The 1988 Olympic men’s figure skating champion created the food and drink menu in Boitano’s Lounge in the Kindler Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was kind of surreal.”Diversify your activity to 'stave off aging'When Boitano glided into a career as a cook, naturally his Food Network TV series was called “What would Brian Boitano Make?”He’s still exercising his creativity in the kitchen and the bar. So, when it comes to staying fit after 50, the obvious question is: What would Brian Boitano do? “I feel stretching is really, really important as you get older,” he said. He’ll also make appearances during the Beijing Olympics, including one at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

When she came to, 4 police officers were pinning her down. Scared and disoriented, she begged to be let go & fought to get free. In 2012, Tiara Helm, 17, was at a concert an hour outside of Birmingham, Alabama, when she collapsed, gripped by a seizure.

If Roe Is Reversed, by the Numbers Margot Sanger-Katz ?Reporting from Washington, D.C.For higher-income women, traveling to another state for an abortion would be more an inconvenience than a major barrier. But substantial evidence shows that’s not the case for low-income women, who are more likely to struggle with transportation, housing, child care or missed work. Studies show closing a nearby abortion clinic and making women travel 250 miles or more to go to another clinic decreases the chances of obtaining a legal abortion by more than 40 percent.

She says, “The Italian food in Hawaii has improved over the past several years, as more chefs are traveling, expanding their horizons and learning about new techniques that Italian chefs use. He says, “There’s a small, close-knit Italian community here in Hawaii that makes some great Italian food of all kinds that are worth checking out. Executive chef Hiroyuki Mimura is originally from Japan and has extensive experience using Italian techniques in award-winning restaurants in Italy. A native from Bari, Italy, Pasquale arrived in Hawaii a few years ago as an importer of Italian foods. He describes his menu as “Capri meets Hawaii,” and it features elegant yet flavorful items from Southern Italy.

Selling fastColor option : Black: Black Size options: 0 to 12Kick back and relax with & Other Stories’ Kick Flare Trousers. Color options : Light Pink, White: Light Pink, White Size options: XS-LPolos are making a comeback and this soft and cozy v-neck sweater is the perfect WFH uniform or Sunday errand ensemble. Selling fastColor options : Bose Blue, Light Blue: Bose Blue, Light Blue Size options: 0 to 12It’s never been a better time to invest in the basics. Color options : Black Polka Dots, White: Black Polka Dots, White Size options: 0 to 12How dainty and perfectly professional is this Neck Tie Silk Blouse? Color option : White: White Size options: XS-LStay cozy in this on-trend shearling sweater that you’ll want to live in all winter long.

The holiday busy season is here in full swing, so no one wants to get sick this winter — especially kids, who are the latest to be approved for the COVID-19 vaccine. Luckily, WellBefore has just restocked its line of kid’s KN95 masks and surgical masks, offering protection when we need it most. “Due to the uncertainty of when the surges occur, that means stock of popular items such as kids masks can fluctuate in availability. “WellBefore was the pioneer in affordable and quality kids KN95 and 3 layer masks,” Amin said. For the traditional surgical style, the Kid’s 3-Ply masks are a great option, and at only $0.23 per mask, they are super affordable and easy to stock up on.

A Brooklyn straphanger slapped a woman in the face when she confronted him for filming other female passengers, disturbing new video shows. She then took a photo of him with her own phone — prompting him to fly into a rage, police said. The video, released by police late Monday, shows the woman accusing the man of “filming every woman in this car.”“Can I say something? DCPIHe briefly looked around the car before he slapped the woman in the face, prompting her to scream, the footage shows. The man told the woman, “You’re gonna get yourself in trouble,” when she spoke up.

My own passion for wine began after graduating from university in London and living in Paris for a few months to learn the language. Living with one of my closest friends, who was French and a real wine connoisseur, really opened my eyes to the different French wine regions, styles and the culture behind it. After moving to New York, I worked in marketing and PR in the fashion industry, but always kept coming back to wine. I took wine and food pairing classes after work, and slowly but surely, it started taking over my life. In 2015, I decided to fully commit, take sommelier and WSET lessons and make the official career change.

NOTE: To use fresh rather than canned poblanos, position an oven rack 4 to 6 inches from the oven’s broiler element; preheat to broil. Transfer them to a heatproof bowl and cover with a plate or pan lid to let them steam and cool enough to be handled, at least 10 minutes. When the poblanos are cool enough to handle, use your fingers to carefully remove and discard their skins. Make a vertical slit from the stem end to the tip of each pepper. Gently remove the seeds and stems and open the peppers so the flesh lies flat.

The society consists of a ruling lineage of Amazon-like women warriors called the Eshu and a class of “humanoid men” called the Koba, who exist only to serve the needs of the Eshu through mining and food production. All relationships between the classes — and thus also heterosexual relationships — are forbidden. But an Eshu named Akanke and a Koba named Aldo (each of whom already has a partner from their own social class) manage to transcend these strictures and form a bond, leading to the system’s eventual demise. (The story is explained very briefly in the wall text, but it’s useful to read the artist’s longer synopsis in the exhibit catalogue; it will also be made available on the museum’s website.)

Patrick Almonor, one of Cap-Haïtien’s three mayors, said the fuel tanker capsized shortly after midnight, sending gas spilling into a ditch. As locals came to collect some of the gas, the truck exploded, he said. Firefighters arrived with 1,500 gallons of water, but could not extinguish the flames and had to call for aid from airport firefighters.

Apple fired engineer Ashley Gjovik in September, accusing her of disclosing confidential information. Gjovik says she was fired after raising concerns about “chemical exposure” at her office in California, which she said is located on a Superfund site. The Labor Department told Gjovik in a letter dated Dec. 10 that it was investigating whether the company retaliated against her, the Financial Times’s Patrick McGee and Patrick Temple-West report. Regulators are looking into issues including whether the company retaliated against Gjovik over claims about occupational safety and hazardous waste.

“We are going to have to do some work in there to determine if we even want to bring those back as things that we do inside our lab, or if we outsource those to reputable firms that are doing it now,” Geldart said.

The power of music: Suicides dropped following the release of a song whose title is the number of the national suicide prevention hotline, a study published in the British Medical Journal reported. The release of the song “1-800-273-8255” by the artist Logic, as well as its performances at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2018 Grammy Awards, were correlated with an increase in calls to the helpline and a decrease in suicides, Stat’s Maddie Bender reports.

And so in our very first conversation, I politely told Fred, the editorial page editor of The Post who wanted me to submit a piece for publication, that I didn’t want to see the lives of Afghan women and girls swept up into a news cycle that would, inevitably, spin away from us. I told him that I was deeply frustrated by these words that actively robbed Afghans of our dignity and our agency, and that I hoped The Post would allow me the freedom to tell SOLA’s story at a time when so many others wanted to tell it for us.

“Maybe we’d better put out a preemptive statement of some kind,” observed the small-business owner of the firm A Box Of Crickets To Feed To Your Snake Or Do Something Else With, Once They’re Yours We Don’t Look Into It Too Closely, The Crickets Are Your Responsibility Now, But We Assume You’re Not Doing Anything Too Weird With Them. “I guess we could put it in the business name. It’s already very unwieldy, and adding ‘Also They Don’t Have Any Effect On COVID-19! In Case That Was Something You Thought Might Be The Case, It’s Not!’ wouldn’t change too much."

Heavy snow will continue over a widespread area across the West, with more than a foot on the way from the Sierra Nevada up into the Cascades and Rockies. AMAZON WAREHOUSE COLLAPSE IN ILLINOIS: ALL MISSING PEOPLE NOW 'ACCOUNTED FOR,' POLICE SAYMuch needed rain will also move into Southern California, but flooding will be a concern, with too much of it in a short period of time. Above-average temperatures are forecast once again from the central U.S. spreading in toward the East Coast. Daytime highs will be 20-30 degrees above average, with more potential records being broken over the next few days. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPOn Wednesday and Thursday, a cold front moving through the warm, humid air will bring the risk of strong-to-severe storms for parts of the Midwest and mid-Mississippi Valley.

A volcano that has been spewing lava in Spain’s Canary Islands for almost three months fell quiet Tuesday, though scientists warned the lull didn't necessarily mean the eruption is over. Scientists recorded no seismic activity from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island since late Monday, the Canary Islands’ volcanology institute, Involcan, said in a tweet. "That does not mean the eruption has finished, because in the past this has been followed by a new surge in activity," Involcan said. La Palma’s longest eruption on record has destroyed about 3,000 local buildings, entombed large areas of farmland in lava and forced several thousand people to abandon their homes. The volcanic Canary Islands are a popular European vacation destination off Africa’s northwest coast.

Since the start of the pandemic, billionaire health philanthropist Bill Gates has been a target for bizarre Covid conspiracy theories. Now, Gates says, those rumors and pieces of disinformation are keeping many Americans from getting vaccinated against Covid — and delaying the end of the pandemic by doing so. In a blog post last week, Gates wrote that "conspiracy theories that unfortunately involve me" have impacted Covid vaccine uptake in the United States, adding that he expected vaccination rates to be much higher by now. To date, 61% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against Covid, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both myths are false: Experts say the CDC may actually be undercounting Covid deaths, and there's no scientifically sound evidence that the country's Covid vaccines can cause any fertility issues.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCovid pill could come in time for a potential Christmas surge, says Dr. Kavita PatelDr. Kavita Patel, former White House health policy director and fellow at the Brookings Institution, joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest data from Pfizer over its Covid-19 pill.

The Covid-19 pandemic is still lingering, and workers across the world are feeling lonelier because of it. According to new research, 72% of global workers say they feel lonely at least monthly, while 55% say they feel it at least weekly. One of their biggest takeaways: Many people are still struggling to replace the social element of the in-person office. "A lot of employees see work as kind of a pseudo-lifeline to be able to have meaningful relationships that they want in life," Van Cohen tells CNBC Make It. That's partially due to Covid — and partially due to employer shortcomings, Van Cohen says, noting that many companies aren't devoting enough time and energy to encouraging quality peer-to-peer and manager-employee relationships.

If you're looking for a life-changing book for the younger folks on your holiday gift list, here are my top five recommendations:1. 'The Comfort Book'By Matt Haig "The Comfort Book" is a fun, simple read that can be kept on a desk or bedside table for hard days. Therapist and relationship expert Nedra Tawwab combines the latest research in cognitive behavioral therapy with her personal savvy to create this guide to communicating your needs. His latest book, "Think Again," teaches readers how to embrace being wrong and approach life with greater empathy for outside perspectives. 'Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed'

United Airlines has taken an equity stake in ZeroAvia, a firm focused on powering electric motors by utilizing hydrogen fuel cells. Under the deal, United said it expects to purchase up to 100 of ZeroAvia's ZA2000-RJ — an engine it described as zero-emission and 100% hydrogen-electric. United said it plans to pursue a conditional purchase agreement for 50 of the engines, with an option for 50 more. In a statement issued Monday, United CEO Scott Kirby said hydrogen-electric engines were "one of the most promising paths to zero-emission air travel for smaller aircraft." Alongside United, others taking part in the funding round include Alaska Air Group, whose investment was previously announced.

This recipe is perfect for when you want to avoid spending too much time in front of the stove. This quick and hearty pasta uses sweet cherry tomatoes to add a burst of fresh flavor to the savory ragu. Pour in the white wine, scraping up any brown bits at the bottom of the pot, then stir in the cherry tomatoes and balsamic. Stir to break up the tomatoes and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Drain and add pasta to the sauce with the parsley and basil.

Canned chipotles in adobo sauce add smoke and spice to these quick steak tacos. The quick pickled onions add a bright and tangy finishing touch. Add the chopped chipotle, adobo sauce, oil, lime juice and zest from 3 limes, grated garlic, salt and black pepper. In a small bowl, combine the thinly sliced onions, remaining lime juice and zest, cloves and toss to coat. Spread with the cumin-lime mayo, then top with sliced steak, pickled onions, queso fresco and fresh cilantro.

If your kids love fish sticks, definitely make them this perfectly crispy baked fish sticks recipe! I love making this recipe with cod, but most white fish and even salmon will work well with this recipe. In a shallow bowl, whisk together corn flakes, panko crumbs, paprika, lemon pepper, salt and cayenne until combined. In a third shallow bowl, whisk eggs and set aside. Once done coating all fish sticks, liberally spray tops of fish with additional cooking spray.

While the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine only showed protection of 33 percent against infection, people still had 70 percent protection against hospitalization. That compares to data indicating 93 percent protection during an earlier wave largely caused by the Delta variant. Glenda Gray, president of the South African Medical Research Council, said the analysis was very encouraging. Worryingly, the data indicated that children have a 20 percent higher risk of admission for complications when infected with Omicron. However, Shirley Collie, chief health analytics actuary at Discovery Health, said children were still 51 percent less likely to test positive during the Omicron wave and the risk still remains low.

The air is musty, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is playing on an ancient TV by the door, and Olivia Rodrigo is flipping through racks of slip dresses and flared pants. Halsey sent Rodrigo a cake, Cardi B shouted her out on Twitter, and Taylor Swift offered her props on Instagram. Any questions about whether Rodrigo could repeat the success of “Drivers License” were put to rest when she released Sour on May 21. With moody, confessional lyrics that added chapters to the story told in “Drivers License,” Sour offered something we needed after more than a year of unending distress: an outlet for anger and permission to cry. Together, Nigro and Rodrigo had already made “Drivers License.”Nigro and Rodrigo bonded over shared references: he and her mother are just a few years apart, which meant that his nostalgic favorites were the songs Rodrigo heard at home.

The U.N. weather agency has certified a 38-degree Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) reading in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk last year as the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic. The World Meteorological Organization said the temperature "more befitting the Mediterranean than the Arctic" was recorded in June 2020 during a heat wave that swept across Siberia and stretched north of the Arctic Circle. Average temperatures were up to 10 degrees Celsius more than usual in Arctic Siberia. The U.N. weather agency has certified a 38-degree Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) reading in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk last year as the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic. Average temperatures were up to 10 degrees Celsius more than usual in Arctic Siberia.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Carolyn Burnett is bracing for her first Christmas without her son Chris, a beloved high school football coach whose outdoor memorial service drew a crowd of hundreds. School administrators tweeted heartfelt condolences, praising his passion in coaching running backs at Olathe East High School. And he was honored with an inspiration award at a ceremony that recognizes the region’s best high school athletes. “Here’s what I’m going to say to COVID: ‘Up yours.’ I’m getting a Zoom call going, and there you have it. You’re going to do what you’re going to do and you’re going to kill this person.

