macron’s government.
“There needs to be strikes everywhere,” said Philippe Martinez, general secretary of the CGT union. “We call on all French people to mobilize, to demonstrate and to strike. My message is clear.”
“That is the only way that they can understand us,” he said.
In his televised address on Tuesday evening as revelers were celebrating the new decade’s birth, Macron said the pension overhaul “will be carried out” but called on his government to “find the path of a quick compromise” with unions.
Macron stayed firm on the principles of the reform, including its most decried measure: raising the eligibility age for full pensions from 62 to 64. He insisted the new system will be fairer and financially sustainable.
“My only compass is our country’s interest,” he said.
The start of 2020 was the second New Year celebration in a row where Macron has faced social upheaval. This time last year, his government was locked in conflict with the yellow-vest movement, named for the bright yellow jackets that protesters wore, against his economic agenda and policies assailed as pro-business.
John Leicester, The Associated Press | 3.333333 |
It's a highly-anticipated date in any savvy shoppers diary - the start of the Boots 70% off sale .
The event, which sees the retailer slash the prices on its Christmas stock sees massive discounts on items such as beauty sets and toys - and in some cases 50% off perfume.
Every year, avid shoppers attempt to guess the exact date the major discounting event will fall on, despite the high street giant remaining tight-lipped with details.
It brings swathes of bargain-hunters in store in an attempt to bag the best bargains.
In previous years, the up to 70% sale launched on the fourth Friday of the year.
But members of money saving community LatestDeals.co.uk think they have nailed the exact date for the impending 2020 sale - forecasting a later than usual start date.
One expert member, known as Johnny, has predicted that this year, the sale will coincide with pay day at the end of the month.
The money-saving guru wrote: "The Boots 70 Percent Off Sale start date has been getting later and later in recent years.
"My best guess is that the Boots 70 Percent Off Sale 2020 will start on Friday 31st January 2020."
If you're wondering why Johnny's prediction is worth following, it's because he has correctly predicted the dates of the event for the past three years.
Speaking to LatestDeals.co.uk he said, "Boots pushed the sale date back last year - which I also predicted - because I think they realised it's after pay day, and they wanted to keep selling stuff for full price that little bit more.
"So I think they're going to do the same this year. If it was the week before, Friday 24th, that'd be before pay day. And if it was the week after, Friday 7th February that just feels too late."
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk added, "The Boots 70% off sale is one of the most exciting sales of the year, but at the same time, one of the most frustrating.
"The company keeps the dates secret which leads to confusion and wild goose chases.
"Johnny has correctly predicted the dates for the past three years, so I'm putting his prediction of 31st January in my diary."
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent directly to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here . And you can follow us on Facebook here . | PEOPLE are being urged to check in with their elderly friends and neighbours over the Christmas period.
Loneliness affects more than 1 million older people nationally and around 35,000 in Worcestershire.
Many older people may find themselves on their own for the first time this year after the loss of a loved one or they may have families who do not live nearby.
Winter can be a difficult time for people who may have reduced mobility or are socially isolated. With the colder weather setting in, there are a couple of ways to help friends, neighbours or family.
Knowing how to help isn’t always easy, but there are a few ways to offer your support.
Reconnections is a free service that may be able to help someone you know connect to other people, places or activities near them.
Reconnections is accepting referrals for people over the age of 50 up until New Year’s Eve 2019.
You can also make a difference yourself.
Stop and chat – a friendly hello and chat can go a long way. Let vulnerable people know that you would be available to help if they need you.
Keep an eye out for winter illness – with temperatures lowering, the risk of illnesses in older people rises. If a friend or neighbour shows signs of being unwell, ask if there is a relative you could call or offer to call their doctor.
Heating – checking that someone’s heating supply is working properly can be invaluable and help prevent serious illnesses. Check they close their bedroom window at night, as breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections.
Councillor John Smith, cabinet member with responsibility for Health and Wellbeing at Worcestershire County Council said, “We can all play a role in helping those around us. This is important throughout the year, but over Christmas and New Year many elderly people in our community will have an increased risk of illness and may feel isolated. Spending just a little time supporting elderly and vulnerable people in your life and making them feel valued can make all the difference.”
Reconnections will continue to work with people aged over 55 years until March 2020. A new all age adult service will start in April 2020.
You can contact them on 01905 740954 or visit their website reconnectionsservice.org.uk | 1 |
Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Share, Size 2020 Explosive Factors of Revenue by Key Vendors Demand, Development Strategy, Future Trends and Industry Growth Research Report
Posted on Jan 2 2020 6:57 AM
"Buccal Tissue Matrix Market 2020 Global Industry report covers the latest market statistics, industry growth driving factors, size, share, trends, as well as Forecast till 2025. "
Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Market 2020 Industry research report is a Professional and in-depth study on the world's major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific). It covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the Key Vendors operating in this Global market.This Report Focuses on the Major Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Threats for Key Players. It also Provides Granular Analysis of Market Share, Segmentation, Revenue Forecasts and Regional Analysis till 2025.
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About Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Report:-
It is a pad used in dental transplants, implants placed directly in the extraction socket, artificially repairing the alveolar, and guiding bone regeneration in dehiscence and periodontal defects.The global Buccal Tissue Matrix market is valued at xx million US$ in 2018 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2020-2025. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Buccal Tissue Matrix market based on company, product type, end user and key regions.
Global Buccal Tissue Matrix market 2020 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global Buccal Tissue Matrix market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.
Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Industry 2020 Market Research Report is spread across 119 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and competitive landscape details in this niche sector.
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List Of TOP KEY PLAYERS in Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Report are:-
Cowellmedi
Southern Implants
Curasan
Zimmer Biomet
Zicom
Biomatlante
Bioimplon
Geistlich Pharma
The analysis provides an exhaustive investigation of the global Buccal Tissue Matrix market together with the future projections to assess the investment feasibility. Furthermore, the report includes both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the Buccal Tissue Matrix market throughout the forecast period. The report also comprehends business opportunities and scope for expansion. Besides this, it provides insights into market threats or barriers and the impact of regulatory framework to give an executive-level blueprint the Buccal Tissue Matrix market. This is done with an aim of helping companies in strategizing their decisions in a better way and finally attain their business goals.
With tables and figures helping analyze worldwide Global Buccal Tissue Matrix market, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.
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By the product type, the market is primarily split into
Collagen
Synthetic
PTFE
By the end users/application, this report covers the following segments
Hospital
Clinic
Other
The study objectives of this report are:
To study and analyze the global Buccal Tissue Matrix market size (value & volume) by company, key regions/countries, products and application, history data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.
To understand the structure of Buccal Tissue Matrix market by identifying its various subsegments.
To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).
Focuses on the key global Buccal Tissue Matrix manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.
To analyze the Buccal Tissue Matrix with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.
To project the value and volume of Buccal Tissue Matrix submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).
To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.
To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.
In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Buccal Tissue Matrix are as follows:
History Year: 2014-2018
Base Year: 2018
Estimated Year: 2020
Forecast Year 2020 to 2025
Key Stakeholders
Raw material suppliers
Distributors/traders/wholesalers/suppliers
Regulatory bodies, including government agencies and NGO
Commercial research & development (R & D) institutions
Importers and exporters
Government organizations, research organizations, and consulting firms
Trade associations and industry bodies
End-use industries
Major Points from Table of Contents:
1 Report Overview
1.1 Study Scope
1.2 Key Market Segments
1.3 Players Covered
1.4 Market Analysis by Type
1.4.1 Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2014-2025)
1.4.2 Major-Type
1.4.3 Independent-Type
1.4.4 Administrator-Type
1.5 Market by Application
1.5.1 Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Share by Application (2014-2025)
1.5.2 Commercial
1.5.3 Commonweal
1.5.4 Other
1.6 Study Objectives
1.7 Years Considered
2 Global Growth Trends
2.1 Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size
2.2 Buccal Tissue Matrix Growth Trends by Regions
2.2.1 Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size by Regions (2014-2025)
2.2.2 Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Share by Regions (2014-2020)
2.3 Industry Trends
2.3.1 Market Top Trends
2.3.2 Market Drivers
2.3.3 Market Opportunities
3 Market Share by Key Players
3.1 Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size by Manufacturers
3.1.1 Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Revenue by Manufacturers (2014-2020)
3.1.2 Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2014-2020)
3.1.3 Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)
3.2 Buccal Tissue Matrix Key Players Head office and Area Served
3.3 Key Players Buccal Tissue Matrix Product/Solution/Service
3.4 Date of Enter into Buccal Tissue Matrix Market
3.5 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans
4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application
4.1 Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size by Type (2014-2020)
4.2 Global Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size by Application (2014-2020)
(5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Central & South America
Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size (2014-2020)
Key Players
Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size by Type
Buccal Tissue Matrix Market Size by Application
12 International Players Profiles
Company Details
Company Description and Business Overview
Buccal Tissue Matrix Introduction
Revenue in Buccal Tissue Matrix Business (2014-2020)
Recent Development
13 Market Forecast 2020-2025
13.1 Market Size Forecast by Regions
13.2 United States
13.3 Europe
13.4 China
13.5 Japan
13.6 Southeast Asia
13.7 India
13.8 Central & South America
13.9 Market Size Forecast by Product (2020-2025)
13.10 Market Size Forecast by Application (2020-2025)
14 Analyst's Viewpoints/Conclusions
15 Appendix
15.1 Research Methodology
15.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach
15.1.1.1 Research Programs/Design
15.1.1.2 Market Size Estimation
12.1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation
15.1.2 Data Source
15.1.2.1 Secondary Sources
15.1.2.2 Primary Sources
15.2 Disclaimer
15.3 Author Details
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MENAFN02012020007010266ID1099497061 | Global Dispensers Market Research 2020-2025; Regional Industry Segment by Production, Consumption, Revenue and Growth Rate
Posted on Jan 2 2020 6:55 AM
"Dispensers Market report offers great insights into major factors having a significant effect on the growth of the global market. "
Global ' Dispensers Market offers industry speculators, organization administrators, and industry members with in-depth knowledge of most recent industry patterns, improvement viewpoints, advertise picks up, and industry situation amid the conjecture time frame (2020-2025) to empower them to settle on educated key choices identified in the Dispensers Market.
Top Key Manufacturers in Dispensers Market:
MUSASHI
Nordson
SMART VISION
TENSUN
IEI
SAEJONG
Venison
Lampda
TWIN
Second Automatic Equipment
XUTONG AUTOMATION
Dexin
Shihao
DAHENG
Tianhao
Get a Sample Copy of the Report - http://www.industryresearch.co/enquiry/request-sample/14925214
Know About Dispensers Market:
The global Dispensers market was valued at million US$ in 2018 and will reach million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of during 2019-2025.
This report focuses on Dispensers volume and value at global level, regional level and company level. From a global perspective, this report represents overall Dispensers market size by analyzing historical data and future prospect.
Regionally, this report categorizes the production, apparent consumption, export and import of Dispensers in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India.
For each manufacturer covered, this report analyzes their Dispensers manufacturing sites, capacity, production, ex-factory price, revenue and market share in global market.
Dispensers Market Size by Type:
Desktop
Floor Type
Dispensers Market size by Applications:
Consumer Electronics (Cell Phones, Computer, Digital Cameras, Radiators, Semiconductors, etc)
Automotive Electronics
Others （Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Device Processing, etc.）
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Regions covered in the Dispensers Market report are USA, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia, South America, South Africa.
Important Features that are under Offering and Key Highlights of the Reports:
Detailed overview of Market
Changing market dynamics of the industry
In-depth market segmentation by Type, Application etc.
Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value
Recent industry trends and developments
Competitive landscape of Dispensers Market
Strategies of key players and product offerings
Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth
In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Dispensers are as follows:
History Year: 2014-2018
Base Year: 2018
Estimated Year: 2019
Forecast Year 2019 to 2025
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Major Points from Table of Contents:
1 Study Coverage
1.1 Dispensers Product
1.2 Market Segments
1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered
1.4 Market by Type
1.4.1 Global Dispensers Market Size Growth Rate by Product
1.5 Market by End User
1.5.1 Global Dispensers Market Size Growth Rate by End User
1.6 Study Objectives
1.7 Years Considered
2 Executive Summary
2.1 Global Dispensers Market Size
2.1.1 Global Dispensers Revenue 2014-2025
2.1.2 Global Dispensers Sales 2014-2025
2.2 Dispensers Growth Rate by Regions
2.2.1 Global Dispensers Sales by Regions
2.2.2 Global Dispensers Revenue by Regions
3 Breakdown Data by Manufacturers
3.1 Dispensers Sales by Manufacturers
3.1.1 Dispensers Sales by Manufacturers
3.1.2 Dispensers Sales Market Share by Manufacturers
3.1.3 Global Dispensers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)
3.2 Dispensers Revenue by Manufacturers
3.2.1 Dispensers Revenue by Manufacturers (2014-2018)
3.2.2 Dispensers Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2014-2018)
3.3 Dispensers Price by Manufacturers
3.4 Dispensers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Product Types
3.4.1 Dispensers Manufacturers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters
3.4.2 Manufacturers Dispensers Product Type
3.4.3 Date of International Manufacturers Enter into Dispensers Market
3.5 Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans
4 Breakdown Data by Product
4.1 Global Dispensers Sales by Product
4.2 Global Dispensers Revenue by Product
4.3 Dispensers Price by Product
5 Breakdown Data by End User
5.1 Overview
5.2 Global Dispensers Breakdown Data by End User
6 North America
6.1 North America Dispensers by Countries
6.1.1 North America Dispensers Sales by Countries
6.1.2 North America Dispensers Revenue by Countries
6.1.3 United States
6.1.4 Canada
6.1.5 Mexico
6.2 North America Dispensers by Product
6.3 North America Dispensers by End User
7 Europe
7.1 Europe Dispensers by Countries
7.1.1 Europe Dispensers Sales by Countries
7.1.2 Europe Dispensers Revenue by Countries
7.1.3 Germany
7.1.4 France
7.1.5 UK
7.1.6 Italy
7.1.7 Russia
7.2 Europe Dispensers by Product
7.3 Europe Dispensers by End User
8 Asia Pacific
8.1 Asia Pacific Dispensers by Countries
8.1.1 Asia Pacific Dispensers Sales by Countries
8.1.2 Asia Pacific Dispensers Revenue by Countries
8.1.3 China
8.1.4 Japan
8.1.5 Korea
8.1.6 India
8.1.7 Australia
8.1.8 Indonesia
8.1.9 Malaysia
8.1.10 Philippines
8.1.11 Thailand
8.1.12 Vietnam
8.1.13 Singapore
8.2 Asia Pacific Dispensers by Product
8.3 Asia Pacific Dispensers by End User
9 Central & South America
9.1 Central & South America Dispensers by Countries
9.1.1 Central & South America Dispensers Sales by Countries
9.1.2 Central & South America Dispensers Revenue by Countries
9.1.3 Brazil
9.2 Central & South America Dispensers by Product
9.3 Central & South America Dispensers by End User
10 Middle East and Africa
10.1 Middle East and Africa Dispensers by Countries
10.1.1 Middle East and Africa Dispensers Sales by Countries
10.1.2 Middle East and Africa Dispensers Revenue by Countries
10.1.3 GCC Countries
10.1.4 Turkey
10.1.5 Egypt
10.1.6 South Africa
10.2 Middle East and Africa Dispensers by Product
10.3 Middle East and Africa Dispensers by End User
11 Company Profiles
12 Future Forecast
12.1 Dispensers Market Forecast by Regions
12.1.1 Global Dispensers Sales Forecast by Regions 2018-2025
12.1.2 Global Dispensers Revenue Forecast by Regions 2018-2025
12.2 Dispensers Market Forecast by Product
12.2.1 Global Dispensers Sales Forecast by Product 2018-2025
12.2.2 Global Dispensers Revenue Forecast by Product 2018-2025
12.3 Dispensers Market Forecast by End User
12.4 North America Dispensers Forecast
12.5 Europe Dispensers Forecast
12.6 Asia Pacific Dispensers Forecast
12.7 Central & South America Dispensers Forecast
12.8 Middle East and Africa Dispensers Forecast
13 Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis
13.1 Market Opportunities and Drivers
13.2 Market Challenges
13.3 Market Risks/Restraints
13.4 Macroscopic Indicators
14 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis
14.1 Value Chain Analysis
14.2 Dispensers Customers
14.3 Sales Channels Analysis
14.3.1 Sales Channels
14.3.2 Distributors
15 Research Findings and Conclusion
16 Appendix
16.1 Research Methodology
16.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach
16.1.2 Data Source
16.2 Author Details
16.3 Disclaimer
Continued…
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Email id: [email protected]
Our Other Reports Here: Global Cast Polymers Market Size, Current Status, Share, Latest Opportunities Forecast to 2025
Global Clean Green Energy Market Share, Growth, Trend Analysis and Forecast from 2020-2025; Consumption Capacity by Volume and Production Value | 1.333333 |
KITCHENER -- Police have seized a number of items after a driver reportedly fled a R.I.D.E. check.
OPP say a 28-year-old man from Richmond drove away from officers around 1 a.m. on Tuesday in Puslinch.
A loaded handgun, a large quantity of meth, and cash was seized by Wellington County police.
The man is facing a number of charges including flight from police, firearm possession, and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking. | A 28-year-old labourer was electrocuted when he fell and came in contact with a high tension wire while working at Vasai railway station in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Wednesday.
The mishap took place on Tuesday when the victim, identified as Mathura Gupta, was standing on a ladder and doing some welding work on a foot over-bridge at the station.
The ladder suddenly slipped following which Gupta fell on an overhead live wire and got electrocuted, an official at Vasai railway police station said.
The station authorities immediately cut off power supply at the site.
The body was brought down and sent for postmortem, he added. | 1 |
New Delhi, Jan 1 (IANS) The Swachh Survekshan (SS) League 2020, which monitors cities on the basis of cleanliness, quantifies cleanliness into three crucial segments — usability of toilets, faecal sludge management and waste management.
SS League is conducted in three quarters – April-June, July-September and October-December – with the aim of sustaining the on-ground performance of cities along with monitoring of when it comes to cleanliness. A total of 4,237 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) cities participated in the league.
The measurement indicators within the Survekshan were redesigned to capture whether initiatives taken by cities are sustainable in the long run, thus going beyond ODF status and looking into the sustainability other crucial segments, which includes meeting protocols ward of a ULBs, and bylaws and regulatory compliance, contributing to quantify cleanliness in the country.
Indore ranked first consecutively in first and second quarter results of the SS League, among the cities where population is more than 10 lakh. Indore’s success establishes that ULBs have efficiently complied with protocols, regulations and bylaws. This year a fourth assessment protocol, citizen feedback, was introduced under Swachh Bharat Mission, which includes certification of cities on ODF+/ODF++ and star rating of garbage free cities by independent third parties.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs secretary Durga Shanker Mishra had said Indore, which was number one in the past three sanitation surveys, continues to occupy the top slot in the first two quarters of 2019. Bhopal, second in the first quarter, was replaced by Rajkot (Gujarat) in the second quarter. Surat was at third position in the first quarter, but Navi Mumbai replaced it in the second quarter rankings.
Jamshedpur, in the category among with population between 1 lakh and 10 lakh, was at the top in both quarters. New Delhi Municipal Council ranked fifth in the SS League, and the other municipal corporations ranked very poorly on the table. South Delhi Municipal Corporation was at 138; East Delhi Municipal Corporation ranked at 240; and North Delhi Municipal Corporation ranked at 282.
A national-level survey of cleanliness of cities is slated to begin from January 4, leading to the final Swachh Survekshan 2020 rankings.
(Sumit saxena can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS/
ss/ | Residents claim that the SCB’s ranking has been affected due to its failure in collecting garbage, not providi... Read More
SECUNDERABAD: The second largest cantonment of the country, Secunderabad , was ranked as the worst performer among all 62 cantonment boards surveyed in the Centre’s Swachh Survekshan League 2020 (SS League 2020) rankings.The ministry of housing and urban affairs released results of the last two quarters beginning April in New Delhi.The SS League 2020, which monitors cleanliness in cities/cantonment boards, allotted 2,000 marks for each quarter. According to the results, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board ( SCB ) secured 136.83 marks in the first quarter and 10.61 marks in the second quarter, thereby ending in the last spot in both quarters.With 1187.39 marks, the St. Thomas Mount cantonment in Tamil Nadu secured the first spot in the first quarter and Delhi cantonment stood at the top by securing 1368.55 marks in the second quarter. The evaluation was done based on services provided, observation and citizen feedback through outbound phone calls.With a 42-square kilometre area and population of nearly four lakh residents, the SCB is the second largest cantonment in the country. However, it failed to compete with other cantonments which are significantly smaller with predominant army presence.Dehu road in Pune, Nainital, Wellington, Shimla are among those who have emerged among the top 20 cantonments in the country in the SS League 2020.Residents claim that the SCB’s ranking has been affected due to its failure in collecting garbage, not providing adequate public toilets and poor solid waste management.“Even today, many colonies in SCB wards don’t have public bins, forcing people to throw garbage on roads. This garbage is often not picked up by the SCB cleaners. Apart from this, there are insufficient public toilets,” said Sudha Konidela, a resident of Vasavi Nagar Colony.Residents blamed SCB for not making enough efforts in taking up developmental works in the areas under its limits. “For years, the SCB has been crying over shortage of funds. Basic issues related to road repair, water and cleanliness have not been addressed due to shortage of funds. The rankings look poorly on the cantonment,” said Jeetendra Surana, secretary of All Cantonments Citizens Welfare Association.Admitting its inability to perform well in the rankings, the SCB authorities passed the buck to the Centre over its failure in clearing dues. “Since we are yet to receive Rs 550 crore from the Centre, we are unable to meet even basic needs of the residents. We are unable to pay our contractors, sweepers. Therefore, we are falling back in terms of cleanliness,” said J Ramakrishna, SCB vice-president.Ramakrishna said paucity of funds forced the board to seek help. “So far, we were self-sustaining. However, for the first time in the history, we were forced to go for aided board as the gap between residents’ needs and availability of funds is only increasing by the day. The Centre should distribute funds proportionately to enable us to perform our basic civic activities,” said Ramakrishna.The performance of cities in SS League 2020 is crucial to their ranking in Swachh Survekshan 2020 due to the 25% weightage of the quarterly assessment to be included in the annual survey scheduled to commence from January 4 till January 31, 2020. | 2.75 |
New Delhi [India], Jan 1 (ANI): BJP leader Gopal Krishna Agarwal on Wednesday said that Kerala Assembly's passing of a resolution seeking withdrawal of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is wrong and unconstitutional and it will give rise to anarchy.
"This is absolutely wrong and unconstitutional. The parliament has legally passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill and made it into an act after presidential assent. After that, a state assembly cannot pass a resolution on the act. It will give rise to anarchy. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should take care that the constitution is the supreme law," Agarwal told ANI.Earlier yesterday, after the Kerala Assembly passed the resolution regarding CAA, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that no state legislature has the power to pass any law with regard to citizenship."Citizenship, naturalisation and aliens are entry 17 on the Union list. Therefore, it is only the Parliament that has the power to pass any law with regards to citizenship, not any Assembly, including Kerala," Prasad had said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram.Taking a jibe at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Prasad said, "The constitution has a mandate -- Parliament - List 1, State Assemblies - List 2. I would again urge the Chief Minister to kindly have better legal advice."The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday had passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the CAA.Before the resolution was passed against the Act, Vijayan, in a special Assembly session, targeted the RSS and said that citizenship law is part of an agenda."The CAA is part of an agenda. Muslims are being considered as internal enemies by RSS, that is controlling the ruling dispensation at the Centre," the Chief Minister alleged. (ANI) | Reacting to BJP's objection against the passing of an anti-CAA resolution in the Kerala Assembly, CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat on Wednesday said that it was a request to the Central government to take back the "unconstitutional" Citizenship Act.
Speaking to ANI here, Karat said that the Assembly urged the Centre to roll back the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as it feels that the law is discriminatory in nature.
"Objections can be raised against any bill passed by Parliament. Everyone has the right to say that any law is wrong. Since the state felt that this (CAA) is unconstitutional, the Assembly urged the Centre to back it back since it can not strike the law down," he told ANI.
He said that the Assembly resolution was not against the law. "The Assembly has not taken any unlawful step. They (the Centre) are attacking the Constitution which can not be allowed," Karat said.
The Kerala Assembly passed the resolution seeking withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act on Tuesday.
Irked over the development, BJP MP and spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao demanded Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation, saying he does not have trust in the Constitution.
"CAA is a central law passed by both Houses of Parliament. If you are passing a resolution against it that means you are making a mockery of the Indian Constitution. In this case, Pinarayi Vijayan should resign from the (state) government and say I don't have trust in the Constitution," Rao said.
Reacting to the opposition to the resolution, Vijayan on Wednesday said: "The resolution passed by Kerala (Assembly) is against the unconstitutional Act passed by the Centre. It has been noticed by the whole country."
He said that any challenges arising out of the move will be "faced together by Kerala".
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | 3.666667 |
CARE is an international NGO with local staff and community partners in more than 90 countries. We create local solutions to poverty and inequality and we seek dignity for everyone every day and during times of crisis. These solutions have a broad range, from clean water to access to education; from microfinance to ensuring that everyone has nutritious food; from agriculture and climate change to disaster response. CARE puts women and girls at the center of everything we do because they have proven to be the best hope for creating lasting change in the world. Our staff live where they work, which makes us effective at understanding the challenges they face. We’ve been doing this for over 70 years, since World War II. It started with the world’s first CARE Package® of food for the post-war hungry in Europe. Our work today is as important as ever, we believe that poverty and inequality are historic injustices that we can end within a generation, for good. If you share our core beliefs: poverty is an injustice; poverty is solvable; and together, we have the power to end it, join us
CARE Mozambique seeks a Field Program Support Manager (FPS) to provide leadership and direction for the CARE Mozambique program support (PS) functions in the Pemba and Macamia Field offices as part of the ongoing CARE CAT 4 emergency response program. The FPS Manager will work closely with the Country Program Support Manager, Emergency Team Leader, Finance Manager and Program Managers to develop an effective, efficient and results driven PS team, which includes Administration, IT, Procurement and Logistics.
Driven by integrity and passion, the FPS Manager will foster a values-based organizational culture, ensuring good internal controls and conscientious stewardship of organization resources. S/he will promote a performance-based culture ensuring performance management systems are in place and functional in the PS team. The position is based in Pemba and Macamia.
Responsibilities:
Work closely with the Country Program Support Manager to ensure that CARE has the appropriate staffing structures, management systems, and support systems to implement high quality programming as part of the ongoing emergency response
Manage all administration and logistics functions, the full and proper implementation of CARE systems of management, compliance and control
Develop the departmental AOP and assist all PS staff in preparing their IOPs and workplans. Evaluate staff progress directly and indirectly through program management in the field offices
Liaise with the finance department to ensure that appropriate and timely action (eg paid, canceled etc.) is taken on all procurements
Manage the PS budget ensuring compliance with donor requirements
Qualifications: | KYIV, Ukraine - Ukrainian far-right supporters have held a torchlight procession in the capital to mark the birthday of a nationalist leader who sided with the Nazis during part of World War II.
The Wednesday march in Kyiv by about 1,000 far-right supporters commemorated the 111th birthday of Stepan Bandera, lauded by nationalists as a hero.
Bandera was a leader of Ukraine’s nationalist movement, which included an insurgent army that for one period during the war sided with the Nazis.
Jewish groups have linked Bandera’s followers to the mass murders of Jews. Ukrainian Police said the march ended peacefully and there were no arrests. | 1 |
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(WJW) --- The FOX 8 I-Team has uncovered an investigation into large containers of packages stolen from Amazon.
Now, Cleveland police and Euclid police are investigating since it appears the containers were stolen from an Amazon distribution center in Euclid.
The investigation began a few days ago when a woman called Cleveland police after she saw a big container dumped out of an unmarked white van at I-71 and West 150th.
The witness told the I-Team, “And this big van pulled over and someone opened the back and threw something out. I had no clue what could even be in that box because it was so big.”
Cleveland police later found in that container “large amounts of Amazon packages, envelopes and items torn open.”
The witness added, “It was way too weird.”
A police report shows an Amazon manager told officers four containers had been stolen from the warehouse in Euclid. Containers just like the one found. The manager also said cameras record all vehicles picking up containers here. And, they get tracked by GPS.
When the I-Team went to the distribution center, a man said no one there could answer questions for us.
An Amazon spokesperson tells us the company is investigating.
And another police report shows Amazon is conducting an internal review.
Euclid Police Lt. Mitch Houser said, “It looks like a shipment of merchandise was stolen. CPD (Cleveland Police Department) recovered some of it, and we’re working closely with the CPD to hopefully solve the crime.”
Many packages in the container that was found were addressed to places in Willoughby Hills.
That witness who had called police never expected what she saw to lead to an investigation like this. She said, “It was a huge box. It was just really quick.” | **WARNING: The contents of this video may be considered graphic or disturbing to some**
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CLEVELAND (WJW) — Four people were shot during a New Year's Eve party at a club in downtown Cleveland.
Cleveland police say shots were fired at Medusa Restaurant & Lounge on St. Clair Avenue near East 13th Street around 1 a.m.
Two of the four victims were treated by paramedics on scene. The other two were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in private vehicles and are in stable condition.
Video shared with FOX 8 from someone attending the holiday party depicts chaos in the moments following the shooting.
In another video, posted on Instagram, attendees are seen dancing and singing along to the music when the shots were fired inside the club, interrupting the festivities.
According to the club's Instagram account, rapper Chief Keef was scheduled to perform at the party.
Police say that no arrests have been made and it is currently unknown what led to the shooting. The incident remains under investigation. | 2 |
By AMANDA MARTINEZ, The Santa Fe New Mexican
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Images and videos of child sexual abuse don’t only exist in the dark corners of the internet. They are hiding in plain sight across New Mexico.
From January through Nov. 1, there were 977 investigations in the state into reports of adults creating, possessing or distributing images of child sex crimes, and committing other sex crimes against children, over the internet. That number, experts say, is more than double the number from last year. And while every viewing of those images is a crime, prosecutors say it also is a sign that a person might plan to — or already has — sexually abused a child.
“These are individuals that, generally speaking, are extremely dangerous, and a lot of times, there’s this misnomer that these are just images,” state Deputy Attorney General Clara Moran told the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Moran and other prosecutors do not like the commonly used term “child pornography” because it likens images of abuse to the legal, somewhat regulated industry of adult pornographic content, she said. Moran makes it plain: Many of these images are of children being raped.
While some people tend to believe such images involve children in faraway places, almost 90% involve children in the U.S., including New Mexico, said Anthony Maez, special agent and commander of the state attorney general’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The task force has reviewed about 1,400 cyber-tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, peer-to-peer networks and individuals. Of the five types of crimes investigated by the group, the number involving images of child sexual abuse is by far the largest.
In 2019, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received 592 documented complaints about possession of images of child sexual abuse, 304 about distribution of such images and 63 about creation of images, according to data provided by Maez.
“The number of tips that we see coming in, the volume is very high,” he said, “and unfortunately there isn’t enough law enforcement officers around the state to work these types of tips.”
State law enforcement agencies have ratcheted up their battle against internet crimes against children. About 276 agents across 90 local, state, military and tribal agencies investigate these crimes. Together, they have received 76 documented complaints of child enticement, 21 complaints of a person traveling to meet a child with intentions of abuse, 52 complaints of adults directing obscenities to a minor and 14 complaints of sex trafficking of children, according to data collected by the task force.
Maez points to the ever-evolving world of social media and apps that make it easier to exploit children.
Each month, the task force receives about 110 tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the national clearinghouse for all reports made to the cyber-tip line, as well as reports from social media companies, which monitor their sites for potential illegal activity.
Of those 110 reports in New Mexico, Maez said about 63 percent originated from a person who saw an image on Facebook and reported it or from the company’s detection software.
Facebook’s latest transparency report says the company removed 11.6 million child abuse images worldwide from its social network from July through September of this year. Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, removed about 512,000 images.
“Each time it is shared is a revictimization of that child victim,” said Matt Baca, a spokesman for the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. “It is important for people to recognize that the sharing and individual viewing is a reoffense.”
Concerns over the spread of images of child sexual abuse on the internet has prompted smaller police departments to become more aggressive. Roger Jimenez, interim chief of the Española Police Department, said his agency recently began working with the task force.
“It definitely does hit closer to home for some of the officers that actually live in a community where they’re investigating these specific crimes,” he said.
Task force members say the long road to success in prosecuting internet crimes against children is similar to other kinds of sensitive investigations: Extensive interviews and researching a suspect’s past are key before executing a search warrant.
You get one shot to find evidence in these types of cases, New Mexico State Police Agent Jessie Whittaker said, because once a suspect knows what investigators are looking for, they often will try to destroy or hide devices containing images — or any trace that they created or distributed them.
Whittaker said he seizes cellphones or other devices while executing search warrants and takes them to the FBI’s forensics laboratory in Albuquerque.
The internet crimes task force also operates a mobile forensics lab, as well as labs across the state, Maez said, to avoid a bottleneck of cases.
Investigators say they believe people who view graphic photos and videos of child sexual abuse could be — and are likely to be — sexually attracted to children and might physically abuse a child.
“If someone is sexually attracted to children, it is not something that goes away,” Moran said.
According to experts quoted in a New York Times investigation on the psychology of pedophiles, one study of 127 online offenders who had been arrested showed less than 5 percent admitted to having molested a child. During in-depth interviews and polygraph tests, however, another 53 percent admitted to having touched a child.
Moran said this holds true for New Mexico.
“Sometimes prosecutors can ask for a polygraph, and what we find is that these offenders oftentimes disclose … they have been hands-on abusers and just haven’t been caught or that they are planning to put hands on a child,” she said.
Prosecutors and investigators say a law passed this year by the Legislature makes it more difficult to prosecute crimes against children.
The law requires law enforcement to obtain warrants including the specific information they are seeking on electronic devices, as well as the specific person or account targeted. It also requires that any evidence collected under a search warrant that does not fall under the specifications of the warrant be destroyed within 30 days.
That timeline sometimes does not allow for adequate development of a case involving images of child sexual abuse, Moran said.
“It’s essential to these types of cases for law enforcement officers to be able to comb through all of the images,” she said. In some cases, there can be terabytes of information to sift through.
Whittaker said the tight timelines also can make it difficult to retain exculpatory evidence, which can help establish a person’s innocence if the suspect is arrested and his or her case goes to trial.
Privacy concerns and data breaches also have pushed social media platforms and apps to use end-to-end encryption, which makes conversations between a sender and recipient private and unable to be seen by a third party. In March, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to introduce the technology on Facebook Messenger.
“If Facebook decides to encrypt everything and not (see) who is doing what on the site or have that available, the tips will go down, but the exploitation is taking place out there,” Maez said.
Awareness of these crimes, though distasteful, is critical, Maez said. While the majority of investigations by the task force involve cases in which a child has been abused previously, Maez said the group also pursues local tips to stop such abuse from ever occurring.
Maez holds bimonthly training on investigatory techniques, such as how to mimic a person who is posting or responding to online ads for child exploitation, dark web surveillance and the use of cryptocurrency like bitcoin to purchase images of child sexual abuse.
“We are trying to cover every possible place where an individual may exploit a child,” he said. | MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador closed out 2019 with a parting shot at his predecessors, saying imprisoned drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera had had the same power as the country's president.
In a video message from the southern city of Palenque on Wednesday, López Obrador recounted his administration's successes in its first year and highlighted its challenges — foremost surging violence. He said he had already done away with the high-level corruption that was rampant in previous governments, but said it was crucial to draw a bright line between criminal elements and authorities so that the two sides do not mingle as they had in the past.
“There was a time when Guzmán had the same power or had the influence that the then president had ... because there had been a conspiracy and that made it difficult to punish those who committed crimes. That has already become history, gone to the garbage dump of history," López Obrador said.
It appeared to be a reference to the indictment and arrest last month of Mexico's former public safety secretary Genaro García Luna. García Luna was public safety secretary in President Felipe Calderon's Cabinet from 2006 to 2012. Before joining Calderon’s government, García Luna led Mexico’s equivalent of the FBI, the Federal Investigative Agency, under President Vicente Fox.
He was charged in federal court in New York with three counts of trafficking cocaine and one count of making false statements. He had been living in Florida and was arrested in Texas.
U.S. prosecutors allege he accepted millions of dollars in bribes from Guzmán's Sinaloa cartel and in exchange allowed it to operate without interference.
Guzmán was convicted on drug conspiracy charges in New York. He was sentenced last year to life in prison.
López Obrador's public safety secretary Alfonso Durazo on Wednesday echoed the president's comments about rooting out corruption in the security forces.
In a series of posts on Twitter, Durazo also said the government would recruit 21,170 people in 2020 to join the newly formed National Guard and continue to expand its presence in the country. López Obrador has bet big that the new federal security force will be able to wrangle violence that generated a record-setting number of murders in 2019. | 1 |
(MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) Zaandam, the Netherlands, January 2, 2020 – Ahold Delhaize today commences the €1 billion share buyback program announced on December 4, 2019 and expects to complete the program before the end of 2020.
As indicated in our announcement on 4 December 2019, maintaining a balanced approach between funding growth in key channels and returning excess liquidity to shareholders is part of Ahold Delhaize's financial framework to support its Leading Together strategy. The purpose of the program is to reduce the capital of Ahold Delhaize, by cancelling all or part of the common shares acquired through the program.
The program will be executed by intermediaries allowing the execution of share repurchases in the open market during open and closed periods. The program will be executed within the limits of relevant laws and regulations, the existing authority granted at Ahold Delhaize's 2019 annual general meeting of shareholders on April 10, 2019 and the authority (if granted) by the annual general meeting on April 8, 2020.
Ahold Delhaize will provide regular updates on the progress of the program by means of press releases.
Cautionary notice
This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words such as expects, purpose, will, will be or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause actual results of Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (the 'Company') to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to the risk factors set forth in the Company's public filings and other disclosures. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company's management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Company's management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.
For more information:
Press office: +31 88 659 5134 Investor relations: +31 88 659 5213 Social media: Twitter: @AholdDelhaize
YouTube: @AholdDelhaize
LinkedIn: @Ahold-Delhaize
Ahold Delhaize is one of the world's largest food retail groups and a leader in both supermarkets and e-Commerce. Its family of great, local brands serves more than 50 million customers each week in Europe, the United States, and Indonesia. Together, these brands employ more than 370,000 associates in more than 6,700 grocery and specialty stores and include the top online retailer in the Benelux and the leading online grocers in the Benelux and the United States. Ahold Delhaize brands are at the forefront of sustainable retailing, sourcing responsibly, supporting local communities and helping customers make healthier choices. Headquartered in Zaandam, the Netherlands, Ahold Delhaize is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and Brussels stock exchanges (ticker: AD) and its American Depositary Receipts are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. and quoted on the OTCQX International marketplace (ticker: ADRNY). For more information, please visit www.aholddelhaize.com.
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web Joey Cavino AP19353858195657.jpg Joey Covino poses for a photo Dec. 18, 2019, at his home in Saugus, Massachusetts, with a photo of himself as a 9-year-old boy. Covino was abused by Fr. Richard J. McCormick at a summer camp in Massachusetts in 1981. (AP/Elise Amendola)
Richard J. Poster served time for possessing child pornography, violated his probation by having contact with children, admitted masturbating in the bushes near a church school and in 2005 was put on a sex offender registry. And yet the former Catholic priest was only just this month added to a list of clergy members credibly accused of child sexual abuse — after The Associated Press asked why he was not included.
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Victims' advocates had long criticized the Roman Catholic Church for not making public the names of credibly accused priests. Now, despite the dioceses' release of nearly 5,300 names, most in the last two years, critics say the lists are far from complete. An AP analysis found more than 900 clergy members accused of child sexual abuse who were missing from lists released by the dioceses and religious orders where they served. The AP reached that number by matching those public diocesan lists against a database of accused priests tracked by the group BishopAccountability.org and then scouring bankruptcy documents, lawsuits, settlement information, grand jury reports and media accounts. More than a hundred of the former clergy members not listed by dioceses or religious orders had been charged with sexual crimes, including rape, solicitation and receiving or viewing child pornography. On top of that, the AP found another nearly 400 priests and clergy members who were accused of abuse while serving in dioceses that have not yet released any names. "No one should think, 'Oh, the bishops are releasing their lists, there's nothing left to do,'" said Terence McKiernan, co-founder of BishopAccountability.org, who has been tracking the abuse crisis and cataloging accused priests for almost two decades, accumulating a database of thousands of priests. "There are a lot of holes in these lists," he said. "There's still a lot to do to get to actual, true transparency."
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Church officials say that absent an admission of guilt, they have to weigh releasing a name against harming the reputation of priests who may have been falsely accused. By naming accused priests, they note, they also open themselves to lawsuits from those who maintain their innocence. Earlier this month, former priest John Tormey sued the Providence, Rhode Island, diocese, saying his reputation was irreparably harmed by his inclusion on the diocese's credibly accused list. After the list was made public, he said he was asked to retire by the community college where he had worked for over a decade. Some dioceses have excluded entire classes of clergy members from their lists — priests in religious orders, deceased priests who had only one allegation against them, priests ordained in foreign countries and, sometimes, deacons or seminarians ousted before they were ordained. Others, like Poster, were excluded because of technicalities. Poster's name was not included when the Davenport, Iowa, diocese issued its first list of two dozen credibly accused priests in 2008. The diocese said his crime of possessing more than 270 videos and images of child pornography on his work laptop was not originally a qualifying offense in the church's landmark charter on child abuse because there wasn't a direct victim.
web Poster AP19358566573793.jpg This undated photo obtained from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in December 2019 shows Richard J. Poster. (AP/Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services)
After he was released from prison, the diocese found Poster a job as a maintenance man at its office, but he was fired less than a year later after admitting to masturbating in the bushes on the property, which abuts a Catholic high school. Still, the diocese did not list him. Poster went on to violate the terms of his probation, admitting he had contact with minors at a bookstore and near an elementary school, federal court records unsealed at the AP's request show. A judge sent him back to jail for two months and imposed several other monitoring conditions. Child pornography was added to the church's child abuse charter in 2011 and, though the diocese promised it would update its list of perpetrators as required under a court-approved bankruptcy plan, it never included Poster. "It was an oversight," diocese spokesman Deacon David Montgomery told the AP. He said the public had been kept informed about the case through press releases issued from Poster's arrest until his removal from the priesthood in 2007. Poster, now 54, lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, near a school and two parks. He hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing for more than a decade and declined to comment when reached by the AP, saying he preferred to stay out of the spotlight. Of the 900 unlisted accused clergy members, more than a tenth had been charged with a sex-related crime — a higher percentage than those named publicly by dioceses and orders, the AP found. Dioceses varied widely in what they considered a credible accusation. Like Poster, some of the priests criminally charged with child pornography weren't listed because some dioceses said a victim needed to report a complaint. In addition to Poster, the AP review found 15 other priests charged with possessing, distributing or creating child pornography who were not included on any list. Other dioceses created exceptions for a host of other reasons, ranging from cases being deemed not credible by a board of lay church people to the clergy members in question having since died and thus being unable to defend themselves. "If your goal is protecting kids and healing victims, your lists will be as broad and detailed as possible. If your goal is protecting your reputation and institution, it will be narrow and vague. And that's the choice most bishops are making," said David Clohessy, the former executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, who now heads the group's St. Louis chapter. The largest exceptions were made for the nearly 400 priests in religious orders who, while they serve in diocesan schools and parishes, don't report to the bishops.
web McCormick AP19358694910405.jpg Judge Timothy Feeley, left, addresses former Fr. Richard J. McCormick, 74, Aug. 10, 2015, in Salem Superior Court in Boston. (AP Pool/The Boston Herald/Faith Ninivaggi)
Richard J. McCormick, a Salesian priest who worked at parishes, schools and religious camps in dioceses in Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana and Louisiana, has been accused of molesting or having inappropriate contact with children from three states. In 2009, his order settled the first three civil claims against him. Yet he does not appear on any list of credibly accused clergy members. McCormick finally faced criminal charges after one of his victims spotted the priest's name on a very different list — one posted in 2011 by a Boston lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian, who represents church sexual abuse victims. Thirty years had gone by, but Joey Covino said he immediately recognized a photo of McCormick as the priest who had molested him over two summers at a Salesian camp, a woodsy retreat for underprivileged boys in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Covino's boyhood had revolved around church, where he served as an altar boy, played in a Catholic Little League and where his mother — raising four children on her own — gratefully accepted assistance from friendly priests. When she sent Covino and his brothers back to the free camp for a second year, "I was petrified — petrified — and I couldn't say anything. I couldn't even ask my brothers to see if it had happened to them," said Covino, now 49 and a police officer in Revere, Massachusetts. "I've always told myself I should have done something. I should have fought back." Covino said the entirety of his adult life had been altered by McCormick's abuse — failed relationships, his decisions to join the military and later the police, nightmares that plagued him. His decision to come forward led to McCormick being convicted of rape in 2014 and sentenced to up to 10 years. The priest since has pleaded guilty to assaulting another boy. The Salesians, based in New Rochelle, New York, have never posted a list of credibly accused priests. "Our men who have been credibly accused and have had accusations have been listed in the various dioceses that we serve," said Father Steve Ryan, vice provincial of the order. Ryan said he was certain McCormick's name appeared on several lists, including Boston's.
web O'Malley AP19358633674567.jpg Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley arrives to the Santa Maria alla Vittoria church March 10, 2013, in Rome to celebrate Mass. (AP/Domenico Stinellis)
But when Boston posted its list in 2011, Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley wrote that he was not including priests from religious orders or visiting clerics because the diocese "does not determine the outcome in such cases; that is the responsibility of the priest's order or diocese." O'Malley since has called on religious orders to post their own lists, spokesman Terry Donilon said. The AP found the Boston archdiocese has the most accused priests left off its list, with almost 80 not included. Nearly three-quarters, like McCormick, were priests from religious orders. Another dozen died before allegations were received — another exclusion cited by the archdiocese. McCormick also is not on the New York archdiocese's list or lists posted by the Archdiocese of Gary, Indiana, and the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida — both places where he faced accusations. The archdiocese in New Orleans, where McCormick served in 1991, added his name to its list of credibly accused priests only after an inquiry from the AP. Priests named on any list were excluded from the AP's undercount analysis, even if they were not named on lists in the other dioceses where they served. Because the AP counted only priests left off all lists, critics say the number of 900 unnamed priests represents just a tiny portion of the true scope of the underreporting problem. Other priests excluded from the credibly accused lists were left off because of findings from the diocesan investigations process. Review boards — independent panels in each diocese staffed with lay people to review allegations of abuse — make the initial recommendation on whether an allegation is credible. The standards those boards use to investigate claims and the process itself often is so shrouded from public view that some victims say they weren't allowed to attend when their allegations were discussed. Dozens of priests whose accusers received payouts or legal settlements were left off credibly accused lists because review boards deemed the accusations not substantiated or because bishops or even the Vatican later overturned the board's findings on appeal. The standards for Vatican appeals are even more secretive.
"You can't put much stock in the lists that the church voluntarily provides because they cannot be trusted to police themselves." — Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro Tweet this
In 2006, the Chicago Archdiocese's review board investigated a claim from two brothers who alleged a priest named Robert Stepek had abused them. The board found "reasonable cause to suspect that sexual abuse of minors occurred," but Stepek was restored to good standing in 2013 after a Vatican court said it was "unable to find evidence strong enough." The court found Stepek engaged in inappropriate behavior for a priest, however, and he remained without an assignment under restrictions until his death in 2016. The AP found about 45 accused clergy members who did not appear on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's list of credibly accused priests. The archdiocese said they were excluded for a variety of reasons, including deciding that about a dozen priests found unsuitable for ministry by a review board due to conduct involving minors did not do anything that rose to the level of abuse. A spokesman said the archdiocese has a thorough and transparent investigation process, but declined to comment on any of the individual cases of priests not named on its list. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro told the AP that he had to fight church leaders to release a groundbreaking 2018 grand jury report that named more than 300 predator priests and cataloged clergy abuse over seven decades in six of the state's dioceses, not including Philadelphia. Several bishops played a direct role in covering up the abuse in Pennsylvania, Shapiro said. "You can't put much stock in the lists that the church voluntarily provides because they cannot be trusted to police themselves," he said.
web Malone AP19358633697153.jpg Bishop Richard Malone speaks to Catholics on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo, New York. (AP/File/David Duprey)
In Buffalo, New York, Bishop Richard Malone resigned under pressure earlier this month after his executive assistant leaked internal church documents to a reporter after becoming concerned the bishop had intentionally omitted dozens of names from its list of credibly accused priests. Buffalo's list has more than doubled to 105 clergy members since those documents were released. Still, the AP found nearly three dozen accused priests who remain unnamed by the diocese. The number of new claims being reported to law enforcement and church officials over the last two years has increased, spurred in part by revelations of abuse from high-ranking church officials such as former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and by the Pennsylvania grand jury report and the more than 20 other state investigations launched in its wake. The AP found more than 130 priests who were accused in the last two years whose names do not appear on any lists. Another 37 unlisted priests were accused under New York's Child Victims Act, which recently opened a window for victims to file civil lawsuits regardless of the statute of limitations, a trend being echoed across the country. Anne Burke, now chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, was part of the Catholic Church's inaugural National Review Board, a commission formed to help implement the church's 2002 child abuse charter. "We gave our report and recommendations over 15 years ago. They never followed through. That was the final nail in the coffin as far as we were concerned in terms of the bishops ever being able to pull themselves away … from the bureaucracy and be transparent," Burke said. "That is why we are here again today, and it's worse." Many advocates say the church has a long way to go toward being transparent and are determined to see that it becomes far more open about problem priests.
web Jeff Anderson AP19358633675323.jpg Attorney Jeff Anderson, left, points to a chart of sexual abuse perpetrators during a Aug. 14, 2019, news conference in New York, accompanied by sexual abuse victims Birdie Farrell, center, and Joseph Carramano. (AP/Richard Drew)
Attorney Jeff Anderson, known for suing dioceses for information on accused clergy, has released almost 30 various rosters of clergy he has received allegations against or whose names appear in church documents. "We feel a fierce public imperative to continue to release our lists because those released by dioceses contain only a fraction of the true report," Anderson said. "And they lead people to believe they are coming clean when they are not." It was a list that Anderson's law firm released in the Archdiocese of New York that led 34-year-old Joe Caramanno to file a complaint, decades after he said he was abused. Caramanno had been hospitalized for an anxiety disorder when he was a teenager and part of his return to high school involved mandated meetings with a priest who controlled his medication. It was during those sessions that Caramanno said Monsignor John Paddack fondled him. Caramanno, now a teacher, said it wasn't until he saw Paddack's name on Anderson's list that he felt he could come forward. "I needed the validation that it wasn't just me. It made it more real," he said. The archdiocese's official list of credibly accused priests, released a few months after Anderson's, contains only half the names and does not include Paddack, who has stepped down during the ongoing investigation. "It makes me wonder if I hadn't come forward … would he still be an active priest?" said Caramanno, who has filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese under New York's Child Victims Act.
"What matters is one question: Did or does this credibly accused predator have access to my flock ever? Even for a few hours. If the answer is yes, then that bishop needs to put that predator on his list." — David Clohessy Tweet this | Just minutes into New Year’s Day, a teenage boy was shot and wounded in the leg on the North Side of St. Louis. A few minutes later, four people where shot in a different neighborhood, three fatally. By morning, the police were investigating 10 shootings, including five deaths, across the city.
And the year wasn’t even a day old. Nor was the violence limited to St. Louis, which in 2017 had the nation’s highest murder rate.
In a country that has become accustomed to gun violence in all its forms, 2020 was off to a typical start. Gunfire echoed across the country in shootings from St. Louis to Philadelphia, and from Michigan to Texas.
In Cleveland, a man who news reports said was firing off rounds to celebrate the new year accidentally killed his girlfriend. In Florida, near Orlando, two men were killed in a shooting inside a nightclub. And in Baltimore, which closed 2019 with the city’s second-highest number of homicides on record, the police were investigating two killings that happened a few hours before midnight. | 1.333333 |
Violent crime in Los Angeles declined for the second consecutive year in 2019, which was the 10th consecutive year the city saw fewer than 300 homicides.
Gang-related homicides and crime related to homelessness remain persistent trouble spots, officials said. But the overall crime picture continued several positive trends from the previous year, and officials said Los Angeles may be experiencing one of the safest periods in modern history.
Homicides were at 252 as of Dec. 21, the same number as 2018 to that date. Violent crime, including homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults, slid by 3.6%. The number of shooting victims dropped from 985 to 924, a 6.2% difference. Property crimes also decreased.
In the most dramatic decline, reported rapes decreased by 22.6%. But there were questions about how that statistic should be interpreted, and many advocates said that rape remains one of the most underreported crimes.
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Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said the crime numbers show the department’s emphasis on community policing is working. Continuing to partner with organizations such as the Gang Reduction and Youth Development Foundation has given the department more opportunities to work at the “neighborhood level,” Moore said.
“This happens when all parts of our community work together,” Moore said. “This is one of the safest times in our history.”
There is no doubt that statistically, Los Angeles is far less deadly than in previous decades: in 1992 homicides peaked at nearly 1,100 and nearly 90,000 violent crimes were reported. In 2019, about 27,000 violent crimes were reported.
Crime also fell in the parts of L.A. County patrolled by the Sheriff’s Department, with murders and burglaries both down about 15%, according to Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
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Elsewhere in California, crime dropped by 4.6% in San Francisco, but increased by 15% in Oakland, according to the cities’ police departments. A 12% increase in homicides drove the crime spike in Oakland.
About 57% of 2018’s homicides in Los Angeles were gang-related, according to a 2018 report. That number too was down in 2019.
But Moore said that category, as well as homeless crime, still poses challenges.
“Far too many” crimes committed against and perpetrated by homeless individuals happened in 2019, Moore said. And of the 252 city-wide homicides, he said more than half of them were gang-related.
A LAPD spokesman said the department is compiling the most up-to-date statistics for both categories and will release them in early 2020.
“We have a lot of room to improve on,” Moore said. “Imagine how much safer our city would be if we do.”
Moore has previously touted LAPD-led youth programs and the work of gang interventionists for reductions in gang crime. But gang members themselves also launched initiatives to curtail violence.
After rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle was killed in March, several South Los Angeles gangs agreed to a tentative ceasefire. Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, rapped openly of his gang affiliation and called for reinvesting in the community and constructive reform in the streets. Many compared the truce to the one in 1992 after the devastating L.A. riots.
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Skipp Townsend, a prominent gang interventionist, said the ceasefire has sparked similar talks across the city, which makes him optimistic for the future.
“There are more people talking about peace weekly than there are people talking about being violent again,” Townsend said.
The LAPD defines a gang-related crime as when “the suspect or victim is an active or affiliate gang member, or when circumstances indicate that the crime is consistent with gang activity.”
Townsend said that definition is too subjective and lacks context. Isolated incidents that occur between individuals who also may be in a gang shouldn’t count toward the tally, Townsend said. He acknowledged the department’s work with community organizations, saying that needs to continue. Specifically, he said more former gang members working with police on the ground in communities would help.
“There’s no way a person can show up with a uniform with a badge and a gun and think that he’s making an impact in the community,” Townsend said. “It takes someone who is in regular street clothes, who talks and acts just like them, to say ‘Hey, come on, let’s talk peace. Let’s put the guns down and have a conversation.’”
An LAPD report released earlier this year showed there was a 53% increase in homeless crime as perpetrators, and a 68% increase in crimes involving a homeless victim from 2017 to 2018. Moore said the department would work with city officials on several initiatives, for example, to place more homeless people in shelters and create more storage units for their belongings.
Crimes committed by or against homeless people will not be tolerated, he said.
“We hear the community in their plea for law enforcement to take a more active role,” Moore said.
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Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff, a member of the civilian body that governs the department, agreed with Moore’s strategy, saying it’s a way to serve a community that may feel unrepresented.
The fact that homeless individuals are reporting crimes is a good sign, Soboroff said.
“We’re in the business of trust,” he said. “The more people that know that we’re out there, hopefully it will help more people trust us.”
Moore said the department is investigating the steep drop in reported rape cases —1,495 in 2019, which is 436 fewer cases than 2018. It also marks the lowest total in six years.
That data doesn’t reflect national trends, as reported rapes have increased steadily since 2013, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program. But experts said rape is underreported across the country and in Los Angeles.
“I get a lot of calls from people who say, ‘I didn’t go to the police because I know how I’m going to be treated,’” said David Ring, a sexual crimes and personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. “They’ll say, ‘I know the types of questions I’m going to be asked.’ At the end of the day, the police are going to say, ‘Sorry, we can’t help you. ’So why do I want to put myself through that?’”
Ring is representing a client in the trial against Harvey Weinstein, the film producer whom numerous women have accused of sexually assault. Experts say the high profile saga, which fueled the #MeToo Movement in 2017, may have encouraged survivors to speak out. But Ring said the “Weinstein effect” has also made the public more aggressive in attempting to discredit survivors’ testimonies, making some of them fearful of reporting to police.
Genie Harrison, a sexual harassment lawyer in Los Angeles who is also representing one of Weinstein’s accusers, estimated that 75% of the survivors who contact her firm tell her they haven’t contacted police. She isn’t surprised the reported numbers are low.
“I certainly don’t see a decrease in the number of people calling my office or emailing me reporting that they’ve been raped,” she said.
Harrison said LAPD should continue recruiting more women and people of color, saying some survivors feel more comfortable talking to someone who looks like them.
Moore said the department will continue its education and outreach on the issue.
“This crime is underreported as a society,” Moore said. “The department wants and needs these people to step forward. These people are important to us, and they matter.”
Moore praised the department’s 70% homicide clearance rate, as well as the 7.8% drop in property crime. Burglaries and motor vehicle theft dropped 16.7% and 11.1% respectively. Soboroff was especially pleased with the LAPD’s efforts to use more non-lethal tools to fight crime, such as the BolaWrap.
Moore said in 2020 he is seeking to hire more civilian across the department to free up uniformed officers for patrols and other pressing needs.
Times staff writer Cindy Chang contributed to this article | This post was originally published on this site
Baltimore City Breaks Murder Record Of The Century
Baltimore City slid further into chaos and just broke its highest ever per-capita homicide rate after recording its 347th murder on Monday.
With about 602,000 residents, Baltimore City’s homicide rate breached 57 per 100,000 residents after 13 people have been murdered since Dec. 21.
The annual death toll has only hit 342 on two other occasions, onetime in 2017 and another in 2015. Breaching the 342 level to 347 is uncharted territory and suggests the situation will get worse in 2019.
This is the 5th year the city has recorded murders over 300, due mostly to the Ferguson effect post-2015 riots and socio-economic deterioration in the town.
The highest ever per-capita homicide rate and an out of control opioid epidemic comes as the total population in the city crashes to a 100-year low, many are fleeing the city for the suburbs as the local economy continues to dive deeper into a depression, never recovered since 2008.
Baltimore City Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young held an end-of-year news conference on public safety Monday. Young said, “Our residents deserve to live without the fear of violence and it is my obligation and duty to leverage every resource and tool available to stop the cycle of violence that is crippling our city.”
He added, “We cannot stop violent crime through policing alone. We must use both community-based interventions and an integrated crime-fighting strategy.”
Young also wrote an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday about his new strategy to turn Baltimore City around will focus on identifying and charging gun crimes and holding weekly case reviews with the police department and the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the number of people killed in the city this year is “deeply disturbing.”
“That level of violence simply cannot be tolerated in a civil society, much less in a great city like Baltimore,” Harrison said.
He said the department would start treating the “actual disease” of violence, instead of what he characterized as the symptoms.