The U.N. says it has verified a new record high temperature for the ArcticEnlarge this image toggle caption Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty ImagesThe United Nations has officially recognized a new record high temperature for the Arctic, confirming a reading of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) taken in June 2020. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a statement on Tuesday calling the temperature reading "more befitting the Mediterranean than the Arctic." "This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate," WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas said in a statement. "In 2020, there was also a new temperature record (18.3°C) for the Antarctic continent," he added. The WMO said the new Arctic record high was just one of many record high temperatures in 2020 and 2021 that it was working to verify — including a reading of 54.4 C (129.9 F) in Death Valley, Calif., the world's hottest place, and a new record in Europe of 48.8 C (119.8 F) on the island of Sicily.

Google’s streaming platform, YouTube TV, might lose access to more than a dozen of Disney ‘s channels if the companies are unable to renew their agreement by this Friday, YouTube said in a blog post. The channels that would be removed include ABC News, Disney Channel, Freeform, National Geographic and ESPN. “Our ask of Disney, as with all of our partners, is to treat YouTube TV like any other TV provider — by offering us the same rates that services of a similar size pay, across Disney’s channels for as long as we carry them,” YouTube said. This is the latest high-profile spat between YouTube TV and other streaming platforms. Earlier this month, YouTube finalized months of negotiations with Roku ( ROKU ), reaching a multi-year extension agreement that allows Roku users to continue streaming YouTube TV on the platform.

As tornado victims in the south and Midwest dig out from the wreckage of the violent weekend storm, tax authorities and nonprofit industry experts highlighted a valuable charitable deduction for small-dollar donors that’s slated to expire in weeks. In some instances, a $600 deduction could trim a household’s tax liability by approximately $150, one expert previously told MarketWatch. But in the pandemic’s early days, lawmakers enacted an “above-the-line” deduction to offer more tax rewards for charitable donations — and hopefully more donations. “Right now, front line nonprofits need donations of all sizes,” Thompson said. The IRS has more tips on using the charitable deduction here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a change in taste and smell is on the list of potential long haul COVID symptoms. Cano says she forces herself to eat two Cliff Bars a day — not because they don't taste terrible, but because they're quick to scarf down. "Things taste like garbage. While her taste and smell symptoms subsided eight or nine months after her experience with COVID, they came on full force when she became pregnant. "For me, right now, I'm worried that I won't be able to enjoy my baby when she comes — her newborn baby smell, things like that.

ReutersDid Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch influence Fox News’ coverage of claims about two voting technology companies — knowing that those claims were false? That has become a significant question in defamation lawsuits filed by Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems Corp against Fox News and its parent company Fox Corp. The plaintiffs are asking for more than $4 billion in damages from the media giant, on-air talent such as Maria Bartiromo and guests including Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, lawyers aligned with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

(Current Portfolio) buys Gartner Inc, Peloton Interactive Inc, UiPath Inc, SAP SE, KE Holdings Inc, sells Apple Inc, Pinterest Inc, Texas Instruments Inc, NXP Semiconductors NV, Bank of America Corp during the 3-months ended 2021Q3, according to the most recent filings of the investment company, Advantage Advisers Xanthus Fund, L.L.C.. As of 2021Q3, Advantage Advisers Xanthus Fund, L.L.C. 's stock buys and sells,go to https://www.gurufocus.com/guru/advantage+advisers+xanthus+fund%2C+l.l.c./current-portfolio/portfolioThese are the top 5 holdings of Advantage Advisers Xanthus Fund, L.L.C. Advantage Advisers Xanthus Fund, L.L.C. Advantage Advisers Xanthus Fund, L.L.C. Advantage Advisers Xanthus Fund, L.L.C.

Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at a reportedly less than well-attended Florida leg of ex-President Donald Trump’s tour with disgraced former Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly. “If the place was any emptier, it would be Don Jr.’s head,” the comedian joked Monday night. “At first they’re considered to be valuable, then everyone realizes they are garbage. We’ve seen this with his ties, his steaks, his university, his children,” he cracked. Watch the video here:This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

AMC, GameStop short sellers make a comeback as meme stocks buckle FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at a GameStop in Manhattan, New YorkBy Medha Singh(Reuters) - Shares of AMC Entertainment and GameStop dropped further in early trading on Tuesday, extending declines that have helped short sellers recover more than $1 billion in losses in December. Both companies were at the heart of the meme stocks phenomenon earlier this year, when individual investors coordinated on online message boards to fuel stunning rallies that cost short sellers billions of dollars. GameStop short interest has shot up to 14% from 11% in the same period. Insider selling at AMC last week added to worries over the Omicron coronavirus variant denting a recovery in theater attendance. Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research, said AMC investors are worried about the reopening trade, with comments from the UK that Omicron infections could become a tidal wave weighing on the sentiment.

(Adds details on study, expert comment, background)Dec 14 (Reuters) - COVID-19 infections are more likely to trigger rare cardiovascular complications such as heart inflammation and irregular heartbeat than vaccines, a British study showed on Tuesday, after scientists parsed data of about 38 million vaccinated people. The study, published in the Nature Medicine journal https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01630-0), compared the risks of myocarditis, pericarditis and cardiac arrhythmia following a first and second dose of COVID-19 vaccines – from AstraZeneca-Oxford, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna - with coronavirus infections. The study, led by Oxford University researchers, found an increased risk of myocarditis with first doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and both doses of Moderna's shot, but the risk was much higher after a COVID-19 infection. An analysis by age also showed that higher risk of myocarditis associated with mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna was present only in those younger than 40 years of age, researchers said. But this solid, scientifically robust paper supports and confirms this," said Dr Peter English, a retired consultant in communicable disease control.

Newtown, PA, based Investment company Towercrest Capital Management (Current Portfolio) buys Aptevo Therapeutics Inc, PowerShares QQQ Trust Ser 1, Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF, Impel NeuroPharma Inc, Kala Pharmaceuticals Inc, sells Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF, International Business Machines Corp during the 3-months ended 2021Q3, according to the most recent filings of the investment company, Towercrest Capital Management. As of 2021Q3, Towercrest Capital Management owns 94 stocks with a total value of $528 million. Shares added by 4.68%New Purchase: Aptevo Therapeutics Inc (APVO)Towercrest Capital Management initiated holding in Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. Added: PowerShares QQQ Trust Ser 1 (QQQ)Towercrest Capital Management added to a holding in PowerShares QQQ Trust Ser 1 by 223.89%. Stocks that Towercrest Capital Management keeps buyingThis article first appeared on GuruFocus.

A stock illustration of meta and instagram logosInstagram has apologised for wrongly disabling the account of an artist with the handle @metaverse, for a month. Virtual 'glam'Ms Baumann had opened her Instagram account in 2012, the paper reported. She used the name @metaverse in her creative work and an augmented-reality business, Metaverse Makeovers, it said. "This account is a decade of my life and work," Ms Baumann told the NYT. Instagram said the account had been wrongly removed for "impersonation", telling the NYT: "We're sorry this error occurred."

The automaker is launching a six-month pilot project that will have self-driving shuttles bring fresh food to residents of a Detroit senior living center, the Rio Vista Detroit Co-Op Apartments, that might otherwise have challenges fetching groceries. The two have modified the shuttle to help with packing and unloading food, but it's otherwise a stock machine (as far as autonomous shuttles go, at least). There's certainly a degree of publicity grabbing involved — Ford is conducting a pilot that doubles as a goodwill campaign. This will help Ford study slower self-driving technology and remote control, though. It also hints at a future where driverless vehicles help seniors maintain their quality of life when travel is impractical.

Staying in your lane is a lot easier when you know how much of the road is yours to use. Unfortunately, America’s decades-long love affair with performing the absolute bare minimum of basic infrastructure maintenance has left many stretches of the nation’s highway lane markers faded, damaged and obscured. The Honda Road Condition Monitoring System leverages the cameras and GPS navigation systems already found in many of today’s automobiles to monitor the real-time conditions of roads and detect potential hazards. The onboard system will evaluate each stretch of lane marker as green, yellow, grey and red. Green and yellow denote ideal or good quality lane markers, while red indicates markers in need of repair and grey means that there are no markers present at all (like on city streets or rural roads).

On 14 September 2021, Pandora announced an increased share buyback programme, cf. The share buyback programme is executed in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (market abuse regulation). Under the programme Pandora will repurchase shares for an aggregate maximum amount of DKK 3.5 billion. In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, all transactions related to the share buyback programme are presented in detailed form in the spread sheet attached to this Company Announcement. Pandora jewellery is sold in more than 100 countries through 6,700 points of sale, including more than 2,600 concept stores.

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT NO 66/2021 – 13 DECEMBER 2021On 23 August 2021, Royal Unibrew initiated a share buy-back program, cf. company announcement no. The program is carried out under Art. The share buy-back program is expected to be realized in the period from 24 August 2021 to 30 December 2021. The total share buy-back in the period will not exceed a market price of DKK 250 million.

Dec 14 (Reuters) - Fluor Corporation said on Tuesday its nuclear energy unit NuScale Power plans to go public by merging with a blank-check firm in a deal that values the combined entity at $1.9 billion, including debt. Fluor said the deal with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company, would provide NuScale with $413 million in gross proceeds. Special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, are publicly-traded shell companies that merge with an unlisted company to take it public. NuScale intends to use the funds from the deal to scale up its commercial products, including small modular nuclear reactor technology. After the deal closes, the new company named NuScale Power Corporation will list on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "SMR".

(Reuters) -3M Co said on Tuesday it would merge its food-safety business with food testing and animal healthcare products maker Neogen Corp in a tax-free transaction, as the industrial giant sharpens its healthcare focus. The deal gives the unit, which makes products for pathogen testing and allergen detection, an enterprise value of about $5.3 billion, including $1 billion in new debt. "This transaction further evolves our strategy, focuses our health care business and benefits our stakeholders," 3M Chief Executive Officer Mike Roman said in a statement. Shares of Neogen climbed 6% premarket, while those of 3M rose 1.29%. Goldman Sachs is the financial adviser and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz the legal counsel to 3M.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental pill to treat COVID-19 appears effective against the omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi and Julie Hyman discuss Apple's market cap closing in on $3 trillion and JPMorgan's price target for Apple shares. And, Julie, we remain on Apple $3 trillion market cap, watching Apple shares up about 2/10 of a percent, really knocking on the door of that major milestone. It's from JPMorgan, which has now a-- the highest price target on the street on Apple shares. So interesting there because I think of, again, sort of anecdotally of Android users being pretty entrenched, and iPhone users paying pretty entrenched. How much long can it stay past that $3 trillion market cap into the company's earnings in a couple of weeks?

Apple's App Store appApple and Google's “vice-like grip” over the smartphone market is in the sights of the competition watchdog, which warned that the tech giants are harming innovation and consumer choice. The CMA also said it wanted to make it easier for consumers to find and install apps outside the Apple and Google app stores. This could be through alternative app stores from rival firms, or through “sideloading”, where consumers download apps online. While Google’s Android does allow alternative ways of downloading apps, the watchdog accused Apple of having a “total monopoly” over how users put apps on their devices. The watchdog stopped short of demanding “structural separation” of Apple and Google’s app stores or app development teams.

If Apple reaches that number, it would become the first company to hit that $3 trillion market cap. And it adds to the repertoire of things they can have and use, and that Apple can build applications and services for. And then like I said, I think really interesting in '22 is as we move beyond the phones to something different. Of course, Facebook's really, really leaned into that space. And I think that's where people think Apple could potentially do something dramatically different.

Yusaku Maezawa during a space-suit check before his launch to the International Space Station. He said the reports he spent $80 million on his trip were "pretty much" accurate. He defended the cost, saying "those who criticize are perhaps those who have never been to space." A Japanese billionaire who is currently in space has responded to people who criticized him for spending millions of dollars on the trip. In a Monday interview with the Associated Press from the International Space Station, Yusaku Maezawa said: "Once you are in space, you realize how much it is worth it by having this amazing experience.

Human remains have been discovered in the nearly eight-month search for Taylor Pomaski, the missing girlfriend of former NFL player Kevin Ware. Pomaski, 29, was last seen on April 25 at a party in Spring, Texas, about 25 miles from Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said. Ware, a former tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, has not been charged in Pomaski’s case. Ultimately, he was ordered to be held without bail for violating conditions of the previous bond case. Anyone with information on Pomaski’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (713) 274-9100.

The HillPfizer announced Tuesday that a study found that its oral, antiviral COVID-19 pill Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89 percent in high-risk patients.Pfizer said that the 2,246 patients in the study were given the pill within three days of symptom onset, adding that they had mild to moderate symptoms as well as an underlying medical condition or an increased risk of becoming severely infected by COVID-19. The company said...

The largest stock by market capitalization, Apple stock AAPL may only see modest gains going forward, due to its large size. We’ve talked previously here at The Apple Maven about this company’s metaverse exposure. (Read more from Apple Maven: Bulls Pile In, But Apple Stock Falls Short Of $3 Trillion)AAPL Stock and its Metaverse ExposureOver the past few weeks, after the Facebook/Meta Platforms news, the sell-side community has taken a closer look at other major tech names, to handicap their potential as metaverse plays. But to what extent will high demand for these mixed reality devices boost the price of AAPL stock? (Read more from Apple Maven: Apple Stock: It Could Make Sense To Trim The Position)(Disclaimers: this is not investment advice.

Newsletter Get The Wild newsletter. The essential weekly guide to enjoying the outdoors in Southern California. Insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. Enter email address Sign Me UpYou may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Roundhill Investments’ Meme ETF (MEME) looks to ride the updraft in meme mania, but without the concentrated exposure of merely buying GameStop (GME) - Get GameStop Corp. Class A Report or (AMC) - Get AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Class A Report stocks AMC alone. Today, Wall Street Memes reviews this ETF at a high level, and briefly talks about how the fund finds “mooning opportunities” among less-known stocks. The Meme ETF is very new, having launched in December 2021. Top holdings now: DWAC, ROKU and WISHClearly, investing in meme mania through the Meme ETF goes beyond buying and “HODLing” GME and AMC. The 3 largest components today are Digital World Acquisition (DWAC) , Roku (ROKU) - Get Roku, Inc. Class A Report and ContextLogic (WISH) - Get ContextLogic, Inc. Class A Report.

In 2007, a fire destroyed four homes in Malibu, including the oceanfront cottage of “Three’s Company” star Suzanne Somers. (Marcelo Lagos and Simon Berlyn) 2 / 15 The open floor plan. (Marcelo Lagos and Simon Berlyn) 3 / 15 The kitchen. (Marcelo Lagos and Simon Berlyn) 15 / 15 Aerial view of the home. (Marcelo Lagos and Simon Berlyn)Wood accents the exterior and continues inside, lining floors and ceilings in the vast, open-concept living spaces.