“[W]hen we only treat symptoms and never deal with root cause issues, violence, like a disease, builds resistance. It gets stronger and becomes more difficult to eradicate,” Harrison said.
With no signs of abating, the murder crisis in Baltimore City will likely get worse.
Please do yourself a favor in 2020 and avoid traveling to the city considering its per capita homicide rate is one of the highest in the country. | 2 |
Eat Pure Mountain Market just celebrated its fifth anniversary of opening its doors to the people of Golden in December 2014.
Nicole Du Vent stands outside of her business, Eat Pure Mountain Market. The store just celebrated it’s fifth anniversary of operation.
Eat Pure Mountain Market just celebrated its fifth anniversary of opening its doors to the people of Golden in December 2014.
Supplying nourishing and organic locally sourced foods to the people of Golden, owner Nicole Du Vent has been enjoying the ride so far.
“I’m so lucky and blessed to have a business that’s working in this community, and I’m thankful for the support that the community has shown since the start,” said Du Vent. “I grew up on an orchard and I worked as a chef for almost 20 years, so food has always been my passion.”
Du Vent formerly worked as a chef in the backcountry, preparing meals for people who are on the go and living a healthy active lifestyle. While it was work she greatly enjoyed, she wanted to have a bigger role in the community of Golden, rather than continue to come and go in town due to her job.
“When I first opened my business, people would come in and be like ‘oh, you must be new!’, and I had to tell them that I had been in Golden for eight years,” said Du Vent. “Getting to know the community and seeing the same faces and chatting with them, being a part of this community has been so fulfilling.”
One of the services that Eat Pure Mountain Market provides Golden is their produce bins. The bins, which are offered in a range of sizes and are comprised of 75 per cent vegetables and 25 per cent fruit, offer the most value per dollar for the produce that clients receive.
With prices varying from $30-45, bins are assembled by the staff at Eat Pure and are picked up by clients on Thursdays. The bins provide them with a wide assortment of foods for the week.
“We shop the price list for the best deals, so you’re going to get the most value for your organic dollar,” said Du Vent. “It ensures that you get the most value, versus coming in and not knowing what the deals are.”
All the produce is locally sourced, which is an important aspect of Eat Pure’s mantra. Not only do locally sourced foods help protect the environment, according to Du Vent, but it also supports the local economy and creates opportunities for local produce suppliers to maintain a viable business.
“There was one business in town that said she didn’t think she could have kept up her business until we opened,” said Du Vent. “Having a year round outlet can be the difference between someone having their dream business or not, so it’s important to support local.”
In the new year, Eat Pure will be providing a series of talks and classes on organic and healthy eating, as well as their customer appreciation day on Saturday, January 5. More information can be found on their facebook page, or you can drop in at 1007-C 10th Street South. | Jessica Iron
A friend and I had a disagreement the other day. I’d told her about an incident I’d had earlier in the week where I’d been so frustrated with someone I’d jumbled my words and it was obvious I was bordering on anger. Nothing more than that happened. We parted ways before the tension escalated but it left me with a lingering sense of disappointment.
I confessed to my friend that I had let myself down in that moment. I was in reaction-mode and teetering off the brink of logic, soon to reach unchartered territory where I would no longer be in control of my emotions.
That’s what happens to all of us when we let anger take over. We begin to do and say things that we would normally abhor, like a blacked-out alcoholic who is unrecognizable from their sober and meek self.
That’s what anger does: it transforms us, and never for the better.
However, like a dutiful good friend, my friend quickly came to my defence and argued on my behalf. She suggested that it wasn’t a bad thing for the offending party to see me angry. She thought the person might benefit from witnessing my boiling point as it would teach them boundaries.
She also remarked that there was nothing wrong with me not having the perfect response.
Those are definitely some interesting points, but I was less worried about what the other person thought of my frustration in comparison to how I perceived it myself. At one time in my life, maybe even not that long ago, I would’ve agreed with my friend—partly for my ego’s sake, but also because I willfully gave in to anger much easier.
However, that was also a time in my life where drama and dysfunction were the norm and anger flowed through my life freely and without abandon.
Now I try to examine my triggers and dismantle them before I set off into the world each day, mindful of the power my words and actions have upon those around me.
Anger is my responsibility, no one else’s. It’s also a reaction, always a reaction to something or someone we can’t control.
There is so much we cannot control that it would be so easy to remain in an angry state virtually every time we step outside. That doesn’t mean we must be servile and docile human beings, incapable of making change because we’re too busy with our spurious smiles; disguising thin efforts at refrain. We can certainly effect change without resorting to the upheaval of our most basic and primal selves.
I considered my friend’s words as I laid out a plan. I was to meet with the person I’d been frustrated with the very next day. Now, this person was comfortable with anger. I’d seen her outbursts before. I could do as my friend suggested and Alpha-male her; asserting my dominance which is always what anger and ego demand.
Or, I could try another approach which didn’t cause my soul and conscience to cringe in disapproval.
The next day I stated my boundaries, first and foremost, politely and with light humour. She understood instantly, was compliant and amiable, and do you know what? We had a great week full of laughter, good banter and joy. I like to think that was all possible because I chose to dismantle my anger and frustration rather than igniting them.
Anger may be a natural emotion, but we have the power to confront it and dissipate its energy or succumb to it and watch it consume us, devastating everyone and everything around us. It’s always our choice. | 1 |
Whangape horse rider Selena Anderson walked away a big winner on Tuesday after a successful outing on horse Barbie at the annual Pawarenga united marae sports day.
Anderson, 25, started the day in impeccable form, winning her first three races (maiden, Emma Hetaraka women's memorial, Dollar Leef and Harold Leef memorial) before she took out the Haimona Pirini and Hone Tamati cross country race in the last race of the day.
Whangape rider Selena Anderson, 25, shoots ahead of the pack in the first race of the Pawarenga sports day on Tuesday. Photo / Adam Pearse
The annual sports event, which attracted about 1500 people, aimed to raise funds for three North Hokianga marae settlements - Mōrehu, Ohaki and Taiao.
As well as horse races along the beach, the day's activities included wood chopping, a volleyball tournament, Iron Man and Iron Woman races, tug 'o war and kids' running races.
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An extensive story on the event's relevance to the region will appear in Saturday's Northern Advocate.
Dee Guest, 20, (right) from Pawarenga gets off to a fast start on her horse Ryda in the Emma Hetaraka memorial women's race and finishes second. Photo / Adam Pearse
Chad Scrivener swings around the barrel to record the fastest time of 20.07 seconds in the barrel race. Photo / Adam Pearse
Races organiser George Proctor, 54, showed his class with a skilful and entertaining effort in the Stock Whip race. Photo / Adam Pearse
Clayton Semenoff tries to pick up speed around the barrel. Photo / Adam Pearse
Rider Jade Parks (left) keeps ahead of Theo Scrivener. Photo / Adam Pearse
Milton Leef, 41, from Mitimiti sends blocks of wood flying as he swings his axe in the Mat Peri memorial championship wood chopping event where he finished third. Photo / Adam Pearse
Maryanne Moa, 21, from Pawarenga sends over a lethal serve on the volleyball court. Photo / Adam Pearse
TK Paparoa, 26, from Motuti climbs high to tip the ball back over the volleyball net. Photo / Adam Pearse
From left: Tania Jacobs, Waiora White, Kelly Hemi and Helen Tipene get into the spirit of the day. Photo / Adam Pearse
Khaylin Pio-Fu, 8, tries to keep control of his vehicle. Photo / Adam Pearse
From left: Troy Monga, Marylee Tuhimata and Tyler Ely-Tuhimata looking fresh in their new Pawarenga sports day merchandise. Photo / Adam Pearse
Beau Waipouri, 15, (left) saddles up for a day of racing on his horse Shortcut, alongside Ronan Ratu, 20, (right) and horse Dinky. Photo / Adam Pearse
Panguru's Stella Leef, 11, (left) and Mana Wijohn, 11, chill out by the horses. Photo / Adam Pearse
Competitors rush off at the start of the Iron Girl race. Photo / Adam Pearse
Tini Herbert (in blue) uses all his strength in the tug-o-war on behalf of the Pawarenga team. Photo / Adam Pearse | Woody Guthrie's 1943 New Year's Resolutions are a powerful reminder to "Keep the hope machine running."
I'd seen this before, but I was reminded of it when I saw Billy Bragg share a webcomic version of it on Facebook. But here are Woody Guthrie's New Year's resolutions from 1943. While they were written in the throes of World War II, I think we'd all do well by following their example every day and every year, but especially right now.
1. Work more and better
2. Work by a schedule
3. Wash teeth if any
4. Shave
5. Take bath
6. Eat good — fruit — vegetables — milk
7. Drink very scant if any
8. Write a song a day
9. Wear clean clothes — look good
10. Shine shoes
11. Change socks
12. Change bed cloths often
13. Read lots good books
14. Listen to radio a lot
15. Learn people better
16. Keep rancho clean
17. Dont get lonesome
18. Stay glad
19. Keep hoping machine running
20. Dream good
21. Bank all extra money
22. Save dough
23. Have company but dont waste time
24. Send Mary and kids money
25. Play and sing good
26. Dance better
27. Help win war — beat fascism
28. Love mama
29. Love papa
30. Love Pete
31. Love everybody
32. Make up your mind
33. Wake up and fight
Dance better. Beat fascism. Keep the hope machine running. I think that pretty much covers everything.
Woody Guthrie’s Doodle-Filled List of 33 New Year’s Resolutions From 1943 | 1 |
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On the 100th anniversary of the publication of Agatha Christie's first novel we look back at the author's childhood in Devon and discover that it is still possible to find her childhood haunts and the places which inspired her novels.
The so-called Queen of Crime wrote 70-plus detective novels.
Christie can also be considered a queen of all publishing genres as she is one of the top-selling authors in history, with her combined works selling more than two billion copies worldwide.
As a little girl she liked to play hoop and pretend to ride an imaginary horse around her childhood home, Ashfield House in Barton Road. At that time it looked out across Torbay.
But it was demolished in 1961 to make way for bungalows. Now all that remains is a small plaque on a roadside granite slab.
But many of the places that young Agatha knew and loved still remain.
She may have looked outwardly like a timid young Victorian lady. But Agatha had a wild streak. She loved to ride horses, swim in the rain, go on nocturnal torchlight picnics and roller-skate on the 'rough' pier with her best friend, a boy called Bolton Fletcher. Later she became one of the first Europeans to surf standing up in Honolulu.
And during the Great War she volunteered in a makeshift hospital for the war wounded where she first became fascinated by poisons.
And when her dashing young first husband had an affair, Agatha was not like other women at the time. Instead of quietly carrying on, she staged a dramatic disappearance and had the world's press and the police scouring the country for 11 days while she stayed at a hotel using the same surname as her husband's lover.
These are the places that young Agatha was inspired by:
Ashfield - the family home
(Image: Herald Express)
On the slopes above Barton, before the tower block of South Devon Technical College was built, Agatha had a happy family home. She adored Ashfield, with its large garden and monkey puzzle tree.
She wrote: "I had a very happy childhood. I had a home and a garden that I loved; a wise and patient nanny; and a father and mother who loved each other dearly.''
(Image: Ed Oldfield)
As recently as 2017 her grandson Matthew Prichard spoke about his regret that the childhood home in Barton Road had been demolished. Now there is a granite slab with a blue plague marking the spot.
(Image: Herald Express)
Princess Pier
The young Agatha roller skated on the pier before the First World War.
In her autobiography Agatha wrote about roller-skating with the Lucy family and her sister-in-law, Nan Watts in about 1911 .
She said: "Roller-skating on the pier was a pastime much in vogue. The surface of the pier was extremely rough, and you fell down a good deal, but it was great fun. Nan Watts and I were fast friends by now. We were not only friends but drinking companions – we both liked the same drink, cream, ordinary plain, neat cream."
Swimming and surfing
Agatha always loved to swim in any weather.
When she was a young girl, the beaches in Torquay were segregated by sex.
Torquay Council kept a strict watch on the propriety of sea bathing. In 1899, a bylaw stated that “no person of the male sex shall at any time bathe within 50 yards of a ladies’ bathing machine.”
(Image: Herald Express)
Men and boys swam at the Gentlemen’s Bathing Cove where there was no dress code. Men swam there in the nude or “in their scanty triangles,” Agatha recalled, “disport[ing] themselves as they pleased.” Women and girls were restricted to swimming at the Ladies’ Bathing Cove an Beacon Cove. Their beach was small and stony, and steeply sloping.
In 1903, when Agatha was 13, the Council approved mixed bathing on its beaches. Men and women could now swim together at Tor Abbey Sands and Corbyn Head Beach, as well as on the more aristocratic Meadfoot Beach, the one Agatha’s mother’s preferred.
In her youth she would often swim several hundred metres out to Shag Rock and back from Meadfoot beach.
After her first marriage Agatha Christie became one of Britain's earliest "stand-up" surfers in 1922 at Waikiki in Honolulu.
(Image: Museum of British Surfing)
Barton Cricket Club
(Image: Torbay Council)
As a little girl the future Queen of Crime would sit in the shade of the large oak tree which still dominates the Barton ground to keep score and watch her father play cricket.
Torquay Town Hall Assembly Rooms
(Image: Herald Express)
As a volunteer nurse and later an assistant pharmacist during World War I, this was where the teenage Agatha first learned about poisons, plots and puzzles which became the source material for many of her books.
Grand Hotel - where she spent her honeymoon night
This is the site of Agatha’s honeymoon to Archie Christie on Christmas Eve 1914. In recognition of that The Grand Hotel has a bedroom suite named after her.
All Saints Church in Torre
The Queen of Crime was baptised in All Saints and the seat where she sat every week with her father is still in the church.
Visitors can still see a framed copy of her baptismal certificate, the ornate font where she was baptised at two months old in 1890 and even sit in the pew where Agatha always sat next to her father.
Where Agatha Christie kept her horse
When Agatha was a child the old Torre Conservative Club in South Street, founded in 1912 by Lord Leith of Fyvie, was a coaching house with stables attached which could be accessed via the lane alongside the police station. When she lived at Ashfield in Barton Road, she kept her horse at those stables and would often visit via the Vansittart Road entrance.
Greenway
(Image: Richard Austin)
The fabulous Greenway estate, with its Grade II* listed house and garden, were acquired by the National Trust in 1999. It is significant as the former home of author Agatha Christie and also the birthplace of Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1537.
Agatha Christie and her second husband Max Mallowan regularly stayed at Greenway after they bought it in 1938.
The boat house on the Dart
The landing stage for Greenway was the inspiration for the place in the novel Dead Man's Folly where Mrs Oliver believes the body will be found.
Paignton Picture House
Dame Agatha regularly went to Paignton Picture House and her favourite seat is still there. The former Torbay Cinema opened on March 16, 1914, and is hailed as one of the most important purpose-built original cinemas in the country. A trust is trying to restore it to its former glory.
Dartmoor - where Agatha wrote her first novel
Agatha completed her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920), at the Moorland Hotel at Hay Tor on Dartmoor and always loved the Moors.
Imperial Hotel, Torquay
The hotel provided the inspiration for the Majestic Hotel in two of Christie’s novels – Peril at End House and The Body in the Library. In Sleeping Murder, Miss Marple’s final case, the Imperial Hotel appears as itself, with the denouement taking place on the terrace.
The Pavilion
Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890, and the English Riviera celebrated her centenary with the creation of a hand-crafted bronze bust in her likeness. The bust sits on Palk Street, close to the sadly dilapidated and boarded up Edwardian Pavilion.
Anstey's Cove
(Image: GoogleMaps)
In her early days Dame Agatha enjoyed nocturnal torchlight picnics at Anstey's Cove - another of her favourite beaches.
(Image: PA Wire)
Burgh Island - and then there were none
This island opposite Bantham, sits just off Bigbury-on-Sea in the South Hams. It was the inspiration for Agatha's best-love book 'And Then There Were None'.
Walk the Agatha Christie Mile
Established in 1990, the centenary of Agatha's birth, there are 11 specific locations along a one mile route around Torquay seafront.
It leads to places she knew and loved, along the busy harbour and stretching along the palm-lined seafront and promenades.
Some of the plaque locations include; The Grand Hotel, Princess Pier, Princess Gardens, The Pavilion, Agatha Christie Bust, The Strand, Torquay Museum, Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Beacon Cove, Imperial Hotel, Kents Cavern, Torquay Train Station, Cockington and Oldway Mansion.+ | The Exeter Chiefs are one of the great stories of English and European club rugby in recent years.
A decade ago the Devonshire side were toiling away in England’s second-tier competition, the Rugby Championship. Over the ensuing years they have vaulted from Tier 2 team to Premiership mid-table dwellers and then to four-time finalists and one-time champions.
Dave Dennis has been around for the latter third of this remarkable journey. The Wallaby of 18 caps signed with the Chiefs prior to the 2016-17 campaign. That season they won their first-ever Premiership title, with Dennis having quickly established himself as a regular starter and leader in their forward pack.
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After finishing as bridesmaids to Saracens the past two seasons Exeter have taken their play up a notch or two this campaign. Currently they’re sitting at the summit of two tables: the English Premiership and Pool 2 of the European Champions Cup.
Obviously it’s early. Very early. There is still two-thirds of the season left to play.
But a rollicking start has Exeter poised to make a charge at both of these competitions. Dennis does not deny that winning ‘the double’ is already on the team’s radar.
“Yeah, very much so,” he said. “We talk about any league we enter into, we always go after it and try to win trophies. That’s where we are as a club now and where we want to be.
“We feel as though if we keep putting in the work and play to a standard that we’re capable of those two trophies are sitting there waiting for us to take.”
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You cannot blame Dennis for being greedy. He was captain of the Waratahs in 2014 when they surged towards their maiden Super Rugby title. Sadly for him, he ended up missing the finals after rupturing his ACL in the last game of the regular season.
“It’s something that I really struggled with at the time, to be honest. I spent probably seven or eight years of my life trying to get to that moment and I missed out. I had mixed emotions. I was so happy for everyone but obviously couldn’t be out there. Maybe it’s a little bit of karma that I’m getting an opportunity now.”
And what an opportunity it is. Dennis finds himself representing the Chiefs at a time when they are perhaps on the verge of usurping Saracens as top dogs in England and Europe.
The veteran forward believes that the origins of Exeter’s winning culture go back even further than their rise to Premiership status nine years ago. He credits Chiefs stalwarts – including director of rugby Rob Baxter, who played over 250 games for the club – for laying the foundations of their current success decades ago.
“A lot of the qualities and values that were instilled in the past still remain now. Obviously the professionalism and the focus of the training has got better and better every year, but the basic idea of the rugby club is a group of men coming together, having a good time and sharing special moments.
“We all play the game to have a good time and enjoy it, and, yes, you enjoy winning, but you also should enjoy the journey. They do that really well here at the Chiefs.”
Winning has become habitual lately. Exeter has won seven games on the spin in all competitions, with their Aussie lock captaining the side in four of those victories.
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Dennis expresses modesty about his own play on the field but feels that leadership is an area in which he thrives.
“I like building relationships, getting to know people and trying to motivate them. I just try to push messages and make sure everybody is putting in the work as well as keeping things very simple for myself. I’ve never been the best player in the team wherever I’ve been. I’ve always just tried to do the basics well and drive the team forward.”
The latest of Exeter’s victories with Dennis at the helm was against the mighty Saracens. Toppling the two-time reigning champions is always a huge achievement, but the Chiefs can now move forward in the league with the knowledge that their archrivals won’t be there to contest the title at season’s end.
Saracens’ finals hopes have already been dashed after being slapped with a 35-point penalty for exceeding the league’s salary cap.
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Of course this development will not simply hand Exeter the title. There are plenty of other good English sides to push them the rest of the way, including Gloucester and a resurgent Northampton. However, having their nemesis in three of past four Premiership finals out of the way is a huge plus for the Chiefs.
Europe presents perhaps an even greater challenge. Exeter will need to take several huge scalps consecutively, which will be a huge ask for a team that has never made it past the tournament’s quarter-finals. Leinster, who have started the season with 13 straight wins, as well as Racing 92, Ulster, Munster, Clermont and Toulouse are all still in the Champions Cup mix.
Saracens still have a pulse too. If both teams keep winning their European matches, the Sarries-Exeter saga may well have another chapter left to write this season.
Going deep into Europe will also equal more games played for Exeter. Additionally, they have qualified for the Premiership Cup semi-finals, which adds one, potentially two, more games to their schedule.
It will be an almighty war of attrition, but Dennis is confident that Exeter have the personnel to do it – not just in terms of numbers but also the mix within it.
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“One thing that the club has done well over the years is build a really strong squad in terms of depth. We’ve currently got 60-odd players. There’s a real nice blend of people involved too—the odd foreigner, a lot of local lads, a lot of guys that come through the academy,” he said.
They have great continuity too. Santiago Cordero’s departure to Bordeaux is the only notable subtraction from last season. Otherwise it’s the same formidable group plus a pair of South African bruisers and star fullback Stuart Hogg who altogether make the Chiefs look like legitimate world-beaters.
It would be a remarkable story if the Chiefs can jump from minnows to double-winners in less than a decade. It will be tough, but after an excellent start and with a voracious Aussie leading the charge they have a bloody good shot at it. | 1.333333 |
Keeping up with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement, India has handed over lists of 267 Pakistan civilian prisoners & 99 fishermen to Pakistan who are in India’s custody, while Pakistan shared lists of 55 civilian prisoners & 227 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians.
According to the MEA, these lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and July 1, every year. The exchange of lists was followed by the Central government calling for early repatriation of Indian civilian prisoners, fishermen, and defence personnel currently in Pakistan's custody.
"In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 4 Indian civilian prisoners and 126 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 14 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 100 Indian fishermen who are in Pakistan’s custody," a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs stated.
In addition to this, the government asked Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of the medical experts' team to assess the mental stability of Indian prisoners lodged in different jails across Pakistan, as well as 4-member team to Karachi in connection with release and repatriation of 22 Indian fishing boats. | Islamabad: Pakistan has handed over a list of 282 Indian prisoners including 55 civil and 227 fishermen lodged in the country’s jail.
The list was handed over to the High Commission of India on Wednesday.
This is in confirmation to the bilateral agreement between the two nations. The Foreign Office said the “step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on May 21, 2008”.
According to reports, both the countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year. One on 1st of January and then 1st of July.
The foreign office said the Indian government will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. | 3.666667 |
To provide warmth to lions and tigers in the winter season, heaters have been installed outside their enclosures at Guwahati Zoo.
For the deer in the zoo, the authorities have put paddy straw to keep their body temperature warm.
“Heaters have been placed outside the enclosures of tigers and lions. Because heaters aren’t good for deer, hence paddy straw is being kept," said Praveen, animal keeper in-charge of the zoo, news agency ANI reported.
The temperature dipped to 12 degree Celsius in Assam in December. As per the Regional Meteorological Centre data, the maximum temperature was recorded at 23 degree Celsius on December 23.
The Nehru Zoological Park, situated in Hyderdabad, also made special arrangements for animals to beat the cold this December. The zoo administration placed heaters in all the night houses of tigers, lions, cheetah, jaguar, leopard.
The Nehru Zoological Park also put in place gunny bags to prevent chilly air from entering the enclosures of the animals. In view of the dropping temperature, wooden planks were placed to avoid cramps in their feet.
Besides, the administration arranged for nest boxes in night houses of birds, particularly macaws and cockatoos.
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time. | Telegram messenger has rolled out a new update for its Android and iOS users. The new update brings Theme Editor 2.0, which allows users to change the theme, background colour as well as the message view colour on their apps. Apart from this, more patterns for the background too have been introduced. Further, users can change the app’s icon according to their preferences. Currently, the options available are classic, classic x, filled and filled x.
On its official blog, the company has mentioned a feature called ‘Send When Online.’ With this feature users can schedule a message, which the recipient will receive only when he or she comes online. Along with that, there are various other changes like location sharing has been improvised, users now get simplified search results, podcasts and audiobooks support, and so on.
Here are some of the specific features and updates for Android users:
• Switch Night mode with a button on menu screen.
• New Animation
• Maps will turn dark in night mode
• Select and copy part of a message instead of full text
• Share content with different people simultaneously when sharing from other apps
• Mark archived chats as read instantly
• Redesigned contact sending screen and video resolution selection.
Following are the features available for iOS users:
• Alter size of text within app.
• Select browser in which external links open in.
• Choice to select options that show in the share sheet when sharing from other apps to Telegram
• Press and hold on icon to switch accounts
• View used storage, available space and clear app cache
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time. | 1.333333 |
A zoo in Germany has said that all the animals inside a monkey sanctuary have died after a fire broke out there on New Year's Eve.
Chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, fruit bats and birds were among the estimated 30 animals killed after the fire broke out in the 6,500 square foot enclosure at Krefeld Zoo that was built in 1975, the BBC reported.
Locals raised the alarm just after midnight on Wednesday. When firefighters arrived, the blaze in the enclosure could not be contained before the building had burned down to its skeletal structure.
German media outlet Deutsche Welle reported that an initial police investigation found that sky lanterns may have ignited the roof of the enclosure and caused the rest of the structure to go up in flames, although the zoo has not confirmed this.
"Like a miracle... they are only slightly injured."
The zoo said two chimpanzees -- named Bally and Limbo -- survived the blaze. https://t.co/p9LUQbnv1o — CNN (@CNN) January 1, 2020
Witnesses described how the cylindrical paper lanterns with little fires inside were seen flying near zoo, according to Gerd Hoppmann, the city's head of criminal police.
Fatal fires in the past spurred authorities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia where Krefeld is located to ban the miniature hot air balloons in 2009, DW added.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Krefeld Zoo said: "Our worst fears have become reality. There are no surviving animals in the monkey house. An unbelievable tragedy rolled us shortly after midnight. Our human monkey house has burned down to the basic scaffolding."
In a Facebook update on Wednesday afternoon, the zoo said the fire "destroyed monkey house completely—two chimpanzees survived."
It said that "like a miracle" two chimpanzees named Bally and Limbo managed to survive the fire and were only "slightly injured and are now housed in two boxes in the gorilla garden," which had not been damaged.
Read more Tourists Forced to Flee after Apocalyptic Australian Bushfires Turn Sky Red
However, 48-year-old Massa, the oldest living silverback gorilla in the European endangered species breeding programme, died in the blaze, according to German media as cited by The Guardian.
"At the moment, active help at the fire site is not possible, as the house is at risk of collapse," the zoo's statement said, adding, "We are grateful for donations at all levels" and that it would eventually build a new monkey house.
The zoo it was thankful for the offers of assistance, but added: "We are still in shock and cannot yet say exactly if and where help is needed."
The zoo will remain closed on New Year's Day. Newsweek has contacted Krefeld Zoo for an update. | More than 30 animals, including rare apes and monkeys, were killed in a fire at a zoo in Krefeld, Germany, during the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 2020. Photo by Ascha Steinbach / EPA-EFE
Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees were among the dozens of animals killed in a New Year's Day fire at a zoo in in western Germany.
Witnesses reported seeing low-flying Chinese sky lanterns, miniature kite-like balloons with candles inside, drifting over Krefeld Zoo, according to Gerd Hoppmann, head of the city's criminal police force.
Police and firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the zoo, just before 1 a.m. local time.
More than 30 animals -- nearly all the animals in the zoo -- were killed in the fire, according to news reports. The list animals lost in the fire included five orangutans, two gorillas, a chimpanzee and several monkeys. Some birds and fruit bats were also killed.
Though officials with the zoo, located near the German-Dutch border, originally reported all the residents of the ape house were lost, later reports revealed the rescue of two chimpanzees. A separate open-air gorilla enclosure was unscathed, leaving a male silverback gorilla, Kidogo, and his family unharmed.
Zoo officials described the rescue of the two chimps, female Bally and male Limbo, as a "miracle."
Sadly, the oldest living silverback gorilla in an endangered species breeding coordinated by European zoos, a 48-year-old ape named Massa, died in the fire.
While private firework shows are allowed in most German states and cities, Chinese fire lanterns are banned. | 4 |
news, local-news,
If you missed the last expired flares collection in 2019, you can soon take advantage of another visit by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to the MidCoast region in January. The mobile collection program will roll out for the first time in 2020, offering convenient and free disposal of marine flares that have reached expiry, and serving as a reminder to boat owners that flares disposed of incorrectly can be hazardous. Marine flares are used in boating emergencies as a signal for help, and to assist with establishing a vessel's location. Most flares have a use-by date of three years from manufacture, and penalties apply where flares are not replaced within their expiry period. It is also an offence to set off flares except in the case of an emergency. "Many people think flares can be placed into their general garbage collection," council's Waste Program Coordinator Amy Hill explained. "But flares are highly flammable and can be dangerous to the collectors, they can cause fire and damage to property, and they're hazardous for the environment if they end up in our landfills." Local boat owners are encouraged to regularly inspect their on-board flares, check the expiry dates, and take advantage of the RMS mobile collection program in January 2020. Did you know the Manning River Times is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/34mUB6MThPQ5E44ZVtuEVYJ/8c40ad08-633f-4413-8e3b-bf86a824b0bc.jpg/r111_0_702_334_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg | OTTAWA -- The federal government has hit pause on a popular immigration program that allows people to sponsor their parents or grandparents to come to Canada.
The parents and grandparents program normally opens for applications once a year, and often in January.
But Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino has given notice that the application process for 2020 is being postponed.
"These instructions will allow the Department sufficient time to complete the development of a new application intake management process for the parents and grandparents sponsorship program, to be implemented in 2020," he wrote in a set of instructions published Dec. 20, and circulated by his department to the public this week.
The application process for the wildly popular program has been reworked several times in recent years following criticism and problems with the system.
Applications used to be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis in person, but that system was scrapped after people effectively bought their way to the front of the line by hiring couriers to ensure their forms were at the top of the pile.
The Liberals then moved to a lottery system, which was criticized for being too random, and then an online program that in 2019 saw all the spots snapped up within minutes.
The Liberal government promised after that to review the system yet again, but a decision on what would happen for the 2020 program was delayed by the federal election.
The program will reopen at some point next year, according to Mendicino's instructions that were posted online.
"The Minister intends to issue further Instructions relating to the intake management process for the parents and grandparents program by April 1, 2020, at the latest."
About 20,000 people are admitted annually under the parent and grandparent category, but it currently takes about two years to process an application.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2019. | 1 |
PM calls in remembrance ceremony for Shimon Peres to Opposition Chair Benny Gantz to meet as soon as possible to establish unity government.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took part in the State memorial ceremony this morning for President Shimon Peres on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, addressing the complicated political situation.
In his speech, Netanyahu mentioned Peres' decision to go to a unity government with Yitzchak Shamir in the 1980's after no clear decision was reached between the blocs, and noted that no clear decision was made in this week's elections.
"There's no reason for us to go for further elections. I'm against it. A broad unity government is the order of the day," Netanyahu said, calling on Opposition Chairman Gantz to meet with him as soon as possible.
President Reuven Rivlin congratulated Prime Minister Netanyahu in his memorial address for calling for unity.
"I hear the voices calling for establishment of a broad and stable unity government and I congratulate you, Mr. Prime Minister, on joining this morning to this call," Rivlin said.
The President added, "This is an important call. The responsibility is that of the elected officials, especially the heads of the major parties." | 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 |
(CNN) Doctors are not optimistic one of the men stabbed at a New York Hanukkah celebration will regain consciousness, according to the victim's family.
Josef Neumann, who was one of five people assaulted Saturday in the upstate hamlet of Monsey, suffered multiple stab wounds to his head, neck and arms, his family said in a statement posted to social media by the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council. Shoshana Bernstein, a spokeswoman for the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey, said the statement is accurate.
"Doctors are not optimistic about his chances to regain consciousness, and if our father does miraculously recover partially, doctors expect that he will have permanent damage to the brain; leaving him partially paralyzed and speech-impaired for the rest of his life," the statement said.
The family described Neumann's condition as dire and said a weapon "penetrated his skull directly into the brain." His right arm was shattered.
"Our father has seven children, many grandchildren, a great grandchild, and brothers and sisters," the statement said.
Read More | Posted By TheNewsCommenter: From Nydailynews.com: “Machete attack victim faces grim prognosis following anti-Semitic rampage during Chanukah celebration, family says”. Below is an excerpt from the article.
A Jewish man hacked viciously by a machete-swinging anti-Semite may be brain-damaged and paralyzed for life if he ever regains consciousness, his family said Wednesday.
Josef Neumann, patriarch to a family of seven children, many grandkids and one great-grandchild, “was severely stabbed multiple times during the mass attack,” read the three-paragraph statement. “The knife penetrated his skull directly into his brain. He also suffered three cuts to the head, one cut to the neck, and his right arm is shattered.”
The horribly-injured victim remained unresponsive Wednesday as his family hopes against hope for some good news that now appears to be a longshot. At this point, doctors “are not optimistic about his chances to regain consciousness,” the statement said. “Our father’s status is so dire that no surgery has yet been performed on his right arm."
Neumann was one of five victims wounded when suspect Grafton Thomas, his face obscured by a scarf and his hand clutching an 18-inch blade, burst into a Chanukah celebration to unleash his hate-fueled bile on Saturday, authorities said.
A hospital photo of Neumann showed two thick ridges of sutures rising from his skull as a ventilator keeps the man alive. Irreversible brain damage, with partial paralysis and speech impairment for the rest of his life, appears to be the best possible outcome for Neumann, the family said.
Read more... | 3.666667 |
Opinion
Why demagogues were the Founding Fathers’ greatest fear
While dressed as founding father Alexander Hamilton during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco on Dec. 17, event organizer Steven Rapport addresses the crowd. Protesters around the nation participated in “Nobody is Above the Law” rallies on the eve of a historic Trump impeachment vote in the U. S. House of Representatives. less While dressed as founding father Alexander Hamilton during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco on Dec. 17, event organizer Steven Rapport addresses ... more Photo: PHILIP PACHECO / AFP Via Getty Images Photo: PHILIP PACHECO / AFP Via Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Why demagogues were the Founding Fathers’ greatest fear 1 / 1 Back to Gallery
There has been much talk lately among both Democrats and Republicans of the intents of the founders in the writing of the Constitution, especially involving the powers of impeachment and removal from office.
What has been sorely lacking from this conversation is an awareness of the framers’ overwhelming conviction that there was nothing more poisonous to constitutional democracies than demagogues — which to them meant a very specific kind of threat.
Less than two weeks after the start of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, George Washington wrote to his friend, the Marquis de Lafayette, on June 6, 1787, explaining that his critical purpose in attending the convention was to prevent a demagogue from gaining power in the politically unstable young nation and thus destroying it.
Washington described how he was pulled out of retirement by an urgent risk to the United States. “Anarchy and confusion” were threatening the security of the American people and the rule of constitutional law. But this was only half the danger.
The deeper risk, he wrote that early June, was that the political chaos created fertile ground for exploitation “by some aspiring demagogue who will not consult the interest of his country so much as his own ambitious views.”
In a letter written three weeks later to David Stuart, a Virginia politician and distant family relation, Washington lamented that the widespread denigration of the Articles of Confederation, and the federal government it created, had rendered “the situation of this great country weak, inefficient and disgraceful.” He concluded the letter to Stuart by again stating that the political crisis made possible demagogues who pose a dire threat to the United States.
Washington’s greatest fear that summer of decision in Philadelphia was that unwise, self-seeking politicians — even if fairly elected to public office — would tear down the central government and its constitutional laws for the sake of their own advancement and glorification.
Washington, like his peers, did not use the word “demagogue” as an insult or epithet. He did not employ it as ammunition against those he identified as his political opponents. For the steady, rational Washington, “demagogue” was a forensic term that described a well-known class of political actors, known since Greek and Roman times, who obtain power through emotional appeals to prejudice, distrust and fear.
Irrespective of party affiliation, demagogues were a distinct personality type that knew no bounds of politics except fiery self-aggrandizement.
Washington, of course, was not the only framer who viewed our Constitution largely as a bulwark against demagogues. In the surviving records of the speeches given at the Constitutional Convention, the word “demagogue” was used 21 times by the framers as they crafted the Constitution’s essential checks and balances against despotism and tyranny.
“Demagogues are the great pests of our government,” said Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts during the convention, “and have occasioned most of our distresses.”
Gerry further described demagogues as “pretended patriots,” unprincipled politicians who steer the people toward “baneful measures” through “false reports.”
James Madison of Virginia twice alluded to “the danger of demagogues.” Alexander Hamilton of New York spoke of this peril of democracy more than any other delegate, naming it seven times. Demagogues, Hamilton said on the floor of Independence Hall in late June 1787, “hate the controul of the Genl. Government.”
Later, Hamilton went on to predict an ominous decline in republics from demagoguery to tyranny. As he put it in Federalist No. 1: “History will teach us that of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.”
Other framers who raised the red flag of demagoguery during the Constitutional Convention were Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, Pierce Butler of South Carolina and Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia. Mason declared outright that “the mischievous influence of demagogues” was one of the top two “evils” that can befall republican forms of government.
This destructive risk of demagogues is one reason the 55 framers of the Constitution adopted the power of impeachment during the historic convention of 1787.
They believed uniformly that some men, though elected by the people, would be temperamentally incapable of serving the public interest under the Constitution. Therefore, they offered Congress the remedy of impeachment and removal from office.
The framers did not view the exercise of this remedy to be an anti-democratic act of nullifying elections. To the contrary, they provided the people and their representatives with these emergency powers for the specific purpose of rescuing our democracy and Constitution from harm and destruction at the hands of demagogues.
Eli Merritt is a visiting scholar in the department of history at Vanderbilt University. Twitter: @elimerritt | Article II, Section 4, the U.S. Constitution, establishes, "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors." Treason and bribery are specific. "High crimes and misdemeanors" are not. Defined meaning of the phrase cannot be found in the Constitution itself.
The first viewpoint by those who believe in a literal reading of the Constitution, the phrase means precisely what it says, that is criminal activity. They argue that the framers wanted only true criminal activities to be the basis for impeachment. The second viewpoint is much broader. It defines high crimes and misdemeanors as any serious abuse of power, including both legal—but corrupt—and illegal actions qualify. For instance, any civil officer may face impeachment for serious incompetence, misconduct, violations of oath of office, and, in the case of judges, activities that undermine public confidence or damage the integrity of the judiciary.
Framers of the Constitution had considerable debate considering the issue of impeachment. As a matter of English practice and authoritative commentary by the mid-eighteenth century, impeachment embraced offenses involving official misconduct not necessarily those ordinarily punishable by the ordinary criminal law. Early discussion centered mostly on the idea of abuse or misuse of an official's government power.
Coincidentally and concurrent with the Constitutional Convention in 1787, there was a prominent impeachment proceeding taking place in Great Britain. It was the impeachment of Warren Hastings, Governor-General of India for “high crimes and misdemeanors” including charged offenses involving administrative misconduct, corruption, and cruel administration toward the people of India—not mere crimes in the common law sense.
On June 13, the report of the “Committee of the Whole” included a resolution that the executive would be removable “on impeachment and conviction of malpractices or neglect of duty.” In subsequent debates, George Mason referred to “corruption” as grounds for impeachment. Governor Morris, who wavered upon whether the President should be impeachable at all, eventually affirmed that a power of impeachment was necessary to guard against a President “corrupting his electors” to gain office, betraying his trust, being in foreign pay, or engaging in “bribery,” “treachery,” or other corruption.
Edmund Randolph said impeachment was needed to guard against a President “abusing his power.” James Madison spoke broadly of impeachment as necessary to protect the people against “negligence” or “perfidy” (dishonesty), warning that a President might “pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation [self-dealing] or oppression” or “betray his trust to a foreign power.” A proposed offense of maladministration was rejected as being too vague and susceptible to political abuse.
Finally, the Constitutional Convention returned to the familiar English common law standard of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” The offense(s) indicated have no precisely settled meaning, yet it means a universally understood, serious apolitical corrupt malpractice or abuse of one's office.
After the Convention, to obtain ratification, Alexander Hamilton warned in the Federalists Essays that the “greatest danger” to the new Republic would be attempted impeachment by a single party for its political interest(s) alone.
Jeffrey Lea, West Burlington | 3 |
One of the most popular craft breweries in California, Modern Times Beer, has entered the Bay Area with a new taproom in Oakland.
The San Diego brewery is known equally for its diverse and experimental array of brews as well as its quirky, stylized interiors. With the new Oakland taproom, which opened this month and is called the House of Perpetual Refreshment, it’s delivering on both.
Located a few blocks from Lake Merritt, the House of Perpetual Refreshment comprises 4,000 square feet of hot pink, teal and orange walls splashed with geometric patterns. Expect to see a mix of year-round, seasonal and special release beers across its 34 taps, plus house-roasted cold brew coffee, Modern Times’ own ciders and Bubble Party, the brewery’s non-alcoholic fizzy grapefruit option.
Since its founding in 2013, Modern Times has done things a little differently.
It has emphasized art not normally seen in typically minimalist, industrial breweries — like a ceiling covered in lamp shades or a mosaic of Michael Jackson made of thousands of Post-It notes. The brewery has put just as much effort into its fruited sours as its hoppy IPAs and named its taprooms cheeky things like “the Academy of Recreational Sciences.”
Instead of teaming up with food trucks or offering typical pub grub, it opened ambitious vegan restaurants within several of its taprooms. It started roasting its own coffee, opening a combination brewery-coffee shop in Los Angeles. And in 2017, it became California’s first employee-owned brewery.
At the Oakland location, there is no food, though customers can bring in snacks or even get pizza delivered. A mini-mart sells swag, to-go cans of beer and bags of coffee beans. The taproom also fills crowlers and growlers.
While some of Modern Times’ other six locations — spread across California as well as Portland, Ore. — are known for a single huge art installation, the Oakland space features wall-to-wall works with a focus on color. Modern Times spokesperson Dan Reed said via email that there are hidden Easter eggs sprinkled throughout, “resulting in a super-vibrant, joyous environment that reveals new secrets with each visit.”
The House of Perpetual Refreshment. Open noon-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., noon-midnight Fri., 11 a.m.-midnight Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. 2410 Valdez St., Oakland. 510-545-4191 or www.moderntimesbeer.com
Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com | My Chemical Romance, photo by Pooneh Ghana
My Chemical Romance performed their first reunion concert last month at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. One fan named Jeyzeus Hays decided to memorialize the long-awaited comeback, My Chemical Romance’s first performance in seven years, by compiling multiple videos of fan footage into a proper concert film. The entire reunion video, titled My Chemical Romance – Live in California 2019, can be viewed below.
My Chemical Romance – Live in California 2019 captures every thrilling moment of the band’s official reunion, from the opening curtain drop on through to the final encore song. It clocks in just over an hour and 40 minutes, which means you can watch the entire show and feel like you were there. Hays compiled the footage from videos previously uploaded to YouTube as well as footage other fans sent over, and then mixed the audio from multiple sources.
“This is the full concert, edited together using thousands of cuts, merged audio, [and] multiple HD video sources to create a high quality version of the show,” Hays wrote on Reddit. “I’ve been working on it since the night of the show. It’s not official by any means, but it is the closest we are gonna get to a proper copy of the show.”
(Read: 10 Emo Albums Every Music Fan Should Own)
My Chemical Romance – Live in California 2019 is incredibly detailed and surprisingly well made, especially considering it’s a bunch of clips recorded by fans while singing their hearts out. For those who wished they could have been at the concert but couldn’t afford a plane ticket, this one is for you. Watch the film below.
This isn’t the last we’ll see of My Chemical Romance. Shortly after announcing their reunion, they quickly revealed a handful of 2020 tour dates, including stops in Australia and Japan. Grab tickets to all of their upcoming concerts here.
Setlist:
I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
Thank You For The Venom
Give ’Em Hell, Kid
House Of Wolves
Summertime
You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison – with Sara Taylor of Youth Code
Make Room!!!!
Our Lady of Sorrows
Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
Sleep
Mama
I Don’t Love You
DESTROYA
Teenagers
S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W
Famous Last Words
The Kids From Yesterday
Encore:
Vampire Money
Helena
Welcome To The Black Parade | 1.666667 |
An Iraqi soldier stands guard in front of the US embassy. Ameer Al Mohmmedaw/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images
Topline: Amid worsening U.S.-Iranian relations, President Donald Trump sent additional troops to the Middle East on Tuesday night, in response to an attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad earlier that day, which he was quick to blame on Iran.
After Iraqi citizens stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, Trump said that the attack was “straight from Iran’s playbook” and that the country was “fully responsible.”
His administration immediately responded by deploying an additional 750 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the Middle East on Tuesday night, with another 3,000 on standby in the next few days. Sources told the Associated Press that they will go to Kuwait, although the official destination hasn’t yet been confirmed.
That’s in addition to 100 marines and two Apache attack helicopters that were deployed to reinforce the U.S. embassy earlier on Tuesday in a “show of force,” according to NPR.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed on Tuesday night that the deployment was “in response to recent events” in Iraq, as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate.
By Wednesday, most Iran-backed militia and protestors began to withdraw from the U.S. embassy, defusing the situation somewhat.
According to the State Department’s last update, all American embassy personnel in Baghdad are safe and there are currently no plans to evacuate.
Crucial quote: “This will never ever be a Benghazi,” Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago on New Years Eve. The president also praised the “fantastic job” and “instantaneous” response from U.S. marines, as well as the efforts of the Iraqi government in defusing the situation.
Big number: 14,000 U.S. troops in total have been sent to the Gulf region since May, amid concerns about Iranian aggression, according to the Associated Press.
Key background: Iraqi citizens attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad Tuesday morning in an enraged response to a Sunday U.S. airstrike that killed two dozen members of an Iranian-backed militia. Protesters broke into the U.S. embassy Tuesday, shattering windows, lighting fires and chanting “Death To America,” in one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent history. They were responding to U.S. airstrikes on Sunday that killed 24 members of an Iranian-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah, on the border between Iraq and Syria. The U.S. believes Kataib Hezbollah carried out a missile attack on a Iraqi military base Friday that killed an American contractor and wounded American and Iraqi service members. Critics say the U.S. response was disproportionate and violated Iraqi sovereignty, while the New York Times reported that the weekend airstrikes resulted in the “most serious political crisis” in years for the U.S. in Iraq.
Trump was quick to place the blame on Iran: “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!” | Charging that Iran was “fully responsible” for an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, President Donald Trump ordered about 750 U.S. soldiers deployed to the Middle East as about 3,000 more prepared for possible deployment in the next several days.
No U.S. casualties or evacuations were reported after the attack Tuesday by dozens of Iran-supported militiamen. U.S. Marines were sent from Kuwait to reinforce the compound.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday night that “in response to recent events” in Iraq, and at Trump's direction, he authorized the immediate deployment of the infantry battalion from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He did not specify the soldiers’ destination, but a U.S. official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.
“This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today,” Esper said in a written statement.
Additional soldiers from the 82nd Airborne's quick-deployment brigade, known officially as its Immediate Response Force, were prepared to deploy, Esper said. The U.S. official, who provided unreleased details on condition of anonymity, said the full brigade of about 4,000 soldiers may deploy.
The 750 soldiers deploying immediately were in addition to 14,000 U.S. troops who had deployed to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression, including its alleged sabotage of commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. At the time of the attack the U.S. had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat Islamic State extremists.
The breach of the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday was a stark demonstration that Iran can still strike at American interests despite Trump's economic pressure campaign. It also revealed growing strains between Washington and Baghdad, raising questions about the future of the U.S. military mission there.
“They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!” Trump tweeted Tuesday afternoon, though it was unclear whether his “threat” meant military retaliation. He thanked top Iraqi government leaders for their “rapid response upon request.” | 4 |
A look at the headlines right now: | Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): With BJP leaders slamming Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for passing the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act resolution unanimously in Kerala Assembly, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik on Wednesday said that nobody has a 'right to object' to a state's Assembly's decision.
"We were against the Citizenship law. Many political parties have opposed it on the floor of the House as well as in the public. Every Assembly has a right to pass any resolution against or in support of any issue," said Malik while speaking to ANI.He asserted that people in Assembly have their constitutional rights."They have their constitutional rights. If Kerala Assembly had passed any resolution that they have the right to resolve then nobody has a right to object it. Nobody has the right to take action against the Assembly and Chief Minister of Kerala," he said.On Tuesday, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that no state legislature has the power to pass any law with regard to citizenship."Citizenship, naturalisation are entry 17 on the Union list. Therefore, it is only the Parliament that has the power to pass any law with regards to citizenship, not any Assembly, including Kerala," Prasad had said at a press conference here.Taking a jibe at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Prasad had said, "The constitution has a mandate -- Parliament - List 1, State Assemblies - List 2. I would again urge the Chief Minister to kindly have better legal advice."Prasad's response came after the Kerala Assembly with support of Congress, CPI and CPI (M) passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the CAA. (ANI) | 2.333333 |
Phnom Penh police chief calls on his officers to curb crimes
Phnom Penh Police chief Lieutenant General Sar Thet has called on his police officers to do their utmost to crack down on crimes across the capital despite dips in figures.
Speaking at a promotion ceremony in Phnom Penh on Monday, Lt Gen Thet said that criminal cases declined in 2019 thanks to concerted efforts in cracking down on crimes.
“According to the 2019 report, felony offences have declined to 31 cases, and misdemeanour cases have declined to 177 cases,” Lt Gen Thet said.
He said that police officers must ensure law enforcement, security and public order for the people.
“Our police officers must work harder to crack down on crimes so that they are declining,” Lt Gen Thet said. “So we have to continue our efforts to control the situation so that it is calm with a good atmosphere.”
Colonel Eng Sorphea, chief of Phnom Penh Municipal Police’s Penal bureau, yesterday said that criminal offences declined in 2019 thanks to efforts by all police forces, especially district and commune law enforcement agents.
Col Sorphea said that tally of crimes across Phnom Penh has yet been finalised.
“So we can conclude that security and public order in 2019 is better than that in 2018,” Col Sorphea said.
Yong Kim Eng, president of People Centre for Development and Peace, yesterday said he was still concerned about drug use.
“Although police report shows that criminal cases have declined, people are still concerned about their security, especially an increase of drug issues which affects security,” Mr Kim Eng said.
San Chey, executive director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, echoed Mr Kim Eng’s concerns.
“Even though criminal offences have declined, people still worry about drug issues, especially gambling,” he said. | A truck driver was arrested on Tuesday for fatally striking a pedestrian in East Harlem.
A police spokesperson said the incident happened around 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve at the intersection of E. 125 Street and Madison Avenue. A driver in a Safelite truck, who has been identified as Farkell Hopkins, was driving eastbound on 125th Street when he struck the pedestrian, who was attempting to cross the street mid-block.
Farkell, who stayed at the scene, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. The Daily News noted that the victim, believed to be in his 40s, was not carrying ID, and police are still working to identify him.
Department of Transportation statistics as of last Monday showed that 215 people died in traffic crashes in 2019, up from 198 in the same time period last year. There have been 117 pedestrian fatalities, also as of Monday, up from 115 in all of 2018. Twenty-nine cyclists have died, nearly triple the fatalities of last year. We've contacted the DOT to get the final count of pedestrian fatalities in 2019. | 1 |
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With Christmas just behind us and as we go hurtling into a new year, the last thing you might be thinking about now is a summer holiday.
But with a bit of planning, if you take the time now, you could save a fortune on your mid-year break away.
Research has shown holidays booked in advance rather than last minute can be significantly cheaper, and with the January sales about to get under way, you could bag a real bargain.
According to TripAdvisor's 'Best Time To Book' report, only two destinations are worth waiting to book - New York and Tokyo.
(Image: PA)
The rest, you should start looking now, so if you plan to fly out in August, booking in at least March should be a priority, but if flights are available, earlier is even better.
Obviously, if you are able to travel at a quieter time of the year (May, June, September and October), you are going to make even more savings and can probably leave it a little later to book.
Book 3-9 months in advance
Barcelona: savings of up to 23%
Rome: savings of up to 22%
Prague: savings of up to 20%
Cancun: savings of up to 11% (When booked 5-8 months ahead)
Book 2-7 months in advance
Paris: savings of up to 19%
Orlando: savings of up to 15% (When booked within five months)
Buenos Aires: savings of up to 12% (When booked within 3-6 months)
Book within 3 months
Dubai: savings of up to 49%
Bangkok: savings of up to 16%
Hanoi: savings of up to 14% (When booked within two months)
Singapore: savings of up to 14%
Cape Town: savings of up to 12% (When booked within two months)
Book within 5 weeks
Sydney: savings of up to 25%
Book within 1 month
New York: savings of up to 40%
Tokyo: savings of up to 30% | New Year’s Eve 2020 Celebrations Across the World
(Last Updated On: January 1, 2020)
New Year’s Eve 2020 was celebrated in various countries with the fireworks displays.
Millions of people around the world are gathering to ring in the New Year; fireworks and musical celebrations kick off as people welcome 2020.
People welcomed the New Year in major cities such as London, Sydney, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Bangkok, Beijing, Tokyo and Paris with live music and dance performances.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Sky Tower and Kazakhstan’s Noor Sultan, Baku the capital of Azerbaijani, were also decorated with fireworks and lights.
In addition, the people of Brazil have also celebrated the New Year with fireworks.
American citizens are now gathering at Times Square of New York to celebrate the New Year.
The Christian calendar change occurs at midnight on December 31st each year. | 1.666667 |
In an effort to keep thousands of people with mental illness from becoming homeless, a coalition of L.A. County officials and homeless advocates is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to put $500 million into his January budget proposal to shore up financially struggling board and care homes.
The money, according to a fact sheet submitted by the California County Behavioral Health Directors Assn. and the Steinberg Institute, is needed to preserve potentially hundreds of homes that are on the brink of closure because the state reimbursement rate is too low to cover their rising costs.
A recent survey by the California Community Care Licensing Division found that 39 board and care homes closed in Los Angeles County over a three-year period, leaving only 159 in operation.
Generally located in small apartment buildings or single-family homes, board and care homes provide shelter, three meals a day, housekeeping and medication management to residents. Those serving indigent residents — the majority — are reimbursed $1,058 a month by the state, or about $35 a day, and cannot charge more than that.
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Los Angeles County and others across California have been using local funds to augment the state rate. L.A. County provides additional funds for about 2,000 board and care beds.
The one-time expenditure of $500 million, the coalition says, would buy time for the state to enact a new funding structure for reimbursement. Doing so would put threatened board and care homes on a more permanent financial footing and support more services for their residents, advocates and county officials said.
“The loss of a board and care facility permanently reduces the state’s and counties’ capacity to house vulnerable populations of persons who are aged, disabled or have a mental illness,” the joint statement to the governor said. “Without these facilities, the growing aging population and others who are homeless or at-risk for homelessness will likely find themselves with no other options but to live on the streets or in more expensive levels of care such as nursing homes and hospitals.”
Newsom’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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Board and care homes are licensed by the state under the categories of adult residential facilities and residential facilities for the elderly. But the number of them that serve mentally ill residents is unknown because those licenses include other types of homes.
Many operators say they are in the red and have no margin to maintain their facilities, which has led to more frequent citations by state inspectors.
The coalition based its $500-million request on a rough calculation of what it would cost to raise the state’s monthly reimbursement to about $2,600 for 60% of the 45,000 California residents who receive nonmedical out-of-home care payments.
In a separate letter to Newsom, the Steinberg Institute, a homeless advocacy nonprofit founded by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, proposed a new funding structure based on the state’s homes for people with developmental disabilities. Those homes receive funding based on each resident’s needs, with a cap of about $8,000 a month.
Two other statewide organizations also signaled their support for the budget request.
The California State Assn. of Counties “is supportive of the proposal seeking state assistance to stem the loss of board and care homes in our communities,” Executive Director Graham Knaus said in a statement. “We cannot lose this critical piece of the housing continuum on which counties depend for providing shelter to a spectrum of vulnerable people. This is one of a number of critical proposals needed to address homelessness.”
The County Welfare Directors Assn. of California has not taken an official position on the request for one-time funding, but is generally supportive, “as the loss of board and care homes is an issue our members are seeing locally,” Executive Director Cathy Senderling-McDonald said. | (BPT) - Winter may be frigid for many, but it’s an ideal time to plan for warmer days ahead that could be enjoyed on a boat with friends and family. Beginning in January, boat shows take place across the country offering some of the hottest deals around with special pricing and incentives on new boat models and marine accessories — a major draw for the 142 million Americans who take to the water each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
For those ready to plan their summer adventures on the water, boat shows are the perfect place to start. Whether it’s fishing, sailing, cruising, riding personal watercraft, wakesurfing or tubing — attendees have the unique opportunity to browse and board the latest boats and marine accessories. Take advantage of educational opportunities and discover various ways to get on the water — from buying, trying, sharing or renting.
Discover Boating, a national program to help people get on the water and experience the fun of boating, offers four tips to get the most out of your visit to a boat show near you this year:
Escape cabin fever for the year’s best deals.
Unlike auto shows, boat shows are the place to buy with hundreds of new models available for purchase right on the show floor. Boat shows make it easy for you to shop all the region’s dealers in one location. Plus, it’s the perfect time to order a new boat to ensure it arrives ready to launch in the spring. Find out what a boat show is all about.
Test the waters.
You can learn the ropes of boating and take advantage of onsite training, which is usually offered at little to no cost. Beginners can learn about boating, and more experienced captains are able to hone their skills. Plus, boat shows offer fun and interactive activities for the whole family from knot-tying and boating 101 seminars to remote-control docking ponds and virtual reality boating simulators and more.
Find your virtual dreamboat.
Before visiting a boat show, you’ll want to know which boats to shop. Start your search online with DiscoverBoating.com’s Boat Finder tool to identify which boat types fit your lifestyle, interests and budget. Plug in your preferences for on-water activities, number of passengers, propulsion, etc. to narrow down boat options before heading to your local boat show.
Look for the seal of approval.
When shopping for a boat at a show, online or at a dealership, always check to make sure it is NMMA Certified. NMMA Certified boat and trailer manufacturers have been independently inspected to ensure they meet strict industry standards for safety and construction, as well as all federal regulations. Look for the NMMA Certified sticker near the helm of a boat.
Find out what a boat show is all about by visiting DiscoverBoating.com, where you'll find a list of certified boat manufacturers, a boat loan calculator to estimate monthly payments, plus more interactive tools and resources for getting started in boating. | 1.333333 |
As the world faces a frightening youth employment challenge, 20 million young Africans are expected to join the workforce every year over the next two decades. At the same time, advances in technology offer an opportunity to boost labour demand in the digital economy in Africa.
So, in helping to tackle the youth employment challenge, insiders at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) say there is need to create a sustainable pipeline of talent with the right, future-forward, skills.
At the same time, working with governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations should build an enabling environment to create jobs for youth.
Like many new graduates, some youths realised very quickly after leaving university that the types of jobs available to them were not as plentiful as those who had studied Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
A testifier at ILO said she learned the hard way how important it is to have the skills that employers are looking for.
It is not just the study choices of students that need adjusting. In Kenya for instance, most universities are yet to adapt their curriculums to meet the growing demand for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills.
Three years from now – the length of an average first degree course – Kenya expects to have 17,000 ICT graduates available. Yet, a report by Youth Impact Labs estimates that by 2022 employers will be looking for 95,000 ICT professionals. Somehow this gap will need to be plugged.
However, it is not just a Kenyan, or an African, problem. Worldwide, no less than 79 per cent of global CEOs are concerned about the availability of key skills. Among African business leaders, this figure jumps to 87 per cent.
One other African youth was lucky. He found a good job that also fed his interest in employment and skills issues. After he began working at ThinkYoung (a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to involve youth in decision-making processes and provides decision-makers with high-quality research on key issues affecting young people), it did not take him long to understand how this skills gap affects more than profit and growth statistics for businesses and economies.
Perhaps, even worse damage is done to our irreplaceable human capital, because having the wrong skills is a major contributor to unemployment among school leavers and graduates.
If African leaders can correct this mis-match, the potential benefits are enormous.
There are many ways to fill this gap though. Self-learning, tech hubs, online courses and workshops can all contribute. In 2017, the ILO partnered with the International Telecommunications Union to launch the Digital Skills for Jobs Campaign under the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, with the aim of equipping five million young people with digital skills by 2030.
This includes mainstreaming digital skills into school curricula, establishing comprehensive on-the-job training systems, and encouraging private and public sector job creators to employ young people in digital-centric jobs. There will also be a strong focus on fostering youth-led digital entrepreneurship.
Not all is however, lost for non-STEM graduates! Retraining and upskilling programmes are available. Among the resources is the Decent Jobs for Youth Knowledge Facility, which collates experiences gathered from many different partners to facilitate learning related to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of youth employment policies and programmes, including on digital skills and jobs.
Increasingly, non-STEM graduate are finding themselves advocating for more STEM education and training, particularly among schoolchildren. As it often said, one is never too young or too old to learn new things. | Editor’s Note: Sponsored content brought to you by Africa Water Wells
There are multiple schools near the village of Sotik in Kenya that operate with no clean water, in addition to other tough conditions. The Mulcahy family wants to change that in 2020 by building four new water wells.
Courtesy Photo
How to Donate The Mulcahys are collecting money to build four more water wells in Kenya in 2020. There are more schools in the region where they hope to build rain-catch and filtration systems for clean water, and they’re also collecting laptops to supply for the schools. To donate, make checks payable to Grace Covenant Church and on the memo write “Africawaterwells.” Send to Grace Covenant Church, 3402 W I-20, Arlington, TX 76017 or donate online at Gracecovenantchurch.org. To donate a laptop, drop off at Christ Episcopal Church in Aspen.
Clean water is something Americans take for granted. We use freely to water our lawns, enjoy long showers, wash our cars and bathe our dogs.
But being witness to places in the world where clean water isn’t available is an experience that never left the minds of Sandy Mulcahy and her son, Lee Mulcahy.
An African safari in 2010 was meant to be a 50th anniversary vacation for Sandy and her late husband, Bud. But the relationships formed during their stay in Kenya led them to a much greater purpose.
Now, at 84 years old, Sandy is traveling back to Africa regularly with Lee, and each time it seems their purpose grows even larger.
From hosting annual women’s conferences that teach female villagers how to make a living, to distributing buckets with filters that provide clean water, the Mulcahys have their sights set on making a difference that lasts well beyond their lifetimes.
Setting the stage for future wells
Courtesy Photo
Sandy, who splits time between Arlington, Texas, and Aspen, Bud and Lee built their first well for Kenyan villagers near the town of Sotik in 2012. They added a water tower and tank in 2013.
After that project, for which Bud’s engineering background was instrumental, the village began thriving. With clean water available, the villagers gathered together to build a Christian school and named it after Bud — the Tili bei Bud Academy.
Moved by how their act of kindness could open the doors to new beginnings, they knew more had to be done. In 2017, Sandy and Lee led the construction of a rehabilitation and medical clinic. They brought a team of doctors and nurses in from Texas that were able to provide medications and exams, which was especially critical due to a national nurses’ strike in Kenya that year.
2019 fact-finding mission
Courtesy Photo
In 2019, the Mulcahy family set out on a fact-finding trip to the same African region to see if they could develop more clean water projects. What they found was beyond anything they could have imagined.
“We went to three school sites and let me tell you, it absolutely ripped my heart out to see there was no clean water,” Lee said.
The first school they visited, Kipnogsos, is a school for children with special needs. Sandy Mulcahy said the children often soil themselves during the school day and have no means to get cleaned up.
“The whole thing was just heartbreaking,” Sandy said.
At Kipsingei Secondary School, a highly ranked Kenyan school with motivated students, there is no water source. Sandy said some of the resident students were using filthy water for bathing.
“This water was like nothing you would ever consider using for anything,” she said.
At the third school they visited, Soimosiek Primary, the children approached Sandy and Lee and begged for clean water.
“One by one, they were asking us to be given clean water,” Sandy said. “To know that we have water here in the United States and turn it on and waste it — there’s no way you couldn’t be affected by that.” | 1.666667 |
"It was a nice house. We built it, raised six kids and two grandchildren," Ms Dunne said. "They won’t be coming out to nan and pop’s for a while." Residents in South Coast towns like Nelligen, Rosedale and Mogo who would normally be catering to waves of summer holidaymakers were instead reuniting to compare tales of how they had managed to save their homes or to console those less fortunate. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video On the main street of Mogo, Averill Berryman and her son Karl Niehus were inspecting the ruins of the property sales and dog grooming businesses she had worked "five months, seven days a week" to set up. "I can’t believe it," Ms Berryman said. "I just didn’t think it could happen."
Mr Niehus said his new employer and the house he was about to move into both went up in flames. Amid the ruins, Mr Niehus managed to excavate half a dozen eggs laid by a resident water dragon that had been attracted to the water left out by Ms Berryman – a former veterinary nurse. "Are they still viable?" she asked, finding a welcomed distraction from their plight. "She was a good mother, she kept coming and checking on them." Resident Peregrine Philip sits on the back verandah of his home where the fire came up the back door. Credit:Kate Geraghty Further along the coast at North Rosedale, Steve Hayes, from the Brooklyn RFS brigade, was walking along Yowani Road, assessing dozens of houses lost in the fire.
"Imagine how beautiful it would have been to live here," Mr Hayes said, looking at the burnt-out homes overlooking beaches and inlets. While residents had been prepared to fight to save their homes, they saw the ferocity of the fire heading their way and got out. Loading "It got so manic, so fast and so angry. It was devastating," Mr Hayes said, adding that the altered messaging had saved lives. "If this was 10-20 years ago, we would have lost a lot of people." Vinessa Maxwell, a teacher at the Moruya High School, had planned to give up her job and open a bed and breakfast on the road between Mogo and Rosedale.
Those plans are on hold after the fire front came within a few metres of the house she and her partner David fought to save. "It looks a bit like Armageddon," said Ms Maxwell, her face blackened with charcoal after a day of dousing fires nearby. "I don’t know how we’ll market it," she added half in jest. Loading As with many in the fire-hit towns, Ms Maxwell is yet to fully come to terms with the trauma she has just gone through. Carefully made plans to hide near exit doors and to hose down embers were thrown out when the fire front arrived. | The evacuation centre at Batemans Bay was hosting a stream of visitors on Thursday, some signing up and seeking advice while several people had set up tents on the nearby football oval.
The Herald spoke to a range of visitors anxious to leave, given advice by the RFS to exit the South Coast.
"We're undertaking the largest relocation of people out of the region in history, right now," said Andrew Constance, the local MP and Transport Minister.
"We need people to listen, respond, and get out," he told the Herald from the evacuation centre. | 3.666667 |
The United States will maintain its “maximum pressure” policy on Cuba in 2020 and is finalizing new measures to further cut off the revenue that flows into the Cuban government’s coffers, a senior U.S. official told the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald.
“Stay tuned, there will be more actions aimed at restricting their sources of income,” said Michael Kozak, acting assistant secretary of state for Latin America. “We’re looking for ways to restrict, restrict, restrict their freedom of action until they change their ways, which is a hard thing to foresee given their history, 61 years or nothing but repression and decline.”
The U.S. launched a “maximum pressure” campaign this year against the government of Havana for its support of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and human rights violations of Cubans on the island.
President Donald Trump authorized legal claims under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, banned cruising trips to the island, and limited remittances. Cuban leader Raúl Castro and his children were sanctioned, along with other officials and companies, especially those involved in shipments of Venezuelan oil that keep the island afloat.
Kozak said the U.S. would push to squeeze further activities that bring revenue to the government, including the medical services export program that brought more than $6 billion to the Cuban government in 2018.
“In terms of the airlines, we have significantly restricted the schedule of the flights there and, again, we continue to look at other ways to tighten up the sources of revenue,” the official added.
Trump critics have questioned the effectiveness of the current policy toward Cuba. Although the Cuban government has acknowledged that U.S. sanctions are hitting the economy hard, it has not shown signs of abandoning Maduro. Instead, Cuban officials have suggested that the Trump administration intends to damage diplomatic relations and close the two countries’ embassies, reopened under Barack Obama in 2015.
Granma, Cuba’s Communist Party newspaper, accused the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Havana, Mara Tekach, of intervening in the internal affairs of the country. Cuba’s appointed-president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, said in a recent speech that his government would respond to Washington’s alleged meddling.
Kozak, a career diplomat who was in charge of the Interests Section in Havana between 1996-99, declined to comment on the possibility of a breakdown in diplomatic relations and defended Tekach’s work “in defense of human rights and democracy” in Cuba.
“U-S. Cuba relations had not been good since this regime took power 61 years ago,” he said. “They are back again as they were, in the early days of the revolution, trying to prop up similar dictatorships around the world, especially in Venezuela, where you see Maduro guarded by Cuban bodyguards because he cannot trust his own people, and military Intelligence penetrated by hundreds and hundreds of Cuban officers.”
“Talking about intervening in somebody else’s internal affairs, I think that’s a pretty good example of it,” he added.
No changes in immigration policies for Cubans
The embassy in Havana is currently operating with a minimum staff after the closing of its consular office in September 2017 in response to health incidents that affected 26 U.S. officials and their families and whose cause is still unknown, Kozak said.
The suspension of the issuance of visas in Havana and the restrictive immigration policies of the Trump administration have made it much more difficult for Cubans to travel or obtain asylum in the United States. That situation is likely to continue next year.
Kozak declined to comment on a bill introduced by Florida Democratic representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell to reopen the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program that has been suspended for more than two years, leaving more than 20,000 Cubans in limbo. The bill proposes to conduct visa interviews via teleconference.
“Cubans are still eligible to come to the United States under the same laws that apply to every other country in the world,” Kozak said. “Yes, it’s more difficult now because we’ve had to reduce our consular staff so radically.”
Although Trump’s foreign policy towards Latin America has denounced dictatorships in the region, those fleeing from those governments find significant obstacles in obtaining asylum in the U.S.
Cuban asylum seekers, like citizens of any other country, must now wait in Mexico to resolve their cases. Many who applied before the new policy came into force in May have been waiting for months in detention centers across the country. And the administration is finalizing agreements with several Central American countries for them to take the burden of immigrants, including Cubans, who cross their territories in their route to the Mexican border.
“Our asylum system has gotten completely overwhelmed, so we’ve taken these steps,” Kozak said. “It doesn’t mean people will get sent back to the place they’re going to be persecuted. They have to wait somewhere else while they get processed. In that respect, Cubans are being treated the same as [people from] all other countries.”
Currently, Cubans must travel to a third country to obtain U.S. visas, after the withdrawal of most diplomatic personnel in Havana due to several cases of U.S. officials affected with brain injuries and other symptoms. The incidents caused a blow to U.S.-Cuba relations, and several U.S. government officials described them as “attacks” targeting their personnel in Havana.
But Kozak refused to use that term to refer to what happened in Havana.
“People suffered physical damage to their bodies. We don’t know how that was done, or by whom, so we’re not going to speculate,” the diplomat said. “What we know is that they were injured, and we haven’t gotten cooperation from the Cuban side.”
-- By Nora Gámez Torres | “Cuba has demonstrated time and time again that despite this asymmetric power, they are well-versed in strategies to delegitimize the U.S.’s position.”
A day that will forever live in the hearts and minds of free men and women around the world, Jan. 1, 1959 marked the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, as the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista ended under the leadership of Fidel Castro, Ernesto Che Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos, and Raul Castro, among others.
And on its 61st anniversary, the ideals of socialist society and state live on despite an illegal and brutal blockade installed by the United States in 1962 to undermine the project in the Caribbean Island, a policy which has been bolstered by current U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Cuba has demonstrated time and time again that despite this asymmetric power, they are well-versed in strategies to delegitimize the U.S.’s position,” U.S. Professor of International Relations Arturo Lopez-Levy argues.
These counter-strategies are cemented in the resilient spirit of the Cuban people and their commitment to the Revolution which began in 1956 as a group of 81 revolutionaries set sail to Cuba from Mexico in the famed Granma.
After the vessel crashed near Los Cayuelos Batista’s men ambushed them and the revolutionaries were left with 19 men, the Castro brothers, Cienfuegos, and Che who fled deep into Sierra Maestra mountains to a remote hideout that became the base from where the revolutionaries started guerilla warfare leading to Batista’s overthrow.
Three years later, as the new year gave way, a rebel force led by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro seized the capital Havana, forcing Batista to flee.
“I began the revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I'd do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action.”- Fidel Castro
From then on, revolutionary Cuba saw a series of reforms aimed at improving society. The health care and education sector was developed immensely with Cuban doctors traveling the world, working with marginalized sections, proving free health care for all.
The country also became illiteracy free in 1961 within a year of starting a literacy mission dropping from 23.6 percent to a mere 3.6 percent. Presently, the rate of illiteracy is 0.2 percent, one of the highest in the world.
Yet all these efforts to better the lives of its population have been met with resistance and violence from its neighbor in the North. In February 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed a trade embargo between the U.S. and Cuba and directed the Departments of Commerce and the Treasury to implement it, which remains in place today.
Since then Cuba-U.S. relations have had their ups and downs correlated to the intensity or ease of sanctions aimed at isolating the government.
In 2014, President Barack Obama's administration initiated a major policy shift moving away from sanctions toward engagement and dialogue, certain travel and business restrictions were loosened in a bid for the normalization of relations.
The policy changes included the rescission of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of international terrorism in May 2015; the restoration of diplomatic relations in July 2015; and efforts to increase travel, commerce, and the flow of information to Cuba by easing restrictions on travel, remittances, trade, telecommunications, and banking and financial services.
The restoration of relations led to the increased government-to-government engagement, with over 20 bilateral agreements negotiated and bilateral dialogues conducted in numerous areas of cooperation, which correlated with a major shift in Cuba’s economic policies as well.
However, on June 16, 2017, the newly elected President Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba. By Nov. 8, 2017, the Departments of State, Commerce, and the Treasury reimposed the business and travel restrictions.
Through the 2017 “Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act”, Cuba was placed once again as a priority “enemy.” A rehashing of Cold-War era discourse and propaganda was laid out by Trump’s administration to appease the Cuban-U.S. electorate in Florida and to undermine the government in Havana.
“Cuba seems to have the same effect on American administrations that the full moon once had on werewolves,” Wayne Smith, the U.S. diplomat who closed the country’s embassy in Havana in 1961 and later returned to Cuba as Chief of the Special Interests Section (1978- 1982) once said.
The vicious ‘wolves’ from Trump’s administration, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton and current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, set their eyes on its prey: Cuba. Trump trotted along to impose even harsher sanctions and direct attacks on the island’s economy.
The most infamous was the activation of the Helms-Burton Act's Titles III and IV suspended since 1996, starting May 2. The “Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act,” commonly known as Helms-Burton, was signed on March 12, 1996, during former President Bill Clinton’s administration, to disrupt foreign investment to the island and accentuate the economic effects of the economic blockade.
Through the application of Title III, U.S. citizens could sue in their country’s courts those persons and entities that conduct business with about 200 state-owned institutions in Cuba that were nationalized after Jan. 1, 1959. However, since the Clinton administration, the U.S. had avoided the implementation of this measure by issuing “temporary” six-month suspensions.
This practice became normalized because the full enforcement of the anti-Cuban law would imply massive damages not only for Cuba but for U.S., Canadian, and mainly European interests, as the bloc is the largest foreign investor on the island and the country’s top export market.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of sanctions, Idriss Jazairy has denounced the implementation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act.
“The international community must come together to challenge what amounts to blockades ignoring a country’s sovereignty, the human rights of its people, and the rights of third countries trading with sanctioned States, all while constituting a threat to world peace and security”, the U.N. appointee concluded.
On the eve of another anniversary of the undefeated and victorious revolution, I wish our people all the best! We have been through a year filled with tensions and aggression. Together we faced them, and together we are winning.#SomosCuba #SomosContinuidad pic.twitter.com/wHMryFbqVn — Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) December 31, 2019
Another strategy to isolate Cuba has been to attacks its allies and people that want to visit the island. Since April 2019, the Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on several shipping companies and vessels that have transported Venezuelan oil to Cuba, including six vessels sanctioned in early December 2019.
In June 2019, the Treasury Department eliminated the category of people-to-people educational travel and the Commerce Department generally prohibited cruise ships, private and corporate aircraft, sailboats, and fishing boats from going to Cuba.
But one of its worst attacks has been the decision from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to cap the amount of money family members can send to Cuba, ban donations and money transfers to or from the island through U.S. banks.
The new economic sanctions, which went into effect on Oct. 9, restrict the remittances to US$ 1,000 per quarter, no longer allow transfers of money to nonfamily members and instate a ban on remittance donations.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement that the measures are meant to “deny Cuba access to hard currency” to “financially isolate” the island.
The measure is not an attack on the Cuban government but Cuban families and individuals. Just as the decision In October 2019 from the Transportation Department to, effective Dec. 10, 2019, end flights by U.S. carriers between the U.S. and Cuba, except for Havana.
"New U.S. sanctions against Cuba. Lies, slander, and hypocrisy as a pretext of the U.S. government to tighten the blockade. Because of their failure in Venezuela, they attack with vindication against Cuba. We will resist and win,” Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel said after the latest round of sanctions.
But despite it all, despite the attacks and the illegal blockade Cuba’s resolve is stronger than ever. Reforms in its political and economic policies ready the island to strongly face new challenges as a new decade begins in 2020.
Meanwhile, support for the island grows and rejection of the U.S.’ bully-practices diminishes. As seen by the United Nations General Assembly which on Nov. 7 overwhelming voted in favor of the resolution demanding the ending of the U.S. blockade against Cuba with 187 countries voting in favor, three against while two countries abstained.
So as sanctions harden, the Revolution celebrates another year and the Cuban people continue to outmaneuver every U.S. head of state ever since President Dwight D. Eisenhower. | 2.666667 |
Illinois license plate sticker will be among most expensive in the nation
Illinois license plate sticker will be among most expensive in the nation
Illinoisans will be paying among the nation’s highest vehicle registration fees as part of a $45 billion infrastructure proposal pushed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the General Assembly.
Illinois drivers will pay the nation’s highest base fee and fifth highest overall fee for vehicle registration to help fund Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s $45 billion infrastructure plan.
The General Assembly passed the infrastructure proposal June 2, and Pritzker is expected to sign it. The legislation also includes a doubled gas tax expected to cost a family with two cars $300 more a year.
Under the proposal, Illinois drivers of standard vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less will see registration fees jump from $98 to $148 in 2020.
All other large vehicles, including trailers and buses, will see registration fee increases of $100. The registration on electronic vehicles will increase from $35 every two years to $248 every year. Motorcycles will not see a change in the $38 registration cost.
Illinois’ registration fee will be substantially higher than other states’ fees. Among neighboring states, Illinois is the only one to charge a flat rate over $100 for registration.
Illinois Policy Institute research showed no other state charges residents a base fee as high as Illinois. However, some states use a formula based on factors such as age, weight, and value to determine renewal fees, meaning some of their residents may pay more than Illinois residents for the same vehicle. For example, Iowa charges drivers $0.40 for every 100 pounds a passenger vehicle weighs multiplied by a percentage of the list price of the vehicle, which depends on its age. Other states such as Florida charge their residents a large tax the first time they register a vehicle, and then impose small age-related fees in the following years.
The Institute based calculations on a standard sedan weighing about 2,500 pounds that was sold in 2018 at a value of about $20,000 to determine fees in states with variable rates. The calculations showed that Illinois still has the fifth-largest vehicle registration fee in the nation, even when comparing it to drivers in other states who are registering a newer, lighter car.
Illinois in 2019 was again ranked as having the nation’s highest overall tax burden, at just shy of 15% of median household income. Adding another superlative by having Illinois residents pay the nation’s highest base vehicle registration fees is another reason for drivers to head for the state line and keep on going, just like 313 people a day on average have chosen to do for the past five years. | × Expand senior citizen alone
The Illinois Department on Aging is implementing new annual income limits, making it possible for more individuals to qualify for the Secretary of State License Plate Discount, Seniors Ride Free Transit Benefit, and Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride.
"Taking care of Illinois' most vulnerable seniors is at the core of our values, and working with the General Assembly, we expanded services to even more vulnerable older adults," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. "I'm proud that Illinois is moving forward and restoring key services, and assistance for seniors means that they won't be forgotten."
"I would like to thank Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly for truly respecting yesterday, supporting today, and planning for tomorrow by raising the income eligibility limitations on this program," said Paula Basta, director of IDoA. "These benefits support some of our state's most vulnerable residents by assisting them in their transportation needs, so we are proud to announce that more individuals will be able to take advantage of this program."
Specifically, as part of the bipartisan budget implementation bill, SB 1814, which was passed in May by the General Assembly and signed into law by Pritzker in June, it will now be easier for some to receive benefits from the Benefit Access Program, the formal name of the program that includes the Secretary of State License Plate Discount, Seniors Ride Free Transit Benefit, and Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride. Any application submitted January 1, 2020 through April 15, 2020 will continue to use 2018 income but will be subjected to the new income limits. Applications submitted on or after April 16, 2020 must use 2019 income to file. Therefore, if an applicant applied in 2019 and was denied based on 2018 income using the current income limits, they will be afforded an opportunity to re-apply. Once approved, benefits are valid for two years.
The increase in income eligibility limitations reflect the annual cost of living adjustment in Social Security and supplemental security income benefits. The average annual Social Security income in Illinois is $17,470 per year. Without Social Security, it is estimated that an additional 36 percent of older Illinoisans would fall into poverty. There has not been an increase in income eligibility limitations in the Benefit Access Program since 2010.
In fiscal year 2019, the department received about 126,180 applications, compared to 75,288 applications in 2006, which was the first year IDoA had made the application available online.
To be determined eligible for these benefits, individuals must submit a Benefit Access Application online. Visit illinois.gov/aging/ and click on the "Benefit Access" tab near the top. Paper applications are not available. Individuals who don't have access to a computer are encouraged to contact their local Area Agency on Aging, visit a local senior center, public library, or community center. For assistance locating your Area Agency on Aging or a local senior center, call the IDoA Senior HelpLine at (800) 252-8966 (hearing impaired call 1-888-206-1327).
Follow AdVantage on Facebook and Twitter | 2.5 |
Apple previously used graphics chips or GPUs in its iPhones and iPads that were designed by Imagination Technologies. An iPhone 11 is seen in this photo. (Image source: Bloomberg) Apple previously used graphics chips or GPUs in its iPhones and iPads that were designed by Imagination Technologies. An iPhone 11 is seen in this photo. (Image source: Bloomberg)
UK chip designer Imagination Technologies Group Plc said it’s struck a new license agreement with Apple Inc, reviving a business relationship that had all but ended in recent years.
The company, which was sold to Chinese buyout firm Canyon Bridge Capital Partners for 500 million pounds ($663 million) in September 2017, said Thursday it “formed a new multi-year license agreement under which Apple has access to a wider range of Imagination’s intellectual property in exchange for license fees.”
Apple previously used graphics chips or GPUs in its iPhones and iPads that were designed by Imagination Technologies, but it moved to its own internal chip designs starting with the iPhone X in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2018. The US company also uses its own graphics processors in the Apple Watch. It told Imagination Technologies in 2017 that it would stop using its intellectual property in new products within two years.
When Imagination Technologies, then a public company, announced the loss of Apple as its biggest customer, its stock plummeted. The British company said in 2018 there may be “material uncertainty” regarding the future of the company if Apple doesn’t pay any royalties on its latest generation of iPhones and iPads.
It’s unclear if Apple has paid those fees, but Imagination has argued it would be “extremely challenging for Apple to design a GPU in a way that allows them not to pay royalties to Imagination.”
The company didn’t specify on Thursday which intellectual property the latest agreement covers, but Imagination’s IP related to graphics and artificial intelligence could be key to future Apple devices. The iPhone maker uses a combination of supplier deals and acquisitions to build up its portfolio of patents and designs. Last year, Apple acquired Intel Corp’s modem unit to design cellular chips for future devices.
For all the latest Technology News, download Indian Express App | UK-based chipmaker Imagination Technologies on Thursday announced Apple has replaced a licensing agreement first signed in 2014, though details of the deal, including what technology it covers, remain unknown.
Imagination Technologies ("Imagination") announces that it has replaced the multi-year, multi-use license agreement with Apple, first announced on February 6, 2014, with a new multi-year license agreement under which Apple has access to a wider range of Imagination's intellectual property in exchange for license fees.
Announced in a brief press release posted to Imagination's website , the new agreement sees Apple pay out licensing fees for multi-year rights to a "wider ranger" of the British firm's intellectual property. What IP is involved in the agreement was not divulged in today's statement:A former Apple collaborator in the GPU design space, Imagination saw its fortunes tumble in 2017 when the tech giant decided to shift GPU operations in-house In April 2017, Imagination announced Apple planned to stop using the firm's IP in its hardware designs by 2019. The firm was heavily reliant on licensing revenue from the iPhone maker, which came out to some $81 million in fiscal 2017. Apple's abrupt pullout left Imagination flailing to stay alive as its stock plummeted.Shortly after the announced breakup, Imagination entered a " dispute resolution process ", accusing Apple of "unauthorized use of Imagination's confidential information and Imagination's intellectual property rights." In its defense, Apple said it stopped accepting new IP from Imagination in 2015 , adding that the firm only decided to apprise its shareholders of the situation after Apple invoked a contract clause to pay lower royalty rates.The chipmaker sought to sell itself in June 2017 and ultimately found a buyer in China-backed equity firm Canyon Bridge.For years, Apple relied on Imagination's PowerVR technology in its A-series system-on-chip designs, silicon that can still be found in certain iPads, Apple Watch Series 3 and Apple TV 4K. In 2017, however, Apple introduced its own integrated GPU design with the A11 Bionic chip powering iPhone 8 and iPhone X. Subsequent A-series designs rely solely on Apple tech. | 4 |
Crytivo has announced that god game The Universim is entering Beta alongside an update improving the scale of the game’s planets. The Universim is a hugely ambitious crowdfunded god game that seeks to create a civilization-building experience from the earliest days of neolithic life to a planets-spanning galactic civilization. The next big update for the game will take it into official beta status, and improves several aspects of the game—but focuses primarily on updating the parts of it that generate new worlds. Planets are now larger, filled with more things, and have fancier mountains. They also generate faster to boot.
All these updates prepare the way for the implementation of alien worlds for players to expand their civilizations to, including a Space Age for the Nuggets. The update will also improve AI pathfinding, theoretically eliminating a pesky bug where your little nuggets would stand about doing nothing. Our Christopher Livingston tried out The Universim last year and mostly did a lot of murdering his own people on accident. | How We Can Fix This
Where should we start repairing these systems and the culture that produces them?
As scholar Virginia Eubanks, author of the book Automating Inequality, captures it, “If there is to be an alternative, we must build it purposefully, brick by brick and byte by byte.”
Some researchers and technologists are understandably calling for more holistic thinking about the kinds of systems and tools that are being built. The academic Kate Crawford, who specializes in the social impact of data systems, asks audiences, “What kind of world do we want to live in?” Princeton computer scientist Arvind Narayanan argues, “It’s not enough to ask if code executes correctly. We also need to ask if it makes society better or worse.”
Neither distributional nor representative forms of harm can survive without a cultural backdrop that enables them.
The sentiment is a good one — we should certainly work to make the world better for lots of people and not just a few. But this kind of call to action risks hollowness if it doesn’t focus on those people being hurt by discriminatory systems. As author Mandy Henk noted, our subjects aren’t some amorphous “they.” Instead, our discussions need to be grounded in the political and cultural contexts that make these people vulnerable or marginalized in the first place.
Others have suggested that both the collection of data and the design of data-driven systems must become more transparent, which will help ensure that everything is fair and representative. There are certainly cases where datasheets for AI or more robust peer review might be a good idea, but imagining ethical paths forward for research, big data, and algorithms means going beyond technocratic solutions. We have to work much harder to exercise patience, empathy, and humility in how we conceive of the lives and experiences of our data subjects.
To begin, engineers and data scientists are far more likely to create balanced and representational products if they themselves are from a diverse range of backgrounds. “If we don’t have diversity in our set of researchers, we are not going to address problems that are faced by the majority of people in the world,” said Microsoft research scientist Timnit Gebru. “When problems don’t affect us, we don’t think they’re that important, and we might not even know what these problems are because we’re not interacting with the people who are experiencing them.”
Engaging with humanities and social science projects can also help. To that end, it is welcome news that the Social Science Research Council recently announced that it’s partnering with Facebook to give independent researchers access to the company’s data. It’s a potentially huge step toward gaining a better understanding of how data-intensive social platforms like Facebook shape our world — and the lives of people in it.
Yet engaging other kinds of research isn’t enough. Social scientists have had their own share of high-profile controversies, from failing to secure the privacy of research subjects to experimenting with people’s emotions without their consent. But many others have succeeded in meaningfully focusing on the lives and experiences of their subjects, from indigenous and border communities’ use of fitness trackers and the impact of data collection on marginalized groups in major U.S. cities to online privacy and intimate partner abuse. Our engagement, then, must be well-considered and put the needs and vulnerabilities of specific groups first.
It is important to ask who might be damaged by a certain set of assumptions and a certain algorithmic solution. We should also ask: Who does this protect? Who cannot be a target of this set of data? I am shielding someone — what does that say about my system?
Most important, engineers and data scientists need to listen to and engage with affected communities.
They should understand the struggles and histories of vulnerable communities and be ready to challenge their own assumptions.
They should offer support and resources — not opinions.
They should support legislation, causes, and organizations that improve lives without making them increasingly dependent on data-intensive systems of tracking and control.
They should not draw on the lives and experiences of their subjects without contributing something in return.
Ultimately, we need empathy and thoughtfulness in the design of algorithms and data science if we are to change the damaging cultural narratives that reinforce injustice and inequality for vulnerable people.
Because it’s never “just” an algorithm. And there’s no such thing as “just” an engineer. | 1 |
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Lady Gaga was seen snogging the face off a mystery man as she rung in the New Year as a single lady.
The pop star and actress was pictured locking lips with an unknown gentleman as the clocks struck midnight in Las Vegas last night.
The 33-year-old wrapped her arms around a dark-haired man as she pulled him in close.
She was also seen holding hands with the unnamed man as they walked together towards a waiting car.
Gaga was all glammed up for the festive night out in a glitzy gold dress and a pink wig, while the man was looking sharp in an all-black outfit.
(Image: DIGGZY / SplashNews.com)
The singer is making the most of single life after her split from her boyfriend Dan Horton two months ago.
Her romance with fiancé Christian Carino came to an end 10 months ago.
A source told People at the time: "It just didn’t work out. Relationships sometimes end. There’s no long dramatic story."
(Image: DIGGZY / SplashNews.com)
(Image: DIGGZY / SplashNews.com)
It was said that talent agent Christian asked Gaga for her hand in marriage just a few months after they started dating in February 2017.
However, she kept the relationship private for quite some time, only going public with it in October 2018 when she flashed her ring and named him in a speech at Elle Magazine's Women in Hollywood celebration.
On New Year's Eve, Gaga looked to be quite besotted with her mystery man.
(Image: DIGGZY / SplashNews.com)
(Image: DIGGZY / SplashNews.com)
She appeared to be in charge as she took his hand and led the way to a car.
Gaga was also at one point linked to her A Star Is Born co-star Bradley Cooper, following their convincingly sizzling performance at last year's Oscars ceremony.
They insisted they were just good friends and brilliant actors.
(Image: DIGGZY / SplashNews.com)
Bradley split from his partner of four years, Irina Shayk, not long after the sexy performance.
Gaga gave herself a lasting memory of the movie last Valentine's Day when she was inked with a giant rose on her back, with the words 'La Vie en Rose' framing it.
The inking was a nod to the French song of the same name that she sings in the movie.
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Lady Gaga got a midnight kiss from a mystery man.
The “Shallow” singer, 33, was spotted kissing a man who wasn’t Dan Horton on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas following her residency performance. Wearing a sequined gown, Gaga and her new beau passionately made out as confetti fell around them.
The casanova’s name is Michael, TMZ reported Wednesday. No other information about the “A Star Is Born” actress’ suitor is known.
A rep for Lady Gaga didn’t immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
Over the summer, the pop star was spotted making out with audio engineer Horton after she had split from fiancé Christian Carino. | 3.666667 |
— Raleigh has grown immensely in the past decade, and with that growth has come exciting new restaurants, music venues, hot spots and more. However, with progress also comes loss.
Let's take a moment and remember the iconic places from Raleigh's culture and history that were lost this decade.
1. IHOP's classic Hillsborough Street location (1968 - 2016)
For almost 50 years, IHOP's classic blue A-frame roof was an iconic sight on Hillsborough Street. Open 24 hours on weekends, it was often packed at 2 a.m. with hungry college students and late-night downtown dwellers.
Many patrons paid the restaurant a final visit when it closed in April 2016, sharing stories and memories. Bill Erwin, seated with his wife, said, "This was our last outing as a couple before our son Eric was born...40 years ago."
Its nostalgia and charm harken back to simpler days in downtown Raleigh.
2. The Velvet Cloak Inn (1963 - 2017)
When it opened in 1963, the classic Velvet Cloak Inn was once among Raleigh's most beautiful hotels, attracting celebrities and dignitaries. Offering the height of elegance and luxury, with gated parking, a restaurant, a glass atrium pool and even a nightclub, it attracted high-profile visitors like Bob Hope, Bill Clinton, Marylin Monroe and Bob Dylan, according to Historic Wake County. However, although several sources cite Monroe's presence at the opening Gala as historic fact, this may be an urban legend, as she passed away a year before the Velvet Cloak opened.
Leif Valand, the architect behind Raleigh's renowned Cameron Village, added elements of the New Orleans' French Quarter to the design, which classed up Hillsbrough Street for decades.
According to "Historic Wake County," the inn was named after Sir Walter Raleigh's fine velvet cloak, which he tossed over a patch of mud to protect Queen Elizabeth's shoes. Sadly, the building was torn down in 2017, leading some residents to fear Raleigh was "becoming yet another homogenized, generic city."
3. Andy's Pizza (1974 - 2012)
Generations of Raleigh teenagers had their first job at Andy's Pizza, slinging pies and folding boxes for $3.75 an hour. Andy Kanas, the owner, had a special recipe for marinara sauce that made his spaghetti and pizza popular with locals. The secret: He cooked Greek-style marinara, not Italian.
Before starting his own restaurant, Kanas worked for Brother's Pizza--another Raleigh icon--on Hillsborough Street in the 1970's.
Andy's Pizza survived two fires in 1998, bouncing back each time. When it finally closed in 2012, Cristo's NY Style Pizza took its place.
4. The Brewery (1983 - 2011)
For more than 28 years, The Brewery provided a platform for local and national bands alike. It opened in 1983, just as the Village Subway, another popular venue in downtown Raleigh, was closing its doors. Acts like Corrision of Conformity and Black Flag, which had previously played in the Subway, took to the stage at The Brewery.
National grunge and punk musicians like Korn, Hootie and the Blowfish, Ryan Adams and Jane's Addiction played there in the 1980's.
Like its predecessor, it ensured the punk scene stayed alive in Raleigh and provided local indie bands a place to build a following.
The demolition was part of an ongoing revitalization effort on Hillsborough Street, which neighbors North Carolina State University's campus.
5. Happyland Christmas Lights (1990's - 2016)
In the 1960's, a collection of life-sized statues, including carolers and a manger scene, decorated the Cross family's front yard on New Bern Avenue. Their light display was impressive, drawing hundreds of families from around the Triangle. In the early 1990's, Bobby and Jan Moore rescued the vintage statues--many of which had been damaged in storage--from an estate sale.
The Moores lovingly restored the historic statues, adding them to their ever-growing display known as Happyland Christmas Lights.
Happyland included many handmade displays, such as a twinkling UFO flying overhead and a spinning carousel. Like the Cross family, their yard drew hundreds of visitors. Lucille Alexander, a 90-year-old Raleigh native, visited to see the carolers she remembered so fondly from Christmases long ago. She said, "I knew the Cross family. I used to take my daughters and son to see the lights each Christmas."
Happyland Christmas Lights won the national Great Christmas Light Fight in 2016.
6. Sadlack's Heroes (1973 - 2013)
"American lore is rich with the little-bar-that-could archetype, and Sadlack's fits right into that narrative. It was a tiny, scuzzy cash-only bar with remarkable sandwiches," wrote Corbie Hill in his article "Weird in the Daylight," the story of Sadlack's Heroes. Like The Brewery, Sadlack's provided a stage for punk musicians Corrision of Conformity and Ryan Adams.
Known for sandwiches and live music, Sadlack's Heroes had a ready-made crowd in the NC State students living on Maiden Lane. Like Sadlack's, Maiden Lane also became a pile of rubble this decade.
Local punk musician Byron McCay of Th'Cigaretz called Sadlack's the "last bastion" of local music after the closing of The Brewery.
7. Oak City Kitty (2005 - 2019)
Tucker, better known as Oak City Kitty, was the star of a popular Instagram account centered around his adventures in downtown Raleigh. Governor Roy Cooper presented Oak City Kitty with an award, naming him the "Honorary First Pet" of North Carolina.
Tucker was adopted in 2005 from the Orange County Animal Shelter. Before moving downtown, he was an indoor/outdoor cat who loved to roam the neighborhood. When his owner moved to downtown Raleigh, he "easily transitioned from quiet neighborhood life to the busy downtown living and all that accompanied it - dogs, cars, people, sirens."
According to his family, he began to attract notoriety on the street, as he would often waddle home well ahead of them. They created an Instagram to chronicle his adventures, capturing amusing photos and sharing his often grumpy and funny opinions about life in downtown Raleigh.
"Tucker was a uniter of people," said his family member Ron Kirk, Jr. "Tucker was an icon - worthy of the veneration and adulation by his loyal fans and followers. He was a magnificent cat who brought joy to so many who lived and worked downtown--not to mention the thousands who only knew him through his Instagram account."
His larger-than-life personality transformed him from a mere overweight and indifferent cat into a part of downtown Raleigh's culture. He was a cat who selflessly promoted local businesses and events, spoke for the welfare of pets in need and bettered the lives of everyone who had the pleasure of taking a moment out of their day to rub his ears and say a kind word of love to Raleigh's Best Cat.
8. Peace Street Bridge (1953 - 2019)
Built in 1953 according to a rare remaining piece of granite marker from the bridge, the bridge on Capital Boulevard over Peace Street was recently updated. According to the NCDot, it had a sufficiency rating of 44.9 (out of a possible 100), primarily due to its age and construction standards from the 1950s.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is calling the new bridge a "milestone." The original Peace Street bridge was almost 70 years old, and many drivers had been waiting months for the improvement.
9. Mission Valley Cinemas (1973 - 2019)
"We are drowning, literally," read the marquee outside Mission Valley Cinemas as they announced their closing after 45 years due to plumbing issues. The classic, old-style theater was a mainstay in Raleigh culture, especially for N.C. State students who needed affordable entertainment that could be reached by the Wolfline.
Many Raleighites fondly remember spending evenings watching films, then grabbing coffee next door at Cup-a-Joe.
10. Willow Oak in Nash Square (Est. 1870 - 2019)
One of Raleigh's oldest and most iconic trees, the 150-year-old "Willow Oak" in Nash Square had been a ficture in downtown for generations.
When the tree was finally brought down in October 2019, some Raleighites went to say goodbye to the old oak, which was cut into discs and given out as mementos for passersby. A portion of its wood will be turned into gavels for the mayor.
According to a video shared by the City of Raleigh, the tree watched Raleigh grow from a population of 19,000 to 460,000, and overlooked Martin Street back when trolleys ruled the roads.
Some legends said the Willow Oak was the inspiration for the shimmer wall on the Raleigh Convention Center; however, according to the designer Jed Gant, a beautiful oak tree in Historic Oakwood Cemetery was his actual inspiration. Tragically, that tree came down in the 2011 tornado--making it yet another Raleigh icon lost this decade.
Honorable mentions:
A decade's worth of change has left Raleigh a very different place than it was in 2010, and there are simply too many lost icons to cover them all.
However, here are a few other people, places and memories that deserve to be written in the pages of Raleigh's history.
Old North Hills
Steve Webb (owner of Snoopy's)
Darryl's
Fat Daddy's
Barbecue Lodge
Long Branch
Isaac Hunter's Tavern (the original one, built in the 1700's)
Update: Due to multiple bridges on Peace Street and multiple taverns referred to as "Isaac Hunter's Tavern," some confusion has arisen between which bridge and which tavern have been lost. The Capital Boulevard Bridge over Peace Street was demolished this year, and a new bridge put in its place. Isaac Hunter's Tavern refers to the original tavern, built in the late 1700's, not the modern bar standing on Fayetteville Street. | The 2010s saw huge advancements across science and technology. Relive the best moments with our definitive ranking of the decade
CERN
The 2010s saw huge leaps in physics, genetics, archaeology and technology. Here is our pick of the best
1. Higgs boson
It took four years, thousands of people and the world’s biggest machine, but, in 2012, particle physicists at CERN announced the discovery of the Higgs boson. The particle helps explain why all other particles in the universe have mass, and its discovery completed the standard model of particle physics.
2. CRISPR
The full potential of genetic engineering was unlocked in 2012 with the cheap and easy CRISPR system for editing DNA. Its use has since exploded, unfortunately including the widely condemned creation of the first gene-edited babies in China in 2018.
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3. Gravitational waves
In 1916, Albert Einstein predicted that space-time – the fabric of the universe – was disturbed by strange ripples known as gravitational waves. Exactly a century later, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory collaboration announced that it had finally spotted these waves emanating from a pair of merging black holes.
4. AlphaGo
The decade has been dominated by advances in artificial intelligence, but the pinnacle of machine achievement was AlphaGo. The software developed by DeepMind beat leading player Lee Sedol at the board game Go in a stunning 4-1 match in 2016.
5. Layla’s gene therapy
In 2015, a 1-year-old girl received a cancer treatment unlike any other. Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London gave baby Layla immune cells from a donor that they had genetically modified to destroy the cells causing her leukaemia, saving her life.
6. Denisovans
Researchers announced the discovery of a human finger bone that is genetically distinct both from modern humans and Neanderthals in 2010, complicating our ancestral story. They named this new species the Denisovans, after Denisova cave in Siberia, Russia, where the bone was found. Later discoveries in the cave included more remains of these mysterious people, including the 2018 announcement of a hybrid with a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Genetic analyses have also revealed that there are people today carrying some Denisovan DNA.
7. Quantum supremacy
Efforts to develop quantum computers gradually ramped up this decade, culminating with Google’s announcement of quantum supremacy in 2019. The firm developed the first quantum computer capable of performing a calculation that no classical supercomputer on Earth can match.
8. Proxima Centauri b
When the decade began, we knew of about 450 planets beyond our solar system. Now, that number has bloomed to more than 4000. Most significant of all was the discovery of Proxima Centauri b in 2016, the closest known exoplanet, at a distance of 4.2 light years from Earth.
9. Face transplants
The first full transplant took place in 2010. In a 24-hour operation, a Spanish farmer who had accidentally shot himself had the remains of his face removed, leaving just his eyeballs and tongue. The rest was replaced by the entire face of a dead donor.
10. Richard III
A car park in Leicester, UK, hosted a scene worthy of Shakespeare. In 2012, a team of geneticists and historians announced they had excavated the remains of Richard III, former king of England. The skeleton showed signs of spinal curvature and DNA evidence from his descendants supported the find. | 1 |
नई दिल्ली। भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (ISRO) प्रमुख के सिवन ने बुधवार को बताया कि सरकार ने चंद्रयान- 3 के मिशन को मंजूरी दे दी है, परियोजना पर काम जारी है। चंद्रयान-3 मिशन में ऑर्बिटर नहीं होगा। इसमें केवल लैंडर और रोवर होंगे।
आर्मी चीफ नरवाणे ने देशवासियों को दी नए साल की शुभकामनाएं, कहा- हम देश की सुरक्षा पर आंच नहीं आने देंगे
ISRO chief K Sivan: We have made good progress on Chandrayan-2, even though we could not land successfully, the orbiter is still functioning, its going to function for the next 7 years to produce science data pic.twitter.com/6tw683HTnk | We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This includes cookies from third party social media websites and ad networks. Such third party cookies may track your use on Oneindia sites for better rendering. Our partners use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on Oneindia website. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time. Learn more | 1 |
Ever since Kim Kardashian West began dating her now-husband Kanye West, she’s relied on his style expertise to completely craft her image. From purging pieces from her closet to recommending she only wear small sunglasses, Kanye’s never held back his true feelings when it comes to Kim’s look. So, it’s no surprise that Kanye was the mastermind behind one of Kim’s most memorable fashion moments.
Nearly one year after Kim, 38, made an iconic style statement in Miami when she sported a skin-tight latex mini dress and a waist-length neon green wig that perfectly matched her neon Lamborghini, the KKW Beauty mogul revealed that her husband was the one who inspired her to do it.
“I remember we had regular hair and then we FaceTimed Kanye,” Kim told her hairstylist Chris Appleton for his Gay Times cover story. “He was like, ‘You’re in Miami, do neon hair. I’m getting you a neon car, it’ll be downstairs – just trust me on this one. You need neon!’
Garguibo/SplashNews.com More
Kim said change was very last-minute, but ultimately she was so happy to go with Kanye’s suggestion.
RELATED PHOTOS: Every Way Kanye West Has Transformed Kim Kardashian’s Style Over the Years (and One Way He Hasn’t)
“We were like, ‘What? We are running out the door!’ We had full black hair and we changed that last minute. That was so fun, but crazy!” the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star said.
Garguibo/SplashNews.com More
Appleton, who styled the look for Kim, agreed, calling it one of his favorite styles on her.
“I’ve been thinking about this and I would probably say the blonde was one of my favorites as we had so many great moments. But the neon green is right behind it!” Appleton told Gay Times.
Kim frequently credits Kanye as the biggest influence when it comes to her her fashion and beauty looks.
“I really do get all of my inspiration from my husband,” the star previously told PEOPLE. “He makes my life so easy.”
As for putting ensembles together, more often than not, Kim gravitates towards the pieces her husband designs himself.
“I literally just wear all of the Yeezy samples,” she said. “They have a team of stylists and they put it all together,” she says. “I’m totally inspired by Kanye and the Yeezy team — and listen to the advice of everyone over there who is making all the clothes.”
Kanye’s close relationships with designers also gave Kim a better appreciate for high fashion. “My style has definitely evolved,” she told PEOPLE. “When I met Kanye and he really started to bring me to Paris he introduced me to a bunch of people. I think one of the first people I met were [designers] Riccardo Tisci and Alber Elbaz.”
The red carpet vet often gets Kanye’s opinion about looks she’s considering for a big event. “I’ll send him a picture and be like, ‘Do you like this dress?’ and he’ll say, ‘I love it but why don’t you try something like this instead?’” she shared. “And he’ll send me references of people wearing a totally different style.” | Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
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New Year’s Surprise: Kim & Kanye Plan Surrogate Pregnancy For 2020 Kardashian and West want to start the process ‘right away.’
RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are seriously contemplating having another baby next year — and they would use a surrogate to expand their family.
“Kanye’s pushing hard for this, and he’s been very vocal about wanting to get things started right away,” an insider revealed of the parents to North, 6, Saint, 4, Chicago, almost 2, and 8-month-old Psalm.
“Kanye wants as many blood heirs to inherit his legacy,” the insider told Radar, adding, “he says it’s no coincidence that he and Kim got back on track after the last baby came into their lives.”
As Radar previously reported, the couple’s marriage was hanging by a thread before the birth of their fourth child, Psalm.
“Kim and Kanye are barely speaking,” a source told Radar at the time. “They don’t spend that much time together at all.”
And while the two have patched up their problems for now, Kim faces turning 40 in October, and she’s seeing the milestone birthday as a last chance opportunity.
“She’s got this ‘now or never’ attitude about having one more kid,” said the insider.
In the past, Kim has complained that becoming a mother through surrogacy is “so much harder to go through… because you are not really in control.” | 2 |
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They can cause confusion for many drivers, and the road users of Cornwall are no different.
The county is awash with roundabouts, mini roundabouts and even double mini roundabouts, many of which have been in place for decades.
Unfortunately, there are several in Cornwall that are pointless, incredibly confusing or just annoying to navigate.
You have the Westcountry to thank for roundabouts, as they were invented in Bath back in 1768.
Whether you like them or not, you can't go very far without coming across a roundabout – in fact, there are more than 60,000 across the world, with the UK unsurprisingly having the most out of any country.
Here are some of the many roundabouts in Cornwall that grind your gears. And ours too.
CHIVERTON CROSS - A30
There's only one place to start. Everyone in Cornwall has heard of 'Chivvy'. It's by far Cornwall's most notorious roundabout, and the stats back it up - it is the county's number one accident blackspot.
CARLAND CROSS - A30
If you live or work in Truro , you'll know how much of a nightmare it is to turn eastbound towards Fraddon at Carland Cross. During busy periods, the queue comes all the way down the hill to the dip. Friday, 5pm, and you could easily be stuck there for 30 minutes.
To make matters worse, people either skip half of the queue and then try to sneak in, or worse, they'll drive all the way up the left lane and cut across on the actual roundabout.
TRELUSWELL - A39 NEAR PENRYN
The new roundabout on the A39 at Treluswell opened in 2017 , but many drivers say it's actually worse now.
Coming from the Falmouth direction there used to be a dedicated lane for traffic travelling right, but as both lanes now serve Truro, big queues build.
TRAFALGAR - TRURO
To pull out of Malpas Road and onto the roundabout is almost impossible at any time of day, or at least before 9pm.
Every motorist who attempts to dash across does so with only a few seconds to spare, before the plethora of cars come speeding around like there's no tomorrow.
When you see a gap, you have to go for it. Cornwall's 32nd worst accident blackpot. And to think, it was fine before the council messed around with it.
MORRISONS - NEWQUAY
One of Cornwall's worst 'blind' roundabouts. Cars coming from the main road hammer across because they have a perfect view of what's coming from the right, so if you're coming out of Morrisons you often can't see them until the last minute.
NEWTOWN - A30 LONG ROCK
Cars coming from Penzance and heading in the direction of Helston also use the left lane, which is designed for the A30 Redruth, often cutting up people who are in the correct lane. It also gets very congested.
Cornwall's eighth worst accident blackspot.
ARCH HILL - TRURO
The first 'double mini' roundabout on the list. If it's busy, it will take a while for those turning left towards Falmouth. And there's the double mini which messes with many minds.
PENWINNICK - ST AUSTELL
Another notorious double mini roundabout, which people HATE. It's at number 18 on the list of Cornwall's accident blackspots.
SPAR / TRESAWLS ROAD - TRURO
There's a ridiculous junction ON the roundabout. And people who've never used it would have no idea it is there. A nasty surprise.
FAIRMANTLE/TESCO - TRURO
Pulling out when coming from Tesco is almost impossible at times. The roundabout is Cornwall's second worst accident blackpot.
AVERS - REDRUTH
Just a very busy and disliked roundabout above the A30 at Redruth . Cornwall's 26th worst accident blackspot.
TRENANCE - NEWQUAY
Another double mini roundabout. Manic in the summer. | Our most read post of 2019, #1, was Cate’s 2018 post on being 53 1/2 and still menstruating. That post, on what may seem like an oddball topic for a fitness blog, hit a nerve. From the many comments and reposts we learned that Cate is certainly not alone. It’s on our top ten list pretty much every month. (5415)
Our second most read post is a much older one. It’s from 2013 when I blogged about sports reporting, upskirts, and the objectification of women athletes. That post also has enduring popularity thanks, in part, to search engines and the existence of “upskirts” and “crotch shots” in the title. (4593)
One of our newest bloggers wrote the third most read post of the year. Marjorie wrote Doin’ My Part to Keep the Gym a Safe Space for Men back in March 2019 before she’d even joined the regular team of bloggers here at Fit is a Feminist Issue. (3277)
In May, in light of the ongoing Caster Semenya controversy, Martha blogged about sex tests. That was our fourth most read post of the year. (2382)
In 2014 I blogged about CrossFit and women’s bodies. People read that post a lot, and to be honest, I suppose it’s got some appeal because of the images. It’s often on our top ten list and this year it’s number five. (2169)
Who would think vibrators would make for good prizes in women’s sports? Someone did and Catherine blogged about it in May of 2019. That post was our sixth most read post of 2019. (1831)
Eyelash extensions made Tracy feel ridiculous when she tried them and blogged about it 2017. That post was our seventh most read post. Considering eyelash extensions? Go read her post first. (1737)
In 2013 I was feeling exercised about finding clothes to fit athletic women’s bodies. That post was our eighth most popular post. The issue still bugs me. I’m still struggling to find clothes. I might blog about it again. (1565)
Also, in 2013 Tracy wrote that “you’ve lost weight, you look great” isn’t a compliment. That post was our ninth most read post of 2019. (1534)
Another 2013 post was our tenth most read post of the year. That’s Tracy’s blog post on why fitness models aren’t necessarily models of health. These old posts are definite blog classics. (1403) | 1 |
The new year means changes for your tax bill and your bottom line.
Armed with a hefty surplus, the Coalition Avenir Québec government is offering up a number of goodies for the coming year.
Here's a breakdown of what will be different in Quebec in 2020, from taxes and rebates (and fee increases too).
Family allowance
Quebec's new family allowance, available to those with one or more dependent children under 18, comes into effect in January, two years earlier than originally promised.
Families will receive, on average, an additional $779. For an estimate on how much you will receive, the Quebec government has set up a calculator tool.
No more sliding-scale daycare fees
The CAQ's promised return to a single-fee system for public daycare will be retroactive to the beginning of 2019.
The amount of money back will depend on the income of the parents. The rebate only applies to tax credits for subsidized daycares.
It will mean an average savings of $1,100 for 140,000 families.
Families of children with disabilities who require special care will also receive an additional $652 per month.
You'll be paying less in school taxes
The CAQ government has committed to harmonizing school-tax rates across the province. The goal is to have a single rate by July 2021.
By then, homeowners across the province will be paying a tax rate that equals the lowest effective rate in the province from 2018-2019.
The savings will depend on where you live. For instance, the owner of a home valued at $270,000 in Montreal will save $179 a year by 2021, while an owner of a home of the same value in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean will save $500.
Minimum wage going up
Quebec's minimum wage will climb to $13.10 an hour on May 1 — an increase of 60 cents, Labour Minister Jean Boulet announced Wednesday.
Service industry workers who work for tips, such as bartenders and restaurant servers, will see their salaries rise by 40 cents per hour, to $10.45.
The CAQ campaigned on a promise to increase the minimum wage year over year, working toward $15 per hour by 2023.
Hydro-Québec rebate
Hydro rates will be frozen as of April 1, 2020, and the increases for the four following years will be limited to the rate of inflation.
You will also receive money if you were a Hydro account holder in 2018 or 2019.
Residential customers will receive an average of about $60, though the exact amount issued to each customer will be known in January.
Hospital parking capped
Starting in the spring of 2020, hospital parking fees will be capped at around $7 to $10, depending on the region. The first two hours will be free.
Right now, in some places parking fees cost more than $20. | It's natural at this time of the year to both reflect and to look ahead.
For us here at the Packet we look back on a successful year, as more people than ever before are reading what we write.
That growth has come on our digital platform, thepacket.co.uk
At the close of 2019, more than five million pages had been read on our website – around two million more than in 2018.
We continue to have a loyal audience in print too and we thank those who believe that our journalism is worth paying money for each week.
In 2020 we as a news outlet and, indeed, an industry, continue to fight on various fronts.
Aside from battling to secure the advertising revenue needed to survive, one that regularly rears its rather ugly head is the concept of 'fake news'. This is a term that gets thrown around all too frequently, usually to express dismay at a story that one simply doesn't agree with.
The actual definition is the deliberate spread of disinformation or hoaxes via the media. A few weeks ago the editor of a Yorkshire newspaper had to do battle with the 'fake news' claims and it's a great example of why trusted local news is more important than ever as we head into a new decade.
The story in question was about a young boy who had to sleep on a hospital floor because there were no beds.
Social media went into meltdown, slamming the newspaper, saying it simply couldn't be true.
The newspaper explained how it had done the basic journalism of verifying the story with the hospital before publication, while those on social media could hide behind a moniker and publish spurious claims without a single check.
We had our own example recently, where one of our reporters picked up on a story via social media. That's often the way these days – but social media is merely another source and we will always then verify any information before publishing a story. This particular one involved cameras appearing in Helston. One person gave an apparent explanation on the original social media post, which resulted in another person saying "social media wins again, who needs local newspapers?"
But what had been written wasn't right, we discovered when we asked the council about it, and we then went on to publish our story, with the correct explanation.
And that's the difference – you can't believe everything you read on social media, but when it's published under the banner of the Packet, you can be assured that it has been verified before being published.
Thank you for your support and I wish you a happy New Year.
The editor's regular column can be read every week in the Packet, on sale each Wednesday for 85p. | 1.333333 |
As of January 1, 2020, the Government will impose a ban on the local manufacture, distribution and use of expanded polystyrene foam products used in the food and beverage industry.
The move is part of initiatives to place greater focus on waste and pollution control.
Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Senator Matthew Samuda said public education has been done on the subject, and he is comfortable that people are aware of the step that is being taken.
“Much like the plastic bag… we expect that some (products) will take a little while to be fully used up, but we do expect that early in the New Year you will see a marked reduction in the use of styrofoam food containers,” Samuda said.
He stated that the ban on expanded polystyrene foam products is good for the environment and for public health.
Samuda also reiterated that persons who breach the ban will be liable for prosecution.
“We encourage people to be compliant from day one. As you would have seen… over 40 businesses have been fined since the ban was implemented on plastic bags. We expect that a similar level of vigilance will take place from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the varying agencies,” he said.
On January 1, 2019, a ban was placed on specific categories of single-use plastic products.
The overall ban relates to the importation, manufacture and use of plastic bags of dimensions 24”x24” and thickness of 1.2 mil or less; the importation, manufacture and use of plastic drinking straws, except those attached to juice boxes and tetrapaks, as well as straws utilised by the medical sector and the disabled community; and the importation of expanded polystyrene foam (commonly called styrofoam) that are used in the food and beverage industry.
Two ministerial orders were signed under the Trade Act and the Natural Resources and Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act to reinforce the ban.
The maximum fine under the Trade Act (Trade Plastic Packing Material Order) 2018 is $2 million, while under the NRCA (Plastic Packaging Prohibiting) Order 2018, the fine is $50,000. Both Orders carry a term of imprisonment of two years. | Racist drunk Don Lemon was on CNN ringing in the New Year imbibing and saying something about white power. He said he got a new tattoo which he later showed people. It said ‘Lemon for 2020’ — I think.
It wasn’t real.
This is how CNN celebrates New Year’s live each year. Andy Cohen joked about using heroin and there were some sexual innuendos. Later in the evening, Lemon showed his host, Brooke Baldwin, his penned tattoo. Baldwin appeared drunk as well.
Two narcissists, on a fake news show, drunk as lords, celebrating and talking trash. We didn’t want you to miss it.
If you enjoy watching drunk anchors, @CNN is where you want to tune to. Andy Cohen just joked about using heroin. Brook Baldwin told Don Lemon her balls were bigger than his & he said, “probably.” https://t.co/dEMqmcMpvo — Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) January 1, 2018
what is going on lmao… drunk Don Lemon is saying something about white supremacy #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/b4bn4gYGw8 — Josh Sánchez (@joshnsanchez) January 1, 2020
mood don lemon on nye pic.twitter.com/PML5tf0v3K — KENNY MANSON (@phillycustoms) January 1, 2020
Don Lemon is drunk and I’m here for it. pic.twitter.com/otM3ENmVUd — (@CarlaVi32991520) January 1, 2020
This was last year.