All three of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. effectively work in the same way, said Dr. David Pride, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego. But your body will detect them and think an infection is underway, prompting the immune system to swing into action, Pride said. In other words, having no side effects doesn’t mean the vaccine is not working, and having more side effects doesn’t mean it’s working better. California How to handle another COVID holiday season The 2021 holidays will be much different from 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinations are almost always given in a series, and the COVID-19 vaccine is turning out to be no different.

“Icon” is a term so overused it rarely feels accurate, except perhaps in discussing Diana Spencer. Kristen Stewart sports a plaid jacket as Princess Diana in “Spencer.” (Neon / Topic Studios)Tell us about Chanel’s involvement with the film. We mixed the Chanel red coat with a look Diana wore at Sandringham at Christmas once and came up with this look. Kristen Stewart wears a low V-back silk gown with pearls as Princess Diana in “Spencer” with Sally Hawkins as Maggie. Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in “Spencer”.

Seeing through space and timeThe key to Webb’s deep-space vision is its ability to sense infrared light. Past telescopes have been able to capture infrared light, but only in a more limited range of wavelengths. The key is Webb’s large mirror, whose 18 hexagonal pieces will help it absorb as much infrared light as possible. Because infrared light has a wavelength 10 times as wide as visible light, the Webb needed a significantly larger mirror than the Hubble. Telescope mirrors by diameter 4.3 ft Spitzer 3 ft Hubble 7.9 ft Herschel 11.5 ft Webb 21.3 ft Telescope mirrors by diameter Spitzer 3 ft Hubble 7.9 ft Herschel 11.5 ft 4.3 ft Webb 21.3 ftThough older telescopes such as Herschel and Spitzer have used infrared sensors, they weren’t able to deliver the same quality of images with their smaller mirrors.

Eggs in Purgatory is a meatless lunch or dinner concoction made with eggs broken into a perky tomato-rich base. The eggs cook enough for the whites to congeal, leaving the creamy yolks loose enough to meld just-right with the rich tomato sauce when the tines of a diner’s fork intrude. Arrange bread slices on baking sheet in a single layer and drizzle first sides with 2 tablespoons oil; flip slices and drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil. Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in oven-safe 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Repeat with remaining eggs, evenly spacing eggs around perimeter with one egg in center.

Inappropriate speeds and poor lane control are two of the warning signs that it’s time to give up driving. It is so important to discuss how stopping someone from driving will be handled before it becomes a safety issue. I have checked the DMV website and can find nothing to confirm this change in renewal for 70-year-old-plus drivers. I have even written a letter using the information on the DMV contact web page and still no response. Q: We received a renewal notice for my father-in-law’s ID card.

Winter’s first major storm will bring strong winds, rain and mountain snow to the region Tuesday, says the National Weather Service. Wind gusts to 50 mph are forecast for the Las Vegas Valley on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, according to the National Weather Service. Mountain areas will receive up to a foot of snow at the highest elevations as the first major winter storm pushes through the region. The snow should start in the late morning with rain beginning in the early afternoon, weather service meteorologist Todd Lericos said. About a quarter inch of rain is expected across much of the Las Vegas Valley.

Haiti is still trying to recover from the July 7 presidential assassination and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck in mid-August, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes. The country of more than 11 million people also has been hit by a spike in gang-related kidnappings, including 17 missionaries with a U.S. religious organization who were abducted in mid-October. Five of them have been released but another 12 are still being held.

-- P.M.ANSWER: In general, people can expect to have symptoms of acute COVID-19 infection for up to four weeks after the onset of symptoms. Roughly a third of people with symptomatic COVID-19 symptoms will have persistent symptoms. I do recommend vaccination after COVID-19 infection, with or without persistent symptoms. The risk of being infected again within three months of COVID-19 infection is very low. -- L.A.ANSWER: Uterine bleeding in a woman after menopause always raises the concern for endometrial (uterine) cancer, although only about 10% of cases turn out to be cancer.

By MATTHEW PERRONEWASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental pill to treat COVID-19 appears effective against the omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations. She said the Pfizer pill, if authorized by the FDA, “will be another great tool, but we need to diagnose people early.”

The data were gathered from Nov. 15 to Dec. 7, during which time omicron was first spotted by scientists in South Africa and Botswana, and may change as time passes. Experts now say that omicron accounts for more than 90% of all new infections in South Africa, according to Discovery Health chief executive Dr. Ryan Noach. Researchers around the world are rushing to figure out what omicron will mean for the coronavirus pandemic now well into its second year. In the weeks since omicron was detected, South Africa has experienced rapid spread of the virus — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng. The U.K. Health Security Agency said Friday that new data from the U.K. confirm that omicron is more easily transmissible than other variants.

Drivers in several Washington and Clark county areas could see some slick roads early Tuesday as overnight snow fell and accumulated causing icy conditions. #pdxtraffic Travelers to or from the coast this a.m. will likely see slick roads and snow on U.S. 26 and OR 6. Also, showers will begin to taper off by late morning ending any rain/snow mix. #WAwx #ORwx pic.twitter.com/tJBGWtnUT1 — NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) December 14, 2021Until then, be ready for some slick roads, bridges and overpasses as there may be icy spots. Once the system drops south, skies should begin to clear, and we’ll see a break in any rain/snow mix through the evening.

Butler said pizza will be added to the menu when that part of the kitchen is done. He also said a grab-and-go counter will be added to accommodate the boom in residential development in the downtown area. A downstairs function room also is being built.

Anyone who saw the crash or was driving through the area with a dashboard camera is asked to call the investigator, Trooper John Wilson, at 860-534-1098 or email him at john.wilson@ct.gov

In the weeks since omicron was detected, South Africa has experienced rapid spread of the virus — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in the country rose over the past two weeks from 8.07 new cases per 100,000 people on Nov. 29 to 34.37 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 13, according to Johns Hopkins University. The death rate hasn’t increased during that same period.

Portland nuclear power company NuScale said Tuesday it expects to go public in the first half of next year by merging with a publicly traded investment fund. The deal is set to raise as much as $413 million and would give NuScale a total value of $1.9 billion, including debt. NuScale will be the latest in a string of companies in Oregon and Southwest Washington to go public. Fluor says it has provided NuScale with $600 million in funding and plans to retain 60% ownership after the Portland company goes public. Two other Oregon companies went public with SPACs this fall: Wilsonville battery maker ESS Tech and Portland-based vacation rental company Vacasa.

Of that group, 504 cases occurred before or without cataract surgery, while 320 occurred after surgery. “That gave us more reassurance that the result we found is not something we picked up because people were healthy enough to have eye surgery,” Lee said. Because the study was observational, questions still remain before scientists can pin down the mechanisms between cataract surgery and lessened dementia risk. It’s also unclear if cataract surgery could have an effect on someone who has already developed dementia or memory loss. “There’s a tremendous amount of information we can get with noninvasive evaluation of the eye,” Lee said.

The tornadoes that swept through parts of western Kentucky Friday and Saturday, left 74 dead so far and did untold damage and destruction. To help children affected by the storms, Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear is organizing a western Kentucky toy drive, with drop-off locations available around the state. "For many of us, the holidays are a time for being at home surrounded by family and friends," Beshear wrote of the tornadoes and the toy drive. "But this year, many in Western Kentucky have suffered a tragedy. If you prefer to mail donations to the toy drive, those can be sent to 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40299.

Amazon, meanwhile, said workers at the warehouse had little time to prepare when the National Weather Service declared a tornado warning on Friday night. The tornado arrived soon after, collapsing both sides of the warehouse and caving in its roof. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the warehouse received tornado warnings between 8:06 p.m. and 8:16 p.m. Friday, and site leaders directed workers to immediately take shelter. “It was basically a warehouse, with nothing particularly distinctive to Amazon,” said Wulfratt, president of MWPVL International, a consultancy in Montreal. “It seems really kind of ridiculous when you think about what the stakes are.”O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island, and Phillis reported from Edwardsville, Illinois.

Michelle ChapmanAssociated PressKroger, the country’s biggest traditional grocery chain, is ending some benefits for unvaccinated workers as big employers attempt to compel more of their workforce to become vaccinated with cases of COVID-19 again rising. Unvaccinated workers in that category will pay a monthly $50 surcharge for their company health plan. Delta Airlines announced it August that it would charge employees on the company health plan $200 a month if they fail to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The airline also said at that time that it would stop extending pay protection to unvaccinated workers who contract COVID-19 on Sept. 30, and would require unvaccinated workers to be tested weekly beginning Sept. 12, although Delta will cover the cost. Unvaccinated employees also have to wear masks in all indoor company settings.

“This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas in a statement. Verkhoyansk is about 115 kilometers (70 miles) north of the Arctic Circle and a meteorological station there has been observing temperatures since 1885, WMO said. Spokeswoman Clare Nullis said the record reading was the first of its kind in a new category of Arctic temperature monitoring, so there was no previous record to compare it with. Taalas said WMO has never had so many investigations of possible heat records going at the same time, and they take time to verify. The agency says the Arctic is among the fastest-warming regions of the world and is heating up at rates twice those of the global average.

Seth BorensteinAssociated PressNasty winter tornadoes — like the deadly ones last week that hit five states — are likely to be stronger and stay on the ground longer with a wider swath of destruction in a warming world, a new study shows. The study, which pre-dates the devastating Mayfield, Kentucky, tornado outbreak, looks at strength and not frequency of big tornadoes as climate change progresses. Not peer reviewed yet, it was presented in poster form as a peak at new research to be published later. Trapp said that’s because there are two key ingredients needed for tornadoes: unstable stormy weather and wind shear. But as the world warms there will be more opportunity for instability in the winter, he said.

A registered Republican from a conservative family, Bates and her husband have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since April to protect their young son. “I realized pretty quickly that I was on a different side of the issue than my family,” Bates, 31, said. Also clustered in Appalachian counties near Portsmouth, the counties of Brown and Adams are each four COVID deaths away from surpassing the death toll of the first 15 months of the pandemic. Votes predict vaccination ratesPolitical ties to vaccination and death rates mirror national reports and holds true across Ohio. Even age, the single most common factor in deaths, has little influence on predicting community vaccination rates or deaths during the delta surge.

“NEC has been committed to contributing to healthcare for more than half a century, which includes state-of-the-art hospital information systems in Japan. Cancer is now the country’s most common cause of death, and NEC has been working with the National Cancer Center Japan since 2016. Today, NEC remains as dedicated as ever to applying our rich experience in AI and analytics for improving patients’ outcomes,” said Takayuki Morita, President and CEO at NEC Corporation. “BostonGene’s offering of deep molecular and immune profiling, coupled with its computational power and analytics, have already improved the quality of care for cancer patients in both academic and community settings in the United States. Supporting BostonGene’s international expansion enables us to continue to rapidly drive innovation that improves the standard of care in Japan and abroad.”

The boomslang is known as a shy species, but it is one of the most venomous in Africa. Snake catcher Gerrie Heyns confirmed the animal's identity when he arrived at the family's property in Robertson, the Western Cape, soon afterwards. The snake was female and between 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) and 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) long, Heyns told CNN on Tuesday. He said he instructed the family to stay away from the tree, but to "keep their eyes on the snake" until his arrival. "The snake stayed in the tree for two hours until I got there," Heyns said.

As a student, he made his first short films there, including 1967's “The Big Shave, ” a six-minute Vietnam War allegory in which a young man shaves his face until it's a bloody mess. Scorsese earned his masters at NYU in 1968 and continued after teaching undergraduate filmmaking. The school also gave him an honorary degree in 1992, and Scorsese currently sits on Tisch's Dean's Council. While such effects are more closely associated with more spectacle-driven filmmakers, Scorsese used some of its tools in the de-aging process in “The Irishman." He says virtual production represents "a quantum leap forward.”

Two adults were killed and a third was wounded in an early morning shooting Tuesday that police said was domestic-related at a Chesterfield County home. Officers responded about 2:05 a.m. to a reported shooting in the 7400 block of Barksbridge Road in a neighborhood off Belmont Road. Two more victims, both deceased, were located after officers made entry into the residence, police said. Chesterfield police are withholding the names of the deceased until their relatives can be notified. Police declined to provide the circumstances of the shooting but indicated that all three shooting victims lived at the home and are related.

Chinese hackers are already exploiting a 'fully weaponised' software vulnerability which is causing mayhem on the web, with experts warning that it poses a threat to internet-connected devices across the globe. Chinese hackers are already exploiting a 'fully weaponised' software vulnerability which is causing mayhem on the web, with experts warning that it poses a threat to internet-connected devices across the globe. The flaw is considered so serious because the affected software is used in a wide range of devices that use Java software. 'Log4Shell' was uncovered in a utility that's ubiquitous in cloud servers and enterprise software used across industry and government. The vulnerability, located in open-source Apache software used to run websites and other web services, was reported to the foundation on Nov. 24 by the Chinese tech giant Alibaba, it said.

To help you buy gifts that you feel good about (and that benefit more than just your giftee), we at Reviewed have rounded up 29 amazing presents from brands that give back. For the one with opinions about socks: Bombas socksNever underestimate the value of a good pair of socks. For the frequent bather: Hand in Hand soapEveryone can use a nice, fragrant bar of soap in their stocking. For every bar of soap purchased, Hand in Hand donates a soap bar, plus a month of clean water to a child in need. For the well-adorned one: Pura Vida braceletPura Vida has a whole collection of charity bracelets, each of which support a different cause.

New survey shows that nearly 2 in 5 Americans rate their current mental health as ‘fair-to-poor,’ while more than half say the same about their sleep quality. In fact, just 42 percent feel optimistic about post-pandemic life, with most saying that the “new normal” of fearing viruses and overwhelming stress is impacting their well-being. Results show two in three American adults say the pandemic continues to affect at least one aspect of their health and well-being. Moreover, more women and millennials say living through COVID is increasing their levels of stress and anxiety compared to other adults. Four in 10 Americans say they feel “well-rested” after waking up less than half of the time.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 50 people and injuring dozens of others in the latest disaster to hit a country whose troubles deepened greatly this year. The blast occurred late Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated. He said he expects the number of deaths to keep rising because people who died in their homes have not yet been counted. Haiti’s prime minister said his administration was deploying field hospitals to the area to help those affected. Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph also mourned the victims, tweeting, “I share the pain and sorrow of all the people.”

About 3.9 million passengers passed through security last month, a 6% rise from 3.7 million ticketed passengers in November 2019, airport officials said Monday. Thanksgiving holiday travel, the full return of Miami Art Week and the end of U.S. travel restrictions for non-U.S. citizens coming from 33 countries helped boost November numbers. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the airport recorded its busiest day on record with 164,000 passengers. And during the entire 12-day Thanksgiving travel period, 1.7 million passengers passed through the airport, 14% more than the same period in 2019. And the airport recorded its second-busiest day on Sunday, with 163,000 passengers, officials said.

THERE is a very real risk of getting a "duel infection" from both Omicron and Delta, a top vaccine boss has warned today. Dr Paul Burton, chief medical officer for Moderna, said: "In the near future these two viruses are going to coexists." 2 There is now a risk of dual infection with both Omicron and Delta, an expert has warnedHe made the warning as he spoke to the Science and Technology Committee this morning. He added: "Omicron is going to infect people with a very strong background of Delta. "We expect to see Omicron displace Delta there but they are going to co exist together in other places for longer."

Symptoms of the Omicron variant of coronavirus appear to be different from previous strains, doctors and epidemiologists believe. Growing concerns over the Omicron variant have led to speculation over fresh restrictions to stop the new strand overwhelming the NHS. The NHS website is asking that anyone with the three traditional symptoms of coronavirus get a free PCR test as soon as possible, Mirror Online reports. She said her patients presented symptoms of extreme tiredness, mild muscle aches, scratchy throat and dry cough. At a briefing convened by South Africa's Department of Health, GP Unben Pillay listed the symptoms that Omicron patients were reporting.

Microbes in oceans and soils across the globe are evolving to eat plastic, according to a study. The research scanned more than 200m genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations. The results “provide evidence of a measurable effect of plastic pollution on the global microbial ecology”, the scientists said. The results showed consistently higher levels of degrading enzymes at deeper levels, matching the higher levels of plastic pollution known to exist at lower depths.

Some days, however, the volume of online abuse will be quite overwhelming, unbearable even, and I’ll have to temporarily deactivate my Twitter account. More than a third of women, and almost half of younger women worldwide, have experienced abuse online, according to a 2021 study from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Online abuse has become shockingly normalised. And that, of course, is the point of the online abuse – trolls don’t want to hurt your feelings, they want to shut you up. Tech bros have spent years feeding the trolls and that toxicity has seeped into every part of society.

It’s when you deliberately wake yourself up before you fall into a state of deep sleep. Hopefully the hypnagogia will have given you a new and creative way of thinking. Will it also give me a new and creative way of cleaning all this broken glass off the floor? Dr Peter Lovatt mentions in his book The Dance Cure that spontaneous dance can enhance creative thinking and problem-solving. Sometimes you need to shake yourself out of set ways of thinking, and that’s what all of these methods have in common.

What’s a good celebratory meal to make for friends that isn’t a Christmas dinner? Ben, ManchesterWhile Christmas dinner doesn’t necessarily mean a bird, roasties and a vat of gravy, Ben is wise not to overdo things before the big day. “Christmas can be meat-heavy, so I’d suggest a whole baked fish in a salt crust,” says Dan Smith, chef-patron of the Fordwich Arms in Kent. “Sage and onion would be perfect.” Lay a second fillet on top, drizzle with olive oil and roast at 180C. “Or buy a loaf, warm it in the oven and pretend you made it.” Mum’s the word.

Moscow, Russia A supporter of Memorial, the International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society, holds a candle outside the supreme court during a hearing on the motion by the Russian prosecutor’s General Office to liquidate the society, which the Russian authorities consider a foreign agentPhotograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA

No matter who tells me otherwise, check-out time at a hotel is midday. “That’s when the cleaner comes,” I was told by way of a fait accompli. For my second night in Cornwall, I moved to Coombeshead Farm, which several local foodie friends have been trying to get me to visit for years. It’s part of a growing trend that is no longer new – an old property and an attached farm, with what was previously agricultural architecture converted into a restaurant with fancy rooms. Most of what you eat is harvested or slaughtered a few feet from the kitchen where it is prepared.

What if you test positive overseas, and have to isolate abroad for up to a fortnight? If you test positive, you can isolate at home. If you test negative, you’re free to travel – with no need to take a test while you’re away. You’re travelling from city centre to city centre, and the security checks are a lot swifter. I just got back from a three-day train trip to Cologne, and despite the extra rules and regulations it all went swimmingly.

Apple and Google's “vice-like grip” over the smartphone market is in the sights of the competition watchdog, which warned that the tech giants are harming innovation and consumer choice. The CMA also said it wanted to make it easier for consumers to find and install apps outside the Apple and Google app stores. This could be through alternative app stores from rival firms, or through “sideloading”, where consumers download apps online. While Google’s Android does allow alternative ways of downloading apps, the watchdog accused Apple of having a “total monopoly” over how users put apps on their devices. The watchdog stopped short of demanding “structural separation” of Apple and Google’s app stores or app development teams.

Let the turkey restIt’s a crucial part of the cooking time, so never, ever, carve a turkey straight out of the oven. The turkey will continue to cook and the internal temperature will go on rising, by a good 10C. Remove the turkey from the fridge an hour before cooking, to bring it to room temperature. Take the giblets out if you haven't already (they're usually in a plastic bag) and start stuffing the turkey. Turkey cooking timesPreheat the oven to 200C/220C fan/gas mark 6.

"We all went flying and ended up way on the other end of our neighbour's house," they said.Doctors said they believed that Oaklynn had some bleeding around the brain and may have suffered a stroke.

LONDON -Britain will remove all 11 countries from its COVID-19 travel red list from Wednesday because there is now community transmission of Omicron, Health Secretary Sajid Javid told parliament. “Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel red list is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad,” Javid said. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said these testing measures would be reviewed in the first week of January. “As always, we keep all our travel measures under review and we may impose new restrictions should there be a need to do so to protect public health,” he said on Twitter. The 11 countries which will be removed from the list are Angola, Botswana, Eswantini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This is the moment a giant sunfish greeted two paddleboarders off the coast of Laguna Beach in California. Rich German and his friend Matthew Wheaton were on their boards when the sunfish, also known as a mola mola, approached. During the short video, German says to Wheaton: 'That might be the biggest sunfish that I’ve ever seen. Holy mola mola!' Julianne Steers of the Beach Ecology Coalition said the fish spotted by German and Wharton was larger than the normal size fish seen off Laguna Beach.

A truck carrying petrol exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 50 people and injuring dozens of others, officials said on Tuesday. The blast occurred late on Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated. Dozens of bodies lay on the street hours after the explosion as a small crowd stood around them. The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a severe shortage of fuel and spiralling gas prices. Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph also mourned the victims, tweeting, “I share the pain and sorrow of all the people."

Sajid Javid today confirmed all countries will be removed from the Government's international travel red list from 4am tomorrow because Omicron is already running rampant in the UK. As a result he said the red list is 'now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad'. The 11 countries on the list are: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The red list was reintroduced last month following the emergence of the new Omicron coronavirus variant as ministers tried to prevent importing cases into the UK. Despite the change on the red list, tougher travel testing rules introduced in response to Omicron will remain in place.

'While Joe takes his afternoon naps and vacations at his beach house, GAS PRICES AND INFLATION ARE SOARING. People took to Twitter to react to Christian Walker's Instagram post which saw him complain about gas prices wearing a $1,295 hoodie. According to online reports, his father, Herschel Walker, 59, has a net worth of approximately $12million. One tweet said: 'Does Herschel Walker’s son Christian Walker, realize that everyone is laughing at him, not with him? Noting that Walker blamed President Biden for the cost of gas prices, one person asked: 'You know the President doesn’t have a magic lever to raise or drop gas prices right?'

The 'mentally disciplined' Queen 'compartmentalises' to cope with heartbreak of losing Prince Philip and Megxit scandal, a royal expert has claimed. She is mentally disciplined and that has helped her through these 70 years. The 'mentally disciplined' Queen, 95, 'compartmentalises' to cope with heartbreak of losing Prince Philip and Megxit scandal, a royal expert has claimed'It has enabled her to deal with all the things and not allow things to overwhelm her. Meanwhile a source also revealed the royal has been able to 'keeps things separate between family and official issues.' The Queen was last seen in public at a Windsor Castle reception on October 19.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Catania airport was closed Tuesday as Etna belched a kilometre-high column of ash into the sky above Europe's tallest active volcano. The ash was spread southwest towards Catania by a strong wind. It is the latest 'paroxysm' of Strombolian activity by the volcano, vulcanologists said.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - A man who carried out five robberies in Rome dressed as Father Christmas over the last week was arrested in the Italian capital after robbing a tobacconist's on Monday night. The 45-year-old from Novi Ligure, who has a record for drug offences, was found with a fairly large quantity of hashish and rap lyrics celebrating robberies on him.

French soldiers to leave Timbuktu, last of three bases in Northern MaliAfter nine years deployed in Mali, France is organising a drawdown, with troops preparing to leave the last of three bases in the far north of the insurgency-hit and poverty-wracked country. French troops were sent to Mali in 2013 by then-president Francois Hollande to tackle the rebels affiliated to Al-Qaeda or Islamic State in the arid north.

Russian top court to consider closure of most prominent rights group MemorialRussia's Supreme Court reconvened on Tuesday to hear a request to shut down Memorial, the country's most prominent rights group and a pillar of its civil society. FRANCE 24's Chief Foreign Editor Rob Parsons tells us more.

Article contentA recent wave of infections of the delta variant is filling up hospitals, and an out-of-control spread of the omicron strain threatens to overwhelm the health system, prompting the government to unveil a swathe of containment measures. Try refreshing your browser, or Norway introduces booze ban to slow oncoming Omicron wave Back to videoNorway will stop the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, bring back limits on schools and require people to work from home, the government said late on Monday. It will mandate face masks at indoor events, close amusement parks and expand quarantine rules to all suspected virus variants. Adults are advised to cancel sport and leisure activities, and limit social interaction to ease pressure on the health system. “For many, this will be experienced as a lock down — if not of society, then of their lives and livelihoods.”

Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content B.C. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “Everybody should be racing out to get a vaccine (and) booster dose,” Otto said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei connected the life vests of adults and children collected on the island to create “Life Vest Snake,” which is a stark reminder of the ongoing refugee issue. The artist’s first such solo exhibition, “Ai Weiwei: Defend the Future,” showcases representative art spanning his career. “Many people in South Korea had been curious about Ai Weiwei hearing news about the artist but it was mostly from national and political news. The quote comes from “Weiwei-sim: Ai Weiwei,” published in 2012. “Colored Vases” and “Dropping a Han Dynasty Um” by Ai Weiwei (Park Yuna/The Korea Herald)By Park Yuna (yunapark@heraldcorp.com)

A record high temperature recorded in a Russian Arctic town last summer is setting off “alarm bells” over climate change, The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday. The UN agency confirmed after more than a year of calculations that a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius in Verkhoyansk, which is 115 kilometers inside the Arctic Circle, on June 20, 2020, was the highest ever recorded in the region. “This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a statement. “In 2020, there was also a new temperature record (18.3 C) for the Antarctic continent,” he added.

Establishing the new unit, Yuanjing Shengsheng, underlines Alibaba’s interest in the metaverse, a shared, immersive 3D virtual space. Photo: Shutterstock

The direct contracting model was announced publicly in April 2019 and began its implementation phase in October 2020. In May 2019, a calendar alert went out to staff reading “discussion with Landmark on the direct contracting model.” Career staff were appalled. Smith expressed hope for direct contracting as a fix, though the project’s critics note it has the same elements. Smith, able to spot a good business opportunity, launched a health care company, Russell Street Ventures, in June. The latest privatization scheme echoes the Medicare Advantage system, the private-insurer-run version of Medicare currently used by over 40 percent of enrollees.

Both sides have sent more military aircraft and vessels across the East and South China seas and the Taiwan Strait in recent months. Photo: Handout

That was when the Proud Boys began concentrating on local issues, Mr. Holt said. Many Proud Boys’ local chapters have now taken on causes tied to the coronavirus pandemic, with members showing up at protests over mask mandates and mandatory vaccination policies, according to researchers who study extremism. Ms. Hiller said the Proud Boys have shown consistently high levels of activity this year, unlike last year when there was a spike only around the election. “Tell me where I need to be and I am there,” one member of a Proud Boys group in Wisconsin wrote last month about protests of mask mandates. At some local meetings where the Proud Boys have shown up, they have spoken and threatened community leaders, according to news reports.

Zhang Rongrong (top right) with her five boys and two girls, aged from one to 14. Photo: Zhang Rongrong

The revelation from Stella Moris comes days after a British court cleared the way for the WikiLeaks co-founder to be extradited to the US. The jailed founder and publisher of WikiLeaks Julian Assange had a mini-stroke during his battle to avoid extradition from Britain to the United States, his fiancee Stella Moris said late on Saturday. “Julian Assange suffered a stroke on the first day of the High Court appeal hearing on October 27th,” she tweeted. Now.”BREAKING: Julian #Assange suffered a stroke on the first day of the High Court appeal hearing on October 27th. However, on Friday, the US government won the appeal, meaning Assange may now be closer to being sent from London’s high-security Belmarsh prison to the US.

It took days to rearrange a flight home on the same date that a quarantine hotel room was available. They had to stay longer in their AirBnB and re-book their car hire while they waited - on top of extending their car parking and kennels bookings in the UK.

While Public Advocate USA is one of the most vicious anti-LGBTQ hate groups in the nation, their sense of camp is spot on. They’ve made a video – complete with singing, dancing, and whirling umbrellas that spell out “LMNOP” – that celebrates Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) as a modern-day Wonder Woman. Other signs read “Make the family great again!”The faux Wonder Woman does battle with a woman draped in a Pride flag wearing boxing gloves. Her foe’s gloves have a rainbow stripe on one and a Black Lives Matter sticker on the other. But from the folks standing behind Wonder Marge, there are several who are true believers.

British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab had said 250 Omicron patients were in hospital. UK has at least 250 people in the hospital with the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, the British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said on Tuesday. Sky news has said that the Deputy Prime Minister had misspoken when he made this statement. When asked for a comment, a spokesman for the justice ministry told Reuters to call the health ministry and suggested Reuters use different figures. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Monday that 10 people were in hospital with Omicron.

Britain rolled out the visa scheme in January for more than five million Hong Kongers in response to Beijing’s imposition of a sweeping national security law last year. Britain previously predicted about 154,000 Hong Kongers would arrive in the first year, and as many as 322,000 over five years. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced pressure to extend the visa scheme to cover younger Hong Kongers who do not qualify for a BN(O) passport. A poll earlier this year by the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory found one-third of Hong Kongers with a BN(O) passport were considering moving to Britain. Read more:UK foreign secretary says China's new security law violates Hong Kong agreementUK PM Johnson welcomes families who immigrated from Hong Kong under new visa schemeUK opens special visa route for Hong Kong residents to become British citizens

A representation of cryptocurrency Dogecoin is seen in this illustration taken August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationDec 14 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) chief Elon Musk said on Tuesday the electric carmaker will accept dogecoin as payment for merchandise on a test basis, sending the meme-based cryptocurrency up 24%. "Tesla will make some merch buyable with Doge & see how it goes," Musk said in a tweet. Musk had asked users in May if they wanted Tesla to accept dogecoin in a Twitter poll. The EV maker stopped accepting bitcoin for car purchases, less than two months after the company began to accept the world's biggest digital currency for payment.