Last year drunk Don Lemon still hilarious pic.twitter.com/rK2abdJaqZ — The Reason (@TheReason540) January 1, 2020
CNN reporter Leyla Santiago talks about how wearing “red underwear” is supposedly good for “the love” and then proceeds to ask people what color underwear they are wearing. She does this right next to a little girl who was standing behind her and watching her the entire time. pic.twitter.com/dmQc161kEw — Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) January 1, 2019
Never letting a politicized moment go to waste, Trump-hating Anderson said last year that the Cohen feud reminded him of the arguments between Sarah Sanders and idiot showboater Jim Acosta.
He got a drunken piercing in 2018.
Can’t wait for @DonLemon‘s drunk emotional breakdown on #CNNNYE this year. 2016 was such a bad year for him that CNN even cut HIS OWN microphone last year. 2017 has been far worse for him & CNN. It’s gonna be fantastic. pic.twitter.com/E6z95i1edU — Bullshit Man (@bullshit_hero) December 29, 2017 | 1.333333 |
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Like much of the rest of central Jamaica, the availability of water is a regular source of anxiety for residents of Mile Gully in deep rural, north-west Manchester.
For most people there, rainwater harvesting is the main source of drinking water.
During times of drought, many buy trucked water or lobby for help from their political representatives.
In the case of the more than 100-year-old Sydney L Blake Basic School, the situation becomes more extreme since the school has no rainwater catchment tank.
Until recently, the school had to depend on the generosity of the adjoining St Barnabas Anglican Church, which shared water from its two 500-gallon storage drums.
Hence the joy of the basic school's teachers, parents and wider fraternity in late November at the formal handing over of two storage drums by the National Water Commission (NWC), in partnership with the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA).
“I am so overjoyed, it means so much because sometimes we have to close school because there is no water,” principal of the basic school Joan Anderson told the Jamaica Observer.
“This is a poor farming community so sometimes when the water runs out and we ask parents for help, they can't [help] because they don't have the money. We then have to depend on the MP (Member of Parliament) or sponsors for help, but sometimes the water doesn't come quick enough so we have to close for a few days until it comes. So these two tanks will make a big difference,” Anderson explained.
Paulette Ferguson, the JCSA's Manchester chapter chair, said the water tank initiative for Sydney L Blake Basic School “was borne out of a needs assessment... this particular school had the greatest need, as the school, over the years, has been having challenges accessing water”.
Assurances came from Raymond Nesbeth, representing the NWC, and Rohan Kennedy, councillor for the Mile Gully Division, that they would move quickly to have the tanks refilled whenever asked to do so.
“Whenever you are out [of water], call on me...” said Kennedy.
— Garfield Myers | THE four Haitians who were rescued in Portland waters in late November are now safely back in their country, after an unexpected drama-filled expedition.
The men arrived at St Margaret's Bay in the vicinity of the Rio Grande bridge in Portland on November 27, after their disabled vessel was spotted by Jamaican fisherfolk who assisted them to shore.
They were subsequently handed over to the Portland police and then processed by the health department and immigration representatives.
Head of the Portland police Superintendent Duane Wellington told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that the men, when they appeared before the Portland Parish Court on December 6, had the charges of illegal entry against them withdrawn and they were handed over to authorities from the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) in Kingston, based on new information.
PICA head Andrew Wynter said information from the men's homeland significantly impacted their status and saved them from being sent back to Haiti as deportees.
“We put them on a flight and they are now back in Haiti. Two left on the 27th of December and two left on the 29th,” Wynter told the Observer when contacted yesterday.
Initially, authorities had charged the men with illegal entry and had intended to deport them following the court proceedings.
“Because they were considered rescued at sea, you wouldn't deport those persons. It wouldn't be considered a deportation under the circumstances,” Wynter explained.
“It wasn't an illegal entry into the country. What happened is they were fishing, and apparently their boat got into mechanical difficulties and they drifted for a few days and ended up in Jamaican waters. Our coast guard had actually got a request from the Haitian coast guard to assist with search and rescue, so when they were initially taken into custody we didn't have that information; but after we got it, their status changed because we saw that it was a genuine case of persons in dire need,” the PICA head explained further.
The men, natives of Jérémie (a town in south-west Haiti), through an interpreter, told rescuers that they had been at sea for 16 days drifting aimlessly after developing engine problems and running out of fuel.
Their small vessel carrying rotting fish and fishing gear, drifted into the waters of St Margaret's Bay, Portland, where they were found. | 1.333333 |
Embraer Brazilian Aviation Co (NYSE:ERJ)
Q3 2019 Earnings Call
, 8:30 a.m. ET
Contents:
Prepared Remarks
Questions and Answers
Call Participants
Prepared Remarks:
Operator
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the audio conference call that will review Embraer's third-quarter 2019 results. Thank you for standing by. [Operator instructions]. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded and webcasted at ri.embraer.com.br.
This conference call includes forward-looking statements or statements about events or circumstances which have not occurred. Embraer has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the business and its future financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, among other things, general economic, political and business conditions in Brazil and in other markets where the company is present. The words believe, may, will, estimates, continues, anticipates, intends, expects, and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Embraer undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or other factors. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed on this conference call might not occur. The company's actual results could differ substantially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Participants on today's conference call are Mr.
Francisco Gomes Neto, president and CEO; Mr. Nelson Salgado, executive vice president, finance, and investor relations; and Mr. Eduardo Couto, director of investor relations. I would like now to turn the conference over to Mr.
Nelson Salgado. Please go ahead, sir.
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining the call. We start our presentation with the Commercial Aviation highlights at Slide 4. Embraer delivered 17 E-jets in the third quarter and 54 year to date. Among those, we highlight the deliveries of the first E195-E2 to be operated by Azul Airlines.
During the third quarter, Helvetic Airways, a Swiss airline, also received its first E190-E2 jet. It is important to mention that this two program is doing very well, and the entry into service of the E2 jet since last year has been a big success. As far as Services & Support, Azul and Horizon Air signed its Services & Support program for their E1 fleet and Embraer also achieved 100% E-jet operator enrollment in Asia Pacific for its pool program. That includes 60 aircraft and a total of six different airlines.
Moving to Slide 5, we show the Executive Jets highlights. Embraer delivered 27 executive jets, 15 light and 12 large, in the third quarter leading to 63 airplanes year to date. During the third quarter, we delivered seven Praetor 600, including the first Praetor 600 jet assembled in Florida. As far as sales, Embraer had the highest year-to-date sales in Executive Jets in the last five years with the Praetor 600 as a big success and the best superior five jet in the market.
Interest from customers is very high, and we had the announcement at NBAA of $1.4 billion deal with Flexjet for the Praetor jets and the Phenom 300, a deal that can get to the delivery of around 64 jets. Flexjet also became the Praetor fleet launch customer with first delivery scheduled for fourth quarter 2019. Finally, in terms of the Praetor program development, the Praetor 500 received a triple certification from ANAC, FAA and EASA, outperforming on key performance metrics such as speed and range. Moving to Slide 6 with Defense & Security business, which continues its transition from KC-390 product development phase to serial production with special highlights to the entry into service of the KC-390 with Brazilian Air Force.
First aircraft was delivered to Brazilian Air Force in September and the second is expected to be delivered by year-end. The KC-390 also successfully performed a very important air-to-air refueling test with Brazilian Air Force during the third-quarter 2019 and continues to move the certification of critical military missions. Also, very important to mention, is that Portugal became the KC-390 first export customer with a firm order for 5 KC-390 and related services. This contract will amount to approximately $1 billion and will be included in our backlog in the fourth quarter.
Talking about other defense platforms, we have sold nine Super Tucanos to two undisclosed customers and the Brazilian Air Force received the fourth legacy 500 aircraft modified for airport inspection operations. With that, we conclude our business highlights and move to the financial results. We start with the firm order backlog at Slide 8. Embraer backlog reached $16.2 billion in the third-quarter 2019, which is almost $3 billion above what we had one year ago.
New orders for Executive Jets have been the main highlights in the backlog this year. And on the defense side, the recent KC-390 order from Portugal will be added to the backlog in the fourth quarter. Next slide, Slide 9. We present aircraft deliveries starting with Commercial Aviation.
We delivered 17 jets in the third quarter, two jets more than what we delivered in the same period of last year. Year to date, we have delivered 54 jets. We maintain our guidance of 85 to 95 deliveries in 2019, implying a strong fourth quarter in terms of deliveries. On Executive Jets, we delivered 27 jets in the third quarter, three more than what we delivered in the same period of 2018.
A special highlight here to the 12 deliveries of large jets against seven in the third quarter of 2018. From this 12 aircraft, we have the five Praetor 600 aircraft. We also reiterate our guidance of 90 to 110 deliveries in 2019 in executive aviation, also implying strong deliveries in the fourth quarter. Next slide, we present net revenues.
We reached revenues of $1.176 billion in the third quarter, slightly above 2018. Year to date, we achieved $3.378 billion in revenues. These revenues are broken by Commercial Aviation, $408 million; executive aviation, $363 million; defense, $164 million. In this defense revenue, we had to account for a loss associated with the KC-390 air development program of around $44 million; and services, $238 million.
We reiterate our guidance of revenues from $5.3 billion to $5.7 billion in 2019. Moving to Slide 11, we present SG&A. Our SG&A expenses totaled $108 million, broken by $37 million in G&A and $71 million in selling expenses. We continue to reduce SG&A expenses despite the preparation for the separation of the Commercial Aviation business.
At Slide 12, we show operating results. Embraer's third quarter, EBIT was negative in $21 million, implying a negative margin of 1.8%. Important to mention that our EBIT included $66 million in separation costs related to the commercialization carve-outs year to date and $35 million in the first quarter alone. Excluding Commercial Aviation, EBIT of the businesses that will remain at Embraer was 2.6% in the third quarter and breakeven year to date mostly driven by better margins at executive aviation.
Our margin per business in the third quarter was -- were negative 11% at Commercial Aviation driven by carve-out costs and the E2 ramp-up ; positive 6% in Executive Jets with the beginning of the Praetor 600 deliveries; negative 4% in defense, as I mentioned, impacted by one-off charges of $44 million in the KC-390; and positive 7% of Services & Support also partially impacted by carve-out costs. Moving to EBITDA at Slide 13. Embraer's EBITDA was also impacted by the carve-out costs. EBITDA reached 18 million third quarter, equivalent to a margin of 1.5%.
EBITDA year to date is $116 million with 3.4% margin. At Slide 14, we present net income. Embraer reported a net loss in the third quarter of $48 million, implying a negative margin of 4.1%. Our earnings have been negatively impacted by the combination of carve-out costs, same impact as we had in the EBIT and EBITDA and higher financial leverage that will move as we close the deal as together with the debt that will move to Boeing Commercial Aviation.
Moving to investments. We reached $314 million year to date, broken by $33 million in research, $187 million in development and $94 million in capex. Our major investments in the year are related to the E2 program development. As far as cash flow at Slide 16, Embraer had a free cash flow consumption of $257 million in the third-quarter 2019 and it is $921 million year to date.
We expect to recover a big amount of our cash usage in the fourth quarter with meaningful free cash flow generation driven by aircraft deliveries on both executive and commercial that will have strong fourth quarters. Given that, we anticipate a negative free cash flow in the range of $100 to $300 million for the full year of 2019. This negative free cash flow already includes all the separation costs. As a result of the free cash flow consumption, we show our indebtedness profile at Slide 17.
Our average debt maturity is 4.9 years, and Embraer ended the third quarter with a cash position of $2.2 billion and a total debt position of $3.5 billion, implying a net debt of $1.3 billion. Moving now to Slide 19, we bring some information about the status of Embraer and Boeing partnership. As it was widely published in the press, European Union has recently announced an extension of its decision deadline regarding the partnership until at least March 2020. Despite that, the carve-out of the company Commercial Aviation business is starting as planned at the end of 2019.
So as we close 2019, we will start implementing the carve-out of our Commercial Aviation business. It will be separated into another company. And it's very important to make clear that Commercial Aviation business will continue to operate normally 100% under Embraer's management until the closing of the operation. We now expect the transaction to be consummated shortly after all regulatory approvals are sustained.
Now we move to our guidance. Given the cash consumption observed in the third quarter, the review of short- and medium-term business plan and considering the new closing timeline of the transaction expected to occur in at least March 2020, we updated our 2019 and 2020 guidance. For 2019, Embraer reaffirmed deliveries of 85 to 95 E-Jets, 90 to 110 executive jets, two KC-390 and now expects the delivery of five Super Tucanos. Embraer also reaffirms expectations for revenues of $5.3 billion to $5.7 billion and breakeven EBIT margin while removing the estimates which were dependent upon closing of the transaction at the end of 2019.
We will also introduce 2019 free cash flow guidance for cash consumption from $100 to $300 million in 2019, including here again all separation costs. For 2020 guidance at Slide 22. And this guidance includes all the expected results of executive, defense, and related services that is the scope that would be maintained by Embraer after closing. Embraer reaffirms consolidated revenues of $2.5 to $2.8 billion, EBIT margin of 2% to 5% and breakeven free cash flow in 2020.
Given Embraer's expected 2019 cash consumption combined with the anticipation of the closing of the Embraer-Boeing partnership to March 2020 -- March or April 2020 and the potential financial impact of these delays, Embraer now expects a special dividend of between $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion to be paid after closing of the transaction in 2020. With that, I conclude my presentation, and we would like -- I would like to pass to our CEO, Francisco Gomes, for his closing remarks.
Francisco Gomes -- Chief Executive Officer
Thanks, Nelson, and good morning to all analysts and investors connected on this call. After six months as the head of Embraer, I would like to share my impressions with the market. First, we have a great team, and I'm really impressed by the commitment and hard work of our team in the carve-out process to separate the Commercial Aviation business into a new company. Of course, the carve-out has affected our results in 2019, but we are confident that after the conclusion of this partnership with Boeing, Embraer will be much stronger.
Second, while we continue to manage our whole business in the ordinary course, we have been extensively working recent losses on our business plan of this new Embraer, and important actions have already been taken. We have presented to the market at the right time, but I'm 100% convinced of this huge value we have in executive, defense, and services. With a lot of focus on sales of the great new products we have, discipline in cost control and cash generation, I believe that our biggest opportunity today is to improve these three businesses. No other initiatives will be creating more value to our shareholder -- shareholders than this.
That is the reason my management team is deeply engaged reviewing the business plan for executive, defense. and services. We also continue with focus on the innovation initiatives that will contribute with the future growth of the company. Finally, we recently announced important changes that Nelson Salgado, our current CFO, will now move to operations to increase the alignment of operations team with the financial targets we have.
We also announced Antonio Garcia as our new CFO starting on January 1, 2020. Antonio comes from thyssenkrupp and brings a lot of experience in cost control, profitability turnaround and cash generation. I believe we are geared in the right leadership at Embraer to take the necessary steps that will bring enormous results to our investors in the coming years. With that, we conclude our presentation and we would like to open for questions.
Questions & Answers:
Operator
[Operator instructions]. Our first question comes from Cai von Rumohr, Cowen and Company.
Jeff Molinari -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Hi, this is Jeff Molinari on for Cai. Good morning and thank you for taking my question. So the first question I have is on the Boeing-Embraer JV. This weekend, it was reported that you stopped the clock to review the proposed JV.
Is this latest development contemplated in your expectation for a decision in March? Or how is that -- will that be delayed substantially? And then I have a couple of follow-ups.
Francisco Gomes -- Chief Executive Officer
Well, thanks, Jeff. No. We do not see that there's any additional delays. Actually, when the European Commission decided to move the process to Phase 2, they decided on the deadline that would be around mid-May -- mid-March.
And they requested additional information from the two companies. We are working very hard to deliver this information as soon as possible, but the European Commission stopped the clock until they receive this additional information. We do not see this as any change in the normal course of this process and don't expect this to mean big delays.
Jeff Molinari -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
OK. Thank you. And if I can, another follow-up. So the delay caused the decrease in the special dividend range, so -- but you didn't quantify what the impact is on separation costs.
Can you talk a little bit about what expectation is for those costs in 2019 and 2020 or collectively, however you want to frame it? Thank you.
Francisco Gomes -- Chief Executive Officer
The separation costs will amount to [Inaudible] then $100 million -- close to $100 million in 2019. And there may be something left for 2020, but we don't expect that to be significant.
Jeff Molinari -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
And then is there an amount in your free cash flow guidance that you're assuming for the free cash flow guidance, the $100 million to $300 million outflow? What are your assumptions of separation costs within that?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
So the same. That guidance includes already the separation costs in the order of $400 million that I mentioned, too.
Jeff Molinari -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
OK. I'll get back in line. Thank you, guys.
Operator
Our next question comes from Myles Walton, UBS.
Louis Raffetto -- UBS -- Analyst
Good morning, everyone. This is Louis Raffetto on for Myles.
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Hi, good morning.
Louis Raffetto -- UBS -- Analyst
Just wanted to sort of follow up on that. So what was the driver to the change in the dividend? It was I think previously $1.6 billion, now it's $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion. And is there -- is the -- is there a change in the amount of leakage that you expect from the deal as well?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
No. That is driven mainly by the cash flow consumption in 2019 and also by the delay, the change of the closing from early 2020 to around March, right? So in the light of the cash consumption, we thought it would be better to change the guidance for the dividend.
Louis Raffetto -- UBS -- Analyst
OK. Thank you. And then a follow-up. So I think now you're saying there's I think five Super Tucanos.
I guess I thought, previously, were you expecting a few more than that this year? Or is that --
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Yes. We were -- well, five of them were postponed to the beginning of 2020.
Louis Raffetto -- UBS -- Analyst
OK. Great. Thank you very much.
Operator
[Operator instructions]. Our next question comes from [Inaudible], Global Capital.
Unknown speaker
My question is about the business jet orders. Wonder if you could provide a little bit of description on how that went for Q3.
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Sorry. Are you asking about business jet orders?
Unknown speaker
Yes. Correct.
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Yes. Business jet orders, as we mentioned in the call, were at the highest level in the first nine months of the year from the last five years. So it's been a very good result. And within those orders, we had this $1.4 billion orders from Flexjet, which is very important as Flexjet becomes the launch customer of the Praetor 500.
So it was a very big year so far to business jet sales.
Unknown speaker
Thank you. And I just had a quick follow-up. Can you -- are you able to discuss backlog for Q3 for business jet specifically?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Well, as a consequence of the sales, backlog is at its highest for executive aviation as well, but I don't have here the figure for the aviation backlog, but it is at the highest ever of.
Unknown speaker
OK. Thank you.
Operator
Excuse me. Our next question comes from Cai von Rumohr, Cowen and Company.
Cai von Rumohr -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Hi, thanks for the follow up, guys. What is your new expectation for net cash disposition if the deal were to close in March time frame? Thank you.
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Well, Cai, this depends on exactly when the deal closes. As you know, as we move by during the year, in our industry, it's normal to have cash consumption in the first months of the year because of the seasonality. So the amount of cash that the liquid cash that we -- the net cash that we will have at closing will depend on the moment the -- when the closing was planned, that happened coincidentally with the year-end where we have our [Inaudible] cash position because of the situation. Now with the closing moving closer to the end the third quarter in the year, then it's difficult to predict the net cash.
It will depend on the operational performance and cash consumption of the first months of the year.
Cai von Rumohr -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
OK. That make sense. And then how is the separation activity progressing? And is it you are on track for internally separating by fiscal year-end? What still needs to be done between now and the next month and a half?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Cai, you know this is a complex problem. We have many, many projects going on to be able to do that separation. Right now, we have closed the integrated test for the separation of the ERP system, which is one of the biggest tests that we have to do. And with that, we consider that most of the activities are finished.
So our plan was to have finished most of the significant activities by beginning of December, and that is very much on track. So what we will do now as we close 2019, we will enter a blackout period because we have to shut down the current system so that we could start the operation as two different separate companies. So we expect to take the first two to three weeks of January in that process. And when we come back from that, we will already operate as two separate companies.
The company that will in the future becomes bonded with commercial and Embraer with the commercial business carve-out. As I mentioned in the presentation, from this point until the closing, Embraer will continue to operate Commercial Aviation as we've always done. The only difference is that now internally, it will be from separate companies but same management, same leadership.
Cai von Rumohr -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Understood. Thank you.
Operator
Our next question comes from Josh Lorico, Morgan Stanley.
Josh Milberg -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Oh, hi. This is actually Josh Milberg from Morgan Stanley. I was hoping -- I wanted to ask if you could give a little more color on the nature of your commercial profitability in the third quarter in addition to the issue of separation costs you mentioned that it was affected by ramp-up of the E2. Could you -- could you talk a little bit more about that effect and how you see that matter effect evolving into the fourth quarter and into 2020? I realize of course that if all goes as planned, you won't be managing the commercial business as of next year, but I thought you'd still have some perspective.
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
OK. So the results of Commercial Aviation in the quarter, they were negatively affected by the separation costs. According to the methodology that was defined, the Commercial Aviation business exceeds almost all of the separation costs together with some part of the services businesses that is also with the Commercial Aviation. So that explains a part of the results that we had in the quarter, and this is a transitory effect.
We don't expect to have, as I mentioned, big separation costs leading into 2020. The other part of the results explanation relates to a mix of margin in the E175-E2s -- the E1s, sorry, that we have given this year. And costs above expectations in the E190, E195-E2s. So we are working with the learning curve of these products.
We are reducing the costs first, but it is affecting the results as we starts working up these three new products.
Josh Milberg -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
OK. And then on the E175 issue that you mentioned, could you elaborate a little bit on that? Is that because of the special configuration version of that aircraft, which we'd understood in the past had a lower selling price?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Yes. That's right. So the configuration and the effect of this associated with these orders drive -- so this is -- drives these margins down.
Josh Milberg -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
OK. Thank you very much for that information.
Operator
Our next question comes from [Inaudible] from UBS.
Unknown speaker
Hi. Thank you for taking the question. Actually, I have two questions, following up on Josh's questions regarding margin. So can we affirm that the impacts on margins came more from the E2 than the E175? And another -- another question, if you could provide any detail regarding the profitability of a Praetor, it would be great.
Thank you.
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Well, as I mentioned, there are two components to the Commercial Aviation margin. So the E195 new ones, the 90 and 95-E2s are ramping up and then incurred and then the carve-out costs, which, as I mentioned, are impacting almost totally Commercial Aviation. The other point --
Francisco Gomes -- Chief Executive Officer
The margin on the Praetor was --
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Yes. OK. The margin on the Praetor, we had in the quarter a 6% positive EBIT in executive aviation with the delivery of the initial Praetor 600. We are not disclosing individual margins for our products, but definitely, the Praetor have parts to play in these better margins in executive aviation.
Unknown speaker
OK. Thanks. That's great.
Operator
Excuse me. [Operator instructions]. Our next question comes from Leonardo Fantin, CTM Investimentos.
Leonardo Fantin -- CTM Investimentos -- Analyst
Hi. This is Leonardo from CTM Investimentos. I would like to ask you guys what are your main peers doing in terms of prices in order to achieve the cost and performance of the Praetor business jets?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Sorry, I did not understand the first part of your question. What is the --
Leonardo Fantin -- CTM Investimentos -- Analyst
What are your main peers doing in terms of prices to achieve the cost and performance of the new Praetor jets? I mean are they giving more discounts to achieve the Praetor price?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
No. We believe very strongly that the Praetor 600, we found a fixed cost in terms of positioning, products that have similar performance are a much -- have much higher prices, so it's very difficult to have price reduction that would get these products to compete with the Praetor 600. And so we do not see that this kind of reaction will cause us big problem in the Praetor 600.
Leonardo Fantin -- CTM Investimentos -- Analyst
Thanks. And can you say something about the business jets used market? Is it getting better?
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Yes. It is going well. No special points here.
Leonardo Fantin -- CTM Investimentos -- Analyst
Thanks.
Operator
[Operator signoff]
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Thank you very much for joining the call.
Duration: 43 minutes
Call participants:
Nelson Salgado -- Executive Vice President, Finance, and Investor Relations
Francisco Gomes -- Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Molinari -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Louis Raffetto -- UBS -- Analyst
Unknown speaker
Cai von Rumohr -- Cowen and Company -- Analyst
Josh Milberg -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Leonardo Fantin -- CTM Investimentos -- Analyst
More ERJ analysis
All earnings call transcripts | Manitoba ended 2019 with a nearly-balanced provincial budget, a Nobel Prize in the hands of a former Winnipegger and a Canadian Football League team still basking in the glow of a Grey Cup victory.
The province also ended the year reeling from violent crime in its capital, the worst agricultural season in decades and an economy that continues to underperform.
A new year often arrives with optimism as well as uncertainty. Anyone who claims they can predict the future is either arrogant, a charlatan or both.
Here are 20 questions that ought to be answered in 2020:
1. Will there be a river trail?
Rapidly dropping river levels and irregular ice prevented The Forks from carving out a skating trail late in 2019, but the Red River is now receding very slowly, if at all. While a full-length trail is extremely unlikely this winter, The Forks is still pondering the possibility of preparing a shorter one.
2. Will there be a spring flood?
Right now, two out of five conditions are in place for a spring 2020 flood. Soil moisture was high at freeze up and rivers and streams were also running high. But it's still to soon to make a definitive forecast, despite the heavy snowpack south of the border.
Blocks of ice float on the Red River near St. Andrews in November 2019. (Pat Kaniuga/CBC)
3. Will the Inuit Art Centre increase tourism?
The Winnipeg Art Gallery's $65-million Inuit Art Centre, under construction on the south side of the WAG, is slated to open this fall. Tourism authorities have high hopes for its role in drawing visitors, especially as part of an ensemble of city attractions that also includes Assiniboine Park Zoo, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and The Forks.
4. Will ordinary people embrace Manitoba 150?
Premier Brian Pallister claimed he called an early election in 2019 to avoid diminishing the province's 150th birthday celebration. Events are planned through 2020 following a launch in December. Will Manitobans notice, never mind attend?
5. Will the province balance the budget?
According to Manitoba's auditor general, the provincial books would be balanced right now if the PC government didn't exclude the Workers Compensation Board and an agricultural reserve. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of additional federal transfer payments will also make it easier for the province to slay the deficit in 2020. But since Finance Minister Scott Fielding has declared 2022 the balanced-budget target, all bets are off.
Manitoba Finance Minister Scott Fielding wasn't planning on balancing the budget this year. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)
6. What will the education review recommend?
In 2019, the province started an education review that may see the end of a Canadian anomaly: The ability for school boards to levy their own taxes. The government has already promised to eliminate school taxes over time. The question is whether school boards themselves will be eliminated, or at the very least amalgamated.
7. What happens with the next phase of health-care reform?
The first phase of Manitoba's health-care restructuring remains on hold while health administrators work out the kinks of emergency-ward amalgamations. At some point, the province is expected to announce plans for rural Manitoban hospitals as well. This may not go over well with the PC's rural base.
8. Do Wab Kinew and Dougald Lamont get to stick around?
Manitoba's NDP and Liberal leaders both face leadership reviews this year. Under Kinew, the NDP increased its seat count in the 2019 election. Lamont lost ground for the Liberals but did not embarass himself. It's unlikely either will be punted.
9. Will genuine progress be made on Lake Manitoba flood relief?
The ongoing federal-provincial fight over Indigenous community consultation has strained relations between Pallister and Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. A half-billion-dollar project lies in balance.
Mayor Brian Bowman and city council finance chair Scott Gillingham are expected to unveil the city budget in February. (Trevor Brine/CBC)
10. Will Winnipeg swing the budget axe?
The city's new budget process allowed senior city officials to scare the heck out of Winnipeggers with proposed service cuts that were only floated behind the scenes in previous years. Expect a mediocre budget, not a disastrous one.
11. Will Winnipeggers embrace the Southwest Transitway?
After 44 years of deliberation and construction — that is not a typo — the entire Southwest Transitway, from downtown to the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus, is slated to open in May. City bus service to southwest Winnipeg will also change, with frequent service along the transitway spine and feeder routes running off it. How well this works may determine the future of transit.
12. Is the East Transitway still in Winnipeg's plans?
Winnipeg is still studying where a proposed bus corridor between downtown and Transcona will go. A preferred route is supposed to be unveiled in 2020 — along with some sense of whether the city will ever build a second transitway. Mayor Brian Bowman promised to complete six bus corridors by 2030, but there is no money set aside for any of them.
The Winnipeg Police Service's armoured rescue vehicle drove up to a Redwood Avenue home on Christmas Day. The pensionable status of police overtime is in question. (Bartley Kives/CBC)
13. Will Bowman get his way on police pensions?
Winnipeg wants to stop factoring overtime into police pensions. The police union argues this should be hammered out as part of contract talks. A decision should arrive in 2020.
14. Are Winnipeg's growth fees legal?
In 2017, Winnipeg started applying what it calls impact fees on developments at the fringes of the city. Developers immediately filed a legal challenge. The matter should be settled this year, meaning Winnipeg will either return tens of millions of dollars to developers — or spend this money on infrastructure.
15. Will Dustin Byfuglien return to the ice?
As 2019 comes to a close, defenceman Dustin Byfuglien — a difference-maker on the ice and a fan favourite — remains suspended from the Winnipeg Jets and is recovering from surgery. It's unclear whether he will heal in time to play this season and whether he wants to return, given the dispute between him and the club.
Dustin Byfuglien has yet to suit up for the Winnipeg Jets this season. (David Lipnowski/Getty Images)
16. Will the Winnipeg Jets make the playoffs?
The Winnipeg Jets end the year with a winning record, albeit mainly thanks to some fantastic work by goalie Connor Hellebuyck earlier in the season. The team's schedule for the remainder of the 2019-20 season is among the toughest in the NHL. If the Jets don't improve, they'll have a tough time making the Stanley Cup playoffs.
17. Can the Winnipeg Blue Bombers repeat?
After ending a 29-year Grey Cup drought in 2019, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers face much less pressure this year. While key members of the championship team are bound to depart, enough of a core remains to make Winnipeg a contender for a second Cup in as many years.
18. Who starts at quarterback?
Much of Winnipeg's hopes depend on who the club re-signs at its most important position. Zach Collaros took the Bombers to the Grey Cup but may command too much money to re-sign. Matt Nichols did everything the Bombers asked of him before and after he was injured, but is now 32 years old. Chris Streveler is a phenomenal rusher but still needs to work on his passing. It is very likely only two of three will return, at most.
19. Is there a better part of a Valour?
Winnipeg soccer fans were thrilled to see Valour FC begin play in 2019. They were less thrilled with the way the club performed on the pitch. A few more wins in the sophomore season would go a long way.
Winnipeg had a tough year and faces challenges ahead. (Trevor Lyons/CBC)
20. Can Winnipeg turn the corner on despair?
This is the big question. The city ended 2019 with a record homicide tally, too much violent crime in general, a health-care system struggling to deal with meth addictions and a deep socio-economic divide. How Winnipeg addresses all this not just this year, but throughout the 2020s, will go a long way in determining what sort of city it will be.
And on that cheery note, happy new year. | 1 |
A firefighter watches the blaze near the Taos County line as firefighters converged to battle the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires on May 13. (AP)
The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fire began as two separate wildfires that combined to destroy hundreds of homes and displace thousands of people. | 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 |
The Kwara State’s Bureau of Lands on Wednesday revealed further details surrounding the Civil Service Clinic land and its adjourning plots in Ilorin, the state capital, amid public enquiry on the status of the property recently reclaimed by the State Government.
The land was seized last week from the Saraki family by the Kwara State Government.
It was said to have been acquired by the Senate Leader in the Second Republic, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki.
However, his son, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, a former Governor of the state and ex-President of the Senate, has denounced the action of the state government, saying it was intended as an attack on the family.
This was followed by protests this week by old women who normally gathered on the seized land for monthly feeding by the Sarakis.
“The entire land was acquired in the 1970s for Overriding Public Interest and same was initially designed to host the phase II of the State Secretariat. The construction of the said State Secretariat Phase II was actually commenced and it was at superstructure level before same was abandoned,” Director General of the Bureau of Land Ibrahim Salman said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The entire land was later redesigned in the 1980s for the construction of a Civil Service Clinic, State Secretariat, and a parking lot for both the Clinic and the State Secretariat.
“The Clinic was subsequently constructed in 1982, while the remaining plots of land were conceived for the expansion of the Clinic into a full-fledged Hospital.
“The dream of the State Government was stalled when part of the land slated for the parking lot was spuriously allocated in principle to one Asa Investment for commercial purpose.
“From available records, the allocation was not based on a formal application, nor application forms filled; there was no evidence of payment for the said allocation as stipulated in the letter of allocation in principle and consequently, no right of occupancy was ever issued to the Company.
“Furthermore, in flagrant abuse of the allocation terms, the company took possession of the land and constructed what is today known as ‘Ile Arugbo’ on part of the land that was designed as parking lot and later conceived to host the expansion of the Civil Service Clinic into a full-fledged Hospital.
Salman added: “Following a resolution of the Kwara State House of Assembly mandating him to revoke/withdraw the spurious allocation, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq recently signed an instrument to reclaim the land on the ground that same was unlawfully allocated to a private Company contrary to the public purpose of its acquisition and occupied in breach of the terms of allocation.
“This (press) release is intended to state the facts on the land recently revoked/withdrawn by the state government as contained in our records.” | Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer ‘ Good Newwz ’ hit the theatres last week and since then it has been doing amazingly well at the box office. Despite facing competition from Salman Khan ’s ‘ Dabangg 3 ’, the film has managed to maintain its hold over the ticket windows and register impressive numbers.‘Good Newwz’ has garnered a whopping of Rs 15.50 crore on its first Tuesday. According to a report on Boxofficeindia.com, the film currently holds a grand total of Rs 93.50 crore. Apart from the good reviews, the film got an added boost owing to the New Year’s break, which is expected to push collections even further on Wednesday.The early estimates of the film suggest that it might collect in the range of Rs 125 crore in its first week but that depends on the growth it shows today. If the film faces a drop on Thursday, then it might stand at a total of Rs 120 crore in its first week. Since there is no big release this week, ‘Good Newwz’ has a fair chance to make the most of it. The next big films are Deepika Padukone ’s ‘Chhapaak’ and Ajay Devgn ’s ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ which are slated to release on January 10, 2020. Till then, the Akshay and Kareena starrer will have a free run at the box office.Directed by Raj Mehta, ‘Good Newwz’ also features Kiara Advani and Diljit Dosanjh in significant roles. It revolves around the story of two couples and the biggest goof-up of the year. | 1 |
Grand Ledge Public Schools has posted on their Facebook page that Neff Kindergarten Center is closed for the rest of the week.
The post reads that it is due to high absenteeism due to illness.
They also stated that "the entire building and all the buses are being thoroughly cleaned and sanitized."
NEWS 10 spoke with John Ellsworth, Grand Ledge Public Schools spokesperson. Ellsworth said that as of Wednesday, school officials had reports of up to 100 students out because they were vomiting. (Neff has 382 students total.)
He says it's unclear why they are sick.
“We’re talking all the precautions we can to keep students safe and get them ready to learn again,” Ellsworth said.
The district is working with the Barry-Eaton Health Department to figure out what’s going on.
All other buildings in the district will be open as usual.
This is a breaking news story, WILX News 10 is working to get more details on this story, and will update the story as more information becomes available,
Stay with News 10 and WILX.com as we follow this situation. Refresh your page to make sure you are seeing the most current information.
Copyright 2019 WILX. All rights reserved. | Did you or someone in your family mark a major milestone in 2019? Share your memorable moments with us!
Email pictures from milestone events such as birthday parties, newborn babies, graduations, weddings, reunions, anniversaries, vacations -- anything that stood out for you and your family during the past year.
Email photos to readerpix@wickedlocal.com. Be sure to identify anyone in the photo, including name, age (if relevant) and hometown. Watch for an online photo gallery on your Wicked Local website.
Here’s to more great memories and milestones in 2020! | 1 |
(Breitbart) – President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday that Iran will pay a “very big price” after pro-Tehran forces attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
“The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request,” the president tweeted.
….Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019
“Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!” he added.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad remained locked down Tuesday after hundreds of Iraqi protesters who attempted to storm the compound failed to gain entry, U.S. officials said.
An embassy spokesman told CNN the embassy personnel were secure following an assault by protesters who were angered by a series of deadly American airstrikes carried out Sunday against an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group in Iraq and Syria.
Protesters entered the heavily fortified “Green Zone” near the compound after apparently being granted access by Iraqi security forces and gathered at the walls of the embassy itself to denounce the U.S. airstrikes against the Kata’ib Hezbollah militia.
U.S. officials blamed the militia for the death of a U.S. contractor in Kirkuk, Iraq, late last week.
Hours after the attack, President Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the event, vowing to “strongly responded.”
“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!” the president wrote on Twitter.
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! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019
Video: US Marines Deploy to Help US Embassy in Baghdad
breitbart.com/national-security/2019/12/31/trump-iran-will-pay-very-big-price-for-embassy-attack-this-is-not-a-warning-it-is-a-threat/ | 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) | 3.666667 |
Abstract
This case analysis examines obligations health care workers have to support relief efforts when an infectious disease outbreak could impact us all. How clinicians, institutions, and local communities ought to balance increased need for global solidarity in response to global disease outbreaks with concerns of local stakeholders is one specific tension this article investigates. We explore how emphasizing global health solidarity in the face of highly hazardous communicable diseases can help mitigate global risk.
Case
Dr W is a hospital administrator at BB academic medical center in the United States. BB has a prominent global health program, and Dr V, an expert in epidemic responses, has expressed interest in working abroad with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF—Doctors Without Borders) on the current Ebola outbreak. Upon returning from work in prior Ebola outbreaks, clinicians have been monitored in isolated Ebola units until it can be confirmed that they have not contracted the virus. Despite staff having been “cleared,” however, some BB patients worry about attending appointments or coming to a hospital where “some doctors and nurses have been around Ebola.” Even some members of BB’s staff have stated that they will not treat patients who have a disease as deadly as Ebola out of fear for their own safety. Concerned about bad publicity and media attention, the BB board of directors has asked Dr W to dissuade Dr V from continuing international work on Ebola containment, suggesting that “there are other important global health projects that don’t scare people so much.” Dr W wonders how to respond.
Commentary
Health care workers (HCWs) are holders of privileged knowledge and of the public’s trust; they have a sacred duty in society—that of healers. In return for the public’s trust, they owe a duty to care based on their fiduciary relationship to patients.1 In the legal sense, the phrase a duty of care stems from a special relationship between a physician and his or her patient—a relationship that is voluntary and entered into by mutual agreement.2 Certainly, this definition is clear when applied to a cardiologist treating a patient presenting at the hospital with chest pain. However, what is the obligation of an expert in epidemic responses, like Dr V, to those suffering from highly hazardous communicable diseases in the midst of an epidemic? There is little consensus on the extent to which health care workers have a duty to provide health services in an outbreak or what that duty might entail.3 Explicating the duty to care in a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) comes with hurdles. The challenges stemming from a PHEIC might include: (1) difficulty in defining hospitals’ obligations to multiple groups—employees, patients, and the community; (2) providing safe working conditions for HCWs; (3) operating in a health care system with different standards of care; and (4) providing compensation and time off for HCWs to travel to impacted areas.1
Without clear formulation of the duty to care in a PHEIC, HCWs as well as academic medical center leadership may end up overwhelmed by the challenges of serving in an outbreak-afflicted area. Yakubu et al assert that there is not a professional duty to treat in these circumstances, only a moral one.4 Yet here we will argue that, given the landscape of outbreaks of international concern, Dr V’s expressed interest and altruism in serving abroad are not merely issues of personal conscience; they exemplify the value of solidarity that institutions like BB academic medical center and society should encourage.5
Global Health Solidarity
British bioethicists Prainsack and Buyx define solidarity as an “enacted commitment to carry ‘costs’ (financial, social, emotional, or otherwise) to assist others with whom a person or persons recognize similarity in a relevant respect.”6 Our shared vulnerability to highly hazardous communicable diseases (HHCDs)—diseases that only know the boundaries of biology and don’t respect national borders—should incite a shared responsibility to fight an HHCD outbreak together.7 The similarity that exists between a patient at BB academic medical center and an individual living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is that both are increasingly united in their vulnerability to emerging threats. Consider a US citizen returning from a visit to the DRC on a full plane back to the US sitting in seat 52B. Two days later, a passenger who had been seated in 52A begins to feel nauseous. Ten days after returning to his home, the passenger who had been seated in 52C visits the emergency room with a high fever and vomiting. Even with safeguards, exposure can build exponentially. An outbreak in the DRC, if not contained, will spread to countries on different continents, just as it has spread to countries within Africa. Although the United States and Europe have been successful in treating patients with known Ebola virus disease (EVD) through airlifting them and treating them in specialized biocontainment units, these are limited resources.7 If exposures and known cases breach the limits of those resources, controlling the spread of EVD is likely to tax the US health care system and threaten the health security of the US population. The duty to care for those suffering on the other side of the globe may be strengthened by greater recognition of our shared vulnerability and a commitment to solidarity toward a shared threat. Solidaristic practices would entail taking action to care for those suffering abroad with the support of the government and institutions, just as if the outbreak were on US soil.8
The duty to care for those suffering on the other side of the globe may be strengthened by greater recognition of our shared vulnerability.
Dr V’s desire to serve in an area affected by the outbreak, putting her life at risk, demonstrates solidarity—to be in solidarity with others is to act on their behalf and to accept the costs of doing so.8 However, her risk is not hers alone. Dr V’s actions stand to affect BB’s patients as well as the community at large. As such, BB academic medical center’s board of directors is correctly concerned about the risk of exposure to current patients and assuaging fear of community members, who, along with BB patients and some staff, might perceive the ongoing work done by BB medical center’s participating staff as a threat to their safety. BB patients and staff may be especially concerned about being exposed to Ebola by BB clinicians returning from working in the outbreak-affected area.
Health care institutions should have a strategy for managing the risk of exposure to patients and employees from returning staff who have worked in outbreak-afflicted areas, as it is possible to manage the risk of this exposure effectively. Clinical staff should be required to register their travel and prospectively commit to complying with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for managing potential Ebola virus exposure9 on their return, as these guidelines have proven effective in US monitoring of health care professionals returning from EVD outbreak environments.10 With these controls in place, physical risks are manageable; they should not dominate the discourse about supporting international service.
Supporting HCWs’ service in a PHEIC through organizations like MSF contributes to their safety and mitigates their risk of contracting disease. However, an additional concern for BB’s board of directors is that the BB patient community feel adequately safeguarded; BB academic medical center upholds its reputation as a trusted institution in the community. Dr W should respond to BB’s board of directors by providing a clear explanation of the physical risks to HCWs working with MSF and the likelihood of their contracting an HCCD. In addition, Dr W should detail a plan to mitigate the risk of exposure to patients along with a communication strategy designed to provide transparent responses to patients’ concerns and to garner trust within the BB community.
Solidarity is often an implicit prerequisite among groups for the delivery and maintenance of important social infrastructures.7 Public health programs such as vaccination campaigns or routine water sampling—or infrastructure like the justice system—work on behalf of the public and are funded through the government. Solidarity could underlie the approach to global health threats, as academic medical centers with prominent global health programs, such as BB, could commit a portion of their funds to strengthening health care infrastructure in affected countries. If BB academic medical center’s board of directors see the community as vulnerable to the threat of HHCDs, supporting a range of efforts to contain a disease might be easier to “sell” to their patients and community. BB academic medical center and hospitals who mobilize qualified HCWs to work in affected areas could not only meet the needs of desperate patients but also contain Ebola at its source, averting global risk.
Solidarity in Practice
Pursuing global health solidarity could be an aspirational component of a global health program’s mission, but implementing it is not without difficulty for academic medical centers. Supporting health care workers who go abroad to assist in mitigating an outbreak takes careful consideration on the part of academic medical centers concerning the risks employees may face—ranging from contracting HHCDs to potentially working amidst political instability and violence. For academic medical centers with global health programs, steps should be taken to ensure that staff members in the field are adequately supported and that the institution has staffing coverage, especially when sending a team of health care workers for an extended period of time.
Local support. Uncertainty surrounds the continued availability of medical evacuation for staff, and there may also be concerns regarding violence and civil unrest in Ebola-affected countries.11 Dr V cannot be expected to shoulder this risk alone but rather should receive support from BB academic medical center, which might worry about whether it can adequately protect its employees. To minimize the risks and maximize the benefits of HCWs’ service, academic medical centers and other institutions should require that HCWs who volunteer to serve do so only through established and qualified organizations and should help HCWs to inform themselves fully of all residual risks and uncertainties.5
Staffing coverage. BB academic medical center’s commitment to support HCWs serving in an outbreak-afflicted area also requires consideration of the strain it will place on its staff and patients. Providing care in Ebola-affected regions can involve an extensive time commitment for clinicians—not only time spent deployed but also several days of training and sometimes several weeks postdeployment away from work for monitoring, if required.5 On the clinical side, Dr V’s time away from work could increase BB clinicians’ patient load, create strain on colleagues who are tasked with covering extra responsibilities, and jeopardize continuity of physician care.Although it will be necessary for academic medical centers to address these concerns, the number of HCWs willing and qualified to serve is small, and the strain on institutions and staff members is likely to be minor.5
Conclusion
In an editorial in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Flahault et al argue that respect for human rights and solidarity should be at the heart of each country’s national security agenda; furthermore, the authors claim that these values are consistent with the motives of many people who provide health services in public health emergencies.12 BB academic medical center and its leadership should consider how solidarity fits with the mission of the institution’s global health program. Solidarity practices should be communicated to and reinforced within the institution and community. Such efforts can make inroads in garnering support from BB staff, patients, and community stakeholders in supporting HCWs willing to act on their sense of solidarity. | Abstract
During the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, people were required by law to call a trained “safe burial” team to dispose of the body of a person who had died from Ebola. It took days for a team to arrive, however, due to limited resources and rural travel obstacles, so some villagers felt obliged to bury their loved ones themselves. Even with timely arrival of a team, there can be cultural priorities that deserve attention. One man’s case discussed in this article suggests the need for Ebola responders to consider villagers’ perspectives and possibilities for compromise.
Case
Dr R is a physician working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo tasked with creating a quarantine policy for the bodies of Ebola victims, given high transmission rates from bodily fluid exposures. He receives reports of a confirmed Ebola death in a nearby village. Upon arriving with the Ebola response team, he is met by the wife and brothers of the deceased man. They refuse to allow the man’s body to be removed according to safety protocol. They explain that his body cannot be buried without first undergoing a religious cleaning by the family and a religious leader. Dr R explains that touching the body is dangerous and can easily lead to others contracting Ebola. The man’s family insists that he should not be buried without the religious ritual. How should Dr R reconcile the cultural importance of honoring local burial rituals with his obligation to prevent the spread of Ebola?
Commentary
The anthropologist Mary Douglas devoted her career to explaining that moral arguments derive from social context,1 and because social life is complex and open-ended, there will always be conflict between competing values. It was a basic concern of anthropology, she argued, to understand how human groups accommodate conflicting ethical demands.2 This article applies Douglas’ insight to safe burial protocol implementation during the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone and is based on our experience living and working there.
Mutual Care Conflicts With Containment
In rural communities at the edge of a tropical forest region in Upper West Africa, villages are small and can be interconnected by marriage ties, so the welfare of family members linked by marriage is prioritized as an ethical value among members of these communities. Mutual support sustains their way of life, and visiting those who are ill, dying, or deceased reinforces social solidarity. Ebola virus disease (EVD) challenges the moral basis of local social life in such communities, since infection can spread when one cares for the sick and prepares bodies for funerals. In other words, infection containment requires that one refrain from caring for the sick in moments of patients’ extreme need and from preparing corpses for dignified burial. Infection containment thus presents many people with a conflict between 2 social obligations: to care for others as an expression of local interfamily solidarity and to preserve the community by helping control the spread of disease.
Families were prevented from washing and dressing corpses and had to wait, sometimes for days, for a trained burial team to arrive.
National and international Ebola responders stressed infection control, key to which is early isolation of patients with EVD. But early EVD symptoms can look like malaria, also widespread in the region, and thus can be hard to accurately diagnose early. Later onset symptoms of EVD (vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding, for example) are optimally managed in specialized care facilities—typically far from where patients live, especially if rehydration therapy is applied—to improve patients’ chances of survival. An instinct of many patients’ family members was to follow the patient to a care facility and offer support by preparing food and touching or talking to the patient, for example. But when a patient with EVD was brought by ambulance to a distant treatment center, personal care was compromised, if not impossible. Furthermore, when a transported patient receiving specialized care died, it was rarely possible for family members to be notified in time to take part in that person’s burial.
How Ethnography Informed Compromise
Sierra Leone was one of the worst-affected countries in the 2014-2015 West African Ebola epidemic.3 Responders deployed modern media resources to impart (Western, allopathic) messages about biosafety that implied that “traditional” approaches to caring for EVD patients and burying deceased patients were backward or barbaric. Such messaging was backed by the Sierra Leone government, which threatened fines and imprisonment and insisted upon family members’ exclusion from all burials throughout the country, even though few deaths at that time were due to EVD. Families were prevented from washing and dressing corpses and had to wait, sometimes for days, for a trained burial team to arrive. Out of fear or nervousness, some teams heaved corpses quickly into graves with poles. Mourners were held at a distance or forbidden from witnessing burials at all. Outraged, some people resisted on having loved ones with EVD infections transported to care centers and began hiding and burying bodies of deceased patients.
One young man in a village in eastern Sierra Leone, who had attended his mother as she died of EVD, viewed it as simply unforgiveable not to clean and dress her body. She had given him life, and he saw himself as obliged to stand by her in death. So he performed the ritual alone and quietly buried her; he informed no one and accepted that he would probably become infected with EVD and die. To protect others from his probable infection and to avoid incarceration in an Ebola treatment facility, he left his village, planning to hide in the bush until EVD symptoms emerged; if they did, he would die alone. After experiencing no symptoms, he reported to a health center for an EVD blood test. His test was negative. Although this man’s story is obviously clinically important, from an anthropological perspective, it suggests the importance of compromise between needs of responders to contain disease and needs of local people to perform burial rituals of cultural significance.
Anthropological Foundations of Improved Ebola Care
Possibilities for compromise emerged when anthropologists helped gain a wider hearing for local people’s stories and ethical perspectives.4 One result of anthropologists’ publicizing of stories involving ethical dilemmas was to shift responders’ views about burials. As a result, Sierra Leone’s national protocol on safe burial was amended to “safe and dignified” burial.5 Pastors and imams were engaged to officiate at the graveside, and families were allowed to attend. Another result of anthropologists’ roles in the 2014-2015 epidemic was that EVD treatment became localized. That is, large and distant Ebola treatment centers were supplemented by smaller, local community care centers (CCCs)6 where all diseases were treated. This change encouraged earlier reporting of EVD symptoms and testing. Moreover, many CCC staff were recruited from local communities and thus were known to patients. This familiarity enhanced trust, eased family access to patients, enabled better reporting about patients’ progress, and facilitated provision of home-prepared food for patients. Even when family members couldn’t enter the “red zone” to be at a patient’s side, they could see the patient and talk through open sides of the tents. Family presence helped some patients survive. Even when the CCC reported deaths by phone, loved ones were on hand and able to gather for burial.
Although CCCs improved family access to patients, responders began to recognize that not all communities had working phones from which to call for an ambulance or roads that an ambulance could even traverse. As a solution, poster-based information, reinforced by radio broadcasts, helped family members learn what to do for a patient while waiting for an ambulance.5 Family members continued to care for patients while also protecting themselves with plastic bags and coats worn backwards. They also attempted to mitigate risk of contracting EVD by having one person care for the patient while others supported the carer.3,7
Contextualizing “Biosafety”
Allowing more family involvement in caregiving changed public attitudes towards the epidemic response effort significantly. Communities took ownership of local care facilities and EVD itself. Caregiving and burial preparation were never regarded as “safe,” so recruiting and training local burial teams remained as important as allowing family members to assume active roles in burial. One lesson is that competing cultural and public health values need to be balanced. Shouting down pleas to perform culturally important death and burial practices in the name of biosafety was not helpful. The 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa demonstrated the necessity of compromise between conflicting values and the role of anthropology in implementing compromise. | 2 |
The system has been waiting for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to come up with a stress-resolution framework for assets under Rs 1,500 crore.
Ahead of the January 7 deadline for out-of-court resolutions for a clutch of bad loans, seven lenders sought to sell bad loans worth Rs 8,543 crore in the three months ended December. So far, only one asset — RattanIndia Power’s 1,350-megawatt (MW) Amravati plant — has successfully been resolved outside the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). The long-overdue resolution of Essar Steel was completed in Q3 under the court-monitored insolvency process.
While asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) are also struggling to pick up toxic assets, banks are nonetheless trying their luck. In 2019, the number of deals executed between banks and ARCs thinned to a trickle. ARCs had bought quite a few assets from banks in 2018, but the emergence of a liquidity crisis late that year caught up with them in 2019.
The biggest cache of bad loans was put on the block by Bank of Baroda (BoB) and IDBI Bank, both of whom sought buyers for exposures. Among the large exposures on sale are Garden Silk Mills, which owes its lenders Rs 1,721 crore, and IDBI’s loans to BILT Graphic Paper, which owes banks around Rs 7,000 crore.
Loans to a large number of medium-sized enterprises have also been put on sale by banks. Resolving such accounts is a challenge for banks in the absence of a well-defined framework. The system has been waiting for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to come up with a stress-resolution framework for assets under Rs 1,500 crore. Earlier expected to be issued in Q4FY20, the framework is now set to be made public only in the next financial year.
Despite continuing challenges, analysts say recoveries improved in FY19 for a number of reasons. Explaining reasons for this, Kotak Institutional Equities wrote in a recent report, “Banks have reasonably improved their coverage on these bad loans, which is making it a lot more easier to work through the bad problems through one-time settlement or change in ownership through the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) process or outside.”
Distressed funds, many of them run by foreign entities, moving in to acquire these assets with local partners has also helped recoveries, the report observed. | Data is like statistics, you can use the data points and periods to effectively track the returns and then use them to make investment decisions, to plan the goals and reach milestones.
In 2019, while the the 30-share S&P BSE Sensex has delivered around 14% returns, the broadmarkets could not match the benchmark’s performance. So, investment returns and the Sensex returns do not mirror. Can we know why?
The Sensex comprises 30 stocks. And the investment portfolio of the investor will be the universe of stocks which will be outside of the 30-stock Sensex. And moreover, a handful of stocks within the Sensex has delivered the returns.
In mid 2018, in order to streamline the Indian mutual fund industry, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had issued guidelines for scheme categorisation. This definitely made the existing schemes align with the guidelines issued by Sebi. For instance, it defined large-cap as the top 100 companies in terms of market capitalisation with similar guidelines for mid-cap and small-cap funds.
Category-wise returns
If one looks at the category-wise one-year return of a large cap mutual fund scheme, which is a more reflective return on account of the scheme categorisation, the returns for the top 20 schemes vary from 4.3%-18%. Within the scheme also there is a large divergence in the returns. So ultimately, it is the stock selection and the holding period, which has made a difference. This is true in all the cases. The returns in majority of the mid-cap and small-cap schemes have delivered a low single digit or negative returns, with only one or two schemes delivering outlier returns.
It is said that history repeats. So let us see what were the Sensex returns in the immediate past two years. In 2018, it was 5.9% (it definitely reflected on account of the re-organisation of the schemes as per the Sebi guidelines). In 2017, the returns were 27.9%. So the one-year returns for each of the past three years did not move secularly. What about the three-year rolling returns for each of the past years. In 2017, it was 8.28%. In 2018, it was 11.92% and in 2019,it is 15%.
So , the three-year rolling Sensex returns reflected a much healthier picture as compared to a one-year return. All of this is data and how do we as an investor use this to our advantage in our investment journey?
Short-term vs long-term returns
Data is our friend and as one can notice there is a huge divergence in the returns in the short time frame. And in a longer time frame, the returns get normalised.
From the beginning of the year 2010 till date, the Sensex has grown by 2.40 times. The annualised return is 9.1 % and this is after the Sensex return in the immediate following year 2011, delivered a negative return of 25%. When we compare data, point-to-point, what happens in the intervening period goes unobserved.
Data is like statistics, you can use the data points and periods to effectively track the returns and then use them to make investment decisions, to plan the goals and reach milestones.
Ultimately, it boils down to stock selection and the manner in which you have maintained your Emotional Quotient (EQ) in the investment journey. It is not incorrect to say that the temperament of the investor plays a bigger role in the investment journey. And adding to the temperament is the asset allocation which plays an important role and this is what the year 2019 has reinforced.
As an investor, if you are investing in equity as an asset class, you should brace for periods of suboptimal or even negative returns . Diversification among the mutual fund scheme categories in line with the goals and milestones is the approach. And more importantly, ‘time in the market’ rather than ‘timing the market’ must be your approach to investments.
The writer is managing partner,
BellWether Advisors LLP | 2 |
2019 was quite the year for the royal family, with some big highs like births and engagements, as well as some lows. No matter how much went on however, that doesn’t mean that 2020 won’t be another year full of some ups and downs for the House of Windsor.
The royal family doesn’t appear to be slowing down when it comes to their plans for the next calendar year. Here are some big things to potentially look forward to.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall:
Photo: Getty Images/Chris Jackson
Rumors are more rampant than ever that Queen Elizabeth is preparing to invoke the Regency Act after her 95th birthday in 2021, which would allow her to basically step back from all her duties as Queen while still retaining her title, and giving Prince Charles the ability to somewhat rule in her place. However, the Queen has made no moves to suggest this is true, though she has been slowly preparing her heir for his eventual role as King, giving him more responsibility and increasing his public profile and presence.
As for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, they aren’t expected to have any large celebrations on their calendar, though their public roles could increase with more engagements as they take on more responsibilities.
Prince William and Kate Middleton:
Photo: AFP/Aamir QURESHI
After a big year which saw the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge become the sole heads of The Royal Foundation, they are looking ahead to another big year as well, which will include new initiatives and more focus on their charity work.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle:
Photo: Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images
After a year that saw them welcome their first child together, there was a lot of turmoil for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who not only started lawsuits against publications that they felt invaded their privacy but also took a six-week break at the end of the year from their royal duties. As for what fans can expect from them in 2020— the couple may once again team up with Prince William and Kate as they all take on more work following Prince Andrew’s stepping back from royal life.
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi:
Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Another royal wedding is set to take place in 2020, as Princess Beatrice officially ties the knot with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Details about the pair’s nuptials have remained under wraps thus far. | KEY POINTS Kate Middleton and Prince William once snubbed Prince Charles and Camilla on New Year's Eve
Kate Middleton allegedly snubbed Meghan Markle, Prince Harry
Mike and Zara Tindall spent New Year's Eve in Sydney
Kate Middleton and Prince William once snubbed Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles on New Year’s Eve.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have maintained a good relationship with the other members of the royal family, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, despite their rumored feud. In fact, they included the Sussexes in their video highlights in the previous year.
According to Express, there was a time when the future king and queen snubbed the heir apparent and his second wife on New Year’s Eve. In 2012, Prince William and Middleton were expected to celebrate the holidays with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in Scotland. However, the newlyweds opted to skip the royal celebration and joined Middleton’s family instead.
The Middleton family is known for going all out on New Year’s Day. At the time, Pippa hired a teepee-style tent from an upmarket events firm and hosted the party in her parents’ Berkshire garden. The party tent or Kata reportedly cost around $4,000.
A local villager said that Prince William and Middleton “looked full of the joys of the season.” They were seen laughing and joking at the event.
Pippa’s party gave Middleton an opportunity to let her hair down after spending Christmas with Queen Elizabeth II in Sandringham. When Middleton spent her first Christmas with the royals, she was reportedly “terrified.”
“It’s very difficult for an outsider – Kate was terrified! It’s not that they’re not friendly and sweet it’s just that there are so many things that can go wrong,” royal expert Ingrid Seward said.
Meanwhile, there were also rumors that Middleton purposely snubbed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for her New Year’s plans. The Duchess of Sussex reportedly felt “totally left out” because Middleton was planning a get-together and she invited Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Mike and Zara Tindall. However, Middleton didn’t extend an invitation to the Sussexes.
The report was not true because Middleton didn’t host a New Year’s party and opted to join her family instead. Also, there is no way for Prince Harry and Markle to join the get-together even if Middleton wanted them to because the couple is in Canada. In addition, Mike and Zara were not with the Cambridges on New Year’s Eve, they were in Sydney with actress Rebel Wilson.
Photo: Getty Images/Danny Lawson | 2.5 |
PHOTO: Markus Spiske
In simple terms, information management concerns a cycle of organizational activity: the acquisition of information from one or more sources, the custodianship and the distribution of that information to those who need it, and its ultimate disposition through archiving or deletion. However, for something that seems so straightforward, it still creates huge problems for enterprises.
In fact, every year we take a look at information management trends that are starting to emerge, or which have already established themselves, we also note the same problems and challenges remain for enterprises, even as more technology and more data is brought into the workplace.
Gartner defines a strategic technology trend as one with substantial disruptive potential that is beginning to break out of an emerging state into broader impact and use, or which is rapidly growing with a high degree of volatility reaching tipping points over the next five years. While information management has been around for a long time, it is still disrupting the workplace with new facets of the same problems every year. The big issue this year and heading into 2020 is the role of people in the enterprise and their relationship with technology.
Last October, at the Gartner IT Symposium|Xpo, David Cearley, vice president and Gartner fellow, argued that putting people at the center of technology strategies highlights one of the most important aspects of technology — how it impacts customers, employees, business partners, society or other key constituencies. He also argued that all actions of the organization can be attributed to how it impacts these individuals and groups either directly or indirectly. Indeed, over the past year, this too has been the case as new technologies like robotic process automation, artificial intelligence (AI), low-code architectures and other technologies become common.
Our list of top stories in this space over the past 12 months reflect these arguments.
In March, SAP announced that it was “restructuring” and that 4,400 jobs would be lost as a result. But, it should be noted that SAP is simply doing what all big technology companies periodically do: they take a good hard look at their business, refocus, reorganize and streamline operations, according to Josh Greenbaum, principal analyst at Enterprise Applications Consulting. “SAP has realized that it needs to shift their strategy and their priorities,” Greenbaum said, noting that one area of impact is SAP HANA and its team.
At the beginning of July, Microsoft and Oracle announced that they were creating a cloud interoperability partnership enabling customers to migrate and run mission-critical enterprise workloads across Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud. The companies said this means enterprises will be able to seamlessly connect Azure services, like Analytics and AI, to Oracle Cloud services, like Autonomous Database. By enabling customers to run one part of a workload within Azure and another part of the same workload within the Oracle Cloud, the partnership offers enterprises a highly optimized, best-of-both-clouds experience. Taken together, the partnership provides a one-stop shop of cloud services and applications for businesses.
For the most part Ernst & Young is very enthusiastic about robotic process automation (RPA), according to a report about the technology in which E&Y wrote: “It promises to transform the cost, efficiency and quality of executing many of the back-office and customer-facing processes that businesses rely on people to perform.” However, in that same report E&Y also made clear that the implementation of what for all appearances is a simple application — many are low or no-code — can be fraught with issues for some companies.
As we move into 2019, the demand for rapid and constantly improving digital experiences has never been higher. To match the market’s demands, brands are adopting a DevOps culture to streamline the development, deployment, management and maintenance of software at scale. Here’s everything you need to know about DevOps, and the DevOps principles necessary to be successful.
A multifunction communication platform like Microsoft Teams is an essential tool for today’s work environment — not just a fancy piece of tech. Nearly three-quarters (70%) of professionals globally telecommute at least one day a week, while 43% of US employees do so on occasion. These workers, and their teams, require seamless 24/7 access to the same information to remain successful. But managing an organization-spanning Microsoft Teams environment is no easy task. Major governance measures must be in place to contain sprawl, secure internal data and ensure efficiency.
Big data is here, and it’s getting bigger by the day. With more than 80 million Internet of Things (IoT) devices set to enter the market by 2020, brands are busy making plans to offer new customer experiences and preparing for an unprecedented onslaught of data. Data lakes and data warehouses are two ways that a brand can collect and manage all that data, but what’s the difference between the two? We talked to practitioners to see how they differentiate the two.
Back in 2013, CMSWire asked the experts a simple question: "Which is better, proprietary software or open source?" While there was no consensus at the time, the question itself seems archaic today. "Open source is everywhere," said Holger Mueller, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research. A quick look at the proprietary software vendors of yesteryear drives his point home.
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — the compliance regulation that caused consternation in organizations worldwide, before and after it went live on May 25, 2018 — is starting to live up to its reputation of being a fearless defender of customer data and privacy rights. As with all laws, its implications are best understood by interpreting its penalties thus far.
IBM closed last month on one of the cloud industry’s largest acquisitions to date: its $34 billion grab of open-source cloud technology provider Red Hat. The deal raises some questions: Will Red Hat help IBM catch up to cloud leaders Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services? How will Red Hat users be impacted by the deal? Those impacted by the acquisition agree it's still too early to tell, but they're bracing for potential integration challenges and progress in the hybrid cloud arena.
The demands for DevOps engineers is growing, and it’s not difficult to figure out why. Companies that utilize DevOps practices are deploying code up to 30 times faster than their competitors — and they experience 50% fewer deployment fails. With all the advantages of DevOps tempting more companies into transforming their software development processes, it’s no wonder the average DevOps engineer can demand a salary in excess of $100,000. | It would be hard to top the 2018 enterprise M&A total of a whopping $87 billion, and predictably this year didn’t come close. In fact, the top 10 enterprise M&A deals in 2019 were less than half last year’s, totaling $40.6 billion.
This year’s biggest purchase was Salesforce buying Tableau for $15.7 billion, which would have been good for third place last year behind IBM’s mega deal plucking Red Hat for $34 billion and Broadcom grabbing CA Technologies for $18.8 billion.
Contributing to this year’s quieter activity was the fact that several typically acquisitive companies — Adobe, Oracle and IBM — stayed mostly on the sidelines after big investments last year. It’s not unusual for companies to take a go-slow approach after a big expenditure year. Adobe and Oracle bought just two companies each with neither revealing the prices. IBM didn’t buy any.
Microsoft didn’t show up on this year’s list either, but still managed to pick up eight new companies. It was just that none was large enough to make the list (or even for them to publicly reveal the prices). When a publicly traded company doesn’t reveal the price, it usually means that it didn’t reach the threshold of being material to the company’s results.
As always, just because you buy it doesn’t mean it’s always going to integrate smoothly or well, and we won’t know about the success or failure of these transactions for some years to come. For now, we can only look at the deals themselves. | 2 |
2019 has not been an easy year for Cuba. It began right at the beginning with a devastating tornado in January and continued with a blow to tourism with the end of cruises and other travel restrictions imposed by the United States.
The economic difficulties forced the Executive of Miguel Díaz-Canel to decree an alarming “temporary energy situation” in September, and to juggle all year round with measures such as the opening of stores selling in dollars. Meanwhile, the crisis in Ecuador and Bolivia put an end to the island’s health cooperation in those nations and brought to a close the income it generated.
The proclamation of the new Magna Carta, the celebration of Havana’s half millennium, the visit of the king and queen of Spain and the increase in activism beyond the government, also marked the news agenda in the year that ends. We are focusing on these and other issues in a tight top ten list of what happened in Cuba in the last 12 months.
1-Constitution proclaimed, Díaz-Canel ratified
Everyone knew it, but in short it was news. After a popular consultation and the approval of the final draft by the National Assembly in 2018, the new Constitution was ratified in the referendum of last February 24 with the support of 86.85% of the votes, and then proclaimed on April 10 by the island’s parliament.
Following a pre-established route, the National Assembly approved in July the new Electoral Law―which maintains the process of direct election of the deputies and the indirect election of the President, the Council of State and the majority of government posts―, and in October it ratified Díaz-Canel at the head of the Executive. The circle closed on December 21 with the―for many surprising―designation of the hitherto minister of tourism, Manuel Marrero, as Prime Minister, a position recovered by the current Magna Carta.
2-Havana, the 500 and a tornado
Although sights had been set on Havana’s 500th anniversary long before the start of the year, in 2019 the countdown entered its final stretch. The works were speeded up―a total of more than 2,000 were executed, according to official data―and the consequent inaugurations, among them those of the San Rafael boulevard, the Coppelia ice cream parlor, the Cuatro Caminos Market―the scene of an unfortunate and publicized pitched battle on its opening day―and the brand new National Capitol, whose staircase hosted the anniversary gala on the night of November 16.
However, the festivities were surrounded by tension from early on, as a result of the terrible tornado that hit several Havana municipalities on the night of January 27. The meteorological event left a balance of seven dead, almost 200 injured and some 10,000 displaced, and damaged about 8,000 homes and other buildings, which led to a rapid constructive movement and government support―not exempt of complaints and dissatisfactions―and international donations and by Cuban civil society, which mobilized as never before to help the victims.
3-The king and queen, and prince and princess, arrive
2019 will go down in history as the year in which Cuba received two unprecedented royal visits. For the first time a King of Spain and a Prince of Wales, heir to the British crown, made official visits to the island, events that at the same time marked a milestone in relations between these European countries and Cuba, and confirmed their progress, experienced in recent times.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia carried out an extensive agenda in Cuba between November 11 and 14, a visit in the context of Havana’s 500th anniversary that included a meeting with the Cuban president, cultural activities and a trip to the eastern city of Santiago. Meanwhile, Prince Charles of England and his wife Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, also walked through the capital, met with entrepreneurs and were received by Díaz-Canel on their trip of three days to the island at the end of March.
4-Living “temporary situations”
On September 11, the Cuban president announced in person on television that the country was suffering from an energy crisis derived from U.S. government measures to prevent the arrival of oil to the island and thus “asphyxiate the Cuban economy.” At the time, Díaz-Canel assured that it was a “temporary” situation and denied that it was a return to the Special Period, the severe crisis suffered by Cuba during the 1990s.
This “temporary situation” forced the Cuban government to stop, reduce or change the schedule of productions and works in progress, reduce fuel allocation and public transportation and prioritize basic services and “fundamental economic activities,” such as tourism, among other measures. However, the president himself has warned that, although the crisis has gradually improved, the country’s current scenario makes it necessary to strengthen savings and maintain policies adopted during the “temporary situation.”
5-The return of the dollar and the “capped” prices
The confirmation of the “temporary energy crisis” was not the only important announcement of the last twelve months. 2019 brought with it government measures that shook Cuba’s socioeconomic landscape, which included the opening―or rather the rescue―of retail stores for the selling in dollars―although not in cash, but through debit cards associated with bank accounts ―of a group of products at “competitive prices,” with the imperative objective of “capturing foreign currencies.”
In addition to the opening of these stores―of which at the close of 2019 some 40 should be operating throughout the island―, the Cuban government also decreed an increase in state salaries and pensions that benefited more than 2.7 million persons, and a controversial policy of “capped prices” both in the state sector and, above all, in the private sector, to try to prevent prices from skyrocketing as a result of the economic crisis and the wage increase. Other eye-catching measures were the giving change in Cuban pesos (CUP) in stores that mainly operate in convertible pesos (CUC) and the suspension of the use of the latter currency in border, which have triggered alarms about an increasingly close monetary unification.
6-Backward step for tourism
The performance of tourism, one of the undisputed driving forces of the Cuban economy, confirms the ups and downs of the year that ends. 2019 began with the government’s aim of reaching 5 million visitors for the first time, a goal that seemed primarily possible due to the sustained growth of cruises and the recovery of the Canadian market. Up to April, for example, more than 1.8 million visitors had arrived on the island, which represented an increase of 7.2% compared to 2018 and fueled optimism for the coming months.
However, new sanctions by the U.S. government such as the prohibition of cruises and the elimination of people-to-people educational and cultural travel, together with other restrictions on visits to Cuba, were a blow to the so-called smokeless industry, which forced tourism authorities to drastically lower their forecast for the year to 4.3 million and to strengthen the search for emerging markets. However, the construction of hotels and other investments has not stopped in the sector, which is still considered strategic by the Cuban government and whose minister, Manuel Marrero, was appointed prime minister.
7-Cuban doctors: a kidnapping and several returns
The Cuban doctors who work outside the island made news because of several incidents during 2019. The most resounding and saddest of all was the kidnapping last April 12 of two collaborators in the African continent. Doctors Landy Rodríguez and Assel Herrera were allegedly kidnapped by members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group in the town of Mandera, in an area of Kenya bordering Somalia and Ethiopia, and eight months later little is known about their situation. The Cuban authorities, citing their Kenyan peers, say they are “well” and that they are working for their “safe return.” But, beyond this, very little has been made public.
Meanwhile, this year also marked the end of Cuba’s medical collaboration in Bolivia and Ecuador, two of its main strongholds in Latin America. In the first case, it took place after the forced resignation of President Evo Morales and the arrest of several of its members in the midst of the political upheaval that the South American nation was experiencing. In Ecuador it was due to the end of the agreements between Havana and the government of Lenín Moreno, which alleged economic reasons, but which had previously suggested the participation of Cuban collaborators in the social unrest that shook that country, something that Cuba has denied and has blamed a campaign organized from the United States to discredit Cuban medical collaboration.
8-Baby Paloma, Ferrer, the government responds
Several cases related to Cuba in 2019 made the headlines inside and outside the island, to the point of the Cuban government having to respond. One of them was the death of baby Paloma Domínguez Caballero, barely a year old, after being vaccinated in a Havana polyclinic, while other children were also hospitalized for this cause. Paloma’s parents―who finally left the island―denounced on the social media what happened and demanded a government response that finally came within a month of the events. The Ministry of Public Health denied that the vaccine applied had problems and said that what happened was due to “violations of established norms” for which those responsible were sanctioned.
Another case that jumped into public opinion was the arrest of opponent José Daniel Ferrer, who further fueled mutual accusations between Cuba and the U.S., and prompted an unusual television response from the Cuban government. While Washington and international entities such as the European Parliament considered Ferrer’s imprisonment “arbitrary,” Havana said that his detention―the government considers him a “salaried agent at the service of the United States”―was due to a report about the alleged kidnapping and beating of his accuser, and denied that he was mistreated in jail. In addition, it accused U.S. diplomats on the island over their contacts with Ferrer and other “illegal actions,” of “interference in the internal affairs of the country.”
9-Animal lovers march; the LGTBI community, too
If a group of Cuban civil society gained visibility in the year that ends―on the street and the social media―that was that of animal rights activists. The animal lovers carried out numerous actions throughout 2019, including a large march through the streets of Havana, authorized by the government. In addition, they have insistently demanded a postponed animal protection law, they have reported cases of abuse, they have organized sterilization campaigns and adoptions, they have carried out protests against the state entity known as Zoonosis and they have sat down to talk with executives of government institutions linked to the topic.
The Cuban LGTBI community, on the other hand, took a step back this year. Its activism, which had risen in 2018 with the debates on same sex marriage following the new Magna Carta, suffered in May the suspension for unclear reasons of the traditional―and governmental―Conga against Homophobia and Transphobia, the first suspended in 12 years, although other activities were maintained. In response, activists called an independent march in Havana which was interrupted by the police, who arrested several participants, while Cuban authorities called it a “show” and criticized the “lackeying of mercenary activism.”
10-Farewell to some of the greats
In 2019, Cuba bid farewell to Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the most prominent figure of the Cuban Catholic Church and a key name in relations between it and the government of the island. Ortega, 82, died of cancer, of which he suffered. He had already distanced himself from his post as archbishop of Havana, which he held for more than three decades. After his death on July 26, his body was laid for three days in the Havana Cathedral, where he received the homage of faithful and authorities.
Two months later, at the beginning of October, Pope Francis officially appointed Juan de la Caridad García as cardinal, who had replaced Ortega in 2016 as archbishop of Havana. The appointment, which had been known since September, took place in the Vatican, but it was celebrated throughout the island, as it maintained the Cuban presence in the Cardinal College. In addition, being under 80 years old―he was born in Camagüey in 1948―, García became a possible participant of a future Conclave, for the election, when the time comes, of a new Pope.
Cuba also bid farewell in July to Cuban poet and essayist Roberto Fernández Retamar, director of the Casa de las Américas, an institution that turned 60 this year. On October 17, Alicia Alonso, prima ballerina assoluta, died at 98. The Cuban people and many fans in the world said goodbye to a true legend of dance, a universal artist who bequeathed to the island a school and a Cuban style of representing the world-renowned classical ballet.
“When I danced, I gave happiness, joy and, above all, I thought I was giving life, because as I felt it, I would give it.” | These are the headlines that dominated the cannabis industry in 2019 -- what can we expect in 2020?
January 1, 2020 6 min read
This story originally appeared on MJBizDaily
The U.S. cannabis industry experienced some momentous moves forward on the legalization front in 2019, but it also faced significant obstacles that reflected how the licensed marijuana sector is continuing to mature and why it cannot always expect boom times and unfettered growth.
The top page views of the year at Marijuana Business Daily show the industry’s interest in both sides of the coin. Among the most viewed stories of the year were those that focused on:
The vaping health scare.
Illinois’ historic move as it became the first state in the country to legalize retail sales through its Legislature and the 11th overall to approve adult use.
A key U.S. House committee’s approval of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act.
California marijuana business headwinds such as those surrounding the illicit market and ongoing licensing barriers.
What follows is a rundown of MJBizDaily’s top stories of the year, as determined by the number of page views on the U.S. site.
RELATED: 20 Bold Predictions For The Cannabis Industry In 2020
1. Colorado’s Largest Cannabis Grower Loses Millions Of Dollars In Early Freeze: Supply Disruption Expected
Los Sueños Farms, which is based in Pueblo, Colorado -- and is the largest marijuana cultivator in the state -- revealed in October that it lost millions of dollars because of an early winter storm.
The industry braced for ripples throughout the cannabis supply chain in the state, reducing the amount of marijuana available to retailers and processors -- and meaning higher wholesale cannabis prices.
By December, however, Los Sueños’ owner reported the outdoor harvest was still better than 2018, and the company had ample material for the extraction market. The grower estimated it lost roughly $7 million from the freeze.
2. U.S. House Panel Passes Federal Cannabis Legalization Bill In Historic Vote
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act of 2019 passed a vote by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in November. If adopted into law, the measure could open up huge business opportunities for legal marijuana nationwide, similar to the federal legalization of hemp.
If the MORE Act does pass the full House in the 2020 election year, it still faces the huge obstacle represented by the Republican-controlled Senate.
3. UPS Sues California Cannabis Delivery Companies For Infringing On Trademark
Underlining why putting a moniker on a cannabis business isn’t as easy as it sounds, Atlanta-based United Parcel Service accused a group of California marijuana businesses -- United Pot Smokers, UPS420 and THCPlant -- of using names and logos that are “confusingly similar” to the package-delivery giant’s name and shield logo.
UPS also said the alleged infringement hurts its reputation through association with a marijuana company and further claimed the defendants have a reputation for offering “sham services” under the UPS mark and shield logo.
RELATED: 3 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The Vaping Industry
4. Deaths, Illnesses Related To Vaping Cannabis On The Rise, Health Authorities Say
Concerns over marijuana vaping-related fatalities and illnesses began to dominate headlines in earnest in September as U.S. health officials urged people to stop vaping until it was determined why some consumers were coming down with serious breathing illnesses.
Now at the end of 2019, the worst days of the vaping crisis appear to be behind the legal cannabis industry as evidence mounted that products from the illicit market were mainly to blame.
The cannabis industry went on the offensive this year as marijuana businesses pushed to educate consumers about the importance of buying from the legal market.
5. Cannabis Industry Insiders Brace For Potential Fallout As Health Officials Report New Vaping Deaths
As news of the vape health crisis and related deaths spread, some in the cannabis industry expected at least a temporary drop in sales for products such as disposable vape cartridges, and that did come to pass.
The vape crisis hurt business in all recreational cannabis markets in the United States. And while vape sales moved up toward the end of the year in major markets, most have not yet fully recovered to where they were before.
6. 400-Plus California Marijuana Business Licenses Suspended, Injecting Fresh Uncertainty Into State’s Cannabis Industry
In 2020, the legal marijuana business in California is likely to get worse before it gets better. And that’s after an already challenging 2019.
For example, California suspended more than 400 marijuana business permits in November, which affected roughly 5 percent of the state’s legal cannabis supply chain.
Marijuana businesses from retailers to distributors were affected and had to cease all sales until their licenses were reinstated to “active” status.
Later in the month, however, industry observers said California’s licensed marijuana supply chain likely wouldn’t see huge effects from the permit suspensions, because many of the cannabis companies involved weren’t operational or were canceled business ventures.
RELATED: The 10 Biggest Cannabis Stories Of 2019
7. Legal Cannabis Gifts Lead To New Business Practice In Michigan
In January, a legal loophole in Michigan was pointed out that allowed individuals to give away cannabis free of charge. That led to a new business model by some companies in which they sold products such as non-infused candy or art and added a free bit of marijuana as a “gift.”
Some entrepreneurs might have gotten the idea from Washington DC, where recreational cannabis is legal but sales are still prohibited and where gifting popped up as a way to sidestep the sales ban.
8. California Governor To Send National Guard To Combat Illegal Marijuana Growers
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an order in February that redeployed 360 National Guard troops from the U.S.-Mexico border to three other state-specific assignments.
The move was welcomed by the state’s legal marijuana growers, which have long struggled against a thriving illicit market.
9. In Landmark Move, Illinois Lawmakers Approve Adult-Use Cannabis Program That Could Hit $2 Billion In Sales
Illinois made the historic move in May of becoming the first state to legalize adult-use marijuana cultivation and sales through its Legislature.
The announcement was cheered by the cannabis industry as it potentially created of one of the nation’s largest adult-use marijuana markets offering massive business opportunities.
Marijuana Business Daily estimates the Illinois recreational market could eventually hit $2.5 billion a year in sales.
10. Marijuana Wholesale Prices On The Rise In Mature Recreational Markets
As of August, wholesale cannabis prices looked to be going up in the recreational cannabis markets in Colorado, Oregon and Washington state, according to two reports and insights from growers.
The upward price trend seemed related to stronger demand and weaker supply, growers going out of business and some farmers pivoting to hemp.
To stay up to date on the latest marijuana-related news make sure to like Marijuana Business Daily on Facebook | 1 |
Professional cyclist was riding through Silvermine when he was pulled off his bike at high speed
Dlamini's broken arm could 'seriously effect' his 2020 Olympic dream
Cape Town - South African rider Nicolas Dlamini could miss next year's Tokyo Olympics after a SANParks official broke his arm in Cape Town on Friday.
According to News24, the incident occurred at the Silvermine section of the Table Mountain National Park and was caught on film by a fellow cyclist.
According to a press release from Dlamini's NTT Pro Cycling team, Dlamini waspulled off his bicycle at high speed, which saw him crash and then ultimately saw the incident become volatile.
The release saw the team express their shock at the incident and concern for the 24-year-old.
Dlamini wastaken to False Bay Hospital where x-rays were carried out and it was confirmed that he suffered a fracture of his left humerus.
According to the press release, he has since been transferred to another hospital where further specialist consultation will take place together with NTT Pro Cycling's team medical department.
They will decide on the next course of action to treat the injury.
This is a major setback for Dlamini, who had been out on a training ride ahead of a hugely promising 2020 season.
This injury will now have a serious effect on his chances of racing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Dlamini was part of adelegation that travelled to Tokyo and spent some time on the Olympic Road Race course in the hopes of realising a dream and being selected for South Africa at the 2020 Games.
" NTT Pro Cycling would like to be clear that we fully condemn violence in any form and are all highly distressed to see our team-mate treated in this manner ," read the press release.
The South African cycling team called that SANParks to urgently issue a public apology for fracturing his arm and causing the rider " visible distress ".
NTT Pro Cycling also called on SANParks to " implement immediate disciplinary procedures against the officials involved ".
"I was both devastated and appalled to see the video of Nicholas on social media. To watch a young man who I know so well in such unnecessary distress made me feel sick, to be honest. The way in which he was treated is simply not acceptable," said Team Principal,Douglas Ryder.
- Compiled by Lynn Butler
Sport24
Update I:
JUST IN: Minister Barbara Creecy instructs SANParks to suspend officials who were involved in scuffle with top cyclist Nic Dlamini
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy says she has instructed SANParks to suspend the officers who were involved in the incident which left South African rider Nicolas Dlamini with a broken arm on Friday.
Creecy was speaking to News24 on Friday evening shortly after she visited the cyclist in hospital to hear the turn of events directly from him.
In a video widely shared on social media, four rangers can be seen aggressively trying to shove Dlamini into the back of a van.
"I had the opportunity to visit Nic at the hospital where he is undergoing treatment. I have instructed SANParks, the chairperson and senior management of SANParks to suspend the officers who were involved in this incident.
"I have also instructed them to undertake an independent investigation so that we can have the full facts," Creecy said.
She added once the investigation was concluded, necessary steps would be taken.
News24 reported earlier that the matter was under investigation, with SANParks obtaining statements from the rangers who were involved in the scuffle as well as Dlamini.
Creecy said while all the facts were yet to be obtained, from what she had seen in the circulating video clip, it appeared that the officers "behaved in a highly inappropriate manner". Western Cape Premier Alan Winde had also visited Dlamini in hospital. He said the circumstances surrounding the incident required an urgent full investigation and that there should be consequences for the "heavy-handedness" which the officials reacted in the situation.
"Their aggression was evident not only in their attitude toward Nic Dlamini, but also towards other cyclists on the scene who recorded incident.
"No matter what the circumstances, there is no excuse for this kind of reaction," Winde said.
The premier added that the incident had revealed the fractured relationship between the cycling community and SANParks and said his office would be establishing a round table discussion in a bid to repair the relationship.
"This incident undermines Brand South Africa, at a time where our economy can ill-afford further damage to our brand and our tourism economy."
In a statement, Dlamini's cycling team, NTT Pro Cycling, said following the incident, the 24-year-old was taken to False Bay Hospital where X-rays were taken, and it was confirmed that he had suffered a fracture of his left humerus. He was then transferred to another hospital for further specialist consultation, they said.
The cycling team said it condemned any form of violence and was highly distressed to see one of its teammate treated in the manner that he was.
The team has also called on SANParks to, among others, implement immediate disciplinary procedures against the officials involved and issue afull public apology to both Nicholas, as well as the eyewitness, whom it says were "clearly intimidated by the officials while filming this incident".
"I was both devastated and appalled to see the video of Nicolas on social media. To watch a young man who I know so well in such unnecessary distress made me feel sick, to be honest. The way in which he was treated is simply not acceptable," NTT Pro Cycling team principal Douglas Ryder said.
News24
Update II:
Witness says Dlamini didn't resist being detained by SANParks officials
A witness who filmed Friday's altercation in which cyclist Nicholas Dlamini's arm was broken says the rider was not aggressive towards SANParks officers.
Donovan le Cok said in a statement that he got to the scene when Dlamini was already off his bike.
"What they had done is, it’s a downhill to the exit and they sort of jumped out and grabbed his handlebar to make him stop which made him fall, obviously. Nic was quite upset, he was hurt and his bike was damaged."
"At that point there was a heated discussion with the head ranger, Nic wasn’t aggressive towards him, trying to get away or resisting being detained. The guy just laid into, turned him around, and twisted his arm high above his head," Le Cok said.
He detailed how he had to stop filming the altercation, as he said that the rangers were trying to grab his phone.
Le Cok's video has been widely shared on social media. In itfour rangers can be seen aggressively trying to shove Dlamini into the back of a van.
During the scuffle you can hear the sound of what appears to be Dlamini's arm breaking after a ranger attempts to place Dlamini's arms behind his back.
Following the incident Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy instructed SANParks to suspend the officers involved.
"I had the opportunity to visit Nic at the hospital where he is undergoing treatment. I have instructed SANParks, the chairperson and senior management of SANParks to suspend the officers who were involved in this incident.
"I have also instructed them to undertake an independent investigation so that we can have the full facts," Creecy said.
News24 reportedearlier that the matter was under investigation, with SANParks obtaining statements from the rangers who were involved in the scuffle as well as Dlamini.
Creecy said while all the facts were yet to be obtained, from what she had seen in the circulating video clip, it appeared that the officers "behaved in a highly inappropriate manner".
In a statement, Dlamini's cycling team, NTT Pro Cycling, said following the incident, the 24-year-old was taken to False Bay Hospital where X-rays were taken, and it was confirmed that he had suffered a fracture of his left humerus. He was then transferred to another hospital for further specialist consultation.
News24
Update III:
Cyclist Nicholas Dlamini in recovery following surgery
Popular cyclist Nicholas Dlamini is out of surgery and recovering in hospital after his arm was broken during a scuffle with South African National Parks (SANParks) officials, a friend tweeted on Saturday afternoon.
Sven Thiele posted a picture of Dlamini, who was accosted by five SANParks officials on Friday at the Silvermines Section of the Table Mountain National Park.
"He is out of surgery but super, super tired…but also totally humbled by all the massive support and love out there," he tweeted.
Dlamini's cycling club, NTT Pro Cycling earlier in the day thanked the public for their support saying he was in a Cape Town hospital.
"We want to thank everyone for their messages of support."
SanParks announced that the five Table Mountain rangers involved in the scuffle were since placed on precautionary suspension.
SANParks acting CEO Lize McCourt, said the five were on precautionary suspension pending the finalisation of the investigation.
McCourt expressed regret at the turn of events and assured the public that the organisation is taking the matter seriously and "will afford Mr Dlamini and his family all the necessary support at this stage".
A video of the incident was widely shared on social media platforms.
In it, four rangers can be seen aggressively trying to shove Dlamini into the back of a van. During the scuffle you can hear the sound of what appears to be Dlamini's arm breaking after a ranger attempts to place Dlamini's arms behind his back.
After visiting Dlamini in hospital, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy instructed SANParks to suspend the officers involved.
SANParks is also in the process of appointing an independent service provider to conduct a preliminary investigation following the incident.
News24 | CAPE TOWN: A buoyant South Africa will seek to drive home their advantage at a favourite venue as they host an England side facing a big selection question in the second test of the four-match series starting at Newlands on Friday. The home team ended a run of five straight defeats with a commanding 107-run victory in the first test in Pretoria as the winds of change through their camp, on and off the pitch, brought immediate success. Coach Mark Boucher appears to have brought some steel back to the squad as they subdued an England side battling with illness and which has recently struggled to pick up wins on the road.
South African opener Aiden Markram is definitely out with a finger injury and that should mean a debut for Pieter Malan, 30, at his home ground in what is an iconic test on the fixture list which could see as many as 10,000 England fans in attendance. South Africa must also decide whether to accommodate a fit-again Temba Bavuma in the middle-order, with his replacement Rassie van der Dussen scoring a second-innings half-century on debut in Pretoria. England have not won at Newlands since 1957, though their last two visits in 2010 and 2016 ended in draws.
It is a traditional stronghold for South Africa, who have lost only one of their previous 18 Tests at the venue, picking up 13 wins in that time. The illness that spread through the tourist’s squad in the build-up to, and during, the first test appears to have eased, providing them with more options. Fit-again middle-order batsman Ollie Pope is likely to replace Jonny Bairstow in what should be the only change in the top seven, but the make-up of the bowling attack is far from certain. The wicket in Cape Town is expected to be less seamer-friendly than the first Test, which could mean the introduction of a specialist spin option, with Dominic Bess or Matt Parkinson in contention. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach still has a fitness question-mark hanging over him, which could mean Bess gets a run having not been part of the original touring party. The question would then be who to leave out, with one of the four-prong seam attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer or Sam Curran to miss out.
Tough decisions: Anderson and Broad have 1053 Test wickets between them, but England coach Chris Silverwood concedes that their places will be up for discussion. “In Jimmy and Stu we have a wealth of experience and we’d be really stupid not to take that into consideration every game,” Silverwood told reporters after the first Test. “But, equally, you want your youngsters to come through and if we’re going to make room for a spinner we’ve got to have a look at which seamers are right for this pitch. “If there’s a big decision we’re not afraid to make it.” | 1.666667 |
anti-semitism
(Image by trendingtopics) Details DMCA
Besides White Nationalists and some Muslims who actually engage in full blown anti-Semitism, one of the biggest groups of Anti-semites are themselves Jewish.
There have been many articles written characterizing Jewish critics of Israel, like me, as self-hating Jews, and I've been called that many times. Some articles, like Michael Laitman's, in The Times of Israel, even suggest that Jews who criticize Israel and Zionism have become haters of not just Israel, but the Jewish people. Laitman inappropriately conflates criticism of Israel and Zionism with hate of the Jewish people.
I would argue that Laitman's assessment is actually anti-semitic for a very ugly reason. He can cloak his rationale in a shallow reference to the Talmud, but he is actually attacking the majority of American Jews because they are progressive and they are unhappy with the policies of Israel and the way the leadership of Israel leads.
i choose to refer to Laitman because he comes out and says it, that criticism of Israel is the same as hating Jews. It's kind of like he says that Jews who don't live in Israel are experiencing Stockholm syndrome.
I see things very differently. I see Laitman and the many right wing, Trump and Netanyahu supporting Jews as being the real Jewish Antisemites. There are a number of different varieties. There are the ultra-orthodox who don't see less intensely religious Jews as being real jews at all. I assure you, they will, with one face, say they support all Jews, but with another, and I've seen that face, suggest that reform or conservative Jews who do not obey the 600+ rules Orthodox Jews follow on a regular basis. Those include reading the Torah regularly, following strict Sabbath rules, men not touching women... not even a handshake.
About 20% of Jews, most of them ultra-orthodox and Orthodox, vote Republican. Some of them are vicious, using the accusation of anti-Semitism to attack progressive candidates with the integrity to take a stand on Israel and not cave to the pressure of AIPAC to give Israel a pass.
That's what's going to happen to Bernie Sanders. Actually, it's already begun. They will go with the playbook that was used to dishonestly accuse UK Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn of anti-Semitism. it worked very well with Corbyn.
These right wing Jews, but attacking the first Jewish candidate for president who has had a real chance in many years, are really attacking Jewish progressives-- and there are millions of them. I say that makes them anti-semitic. I say that when a Jews falsely accuses someone of anti-Semitism, it dilutes the meaning of the accusation of anti-Semitism, just as the boy who cried wolf diluted the meaning of crying wolf.
Noah Berlatsky writes, in his article, for NBC, Is Bernie Sanders anti-Semitic? Why new right-wing smears are the real anti-Semitism,
"
And,
"Emboldened by its success weaponizing such charges of anti-Semitism, the right appears to be contemplating using this tactic against an unlikely target - Jewish progressive senator and Democratic presidential primary contestant Bernie Sanders. These attacks both perpetuate bigoted tropes and make it harder to root out real anti-Semitism on the left."
And " The right-wing Federalist website targeted Sanders on the basis that one of his campaign surrogates has been accused of anti-Semitism, though of course the Federalist has also gone out of its way to defend Trump surrogates accused of anti-Semitism. And in the Washington Examiner, Tiana Lowe claimed Sanders' campaign was "the most anti-Semitic in decades."
Berlatsky notes that Lowe boasts of her Balkan Chetnik roots, even though they were Nazi collaborators.
Worse, Berlatsky observes that "the anti-Semitic smears are themselves often based in anti-Semitic assumptions and reinforce anti-Semitic tropes, pointing out that
"Lowe's article qualifies Sanders' Judaism, saying that he is merely "ethnically Jewish." This is a way to imply Jewish people who aren't religious are not quite authentically Jewish."
And,
"This ties into general anti-Semitic stereotypes that paint Jewish people as fake or inauthentic. It's the same idea behind the old Stalinist slur that Jews in the diaspora are "rootless cosmopolitans" without any connection to true folk traditions or nationality. In America, conservatives are using it to try to delegitimize Jewish Democrats, who are supposedly "disloyal to Israel," as Trump claimed."
He observes that the biggest group of Israel supporters are Evangelicals who see Israel as playing a key role in "the Rapture." I've written at length on this in my article, The Twilight Zone Metaphor for Evangelicals' Jerusalem Fantasy
Next Page 1 | 2 | We’re still more than a month away from the first actual votes being cast in the Democratic presidential race. But an analysis piece published on the influential Politico website last week reminded observers of a possibility that many are ignoring: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders could win and ultimately become the nation’s first Jewish president.
While generations of American Jews have dreamed of a day when one of their own won the White House, a Sanders presidency would actually not be good for Israel and Jewish interests.
The Politico article reported that Sanders’ resiliency has impressed Democratic insiders. Despite suffering a heart attack in October — something that reminded voters that he is 78 — Sanders has remained in the top tier of contenders.
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While acknowledging that he has won both the affection and loyalty of much of the party’s left-wing base, not least for his strong showing while opposing Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2016, a lot of pundits disparage his chances. They say that despite the party’s clear tilt to the left since the victory of President Donald Trump, Sanders is too radical and would easily be beaten in November.
Yet Sanders has not faded the way some other candidates who were once highly touted have done in the past year. He is currently in second place in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls, trailing only former Vice President Joe Biden. He is a threat to win three out of the first four early voting states, with the average of polls showing him leading in New Hampshire, a close second in Iowa and in contention in Nevada. That means that although Biden remains the frontrunner, it would be foolish to assume that Sanders can’t be the Democratic nominee.
Though his extreme positions horrify moderates, Sanders is utterly authentic and, despite his long tenure in Congress, can’t be accused of being part of the establishment, as can be said of Biden. Indeed, being a socialist outlier makes him seem more genuine to voters who are tired of conventional politicians, the same factor that helped elect Trump.
Moreover, his radicalism has won him both affection and loyalty from those in the Democratic base who think that choosing the candidate conventional wisdom deems more electable will be just as much of a disaster for their party in 2020 with Biden as it was when Hillary Clinton was the nominee.
Sanders’ irascible demeanor also endears him to primary voters, much as it did when unelected superdelegates and party rules that favored Clinton were needed to beat him in 2016. On top of that, the Democrats’ proportional voting rules that eliminate winner-take-all outcomes will ensure that Bernie remains a factor even if he loses the early states.
His capturing the Democratic Party in 2020 might still be less likely than the scenarios predicting a win for Biden, or a turn of events that would allow Buttigieg or even a second-tier contender to catch fire and win the nomination. But the Politico analysis does require an evaluation of what a Sanders’ nomination or presidency (despite the GOP’s open rooting for Sanders to be their opponent, matchup polls with Trump predict such a race would be a toss-up) would mean for Jewish interests and Israel.
Though he is Jewish and has repeatedly said that he supports Israel’s existence, there is also no doubt that Sanders is the Democratic contender who is the most critical of Israeli policy and the most sympathetic to the Palestinians. Though other Democrats may agree with his scorn for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, most of them would hesitate to hurl epithets like “racist” at him, as Sanders has done.
Every one of the other Democratic candidates would reinstate the dangerous 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and likely revert to President Barack Obama’s policy of seeking more “daylight” between America and Israel. But Sanders goes further by seeking to also create a “pro-
Palestinian” foreign policy. In the past, that has led him to call for the end of the blockade of Hamas-run Gaza, as well as issuing scathing and fallacious critiques of Israel’s efforts to defend its border and people against attacks from a coastal enclave governed by terrorists.
While this wouldn’t advance a two-state solution that both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have no interest in, it would bring U.S.-Israel relations to a historic low point, while emboldening the Jewish state’s foes to a point where they might consider war a reasonable option.
On the domestic front, Sanders would not merely end Trump’s policy seeking to enforce laws against anti-Semitic activity on college campuses. His active opposition to anti-BDS laws and his close ties with advocates of this variant of Jew-hatred could potentially unleash a wave of anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic activity throughout the country.
That reminds us that Sanders has the support of most of the nation’s most notorious left-wing anti-Semites, such as Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), as well as fellow BDS advocate Linda Sarsour. His refusal to repudiate these figures sets an ominous precedent that would come into play when it comes to staffing an administration, which can be expected to be populated by fellow radicals hostile to Israel and indifferent at best to anti-Semitism.
More to the point, the person who would be responsible for this catastrophe would be insulated from criticism simply by the fact that Sanders and his apologists would claim that as a Jew, he could not be termed hostile to his own people. Seen from that perspective, such a Jewish president might be the worst thing yet to befall American Jewry. pjc
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS, where this article first appeared. | 2 |
Aligarh: Aligarh Muslim University has further extended the winter break keeping in view the continuing protests against the amended citizenship law in the country. The university was to reopen on 6 January.
According to an AMU notice, the decision to extend the vacations again was taken after a meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor on Wednesday. A detailed schedule for the reopening of the university "in a phased manner" will be notified after the review of the situation.
On 15 December night, the university had announced an extended winter break following violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on the campus.
Over 60 people, including 40 students, AMU security staff and policemen, were injured in the violence. At least four students who received serious injuries are still being treated.
A number of injured students had alleged that police and the Rapid Action Police (RAF) indulged in excesses. Police have booked 56 persons, including a number of students, for holding a protest which later turned violent.
On December 24, nine days after the violence, the RAF filed a separate FIR in which around 1,000 unidentified students were booked for violence.
Students have also formed a coordination committee for continuing their peaceful protest against the CAA on the campus.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. | The winter vacation of Aligarh Muslim University has been extended. The university was scheduled to open on January 6. No new date has been given.
On December 15, the winter vacation was advanced by a week and hostels were vacated after several students were injured in a clash with the police after a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act allegedly turned violent.
An official statement from the public relations office of AMU said due to overall prevailing situation, winter vacation of Aligarh Muslim University for students as well as for the teaching staff, had been extended and the university would not be opening on January 6, 2020.
The decision was taken at a consultative meeting of the Deans of Faculties, Principals of Colleges and Polytechnics and other functionaries of the university under the chairmanship of AMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Tariq Mansoor on Wednesday.
“A detailed schedule for opening of the university in a phased manner, the conduct of remaining examinations which could not be held in December 2019, commencement of classes for the next semester and the duration of the summer vacation shall be notified by the university in due course of time so that there is no academic loss to the students,” said Mujib Ullah Zuberi, Controller of Examination.
He added that students are advised to regularly visit the university website.
Sources said the university administration was waiting for the situation to defuse. “There are 10 thousand non-resident students, many of whom are still carrying on peaceful protest. Many resident students didn’t leave the city and continued to stay with their friends,” said a source requesting anonymity.
Over 60 injured
Over 60 people, including 40 students, AMU security staff and policemen, were injured in the violence. At least four students who received serious injuries are still being treated.
A number of injured students had alleged that police and the Rapid Action Police indulged in excesses. Police have booked 56 persons, including a number of students, for holding a protest which later turned violent.
(With PTI inputs) | 4 |
(CNN) — Whether you want to relax on a remote island off the coast of Africa, ride Germany's coolest trains or spot howling monkeys in South America, there is much to explore heading into a new decade in 2020.
Japan will be hosting the Summer Olympics, Jamaica will be marking the late Bob Marley's 75th birthday, and Washington will be on pins and needles for much of the year preparing for the US presidential election.
Related content Our favorite travel photos of 2019
But the world is clearly in upheaval. As CNN Travel editors gathered to nominate some of their favorite places for our annual list, we saw the Assam region erupt in violence over India's anti-Muslim legislation and Zimbabwe wracked by drought.
We don't know whether Chile's long-planned celebration around the December solar eclipse could be overtaken by continued protests in the streets or whether Galway, Ireland, will be hurt by the ongoing Brexit debate in the UK.
l e v a r t
And yet we must travel to see destinations other than our own, expand our knowledge of our planet and celebrate the beauty of human accomplishment and natural wonders all over the world.
Here they are, CNN Travel's 20 places to visit in 2020, in alphabetical order:
Chile Lake District
While Chile has been in the headlines because of civil unrest, a visit to "Los Lagos" away from the urban centers offers travelers astonishing landscapes and serenity. This region is set to be even more impressive in December 2020, thanks to a total solar eclipse.
On December 14, totality will occur over the town of Pucón at 1:03 p.m. local time and will last just over two minutes.
Cosmic phenomena not withstanding, this region of southern Chile is worth more than a two-minute visit, thanks to the national parks, volcanoes and outdoor adventuring.
Back on the mainland, the archaeological site of Monte Verde gives a glimpse into the lives of people who lived more than 14,000 years ago. The Lake District is also home to several national parks, including Chile's first, Vicente Pérez Rosales
Conguillío National Park , meanwhile, is home to an active volcano, Llaima, which last erupted in 2008. The resort town of Pucón is great for thermal springs and bar-hopping and is also home to one of Chile's most famous volcanos, Villarica. Braving the trek to the summit is a must for experienced hikers. Rest up for the night at &Beyond Vira Vira, a lodge on an organic farm.
Don't Miss: The seafood. On the island of Chiloe, try curanto -- a stew-style dish featuring seafood, meat, potatoes and Chilean rhubarb. -- Francesca Street
Copenhagen, Denmark
Known as the happy capital of one of the world's happiest countries , Copenhagen has long been a source of fascination for travelers drawn by its cycling culture, colorful merchant houses, cutting edge restaurants and "hygge" spirit.
Copenhagen was given another happiness boost earlier this year when Kongens Nytorv, its much-loved square, finally reopened after a seven-year closure because of the construction of a new metro line.
Now the former Viking fishing village will be easier to navigate, as its driverless and fully automatic M3 (or Cityringen) comes with 17 new stations and links to three "bridge neighborhoods," Vesterbro, Nørrebro and Østerbro.
The Museum of Copenhagen is also opening its doors again in 2020, complete with a multimillion dollar immersive experience.
Tivoli Gardens , the world's second-oldest amusement park, hasn't lost its appeal, remaining a top year-round attraction for all ages thanks to its magnificent gardens, lake and playgrounds.
A stroll down Strøget, one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets, is highly recommended, as is a visit to one of Copenhagen's many top restaurants.
The three Michelin-starred Geranium is one of the most impressive, offering up fabulous views of park Fælledparken alongside a multicourse tasting menu of Scandinavian cuisine. There's also the wonderful Kødbyens Fiskebar, based in the Meatpacking District, where you'll find some of the best seafood around.
Don't miss: In winter, test out the new artificial ski and snowboard slope at the city's power plant In winter, test out the new artificial ski and snowboard slope at the city's power plant CopenHill . It's made up of four slopes of varying difficulty, a freestyle park and slalom course. -- Tamara Hardingham-Gill
The Dead Sea
As the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea is far from an under-the-radar secret. But the realities of the climate crisis have reframed the destination from "a place to visit someday" to "a place you need to visit now."
On the border of Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea can feel like an extremely salty oasis, where talk of ongoing political conflict is less common than the sight of travelers from around the world covering themselves in black mud and falling backward into the water.
The feeling of engaging in a trust fall with the watery landscape -- simply close your eyes, drop, and feel yourself pushed upward by the water -- may be why so many people from so many eras have found holiness here.
Beyond the act of wading into a body of water with nearly eight times the salinity of the ocean, the Dead Sea's key location makes it a perfect stop on a Middle Eastern road trip.
Petra , one of the seven modern wonders of the world, is a mere 135 kilometers (84 miles) away in Jordan, while the world-famous sites of Jerusalem are just 34 kilometers (21 miles) the other way. It's as close to the Earth's core as the average mortal can possibly get, and the incredible glow your skin will have the next day is a bonus.
Don't miss: In Israel, the In Israel, the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is a protected area of waterfalls slicing through dramatic, ancient canyons. It is one of the most popular places for Israeli locals to visit -- and some of the hikes also provide views of the Dead Sea you can't appreciate up close. -- Lilit Marcus
Dominica
This lush Eastern Caribbean island has bounced back from extensive damage from Hurricane Maria. Peter Schickert/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
With lush, primordial rainforests, foliage-engulfed peaks and deep ravines crisscrossed by 365 rivers, the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica more than lives up to its "Nature Island" moniker.
The 290-square-mile island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017, but Dominica has bounced back with a commitment to sustainable, climate-resilient construction and a renewed focus on ecotourism offerings.
Dominica is in the midst of an impressive luxury hotel boom, thanks in large part to its longstanding Citizenship by Investment program. Investing $100,000 and up in a high-end resort is one path to citizenship under the program.
Among the new luxury properties is Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski , Dominica's first five-star resort with an 18,000-square-foot spa and four swimming pools.
Luxury lodging is a bonus, but the real draw in Dominica is the rugged outdoors.
Don't miss: Submerse yourself in world-class diving or snorkeling in Submerse yourself in world-class diving or snorkeling in Champagne Reef , where colorful sponges and sea creatures comingle in a spot named for bubbles rising from volcanic thermal springs on the ocean floor. -- Marnie Hunter
Estonia
Don't be surprised if you hear more about Northern European country's bustling food scene in the new year. Courtesy of Visit Estonia
While Estonia may not yet be synonymous worldwide with haute cuisine, this Nordic-like country in Northern Europe can hold its own.
Don't be surprised if you hear more about Its bustling food scene in 2020. Most notable is the Bocuse d'Or Europe , a live cooking contest that pays homage to the late French chef Paul Bocuse, happening in late May. Estonia has participated in the culinary show for a decade, but this is the first time the country will play host to it.
With more than 100 restaurants on the White Nordic Guide (a restaurant guide featuring the best of the best in Nordic and Baltic countries), Estonia's allegiance to homegrown and homemade is evident in such Tallinn restaurants as O, a fine dining spot with a Nordic-nature inspired menu, and Tabac , a hip brasserie with even hipper prices.
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In spite of a thriving and growing food and drink scene, Estonia is, perhaps, better known for its beauty and natural, wide-open spaces. Outdoor enthusiasts could plan an entire trip around Estonia's comprehensive bog network. Since the country is relatively small (about the size of New York state) with a small population, it makes for seamless, uncrowded and affordable explorations. All camping facilities, for example, are free!
Add a smattering of spas, a bevy of castles and ancient, silent forests, and it's not hard to see why Estonia is on the rise.
Don't miss: No matter which part of town visitors stay in, No matter which part of town visitors stay in, Tallinn's Old Town is worth a wander. -- Stacey Lastoe
Galway, Ireland
A European Capital of Culture for 2020, Galway is a rural land where artists are drawn by the sublime beauty of the rocky landscape. Shutterstock
It might just have been named a European Capital of Culture for 2020, but Galway City, in the west of Ireland, wasn't in need of any help where the arts are concerned.
As with the United States, Ireland's west coast has historically attracted pioneers and mavericks. Battered by Atlantic winds, the weather is fiercer here than in the cultivated east. This is a rural land where people live by their own rules, and artists are drawn by the sublime beauty of the rocky landscape. The capital of County Galway, Galway City, is an artsy enclave where bonhomie and erudition are prized.
Festivals bloom freely in Galway, with cultural gatherings spread across its calendar like wild heather. Visit any season, and you'll happen across celebrations of food, music, history, art, literature and nature, plus everything from burlesque to banjos, and ponies to Pride.
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In 2020, there are European Capital of Culture events happening throughout, from Margaret Atwood's International Women's Day appearance at the Wild Atlantic Women literary event to Lumiere Galway, which will close out the year in January 2021 with spectacular light installations throughout the streets of the capital.
Galway International Arts Festival is held annually in July, and in 2020, the Pixies, Flaming Lips and Sinéad O'Connor will take to the stage. The Galway Races get underway at the end of July and, in August, Omey Strand in Connemara becomes a racecourse, with horses and their riders galloping across the sands.
Don't miss: For comedy fans, the quirkiest event of all is For comedy fans, the quirkiest event of all is February's TedFest , when revelers dressed as priests, nuns and housekeepers gather on Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands, in a celebration of cult TV series "Father Ted." -- Maureen O'Hare
Jamaica
Ian Fleming's superspy James Bond appears in his 25th feature film, "No Time To Die," in which Daniel Craig's 007 returns to his creator's real-life beach house, Goldeneye. Island Outpost
James Bond, Bob Marley, turquoise waters and dazzling waterfalls -- Jamaica has a lot to offer, particularly in 2020.
In April, Ian Fleming's superspy James Bond appears in his 25th feature film, "No Time To Die," in which Daniel Craig's 007 returns to his creator's real-life beach house, Goldeneye , about 90 minutes from Montego Bay.
Fleming wrote 14 James Bond novels at Goldeneye, working there every winter from 1952 until his death in 1964. Guests can stay in the famed author's five-bedroom beachfront home on the northern coast of the island and avail themselves of Fleming's writing desk.
Jamaica's favorite son, though, is the iconic reggae musician, Bob Marley, who would have turned 75 on February 6. Marley's Jamaica is a living, beating heart, overflowing with love, pain, history and cultural significance.
The singer lived in Kingston, Jamaica's capital, and fans of Marley's music and message can commune with the legendary artist at his former home, now the Bob Marley Museum.
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Don't miss: The stunning cliff-side The stunning cliff-side Rockhouse hotel in Negril, whose early guests included Marley, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Since taking over the property in 1994, the resort's owners have seamlessly fused its rock 'n' roll heritage with sustainable design, environmental responsibility, community and integrity.
Through its charitable foundation, Rockhouse has invested $5 million in childhood education programs, including revitalizing six schools, most recently opening the island's first school that serves students with special needs, Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Infant Academy (SIIA).
Guests at Rockhouse and its sister property, Skylark, are invited to tour the school and meet the educators, administrators and the extraordinary children of SIIA, an opportunity that is not to be missed. -- Brekke Fletcher
Kyrgyzstan
Remote Kyrgyzstan offers up desert-like canyons to rival the American West. Barry Neild/CNN
Tucked away between China to the east, Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan is easy to overlook, but it's a perfectly formed jewel of a country.
Head east from the capital of Bishkek to where rugged mountains descend into the sparkling snow-melt waters of the vast Lake Issyk-Kul, and Kyrgyzstan reveals itself as a beguiling wonderland that few international visitors have discovered.
In the space of a few miles, the landscape offers up desert-like canyons to rival the American West and lush, high-altitude meadows to rival the European Alps. In winter, there's skiing around the town of Karakol. In summer, trekking and horseback riding into the Tien Shan mountains. All-year-round, there are jaw-dropping geological marvels around every corner.
Years of hardship after the collapse of the Soviet Union have taken their toll on Kyrgyzstan, and it's still finding its feet as a tourist destination. But where it lacks infrastructure to deal with lots of visitors, it excels in delivering genuine unexplored frontiers to adventurous travelers willing to rough it a little. It's safe, extremely welcoming and very good value for the money.
Don't miss: , near the southern shores of Issyk-Kul, is a spectacular landscape of red peaks and dry valleys. It was first explored as a tourism destination in 2019 during an expedition organized by an excellent tour company, Mars Canyon , near the southern shores of Issyk-Kul, is a spectacular landscape of red peaks and dry valleys. It was first explored as a tourism destination in 2019 during an expedition organized by an excellent tour company, Visit Karakol, and documented by CNN Travel . -- Barry Neild
Kyushu, Japan
The third largest of Japan's five main islands, subtropical Kyushu offers stunning scenery, top eats and plenty of cultural attractions. Shutterstock
With Tokyo gearing up to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Japan has been hard at work preparing for the influx of tourists, improving its already top-notch infrastructure
Although the main focus will be on Tokyo, take some time to explore subtropical Kyushu, which offers more than 36,000 square kilometers (about 13,900 square miles) of stunning scenery, top eats and plenty of cultural attractions.
The third largest of Japan's five main islands, it lies southwest of the main island of Honshu. No ferries are required, since several bridges and underwater tunnels connect the two islands, ensuring a seamless five-hour journey from Tokyo on one of Japan's famed Shinkansen bullet trains.
Honshu's largest city, cosmopolitan Fukuoka, is a foodie paradise. Small coastal towns such as Kunisaki and Beppu are famous for their quaint streets and onsen (hot springs).
Then there's the small city of Saga, which will host the 2020 Asia's Best Restaurant awards. The area is known for its beautiful terraced rice fields, mountains and tea plantations.
Don't miss: Kyushu is also where you'll find Nagasaki, which in 2020 marks 75 years since the World War II atomic bombing. The Kyushu is also where you'll find Nagasaki, which in 2020 marks 75 years since the World War II atomic bombing. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and adjacent Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims offer valuable insights.
Though this harbor city is synonymous with tragedy, it's also filled with attractions that highlight its trade history with Europe and China, not to mention a fantastic dining scene buoyed by its coastal setting. -- Karla Cripps
New Caledonia
This remote French overseas territory is home to streaky pink sunsets and stretches of white sand beach. Shutterstock
In late 2018, as the residents of this South Pacific island group voted on whether to remain part of France or to break off as a new nation, a question began popping up on Google searches across the globe: Where is New Caledonia?
The group of four archipelagos -- which, by the way, opted to remain a French overseas territory for the time being -- is about halfway between Fiji and the coast of Queensland, Australia, south of the Solomon Islands.
A more complicated answer is that New Caledonia, more properly La Nouvelle-Caledonie, is in a place uniquely its own. With streaky pink sunsets and stretches of white sand beach, this relatively untouristed spot -- did we mention it's one of the least-visited places in the world? -- is a perfectly remote destination.
It's like visiting a nearly empty South of France in the summertime, eating gorgeous, buttery pastries after an afternoon of sunning yourself without being surrounded by crowds.
Nearly all travelers begin in the capital of Noumea and work out from there. Noumea's striking lagoon-front location blends French colonial heritage buildings with the colors of the sea and sky.
With only about 100,000 residents, it's easy to live the simple life there -- you can stay in an urban B&B, then pass an afternoon snorkeling, swimming or kitesurfing before enjoying a fresh meal of fish, paired with white Burgundies imported from 17,000 miles away.
Don't miss: The three Loyalty Islands -- Lifou, Mare and Ouvea -- are an ideal place for learning about the indigenous Kanak people, who far predate French colonization of the region. Visit these tribes and learn about their customs, festivals and way of life. -- Lilit Marcus
Paraty and Ilha Grande, Brazil
Rainforest-clad peaks plunge to a coastal wonderland in this newly minted UNESCO site about 250 kilometers southwest of Rio de Janeiro.
The waterfront terminus of a 17th-century overland gold route to Europe, Paraty is a colonial-era settlement energized by a recent influx of creative chefs and artists. Look behind the whitewashed facades and brightly painted doorways in the city's historic center, and you'll find modern art galleries and restaurants serving farm-to-table cuisine.
Surrounding Paraty is a lush forest that's a crucial biodiversity hot spot, where hiking trails in Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina explore habitat for wooly spider monkeys, sleek jaguars and dozens of endemic plants.
That biodiversity extends beyond the shore to sun-washed Ilha Grande , a former leper colony and prison island that's now a pristine island getaway, tempting travelers with clear water that is home to thriving marine life.
Don't miss: Beach-hopping on a daylong boat tour around Ilha Grande, stopping to lounge beside the famously crooked coconut tree at Beach-hopping on a daylong boat tour around Ilha Grande, stopping to lounge beside the famously crooked coconut tree at Praia do Aventureiro . -- Jen Rose Smith
São Tomé and Príncipe
The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is home to rich jungle and volcanic peaks, including Pico Cao Grande on Sao Tome island. Ruth McDowall/AFP/Getty Images
The little two-island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, in west Africa's Gulf of Guinea, is an equatorial biodiversity hot spot.
Sometimes called the "African Galapagos," the islands' rich jungle and volcanic peaks are teeming with endemic plants, including hundreds of species of orchids and extraordinary, 10-foot-tall begonias. There's plenty of wildlife to spot, too, including the world's smallest ibis and the world's largest sunbird, as well as the marine turtles who make their nest here.