It's the one year anniversary of the COVID-19 vaccine, here's what to watch in the futureIt's the one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine, so what's next for researchers? Here are some things to watch for the vaccine's future.

These are just a few of the challenges facing holiday shoppers this season. But those who eagerly support secondhand shopping are happy to explain its many benefits. In addition, some thrift stores share profits to support a chosen charity, which makes shoppers feel good about their spending. ?If you’re shopping for a child, head to the office supplies aisle and search the bins for unopened drawing pads, paints, crayons and stickers. If you’re a last-minute shopper and Dec. 25 is creeping up on you all too quickly, remember it’s not too late to find a worthwhile gift at your nearby thrift stores.

He's also the richest person in the world. The magazine announced on Monday that Elon Musk is their Person of the Year. As of Sunday, Musk is hands-down the world's richest person. For some perspective on Musk as the world's richest person, second in line is Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, whose net worth is valued at $198 billion. He actually took a jab at Bezos for falling into second place among the world's richest people.

'We can expect more':Did climate change play a role in the deadly weekend tornadoes? More than 10,000 homes and businesses had no water Monday, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters. How to help Kentucky tornado victims:Donate to relief funds, Red Cross and food distributionJenny Bruce, 65, a former administrator and member of the Dawson Springs Independent School board, was among the dead in Hopkins County, according to the coroner. Before the twister touched down in Mayfield, Stewart said staffers recently moved eight residents out of one of the four wings so construction could take place. – Natalie Neysa Alund, Louisville Courier JournalDid climate change play a role in the deadly weekend tornadoes?

Amazon recently released its annual Toys We Love list, Macy's shared their Hot Toy list and Walmart revealed their Most-Wanted Toys list. “A lot of the Lego experience has become model-building, but these Mario sets are really fun to play and interact with. “It’s just a really fun toy and the design is great,” says Stephanie Oppenheim, co-founder of ToyPortfolio.com. Motorized bumper carsRecommended ages: 1.5 to 6“Ride-ons are always really, really popular,” says Byrne. “It’s a toy that’s all about family time and it’s a great little toy for kids to express themselves with,” says Byrne.

If your child needs time off because they are suffering from crippling anxiety or experiencing a behavioral health crisis, for example, it might not be appropriate for schools or families to label that as a “mental health day” — in fact, doing so might inadvertently minimize mental health disorders, Dr. Koplewicz said. “Everyone has mental health, everyone,” she said. Mott Children’s Hospital said that their teenagers had shown signs of either a new or worsening mental health condition during the pandemic. report found that the proportion of 12- to 17-year-olds visiting emergency rooms for mental health reasons rose 31 percent for most of 2020 compared with 2019. In New York, California and Florida — homes to some of the nation’s largest school districts — there are no state laws specifying that children can take a mental health day.

Half of them had received ECT, while the other half were treated with drugs and psychotherapy. ECT did not seem to increase the risk of serious medical problems, including circulatory, respiratory or genitourinary issues that require a hospital stay, or deaths that were not a result of suicide. In the 30 days after discharge, 105 of the ECT patients had a serious medical problem, compared with 135 among the controls, a statistically insignificant difference. Suicides were rare in both groups, but were significantly lower in those treated with ECT. It contributes a really important element to the discussion about the risk of doing ECT compared to the risk of not doing it in people with severe depression.”

Celebrity legal battles of 2021There were court victories and career-altering legal lows for celebrities in 2021. Here are some of the biggest legal stories of the year.

One of the newest and most striking pieces of tech this year is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 smartphone, and you can get for a hefty price cut if you've got something to trade in during Samsung's exclusive holiday offer right now. The price cut only applies to those who trade in their Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 smartphone. Trading in the Galaxy S21+ smartphone gets you $700 off the Fold3, while the Galaxy Tab S7 tablet has a trade-in value of $350. Once you receive the new phone, you have 15 days to send in your promised trade-in device to Samsung. If you've been waiting on a deal on the Galaxy Z Fold3, head over to the Samsung website and save.

These merino wool coasters from Graf Lantz look cozy under wine glasses and coffee mugs, and they appear modern when stacked on a coffee table. The felt pads are absorbent so they’re perfect for sweaty glasses. Our gifts editor Hannah Morrill, who has used hers for six years, says their vibrant tones haven’t faded and that coffee spills and smoothie drips wipe readily away. (These coasters do collect dust however, but that’s easily remedied with a swift pass of a lint roller.) We like the rounded-square shape, but they also come in a circular version, as well as a variety of single-color or prismatic options.

It's best to make this decision early, as this can help you estimate the account balance you'll need. You'll need to know this when making retirement plans so you can base your financial goals on the costs you'll incur in your preferred destination. What you'll do with your timeHow you'll spend your days is going to affect the amount of money you'll need. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.

A sprawling weather system was forecast to bring torrential rain and heavy snow across California on Tuesday, a day after wreaking havoc on the northern part of the state, meteorologists said. The National Weather Service said there was a slight risk of excessive rainfall over parts of Southern California through Wednesday morning, leading to the possibility of flash floods. In addition, heavy snow, which could reduce visibility and create hazardous driving conditions, was expected over the Pacific Northwest before ending Tuesday night, the Weather Service said.

We both knew that, even in the best of times, holiday social gatherings can be overwhelming. I’m definitely feeling some social anxiety.”That’s a refrain that Paula Zimbrean, a psychiatrist and associate professor at Yale School of Medicine, has heard a lot. “Honestly, if a patient tells me that he or she has no anxiety about resuming life as usual, I start worrying,” she said. “This is to only commit to events where your response is, ‘Hell, yes, I want to do that!’” he said. “If I’m not that excited about it, I will likely pass.” He tells clients that while it may be tempting to dive headlong into the holiday season, it’s important to seek middle ground.

In expressive writing studies, college students taught to reframe their college struggles as a growth opportunity got better grades and were less likely to drop out. A Harvard study found that people who viewed stress as a way to fuel better performance did better on tests and managed their stress better physiologically than those taught to ignore stress. We have a tendency to blame ourselves for life’s setbacks and to ruminate about what we should have done differently. “Telling yourself that a situation is not personal, pervasive or permanent can be extremely useful,” Dr. Grant said. While that may be true, you will get a bigger resilience boost by reminding yourself of the challenges you personally have overcome.

But while these common menopausal symptoms can add to the severity of memory problems, they are not the primary cause of cognitive issues in these women, she said. A six-year study of 1,903 women who were at midlife found that menopause-related symptoms like depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and hot flashes did not account for declines in memory, learning and how fast the brain processes information during the menopause transition. In fact, symptoms similar to those in menopausal women affect many women premenstrually, when there is a short-lived drop in circulating estrogen. But unlike a normal menstrual cycle, the transition through menopause is gradual and typically takes months and sometimes years, making it harder to recognize its link to cognitive problems. The postmenopausal brain, it seems, adjusts to having little or no estrogen on board.

Dozens of people were killed and scores more were wounded before dawn on Tuesday when a tanker truck exploded in northern Haiti, according to government officials. Prime Minister Ariel Henry, writing on Twitter, said around 40 people were killed in the city of Cap-Haïtien and many more were injured when a truck transporting gasoline exploded. No further details were immediately available. The Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported that hospitals were overwhelmed as dozens of people sought treatment. Basic services, long in a state of disrepair, have been battered even more as Haiti has been rocked by cascading tragedies.

More than 40 people were killed and dozens injured after a truck carrying gasoline exploded in Haiti, officials said Tuesday. Crowds panic after the blast, which killed 40 and injured dozens more. Hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed and seeking supplies. TwitterHe said some people were using buckets to scoop up spilled gasoline from the street to take back to their house. The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a severe shortage of fuel and spiraling gas prices.

Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman on Monday admitted he “was wrong” about previously pushing staffers to return to the office while threatening to cut their pay if they didn’t. It’s continuing to be an issue.”Despite his softer tone, Gorman said that most Morgan Stanley employees have been back at the firm’s New York headquarters. “Sorry, that doesn’t work.”As recently as last month, other Morgan Stanley executives have urged staffers to get back to the office. The corporate logo of financial firm Morgan Stanley is pictured on the company’s world headquarters in New York. That means that office workers need to mask up even while sitting at their desks.

A record-breaking 5,674 guns were seized at airport security checkpoints across the US this year, Transportation Security Agency data shows. That’s the best answer I can give you.”The previous record high was in 2019 when 4,400 firearms were confiscated at airport security checkpoints. The most gun seizures this year have taken place in Atlanta, Georgia. David Goldman/APPeople caught carrying firearms face fines between $3,000 and $10,000. Kenny Wells fired his gun in Atlanta after he was told not to touch his bag during a TSA screening.

Mysterious ‘pyramids’This image from Google Earth shows an image some have suggested could be an unexcavated pyramid in Egypt. Google MapsThis image shows the place where planes go to die. Google MapsThis image shows an odd assembly of polka-dots near the cinder cone volcano in Arizona known as Vulcan’s Throne. Google MapsThis mysterious “phantom island” off the coast of Australia lives as a ghost on Google Maps. Google MapsThis image shows 1000 scarecrows in a field in Finland.

“The big projects get all the press but we also have a portfolio of smaller properties as well,” said Drew Turner, development and project manager at Douglas Development. “This was one of those buildings where the principals saw it, and said: ‘This is a great building. We don’t know exactly what we’re going to do with it, but we really like this corner. Let’s go after it.’ We maintained … much of the original historic structure, so all the load-bearing walls are still there. We cut large openings in between the buildings to make connections between them.”

“It was obvious during the interview process Robert was someone concerned about helping others and doing the right thing for his community,” Workman said. The work-release program that had been stalled by the pandemic — much to the disappointment of an eager Daniel — finally started with its first day on Tuesday, Workman said.

The migrants inside the cargo trailer were tossed and crushed in a pile of both the living and the dead. It was one of the worst single-day death tolls for migrants in Mexico since the 2010 massacre of 72 migrants by the Zetas drug cartel in the northern state of Tamaulipas. About 200 migrants may have been packed into the truck, said Guatemala’s top human rights official, Jordán Rodas. Luis Manuel Moreno, head of the Chiapas state civil defense office, said about 21 of the injured had serious wounds and were taken to local hospitals. The federal Attorney General’s Office said three were critically injured in the crash on a highway leading from the Guatemalan border toward the Chiapas state capital.

A young girl, pictured in a photo taking during Saturday's severe weather in Missouri, died during the storm, a family member confirmed. Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home as storms raged across the middle of the country. Seven-year-old Avalinn told doctors she flew around "in the tornado," Hooker said. She said she talked to the girl's mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Hooker said Meghan Rackley's injuries included broken bones, a brain injury and a large cut, and she's asking people to pray for the 32-year-old mother.

Rocket scientists and brain surgeons aren't necessarily any smarter than the general population, a new U.K. study has found, challenging long-held assumptions about these professions. However, a study published Monday in the BMJ sought to finally put to rest the argument as to whether rocket scientists or brain engineers are smarter. The study used the results from 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons internationally, comparing them against the scores of more than 18,000 Britons who had previously completed the test. The authors of the study said there was "no significant difference" in how aerospace engineers scored across any of the areas versus the general U.K. population. The authors of the study said that it was possible that both neurosurgeons and aerospace engineers are "unnecessarily put on a pedestal," based on the findings.

Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls of the day: Chevron, Disney, Apple, Tesla, Nike & morePublished Tue, Dec 14 2021 8:32 AM EST Updated 1 Min Ago

That's why Slavitt, who in June stepped down from Biden's Covid-19 response team , said CEOs should rethink their office reopening plans. In light of the Omicron variant, Slavitt said there's "no question" CEOs should require employees to get boosters. Asked to rank from 1 to 10 how concerned he is about Omicron, Slavitt said he's only a 2 or 3 worried about people who are boosted and in communities where lots of people have boosters. "We're going to be living in most communities with Delta plus Omicron, instead of one superseding the other," Slavitt said. Asked if JPMorgan is right to say 2022 will be the year the pandemic ends, Slavitt said no.

In previous years, he used a shovel to sketch a bear and an owl, always using the same lake as his canvas. Pasi Widgren drew a fox that measures about 295 feet on Lake Pitkajarvi using a shovel. Pasi Widgren / via APWhen he reached Lake Pitkajarvi this month, he tested the thickness of the nice to make sure it was dense enough to walk and work on. A shovel, the tool used to create the fox likeness, is seen by the drawing at Lake Pitkajarvi in Helsinki, Finland. “It’s very important to me also that making this kind of art doesn’t leave any (marks) to nature,” he said.

Human remains have been discovered in the nearly eight-month search for Taylor Pomaski, the missing girlfriend of former NFL player Kevin Ware. Pomaski, 29, was last seen on April 25 at a party in Spring, Texas, about 25 miles from Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said. Ware, a former tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, has not been charged in Pomaski’s case. Ultimately, he was ordered to be held without bail for violating conditions of the previous bond case. Anyone with information on Pomaski’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (713) 274-9100.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 40 people and injuring dozens of others, officials and news reports said Tuesday. The blast occurred late Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated. He said he observed how some people were using buckets to scoop up gasoline from the truck and the street to take back to their house. The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a severe shortage of fuel and spiraling gas prices. Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph also mourned the victims, tweeting, “I share the pain and sorrow of all the people.”

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared new data on TODAY Tuesday about the rate of spread of the omicron variant, which has already been detected in 33 states across the country and 77 nations around the world. "It is more transmissible, and we’re seeing that in other countries as well, that it’s rapidly becoming the more predominant strain, but I want to emphasize that we have the tools now," she said about the omicron variant. "We’re starting to see some early data that is demonstrating some decreased severity," Walensky said. The study also found that two dozes of the Pfizer vaccine gave 70% protection against hospitalization from the omicron variant, compared to 90% against the delta variant. As far as whether being fully vaccinated against the omicron variant means two initial doses of the vaccine or two doses plus a booster, Walensky said "the science is still evolving."

A Belarusian court on Tuesday jailed Sergei Tikhanovsky, the husband of opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, for 18 years for inciting hatred and social unrest. Five of his supporters were also given prison terms ranging from 14 to 16 years, according Belarusian state news agency Belta. They’re repressed for the wish to live in free Belarus,” Tikhanovskaya tweeted after the verdict. Tikhanovsky, a video blogger, was detained in May 2020 as he was preparing to run for president against Alexander Lukashenko. Tikhanovskaya has since been leading opposition to Lukashenko from Lithuania.