Despite being an eco-friendly paradise, and one of Africa's most stable countries, it attracts only 30,000 visitors a year, making it one of the world's least-visited countries.
Those low visitor numbers can partly be attributed to it being a little hard to get reach, but the effort is worth it. There are direct flights to São Tomé, the larger of the two islands, from Lisbon, Cape Verde, Angola, Bioko island and Gabon. Principe is another 87 miles (140 kilometers) away and can be reached by small plane. Together, the islands cover just 386 square miles and the population is less than 200,000, making this the smallest African sovereign state after the Seychelles.
The islands were unpopulated until the Portuguese established it as a colonial outpost in the 15th century, and the Portuguese legacy is still felt in the country's music, culture and customs. Many of today's population are descended from the enslaved Africans brought to work at the islands' plantations. The nation celebrated 40 years of independence in 2015, and coffee and cocoa are still key industries here.
Don't miss: Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) is a snorkeling and diving spot on northern São Tomé, prized for its azure waters. -- Maureen O'Hare
St. Petersburg, Russia
Russia's former imperial capital, St. Petersburg is most popular during the so-called "White Nights" of midsummer. Shutterstock
Until now, most travelers wanting to head to Russia have needed a certain amount of persistence to wade through the visa red tape. No longer.
Since July 2019, some 53 nationalities -- including all European Union citizens -- can now get e-visa access to the northern city of St. Petersburg and surrounding area for up to 30 days.
Russia's former imperial capital, long the easy gateway into Russia, needs little introduction. Its world-famous State Hermitage Museum and palatial European-style architecture were even a draw in Soviet times when its Grand Hotel Europe hosted an impromptu gig by Elton John.
Today, the city is most popular during the warmer months, especially the so-called "White Nights" of midsummer. Thanks to its northerly latitudes, the city barely sees any darkness during the summer season, and the streets are teeming with visitors around the clock.
But St. Petersburg is arguably at its most romantic in the fridge-freezer months of midwinter as ice clogs the Neva River and atmospheric fog wafts across the city.
Despite the subzero temperatures, it's a great time to be outside. There's skating in parks, and even cross-country skiing. In the heart of the city, snow and ice transform historic buildings, bridges and canals into spectacular scenes that evoke classic Russian literature.
Don't miss: Expeditions along the grand Expeditions along the grand Nevsky Prospect shopping boulevard or to the ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre are crowd free. And if the cold starts to bite, you can try always try a classic Russian banya — a sauna-style hot room followed by an icy dip. Or a couple of shots of vodka. -- Barry Neild
Sri Lanka
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was Sri Lanka's capital in the 12th century is a UNESCO Heritage site. Jorge Fernández/LightRocket/Getty Images
The South Asian island nation of Sri Lanka is as ancient as it is beautiful; as complex a civilization now as at any time in its 2,000-year history. Despite recent tumult (the horrific terror attacks last Easter), Sri Lanka remains an essential destination, an epicenter of history, with relics and ruins, temples and palaces, wildlife running free.
Sitting in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern tip of India, travelers may default to thinking of Sri Lanka as a beach getaway. But to truly immerse yourself in the country's history, go inland and tour the country's cultural triangle.
Start in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was the country's capital in the 12th century. This UNESCO Heritage site is comprised of the ruins of Buddhist temples and dagobas (dome-shaped shrines) and is frequented by Buddhist monks in orange robes.
A little over an hour to the west by car is the rock fortress, Sigiriya . Sometimes referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," this ancient volcanic formation that soars over 200 meters (656 feet) high was developed into a palace fortress in the latter half of the 5th century. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Sigiriya is one of the most-visited landmarks in Sri Lanka.
Don't miss: The Kandy Esala Perahera (June 26-July 16) is an annual festival honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic, believed to be the Buddha's actual tooth. Also not to be missed: The Kandy Esala Perahera (June 26-July 16) is an annual festival honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic, believed to be the Buddha's actual tooth. Also not to be missed: "The Gathering," where herds of wild elephants migrate to the shores of an ancient reservoir in north-central Sri Lanka's Minneriya National Park (July through early November). -- Brekke Fletcher
Tunisia
The ancient city of Dougga, Tunisia, is considered the best preserved Roman town in North Africa. Natalia Seliverstova/Sputnik/AP
Its longstanding reputation as a cheap and cheerful beach destination for Europeans took a hit after the 2015 terrorist attacks on the resort of Sousse and at the National Bardo Museum in Tunis. The resulting UK Foreign Office restriction on travel decimated the tourist industry.
In 2018, the restriction was lifted and Europeans have been quick to return. Currently, the US government advises against travel to the Libyan border in the southeast of the country and certain mountainous areas to the west.
The dip in beach-goers, however, has moved the spotlight onto Tunisia's historical credentials. And, boy, does it have them -- and not just the UNESCO World Heritage site at Carthage , the Phoenician city outside Tunis.
Dougga, two hours southwest, is a Roman city of still-standing temples, streets and bath complexes -- without the thickets of selfie sticks that are ever-present in Pompeii. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's considered the best-preserved Roman town in North Africa.
Then there's Bulla Regia , 100 miles west of Tunis, which in 2018 went from an "amber" rating (avoid all but essential travel) to "green" (no issues visiting) on the British government's travel advisory. Again, there's a Roman amphitheater, forum and even an intact brothel. Recent archeological digs have also uncovered a Christian church and cemetery dating back to the 4th century.
Don't miss: The new The new Anantara Tozeur Resort, which opened in October 2019 near a date palm oasis, is in the middle of the "Star Wars" terrain of the southwest, where parts of various movies were shot. It's an ideal base for exploring the Sahara. -- Julia Buckley
Vancouver Island, British Colombia
Vancouver Island is home to pristine beaches and forests, small, artsy towns and a cosmopolitan capital city. Shutterstock
The big, beautiful cities and national parks of Canada's eastern provinces are attractive options in every sense. But you're unlikely to find a treasure chest as bountiful as British Columbia's Vancouver Island on the west coast -- a 290-mile stretch of pristine forest and beaches punctuated by small, artsy towns and a cosmopolitan capital city.
You could easily occupy an adventure-packed month there backpacking, camping and eating well. More manageable is an itinerary between two towns -- the southern coastal paradise of Tofino and the capital, Victoria -- with a five-hour, bear-sighting, picturesque drive in between.
Tofino is a pretty fishing village with excellent but affordable dining options. It's also popular for its whale watching, which you can see up close from a boat or overhead in a seaplane taking off from the harbor. Atleo River Air Service has a $99 "milk run" route to some of the island's natural hot springs to drop off supplies and pick up passengers -- and still see the whales.
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Victoria, by contrast to the rest of the wild island, is a city of stately Edwardian architecture. Swap your hiking boots for boat shoes for high-class dining, shopping, green spaces and sights such as the Royal BC Museum . Be lulled to sleep on a floating cottage in the harbor and take the small water taxis into town.
Or orient your Vancouver Island visit by activity or theme: romantic getaway, rugged outdoor adventure, First Nation art and culture, foodie pilgrimage, nature nirvana, surf safari or a combination.
Don't miss: Visit Visit Tacofino , a laid back, high end taco truck located in the back of a surf shop parking lot in Tofino, and Common Loaf Bake Shop , a popular and cozy coffee shop, to fill your belly with deliciousness. -- David G. Allan
Washington, D.C.
The Wharf riverfront development project is attracting dining, hotels and visitors. Shutterstock
All eyes will turn to Washington in 2020, but world travelers would be well-served to look beyond what's bound to be a hard-fought presidential election.
The city is rallying around sports like never before, on the heels of the underdog Washington Nationals' first World Series baseball title as well as the Mystics' first WNBA women's basketball title and the Capitals' 2018 hockey championship.
Nationals Park sits along the Anacostia River in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, one of two massive riverfront development projects drawing dining, hotels, residents and visitors. A new luxury Thompson hotel , with Danny Meyer restaurant Maialino Mare, is slated to open in January in Capitol Riverfront -- one of Washington's new lodging options in 2020.
The other major riverfront renewal of the historic Southwest Waterfront neighborhood along the Potomac River is anchored by The Wharf, a 24-acre development with restaurants, bars, music venues and a historic fish market.
Trendy neighborhoods aside, Washington's tried-and-true attractions are reason enough to visit. The Washington Monument reopened in September after years of repairs, and the Smithsonian Museums -- where entry is free -- are a national treasure.
Don't miss: In March, the National Museum of American History will unveil In March, the National Museum of American History will unveil "Creating Icons: How We Remember Women's Suffrage," marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting American women the right to vote. -- Marnie Hunter
Wuppertal, Germany
The Schwebebahn railway in Wuppertal is one of the world's coolest rail systems. Ina Fassbender/AFP/Getty Images
An industrial city in western Germany may not sound like anyone's idea of a dream vacation, but Wuppertal has an extraordinary ace up its sleeve -- one of the world's coolest rail systems.
Newly repaired in 2019 after a six-month closure, the city's 120-year-old Schwebebahn suspension railway looks like something from the imagination of Jules Verne.
It's a steampunk vision of a mass transit system whose iron legs straddle the city's streets and waterways, whisking passengers high over traffic snarl-ups to stations just as sci-fi as the train that connects them.
It costs just a few dollars to ride the Schwebebahn, alongside the thousands of commuters that use it daily.
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In the unlikely event that the charm of the hanging train wears off, Wuppertal -- one of the greenest cities in Germany -- is worth exploring.
It's an architectural adventure playground, having proudly channeled some of its mercantile wealth into classic bricks-and-mortar examples of Art Deco, Bauhaus and numerous other styles.
Wuppertal's modest tourism website advertises itself as a place to stay while visiting other nearby destinations, presumably Cologne or Dusseldorf. Neither of these, notably, have a railway in the sky.
Don't miss: Try traveling on two wheels, particularly along the Nordbahntrasse -- another railway, this one earthbound, that has been converted into a leafy and picturesque 22-kilometer (14-mile) cycle route across the city. -- Barry Neild
Wyoming
Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, is filled with glacier water. Shutterstock
Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and women's suffrage: These are just a few of the reasons that Wyoming, the least-populated state in the United States, should top your list for 2020.
In December 1869, Wyoming wasn't even a state when it became the first US state or territory to enact a law guaranteeing women not only the right to vote but also the right to hold office -- 50 years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution.
In addition to its commitment to equality, Wyoming is one of the last bastions of the American West, with the rugged, natural beauty that attracts lovers of the great outdoors, history buffs and would-be cowboys.
Check in to one of the country's most-beloved ski resorts, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (stay at the nearby five-star Amangani ), catch a lake trout in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area or soothe aching muscles in the Free Bath House at Hot Springs State Park . The region's rich history is also a draw, whether you visit the Oregon Trail ruts or explore Fort Laramie (a stop along the Pony Express). You can even tour former Cold War nuclear missile sites just east of the capital of Cheyenne.
Don't miss: Cheyenne Frontier Days is the world's biggest outdoor rodeo, held July 17-26, 2020, and includes 10 days of festive family fun: a carnival, parades, pancake breakfasts and the show-stopping PBR Last Cowboy Standing, a two-night, bull-riding competition that pits man versus bull. (Here at CNN Travel, we're rooting for the bulls.) -- Brekke Fletcher
Zambia
Victoria Falls offers thundering cascades, white water rafting, zip line facilities and bungee jumping. Shutterstock
Jaw-dropping national parks and awe-inspiring wildlife characterize this beautiful southern African country. With more than 30% of the country's land reserved for national parks, a visit to Zambia encourages you to get up close with nature.
Take South Luangwa National Park, brimming with trees, plants and vegetation, which is home to some 60 animal species, including leopards, elephants and buffalo. Farther west, Kafue National Park, the country's largest, is a haven for flora and fauna.
The lush landscapes of Lower Zambezi National Park, on the Zimbabwe border, offer visitors awesome panoramas. The world's longest freshwater lake, Lake Tanganyika, flows partly through Zambia. Its crystal-clear waters host hundreds of species of fish.
If you want to spend your days soaking up the sun, head to Lake Kariba, Zambia's answer to the French Riviera. Set yourself up for a peaceful few days of exploring via houseboat or get settled in a self-catering villa in the picturesque town of Siavonga.
Parts of the spectacular Victoria Falls on the Zambezi are being affected by the drought that's enveloped neighboring Zimbabwe, but the waterfall's thundering cascades are still not to be missed. The waterfall offers white water rafting, zip lines and bungee jumping, while visitors can take guided tours focusing on the history of Victoria Falls bridge. | It’s our favorite time of year, conferring with our network of travel experts all over the world as we dream up a shortlist of destinations that have captured our attention and imagination. This time, however, we’re taking a different track—not only thinking about where is inspiring and upwardly trending for the year to come, but which places are destined to be international hotspots by the end of the next decade.
Expect to see some classics, staples, and foolproof destinations on this list (try as we might, there are a handful of stalwarts that always seem to find their way onto our bucket list). But alongside the tried-and-true, there's a new league of cities and countries emerging—places that have made their way to the forefront of our and our trusted experts' minds as we start thinking more critically not only about how we treat our planet, but how we treat each other. Get your passports ready—here, BAZAAR's list of must-visit destinations for 2020.
1. Uzbekistan
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There are only a handful of manmade structures on our planet—like the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, and the Pyramids—that elicit a visceral awe in us all. They speak to us when we see them in photos—and we must obey and follow their call. It’s time to add another wonder to this pantheon of monuments: the Registan in Samarkand, three arabesque buildings arranged around a central square that glitter with their turquoise-topped spires and intricate tile work. Even locals spend their evenings in the waning shadows, along with tourists from all over the world who’ve made the pilgrimage to see the impressive complex with their own eyes.
But Uzbekistan tops our list for myriad reasons beyond the Registan. A change in government in 2016 set the foundation for a dedicated focus on garnering tourists: new infrastructure was laid down, boutique hotels began sprouting up, and restaurants started catering to curious visitors interested in sampling Central Asian fare (think: Turkish meets Russian cuisine). And the comparison to Turkey is apt—Uzbekistan feels like the country's baby brother with vibrant urban centers topped by minarets, and a sprawling, arable interior where some of the freshest produce on the planet is grown.
Visit now, as the secret’s almost out; Steppes Travel, operating in the country since the fall of the Soviet Union, saw a 200% increase in passenger numbers in 2019. “It’s the antidote to over-tourism,” says Jarrod Kyte, the brand's product director. “Unlike elsewhere in the world, encounters with people in the Stans have not yet become commoditized due to the low tourist footfall.” Beyond the circuit of three important Silk Road stops: bustling Samarkand, Bukhara’s inner-city oases, and sand-swept Khiva, Kyte recommends taking the time to visit the Fergana Valley, which not only boasts some of the finest ceramics in the world, but offers stunningly lush scenery surrounded by the towering Tien-Shan mountains.
2. Botswana
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While many southern African countries monetized the safari as an economy of scale, Botswana leaned into exclusivity instead of volume, championing singular, upmarket experiences for the few instead of midrange camps for the many. The strategy paid off as the peaceful nation has garnered an international reputation for its roaring population of wildlife versus a small huddle of tourists. We, however, are most excited about the re-opened Jack’s Camp, perched atop a marshy islet in the middle of a vast salt pan. Proffering desolation in thick brushstrokes instead of a palette of wild beasts, Jack’s set the regional trend for over-the-top luxury in spite of its location. In 2020, the tented lodge, helmed by Natural Selection of Namibia’s Shipwreck Lodge fame, will be completely reborn as a souped up version of its former self, complete with a quad-bike excursion to the romantically dubbed Lost Island of the Boababs where guests can more closely reconnect with the earth.
The 2020 opening of Xigera, Red Carnation’s flagship safari enclave, is also perking up many an antenna. Wil Smit, founder of Deeper Africa, also has his eye on Bushman Plains Safari Camp in another corner of the Okavango Delta. “It’s Botswana’s first safari camp owned and operated exclusively by the San people. It boasts all the amenities one would expect from a first-rate safari camp, but unlike other lodges, Bushman Plains also offer the kind of guiding and knowledge-sharing that only the San people can provide.”
“If you are exploring Northern Botswana during the dry season (June to October) the Linyanti Wetlands are not to be missed,” recommends Teresa Sullivan of Mango Safaris. “Matriarchal herds of elephant 100-200 strong can bring you to tears with their tender family structure. The famed lion populations of Savuti rule the grasslands, and this is a prime area to spot African painted dogs. Keep your eyes out for Little Duma Tau by Wilderness Safaris opening in August of 2020. It is going to be something.”
3. Sydney, Australia
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For years, Melbournians have touted their hometown as Australia’s fun, most livable city, with cool bars and a dining culture that’s elevated both coffee and veggie-forward eating (hello, avo-toast). Sydney, though bigger, was the show pony—a beautiful burg fit for the click of the camera and not much more. But everything’s about to change: the beginning of 2020 marks the end of the state’s stringent lockout laws—legislation aimed at curbing violence due to late-night alcohol consumption—in Sydney’s Central Business District, which will inevitably breathe new life into the flagging bar culture.
While the club scene’s been sleeping, Sydney has been taking strides to redevelop its rougher edges, bridging the gap between its two traditionally touristed districts, Circular Quay and Bondi Beach. Now the Inner West is booming— neighborhoods like Redfern, Eveleigh, and Surry Hills sport a checkerboard of mom-and-pop shops, speakeasy pubs, hipster cafes and trendy boutiques selling everything from house plants to reupholstered Danish furnishings.
Most importantly, however, is the emergence of aboriginal ingredients on the dinner plate and the spate of one-, two- and three-hatted restaurants (the Australian equivalent of the Michelin star) that are honoring the country’s original landowners by infusing their entrees with bright flavors like finger limes, lemon myrtle, and a smattering of desert berries and seeds. The Yerrabingin rooftop garden atop a new tech tower in the Inner West is the perfect showcase for Australia’s newly re-emerging flavors that blossomed before the arrival of Europeans. They sell their herbs and flowers to Paperbark—easily the best meal we had in 2019; don’t miss the plant-based prix fixe menu.
4. Senegal
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Somewhere south of Morocco’s sand dunes lies the motherland of Caribbean culture, a country where brilliant bolts of fabric hug its citizens, and the thump and scratch of live music underscores a symphony of bustling markets, crashing waves fit for surfing, and the howl of gray desert winds. With a newish international airport, Dakar is posed to be your layover hub as passengers transit between continents—and a weekend is all you need to uncover a capital that’s poised to take on its rival cities abroad. It’s first boutique hotel, Seku-Bi, breathed new life into an otherwise corporate scatter of lodging when it opened in 2019, and other attempts at a singular design are undoubtedly on their way, bolstered by a nascent scene of rising artists like Sarah Diouf of Tongoro, a go-to label for the one and only Beyoncé.
For now, Dakar is the jumping off point for travelers seeking quieter corners of West Africa. Peregrine Adventures’ weeklong luxury cruise up the River Gambia departs regularly during the winter months aboard the elegant Harmony G, and now Zegrahm Expeditions has added a nine-country boat tour of Western Africa to its ship, the Caledonian Sky’s 2021 globetrotting itinerary. By land, don’t miss a trip to the Djoudj National Park, a sanctuary featuring one of the largest gatherings of migratory birds on the planet who pause in the swamplands to rest after braving the skyward journey over the Sahara. Nearby is the UNESCO-protected city of Saint-Louis, the old French colonial capital which has a laidback New Orleans vibe if you walk down the right streets.
5. Houston, Texas
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Beware Chicago: Houston is coming for you. Texas’s largest metropolis is poised to usurp the midwestern burg’s number-three position in the next national census. And with a population increasing at a significantly faster rate than cities #1 and #2 (New York and Los Angeles), who knows where Houston will rank by the end of the 2020s.
The thing about Space City is its incredible amount of sprawl (the nickname’s double entendre isn’t lost on us.) Sure, LA is known for its vastness, but Houston isn’t hemmed in oceans and canyons—even its most central neighborhoods are unusually roomy. Locals see this as a boon for the upcoming wave of development: land prices remain remarkably affordable for a destination with so many people, and filling in the cracks with small-business endeavors—restaurants and bars—is inevitable as the city further bolsters its well-deserved reputation for incredible eating. If you're a New Yorker, Angeleno, or Chicagoan currently rolling your eyes, trust us—you’ll be hard pressed to find better Vietnamese or Mexican cuisine anywhere else in America .
In many ways, Houston is kind of like Dubai, using its wealth earned from the region’s natural assets to import high culture, like state-of-the-art museums to world-class performing arts centers. It’s certainly worked for Dubai (you’ll find the emirate on many other “best of” lists this season), and efforts are already starting to pay-off in southern Texas. The Museum of Fine Arts is getting a hefty campus expansion in 2020—it’s the largest cultural project under way in all of North America and will dramatically change the flow of pedestrian traffic in the city with new public plazas, reflecting pools, and gardens. The Houston Botanic Garden will be completed in 2020 as well; the crown emerald of the city’s greening efforts to connect its park space in what has been dubbed the Bayou Greenways. The Houston Farmers Market will expand across 18-acres, and a smattering of food halls are on the docket for next year, too; but the most ambitious project in the city is the amalgamation of a handful of research institutions, which will come under a single umbrella as the largest medical campus on the planet, the Texas Medical Center, which is sure to encourage even more food, nightlife, and cultural newness for the city in the next decade.
6. Brazil
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Remember the Listerine-green swimming pool at the 2016 Rio Olympics? It became the physical manifestation of the corporate and political dysfunction that’s plagued Brazil for decades. But four years later, and out from under the international spotlight, South America’s largest nation has had a chance to quietly find its footing; each step forward (like the dissolution of the American visa mandate) a mea culpa for the series of calamities surrounding the Summer Games. And with the recent softening of the local currency, all seems to be forgiven.
There are three urban hotels that have captured our attention—the new Rosewood Sao Paulo, located in a former maternity hospital surrounded by posh, turn-of-the-century buildings. The look of the place promises to be anything but clinical; one of Jean Nouvel’s iconic vertical parks will adorn the facade. Fairmont is sprucing up an iconic Copacabana property, promising unparalleled views of the city and Sugarloaf Mountain. And up north in Salvador, we’re coveting the new Fasano in the heart of the historic quarter.
“The north coast, primarily Jericoacoara, has seen an influx of luxury eco resorts over the last decade,” says George Morgan-Grenville, founder of Red Savannah; “a new regional airport has slowly changed the landscape of tourism in the area and made access to this remote part of Brazil considerably easier. The newly-opened Casana offers guests access to the untouched national park beaches of the north, along with excellent conditions for kite surfing.”
7. Kanto, Japan
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Year after year Japan always seems to find a way to surprise and delight us—it’s like the Meryl Streep of destinations, constantly out-performing the competition, and even one-upping itself. We feel repeatedly compelled to honor the Land of the Rising Sun because every new development—be it a luxury hotel, restaurant, or even a bullet train link—is always executed with the greatest of care. And 2020 is no different, especially with the impending Summer Olympics being held in Tokyo.
It’s the second time the capital’s hosting the Games (the first being in 1964—Kenzo Tange’s shell-motif architecture still adorns Yoyogi Park) making it the perfect opportunity to leave the city and spotlight some of the cultural treasures in the greater Kanto region; the cluster of neighboring prefectures, like Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Shizuoka—all of which will host various large-format sporting events this coming summer. Most of the competition will have Mount Fuji as a backdrop, and day-trippers should follow suit, on a serene bike ride around Lake Yamanaka, a hike through the Aokigahara forest (which poetically means “Sea of Trees”), or at a dinner by campfire at Hoshinoya Fuji, overlooking Lake Kawaguchi with the iconic mountain soaring just behind.
Our favorite spot is Shujenzi Onsen, and Tyler Palma of InsideJapan Tours agrees—“it’s popular as a weekend getaway for Tokyoites, but virtually unknown to foreigners. Shuzenji Onsen was named after Shuzenji Temple in the center of town. Kobo Daishi, one of Japan's most important religious personalities, founded the temple about 1200 years ago. Daishi is also said to have created Shuzenji's most prominent hot spring, Tokko-no-yu, located in the middle of the river bed that runs through the town center. Today, Tokko-no-yu is used as a foot bath.”
Self-guided circuits from noted operators like Walk Japan have been designed with slow-paced travel in mind, swapping the whirr of the bullet train for temple-to-temple hikes through timber-clad villages lost in time. Oku Japan’s four-day circuit around the UNESCO-protected village of Nikko is a strong introduction to the country’s rich traditions and coveted hot spring culture. Ritz-Carlton opens their next Japan property in Nikko in mid-2020.
8. Israel
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This small but dynamic country has ended up on our must-visit list more than once this past decade, but it's becoming a classic for far more reasons than one. "If Tel Aviv is the extroverted and eccentric younger brother, Jerusalem is an enigmatic and surprising city that has a contemporary side usually unknown to travelers," explains Tova Wald of Boutique Travel & Events. With almost more cultural festivals and museums per capita than any city in the world, and a homegrown dining scene that has taken the rest of the world by storm thanks to Chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Assaf Granit, this old city is much more than meets the eye. A boom of luxury hotels and boutique property openings—like Villa Brown, The Orient, and Lady Stern Hotel—a thriving design and contemporary art scene, and a cornucopia of gourmet restaurants, like Mona, Assaf Granit's Machneyuda, and newcomer Satya, Jerusalem beckons the interest and attention of the world's savvy travelers and tastemakers. In 2020, the much-anticipated high-speed light rail between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will finally open, creating new waves of tourism and easy access between Israel's largest cities. Additionally, the Mamilla Hotel's renowned Rooftop restaurant overlooking the Old City will re-open in January 2020 after a full renovation.
In the north, "One of the oldest cities in the world dating back more than 5,300 years, Akko, sits as the fortified capital of the glistening Western Galilee, a region that boasts more than 150 boutique wineries, world-class eateries by acclaimed chefs, and some of the most unspoiled and undeveloped beaches in all of the Mediterranean," Wald says. When visiting Akko, the place to stay is the Efendi Hotel, a 12-room boutique property transformed from an Ottoman Palace. "The hotel is the vision of acclaimed Chef Uri "Buri" Jeremias, who oversaw the restoration of the two original Ottoman buildings and hand-painted motifs and frescos along the walls and ceilings, including a fresco of an ancient Istanbul, as well as the building's Byzantine foundation and Crusader-era cellar," Wald says. When there, do not miss a lunch or dinner at Uri Buri, the Chef's equally acclaimed seafood restaurant where impactful flavor combinations of quality, fresh ingredients are enjoyed on Akko's waterfront.
Located on the unique land-bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe, Israel's Negev Desert is a majestic region that boasts a bevy of natural wonders, unfiltered experiences, and some of the best stargazing and desert hiking. This summer, the epic Ilan and Asaf Ramon International Airport opened its tarmac in southern Israel, a game changer for the country which until now, has operated internationally solely out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. The new airport will optimize the Ministry of Tourism's efforts to develop the southern Israel regions, Eilat, and the Negev Desert as an up-and-coming tourism destination, while making for easy transfers to Jordan and Egypt. The airport, aside from being 18km from Eilat, is 45 miles from Jordan's Wadi Rum, and 7 miles from Egypt's Taba resort city in the Sinai Peninsula.
9. New York
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Fifty years ago, there were over 500 hotels in the Catskills—a haven where those plagued by the unpleasant side effects of urban living could breathe in the fresh mountain air. Massive resorts grew (the region lays claim to having the first indoor swimming, dubbed a “natatorium”) attracting New York, Boston and Philadelphia’s Jewish and Italian populations, but then air conditioning was invented, airplanes went commercial, and assimilation among immigrant cultures became commonplace—the result? No one felt the need for a Dirty Dancing-esque escape any more.
Flash forward to present day and the area is seeing such a strong comeback it’s starting to feel like a bitty Brooklyn neighborhood copy-pasted 100 miles away. Soho House’s CEO, Nick Jones, has gone on record saying his next Farmhouse will open upstate (closer to the Hudson Valley) and the Dream Hotel Group is busy building two properties meant to garner weekenders from the big smoke—Unscripted Catskills and the Chatwal Lodge. We’re most excited about the early-2020 opening of Kenoza Hall, managed by Sims and Kirsten Foster, the pioneers of the Catskills’ rebranding who run a coterie of inns under the banner of Foster Supply Hospitality. Kenoza will be their most upmarket stay yet, boasting soaring lake views and a dedicated wedding venue.
Of course, these days you don’t have to leave New York for a proper escape. The new year brings the hotly anticipated opening of both the Six Senses’ XI tower in West Chelsea, and Aman’s first urban essay in America after a successful play in Tokyo.
10. Philippines
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“For the last decade, the Philippines has been largely omitted from the Southeast Asia conversation in favor of destinations like Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia,” says Brooke Lavery, co-founder of Local Foreigner. But all of that’s about to change. “Don’t expect the luxury or logistical ease of its neighbors—the hotel product is only beginning to gain traction and moving between islands requires some patience—but adventurers will be rewarded with untouched island bliss. Amanpulo is a standout, while newcomer Nay Palad Hideaway is being called the next Nihi Sumba.” If you're not familiar with Nihi Sumba, consider this: it's the five-star property Jennifer Lawrence chose for her honeymoon.
The recent opening of Banwa, a private island escape funded by a British billionaire, is also turning heads as a viable competitor to Necker, North Island, or any of the other A-lister enclaves. Perhaps it’ll act as a beacon luring a new legion of investors looking for their slice of paradise to call home (away from home). Whether you’re Banwa-bound, or seeking out the cerulean waters of Palawan or Boracai, hit up Shangri-La at the Fort on your layover in Manila. Their 1920s-themed speakeasy, The Back Room, boasts 150 types of international gin; they even distill their own proprietary blend in house, with notes of sampaguita (jasmine) and dalandan (orange).
11. Antarctica
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“It was in 1820 that Nathanial Palmer headed south to the edge of the earth on a 47-foot sloop named Hero on a sealing expedition and laid claim to the discovery of Antarctica,” remarks George Morgan-Grenville, Founder & CEO of Red Savannah. And now, 200 years later, vast swaths of the polar region have begun to melt and recess in the face of rising global temperatures. A slew of new expedition-class vessels have been thusly deployed to take travelers back to the end of the world for one last look before it threatens to disappear.
Aurora Expeditions is leading the charge with a brand new ship sporting the latest wave-cutting technology as it braves the Drake Passage between South America and the white continent. Their itinerary with a South Georgia add-on offers intrepid travelers with ice-climbing training the opportunity to follow in Shackleton’s footsteps and cross the alpine island over land. Both Hurtigruten and Lindblad Expeditions have just debuted masterfully designed sea crafts as well. And Silversea’s Antartica Bridge will debut in 2021, shuttling passengers over the dreaded Drake Passage in business-class comfort; the flight will save tourists four full days of travel.
12. Paris & Versailles, France
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Paris is always a good idea, which is why—without fail—it keeps finding its way onto our shortlist. If you thought the recent renovations of the Royal Monceau, Hotel de Crillon, or the Lutetia weren’t OTT enough, then consider Airelles’ new endeavor in nearby Versailles, Les Airelles Le Grand Controle, right on the Sun King’s grounds—we guarantee plenty of cake eating as you ogle all the royal finery.
For something a little more staid (but not too sedate, mind you), get excited about the long-anticipated opening of the new Cheval Blanc in the heart of Paris, topping the famously shuttered Samaritaine department store complex, which will also imminently reopen with the discerning Asian traveler in mind. And speaking of retail, Bulgari’s taking a stab at high-style lodging, with a new property in the Triangle d’Or, where the Champs Elysees meets Avenue de Montagne.
13. British Virgin Islands
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We could make a list of the 20 destinations in the Caribbean worthy of a visit in 2020—places like vine-clad Dominica striking its way back into the tourism sector with a new “hurricane-proof” motto, or Haiti, which has been eclipsed by more recent regional disasters but is still a destination that’s desperately in need of help—but this time, our eye is on the BVIs. A legendary destination for yachties, the quiet archipelago is making a resurgence as its classic ports of call, like the iconic Rosewood Little Dix Bay come back online following a spate of hurricane-related destruction.
Sustainability’s the buzzword in the region—Richard Branson’s clothed his staff at Necker Island in uniforms made from recycled plastics, Cooper Island Beach Club just began a turtle tagging program (though they were already doing God's work turning light into beer at their solar-powered brewery) and Norman Island, which is thought to have inspired Treasure Island, is adding a dark-sky observatory. “Also, don’t miss the opening of Branson’s Moskito Island,” reports Jack Ezon of Embark, eyeing the new private island satellite orbiting Necker.
14. Sao Tome & Principe
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A strange, ethereal intersection of three disparate worlds—Africa, Portugal and the Galapagos—the islands of Sao Tome and Principe have begun to entice European holiday makers with the country's singular blend of off-the-grid charm, buoyed by the smiles of 200,000 locals. “It truly is the perfect place to detach yourself from the rest of the planet and live the ‘moli moli’ way of life,” says Kyte of Steppes Travel, who is slowly seeing an uptick in travelers coveting these pristine beaches instead of the more usual European haunts.
For the American traveler it’s the perfect add-on to a Portuguese foray (the islands were once an Iberian colony); with easy direct flights from Lisbon, think of this as the new Azores. Base yourself at one of HBD Principe’s lodges: be it forested Sundy Praia, beachside Bom Bom, or historical Roça on Principe, or Omali on busier Sao Tome.
15. Uruguay
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Ed Paine of Last Frontiers endorses Uruguay as the perfect South American country for those short on time; “Everything is within reach, from small boutique wineries (the Tannat grape, originally from France, has been adopted as the national grape and has a soft blackberry flavor) to estancias, the ranches responsible for some of the tastiest steaks in the world, all from grass-fed cattle. The sunny capital, Montevideo, is relaxed, peaceful, and rightly famous for its long beaches, art deco architecture, and wonderful restaurants.”
The new Museum of Latin American Art will open around Punta del Este in 2021, but Paine recommends bypassing the party city to stay in José Ignacio—“it’s a quiet fishing village in winter, and in summer, a chic beach resort.” We’re already making plans to check out Sacromonte Landscape House, perhaps the country’s most coveted vineyard stay taking a stark, geometric tack to the traditional hacienda stay. And don't forget Bahia Vik in José Ignacio, which has just completed the addition of a destination spa and several new cabins.
16. Montenegro
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When the former Yugoslavia dissolved, each country-state laid claim to their best asset: Croatia morphed into the new Greek Isles with its booming boating scene, Slovenia became the new Switzerland with towering granite peaks, and Bosnia’s Sarajevo wanted to be the newest Berlin with an emerging cafe, bar and creative scene. Montenegro—wild and rugged—was a quiet hinterland in between, with national parks that felt like Europe’s final frontier. While Aman has had a destination property in Sveti Stefan—a small fishing village turned epic luxury retreat—in the country for the past decade, a recent array of new openings from chains like Melia and Iberostar are putting the small Balkan country at the front of many beachgoers’ minds. We’re also waiting for the grand opening of the One&Only that will help anchor the marina at Portonovi as the new hub of the Balkan Riviera. Fun fact: half the square footage of the new One&Only suites will be dedicated to over-the-top bathroom areas.
17. The Marquesas
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Renowned explorer and documentarian Sven-Olof Lindblad has championed the fight against climate change since founding what is now Lindblad Expeditions in the late ‘70s. Much of his efforts have been squarely focused on igniting the passion for conservation among his devotees by taking travelers on treks to the wild polar recesses. Now, he has a new passion: protecting the seas—the world’s last truly unexplored realm. In April of 2020 he’ll lead a trip aboard the National Geographic Orion to the Marquesas Islands—the South Pacific’s most far-flung archipelago of islands and the birthplace of Polynesian culture. Visitors will not only explore submarine feeding stations attracting large pelagic fish like manta rays and pilot whales, but gain a deeper understanding of one of the world’s most isolated societies. Even if you're not one to venture to a destination less traveled, watch this space: big conservation plans are on the horizon in the region.
18. Sardinia
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Over 60 million tourists visit Italy each year, and we’re on a quest to find an unturned stone in the country, somewhere off the beaten path. The island of Sardinia may just be the last bastion of un-commodified dolce vita. Start at Su Gologone, which Sabastian Schoellgen, the managing director of Eighty Four Rooms readily endorses as the perfect introduction to the back-country of the isle. “Giovanna, the owner, has transformed the hotel into a world-renowned destination for those in the know,” he notes. “When people think of Sardinia, they think of Costa Smeralda—beaches and nothing more,” adds Agustina Lagos Marmol, the founder of Dolomite Mountains, an operator seeking out the most remote corners of the boot land. For 2020, she’s developed new itineraries that take visitors on custom guided adventure trips along Europe’s last unspoiled coastlines and hills. Italy is never going to go out of style, but a trip here reinvents the wheel.
19. Puerto Rico
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On the second day of the year, Fairmont is taking over the legendary El San Juan Hotel on the stunning Isla Verda beach—an auspicious start to 2020—with grand plans of reminding east-coast Americans that the island territory is the perfect long-weekend gateway to escape the cold. Renovations following the devastating Hurricane Maria in 2017 have continued apace, with the last wave of re-openings scheduled throughout this coming year. Beyond boisterous San Juan, get excited for the new Four Seasons Cayo Largo in the island’s northeast, and—over on the smaller isle of Vieques—Zafira St. Clair, a high-end timeshare for travelers aiming to be repeat weekenders. And let’s not forget, Puerto Rico’s statehood—which would radically change the island’s rollercoaster economy—is one of the hotly debated issues in the 2020 national elections.
20. Austria
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Often viewed as staid and pleasant—and not a whole lot more—Austria has crept its way into the zeitgeist in the most unusual way; rather than relying on robust marketing campaigns and concerted rebranding, the country’s most unsuspecting mountain hamlet, Hallstatt, became Instagram idyll—travel porn’s ultimate pin-up. Think gingerbread houses and a craggy backdrop covered in a light dusting of powdered sugar. Tens of thousands of tourists descend upon the alpine village each day, failing to realize that there are dozens upon dozens of similar destinations dotting the vertical landscape all the way down to ski-centric South Tyrol, which abuts the Italian Dolomites. If you’re looking for a reason to celebrate, 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth—and a year of elaborate Viennese events are in store. In Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg, the 100th anniversary of its eponymous music and drama festival will be dialed up even higher than its usual assortment of world-renowned acts. | 4 |
From January 1, 2020, the law on the abolition of parliamentary immunity entered into force in Ukraine.
The bill provides the amendment of Article 80 of the Constitution of Ukraine. Particularly, this article reads: “MPs of Ukraine are guaranteed with the parliamentary immunity” and norm, which states that “the lawmakers of Ukraine cannot be prosecuted, detained or arrested without the agreement of the Verkhovna Rada” are withdrawn.
Another norm of the article will continue to act: the MPs will not be responsible legally for the results of the voting, statements about the parliament and its bodies, excluding the responsibility for insulting or defamation. | Representative image of India Gate
India Gate
NEW DELHI: Scores of people took a mass pledge athere on Wednesday to defend the Constitution by opposing the recent changes in the citizenship law.The number of protesters as well as visitors, who were out to celebrate the New Year on a sunny day, led to a massive crowd around the iconic monument, causing the traffic to virtually crawl in adjoining areas.Slogans like "kagaz nahin dikhayenge" and "tanashahi nahin chalegi" rent the air before and after protesters took the pledge. | 1 |
Prince William is kick-starting 2020 with a new drive to dispel the current pessimism around the environment, and replace it with fresh optimism and action.
Drawing inspiration from the concept of Moonshots, which since the moon landing in 1969 has become shorthand for the most ambitious and ground-breaking goals, Prince William announces The Earthshot Prize: an ambitious set of challenges initiating global, cross-sector action to repair the planet.
In what is set to be a ‘super year’ for the environment with crucial summits including the Convention on Biodiversity in China and the COP26 Climate Change Conference in the UK, Prince William will team up with global partners on a decade-long project that reaches every corner of the earth.
The new initiative, which has been under development for over a year, will refocus global attention on finding answers to the biggest issues currently facing the planet including: climate and energy, nature and biodiversity, oceans, air pollution and fresh water.
The Prize will encourage people to do more, to find new solutions that work on every level, which will have a positive effect on environmental change and improve living standards globally, particularly for communities who are most at risk from climate change.
By awarding innovation and transformational change, the Prize aims to inspire collaborative projects that would not otherwise have been pursued, sparking a global movement that encourages governments, businesses and communities to prioritise environmental issues.
A set of unique challenges, rooted in science, will aim to generate new ways of thinking, as well as new technologies, systems, policies and solutions.
Just as the Moonshot that John F. Kennedy proposed in the 1960s catalysed new technology such as the MRI scanner and satellite dishes, the Earthshots aim to launch their own tidal wave of ambition and innovation.
Crucially, the Earthshots aim to reward progress across all sectors of industry and society, not just technology. The Prize could be awarded to a wide range of individuals, teams or collaborations – scientists, activists, economists, leaders, governments, banks, businesses, cities, and countries – anyone who is making a substantial development or outstanding contribution to solving these environmental challenges.
In addition to a significant financial award, winners will receive large-scale public recognition for their work that will aim to inspire business and government collaboration and scaling.
With plans to formally launch the project later this year, intense work is already underway on this multi-million pound project.
The Earthshot challenges will be announced in special events around the globe and an annual awards ceremony will take place in different cities across the world each year between 2021 and 2030.
Prince William said: “The earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve. Remember the awe inspiring civilisations that we have built, the life-saving technology we have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon. People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.” | The Duke of Cambridge Prince William unveils “the most prestigious environmental prize in history” to encourage new solutions within the incumbent decade to tackle the climate crisis.
Prince William took the little blogging site via Kensington Palace Twitter account on Tuesday and uploaded a brief video voiced by the veteran broadcaster David Attenborough, which referred the prize as “Earthshot Prize” and parable it with “Moonshot” that if human made it to the moon and introduces satellite dishes and MRI scanner — then what is the big problem to tackle the climate crisis.
Who is ready to lead as we make the 2020s a decade of action to repair our planet? Introducing the @EarthshotPrize 🌍 pic.twitter.com/sYT5xBQ1Zo — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 31, 2019
“Every day, it (the world) reminds us of its beauty but it also warns us that we can no longer take life as we know it for granted,” Attenborough explains in the voiceover.
Therefore, in a nutshell, we must take tangible steps regarding the climate issues within this decade i.e. 2020- 2030, consequently, we can overcome the crisis in the future.
“The next ten years presents us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of change to repair the Earth,” the duke said in a statement.
< “People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.” — The Duke of Cambridge @EarthshotPrize Find out more: https://t.co/C5EtcMeOoT — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 31, 2019 /p>
The “Earthshot Prize” will be given to five winners every year over the next decade. An annual ceremony will be held in different cities across the globe between 2021 and 2030 and it will be awarded to “anyone who is making a substantial development or outstanding contribution to solving our environmental challenges.” — meanwhile, it shall provide answers to the biggest issues currently faced by the planet, including climate and energy, nature and biodiversity, oceans, air pollution and freshwater.
Yet it could be awarded to a wide range of individuals, teams, cities or collaborations, — the Reuters reported the prize is worth multi-millions, but no specific details on the size of the prizes have been given.
Nevertheless, Prince William remained the president of the World Wildlife Fund — with time to time, he showed his concerned over climate changes — in his recent visit with the Duchess to Pakistan he also urged that the UK and Pakistan government should work together to tackle the “impending global catastrophe” due to climate change. His visits to Broghil Chitral, in the north most of Pakistan also followed his anxiousness regarding the significant changes in the global temperature.
The prestigious UK based newspaper Daily Mail describes the recent move of the duke in it its article as,
“the establishment of the annual Earthshot Prize represents his first serious independent move since he and his brother split their households and charities last year. While his latest initiative undoubtedly owes much to what he has learned from his father, William has embraced the more optimistic outlook of Prince Philip, who pioneered royal concern over the planet’s long-term future more than half a century ago.”
On the other hand, Colin Butfield, executive director of the World Wide Fund for Nature, welcomed the initiative, saying as,
“In just ten years we can go from fear to hope, from disaster to discovery and from inertia to inspiration. The Earthshot Prize challenges us all to make this the decade that we build a future to be proud of.” | 4 |
It’s a weekday morning at the William R. Talley Recreation Center in Baker Park and, like most weekday mornings here, dozens of people are making their way inside the gym for some strength and cardio training. Nearly all of them are over the age of 50.
On this day, personal trainer Stephen Ames takes his class through a series of lunges, hip hinges, lateral jumps, push-ups and more, as classic rock pours from the gym’s speakers. In their final warmup, the participants walk around the gym to the strains of China Grove by The Doobie Brothers.
Then the workout begins.
Ames watches his charges closely, making sure they use good form. From lateral shuffles to front kicks, the exercises can be tailored to nearly any fitness level. Clutching barbells, they squat, then forcefully stand and thrust their weights skyward.
Lin Scheer, 67, of Middletown has been coming to the classes for five years. “If I’m not babysitting, I’m here,” she says. She worked out at the Fort Detrick gym for 14 years before she retired, but in her younger years, she rarely exercised. Now, she can’t imagine not coming to the gym. “I’ve made a lot of friends here,” she says.
The familiar opening of The Twist fills the gym and everyone stops exercising and begins to swivel their hips. This isn’t done for entertainment, even comedic, value. Moving the hips helps to loosen the joints, making them less stiff, Ames explains. It’s something most people, young and old, don’t do enough of, he adds. The Twist is just a different way of getting there.
Then again, the baby boomers have done a lot of things differently. Women entered the workforce at a much higher rate than their mothers and grandmothers. College students protested an unpopular war, and they declared, with youthful exuberance, “Never trust anyone over 30.” But now they’re all over 30. Way over. Born in the post-World War II years of 1946 to 1964, the oldest boomers turn 74 this year. The youngest will be 56 by year’s end.
But it’s never too late to adopt healthy habits. A study in JAMA Open Network published last year concluded that adults who maintained daily moderate to intense activity for most of their adult lives lowered their mortality risk by 29 to 36 percent. But taking up an exercise program in middle age gives you that same lower risk. Those who waited until ages 41 to 60 to get active have a mortality risk of 35 percent.
Ames, who specializes in biomechanics, works with people in their 50s and older through his business, Elevation Fitness. He encourages older people to keep moving. “Unless you’re 95, you’re not too old to do this,” he says.
As his class nears the finish line, he instructs them to do three rounds of pushups. Some participants start on their toes and move to their knees, while others only use their knees. Others held planks. But everyone is strengthening their core, their arms and their pride.
He closes the workout with some cool-down stretches and child’s poses, giving everyone a chance to reflect on all the good they had done for their bodies.
After the exercisers roll up their mats, Jan Lounsbury, 65, sets up pickleball nets. Lounsbury started pickleball games at Talley Rec four years ago. Pickleball courts are shorter than those used in tennis, and players use paddles instead of rackets. But Lounsbury, a former tennis player, says the workout is just as good.
Players skip from side to side and hop back and forth, keeping watch on the ball. “I taught for 30 years, and after I retired, I knew I had to do something,” she says. Pickleball is active, social and fun, and there’s a game seven days a week somewhere in Frederick.
Actively Aging
Katrina Wolf is a Frederick physical therapy assistant, personal trainer and the owner of Agewell Senior Fitness. Wolf visits with seniors in their homes and works with them to recover muscle tone, strength and balance, allowing them to live at home and care for themselves.
“I encourage people to go to the Senior Center, the Y and the Talley Rec Center,” she says. The Frederick County Department of Aging, the Talley Recreation Center and the Frederick County YMCA all offer classes and activities geared to adults in middle age and older who want to get in shape.
Wolf offers her clients specific exercises helping them to build up muscle tone and improve balance. “I see what happens when people don’t stay active,” she says. The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that Americans get 150 minutes of exercise each week, along with two sessions of strength training.
Wolf has her clients do side-to-side lunges, single-leg stances, standing marches and other moves. These require balance and core strength, which will help older people use muscles that have been neglected, sometimes for decades. “If you don’t have strong ankles, your balance is compromised,” she says.
In her 16 years of working as an in-home physical therapy assistant, she noted that the generations that preceded the baby boomers were more likely to wait for instruction, while boomers ask questions. While older generations were more likely to have been physically active in their younger years, boomers are less self-conscious about going to the gym and working out. “What I observe is the baby boomers are more likely to self-advocate,” she says.
No Slowing Down
Spring Rridge resident Fred Schumacher isn’t your typical boomer. He runs 15 to 20 road races each year and is Gettysburg College’s strength and conditioning coach. His blood pressure and resting heart rate are like those of a young person’s. Not bad for 72 years young.
Schumacher doesn’t limit his strength training to two days a week. He’s in the gym five days a week now that he’s retired from a career in military and government service. He alternates upper body and lower body work each Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, he goes through the U.S. Army physical fitness test, which he first passed as a young recruit. He gets his cardio in, too, running anywhere from 3 to 10 miles.
He also works with college students, training them how to condition their muscles properly and avoid injury. Schumacher got his personal training certification after he retired. To do that, he took anatomy and physiology at Frederick Community College and exercise kinesiology at the University of Maryland.
In the kinesiology class, he had to do ladder drills, which test leg agility, along with other exercises. At first, he couldn’t keep up with his younger classmates, but gradually he became more agile and could hold his own. His instructor, who also once worked with the Washington Nationals, put the class through two hours of drills each week.
Schumacher has engaged in a lifetime of fitness. He’s completed 37 JFK 50 Mile races, an annual race each November that starts in Boonsboro. He ran his first JFK in 1974 in Army boots and PF Flyers, through pouring rain. “It was worse than Ranger school,” he says. “It was worse than Airborne school. I thought, ‘I don’t need to do that ever again.’” He changed his mind after he received his finisher’s plaque, however.
He continued to run, and has finished eight Steamtown Marathon races in Scranton, Pa. He has also raced hundreds of 5Ks and 10Ks. In September, he ran the Market Street Mile in 9 minutes, 40 seconds.
Schumacher runs sprints at the Maryland Senior Olympics, recently medaling at 200 and 400 meters, javelin, football and softball throws. He prefers to compete in events where he has a shot at a medal. “That’s the interesting thing about the baby boom generation,” he says with a laugh. “It is one of the most competitive age groups there is.”
Schumacher isn’t too competitive to learn, however. At age 60, he signed up for a track and field throw camp. He lined up along with high school students to learn how to throw the javelin, hammer and shot put. He returned a few times more as a camper, and then later as a coach.
A hip injury has slowed him somewhat, but he is working through that with a physical therapist. He also stays active in local marching bands, organizing the annual Echo Taps Veterans Day event and participating in various church events.
He hopes to run a few more JFK 50 Mile events, and he doesn’t plan to cut back. At a recent checkup, a nurse said to him, “You mean you’re over 70 years old and you don’t take any medications?”
Adventurous Retirement
Pam Parmer, 70, and her husband, Ron Stevenson, 79, met through running, and they’ve continued their active lives together at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg. The 55-plus community offers independent and assisted living arrangements along with full care. Parmer and Stevenson say Asbury’s range of activities help them continue their active, independent retirement.
They swim, they do yoga, they bike and they hike. They take classes in balance, strength and flexibility, which allows them to keep doing other activities. They also in-line skate.
“We keep moving,” Parmer says. Their vacations often involve hiking from inn to inn, with a trip planned this year for Glacier National Park. They don’t run marathons anymore, but years of running and cross-country skiing prepared them for the rigors of skating and hiking on uneven, hilly ground.
“I think we are both in very good health,” Parmer says. “I had a heart attack at age 63 and I never stopped exercising. I think because I’m in good shape is why it wasn’t debilitating. I have no heart damage.”
Susan Grotenhuis, family and outreach coordinator at Asbury, says physical activity often goes hand-in-hand with brain health. Researchers once thought people were born with all the brain cells they would have throughout their lives. Then researchers discovered that exercise stimulates neurogenesis, or the growth of new brain cells.
Brain cells are like other cells in the body. “If you don’t use them, the body will get rid of them,” Grotenhuis says. Exercise has been found to be one of the strongest contributors to neurogenesis. Others are learning new skills and doing activities that require coordination. One more reason why boomers are redefining the concept of aging. | LARKANA: Eight out of 20 new dialysis machines are dysfunctional because of faulty RO plant at Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana.
As many as 20 new dialysis machines were supplied to Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) in June 2018 along with two Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants by the health department; out of which 12 have been installed a few days back on the ground floor after lapse of one and half year and eight on the first floor of the CMCH Dialysis Center.
One out of three RO plants supplied with the machines is found faulty due to which eight machines installed on the first floor are yet to be made functional.
Sources at the CMCH Dialysis Center told PPI on Wednesday that the Sindh health department procured 200 dialysis machines for various healthcare facilities in Sindh but nothing was informed in 2018 as to who procured the machines and who their suppliers were. They said that due to this ambiguity instead of urgent installation and the machines were dumped at the store. The issue was finally taken up by the probing agencies after which documents were supplied to the relevant hospitals in the province which later also received these machines.
The sources said 14 old dialysis machines have now been kept aside as 40 to 45 kidney-failure patients are daily receiving dialysis each for 3 to 3.30 hours whenever they needed it. They said 160 dialysis patients are registered at the moment, who belong to various areas out of which 85 are hepatitis negative, 60 hepatitis positive and 15 are HIV positive.
Five machines are reserved for Hepatitis negative, five for hepatitis positive and four for HIV positive patients (out of which two are working and the remaining two are dysfunctional).
When this scribe visited the site there was no female staff nurse posted to look after the female patients and all work was done by the male staff.
Duty doctors said on condition of anonymity as they have been banned from talking to media they could not say anything. However, they said that they have been facing acute shortage of medics and paramedics since long but the CMCH authorities are not paying heed to their several complaints.
They said five dialysis technicians are posted against the need of 10 technicians, six doctors are posted against the demand of 12 who work in three shifts. They said that this vital ward has even no ward boy and a man has been hired by them on daily wages basis out of their own pocket.
CCTV cameras have already been installed to monitor the dialysis process but an acute shortage of trained manpower has added to the woes of patients.
Head of Department Dr Zahid Shaikh said that despite some shortcomings the Center is now working smoothly for the benefit of poverty-ridden dialysis patients. He said a shortage of required medics and paramedics would also be tackled so that workload could be reduced. | 1 |
Dear North East Lincolnshire Council,
The link below contains documents in chronological order relating to an application to Grimsby Magistrates' court to state a case for an appeal to the High Court. The documents most relevant to this request are listed below:
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...
DOCUMENTS HELD BY THE COUNCIL:
• Letter from the council's legal department of 19 July 2013 notifying the Appellant that the disputed costs were suspended until the outcome of proceedings
• Letter to the Justices' Clerk prompting delivery of the final 'case stated' dated 10 January 2014 (copied to Ms Eve Richardson-Smith in an email attachment)
• Letter to the Justices' Clerk querying non-delivery of the final 'case stated' dated 13 February 2014 (copied to Ms Eve Richardson-Smith in an email attachment)
• Letter to the Justices' Clerk requiring a Certificate of refusal to state a case dated 22 April 2014 (copied to Ms Eve Richardson-Smith in an email attachment)
The letters from 10 January 2014 onwards, categorically contained evidence that the High Court appeal had not been withdrawn but also that it was being actively pursued. However, it was relied on by the council (which it stated to the judge) that the taxpayer had withdrawn his High Court appeal to defend its action of misallocating payments to engineer default on his in-year Council Tax account.
North East Lincolnshire council's representations (witness statement
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil... ) considered by District Judge Daniel Curtis for hearing held on 30 October 2015 makes the false statement that the appeal had been withdrawn as of 20 November 2013.
Why, when a formal complaint that required as a remedy that the Council applied to the Magistrates’ court to have the court order quashed was it refused for consideration by the very person who had proof it had been obtained erroneously .
Emails of 26 January and 7 February 2017 sent by Ms Eve Richardson-Smith
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...
26 January 2017
"Thank you for your latest correspondence regarding this matter. To confirm North East Lincolnshire Council stands by the action taken and will not be undertaking any further investigation. Yours sincerely on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council Eve Richardson-Smith LLB Legal Team Manager & Deputy Monitoring Officer."
7 February 2017
"I refer you to the response provided to you on 26th January 2017 confirming that North East Lincolnshire Council will not be undertaking any further investigation into this matter. For clarity, no further acknowledgement or response will be provided to any correspondence of a similar nature regarding the same issues. Yours sincerely on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council Eve Richardson-Smith LLB Legal Team Manager & Deputy Monitoring Officer."
Yours faithfully,
Les Freeman | Interacts with Judicial Officers of JK, Ladakh via video conferencing
JAMMU: Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Geeta Mittal today held an interaction with Judicial Officers of J&K and Ladakh via video conferencing during which she lauded the role of district judiciary in the dispensation of justice.
While extending New Year greetings to Judicial Officers, Chief Justice lauded the district judiciary for its commitment to justice dispensation. She hoped that Judicial Officers will continue to discharge their professional duties with same zeal, enthusiasm and commitment.
Role of Legal Services Authorities in highlighting various government schemes and running awareness campaigns on burning issues like solid waste management, plantation of trees, water conservation etc was highly appreciated by the Chief Justice.
Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority was awarded the best zonal Legal Services Authority of the North Zone in recognition of its utmost commitment and excellent work done in legal services.
Justice Geeta Mittal also impressed upon the Judicial Officers to avail minimum holidays so that the hassles of litigants are mitigated.
Earlier, Chief Justice along with other Judges of the High Court had an interaction with High Court employees of both the wings and extended New Year greetings to them.
During the interaction, the Chief Justice commended the employees for their hard work and commitment and improved work culture which has further enhanced the prestige of the High Court.
The Chief Justice and other Judges of the High Court congratulated the High Court staff for their success in various fields in the last year like technological initiatives, streamlining the processes in the High Court, sports etc.
Justice Geeta Mittal also congratulated the Jammu Kashmir High Court staff cricket team for their brilliant performance in the recently concluded T-20 Legal Premium League-2019 held at Jaipur in Rajasthan. | 1 |
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars notoriety has been ordered by Texas Judge Scott Jenkins to pay $100,000 in court costs and legal fees as part of a defamation lawsuit. The suit charges that Jones’ peddling of a conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was a hoax created by the federal government defames the parents of the murdered children by calling them “crisis actors.” Not only is this claim morally repugnant, but the parents say it’s led to real-life threats and harassment.
On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman shot and killed 20 children and six adults at the school in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones previously told the viewers of his show that the shooting was a hoax, though he has since said in a sworn deposition that he now believes the shooting was real. He says that a “form of psychosis” made him question whether the mass shooting was real.
Neil Heslin, the father of one of the children killed in Newtown, brought the defamation case against Jones and his website. Heslin says that he’s received numerous death threats from people who bought into Jones’ conspiracy theory. He sued Jones in April 2018, as did other families.
As reported by The New York Times, Judge Jenkins said Jones’ and his website’s lack of cooperation in the case “should be treated as contempt of court.” Jenkins also denied a motion from Jones and InfoWars to dismiss the case in a separate ruling. The Daily Beast reports that the fees break down to $65,825 for ignoring a court order to procure witnesses and documents and $34,323 to cover Heslin’s legal fees. Mind you, the case itself hasn’t even gone to trial yet. | A Texas judge has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $100,000 in another court setback over the Infowars host.
Jones is being sued for defamation in Texas by the parents of a 6-year-old who was among the 20 children and six adults killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
Jones used his show to promote falsehoods that the attack was a hoax. Judge Scott Jenkins ruled that Jones purposefully ignored previous orders to provide materials that would move along the lawsuit.
An attorney for Jones did not immediately comment Tuesday. Jenkins' orders were first reported by The Daily Beast. | 4 |
For Subscribers Hampton Beach Ocean Wok: Founder Matthew Fan to revive restaurant
Ocean Wok founder Matthew Fan is returning to take over the restaurant which he says went downhill after he left. | PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A law taking effect on New Year's Day makes Maine the fifth state to require private health insurers to provide hearing aid benefit.