Bulgaria must issue identity papers to the child of a same-sex couple without requiring a Bulgarian birth certificate, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled Tuesday. Authorities in Sofia had refused to issue a birth certificate for the child, named Sara, because the country doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages. The court said member countries “are free to decide whether or not to allow marriage and parenthood for persons of the same sex under their national law,” according to a statement to the press. But the court did rule that Bulgaria had to recognize the Spanish birth certificate, basing its decision on the right of free movement for Sara and her mothers. “Member States must recognise that parent-child relationship in order to enable [the child] to exercise, with each of her parents, her right of free movement,” the statement reads.

“This news provides further corroboration that our oral antiviral candidate, if authorized or approved, could have a meaningful impact on the lives of many," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. Pfizer said results showed its treatment appears to work against the Omicron by targeting a protein associated with the strain called 3CL and inhibiting viral replication. Pfizer's treatment consists of three pills taken twice a day over five days. Two of the pills are Paxlovid while the third pill is an HIV drug called ritonavir. The Merck-Ridgeback pill is aimed at adults who have been experiencing Covid-19 symptoms for five days or less.

Still, she says she and her husband divide child care equally — including attending to night wakings. The poll found that 57% of mothers said they provide “all or most” emotional support to their children. Early in the pandemic, by contrast, the study’s authors said, just one in four women had considered leaving. Women are more likely than men to say flexibility at work is important when thinking about whether or not to have a child, 74% versus 66%, according to the poll. According to the poll, 47% of women say having a child is an obstacle for job security at their current or most recent job, compared with 36% of men.

Dow Jones futures dropped 100 points Tuesday on hot inflation data ahead of the start of the Fed's two-day meeting. XAmong the Dow Jones leaders, Apple (AAPL) reversed from early gains Tuesday, while Microsoft (MSFT) dropped 1% in today's stock market. Dow Jones Today: Fed Meeting, Inflation DataAhead of the stock market open Tuesday, Dow Jones futures dropped 0.3%, while S&P 500 futures traded down 0.6% vs. fair value. ANET stock shows a strong 97 out of a perfect 99 IBD Composite Rating, according to the IBD Stock Checkup. Dow Jones Leaders: Apple, MicrosoftAmong Dow Jones stocks, Apple stock reversed from record highs Monday, closing lower after trading as high as 182.13 during the sessions 2.1% slide.

The best and worst places to live if you only care about moneyEnlarge this image toggle caption Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images Michael Ciaglo/Getty ImagesNatchez, Mississippi, is a town of about 15,000 people nestled on the Mississippi River. "The differences in standard of living across places are very large for high school dropouts in particular," Moretti says. So why aren't we seeing a massive exodus from extremely expensive cities? Over the last few decades, college-educated workers have flowed into expensive cities and non-college-educated workers have flowed out. "It wasn't even clear to us before we started this project which places offer the best deals for different kinds of workers," Moretti says.

NuScale Power LLC, a provider of small modular nuclear reactor technology, is going public via a merger with special-purpose acquisition corporation Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. SV, -0.20% , in a deal with a pro forma enterprise value of about $1.9 billion, the companies said in a joint statement Tuesday. The combined company will be renamed NuScale Power Corp., and will list under the ticker "SMR." "NuScale's SMR technology is safe, reliable and scalable and the first and only to receive Standard Design Approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission," said the statement. Fluor FLR, -2.33% , NuScale's majority shareholder, will own about 60% of the combined company and remain a partner to NuScale. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2022.

In just a few short weeks after its detection, the newly emergent Omicron variant of Covid-19 has already spread to every continent save Antarctica. Early studies from South Africa suggest the variant is more infectious than the highly contagious Delta variant, perhaps twice as infectious. What then, are the policy responses and options governments, public health authorities, and communities might take to mitigate the spread of Omicron? Countries like New Zealand and Taiwan, which had led the way on zero Covid measures, were soon forced by Delta spread to give up on this approach. Vaccine coverage, and now boosting with these vaccines, has had significant impacts on reducing severe Covid-19 disease, hospitalization, and death.

Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home as storms raged across the country’s midsection. Seven-year-old Avalinn told doctors she flew around “in the tornado,” Hooker said. Hooker called Annistyn Rackley a “special angel,” recalling the girl as outgoing and energetic despite a rare liver condition that required regular doctor’s visits. She said she talked to the girl's mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Hooker said Meghan Rackley's injuries included broken bones, a brain injury and a large cut, and she's asking people to pray for the 32-year-old mother.

Toyota has outlined its plans for electric cars through 2030 in a big way: It showed a whole bunch of full-size concept cars for both Toyota and Lexus. They aren't outlandish concepts either, and the company says they are previewing future models, of which there will be many. Toyota said it will launch 30 electric models between now and 2030, with a goal of reaching 3.5 million global EV sales by that time. We're covering Lexus in a separate post and focusing on the Toyota cars, here, and there were two sets of Toyota concepts shown. It absolutely looks like a next-generation Toyota Tacoma.

If you're still struggling to come up with gift ideas for the holidays, you can't go wrong with mobile accessories. Anker makes some of our favorite mobile accessories and Amazon has a one-day-only sale going on that knocks up to 36 percent off some of the company's latest devices. If you know someone who could stand to clean up their nightstand a bit, Anker's MagGo desktop charging station could do the trick. It looks similar to Amazon's now-discontinued Echo Spot, but with a powerful magnetic pad instead of a smart display. While the sale mostly includes magnetic accessories, there are a few standard charging gadgets included, too.

Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese billionaire, is currently on the ISS. He said the reports he spent $80 million on his trip were "pretty much" accurate. He defended the cost, saying "those who criticize are perhaps those who have never been to space." In a Monday interview with the Associated Press from the International Space Station, Yusaku Maezawa said: "Once you are in space, you realize how much it is worth it by having this amazing experience. Maezawa blasted into space last week for a 12-day trip.

An Arkansas restaurant is disputing a fired server’s and customer’s story that the waitress was terminated for receiving a generous $4,400 tip from a large party. Waitress Ryan Brandt and another server waited on a party of more than 30 people on Dec. 3. The diners each chipped in $100 that day, leaving a tip totaling $4,400 for the two servers to split. Wise also said that before the tip was made, he called the restaurant to make sure the tip would go to the servers. "The server who was terminated several days after the group dined with us was not let go because she chose to keep the tip money," the restaurant added in a statement .

Snapchat was among the social-media apps and messaging services used by thieves in the Bay Area, one of the law-enforcement officials said. All the incidents were organized on social media, according to local law enforcement. Similar crimes also occurred at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago and other parts of the Bay Area. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESSThe officials said they don’t know whether those incidents were organized on social media. Police agencies around the Bay Area banded together, and promised to share information on such crimes after the election-night robberies.

For his second "Executive Decision" segment of Monday's Mad Money program, Jim Cramer spoke with Dev Ittycheria, president and CEO of MongoDB (MDB) , the database provider. Let's see how the charts and indicators look today. In this updated daily bar chart of MDB, below, we can see that prices have held onto gains from the upside price gap earlier this month. MDB is trading around the 50-day moving average line but still well above the rising 200-day line. In this weekly Point and Figure chart of MDB, below, we used close only price data and a traditional even dollar scaling.

A truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 40 people and injuring dozens of others, officials and news reports said Tuesday. The blast occurred late Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated by the disaster. AdvertisementDozens of bodies lay in the street hours after the explosion as a small crowd stood around them. The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a severe shortage of fuel and spiraling gas prices. Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph also mourned the victims, tweeting, “I share the pain and sorrow of all the people.”

Marvin Jordana, 49, leads a “Honey Bee Therapy” workshop, inviting participants to “enter the sacred realm of the bees.” Jordana, a beekeeper for 10 years, does not extract honey from the dozens of hives he maintains in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)Jordana exudes calm, but now he slowed his movements even more. He calls the session “Honey Bee Therapy” because everyone enters a trance-like state, transfixed by the beauty of something they once feared. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)Cautiously, the visitors stepped forward to look at the busy, bustling world vibrating inside. “What was honey called even before it was called honey?” Jordana asked.

Dry goods stores, the forerunner of department stores, flourished too. The City of Paris department store, begun in the rough-and-ready 1850s as S. Lazard and Company, for Solomon Lazard. On an undated and unsent vintage postcard of the store, someone wrote in fine script, “This is our largest Department Store. In the 1970s, big discount stores began to siphon away some part of the department store trade too. In 1988, Macy’s took over Bullock’s, Bullocks Wilshire and I. Magnin, and Bullocks Wilshire was quickly rebranded to no apparent effect or purpose as I. Magnin.

Medi-Cal will offer recipients like Ruby unconventional in-home “treatments” not traditionally considered healthcare: removing mold, installing air purifiers and even replacing carpeting, blinds and mattresses. But state health officials acknowledge the new asthma benefits may not actually save taxpayer money. Of the 25 participating insurance companies, 11 will offer in-home asthma services starting in January in 36 of the state’s 58 counties. Jacey Cooper, California’s Medicaid director, argued earlier this year that health plans will start small but add capacity over the five years of the initiative. But as in the Inland Empire, only a small share of Central Valley asthma patients will receive the new services initially.

*Walker was born in 1964 in Mississippi, according to a probation report reviewed by The Times. “He went from a highly structured environment in prison to no structure.”Walker became homeless soon after he was released from prison, according to the probation report. Carrillo and Machuca reached out to a team of deputies at the sheriff’s station in Carson who patrol homeless encampments. He told Walker detectives had searched his storage unit. He told detectives, for example, where he had buried the gun he said he had wrestled from Mazariegos.

Related Coverage As their population plummets, right whales are on verge of extinctionMaine lobstermen say they almost never see the whales and aren’t to blame. Scientists say the whales are there, even if Maine fishermen don’t see them, and could die elsewhere after being entangled in Maine lobster gear. But after the government lightened some restrictions in response to pressure from fishermen, whales began dying again, and many of the stricter rules were reinstated. Since then, no right whales have been found dead in Canadian waters. A handful of Vinalhaven fishermen are experimenting with growing kelp, one of several saltwater crops seen as hopeful avenues for Maine’s future.

Change in lobster caught by state Change in thousands of pounds of American lobster commercially caught by state. *Values for 1980 and 2020 represent a five-year rolling average Vinalhaven, Maine Vinalhaven is one of the busiest fishing ports along the coast. The wealth inhibits talk of climate change and of the dimming prospects for Maine’s lobster population. She insists that their family parade float be more than just a picturesque ode to lobster fishing. She hangs the signs on the miniature plywood lobster boat that McCarthy built for his young son Jack as a Christmas present.

COSTA MESA – A woman has been charged with grand theft for allegedly stealing more than $300,000 in merchandise from retail stores in California. Ekaterina Zharkova, 38, was arrested last month after an investigator with the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Theft task force saw her stealing from a Nordstrom Rack in Costa Mesa. Investigators believe she attempted to sell stolen merchandise through a luxury online consignment store. Zharkova was charged with four felony counts of grand theft, one felony count of receiving stolen property, and seven misdemeanor counts of petty theft. She also pleaded not guilty in a felony grand theft case in Los Angeles filed in August, the Orange County Register reported.

It’s not as famous as Big Basin Redwoods State Park, its hallowed neighbor to the south. It removed downed fuels,” said Chris Spohrer, Santa Cruz district state parks superintendent. At one point, backers brought former President Herbert Hoover into the Butano Forest, and he became an advocate to save it. Goodwin Knight vetoed a bill to purchase Butano Forest as a state park. “It’s likely to be on the discovery list for a lot of people,” Barth said, “because they’ll be able to go there before Big Basin reopens.”

The malt-forward strong ale (7.1% ABV) features rich flavors of caramel and chocolate with spicy notes from the hops. Now available on draft, in six-packs and 12-packs of 12-ounce bottles, and in mini-kegs. Now available on draft at New Terrain Brewing Co. (16401 Table Mountain Pkwy., Golden) and to-go in four-pack of 16-ounce cans. Now on draft at Finkel & Garf Brewing Co. (5455 Spine Road, Boulder) and to-go in four-packs of 12-ounce cans. Now available on draft at New Image Brewing Co. (5622 Yukon St, Arvada) and to-go four-packs of 16-ounce cans.

Now she’s started a second series, this one about a Chicago police detective. Local fans may have second thoughts about Nickless leaving Parnell and Colorado behind. Nonetheless, they won’t be disappointed with her new sleuth in “At First Light,” tough Chicago detective Adrianne “Addie” Bisset. Still, they hint that both Bisset and the Sparrow are two of five persons the killer means to murder. Christina, a professor of Germanic studies called in to help solve the mystery of the runes, finds Wilding intriguing enough to flirt with him.

The data were gathered from Nov. 15 to Dec. 7, during which time omicron was first spotted by scientists in South Africa and Botswana, and may change as time passes. Experts now say that omicron accounts for more than 90% of all new infections in South Africa, according to Discovery Health chief executive Dr. Ryan Noach. In the weeks since omicron was detected, South Africa has experienced rapid spread of the virus — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng. The U.K. Health Security Agency said Friday that new data from the U.K. confirm that omicron is more easily transmissible than other variants. For individuals who have previously had COVID-19, the risk of reinfection with omicron is significantly higher than that of earlier variants.

Anyone planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park next summer will likely need a reservation, as the officials continue to manage the amount of daily traffic that comes through one of the country’s busiest national parks. According to spokesperson Kyle Patterson, officials have proposed a timed entry system similar to the one used in 2021. Reservations would be required when visiting May 27 through October 10, typically the high season for hiking and tourism. Rocky Mountain National Park began requiring reservations in 2020 to limit the number of people attending daily during the pandemic. Related Articles Rocky Mountain National Park entrance closed after ranger, driver exchange gunfireThe coziest cabins and chalets for your winter escape in ColoradoRocky Mountain National Park considers increasing daily entry, camping feesRocky Mountain’s representatives are currently discussing the proposal with officials regionally and in Washington and will announce its 2022 plan as soon as possible, Patterson added.

Colorado’s next winter storm is currently burying the Sierra Nevada mountains in California under 50 to 80 inches of snow with 60 mph to 70 mph winds. Energy from that storm is going to eject itself from the flow and zoom across the country — and Colorado is in its path. Snow showers are expected across the San Juan mountains from Tuesday to Wednesday with the heaviest of snow expected overnight into Wednesday. SnowAll mountains in Colorado are expecting snow from this quick-moving system, but the San Juans should benefit the most in regards to total snow. In the San Juan mountains, as this storm blows through, 75 mph to 80 mph winds are possible.

Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to fall, but facilities are still strapped and the virus remains a widespread danger for people who aren’t vaccinated. Hospitalizations for confirmed COVID-19 across the state dropped to 1,294 on Monday — their lowest level since early November, but still slightly higher than in spring 2020. The number of cases probably will rise somewhat as delayed reports come in, though. The delta variant still is dominant in Colorado, with only two cases of the new omicron variant confirmed so far. “What’s happened in the U.K. has happened here, with uncanny levels of similarity,” Carlton said.

Fortunately, Jaime got help from the Institute for Justice, where we provide free legal assistance to people who are trying to pursue an honest living. Submitting a second application was a time-consuming and complex effort spanning months. It required compiling nearly 100 pages of documents: records of court proceedings and probation from 15 years ago, a state background check and supportive letters indicating the model citizen he’s become. Even then, the department demanded additional records — some so old neither Jaime nor any government agency possessed them anymore. Finally, nearly two full years after submitting his first application, Jaime received his EMT certification.

If you’d like to know a little about me, check out the PowerPoint the eager-but-not-too-bright people who came up with me put together. Yep, that’s right. They pretty much spelled me out in a gosh darn PowerPoint presentation titled “Election fraud, Foreign Interference & Options for 6 JAN.” Given the intellect of my creators, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the title was: “WE’RE GOING TO DO AN ILLEGAL COUP AND HERE’S HOW, PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS WITH COPS.”

The the heart of the contractor’s liability, plaintiff’s lawyer William Scherer said during closing arguments, was the failure to complete an “811 locater ticket” for the City of Fort Lauderdale. The documentation would have warned workers they were near a water main that should be avoided. Workers initially thought they had encountered a large natural obstruction, like a rock, according to closing arguments.

Operators of the upscale Ivory House steak and seafood in that Cincinnati neighborhood plan to redevelop the former Bolton & Lunsford Funeral Home buildings at 3042 Harrison Ave. into two restaurants. Ivory House operators, EP Investment Group of Westwood, will turn the north funeral home building into a mid-priced Italian restaurant called Terrazza Trattoria and the south building into an affordable Mexican grill-style restaurant and bar called named Paloma’s. The restaurant development to be called “Alfresco At Town Hall” will be situated in the Westwood Town Center Historic District, across the street from Westwood Town Hall. The nonprofit neighborhood redevelopment group will help EP Investment Group develop Alfresco At Town Hall, where the outdoor dining will be in glass-enclosed spaces and on terraces. Hand said in his email that EP Investment Group will pay about $75,000 for it.

An experimental antiviral drug from Pfizer to help combat COVID-19, delivered in a five-day course of pills, reduced hospitalization or death among high-risk people by 89%, according to a final analysis of a previously released study. Lab studies also suggest the antiviral will remain potent against the omicron variant, which has been rapidly spreading across the globe. Late last month, an FDA advisory committee narrowly recommended authorizing a different COVID-19 antiviral from Merck, called molnupiravir. ? Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 50 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 798,710 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. ? What we're reading: The omicron variant is fueling misinformation about COVID.

Evens SanonAssociated PressPort-au-Prince, Haiti — A truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 50 people and injuring dozens of others, officials said Tuesday. The blast occurred late Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated. Dozens of bodies lay on the street hours after the explosion as a small crowd stood around them. He said he observed how some people were using buckets to scoop up gasoline from the truck and the street to take back to their house. The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a severe shortage of fuel and spiraling gas prices.

By MATTHEW PERRONEWASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

Things to know today: Separate reports reveal effectiveness of Pfizer pill and vaccine vs. omicron; Jan. 6 texts spur contempt vote against Meadows; and more.

Pope Francis’ own role in the deal has come under scrutiny since several witnesses have said he approved negotiating an exit deal with the broker accused of extortion. On Tuesday, assistant prosecutor Gianluca Perone said to date prosecutors had only heard from one person. He said he expected to know by Jan. 20 whether prosecutors would ask for new indictments or for the charges to be dropped. Pignatone has also repeatedly ordered prosecutors to turn over to the defense the videotaped recordings of a key suspect-turned-star witness so the suspects can adequately prepare their defense. The prosecutors initially agreed, then refused, then deposited most of the tapes but with cuts that in some cases amounted to an hour.

Smith asked her students to identify various racial groups, and then had them write stereotypes about each on a large note pad, the lawsuit states. She then led a discussion about the stereotypes and why they’re wrong. The groups her class picked were Blacks, Latinos, Asians, jocks and “courtyard kids,” which Urban Dictionary defines as students ostracized for being different. But a Black Kempsville High School student who saw the picture was offended by it. She posted it on Facebook, saying “this racist stuff at my school needs to stop.” Her mother then complained to the school.

Juarez tells me she was raised Christian, although at age 19 she began to have a more personal relationship with God outside of organized religion. I asked Joseph Russo, a professor of anthropology at Wesleyan University, if this loosely related web of beliefs could ever come together to form into its own kind of religion. The religion of the internet has also already culminated in real-world violence, the most obvious examples being the QAnon-related coup on January 6 and the conspiracy theories surrounding lifesaving vaccines. The religion of the internet posits questions like, “what’s the harm in believing?” and “why shouldn’t I be prepared for the worst?” The deeper you go, the harder those questions are to answer. It’s the same idea, different packaging.”These binaries espoused by internet spirituality — good and evil, demonic and angelic, abundance and poverty — are reinforced everywhere in culture, and not only in the context of religion.

Hyde Park could be redesigned and lost species including beavers reintroduced to London under ambitious rewilding plans. Khan has released £600,000 in funding to assist the project, which will help London reach its net zero goal. Further fundraising will take place, with members of the new London rewilding roundtable group tasked with sourcing private donations. The project will focus on 20-30 of these sites to protect species including stag beetles, sparrows, peregrine falcons and water voles. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty ImagesIt is also hoped the work will help tackle problems that plague Londoners including flooding and air pollution.

Numerous friends and family members called social services to express concerns about Star during her short life. Photograph: c/o West Yorkshire policeSmith and Brockhill also filmed many acts of cruelty against Star, sending them to friends for their own amusement. Halfway through the seven-week trial, Smith pleaded guilty to eight instances of child cruelty against Star between April to September 2020. Ultimately the jury accepted Brockhill delivered the fatal blow and that Smith was not responsible for killing Star. Our thoughts remain with Star’s family, as they have been throughout.”Brockhill and Smith will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Mahershala Ali gives a heartfelt performance in this elegant and rather melancholy sci-fi mystery with which Irish film-maker Benjamin Cleary makes his impressive feature debut. It’s an unsettling picture in the tradition of John Frankenheimer’s Seconds or Alex Garland’s Ex Machina. Sign up to Film Weekly, our newsletter recapping the week in cinema. But Cameron has a terminal illness and fears revealing it to Poppy will devastate her, as she is only just getting over a family tragedy. Anyway, Cameron splitting into two, and then having profound and angry second thoughts about this doppelganger taking over his life, is very commandingly and convincingly portrayed.

The gaming world is fast-moving, and it can be hard to keep up with while also living a busy real life. Video games don’t exist in a cultural vacuum, and they’re not just products that appear and are quickly forgotten. And gaming culture – because it is young, because it is technologically cutting-edge – can give us an insight into what’s on the cards for the world as a whole. People were creating and curating new selves and friendship circles in video game worlds long before they were doing the same on Instagram. Today we ask Dominik Diamond, host of the iconic original GamesMaster TV show and legit games pop-culture legend: were video games better in the 90s?

Peel 1kg of butternut squash, cut into large chunks (about the size of a roast potato), then place in a single layer in a deep roasting tin. Place the empty roasting tin over a moderate heat and add a ladleful of stock. Season with salt and pepper, lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes until the butternut squash and shallots are thoroughly soft and tender. When all is golden and sizzling, remove from the heat and add to the squash. Introduce a few sprigs of thyme to the roasting butternut.

We have a good sex life but for the past few years I have brought up the fact that I feel it’s become very “vanilla”. I have asked for her input on spicing things up, but she’s never given me any ideas. My wife has a very stressful job that is demanding of her time and attention. Stress, fatigue and resentment are three of the main barriers to an exciting sex life, so anything you can do to help alleviate her job strain and money concerns would probably help. If you would like advice from Pamela on sexual matters, send us a brief description of your concerns to private.lives@theguardian.com (please don’t send attachments).

In the year we got a ninth Fast and Furious movie, Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi gave us something at the very opposite end of the petrolhead scale with Drive My Car. You could call it Slow and Circuitous, but that would be doing his monumental, highly moving meditation on how life, art and desire intertwine a huge disservice. Vast in philosophical scope but intimate; beautifully controlled but pulsing with erotic undercurrents, it marks Hamaguchi’s emergence as a new cinematic master. Accepting an assignment to direct a new multilingual production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima, he reluctantly consents to being chauffeured around by the taciturn Misaki (Tôko Miura). Every morning on the way to the theatre, he listens to a cassette recording of Oto’s voice running his lines.

I’m hooked all over again. This mature and savvy show has so much to offer – just don’t tune in expecting Sex and the City. The second episode did have something to say – a lesson about life and friendship – told through my old friends, the gal pals. Photograph: Fadhil Ramadhani/Guardian Community‘It felt too forced and tired’The ending to the first episode felt cheap and I’m just unable to connect to Carrie’s response to it. She was so muted that even the Samantha mention in the second episode has more emotional heft.

And then it slowly dawns on us that the chefs aren’t sure what they should look like either. Just listen to him say “spicy, spreadable sausage” and you’ll need a cold shower, as well as some nduja. The truth is that “professional” in cooking still means an aspiration to Michelin-quality, which inevitably means French, or at least French in spirit. The Michelin guide was first published in France in 1904, but it still holds sway as the Oscars of the restaurant world. French dishes, classical techniques and the so-called “mother” sauces (classed by Escoffier as béchamel, espagnole, tomato, velouté and hollandaise) are still considered the foundation of all fine dining.

If the past year has taught us anything, it's that shopping from independent brands does good for both us and the small business we're supporting. Well, searching among independent brands can lead to you finding your item of choice - and before you know it, you'll be on your way to creating a unique-to-you home. That's why we've rounded up our favourite home brands to share with you - all of which are available to shop from now. Either way, browse through these independent brands for inspiration. The brand is currently predominantly online, but there’s a bricks-and-mortar shop coming to London soon.

In September, celebrity chef Salt Bae famously opened the doors to his Knightsbridge restaurant, Nusr-Et Steakhouse. Now the London restaurant has ranked 20,491st out of the 23,811 on Tripadvisor (Salt Bae – real name Nusret Gökçe – has left the country, which may or may not be connected). Out of the 88 reviews, a mere 16 branded Nusr-Et “excellent”, while others did not hold back their candidly honest “terrible” views. To conclude, they added “Salt bae is a clown, and so are you” – aimed at those who visit the restaurant after reading the horrendous reviews. Indy100 has reached out to Nusr-Et London for comment.

A “vile” man who shared videos of himself masturbating and urinating on the Tube has been jailed. Nikki Darke, 37, of Earlham Grove, east London, posted videos to OnlyFans and Twitter under the pseudonym “public p***er”, according to British Transport Police (BTP). Inner London Crown Court heard how he committed multiple indecent actsm– including urinating on seats and masturbating in front of other passengers – while travelling on the Piccadilly line between February and July. Police found that he also used his online accounts to obtain indecent images of children after seizing his phone. “As a result of our extensive inquiries, we not only reprimanded Darke for the damage he caused to railway property and the indecent acts he was committing, but also for the utterly indefensible indecent images he gathered.

Whether you’re having a few friends around or feeding the whole family, entertaining will feel more special than ever this Christmas – plus, it’s a chance to show off the decorating, table-setting and cocktail-making skills you might have acquired over the past 18 months. If you’re planning a drinks party, start with a cocktail station, whether that’s a fully stocked bar cart, a drinks tray on the sideboard, or a champagne bucket on the kitchen island. Allowing guests to help themselves after you’ve poured them the first drink will free you up from serving duties so that you can enjoy the party – and a collection of bottles, barware, garnishes and glasses always makes for a festive display. For a sit-down lunch or dinner, choose a tablecloth and work up – a patterned cloth and napkins add maximum decorative impact for minimum effort (as well as helping to hide spills), and will jazz up plain white dinnerware.

The lorry is said to have been involved in an accident in the Cap-Haïtien city, and the victims had been trying to gather leaking fuel when it ignited.

He was released after investigations determined that he wasn’t able to obtain or pass on any classified information from Singapore to his foreign handlers. As such, he does not pose a security threat that warrants continued detention,” according to a statement from the Internal Security Department, which comes under Singapore’s Home Ministry. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison by a U.S. federal court in Oct. 2020 and later deported back to Singapore. The department found that Yeo also approached several individuals in Singapore who he thought would have privileged information on certain issues. Yeo set up a company in Singapore and placed employment advertisements on social networking sites to recruit for his foreign handlers, the department said.

Strong rumour that red list will be emptied at 4am tomorrow, meaning no more hotel quarantine from South Africa, Nigeria and nine other African countries. Calling DfT repeatedly for confirmation. Key point: will people currently in now pointless hotel quarantine be able to leave?

This is the hilarious moment a woman was confused when she rode a lift with two doors in southeastern China. The footage shows the woman stuck in the lift as she is unaware the doors have opened behind her. Someone monitoring the CCTV decided to release the footage showing her in the lift and then using the stairs. In 2018, ITV's programme editor Mike Rigby got stuck in a lift going up and down non-stop for an hour. He wrote: 'Our Programme Editor Mike Rigby has currently been going up and down in a lift for half an hour with no sign of escape.

This is the adorable moment a relaxed Golden Retriever played a game of 'lazy fetch' with his owner. Hudson seemed lethargic after surgery in 2019 so Allissa lay on the floor with him and played their first game of what they now call 'Lazy Fetch'. Hudson the Golden Retriever enjoys playing 'lazy fetch' with his owner Allissa Mason from New York CityAllissa said: 'We've learned to cherish every moment with Hudson, whether it's a funny viral moment or an average walk down the street'But Hudson loved this and now likes to play 'lazy fetch' whenever he is tired. 'Since he couldn't play fetch outside, we decided to play fetch inside. 'But Hudson now loves lazy fetch when he's tired.

Archaeologists working in a cave in Italy have unearthed a highly decorated, 10,000-year-old burial of an infant girl — the oldest of its kind known from Europe. The hunter–gatherer child, nicknamed 'Neve', was adorned with shell beads and an eagle-owl talon, reported the team led from the University of Colorado, Denver. Neve was first discovered in the Arma Veirana cave in the Ligurian pre-Alps back in 2017, and then painstakingly excavated the following year. Neve's burial is similar to that of 11,500-year-old infants previously found in Upward Sun River, Alaska, the archaeologists also noted. Archaeologists working in a cave in Italy have unearthed a highly decorated, 10,000-year-old burial of an infant girl — the oldest of its kind known from Europe.