The law, the result of a bill sponsored by Rep. James Handy in 2019, requires private health insurers and the state's Medicaid program, MaineCare, to cover hearing aids up to $3,000 per ear every three years, the Portland Press Herald reports.
As many as 173,000 Mainers have some level of hearing impairment, according to a report by the state's Bureau of Insurance in 2014.
State law previously required coverage for children under the age of 18 and capped the insurer's expense at $1,400.
Maine joins Arkansas, Illinois, New Hampshire and Rhode Island in requiring hearing aid coverage for both children and adults, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) | 3 |
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on politicians to put aside their parochial and selfish interests and ensure that Nigeria remains a united and indissoluble country where peace and justice will perpetually reign.
The NBA President, Paul Usoro (SAN), said this yesterday in his new year message that Nigeria cannot have a country where peace and justice can reign if the Federal Government keeps paying lip service to the Rule of Law.
He said: “In 2019, Rule of Law in Nigeria was persistently assaulted and lay prostrate, thanks mostly to executive misbehaviours and high-handedness.
“2019 marked the year that removal of public officers through nebulous and reprehensible ex parte orders of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) gradually became the norm in our national life.
“It started with the removal of erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, through a purported CCT ex parte order in the first quarter of 2019 and, towards the end of the year, this abnormality was repeated with the removal from office of the Acting Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Lady Azuka Azinge through a questionable ex-parte order.
“Economic growth can only be attained in an atmosphere of predictability and certainty. This new practice of tripping and removing our public officers through contrived CCT ex-parte orders corrodes confidence in the system,” Usoro stated.
The association called on politicians, to turn their attention from politics to governance and development, adding that Nigerians voted in 2019 for improvements in their circumstances, and, in their socio-economic circumstances.
He said: “As Nigerians, our strength lies, amongst others, in our resilience and eternal optimism. No matter our circumstances and no matter the temptation, we must not lose those qualities even as we must persist in holding our governments to account.”
The NBS boss said, “2020 provides us with the opportunity to reposition ourselves for the greater good of our people and our beloved country.” | A Lagos based journalist, Arogbonlo Israel has called on all Nigerians to be more united as another decade begins.
In a New Year’s message released on Wednesday, Arogbonlo said: “This is not a time for excessive flamboyancy, but a moment for deep reflections of where we were the previous year (2019), where we are now, and where we ought to be at the end of 2020. It’s a year when more united Nigeria is nonnegotiable to a financially independent country where every hand must be on deck to achieve a greater feat across all sectors.”
He urged the youth to be more pragmatic and purpose-driven as they explore the available opportunities for the year.
“There is need for the youth to be more productive particularly on social media as they explore the available opportunities for the year. We must ensure that every time counts if we really dare to see a better Nigeria in 2020.
“To achieve this, the youth must be more united like never before as they harness the available resources around to build a Nigeria of our dream.”
The student activist advised the government to leverage the experiences of the previous year in making 2020 more prosperous for all Nigerians.
“The government of the day must checkmate its strengths and weaknesses in 2019 while leveraging these experiences to provide better facilities that will in turn, benefit many Nigerians in the long run. By this, I mean the government should not only rely on its manifestoes, but rather be more realistic in providing means for the populace that will make the year more prosperous for them,” he said. | 2.666667 |
Chicago: Two toddlers died in Chicago early Thursday after police said a woman stabbed her father, left one of the children in a bathtub and then jumped from an 11th-floor apartment with the other child.
The woman was found on the ground with her one-year-old son about 2 am on Thursday as her father lay bleeding in the apartment while the other child, a 2-year-old boy, was in the bathtub, police said, citing preliminary information.
After building security directed officers to the apartment in Chicago's South Shore neighbourhood, police said they found the unresponsive boy in the bathtub and a 70-year-old man with stab wounds and cuts to his face and body.
Both children were pronounced dead at Comer Children's Hospital, while the man and woman were hospitalised in critical condition at the University of Chicago Medical Centre, police said.
Police said the wounded man told officers his daughter stabbed him before jumping out of the window with her son.
Officers could not immediately confirm whether the child found in the bathtub was also the woman's child.
Police detectives were continuing their investigation Thursday morning.
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time. | Guwahati: The Assam government has banned strikes by employees of oil and gas sector in the state for six months from December 31, 2019 under the ESMA, an official release said on Thursday.
Strikes by the officers, workmen, contract labourers, drivers and their helpers of tankers in the sector have been prohibited under the Essential Services Maintenance (Assam) Act, 1980, the release said.
This has been done in public interest and any service in any oil field or refinery of any establishment or undertaking dealing with the production, supply of petroleum products including natural gas will fall under the purview of this order, it added.
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time. | 1 |
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will sign an initial phase one trade agreement with China next month in what could be a major milestone in a bilateral trade war.
The ceremony Jan. 15 at the White House will include top Chinese officials, the president said on Twitter. He did not specify who would represent China, noting only it would be "high level representatives."
"At a later date I will be going to Beijing where talks will begin on Phase Two!" Trump said.
The ongoing trade war between the world's top two economies has sent shockwaves through international markets on fears that it could prompt a worldwide economic slowdown. | Trump Has Good News on the Trade Deal. The Stock Market Is Yawning.
Text size
Illustration by Michael George Haddad
The stock market largely shrugged off President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will be signing phase one of the trade deal with China next month.
Major indices were flat shortly after Tuesday’s open, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite showing slight gains after being modestly lower in premarket trading. | 3.333333 |
THE first babies of the new decade across all of Manchester were welcomed at The Royal Bolton Hospital.
While other people were out partying to ring in the New Year, midwives were busy from midnight safely delivering the first babies of 2020 — some even becoming parents themselves.
Tula Downs is believed to be the first 2020 baby in all of Manchester, arriving just five minutes after the clock struck midnight. The newborn weighed in at 7lbs 3oz and for mum Alana Brown, the special moment is still sinking in.
The mum said: "I didn't realise that it was the New Year at first, then the midwives came in with glasses of champagne and raspberries saying she was the first."
Just 25 minutes later, Lincoln Cohen was born. He was one of the tiniest babies of the day, weighing 5lbs 1oz, arriving a week early.
Mum Megan was joined by grandma Fiona Moulton, who was thrilled to meet her first grandson after greeting five granddaughters over the years.
Ms Moulton said: "I've been waiting for him a long time. It's an emotional day."
Two of Bolton hospital's midwives were themselves among the parents welcoming babies into the world in time for the new decade.
On New Year's Eve, midwife Katie Burton gave birth to a girl named Penelope. Weighing in at 7lb 1oz, Ms Burton said she looks just like her older brother. The mum was expecting her new daughter to arrive on January 5 and said the surprise arrival at 4.04pm on New Year's Eve is a sign of things to come calling little Penelope a "party girl in the making".
The second-time mum spoke about the experience of being a midwife as well as a patient: "I like it, it's like it's our turn, our time to shine!
"It's very different. We always tell women it's just a couple of more pushes, but when you're actually doing it, it's not just that."
A few hours earlier, fellow midwife Bianca Valentine welcomed a fourth son to her busy house. She said: "I have been a lot more nervous this time. I wasn't a midwife when I had the others. It's not as laidback when you know what's coming."
Her new little one, Elliott, was born just before 2pm on New Year's Eve, weighing 8lb 7oz. | Welcome first babies of 2020! This is baby Aidan, who was born at exactly midnight, to Mama Jennet Zobnina!! 💕💕💕💕. @NYCHealthSystem #ConeyIsland pic.twitter.com/VMkNmiZpgB — MichelleCharlesworth (@mcharlesworth7) January 1, 2020
NEW YORK CITY -- We have a tie! Two baby boys--one in Brooklyn, one in Staten Island -- ushered in the new decade as the city's first babies of the New Year.Both were born at exactly 12:00 a.m. Wednesday.Aidan Zobnin was born at NYC Health and Hospitals in Coney Island and weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and measured 20 inches long.He was born to parents Jennet and Artyom Zobnin and is their second child.Aidan's big sister, Ariana, was born in the same hospital room about two years ago.The other baby born right at the start of the new year was Anthony Saraceno. He was born at Richmond University Medical Center to Michelle and Anthony Saraceno.The little boy weighed in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces."We weren't sure when he was going to come, and before we knew it, it was getting closer and closer to 12, and Dr. Riley said, 'get ready, you guys are going to bring in the new year with a new baby,' and everything just worked out," his father said.An honorable mention also goes to little Bernard Casey Hall Nichols who came into the world at 12:03 a.m. at Mount Sinai South Nassau on Long IslandCongratulations and Happy New Year to all the families!---------- | 3 |
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We've all heard about it being unlucky to leave your decorations up after the Twelfth Night, but what about laundry?
Well it seems there are a number of superstitions around doing your laundry on New Year's Day and none of them are good.
In fact, if the such superstitions are to be believed, doing laundry on January 1 will wash away any good luck for the following year.
Some believe a member of the family could be washed away - or die - during the year too, according to the Manchester Evening News.
It's not known where the bizarre superstition originates, but many people do seem to observe it.
Some have even been known to even avoid washing the dishes for fear of the superstition coming true.
Manchester mum Rebecca James hadn't heard about it until seeing a recent Facebook post about it - but will obviously be following the advice.
Rebecca, who has two children and two stepchildren, said: "I'd never heard of it but it was on a discussion on a Mrs Hinch page on Facebook.
"I'm 100% following it and there will definitely no washing in my house."
The new year superstitions don't just stop with laundry.
Others include not removing anything from your home on New Year's Day, not even the rubbish - the belief being that any prosperity that is in the house stays inside.
While many superstitions centre around food - pork is considered good luck as pigs forage for their food, but lobster or crabs are bad luck apparently as they move sideways. | ROCK HILL, S.C. — Police in Rock Hill are investigating a shooting that sent three people to the hospital shortly after midnight on New Year's Day.
Shooting happened around 12:22 a.m. on January 1
Three victims were shot at a home on Booker Washington Street
Police say they're investigating the crime as attempted murder, but have not released info on a possible suspect or motive
The shooting was reported around 12:22 a.m. at a home on Booker Washington Street. Upon arrival, police say they located a 64-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest, a 42-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and a 53-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
All victims were taken to Piedmont Medical Center for treatment. The 64-year-old victim is said to be in critical condition, while the other two victims' injuries are non-life threatening.
Rock Hill Police say they are still investigating what prompted the shooting, and have not released any information on a possible suspect(s). Detectives do say the incident appears to have been isolated at this time. | 1 |
E-commerce startup Xpanse CEO Josh Supan in an interview with ABS-CBN News in Pasig City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – Millennial tech entrepreneur Josh Supan still shops in brick and mortar stores "8 times out of 10," as he builds virtual stores in the Philippines for international brands like Zara.
The 27-year-old founder of Xpanse believes the Philippines will have the "perfect marriage" between physical and online retail, thanks to a deeply entrenched shopping mall culture and a young population that buys almost anything from digital channels from lipsticks to iPhones.
The Manila-based Ateneo de Davao alumnus powered through bankruptcy twice to establish Xpanse, tipped to become the Philippines' second "unicorn" or startup valued at $1 billion (P50.7 billion).
"Usually when you don’t have money you quit, but me and my founders didn’t. We kept with it. I remember I’d always go to different clients and actually beg them, ‘please give it a chance, you’re gonna like it. True enough, they did like it and they stayed," he told ABS-CBN News.
Fresh from a Christmas party from the previous night, Supan was dressed for the interview in average millennial attire: white chunky sneakers, joggers, and a hoodie with his company's logo.
"When we started Xpanse…we wanted the whole business to be able to pay for itself. Eventually people started to notice because apparently a tech company in the Philippines that is stable and in the green is rare."
Xpanse-built websites have grown 300 percent year-on-year in terms of value, Supan said, as online stores’ contribution to brand sales grew to 8 to 12 percent from 1 to 2 percent in 2017.
The company is more than halfway to the monthly P35 million revenue it needs to achieve "unicorn" status. Past $1 billion startups include Uber, Airbnb, Go-Jek and Space X.
CAPPING PHYSICAL REACH
His clients include Store Specialists Inc of the Rustan's group. Aside from Zara, Xpanse also built Payless Shoes' Philippines website, defying its mother brand's bankruptcy filing.
"There’s no need to over-expand your brand in terms of brick and mortar. I don’t have to open 7,000 locations. I can have a few key locations and then just do the rest online," he said.
"In other countries, they always fear this thing called ‘retail apocalypse,’ a lot of brick and mortar brands filed for bankruptcy because not a lot of Americans go to physical stores anymore. I don’t think that’s the case for the Philippines," he said.
Supan is building Xpanse's niche among shoppers who buy "wants" such as fashion from "needs" like food.
"You have to have an avenue or like a medium for the wants of a specific person because that’s never gonna leave a certain person, especially if they have the buying power for it,” he said.
'EXPONENTIAL' GROWTH
Growth in startups is "exponential," often without enough time to "catch your breath as a company," Supan said.
"It’s a good problem, I guess. We’re all forced to grow up faster than we should be," he said.
"You don’t wanna squander it because you never know, especially in tech, next day baka (maybe) you’re bankrupt. You always have to be on your guard basically."
After reaching billion-dollar status, which Xpanse targets within the first quarter of 2020, the firm plans to expand to Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam to enable cross-border shipping.
E-commerce in the Philippines will likely mature and become a "staple" in 3-4 years.
"Other countries realize it already. When the Philippines is ready at least we’re right there ready to help everybody else," he said. | KEY POINTS "Captain America" actress arrested for killing mother
Mollie Fitzgerald, the accused, played the role of Stark Girl in the movie
The actress-turned-producer has been sent to jail on a bond of $500,000
An actress named Mollie Fitzgerald, who played a small role in the movie “Captain America: The First Avenger,” has been charged with second-degree murder of one of her family members inside her home in Kansas City.
According to a report, the 38-year-old actress was arrested by the local police for allegedly stabbing her own mother in the city of Kansas. The alleged incident is said to have happened in the third week of December because Fitzgerald’s mother, Patricia, was found dead inside her house on Dec. 20.
The star, who played the role of Stark Girl in the first “Captain America” movie, has been sent to jail on a bond of $500,000. As of late, no comment has been made by her attorney and it is also not clear if Fitzgerald even had someone who could come forward to comment from her side.
Apart from being an actress, Fitzgerald was also a producer and has produced more than seven movies and a documentary, which is still in production. Fitzgerald also directed a short movie called “The Creeps” in 2017, which has a score of 8 out of 10 on IMDb. She also served as an assistant to director Joe Johnston, the helmer of the first “Captain America” movie.
On the other hand, TMZ reported that police came to the area after responding to a distress call. They arrested the accused from the crime scene.
Meanwhile, a report from another media outlet stated that Patricia was getting ready to move back to Kansas City after living more than two decades in the area of Houston. Patricia’s brother, Gary Hunziker, noted that he got to know about the details of her sister’s death, but the details do not matter anymore because he has lost his beloved sister.
“We were shocked. But it does not matter the circumstances – the loss of a sister is what it is all about,” Hunziker said.
According to the same publication, Fitzgerald has been sent to Johnson County Jail. The actress was sent into custody after police explained that the people involved in such heinous crime have been identified, but the local authorities are still investigating the matter to gain more details.
Photo: AFP / Johannes EISELE | 1 |
Families ring in the new decade at early NYE party in Detroit's Beacon Park
Detroit's Beacon Park turned into a mini Times Square at the NYE Kids Countdown on Tuesday.
Happy parents treated their children to their very own early New Year's Eve party, complete with a heated lodge tent, holiday lights, New Year's-themed crafts, a photo station and live entertainment.The area’s best food trucks offered delicious food.
Face painting was the hit of the event with a line out the door and hundreds of colorful faces dancing along to the music.
"It's hard to keep track at a big event like this, but I might've face painted for a couple hundred kids today," said Dominique House, the owner of Colorful Events LLC.
The night concluded with a countdown to a balloon drop to ring in the new decade at 5:30 p.m.
Parents agreed that the early party is perfect to allow them to tuck their kids into bed well before midnight.
"The Downtown Detroit Partnership is thrilled to partner with the DTE Beacon Park Foundation to present and produce the 2019 NYE Kids Countdown," said David Cowan, Director of Public Spaces for DDP. "We saw that there were a lot of activities and celebrations for adults at midnight, but not a lot of family-friendly activities for kids. It's been fun to watch the event grow over the past two years. It's become a must-do to ring in the New Year."
Organizers estimate about 7,000 people attended, a big jump from last year's estimation of 3,200 people.
More: Detroit's big restaurant stories in 2019 — and what to look forward to in 2020
More: Detroit's cool things to do New Year's Eve
Contact Bisma Parvez: 313-222-6420 or bparvez@gannett.com Follow her on Twitter @bismapar | Please enable Javascript to watch this video
SEATTLE -- While the weather was not the nicest for New Year's Eve, hundreds of people still gathered at Seattle Center in hopes of celebrating 2020 with the annual fireworks display.
Music, food and ice skating were all available to people Tuesday. However, the big focus was on the New Year countdown.
Organizers were keeping a close eye on wind speeds that threatened the big Space Needle fireworks show.
"They've gone off every year, and I have confidence they will again this year at midnight," said Deborah Daoust with Seattle Center. | 2.333333 |
Viewers stunned after fake news anchor drops c-bomb on live television
(Infowars) – Viewers tuning in to CNN for New Year’s Eve coverage were treated to host Anderson Cooper grotesquely discussing the male anatomy with his co-host.
A drunk Cooper was conversing with co-host Andy Cohen during the live broadcast, when he clarified a comment by blurting out the question, “Who has the biggest cock in Hollywood?”
This is @CNN Anderson Cooper saying "cock" on live TV, while my child is awake. Shameful! #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/zVeLHJBZaP — Mike (@FuctupMike) January 1, 2020
“This is Anderson Cooper saying ‘cock’ on live TV, while my child is awake,” said Twitter user @FuctupMike, adding, “Shameful.”
One stunned viewer, who claimed his mother was visiting his home for the first time, said he was immediately embarrassed by Cooper’s remark and changed the channel.
So, CNN comes on in my house for the first time in … ever (or a really long time, at the very least.) And I’m welcomed to Anderson Cooper talking about his mom asking “Who has the biggest cock in Hollywood?” I’m no prude, folks, but the channel was changed immediately. — HAP (@hap317) January 1, 2020
CNN and Anderson Cooper have not yet released statements addressing the comment.
Cooper also nearly threw up on camera after taking a shot during the live broadcast.
INJECT ANDERSON COOPER DYING FROM SHOTS INTO MY VEINS. This is the best television. #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/XGlxFw1ovf — Corey Cohen (@CoreyECohen) January 1, 2020
And who can forget Cooper’s reaction last year after taking his first shot.
A reminder that we must protect Anderson Cooper at all cost. pic.twitter.com/sTzddZ85hg — The Demon of Savage Park 👹 (@binaryproblem) January 1, 2020
infowars.com/stay-classy-cnn-anderson-cooper-discusses-who-has-biggest-ck-in-hollywood-during-new-years-broadcast/ | THIS IS CNN: Anderson Cooper turns the air blue with risque line about male Hollywood stars while downing tequila shots with Andy Cohen on live CNN coverage of New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Both Cooper and co-host Andy Cohen were “downing tequila, loosening up their commentary and spicing up the evening’s festivities…Cooper, who is listening to someone on an ear piece and appears to ask if the manhood reference can be said on live television verbatim, decided to clarify with the exact quote…’She [Cooper’s mom, the late Gloria Vanderbilt], turns to me out of the blue and goes, ‘He’s not going to ask me who’s got the biggest c–k in Hollywood, is he?’ That’s what she said’. Cohen waves his hands and responds, ‘Anderson just said it, ok.’”
I’m so old, I can remember September of 2017, when CNN’s Brooke Burke channeled her inner Margaret Dumont, and pretended to get the vapors over sportswriter Clay Travis saying that he believes in “the First Amendment and boobs.” | 4 |
Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints wild-card playoff preview: Another miracle on tap?
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 Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints
When: Sunday, Jan. 5, 1:05 p.m. ET
Where: The Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans
Channel: FOX
Line: Saints by 7½
Injuries: Three of the Saints' four starting defensive backs missed the regular-season finale due to injury, including cornerback Eli Apple (ankle) and safeties Vonn Bell (knee) and Marcus Williams (groin). It's unclear whether any or all of them will be available Sunday. Fullback Zach Line's status is also unclear as he deals with a knee injury.
For Minnesota, the good news is that star running back Dalvin Cook told reporters this week that he plans to return Sunday after missing the past two weeks with a shoulder injury. "I got some rest, and I’m ready to go," he said. The player worth monitoring is starting linebacker Eric Kendricks, who missed last week's game with a quadriceps injury and will likely be questionable this week.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1. A miraculous rematch: These two teams will long be remembered for the iconic sequence that ended their playoff matchup two years ago, when Case Keenum threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs in the closing seconds of their divisional-round matchup in a moment that has been dubbed "The Minneapolis Miracle." The key difference this time around, of course, is that New Orleans will be playing at home. The Saints have won seven of their past eight playoff games at the Superdome dating back to 2000, and you can bet Sunday's crowd will be raucous.
2. Top turnover teams: The Saints and Vikings ranked second and fifth, respectively, in turnover differential during the regular season, and New Orleans took care of the ball at a historic level. The Saints set a new NFL record by committing just eight turnovers in 2019, eclipsing the previous record of 10 that was shared by the 2010 Patriots and 2011 49ers. So don't expect many turnovers in Sunday's game — but any that arise could prove to be especially impactful.
3. QBs trending in opposite directions: Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been on a tear in recent weeks, throwing 16 touchdowns and no interceptions over the past five games — including a 29-for-30 performance against the Colts on Dec. 16. Minnesota's Kirk Cousins, meanwhile, has thrown picks in three of his past four games and only surpassed 250 passing yards once in that span. If he's able to reverse those trends, the Vikings will have a shot in this one. If not, Brees and company will in all likelihood march on to the divisional round.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad. | The New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings are very familiar with one another.
When the Saints host the Vikings in an NFL wild-card game Sunday afternoon, it will be the fifth time they have met in the postseason. Minnesota will break a tie with Philadelphia as New Orleans' most frequent playoff opponent.
"It feels like we've played a handful of games," Saints coach Sean Payton said Wednesday.
The Saints and Vikings met three times in a stretch of 25 games during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, which included the Vikings' "Minneapolis Miracle" victory in the divisional round after the 2017 season.
Minnesota won a home game in the 2017 regular season, and New Orleans won a road game in the 2018 season. The teams even met in their 2019 preseason opener back in August.
Of course the game that stands out most was that 2017 playoff meeting in Minneapolis, in which New Orleans rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to take a 24-23 lead with 25 seconds left.
The Saints seemingly were on their way to Philadelphia for the NFC Championship Game when Case Keenum completed a pass to Stefon Diggs, rookie safety Marcus Williams whiffed on an attempted tackle and Diggs sprinted to a 61-yard touchdown as time expired.
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Minnesota is 3-1 against New Orleans in the playoffs, starting with a 44-10 wild-card victory in the Superdome after the 1987 season in the Saints' first postseason appearance.
New Orleans' only victory was pretty memorable also, as it prevailed 31-28 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game in the Superdome, en route to the Saints' only Super Bowl after the 2009 season.
The Saints bounced back from the playoff loss at Minnesota two years ago to go 13-3 and claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC last season. They narrowly missed going to the Super Bowl in an overtime loss at home against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
They almost certainly would have won that game if the officials had called a penalty on a blatant case by pass interference by the Rams late in the fourth quarter. New Orleans put that loss behind it and went 13-3 again this year.
"I think it says a lot about our group to be able to take some of those unfortunate circumstances and be able to turn that into something positive and use that as fuel, use that as a way to bring us closer together and fight through that adversity to bring out the best in all of us," quarterback Drew Brees said.
The Saints (13-3) were the first NFL team to qualify for the playoffs this season when they captured a third consecutive NFC South title on Thanksgiving night. They were in position to claim a first-round bye and perhaps the top seed in the NFC.
But 10 days after clinching, they lost a 48-46 shootout to San Francisco, and both the 49ers and Green Bay won tiebreakers to claim the first-round byes. New Orleans wound up No. 3.
Minnesota controlled its fate in the NFC North until losing at home to Green Bay in Week 16, as the Packers wrapped up the division title and the Vikings were locked in at No. 6.
Coach Mike Zimmer rested several key players in the regular-season finale, and Minnesota lost to Chicago to finish 10-6.
"I don't think anybody believes that we can win this game, so we go in there and we slug it out," said Zimmer, who is 2-2 against New Orleans, including playoffs. "All I really care about is that 53 guys believe.
"It's important that when you get in games like this, number one, you have to be able to execute. Do what you've been doing all along."
The Vikings expect to be bolstered by the return of Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook, who missed the last two games because of a shoulder injury.
"I feel refreshed. I'm going to be ready to go," Cook said. "I'm going to be at full strength. Looking forward to a good football game."
Cook has rushed for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 53 passes for 519 yards.
Less certain for Minnesota is linebacker Eric Kendricks (quad), who missed Wednesday's practice after sitting out Week 17. Kendricks tied for the NFL lead among linebackers with 12 pass breakups during the regular season.
For the Saints, cornerback Eli Apple (ankle) and fullback Zach Line (knee) both missed Wednesday's practice.
--Field Level Media
REUTERS2 | 3.666667 |
A secondary school Special Needs Assistant (SNA) was unfairly dismissed after an allegation that he used cocaine on school grounds.
A secondary school Special Needs Assistant (SNA) was unfairly dismissed after an allegation that he used cocaine on school grounds.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has ordered the school to pay the former SNA €1,000 for the unfair dismissal.
WRC Adjudication Officer Kevin Baneham stated that there were “alarming deficiencies in the decision to dismiss” the SNA who denied all drug related allegations.
One of the findings of the dismissal letter to the SNA was that drugs were on the school campus in December 2017 and Mr Baneham states that no such allegation was ever made.
The investigation into the SNA was sparked by an incident which occurred on the last day of the school term in June 2018.
On the day, the school organised a break-up party, with a staff sports day and some lunch.
This finished at 5pm and some staff went out later to a local pub.
However, while there, an Assistant Principal (AP) said that he had walked into a bathroom on two SNAs.
He saw the two SNAs were standing with their back to the door and he felt that something was wrong.
According to the AP’s statement, the other SNA had his hand up to his face and the two scurried into cubicles.
The AP said that he believed that this was drugs. The AP has previously told the principal that he had been offered cocaine at a Christmas event in December 2017.
The SNA who was dismissed denied all allegations of drug use. The second SNA made a statement that he was shown cocaine at the June incident but did not want to partake.
However, Mr Baneham stated that the second SNA’s statement “was self-serving and unreliable”.
Mr Baneham stated: “In a re-enactment of the classic Prisoner’s Dilemma, he laid blame on his co-accused. This is ‘Operation Save-My-Job’.”
The sacked man has looked for other SNA roles but did not have reference to obtain such a role.
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Danish actor Claes Bang is poised to become TV's newest sex symbol when he makes his debut as Dracula tonight.
Bang, 52, best known as The Affair's Sasha Mann, plays the world's most famous vampire in the BBC's new three-part adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic.
Fans are already impressed with what they've seen, with one declaring the tall, dark and handsome leading man to be 'very sexy'. Another tweeted cheekily: 'Claes Bang as the Dark Prince would have my neck anytime he wanted...'
Meanwhile early reviews of the mini series, which will air on three consecutive nights from today, suggest Bang ditches his signature cloak to appear in the nude on more than one occasion.
Claes Bang (left), 52, best known as The Affair's Sasha Mann, plays the world's most famous vampire in the BBC's new three-part adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic (right)
Early reviews suggest Bang ditches his signature cloak to appear in the nude on more than one occasion. Pictured, Bang strips off in a convent in a promotional shot from Dracula
Fans are already impressed with what they've seen, with one declaring the tall, dark and handsome leading man to be 'very sexy'. Another shared this cheeky tweet above
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, journalist Michael Hogan noted Bang spends 'an eyebrow-raising amount of screen-time naked'.
Dracula marks Bang's most high-profile English-language role to date and marks the culmination of an exciting few years.
The actor, who is married to artist and photographer Lis Kasper Bang, had his breakout role in the 2017 Ruben Östlund film The Square, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for best foreign language film.
It has been followed by turns in The Girl in the Spider's Web and The Burnt Orange Heresy, in which he starred opposite Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Debicki and Donald Sutherland.
The BBC adaptation follows lawyer Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan) as he travels to Transylvania to meet a new client, which turns out to be Dracula (pictured together)
One review noted Bang spends 'an eyebrow-raising amount of screen-time naked'. Pictured, the actor, topless and covered in blood, in a scene with nun Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells)
Bang's Dracula performance has made headlines already, prompting fans who were shown a preview to take to Twitter to share their excitement. Pictured, wiping blood from his mouth
But to British TV viewers he is likely to be best known as Sasha Mann, the charismatic, A-list movie star who played Helen's (Maura Tierney) love interest in the fifth and final season of The Affair.
Bang's Dracula performance has made headlines already, prompting fans who were shown a preview to take to Twitter to share their excitement.
One viewer who attended a preview screening in London this week tweeted: 'Claes Bang is an INCREDIBLE Dracula! I love Claes a Person, and as an Actor SO much! His interpretation of the Transylvanian Count was witty, devious and, (also), very sexy.'
Another agreed: 'Holy Transylvania, #Dracula is incredible. #StevenMoffat and @Markgatiss have done it again. This is a Dracula redefined for a new era - suave and cool, intimate and sexy, deliciously funny and horrifyingly grotesque. #ClaesBang is the Count of a generation. @BBCOne #BFI.'
To British TV viewers he is likely to be best known as Sasha Mann, the charismatic, A-list movie star who played Helen's (Maura Tierney) love interest in the fifth and final season of The Affair. Pictured, in a scene with Noah (Dominic West) and Whitney (Julia Goldani Telles)
The show's overtly sexual nature was also noted by Matthew Moore of The Times, who revealed the series includes a 'sex scene between Dracula and Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan), the [British] solicitor dispatched to his Romanian lair'.
He wrote: 'The sexual tone is clear from the outset. Even before the opening credits roll a character is asked plainly: "Did you have sex with Count Dracula?"'
But Moffat, 58, insisted the sex in the show should be seen as an act of destruction, rather than an act of romance.
Speaking at a screening, he said: 'He’s bi-homicidal, it’s not the same thing. He’s killing them, not dating them.'
The BBC adaptation follows Harker as he travels to Transylvania to meet a new client.
It is only once he is in the castle of Count Dracula that he realises he is a prisoner, rather than a guest. Dracula also stars Dolly Wells as nun Sister Agatha.
Dracula begins on BBC One at 9pm tonight | This Dracula review contains spoilers. It originally appeared on Den of Geek UK.
Dracula Episode 1
With a personal brand that stretches across all of culture, the who, what, when and where of Count Dracula are well known. He’s a centuries-old nobleman in a Transylvanian castle who vants to suck your blooood. The novel question this adaptation of Bram Stoker’s story asks is: why? Why crucifixes, why the need for an invitation, why the brides, why everything. Why is Count Dracula the best, most successful vampire of all time?
It’s a good hook, and a much-needed one for this lengthy four and a half-hour adaptation (told in three 90-minute episodes, Dracula follows the same format as the creators’ previous show Sherlock). Asking "why" reinvigorates a story we already know, bringing the villain out of the shadows and refashioning him as the lead and not just the title character.
Fashioning him full stop, you might say. Making Dracula so present in his own story requires the almost complete invention of an actual character beyond the nightmare stuff. Until now, you may as well have asked what drives bacteria, or a school of piranhas, or a lashing rainstorm.
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Doing the asking here is queen of weird comedy Dolly Wells, playing Dutch atheist nun Sister Agatha, full name: Sister Agatha Van Helsing - a late reveal signalled early on by a glimpse of the wooden stakes in the bottom of her carpet bag.
read more: Dracula Series Score is Made From Real Blood and Screaming Babies
Interviewing solicitor Jonathan Harker about his time with Count Dracula in the first hour, Agatha is a jockey with a whip, urging the plot onwards. Once Dracula arrives at the convent, she’s a co-lead with her own emotional arc. Wells is the episode's funniest, oddest ingredient, gets all the best lines and doesn’t waste a single one.
Shouldering the Count’s new dramatic weight while making him funny, sexy, menacing and monstrously detached is Danish actor Claes Bang. From half an hour in, when Bang is unveiled without ageing prosthetics or Transylvanian accent, he’s a hit. His louche delivery and indifference to suffering (“John-ny, there’s no ba-by”) feel satisfyingly transgressive for a monster as classic as this one.
read more - Dracula Episode 2 Review: Blood Vessel
A monster who’ll be recognisably familiar to viewers of Sherlock, Doctor Who or Steven Moffat’s 2007 series Jekyll – commanding, super-intelligent and entirely without conscience. This is Dracula styled with Moffat and Gatiss’ tastes and tics: an open-door policy for famous name drops (the Count ate Mozart), in-jokes (“I have a detective acquaintance in London,” says Agatha. And could the barmaid at The Rose and Crown Mina lusts after in her letter to Jonathan be a nod to Jenna Coleman’s character in Doctor Who’s The Snowmen?) as well as a toweringly high tolerance for most badum-tish of puns. (“You do look rather… drained").
As Harker, John Heffernan has much less fun than Bang and Wells, but does even more impressive work. Even with his character’s oozing sores, fly-absorbing eyeball, missing fingernails and prosthetic rat teeth, he and Morfydd Clark (playing Mina – "hidden" in plain sight from the start as Sister Agatha’s silent colleague) somehow make a heartfelt love scene work. Heffernan is a fine comedy straight man and an even finer tragedian.
read more - Dracula Episode 3 Review: The Dark Compass
All that, and there’s some real horror. Vampire babies and gruesome living corpses and glitch-animated unfolding zombie bones and a glistening nude Count having just burst his way through a bloody wolf pelt, crouching on cobbles and licking blood from a knife blade. Episode one is full of weird imagery and unsettling detail from director Jonny Campbell, supported by an impressive Gothic setting and atmospheric score.
Weird is one word for it. Idiosyncratic is another. Unhinged might be a third. Scary, funny, unusual, simultaneously a tribute to classic movie horror and a pastiche of the same, it careens between broad laughs and disquieting images.
Like the recently aired A Christmas Carol, any new version of a much-adapted tale needs to justify its existence through the force of its personality. This Dracula could hardly be accused of shirking that job - on the basis of episode one, it has personalities to spare.
Read and download the Den of Geek Lost In Space Special Edition Magazine right here! | 3 |
In the 2010s, millennials struggled to build wealth amidst the fallout of the recession and student-loan debt.
But one expert thinks millennials will come out on top in the 2020s and finally gain financial footing for five key reasons.
Millennials are likely to enter their peak earning years and become members of double-income households, receive a wealth transfer from their parents, buy a home, and overcome their student debt.
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The past 10 years have seen millennials cope with myriad financial hardships, but there might be a brighter future waiting for them in the next decade.
The 2008 financial crisis left many millennials financially behind: The oldest have been playing catch up in wealth building after entering a tough job market, while the youngest became risk averse by watching the recession unfold. And both age groups have had to balance this all with the weight of student-loan debt.
But Jason Dorsey, a consultant, researcher of millennials, and president of the Center for Generational Kinetics, told Business Insider that he anticipates many positive financial changes for millennials — who will be nearing their mid-30s to age 50 in 2030 — over the next 10 years. According to Dorsey, the generation will finally find its financial footing for five key reasons:
The average student-loan debt per graduating student in 2018 who took out loans is nearly $30,000. But millennials will be 15 or more years past traditional college age on average, and many will have figured out how to manage their student-loan debt, Dorsey said.
Many millennials will enter the mid-career stage over the next decade, which Dorsey said is prime time for increases in earnings through promotions and career changes. Mid-career is typically the stage in which one earns the top tier of their income.
"The Great Wealth Transfer" will see an estimated $68 trillion pass down from boomers to their millennial children over the next 30 years — and it could make them even richer than previous generations. Dorsey said it's likely this significant wealth transfer will begin in the 2020s.
Millennials have traditionally delayed homeownership as they've struggled with debt and living costs, but they're set to fuel the US housing market in 2020. Dorsey has also seen signs that millennials are finally buying houses, an investment that historically leads to wealth creation, he said.
Financial troubles have also caused millennials to delay marriage, but as they age, they're becoming more ready to commit. As a result, more millennials are teaming up into two-income households, which Dorsey said is another positive sign for wealth building.
The predictions finally spell good news for a generation that's barely seen income growth since 1974 and whose wealth levels are significantly below where they should be.
"The next 10 years may finally be the decade where millennials feel a more solid financial foundation, especially after the long economic headwinds and recovery many of them have faced due to the Great Recession, wage stagnation, rising cost of real estate, and student-loan debt," Dorsey said. | Dear readers:
Welcome to 2020. For me, it’s more than a number. It’s a milestone. For the past decade — with the stalwart support and encouragement of readers and advertisers — we have been building a community news organization that now covers a combined population of 100,000 in Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.
Yet, many times I still feel like I’m in a one-sided relationship.
During the past decade, news organizations of all sizes — from the Guardian to the New York Times to The Seattle Times — realized that there weren’t enough advertising dollars to keep them solvent, and so they began an aggressive campaign for readers’ financial support. You have heard this from me, as well. It costs money to provide good journalism. The news may appear in your Facebook feed for free, but it isn’t free to write or photograph or edit or publish it.
I am grateful for our advertisers. They help keep us afloat financially. I am also thankful to the 1,000 or so readers who have been either regular and one-time financial supporters over the past decade.
But that leaves many thousands of people who read us regularly, but still haven’t given us a cent.
Ever.
So for me, the 2020s will be the decade of demanding support. And I am using the word “demand” intentionally. Your financial support is imperative. It’s not optional. It’s not a “nice thing” to do. It must be done to ensure we are here when 2030 rolls around.
The next 10 years will bring many changes to our region. In addition to population growth that we are already experiencing, light rail will arrive in South Snohomish County in just four years. Our local cities are already preparing to accommodate these developments.
Count on us to be your eyes and ears as these changes unfold. We’ll report on city council and school board meetings. We’ll photograph open houses, ribbon cuttings and grand openings. We’ll provide robust coverage of local elections, high school sports, the arts and restaurants.
We will also continue to give you a forum to express your opinions, air your grievances and offer your compliments.
It’s our commitment to you.
Now it’s your turn.
Support us here.
Happy New Year.
Teresa | 1 |
WASHINGTON _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the Dist. of Columbia Lottery’s “DC 3 Evening” game were:
3-1-3
(three, one, three)
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian President Jovenel Moïse broke with tradition on Wednesday and celebrated the country’s independence day in the capital for security reasons following months of political turmoil.
Moïse, whose government has been accused of corruption, denounced graft during his speech at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince and urged Haiti’s elite to work with the government and help create employment.
“We’re still extremely poor,” he said. “Those who continue to get rich find it normal that they do not pay taxes, find it normal that there can be no competition, find it normal that they set prices for consumers, especially when this consumer is the state itself.”
Moïse also apologized for the country’s ongoing power outages and renewed his 2016 campaign pledge to provide electricity 24 hours a day, saying it was harder to accomplish than he imagined.
The speech that marked the 216th anniversary of the world’s first black republic was originally slated to take place in the northern coastal town of Gonaives, where Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence. But the town, like many others, was hit by violent protests that began in September amid anger over corruption, fuel shortages and dwindling food supplies as opposition leaders and supporters demanded the resignation of Moïse. More than 40 people have been killed and dozens injured.
Large-scale protests in Port-au-Prince have since dissipated, although smaller ones are still occurring elsewhere in the country. On Wednesday, opposition leaders and supporters gathered in Gonaives to attend the funeral of an anti-government protester and then carried his coffin through the streets as more protesters joined them.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 1 |
Olympic runner prematurely celebrates near finish line, blows race and chance at record
It's not uncharacteristic for an elite runner to begin celebrating while nearing the finish line following a hard-fought race.
But it's a big no-no to do so when a challenger is close behind and a new race course record is on the line.
Enter Olympic runner Jacob Kiplimo, a teenager from Uganda who was closing in on a victory in the 95th San Silvestre de Sao Paulo Road Race Tuesday in Brazil. Having blazed most of the 9.3 mile-race, Kiplimo put his arms up in celebratory fashion — albeit a bit too soon.
As Kiplimo was putting his arms up, Kibiwott Kandie took full advantage and passed him to the finish line by mere inches to claim the win — and record. It was Kandie who walked away victorious and with the record (previously held by Paul Tergat), while Kiplimo was left, well, in regret.
Kandie eclipsed the 43-minute mark of the 15-kilometer race, the first to do so, with a winning time of 42.59. Kiplimo, who ran for Uganda in the 2016 Rio Olympics, finished with a time of 43:00.
Kiplimo is the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Junior champion, and in 2019 he became the World Cross Country Silver medallist at the age of 18. | You’re gonna want a pizza this.
Eric Palmieri, a fifth-generation Italian baker, has carved out his own niche within his family’s D. Palmieri’s Bakery in Rhode Island: pizza art.
THE CRAZIEST DRIVE-THRU MOMENTS OF 2019
Palmieri began trying his hand at edible artistry in 2016. His first foray into the craft was an American flag-inspired pizza with pepperoni stripes and olive stars, he said.
"It was a huge hit with customers, and the following winter, I made a fairly simple [New England] Patriots logo pizza during their 2017 title run," Palmieri told WCVB.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Palmieri, a father of two, continued to perfect his technique and now produces show-stopping -- and mouth-watering -- designs ranging from pop culture icons such as Scooby-Doo and “Baby Yoda,” to more natural creations such as sunflowers and roosters.
His pizzas, which can take anywhere from an hour to three to create (excluding baking time), are completely edible, as he uses black olives, bell peppers, breaded eggplant, cheese and spices, among other ingredients, to produce the colors he needs.
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Palmieri also started an Instagram account for his specialty pizza designs and even takes custom orders.
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"Seeing the response to my work and the reactions from customers and fans on social media is incredibly rewarding and humbling, especially when it comes to the parents who pick up a pizza for their kid's birthday party," Palmieri said. | 1 |
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Are you a print subscriber? Activate your account. | 3 |
(CNN) — Kevin Hart has pulled back the curtains on his life and not everyone is loving what they see.
Netflix recently released the docuseries, “Kevin Hart: Don’t F**k This Up” in which the comedian gets candid about some of his controversial behavior, including cheating on his then-pregnant wife and stepping down from hosting the Oscars after a series of old homophobic tweets resurfaced.
Hart married the former Eniko Parrish in 2016 and the pair welcomed their son, Kenzo Kash Hart, the following year.
The comedian had initially denied reports that he had cheated, but came clean in December 2017 and publicly apologized to his wife via videos posted on social media.
In an episode of Hart’s Netflix series, an emotional Eniko reveals she learned of her husband’s infidelity via a direct message on social media.
“I don’t know who it was, sent me an edited video of Kevin and another woman,” she said. I was pregnant at the time. I was about seven, eight months pregnant, I was having breakfast, I opened my phone and immediately I just lost it.”
She said she was “pissed” and immediately called Hart crying.
“Right then and there I kept saying ‘How the f*** did you let that happen?'” she said.
But it was her insistence that her husband has become a “better man” and their relationship is stronger that has rubbed some people the wrong way.
“It is sad that Eniko Hart could not envision a scenario where Kevin Hart grew as a person in a loving and kind way that did not come at her expense,” one person tweeted. “The bar is so low.”
Hart also addressed the backlash he received following an January 2019 interview with “Good Morning America.”
The “Jumanji” star made an appearance to quell controversy after homophobic tweets from 2010 and 2011 resurfaced which caused him to bow out of hosting the Academy Awards.
But his morning talk-show appearance made the situation worse when he said he had already addressed the situation with an apology and was over it.
“What I thought that was going to do, it did not do,” Hart said on his Netflix series of his comments on “GMA.” The complete opposite happened.”
After reflecting on it Hart said, “I missed an opportunity to say simply that I don’t condone any type of violence in any way, shape or form to anyone for being who they are.”
“I was just immature,” he said of how he handled the fallout.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | To be very clear right up front, this is a list for lovers of lowbrow. While some of the later entries may pass for highbrow, that’s mostly a statement on Hollywood’s lackluster offerings in the lowbrow comedy department of late. (Unfortunately, there are profit motivations to explain this.)
In 2019, we’re forced to suffer through “Long Shot” and “Late Night,” when ten years ago, the yearly options were plentiful. It’s a shame, but thankfully we have the old classics to get us through this sad, sad drought.
2010: ‘The Other Guys’
2011: ‘Bridesmaids,’ ‘Horrible Bosses’
2012: ‘Ted’
2013: ‘This is the End,’ ‘We’re the Millers’
2014: ‘The Other Woman’
2015: ‘Get Hard,’ ‘Trainwreck’
2016: ‘Bad Moms’
2017: ‘The Big Sick,’ ‘The Disaster Artist,’ ‘Death of Stalin’
2018: ‘Crazy Rich Asians’
2019: ‘Jojo Rabbit’ | 1.333333 |
Follow Yahoo Finance here for up-to-the-minute briefings on the financial markets, breaking news and other topics of interest to investors and traders. Please check back for continuing coverage.
—
8 a.m. ET: Stock futures indicate lower open
U.S. stock futures indicted a lower open for the major indices Tuesday on the final day of trading this year.
Here were the main pre-market moves, as of 8 a.m. ET:
S&P futures (ES=F): 3,221, down 2.50 points or 0.08%
Dow futures (YM=F): 28,417, down 23 points or 0.08%
Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): 8,723.75, down 10 points or 0.11%
Crude oil (CL=F): $61.03 per barrel, down $0.65 or 1.05%
Gold (GC=F): $1,523.80 per ounce, up $5.20 or 0.34%
Despite the slight pullback from all-time highs, stocks are still on pace to close out their best year since 2013. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 31% this year, while the Dow (^DJI) jumped 25% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq (^IXIC) advanced 36%.
The U.S. dollar (USD=X) was also in focus, as it weakened for the fourth straight day to its lowest level in nine months. Multinational companies struggled for much of the year on the back of a strong dollar, but Wall Street analysts expect the pressure to abate with a a weaker greenback in 2020.
In this Nov. 4, 2019, file photo trader Peter Tuchman, center, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) More
—
Heidi Chung is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @heidi_chung.
More from Heidi:
Find live stock market quotes and the latest business and finance news
Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and reddit. | A worker of the LIC Corner Cafe prepares an expresso for customers in Long Island City, New York, November 7, 2018.
Weekly earnings for employees of small businesses grew at an annual rate of 4.1% at the end of the year, the fastest pace since the Paychex/IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch began.
The employment report began making annual comparisons in 2011.
Steady gains in hourly earnings and the strongest increase in hours worked in December since 2012 helped drive earnings growth. Hours worked were up 1% from the same period last year. Job growth was flattish, up just 0.06% from November's level, but year-over-year, job growth fell 0.7% due to declines in the first half.
"Small business job gains have flattened in the second half of the year as labor markets prove very tight," said James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit. "In response, weekly earnings have accelerated, surging from 2.49 percent mid-year to 4.13 percent at year-end."
The monthly report focuses on small businesses and uses payroll data of about 350,000 Paychex clients to glean wage trends and activity by region and sector.
Wage growth had been steadily rising and sometimes stubbornly slow since the financial crisis, but picked up in late 2018 and 2019. | 2.333333 |
Check out our regular cartoon gallery featuring some of the best cartoonists from around the world, and across the political spectrum, covering current issues and figures. | If we look at all the generation - X,Y etc, the millennials stand out. They are normally born into money, have had greater exposure to the world, are globetrotters, and always connected. They lay greater emphasis on experiences rather than material ownership. Therefore they are a different customer set too with different preferences and demandsThe millennials are currently challenged with respect to the available ‘leisure time’ owing to a number factors, including an active virtual social media presence, ambitious professional pursuits and an equally busy list of social commitments."While the ubiquitous smartphones have a key role to play in the modern lifestyle, seeking a ‘real world’, digitally detox leisure time is also becoming equally vital for them. Simultaneously, if a destination can be easily accessible, can combine quality social and family time and offer varied range of activities under the same roof, it would be a boon!" says Rajesh Shetty, General Manager, The Acres Lifestyle Club. Catering to this, several private clubs with premium amenities and leisure activities, are stepping up the game and becoming popular with this generation of professionals.Clubs attract millennials as they are a one-stop shop for all their entertainment and experience needs near their vicinity which can involve their family and friends too. | 1 |
× ‘Not a dry eye’: Child invites entire kindergarten class to watch him get adopted
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — One child in Kent County, Michigan invited his entire kindergarten class to his adoption hearing Thursday, WZZM reports.
Michael Orlando Clark Jr. celebrated joining a new family with his kindergarten class.
“We began the school year as a family,” Michael’s teacher said. “Family doesn’t have to be DNA, because family is support and love.”
Michael’s classmates expressed their love for him and introduced themselves to the judge.
When Michael and his new parents made the adoption official by banging the gavel, the courtroom burst into applause.
“Sometimes their journeys have been very long, they’ve included miracle and change for the children and family and incredible community support as you’re able to see today in Michael’s adoption hearing,” Honorable Judge Patricia Gardner said.
Thirty-six other children found their forever homes the same day as Michael.
In a Facebook post, Kent County officials said “There is not a dry eye” in the courtroom. | KENT COUNTY, Mich. (WXMI/CNN) - Thursday was adoption day for a Michigan boy, but it was not just him and his new family celebrating. The child had his entire class cheering them on.
Boy brings classmates to adoption ceremony (Source: CNN)
There is no doubt that 5-year-old Michael Orlando Clark Jr. will never forget this day. He was dressed to the nines and so excited he could hardly sit still as his adoption was just moments from being finalized.
Michael wanted everyone to see it, so he invited his entire kindergarten class who waved hearts and cheered him on during the ceremony.
After fostering for about a year, his parents Andrea Melvin and David Eaton knew they had found the right fit for their family.
“He brings us a lot of joy. He's just so full of energy and so full of love. It's just been great for everybody,” said Melvin.
There was no shortage of love all around them in the courtroom.
"It is a great tribute to Michael that he had so many of his classmates here and so many said he was their best friend too,” Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen Markman said.
"Never have I experienced that before, and it was loads of fun. The kids were into it and supporting their best friend, and the family of Michael,” said Judge Patricia Gardner.
Michael already has everything he wants this holiday season:
“Giving a kid a permanent home, a forever family, is just the best gift you can give anybody,” said Melvin.
“We've been really fortunate and just hopefully other families get to enjoy similar moments,” said Eaton.
Thirty-six kids were also adopted Thursday as part of the 23rd annual adoption day in Kent County.
Copyright 2019 WXMI via CNN. All rights reserved. | 4 |
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 nearly doubled the standard deduction and has changed the way some people approach their tax strategies. Despite the fact that the law reduced tax savings for each charitable dollar, charitable giving has increased, especially through donor-advised funds (DAFs) and the application of wise retirement investment planning.
As 2020 gets underway and tax season nears, here are three things to avoid as you plan your giving for the new year:
1. Don't shy away from charitable giving during an election year.
Major election years leave many nonprofits nervous about the potential for declining contributions, but smart high-dollar donors who give via their private foundations or donor-advised funds distinguish between supporting charity and engaging politically. Proactive donors are knowledgeable about all the available tax-efficient charitable giving tools. Though the amount of money spent during the 2020 election cycle will no doubt be staggering, both private foundations and donor-advised funds will still continue to grow. These tools are available to any donor regardless of the number of zeros in their paycheck, but there is a reason that wealthy givers are staying ahead of the curve when it comes to maximizing their tax deductions!
Best of all, these avenues are available to any donor, not just the wealthy. Some fully qualified DAFs, for example, now can be opened for as little as $5,000, allowing donors to wait until they're ready to decide how to distribute their tax-advantaged investment in future years.
Remember, politicians come and go, but philanthropy has a much longer shelf-life.
2. Don't fear 'new age' alternative ways of giving.
Gen Z and Millennial digital natives are increasingly engaging in online giving, including both straightforward transactions (credit card and recurring charges) and social community giving (e.g., GoFundMe campaigns). Moving forward, more people of all ages are expected to embrace this trend because of its immediacy and convenience. This option is especially attractive to those who prefer a more direct and personal approach to giving without concern about maximizing charitable tax deductions. And technology makes giving easier than ever: "Alexa, send a check to Children's Hospital!"
See Also: 4 Estate Strategies for Affluent Retirees Under the SECURE Act
Keep in mind, however, that it is charities that absorb credit card and other transactional fees. It's nice to add a little extra so that they cover their costs.
3. Don't ignore a major IRA tax advantage in the new law.
Some older taxpayers can sidestep the limitations of the TCJA. An individual retirement account (IRA) charitable rollover allows people age 70.5 and older to make direct transfers from their IRAs totaling up to $100,000 per year to qualified charities, without having to count the transfers as income for federal income tax purposes.
Also, some taxpayers can bunch gifts. A couple with $10,000 of state and local taxes, for example, would have to take the standard deduction if their only other itemizable expenses were contributions of $10,000 a year for each of five years. But the same couple might give away $50,000 in one year and nothing in the other four -- thus gaining the advantages of both the increased standard deduction in the four years that they don't itemize and a deduction for most of their charitable contributions in the one year that they do. Most importantly, this ensures a consistent revenue stream for charities over subsequent years.
The bottom line: Philanthropy is democratic. It is important to remember that anybody can participate in charitable giving -- it is not limited to JUST the wealthy. Each individual citizen can use the power of giving (time, talent and treasure) to effect change despite, in spite of, or to spite government. And there are still ways to do it while being smart about taxes.
See Also: The Bodacious Benefits of a Donor Advised Fund
Comments are suppressed in compliance with industry guidelines. Click here to learn more and read more articles from the author.
This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Copyright 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors | As the new year begins, former Big Brother Nigeria housemate, Alex Unusual has joined the norms by releasing her new year resolution.
Read Also: Your Body Is Not Just A Temple, Alex Unusual Advises Ladies
She made this known via her official Instagram page on 1st January 2020.
She wrote:
1: It’s you and yourself against the world.
2: Give as long as you can share. Watch it multiply and come back
3: Sleep early, it helps.
4: Less social media, more personal growth
5: It’s never over till you say so, keep pushing.
6: If you listen to 10 people, you’ll live like 10 people and that’s multiple personalities. Those ten people will still live like themselves. So who will live like you ? Nobody. You’ll just end up killing your personality. Do you.
7: Everything happens for a reason.
8: Expect less or nothing from people, you’ll hardly ever be disappointed.
9:keep your plans to yourself.
10: Nobody really hates you. They just don’t think the same way you do, they haven’t been through the same phases, different upbringing and a lot more. The don’t understand.
Cross over in/with peace. Spread love and happiness. Happy new year in a bit. | 1.333333 |
This piece was reprinted by OpEdNews with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
Putin Meddling in .our democracy..
(Image by FolsomNatural) Details DMCA
Depending on whose political echo chamber I happen to be arguing with on a given day, one common criticism I run into a fair bit which many of my readers have surely also encountered is that I put all my energy into criticizing the foreign policy of the United States and its allies.
"You're not anti-war, you're only anti-AMERICAN wars!" they say, as though they're delivering some kind of devastating slam-dunk point. "If you're so antiwar, why don't you criticize Assad's war in Syria? If you're such an anti-imperialist, show me where you've ever once criticized Russian imperialism, or Chinese imperialism?"
The argument being that someone who opposes US-led warmongering isn't really motivated by a desire for peace and an opposition to war unless they're also voicing opposition to all other violent governments in the world. If you're only criticizing US imperialism and not the imperialism of other nations, you must be motivated by something far more sinister, perhaps a hatred for the United States of America.
I have three responses to this feeble line of argumentation, which I'll list here for the benefit of anyone else who'd like to make use of them:
Nobody criticizes all misdeeds by all governments everywhere in the world. If you run into someone making this "you have to criticize all bad governments or your criticisms are invalid" argument on Twitter, just do an advanced search for their Twitter handle plus "Duterte" or "Sisi" or one of the other US-allied tyrants who the mainstream media haven't spent years demonizing, and you'll find that they've never made a single mention of those leaders the entire time they've had that account.
What this proves, of course, is that they don't actually practice the belief that all misdeeds by all governments are equally worthy of condemnation. What they actually practice is the belief that one ought to criticize the governments they hear their television criticizing: Russia, China, Syria, Iran, etc. The governments the US State Department and the CIA don't like. The disobedient governments. The governments which have resisted absorption into the blob of the US-centralized empire.
They don't put the logic of their own argument into practice because it is impossible to put into practice. Everyone's only got so much time in the day, so you have to choose where to put your focus. I personally choose to put my focus on the single most egregious offender in warmongering and imperialism. Which takes us to:
US-led regime change interventionism is literally always disastrous and literally never helpful. This is an indisputable fact. Imperialists get very frustrated when I take my stand there in arguments online, because it is an unassailable position. That's usually when the ad hominems start flying.
All things are not equal. This isn't something you should have to explain to grown adults, but such is the nature of propaganda. It is true that other governments do evil things; as far as I can tell this becomes pretty much a given as soon as a government is allowed to have a military force and keep important secrets from its citizenry. Obviously Russia, China and other unabsorbed governments are no exception to this rule. But the US is worse, by orders of magnitude.
No other nation comes anywhere remotely close. No other nation is circling the planet with hundreds of military bases and engaged in dozens of undeclared military operations. No other nation has cultivated a giant globe-sprawling empire in the form of tightly knit alliances with powerful murderous governments like the UK, Israel and Saudi Arabia. No other nation is constantly laboring to sabotage and undermine any government which refuses to be absorbed into military and economic alliance with it using sanctions, staged coups, covert CIA operations, color revolutions, economic manipulations, propaganda, the arming of dissident militias, and launching full-scale military invasions. Only the US and the nations that its cancerous empire has metastasized into are doing anything like that on anywhere near the scale.
So since I, like everyone else, only have enough time in the day to oppose so many different evils in the world, I choose to pour my energy into opposing the single most egregious offender. An offender which doesn't get nearly enough opposition, in my opinion.
When asked in an interview why he spends the bulk of his time criticizing his own government, Noam Chomsky replied:
"My own concern is primarily the terror and violence carried out by my own state, for two reasons. For one thing, because it happens to be the larger component of international violence. But also for a much more important reason than that: namely, I can do something about it. So even if the US was responsible for 2% of the violence in the world instead of the majority of it, it would be that 2% I would be primarily responsible for. And that is a simple ethical judgment. That is, the ethical value of one's actions depends on their anticipated and predictable consequences. It is very easy to denounce the atrocities of someone else. That has about as much ethical value as denouncing atrocities that took place in the 18th century."
When people here in Australia ask about what I do for a living, I sometimes jokingly tell them I write about Australian foreign policy, which means that I write about US foreign policy. I've written many times about how Australia functions as Washington's basement gimp, an impotent vassal which functions as little more than a US military/intelligence asset in terms of meaningful international affairs.
So all I really am doing here is applying Chomsky's philosophy to the reality of an empire in which sovereign nations do not exist to any meaningful extent; as a member of a state within that empire I focus on US government malfeasance in the same way I would if I were living in Alaska or Hawaii.
Next Page 1 | 2 | How To Make Sense Of Foreign Protests, Conflicts And Uprisings Caitlin Johnstone Follow Aug 27 · 6 min read
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, our government-funded media outlet, has published an article titled “Australian expat living in Hong Kong throws off business suit to join protest movement”. The entire story is in the headline: some random guy, who ABC keeps anonymous but for the name “Daniel”, has joined the protests in Hong Kong. That’s it. That’s the whole entire bombshell newsworthy news story.
“In Australia we have proper democracy but in Hong Kong, democracy is being slowly eroded away and I’ll try to do whatever I can to try and help the cause,” the anonymous guy told ABC.
This sort of enthusiastic empty non-story cheerleading is typical for western media coverage of the Hong Kong protests so far, while these same media outlets consistently ignore or downplay protests against the government of France, Israel, Honduras, India, Indonesia and any other region that happens to fall within the US-centralized power alliance. It’s an amazingly reliable pattern: the entire western political/media class finds protests and uprisings endlessly fascinating when they are in opposition to governments which haven’t yet been absorbed into the imperial blob like China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Syria, pre-collapse Libya, or then-Moscow-aligned Ukraine, but any protests or uprisings within that empire are ignored at best or demonized at worst.
If dissidents in the United States began donning yellow vests and holding aggressive demonstrations in the current media environment, you could safely bet your bottom dollar that they would be ignored for as long as possible and then smeared as fascists, antisemites and/or Russian pawns thereafter. This would happen with absolute certainty.
This very reliable trend in the western media is very interesting, because it also happens to be the known position of the US State Department.
In 2017 a memo was leaked to Politico in which the sniveling John Bolton lackey Brian Hook explained to DC neophyte Rex Tillerson how to perform his job as Secretary of State with regard to human rights violations. Hook explained that the US government must downplay and ignore the human rights violations of US allies like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Philippines while aggressively targeting unabsorbed governments like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea for any allegations of human rights violations on their part.
“In the case of US allies such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines, the Administration is fully justified in emphasizing good relations for a variety of important reasons, including counter-terrorism, and in honestly facing up to the difficult tradeoffs with regard to human rights,” Hook explained in the memo.
“One useful guideline for a realistic and successful foreign policy is that allies should be treated differently — and better — than adversaries,” Hook wrote. “Otherwise, we end up with more adversaries, and fewer allies. The classic dilemma of balancing ideals and interests is with regard to America’s allies. In relation to our competitors, there is far less of a dilemma. We do not look to bolster America’s adversaries overseas; we look to pressure, compete with, and outmaneuver them. For this reason, we should consider human rights as an important issue in regard to US relations with China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.”
This State Department memo is really all you need to understand what’s going on whenever there’s any kind of uprising or conflict in a foreign nation. Hell, it’s almost all you need to understand the dynamics of empire in general. And, combined with the consistent pattern we’ve seen in coverage of protests and uprisings against empire-absorbed governments versus unabsorbed ones, it certainly tells you all you need to know about the state of the western media.
In theory the US Department of State was meant to serve as a counterpart to what was then called the Department of War (later falsely re-titled the “Department of Defense”). In theory the State Department was meant to specialize in peace and diplomacy in the same way the War Department specialized in war. In practice the warmongers just got two war departments.
Understand this one basic concept and you can understand all the hot topic foreign policy issues of any given day: there is an alliance of nations, centralized around US military and economic power, which effectively functions as a single empire. This empire works tirelessly to either absorb unabsorbed governments into its blob, or at least to undermine and marginalize them so they can’t impede the empire’s growth. The goal of the empire is total global domination without causing a nuclear war and without the public noticing that they’re living in an empire. In this sense it’s essentially a silent, slow motion third world war.
I see some of my readers voicing confusion about the protests in Hong Kong, but if you understand the basic dynamic I just described you’ll see that this is really no different from the protests and uprisings we’ve seen in Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Libya and Ukraine: the western political/media class are backing an uprising which benefits the imperial blob and undermines an unabsorbed government. This doesn’t mean that the protesters don’t have grievances or that none of those grievances are legitimate, it just means that you’re being told to cheerlead for an agenda by empire narrative managers solely because your doing so benefits that empire.
So don’t. Refuse to be a pro bono CIA propagandist. This doesn’t mean you need to oppose the protesters in Hong Kong, Venezuela or anywhere else, it just means that the only people who benefit from westerners cheerleading a CIA-approved uprising against an unabsorbed government are your rulers, who work endlessly to manufacture support for pro-empire agendas.
People who don’t get this sometimes tell me that we should “support” the protesters in a given unabsorbed region, but they’re always very reluctant to say what they mean by “support”. Do they mean simply joining the western mass media in uncritically cheerleading for an uprising which benefits western power structures? Do they mean send them money? Weapons? An emotional thumbs-up? Prayers? Getting someone to say what they mean when they say we should “support” the Hong Kong protesters or whomever is like pulling teeth, because it would bring up a lot of cognitive dissonance to actually turn and examine what’s behind the impulse they’re following: narrative management. They’re promoting pro-empire narrative management, and nothing more. And they’re doing this because the empire narrative managers trained them to.
“Centrist” empire loyalists tend to ignore the protests in places like France while amplifying and cheerleading the protests in places like Hong Kong. Right-wing empire loyalists sometimes do it a little differently, actively conflating the Yellow Vests protests with protests in places like Hong Kong despite the very different forces that are at play in those two situations. But in both cases they’re effectively mirroring the same State Department posture that Brian Hook tried to educate into Rex Tillerson in 2017.
Don’t subject yourself to such indignities. If the political/media class is going to propagandize the masses into supporting the advancement of the agendas of the empire, at least make them do it without your help.
___________________________
The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for my website, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics on Twitter, throwing some money into my hat on Patreon or Paypal, purchasing some of my sweet merchandise, buying my new book Rogue Nation: Psychonautical Adventures With Caitlin Johnstone, or my previous book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what I’m trying to do with this platform, click here. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish or use any part of this work (or anything else I’ve written) in any way they like free of charge.
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<!– Sanwo-Olu –>
A large gathering of Muslim and Christian Clerics, Wednesday, came together to pray for the First Family and Lagos State as a whole.
The gathering, made up of people from various denominations, drawn from various parts of the State was put together in order to commit the State into the hands of the Almighty as the State begins a New Year.
Prayers were led by the two Special Advisers to the Governor on Religious Matters at the State House, Marina.
Speaking on the significance of the occasion, the S.A on Religious Matters (Muslim), Alhaji Jebe Ahmed, said the State Government decided to utilize the period of the year to commit the progress of the State to the hands of God, expressing optimism that with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the saddle as helmsman, the state is certain to grow in leaps and bounds.
According to Ahmed: “We are all gathered here today to ensure that we put the State in the hands of God. The presence of Allah is needed in running any administration. Everything starts and ends with God. The Governor has demonstrated that we must put God first in everything we do in our lives.
“The Governor was at the Mosque and he charged us to live in harmony, respect the rule of law and do what is needful at all times. Prayers were said for all residents of Lagos. Prayers were recited to God to guide the Governor and members of his Exco as they lead the State.”
Ahmed disclosed that the State government is working on several programmes that will speak to the THEMES agenda of the current administration, noting that the Government intends to boost the religious tolerance among Lagosians.
During the session that was tagged: ‘Prayer For The First Family, Lagos State’s clerics committed the Governor; the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Members of State Executive Council; the Judiciary; members of the House of Assembly and Lagos State in God’s hands.
In his remark, S.A Religious Matters (Christian), Very Reverend Bukola Adeleke, said they are working with the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Pharm (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, to ensure Lagosians respects other’s religious views.
“We are here today to pray for the first family in Lagos and of course, to commit the State into the hands of God. The Bible tells us that we must lay everything in God’s hands, which is why we are here for the sole purpose of praying for Lagos. We prayed for Mr. Governor and committed his activities and plans for Lagos State into God’s hands. We believe that God Almighty has answered our prayers.
“We have a lot of plans for religious tolerance in Lagos. We are working with Hon. Akinbile-Yusuf to ensure that Lagosians tolerate and respect the religious views of others. We want the peace we have been enjoying in Lagos to continue and the way to achieve that is to continuously respect other’s religion,” he said.
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–> | Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, signed the 2020 Appropriation Bill of N1.168 trillion into law.
The Lagos State House of Assembly had on Monday, after consideration, passed the slightly adjusted budget size for governor’s assent into law.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the State House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos residents would experience a strong and prosperous economy in 2020.
He said that the early passage of the budget by the House of Assembly showed that the state was indeed working.
”Each one of us can do our work independently, and do it without fear or favour. But at the end of the day, we will all come out very well, we come out good, and we come out ensuring that we are serving Lagosians.
”I think the work has just started, because this will be our very first budget to demonstrate our capacity and our competence to be able to take the narrative of our Lagos forward.
”This is the biggest budget. The House has actually extended N1 trillion budget before, but it’s not N1.168 trillion. So, this is actually very audacious.
”I can assure you that my colleagues are well suited and they are fired up to ensure that we perform on this budget, almost 100 per cent.
”We are actually targeting to do well above 92 per cent and track it to 100 per cent, that is the only way we can make the House of Assembly and Lagosians be happy with us,” the governor said.
He said that his administration would ensure that the budget was implemented with transparency and accountability.
According to him, the budget will ensure that it serves the interest of the greatest number and that it will bring about ensuring better quality of life.
The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said that the executive did a thorough job, as the budget did not give the Assembly much trouble.
Obasa said that the budget was a budget for all, as it touched all the sectors and every individual had something to get out of it.
”So, it really gladdens our hearts to give every support to see that this budget sees the light of the day.
”As I said when Mr Governor presented the budget before the Assembly that it is going to be a New Year gift to Lagosians, and we are glad; we have been able to maintain that stand.
”Where I look forward to, most especially all the members of the executive council, is the area of the revenue. For whatever we have proposed, whatever we have agreed, for whatever we have given back into, we need this money to solve these purposes.
”And that means you have a lot to do. This will be the second time we have proposed N1 trillion budget and I think we want to make this the first time that we achieved that proposal.
”So, I am urging you all to make sure you rise up to your responsibilities and make sure that every leaking holes within the MDAs are blocked so that we can achieve this,” he said.
The Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Gbolahan Yishawu, said that the Executive brought forth the 2020 budget in good time.
Yishawu said that the House Committee members worked round the clock to ensure the budget was passed in line with the directive of the Speaker.
”During the budget defence, members of the cabinet were cooperative and provided required insights that led to the speedy completion of the work,” he said.
The chairman said that the details of the budget spoke to the developmental agenda of the governor.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Sam Egube, said that the speedy passage of the budget was not without challenges and disagreements.
Egube said that the acceleration of the process indicated cooperation and smooth working relationship between the executive and the legislature.
He said that the signing of the budget set the tone on how the government would be driven in 2020 | 2 |
Ajay Devgn’s first look from Bhuj The Pride of India as IAF pilot Sq Ld Vijay Karnik is impressive, see pic
bollywood
Updated: Jan 02, 2020 09:59 IST
Ajay Devgn will be seen as an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot in one of his upcoming films, Bhuj: The Pride Of India. Director Abhishek Dudhaiya shared the first look of the film on Twitter on the first day of the new year.
Sharing the picture, Abhishek wrote: “It’s a privilege to present @ajaydevgn sir’s first look as Sq. Ld. Vijay Karnik from my upcoming directorial film #BhujThePrideOfIndia . #14Aug2020.” He also revealed that the film will open in theatres a day before Independence Day this year. Ajay plays the lead role and will be seen as Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik.
It’s a privilege to present @ajaydevgn sir’s first look as Sq. Ld. Vijay Karnik from my upcoming directorial film #BhujThePrideOfIndia . #14Aug2020. pic.twitter.com/5pZiORdXjs — Abhishekdudhaiya (@AbhishekDudhai6) January 1, 2020
Ajay has worked in number of patriotic films, with another of his upcoming films, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, also showcasing similar sentiments.
Bhuj: The Pride Of India tells one of the many stories of bravery, selflessness and commitment, shown by ordinary people apart from the armed forces during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. The period drama looks back into the journey of 300 women from Madhapar village of Gujarat’s Kutch district, who played a pivotal role in helping India win the war. The women came together to rebuild and repair the only runway in Bhuj, which was crucial for the war.
Also read: Ananya Panday equates struggle to not appearing on Koffee With Karan, Siddhant Chaturvedi has a savage reply
The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Hate Story 4 actor Ihana Dhillon, singer-actor Ammy Virk and South Indian actor Pranitha Subhash. For Pranitha, who has starred in a number of movies such Porki, Saguni and Dynamite, Bhuj: The Pride of India will also mark her Bollywood debut.
Speaking about working with Ajay Devgn, she had earlier told IANS: “Ajay sir is so disciplined on sets. He is so natural when it comes to acting and the best thing about him is that as soon as the director says action, he gets into the character and gets out of it as soon as the director says cut. There was so much to learn from him and I feel blessed to have worked with him in my first Bollywood film.” The film is slated to hit theatres on August 14.
(With IANS inputs)
Follow @htshowbiz for more | Ajay Devgn is all set to essay the role of a real-life hero on the big screen in Bhuj: The Pride Of India. Based on the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the film has the Tanhaji actor playing Indian Air Force officer Vijay Karnik in the film.
For those who don't know, squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, was in charge of the Bhuj airport during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It was he and his team, with the help of the local women, who reconstructed the destroyed Indian Air Force airstrip at Bhuj in Gujarat, in what could be termed as India's 'Pearl Harbour' moment.
Director-writer Abhishek Dudhaiya took to Twitter to drop Ajay's first look from the film. He wrote, "It's a privilege to present @ajaydevgn sir's first look as Sq. Ld. Vijay Karnik from my upcoming directorial film #BhujThePrideOfIndia . #14Aug2020."
Speaking about casting Ajay in the film, Dudhaiya earlier said, "We were fighting a war and if there had been any casualties of any of these women, it would have been a great loss. But I took the decision and it worked out. I had briefed them where they could take shelter if attacked and they followed it bravely. Also, I could only see Ajay Devgn essaying my character and I'm glad that he's on board."
Producer Bhushan Kumar added, "This courageous tale needs to be told because we want the current and the coming generation to know about this brave soldier, Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who played a significant role in India's victory in the 1971 war. He was heroic enough to take this bold step of involving civilians in a war."
Bhuj: The Pride Of India also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Rana Daggubati, Ammy Virk and Ihana Dhillion. The film is slated for a box office clash with John Abraham's Attack and Priyadarshan's Hungama 2 on August 14, 2020.
Ajay Devgn On CAA Protests: Violence Is Not The Way; Through Violence We Harm Our Own Country!
Kajol Trolls Ajay Devgn Over Her Casting In Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior | 4 |
Kwanzaa is a Celebration of the African-American culture through December 26-January 1. Keeping with this tradition is something that administrator Carolyn Farley enjoys doing in the Beachwood School System in Beachwood, OH. Although the children are home on winter break during the start of the Kwanzaa season, that did not stop the pre-festivities at Beachwood. On December 17, Beachwood teachers Carolyn Farley and Jason Hill organized a “Harambee” Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration with the Beachwood Scholars at Beachwood Middle School. Supporting this phenomenal event and providing food were students of all backgrounds, parents, Mrs. Farley’s family, the Beachwood BOE, administrators, teachers, and Diversity Matters in Beachwood. The students engaged in activities such as instrument playing (especially drum playing), Kwanzaa literature, food, singing and more. All in attendance sang in unison the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson. Kwanzaa centers around the seven principles of Kwanzaa, as determined by Maulana Karenga who created Kwanzaa, are umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith). Kwanzaa also has seven symbols–mazao (crops), mkeka (mat), kinara (candleholder), muhindi (corn), kikombe cha umoja (unity cup), zawadi (gifts) and mishumaa saba. Seven candles are traditionally arranged on a table and three of the seven candles are red, representing the struggle; three of the candles are green, representing the land and hope for the future; and one of the candles is black, representing people of African descent. Some people or families who celebrate Kwanzaa dress up or decorate their homes in those colors. This was a great event before winter break to reflect and embrace friends, family, community, culture and diversity! | Tune in TONIGHT Wed. January 1, 2019 at 10:30 PM EST to a Special Edition of "NU Day Resurrection and Liberation" As we commemorate this last day of KWANZAA we invite you to JOIN us for an "OPEN MIC" dialogue that ask "What does IMANI (Faith) you mean to?" *How do we obtain and implement greater "IMANI" in our communities, movements, our own person, et c.now in 2020 and beyond. Joining us on the "LIVE LINE" Baba Billel Sunni Ali who will provide information and important updates on several of our Political Prisoners and talk about the upcoming Conference later this year. Tonight we conclude our seven (7) straight days of Kwanzaa & Ma'at Principles solution oriented conversations for real Black Justice and Liberation. Today's is day seven (7) and the last day of Kwanzaa, the principle is IMANI (Faith) And as such, we will examine how to advance and better commit ourselves to "believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders". The belief in ourselves as individuals and as a people and the righteousness and VICTORY of Our Struggle", With that said, we ask that You SUPPORT, the first global Movement for women and girls of African descent, worldwide. It is our pleasure to announce, as of TODAY the kick-off for the National "A Million Back WomenRising" (AMBWR) The"SISTRUM" Sisterhood Membership Campaign The Goal: One Million Black (Highly Melaninated) Women Members by January 1, 2021. For more info email nationalmwm@aol.com | 2.333333 |
1. Forced to dig out cars twice, Fargo mobile home park residents frustrated with new management
Twice in two days, plows buried Scott Lanning's car in a pile of snow next to his mobile home in Countryside Trailer Court.
“This was all cleared out, and they came back and pushed it all back in,” Lanning said Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Many other Countryside residents have struggled with the same problem since the weekend blizzard dumped about a foot of snow on Fargo, leaving them angry, late for work, and asking why.
In previous years, a skid-steer loader was used to clear snow in the south Fargo mobile home park, which made it easier for residents to access their vehicles. But this year, new management has used V-shaped plows to clear streets in the park, burying cars in the process.
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Here are more stores covering the recent snowfall
2. Leaked list shows UND's Kennedy selected over more experienced candidates for Colorado job
Former University of North Dakota President Mark Kennedy beat out dozens of candidates with impressive resumes for the University of Colorado presidency, including Mitt Romney's lieutenant governor, a former secretary of the U.S. Air Force and his own replacement.
The names of the applicants were revealed Tuesday when the Colorado Independent published a leaked list. The Independent said the list of 30 names was authenticated by the lawyer for the University of Colorado Board of Regents.
The list was released following controversy over Kennedy's status as the lone finalist for the position before he was hired. Many saw his winning the position as a political move, which led to calls for the list to be released.
More from Forum News Service's Sydney Mook
3. After DHS overpays $9 million across state, Clay County says they won't pay back their share
In November, counties across Minnesota were notified by the Minnesota Department of Human Services that DHS had overpaid them for certain services and the agency wanted the money back.
The amount DHS is seeking from counties is nearly $9 million.
However, the Association of Minnesota Counties is recommending counties let DHS officials know they plan to keep the money they received. On Tuesday, Dec. 31, the Clay County Commission did just that.
Commissioners unanimously voted to authorize that a letter be sent to the state saying the county did not intend to pay the approximately $118,000 DHS was billing it for.
More from The Forum's Dave Olson
4. Actor Josh Duhamel to continue promoting ND tourism
Film actor Josh Duhamel will continue serving as the voice and public face of North Dakota, the state's tourism department said Tuesday, Dec. 31.
The Minot native will be paid $175,000 over the next two years to support tourism in the state, said Heather LeMoine, the department’s marketing and research manager. The actor's contract extension with the state was first reported by The Associated Press.
Duhamel has appeared in advertisements and played the role of spokesman for the state since 2013. The department paid the "Transformers" star $365,000 to promote the state over the last two years. Previous ads have featured Duhamel strolling through downtown Fargo, biking the Maah Daah Hey Trail and hiking in the state's top tourist destination, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Read more from Forum News Service's Jeremy Turley
5. F-M's first baby of the new millennium was a 'big deal'
A long labor wasn't the only reason the birth of Sonja and Brad Nyhof’s daughter 20 years ago was somewhat chaotic.
The fact that she was the first millennium baby in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, born at the height of the potentially disruptive Y2K bug, added to the drama.
“It was a big deal,” said Brad Nyhof, 52, who spoke to The Forum recently with wife Sonja, 49, about the noteworthy delivery date of Jan. 1, 2000.
The Forum’s headline for the story the next day read, “Emily the first to arrive in Fargo.”
Read more from The Forum's Robin Huebner | BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota will again enlist the help of Hollywood actor Josh Duhamel to help promote tourism in his home state.
North Dakota's tourism department confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press that the star of several "Transformers" movies will be paid $175,000 to be the face of the state's tourism campaign for the next two years. The state has had a contract with Duhamel since 2013 to help lure visitors to North Dakota.
The contract extension that expires on Dec. 31, 2021, brings to more than $1 million Duhamel has received from the state.
Duhamel is from Minot, a city in the northern part of the state that's about an hour's drive from the United States border with Canada. | 1.666667 |
A cleric, Prophet Christopher Owolabi, has charged leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to engage in fervent prayer against its possible break-up ahead of 2023 general elections.
Owolabi, who is the General Overseer, Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Irapada, Omu-Aran, gave the charge during the Church’s cross-over night service tagged: “For a Prosperous 2020 and Beyond”, in Omu-Aran, Kwara state.
Owolabi emphasised the need for the party leaders, especially those at the top hierarchy to imbibe unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence in managing electoral victory and entrenching good governance.
According to him, the call for prayers to avert an unwarranted crisis that could jeopardise the party’s future chances and ensure good governance was a divine revelation during the church’s service.
The cleric maintained that the party’s leaders, particularly those steering nation’s affairs, need to stay focused, un-distracted to steer the ship of the country away from its numerous challenges.
“As the ruling party, whatever that affect the party leadership definitely will take its a toll on the entire country, positively or negatively.
“When two elephant fights the grass bears the brunt and no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.
“For the party to remain intact the leaders need to close ranks and engage in prayers in that regard and when that happens the country will also move forward.
“They need to put the nation’s above personal gains and political ambition to achieve its programmes and policies to better the lots of the citizenry,” he said.
Owolabi cited the lingering crisis between some of the party leaders and their god-fathers, saying such portends grave dangers not only for the party but the desire to entrench good governance.
The cleric also prophesied socio-economic posterity for the country, saying that the present administration’s various economic revival policies would gradually manifest in the new year.
“The anti-corruption fight to revive the economy, the transport sector reform, the border closure policy, the coming up of private refineries, these are God’s design, being championed by the administration, to put the country on the path of economic prosperity.
Owolabi, who was known to have predicted the emergence of Sen. Bukola Sarski as the President of 8th Senate, however, maintained that God’s design for a better and prosperous Nigeria could only manifest with the support and prayers of both the leaders and the led.
“God’s favour dwells in an atmosphere of unity, tolerance, peaceful co-existence, so achieving the desired developed economy requires a collective responsibility of stakeholders to succeed,” he said.
The man of God also urged the citizens to pray against the incidence of fire outbreaks, road accidents and air mishaps in the new year.
He charged the youth to shun anti-social vices and be more prepared, morally, spiritually and academically in taking up the mantle of leadership in the nearest future. | ADVERTISEMENT
Some prominent youth groups from the Niger Delta were in Kano for a 2-day consultative meeting with their northern counterparts to discuss possible alignments ahead of 2023 election.
The South-south groups were led by the Niger Delta Congress, headed by Comrade Davies Opiri McLean, while the northern groups were led by Northern Emancipation Network, headed by Malam Abdul-Azeez Suleiman.
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In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, it was indicated that issues of national interest were discussed and some positions were jointly adopted.
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“On 2023 elections, though still far away from today, it is not too early to sternly challenge the electoral process, and see the possibility of pulling regional and generational forces to push agenda for a regional or generational shift of power or both.
“The meeting also resolved to mobilize all politicians to develop the highest level of tolerance and a commitment to respect the will of the Nigerian People,” the communique read in part.
Other positions adopted at the meeting included the resolve to work together to explore possibilities of reviving the traditional political partnership between the two regions that thrived during the previous republics.
The meeting also observed the need for national dialogue to “holistically and sincerely” discuss Nigeria before the 2023 elections in view of the widespread criticism against the existing federal arrangement.
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MOSCOW, June 19./TASS/. About a thousand delegates from Africa will attend the Russia-Africa economic conference in June, the Russian Export Center's (REC) chief Andrei Slepnev told TASS.
“As a part of Afreximbank’s agenda, an open Russia-Africa economic conference will be held. Up to 1,000 delegates from the African side are expected to attend, including a large number of high-ranking speakers and participants,” he said, adding that by now the participation of the African Union, ministers and government officials representing Uganda, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and other countries has been confirmed. Moreover, the annual meeting of Afreximbank shareholders will take place in Moscow on June 18-22, 2019.
"The conference will address the issues related to a number of sectors, including railway infrastructure, agriculture, agricultural equipment, digital economy, healthcare and education. We expect this to lay the foundation for substantive agreements that will be reached by October, during a large-scale political summit "Russia - Africa" and the economic forum," Slepnev pointed out. At the same time, more than 3,000 foreign delegates, as well as 2,000 Russian representatives, will take part in the events.
REC predicts the volume of Russian-African trade relations will double within the next 3-4 years. "The Russian Export Center maintains a close partnership with Afreximbank and has already entered the first deals that we are jointly implementing on the African continent. We intend to increase the volumes [export support — TASS], and I am sure that this year’s events will certainly make a big contribution, and we foresee the volume of the Russian-African trade ties in the next three to four years doubling," said Slepnev.
Basic financial instruments of supporting trade between Russia and Africa can be direct loans to foreign buyers (including those secured by the sovereign guarantee of the borrowing country) and loans to banks of foreign buyers under the insurance coverage Exiar, loans to sovereign borrowers, financing receivables against export earnings. In 2018, the volume of export-supported Russian products to African countries amounted to $ 2,47 bln. The main partners are Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria and Kenya.
About Russia's industrial zone in Egypt
REC explained that decisions on the choice of locations for industrial zones are made by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, based on an analysis of the most promising sectors of Russian exports, as well as taking into account the preferences and benefits the Russian companies might gain from those. REC expects that this year about 100 agreements on the intention to participate the Russian industrial zone project in Egypt will be concluded.
“We are the managing structure in this project, we are cooperating with the Russian enterprises. About 20 agreements have already been signed, we aim for 100 agreements this year. We see that interest is higher than we have expected,” Slepnev reported. Earlier, the Russian government approved the rules for granting budget subsidies to the Russian Export Center for the establishment and operation of the industrial zone project in Egypt.
The intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Egypt, which regulates all the details, was signed on May 23, 2018. The project envisages creation of a special zone with a simpler tax regime for Russian resident enterprises, the industrial zone will be located in the east of Port Said.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's forecasts, the implementation of the project will take up to 13 years, however, by 2026, the resident companies will be able to produce $ 3.6 billion worth of products annually. Russian companies will get rental holidays, preferential tariffs for energy resources, a special preferential tax regime, as well as a site prepared in advance. The first companies will come to the zone simultaneously with the start of construction, which is scheduled for 2019.
It was reported earlier that the government's planned investment into the industrial zone's primary infrastructure wiould account for $190 mln, and total private investment volume for the project's period is estimated at $ 7 bln. The industrial zone's establishment is included in the national project "International Cooperation and export".
The projects in Africa
The Russian Expo Center is also working on a number of projects with Afreximbank in various African regions. For example, financing the supply of Russian-made land transport vehicles, as well as projects for the construction and modernization of industrial infrastructure in Zambia, Angola, mining projects in Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone. The REC notes the interest of local companies in drawing Russian partners to projects in the oil industry (pipelines, refining) and the rural agriculture.
Afreximbank was founded in 1993 in Abuja, Nigeria with the authorized capital of $ 5 bln. The main objectives of the bank are the development of trade between African countries and abroad. The headquarters is located in Cairo.
The Russian Export Center is a state institution for the support of non-primary goods, providing Russian exporters with a wide range of financial and non-financial support. The Russian Export Center was established within the structure of VEB.RF. | The launch of Mara Phones factory at the Special Economic zone was one of the major highlights of the tech sector in 2019. File.
Rwanda may have not widely adopted robotics, 5G or other latest generation of technology yet, but it has made a name for itself when it comes to promoting Information and Communication Technologies.
This fact was arguably more apparent in 2019. It was the year perhaps the country experienced some of the most important developments in the technology space.
From hosting the big technology gatherings to establishing ICT innovation centres and launching satellites into space and embarking on connecting users with tech tools, Rwanda could be on the right track.
Most of the developments and the blossoming results seen today, the government says, is a result of a plan set out in the early 2000s with the purpose of carving a regional competitive advantage out of a war-torn, geographically disadvantaged country.
Below are some of the top trends that characterized the year;
1. Maraphone unveiled
In any measure, this is one of the top trends that characterized the industry. Rwanda became home to the first African made smartphone, Mara Phone thanks to Ashish Thakkar’s efforts to bring this most needed gadget to the continent.
As the world witnessed the unveiling of a new manufacturing factory at the Kigali Special Economic Zone, Mara Phones Group claimed it was making a $50 million investment in the production of smartphones in Rwanda.
It was a moment of cheer as President Kagame was being gifted with a personalised “Made in Rwanda” product with his name written on the back of the new smartphone.
As he began his speech, it was quite obvious on his face that the new plant was a big deal in the country’s quest to position itself as a technology hub in the region. In fact, he went ahead to endorse the new development.
“It is another milestone on our journey to high-tech products that are made in our country,” the President said.
The development is expected to boost ownership and use of smartphones in Rwanda which among other things improves access and delivery of public services as well as financial inclusion.
2. Satellite launch
Rwanda made a significant step in 2019 when it announced collaborations with major satellite players, one of which saw the launch of six satellites in the constellation by OneWeb which the country is expected to benefit from.
The government also entered a partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on another satellite project.
Just a few months ago, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority made it public that the country had sent its cubesat to the international space station waiting to be launched into orbit.
The RWASAT-1 was built by Rwandan engineers and Japanese engineer, something that was hailed as a big deal to the country as the partnership is allowing knowledge transfer to locals.
The launch of the satellite is sure to heighten the country’s technological prestige.
There are several other African countries considering the development of smallsat programmes.
The use of technology transfer initiatives such as this one, experts suggest it enables countries to develop their own, indigenous satellite manufacturing capabilities.
It is hoped that satellite technology will provide new capabilities for the Rwandan government, including enabling it to monitor agriculture and weather patterns as well as urban planning.
Rwanda is now among the club of a few African countries that have successfully orbited satellites including, Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria.
3. Tech centres
2019 was yet another year that Rwanda increased technology centres, thanks to the growing partnership between the government and development partners.
Two new centres stood out this year: the Digital Transformation Centre and a centre for audio-audio visual technology were unveiled in Kigali, opening doors for more entrepreneurs and innovators.
Mid 2019, Rwanda Development Board in partnership with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) unveiled the innovation centre that would focus on audio-visual technology.
Things like E-gaming, film making, animations have not been that popular in the country, but with the right tools in the hands of young innovators, the situation is likely to change.
Just before the centre, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, and Germany Development Agency (GIZ) had partnered to launch another centre, Digital Transformation Centre.
With this, innovators would get access to a facility with high-speed, mentors, well-stocked hardware devices and latest software, enabling them to prototype, commercialise and expand their solutions.
4. Transform Africa Summit
As a tradition, Rwanda hosted a successful Transform Africa Summit, this year. While there is no official ranking of the top events in Africa, the summit is one of the largest technology gatherings on the continent.
Last year, the summit drew hundreds of people from different fields of technology to deliberate on the continent’s digital future.
Presidents like Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya took leverage to announce an ambitious blueprint that could transform Africa.
A digital print he unveiled would be a guiding tool for adoptions of digital technologies in the continent’s transformation.
Digital infrastructure, government, business and innovation-driven entrepreneurship are the key highlights of the new agenda.
Russian tech billionaire Eugene Kaspersky took part in the conference and took the opportunity to announce the opening of a regional office for the growing cyber-security company.
The mogul met President Paul Kagame and discussed cooperation with the government and the ways to protect the country from cyber threats.
Cybersecurity is increasingly becoming a demand for countries as the rate of cyber threats continue to rise as technology becomes more sophisticated in many ways.
The presence of Kaspersky could offer a big contribution to a country that may have to deal with increasing threats in the future.
5. Connect Rwanda challenge
The year couldn’t have ended any better other than corporations and individuals coming together to make smartphone pledges to those who cannot afford them.
MTN Rwanda and its new female chief executive Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi jointly kicked off a challenge by making a special pledge of 1,100 smartphones to vulnerable Rwandans.
The challenge quickly attracted the attention of different people, including the President who was the first to respond with a pledge of 1,500 ‘Made in Rwanda’ Maraphones.
By the time the telco giant held a joint press conference with the ICT & Innovation Ministry on Monday, about 24,000 phones had been pledged to vulnerable households.
Smartphone penetration in Rwanda currently stands somewhere between 15 and 20 per cent.
If Institutions and individuals maintain the momentum, it could be a chance for more unconnected Rwandans to be connected.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com | 1.333333 |
Since 2015, HCA Healthcare’s North Florida Division has invested more than $305 million in improvements to Panhandle medical facilities.
Taking a look back at the last four years of improvements for HCA Healthcare's North Florida Division, it's easy to be impressed.
Looking forward, it's going to be much of the same.
More than $305 million has been invested into four hospitals in the Panhandle over the last four years and in 2020, including several new locations set to open this year, according to a press release from HCA.
Since 2015, 19 expansion and/or renovation projects have been undertaken at the four locations, including the creation of 116 inpatient beds and 48 emergency rooms. In total, there are now 32 sites of care in the Panhandle that include four hospitals, two free-standing emergency rooms, two urgent care center/walk-in clinics, one same-day surgery center and 23 physician practice locations.
By the end of 2020, there will be an additional three free-standing emergency rooms, with Pensacola, Panama City and Navarre all set for openings.
HCA Healthcare North Florida Division also invested heavily in helping the area recover from Hurricane Michael's devastating impact in 2018. It held two recruitment events across the Panhandle to help individuals displaced by their current employer or looking to relocate, which resulted in 259 hires between November and December 2018, and another 1,658 hires in 2019.
"Each of these projects reflects our commitment to ensuring residents of the Panhandle always have access to outstanding quality medical care when they need it most," said Michael P. Joyce, HCA Healthcare North Florida Division President.
"By creating additional access points and capacity, we look forward to serving more patients and acting as a resource and partner to these communities."
Here's a look at some of the major improvements, completed and planned, by location.
-Sealed and repainted entire hospital exterior.
-Renovated all patient units.
-Two new Cath labs.
-Expanded robotic surgical capability.
-Expanded inpatient rehab center, ER expansion, Trauma expansion and parking garage addition.
-Relocated free-standing Destin ER to new location.
-Unveiled plans for new tower with 24 medical/surgery inpatient beds, 18 ICU beds, new cafeteria/kitchen.
-Approximately 90 new employees once expansion is complete.
-Renovated 27 beds in ICU and Medical/Surgical Unit.
-Expanded Operating Room Department and emergency room, which gained 13 beds.
-ER expansion complete in Jan. 2020, diagnostic center expansion complete in Aug. 2020.
-Completed ICU expansion and renovation.
-Undergoing ER expansion. | Someone in WA will be absolutely loving 2020 after taking out division one on the first day of the year, and the agent who sold the winning ticket is buzzing too after a tough 2019.
The winning ticket was sold in Carramar, in Perth’s north, ahead of Wednesday night’s draw, matching numbers 23, 24, 37, 25, 20 and 43.
The ticket was worth a cool $1 million.
NewsXpress Carramar owner Ray Pigdon said it was the best change of fortune coming off the back of a tough 2019.
“2020 has been a perfect start,” he said.
“Given we had a ram raid at our store last year, it’s nice to start this year with the first division one prize of 2020.
“I’m hoping the ticket has been sold to one of our regulars who have stuck with us.”
Play Video A WA Police spokesperson said the incident was still being investigated and anyone who witnessed the crash can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The West Australian Video A WA Police spokesperson said the incident was still being investigated and anyone who witnessed the crash can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Mr Pigdon’s store was among those damaged when a ute was rammed through the front doors of Carramar Village shortly after 4am on June 6.
The ute had allegedly been stolen and two people fled the scene.
“They have ram raided the centre front-on, then done a three-point turn and reversed into the shop taking out everything in their path,” Mr Pigdon’s wife Julie told Community News at the time
“They’ve smashed through our roller shutters and all our stock at the front as well as glass shelving and cabinets.”
She said thieves had taken a safe containing cash, scratchies and stamps. | 1 |
DETROIT – A homicide investigation started Wednesday after the body of a man was found just before noon.
According to authorities, the body of a man in his 20s was found in the 9100 block of Monica Street, near the intersection of Livernois and Joy Road.
Police said the man had been shot.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-2260. | DETROIT – Detroit police are searching for a missing 12-year-old boy who left home without permission on New Year’s Eve.
Eric Gayles Jr. was last seen around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 2300 block of Prince Hall Drive, police said.
He took out the trash, left home without permission and hasn’t returned, according to authorities.
Officials describe Eric as 5 feet, 2 inches tall and 120 pounds. He has black hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket, white pants and black shoes, police said.
Eric is in good physical and mental condition, officials said.
Anyone who has seen Eric or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call Detroit police at 313-596-5740 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP to remain anonymous. | 2.333333 |
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If you are a regular follower and reader of She Scribes, you know how much I LOVE anything (and everything) scented. Candles, plug-ins, sprays, essential oils, soaps, cleaning products… anything that can make my home smell wonderful I love.
I’ve always loved nice smelling things. Even when I was younger. I used to love to pick the lilacs that surrounded our home and keep them in my bedroom just so I could smell them and to make my room smell nice.
When it comes to my home, I like to make my home smell nice for family and friends, as well as myself.
I am also a firm believer that scents can evoke memories and change your mood. For that reason, I make sure to scent my home some way, every day.
I love all kinds of scents, especially seasonal ones (pumpkin, pumpkin spice, beach…). My all time favorite scents are lilac and that of a REAL Christmas tree. The problem is, most scented products don’t smell like the real thing. Most smell artificial. Some artificial scents are OK, but anything that smells real is so much better.
Before the holidays I was introduced to the brand Mer-Sea. Mer-Sea room sprays are made with essential oils. Their sprays are packaged in 4 ounce glass glass bottles with a spray top. I think the glass bottles are pretty, and I was happy to keep it out for all to see during the holiday season. It’s not like a regular room spray bottle.
Mer-Sea has a lovely color palette too. Their products are colored with sea-salt bleached hues of white, grey, and blue mixed with little flashes of silver and is a fusion of all the colors found in the sea. So pretty!
I was sent to review their Sea Pines scented spray.
I would never think to associate pine trees with the ocean, but I forgot about Maine. Maine does have pine trees that are near the sea. That would explain this scent.
From the rocky coast of Maine to the shores of California, pines release a fresh crisp scent that will awaken your senses. Perfect for everyday, but especially the holidays. Sea Pines will bring the outside in and stay for a nice visit.
Remember how I said I like scents that smell REAL? A REAL Christmas tree smelling scent is one of the hardest scents to come by, at least for me. Every Christmas tree scent I have found (candle, spray, plug-in) does not smell like a real Christmas tree. Some have been close, but nothing truly smelled like the real thing. That is until the first time I sprayed the Mer-Sea Sea Pines scented spray.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!
This scent is the closest to a real Christmas tree than any other pine/Christmas tree scented product I have ever tried – and I’ve been looking for DECADES.
My husband and both of our children agree that this scent smells identical to a real Christmas tree.
I am IN LOVE!
We can’t really have a real tree in our home. Aside from our six cats, the tree would have to be placed directly in front of the sliding glass doors and would receive direct sunlight all day long. It would dry out too quickly for us to enjoy it. For that reason we need to have an artificial tree. It’s a lovely tree, but it’s not a real tree and therefore doesn’t have that real tree scent I have been dreaming of.
I sprayed the Mer-Sea Sea Pines spray on our tree twice a day during the holiday season, so we could smell it every time we walked by the tree (usually a spray in the morning and again in the evening). I also sprayed it around our home, just to bring the amazing Sea Pine scent to all areas of our home.
Mer-Sea has other interesting sounding scented room sprays (the Sea Pine is still available). Other scents include Coconut Sugar, Pique-Nique, Good Spirits, Fog, Voyager, Saltaire and Sun Kissed.
The room sprays sell for $19, which is a bit more than the kind you can find at your local department or grocery store, but remember, you are getting quality scented room sprays made with essential oils and not chemical smelling ingredients. That old expression, “You get what you pay for,” is true. You are paying a bit more, but you are getting a higher quality product too.
Mer-Sea sells more than just room sprays. They also sell sweaters, wraps, candles, soaps, lotions, bags, blankets and so much more.
If you would like to check out all that Mer-Sea has to offer, visit MerSea.com. The brand can also be found on social media. Their links are located on the top left of their home page.
Are you a fan of scented products? Do you have a particular favorite? Feel free to comment and share your thoughts.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. | SACRAMENTO (KRON) — New laws taking effect in 2020 will impact schools across California.
Starting next school year, it will be illegal for public schools in the state to suspend students in first through fifth grade for willfully defying teachers or administrators.
Then, from 2021 through 2025, it will be temporarily extended to kids in grades six through eight.
Supporters say suspensions for willful defiance are disproportionately used against students of color.
Another new law — a mandatory change to school start times.
The law is set to be phased in over the next three years. High schools can start no earlier than 8:30 a.m., and no sooner than 8 a.m. for middle schoolers.
The controversial measure could be costly, state legislative analysts have said some schools may end up spending millions to accommodate the adjustment.
Limiting and banning smartphone use is at the center of another law affecting schools in 2020.
School boards will have the power to ban devices with the exception of emergencies or other special situations, such as medical reasons.
Supporters say smart phone use is linked to lower student performance and interferes with the educational mission of schools. | 1.333333 |
Photo: Reuters
JAKARTA: Nine people died after Indonesia´s capital was hit by its deadliest flooding in years, authorities said Wednesday, as torrential rains on New Year´s Eve left vast swathes of the megalopolis submerged.
Thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters as electricity was switched off in scores of waterlogged neighbourhoods across greater Jakarta, home to about 30 million people, with some train lines and one of the city´s airports also shut.
Indonesia´s National Disaster Mitigation Agency called on residents to leave flood-hit areas.
"The first priority is saving lives," said agency head Doni Monardo.
A 16-year-old was electrocuted by a power line, while three more people died of hypothermia, according to the disaster agency.
"My son´s body was covered with newspaper when my two other children passed by," said Fadrid, who identified himself as the dead teen´s father.
"People asked them whether they knew the victim. If they hadn´t been passing by, we wouldn´t have known my son had been killed," he told AFP.
Among the victims was an elderly couple trapped inside their home in a district where floodwaters reached as high as four metres (13 feet) after a river burst its banks.
Another victim drowned while four people were killed after the Tuesday evening downpour triggered landslides in the city´s outskirts.
"We have shut down power (in many areas) to avoid more electrical shocks," Ikhsan Asaad, an official at state firm PLN, told AFP.
Asaad said he could not estimate how many residents had been affected by the power shutdown.
"We´re currently focusing on taking measures to ensure people´s safety," he added.
Angelina Widiyanti was among scores of residents whose houses were flooded with their possessions ruined by the disaster.
"We´ve had flooding several times before but it was never this high," she said from her home, where the power had been cut.
"We weren´t prepared for this."
Authorities said about 19,000 people were evacuated, but that figure did not include residents in Jakarta´s satellite cities.
"We´re evacuating people right now," Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters.
"Everyone living near rivers should anticipate (more) flooding," he added.
Images from across the region showed waterlogged homes and cars submerged in muddy floodwaters, while some people took to paddling in small rubber lifeboats or tyre inner-tubes to get around.
The disaster marked Jakarta´s worst flooding since 2013 when several dozen people were killed when the city was inundated by monsoon rains.
Jakarta is regularly hit by floods during Indonesia´s rainy season, which started in late November.
On Wednesday, service at Halim Perdanakusuma airport, which handles commercial and military planes, was temporarily shut due to severe flooding on its runways, according to the transport ministry.
Many flights were transferred to Jakarta´s main Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. | A+ A-
Jakarta: At least nine people were killed on Wednesday after heavy monsoon rains struck the Indonesian capital and nearby cities since New Year’s Eve, triggering the worst flooding in almost seven years, submerging homes and cars, according to state media citing local authorities.
The Jakarta disaster management agency said that a 16-year-old was electrocuted by a power line, while three more people died of hypothermia, according to Bangkok Post.
“We are hoping that the floodwaters will recede, but if the rain keeps up it will continue,” an official said.
State-owned electricity firm PLN has temporarily shut down electricity in 724 flood-hit areas in the city to prevent any electricity-related accidents.
Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency Doni Monardo has urged the affected residents to evacuate to safer places, Xinhua news agency reported.
Separately, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has instructed officials of his administration to get directly involved and help evacuate people.
“I want all the officials in the Jakarta administration to make sure that all government buildings and schools are ready to be used as evacuation shelters. Prepare public kitchens, healthcare posts, medicines, sleeping mats, public toilets and other basic needs for evacuees,” he was quoted as saying.
The flash floods have disrupted public transportation systems in the city. At least 10 flights at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta were reportedly canceled. | 3.666667 |
The industry remained wary of politics, but there was joy to be found in murder mysteries, wild worlds and an obnoxious goose
Among the social media tributes that followed Clive James’s death last month, one broadcaster said that James had privately expressed regret at having spent so much time writing about TV. If true, this was something of a betrayal of the younger James who argued that, as an activity that preoccupies a lot of the nation a lot of the time, television demands serious consideration. In an era when TV critics win the Pulitzer prize and Oscar-winning film directors make Netflix miniseries, the idea that TV is unserious seems anachronistic. Yet, for those of us who cast a similar critical eye over video games, it’s a relatable stance.
You’d think that, 40-odd years into the medium’s existence, video games would be over this period of pained self-doubt. Yet many senior industry figures still insist that their games are essentially entertainment. In The Division 2, for example, you play a government agent fighting paramilitary organisations following a shutdown of the US government. “We’re definitely not making any political statements,” Terry Spier, the game’s creative director, told a reporter from the website Polygon before the game’s release in March.
Games often borrow politicised themes and aesthetics (October’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, for example, allows players to deploy white phosphorus, a chemical weapon prohibited under international law) in order to benefit from the frisson of political relevance. But developers often seem not to consider or contextualise those decisions. But can we really blame companies for claiming that their games are nothing more than a benign pastime when the mere choice of which online store will have exclusive rights can result in thousands of abusive messages (as happened in the case of the husband-and-wife development team who announced that their project Ooblets would be available through just one platform – Epic Store?)
Of course, video games don’t need be serious. Often they’re at their best when, as in Untitled Goose Game, the surprise hit of 2019, they enable us to explore the absurd and wilfully silly. Arguably, in a medium that places primacy on the player’s agency to move the story in directions of their own choosing, there’s a case to be made that video games are a poor vehicle for a pointed narrative argument.
Also, when a publisher is spending tens of millions of dollars trying to attract the broadest possible audience, dividing that audience along political lines is a risk. Still, it’s a question of ambition, or imagination. And in a medium with such tremendous, unique qualities, why not give it a try – especially when politicians remain so eager to politicise the medium regardless, as Donald Trump did in August, blaming video games (rather than guns) after the mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas?
Then again, perhaps ’twas ever so. As James wrote in the introduction of Glued to the Box, a collection of his television reviews published in the Observer between 1979 and 1982: “Television is simultaneously blamed, often by the same people, for worsening the world and for being powerless to change it.” Plus ça change.
The top five video games of 2019
1. Untitled Goose Game
(PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Switch)
The tinkling and benign Debussy soundtrack belies the dark task at the heart of Untitled Goose Game: ruin what might otherwise be a perfectly pleasant day for the village in which you, a mean goose, reside. So you squawk, flap, peck and harass the villagers as you work your way down a series of to-do lists. Funny, well-crafted game-making.
2. Disco Elysium
(PC)
While Disco Elysium is at its core a computerised Dungeons & Dragons campaign, its story and setting (you play as an alcoholic cop charged with solving a union-related killing in a working-class port neighbourhood) is about as far from fantasy-based swordplay as one can travel. Bracingly written and filled with memorable moments.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest A scene from the ‘mystical’ Mobius Digital’s Outer Wilds. Photograph: Outer Wilds
3. Outer Wilds
(PS4, Xbox One, PC)
You have 20 minutes to explore, via a lunar lander, a diminutive, clockwork solar system before the sun explodes. In an apocalyptic Groundhog Day, you resurrect after each ending armed with the knowledge gathered from your previous outing. In this way, you must unravel the game’s secrets across several short lifetimes. Plaintive, mystical and memorable.
4. Telling Lies
(iOS, PC/ Mac)
In this follow-up to designer Sam Barlow’s Bafta-winning Her Story, you play as a former FBI agent sifting hundreds of hours of footage saved on a hard drive stolen from the National Security Agency. The lives of four individuals at the centre of your investigation intertwine in ways you must fathom via deduction and careful use of precise search terms.
5. Resident Evil 2
(PS4, Xbox One, PC)
As in the 1998 original, you arrive as a rookie cop in the midwestern American town of Raccoon City to find its residents shuffling, zombified and hungry for human flesh. Once again, the game’s challenge derives from matching a scarcity of resources to a surfeit of needs. A tasteful and exciting reimagining of a classic.
Turkey
Left Alive
(PC, PS4)
With the legacy of Square Enix’s well-regarded tactical war game series Front Mission behind it, and the art direction of Metal Gear Solid’s Yoji Shinkawa fronting it, Left Alive showed promise that merely heightened the disappointment of the rickety, workmanlike results. | MONROE, Mich. (AP) — A southeastern Michigan police officer is credited with pushing two people out of the path of a suspected drunken motorist who nearly slammed into them and then fled the scene.
Monroe police said the officer had pulled over a vehicle early Sunday along the city’s Telegraph Road when an SUV came barreling toward the back of his police cruiser.
The officer quickly pushed two people over the roadway’s guardrail to prevent them from being hit, Monroe Police Capt. Jon Wall told WDIV-TV.
“He heard what sounded like a car slamming on its brakes, which was squealing the tires, which alerted him to look into that particular direction,” Wall said.
The SUV went up on a sidewalk before its driver put it in reverse and fled the scene. Police pursued the SUV and soon arrested the motorist.
Walls said the suspect is facing several charges, including fleeing, resisting and obstructing. | 1 |
'Kingdom of Morocco is good for the Jewish community'
"Moroccan Jewry is very, very well off," said Rabbi Dr. Yitzhak Sabag of the rabbis of Moroccan Jewry in an interview with Arutz Sheva Tuesday.
Rabbi Sabag stated that many people from all over the world come to visit the Jewish community in Morocco, especially to visit the graves of numerous Righteous Among the Nations who rescued Jews during the Holocaust.
"We are a community of 1500-1800 members," said Rabbi Sabag, who added that there is a rich Torah educational world in the community. "My wife is one of the principals at the school," says the rabbi.
Rabbi Dr. Sabag emphasized that the rabbinical court is totally and officially recognized by the kingdom. "This is the only place in the world that is the case," he stated. "The rabbinical court belongs to the Ministry of Justice and the ruling of the rabbinical court is considered a ruling on behalf of the king."
Rabbi Sabag said that all the inscription and legal matters written in the rabbinical courts are considered official documents of the kingdom and added that in Morocco, even the Jewish inheritance documents are officially recognized by the authorities.
Historically, the Kingdom of Morocco has maintained a good relationship with the Jewish community, but does this situation continue even today when the community is so small? Rabbi Sabag answered - "The Kingdom of Morocco, as the Lubavitcher Rebbe said, is a 'kingdom of grace' and when I say 'kingdom of grace' is literally 'kingdom of grace.' So far, with G-d's blessing, the king is good to the Jews."
Rabbi Sabag told a story from World War II when the King of Morocco did not want to give the list of Jews in Morocco to Adolf Hitler. "One of the things he said was 'If you want to give them (the Jews) a yellow badge, then add some [badges] for the royal family.'"
Jews all over the world today are facing anti-Semitism, what is your situation?
"There is anti-Semitism all over the world, but with us, thankfully, we have not reached such situations," Rabbi Dr. Sabag said. | KYIV, Ukraine - Ukrainian far-right supporters have held a torchlight procession in the capital to mark the birthday of a nationalist leader who sided with the Nazis during part of World War II.
The Wednesday march in Kyiv by about 1,000 far-right supporters commemorated the 111th birthday of Stepan Bandera, lauded by nationalists as a hero.
Bandera was a leader of Ukraine’s nationalist movement, which included an insurgent army that for one period during the war sided with the Nazis.
Jewish groups have linked Bandera’s followers to the mass murders of Jews. Ukrainian Police said the march ended peacefully and there were no arrests. | 2 |
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A man was stabbed in a village street after a party to usher in the New Year.
Police were called in the early hours of today to a shopping parade in Main Street, Broughton Astley, after it was reported a man was lying injured in the street.
Officers cordoned off the area by the village library at around 2am after the 47-year-old victim had been taken to hospital.
Villagers have told LeicestershireLive the incident happened after a party nearby.
The police forced their way into a nearby flat while searching the area for the culprit.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and is being questioned by detectives.
Blood stains were today visible on the pavement where the attack took place.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, told LeicestershireLive: “There was a New Year party at a house in the village and things kicked off after that.
“Suddenly there’s police everywhere and this poor guy’s been taken off to hospital.
“I hope he is okay.
“This is a pretty nice village, there’s sometimes a little bit of bother but we don’t see much violent crime.
“I don’t think anyone expected that we’d start the new year with police everywhere.”
Leicestershire Police have described the victim’s injuries as ‘non-life-threatening' although he remains in hospital this afternoon.
The cordon set up remained in force until just after lunchtime while forensic investigations were carried out.
A force spokeswoman said: “We were called at 1.50am today by a member of the public reporting a man stabbed in Broughton Astley.
"Officers attended the scene, in Main Street, along with the ambulance service and a 47-year-old man was taken to the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire for treatment.
"He remains in hospital where his injuries are described as non-life-threatening."
She added: "A man, aged 31, has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. He remains in police custody where he is being questioned by detectives.
"A scene preservation that was in place outside a premises to allow for an investigation of the scene has since been removed."
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Leicestershire Police on 101. | Jan 01, 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. | 1.333333 |
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported at 2:38 a.m. Wednesday one mile from Anaheim, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred three miles from Orange, three miles from Corona, three miles from Yorba Linda and four miles from Chino Hills.
In the past 10 days, there have been three earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in the greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three year data sample.
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The earthquake occurred at a depth of 5.5 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions. | A third person was confirmed dead on Wednesday in devastating bushfires that engulfed Australia’s southeast coast this week and a fourth was missing and feared dead, as navy ships rushed to provide supplies and assist with evacuations.
Twelve people have now lost their lives in fire-related deaths across Australia since blazes broke out a few months ago, including three volunteer firefighters, after a three-year drought in large parts of the nation created tinder-dry conditions.
Fanned by soaring temperatures, columns of fire and smoke... | 1.333333 |
'I'm not asking premium prices but I do put value on myself and what I can offer.' Nanny, Nicole Robinson.
'I'm not asking premium prices but I do put value on myself and what I can offer.' Nanny, Nicole Robinson.
NOOSA'S answer to Mary Poppins is hankering to work with a young family, but it would seem there is not a family out there that wants a spoonful of sugar.
Cooroibah resident, Nicole Robinson has a list of credentials that would take you longer to read than it would to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Nicole, 53 is a retired primary school teacher, she has qualifications in fitness and food and has spent many years working in child care centres.
Oh, and she can even catch fish.
WHAT A CATCH: Super nanny, Nicole Robinson with another impressive hook up.
With her own two boys all grown up and a husband who can almost take care of himself, Nicole is ready to help a young family get organised with their daily activities.
But, while she looks great on paper, the super nanny is yet to secure regular work.
Nicole thinks her hourly rate of $40 is what holds many families back.
"The moment I mention how much I cost people say no," she said.
"I'm not asking premium prices, but I do put value on myself and what I can offer."
SUPER NANNY: Nicole Robinson is a retired primary school teacher and has spent many years working in child care centres. Oh, and she can even catch fish.
She said a lot of families will choose a young babysitter over her, but she insists what she can offer is so much more than just watching the kids while the parents go out.
"With one family, I looked after the children, cooked meals, cleaned the house, catalogued the wine cellar and got their jewellery valued," she said.
Until the perfect family comes along, Noosa's super nanny is happy to just be patient.
"I am just waiting for that right person to say, 'we want you'," Nicole said. | Guidelines To Follow When Purchasing Jetters
It is always good for business owners especially plumbing to buy a jetter that can be able to give good services to their clients. always make sure to go and search online for the best jetter sellers so that you can link with one of them and make inquiries about the kind and type of jetter you want. Also as a learner you can read this article and get to learn more on the factors to consider before purchasing a jetter or your business.
Always make sure to consider the warranty of the jetter before purchasing it, and this is because most of the times you might buy a machine but when you reach home it refuses to perform, and so as o avoid buying another machine since it will affect your budget you are therefore advised to consider buying a jetter from a shop that will also offer you warranty, and this will mean that every time your machine has damage they will make sure they fix it for you without charges also they can exchange the jetter for you with a new one, and that’s why choosing a good jetter shop that offers warranty will also save your budget.
Also when buying the jetter it is important to consider the cost, this is because market trends do differ with sellers, you will realize that some sellers are cheap while others have expensive prices on the same type of jetter, therefore when you are planning to buy a jetter it is always advisable you do your own research to compare the different market prices of the jetter, through research you will realize that there are many sellers with low prices of the jetter hence you can choose to buy that and save money that you would have used to buy same jetter at a higher price, this is a good way to ensure that you do not overspend when buying your jetter.
If you are having troubles trying to identify the kind of jetter that is durable and that will offer you many years of service then worry no more for we have found a solution that can help you, the only way you can get the good quality jetter is by asking from the seller the type of material that can withstand anything and last long, the advice will help you choose a jetter that is made if quality material and this will save you time that you would have used for replacing and fixing your jetter all the one it breaks down, also aa good quality material will not be damaged that easily and that means that the jetter will be tough when it comes to environment conditions like rusting that may affect it, and therefore at the end you would have won yourself a jetter that can give you good service for many years to come.
Practical and Helpful Tips:
8 Lessons Learned: | 1 |
The much-awaited elections of the Archery Association of India (AAI) will be held on January 18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.
The Delhi High Court has appointed PK Tripathi as the Returning Officer for the elections.
As per the Delhi High Court order passed in October and later modified in November, the elections will be held for the post of President, Senior Vice President, Vice Presidents (8), Hony Secretary General, Joint Secretaries (7) and Treasurer.
A total of 31 state associations are part of the electoral roll. But state units representing Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland are absent from the roll.
The biggest blow to Indian archery came in August when World Archery suspended the national federation after two warring groups -- led by veteran VK Malhotra and BVP Rao -- conducted parallel elections in Delhi and Chandigarh in a clear defiance of the international body's guidelines.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | New Delhi [India], Jan 1 (ANI): With the political map of India having changed after bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, old maps of the country are set to be replaced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at its headquarters.
Sources said that with the government having released the maps of Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and the map of India with these changes, the party would soon replace maps of India displayed in the rooms of its office bearers.
Once the process is completed at the party's central office here, a similar move is also expected in all state BJP headquarters.
The parliament had in August adopted a resolution for the Abrogation of Article 370 passed a bill for bifurcation of the state into two union territories. The two union territories came into existence on October 31.
The abrogation of Artictle 370 and the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir had been an ideological demand of BJP. The abrogation of Article 370 was also a manifesto promise of the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The map of India are displayed prominently in the office of senior party leaders.
"Many are given charge of the state polls and have full maps of the country on the walls of their rooms. As the new map has been notified, I have asked for the new maps which clearly depict PoK and Aksai Chin as part of Indian territory," said a senior party leader.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | 2.333333 |
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