AdvertisementThis heartbreaking photograph shows a family of six giraffes lying dead after they got stuck in the mud in Kenya, as experts warn the drought being experienced by the African country could kill 4,000 of the animals. Pictures of the animals lying together lifeless on the dry, orange earth were taken on Friday in the Sabuli Wildlife Conservancy in Wajir. The corpses of the animals - classified as a vulnerable species - are seen lying on their sides sprawled out across the earth. These include the Maasai giraffe, reticulated giraffe and the Nubian giraffe. Rangers from the Sabuli Wildlife Conservancy supply water from a tanker for wild animals in the conservancy in Wajir County, Kenya Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021

NHS bosses have ordered hospitals to discharge all healthy patients off wards and into care homes and even hotels to handle the predicted Omicron surge. Doctors called for clear messaging on what is considered 'urgent', telling patients not to come in with rashes or common colds. Critics accused the NHS of having transformed into the 'National Covid Service' in the early days of the outbreak, sacrificing other elements of health care. The NHS last night ordered hospitals to discharge all healthy patients off wards and into hotels to handle the predicted surge in Covid patients because of the Omicron variant this winter. Mr Javid yesterday revealed some urgent appointments could be cancelled to accommodate Covid patients in hospitals — although he earlier insisted only non-urgent services would be postponed.

From a plug socket that's covered in damp grime to a gin bottle filled with acetone, safety hazards are rife and not exactly hiding in plain sight. People from around the world have shared the most alarming safety fails they've spotted - with the very best collated in a gallery by Bored Panda. Here, FEMAIL shares some of the best examples...Wood you believe it? Pictured in the USWould you feel comfortable climbing under a temporary home being held up by a forklift truck? This UK venue manager must have assumed that fires don't get through doors that use chairs as locksOnly hopes and prayers are holding together these two ladders.

They found that checking your work emails over Christmas could lead to burnout, mental distress and poor physical health – and can even affect family relationships. Men are also likely to become depressed because most workplaces tend to overlook their mental health. They also had higher emotional exhaustion (61 per cent compared to 42 per cent) and poor physical heath (28 per cent compared to 10 per cent). 'Our research shows that high levels of out-of-hours work digital communication can have a significant impact on your physical and mental well-being, affecting work-family relationships, causing psychological distress and poor physical health,' said Dr Zadow. Checking work emails over Christmas could lead to burnout, mental distress and poor physical health - and can even affect family relationshipsProfessor Kurt Lushington, also at UniSA, thinks employers should use their power to discourage working out of hours.

Gweneth Lee, 49, who lives in upmarket Chelsea in West London, says she will go on illicit dates with the married men she's currently dating before and after the festive break as they juggle time with their families. The jet-setting mistress, who describes her perfect yuletide date as sex in a five-star hotel followed by a designer shopping trip, says her current partners, all married, have dubbed her their 'little Christmas distraction.' Gweneth began using the dating site while she was still married to her oil trader husband, who was also a serial cheat. Mistress Gweneth Lee on having multiple affairs with married men'People stop making the effort and the sex becomes routine. First class: The jet-setter regularly travels the globe with the rich married men she dates'The second is a hedge fund manager worth several millions.

Melting permafrost in Russia's Arctic regions could release ancient and potentially deadly viruses and bacteria, the government has warned. 'Because of this, Russia has initiated a 'biosafety' project within the Arctic Council,' he added. The project will be tasked with assessing 'risks and hazards' related to 'permafrost degradation' and 'future infectious diseases, he said. Some 65 per cent of Russian territory is classed as permafrost - ground which remains permanently frozen even during summer months. Against that backdrop, Vladimir Putin has been increasingly vocal about the threat of permafrost melt and global warming more generally.

Norway has banned alcohol sales in hospitality venues as the country's leaders race to impose new curbs to try and slow the spread of the Omicron variant. Denmark has recorded a total of 3,437 Omicron cases as of Monday, while the UK has recorded a total of 4,713 Omicron infections. France has recorded just 59 Omicron cases so far while Germany has recorded 77, which is much lower than the UK and Denmark. Norway is setting record highs in terms of both new Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations, partly due to the spread of the Omicron variant. It comes as Mads Albertsen, a professor at Aalborg University, said the Omicron variant could be dominant within days.

Apple and Google have created a duopoly over mobile devices and are limiting competition and choice because of their 'vice-like grip' on the market, the UK's competition watchdog has saidWhat could happen to Google and Apple? 'Most people know that Apple and Google are the main players when it comes to choosing a phone. 'Any intervention must tackle the firms' substantial market power across the key areas of operating systems, app stores and browsers,' Mr Coscelli said. We will continue to engage constructively with the UK Competition and Markets Authority as their work on this study progresses.' The Government has also responded to the report, with tech and digital economy minister Chris Philp saying ministers were determined to boost digital competition.

The TV features a 27-inch rotatable screen atop a stand, which you can wheel around the house. The TV features a 27-inch rotatable screen atop a stand, which you can wheel around the houseThe screen is wireless and features a built-in battery. 'LG StanbyME offers unrivalled convenience and viewing comfort with its ergonomic design,' LG said. While you might worry that a TV on a stand might stand out in your house, LG reassures that the StanbyME 'complements a wide variety of decors.' 'When not being used as a TV, LG StanbyME can help set the mood by displaying beautiful artworks, photos or a calendar with clock.'

The outlet tweeted the article on Sunday evening with the caption, 'Kamala Harris has redecorated the VP’s office. 'When folks said she needed to "reset" her office, they didn't mean to LITERALLY reset her office,' Brand said on Twitter. 'Oh, how about, 'She's going to buy a pot on her way to the airport,' Harris told the Chronicle. In her interview with the Chronicle, Harris brushed off several criticisms of her performance as vice president and reports of a feud between herself and the president. At a time when many users have moved on to the near invisible buds and pods connected through Bluetooth, Harris is frequently to be seen conducting remote television interviews with a cable dangling from her ears.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Two guards were hurt in a prison riot at Santa Maria Capua Vetere near Naples on Tuesday, the SAPPE warders' union said. Inmates rioted after getting the news that one of them had tested positive for COVID-19, the union said. They reportedly wrecked their section of the jail and attacked the two officers, who sustained slight injuries.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Strong growth of the new and more infectious Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is likely in Italy, a health ministry expert told ANSA Tuesday. Ministry consultant Walter Ricciardi noted that the new strain would be prevalent in the UK and Denmark by the end of the week, already representing 40% of new cases in Britain. He stressed: "It is presumable that the behaviour of the Omicron variant will be the same in our country, with a strong growth in cases. "The variant's growth trend is in fact proving to be similar in all countries, but we still don't have certain data insofar as we are doing less sequencing than others".

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - An Italian priest was punched in the face after defending a teenager against bullies in Trani in Puglia Monday night, sources said Tuesday. One of the bullies, who had been throwing firecrackers at the boy, attacked Father Enzo de Ceglie after he stepped in in the boy's defence during celebrations for Santa Lucia. Father de Ceglie had to be treated in hospital for facial injuries.

Early indicators suggest that it could be more transmissible, but promising data so far has suggested that vaccines still offer protection against Omicron. The latest research out of South Africa suggested that two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine still offered protection against serious illness. Two doses of the vaccine offered 93 percent protection against earlier variants, according to the companies. But Noach warned that despite the protection offered by two doses, hospitals could still be overrun since Omicron is spreading rapidly in South Africa. So far more than 17 million people have been vaccinated in South Africa, or around a third of the country's population.

'International criminal networks': Bordeaux takes on wine thievesWine held at a police evidence storage facility in Bordeaux, France. © AFPVideo by: Sam BALLAt a police evidence room at an undisclosed location in Bordeaux, more than 1,000 bottles of fine wine, some worth thousands of euros, are stacked up in dozens of cases. They are just some of those stolen by a network of criminals earlier this year before being recovered by police. Crimes targeting Bordeaux's world-renowned wines are becoming increasingly common, say investigators, prompting authorities to fight back with dedicated police patrols and extra security measures.

flood recovery: Gas rationing ends Tuesday, Coquihalla could reopen this year "We don't know what part of the holiday season we can do that, but that's the plan," Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said the Coquihalla Highway could reopen before the end of the year, possibly in time for the holiday travel season. Also Monday, the province announced the end of gas rationing in southwestern B.C. flood recovery: Gas rationing ends Tuesday, Coquihalla could reopen this year Back to video He lauded the work and determination of crews who have been working day and night to make temporary repairs to the damaged freeway. The gas rationing order, which limited drivers of non-essential vehicles in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast and Gulf Island to 30 litres per visit to the gas station, will end Tuesday.

A closed gas station in Port-au-Prince in October 2021 -- gas is in short supply as Haiti battles a severe fuel shortagePort-au-Prince (AFP) – At least 50 people were killed when a gas tanker exploded in the Haitian city of Cap-Haitien on Tuesday morning, according to a local official, with overwhelmed local medics saying the toll was feared to rise. Advertising Read more"I saw on the scene between 50 and 54 people burned alive," Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor said. "I learned with sadness and emotion the terrible news of the explosion of a gas tanker last night in Cap-Haitien," he tweeted. According to Almonor, it appeared the truck driver lost control as it swerved to avoid a motorcycle taxi and the tanker flipped over. Even in well-off parts of the capital, the state-run Haiti electric utility only provides, at most, a few hours of power a day.

By: Anne Borden KingWe are only beginning to understand the impact of the pandemic on patients with cancer, from diagnosis to treatments and end-of-life care. Risk factors for secondary loss include delayed cancer detection; delays in surgery or other treatments; and poor management of treatment side effects. Some Alberta cancer patients took to social media to express their grief. Vaccines have been a miracle, but the crisis in health care is far from over. For example, Ontario is behind by 15.9 million surgeries, some related to cancer diagnoses and treatment.

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said an adventure in military affairs “could be suicidal to say the least” for Beijing.

As Told To: My life with Hirschsprung disease and bowel incontinenceBeau Brockett is Michigan-based, and works in communications for the Michigan Environmental Council. He was born with Hirschsprung disease , a rare birth defect that affects the nerve cells that help move food and waste through the large intestine. Today, he shares his story to help others erase the shame around incontinence, and bring awareness to a rare and difficult disease. My incontinence stems from a disorder that I was born with, called Hirschsprung disease. Everyone has good and bad poop days, and talking about it can help you get educated, change your routine and make healthy choices.

In Illinois, Bond, Cass, Coles, Effingham, Fayette, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Pike and Shelby counties are covered. ADVERTISEMENTBoth Tennessee and Illinois were hit by the tornadoes that tore through much of Kentucky in what was described as one of the largest outbreaks that the U.S. has seen. At least 90 people have been confirmed dead due to the tornadoes, with the majority of the deaths in Kentucky. Six deaths have been confirmed in Illinois so far after an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville collapsed, sparking an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) probe. On Sunday, Biden approved a disaster declaration in Kentucky, making federal funds available through grants for temporary housing and property loss.

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A truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti and more than 40 people were killed, an official said TuesdayThe blast occurred in the city of Cap-Haitien, former Prime Minister Claude Joseph said. "I share the pain and sorrow of all the people," he tweeted. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER MARKS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATESNo further details were immediately available. Le Nouvelliste newspaper reported that dozens have been hospitalized with injuries and that hospitals were seeking supplies. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"We are overwhelmed," a person identified as Dr. Calhil Turenne told the paper.

Pfizer vaccines protect 70% against hospitalization from omicron, South African study findsThe large-scale analysis also found that the vaccine provides just 33% protection against infection from omicron variantLoading the player...A two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination provides just 33% protection against infection by the omicron variant of the coronavirus, but 70% protection against hospitalization, according to a large-scale analysis in South Africa released Tuesday. The study has been carried out in the weeks since omicron was first announced in November by scientists in South Africa and Botswana. South Africa is the first country to experience a surge in COVID-19 driven by the omicron variant. South Africa has experienced rapid community spread — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng — dominated by the omicron variant. Melva Mlambo, right, and Puseletso Lesofi, both medical scientists prepare to sequence COVID-19 omicron samples at the Ndlovu Research Center in Elandsdoorn, South Africa, Dec. 8, 2021.

A general view of the hemicycle at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, November 24, 2021. The committee also agreed to a ban on targeted advertising for minors, extensive rules that requires online platforms to be more transparent on their algorithms and identification requirements for porn platforms. "We are moving in the direction where we get the algorithms to play by the democratic rulebook, they haven't done so today but they will do in future," Christel Schaldemose, a lawmaker who is steering the DSA through Parliament, told Reuters. EU lawmaker Dita Charanzova said the draft rules addressed issues raised by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Tech lobbying group CCIA, whose members include Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, called for a compromise during the January vote on the committee's position.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK -- Swedish media reported Tuesday that a British freighter didn't noticed it had rammed a Danish freighter off southern Sweden, causing the smaller vessel to capsize and leaving one person dead and another missing. The "Scot Carrier" only stopped when it was ordered back by authorities, media said. The British shipping company said crew aboard the "Scot Carrier" were tested for drugs and alcohol after the collision and "two crew members exceeded the limit." A British citizen born in 1991 and a Croatian born in 1965 were detained as suspects in the case. The capsized vessel was towed closer to land so divers from the Swedish Armed Forces and the Coast Guard, among others, could search it.

WASHINGTON -- Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the Omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the Omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that Omicron uses to reproduce itself. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against Omicron because they don't target the coronavirus' spike protein, which contains most of the new variant's mutations.

MAYFIELD, Ky. — Just after 4 p.m. Friday, Mayfield Health and Rehabilitation nursing home residents hunkered down inside the small-town Western Kentucky facility for a tornado practice drill. Mayfield's four-wing, one-story nursing facility suffered catastrophic damage and was declared a total loss by insurance agents Monday. 'Divine intervention'Before the twister touched down in Mayfield, Stewart said staffers recently moved eight residents out of one of the four wings so construction could take place. Green Acres Administrator Dana Radford said when the tornado touched down, the facility housed 42 residents. The aftermath:After surviving tornado, small-town Kentucky residents anxiously wonder where they go from hereBehind her, Next Level Hospitality Services Regional Director of Culinary Services Sarah Waggoner stood near her two-door Honda Accord.

Whether you want to relax, recharge, or reconnect, some hotels are just better than others for romantic getaways in Florida. Casa Monica Resort and Spa – St. AugustineWith a design inspired by Moorish and Spanish Baroque architecture, Casa Monica Resort and Spa is a well-known fixture in St. Augustine’s historic district. The Gasparilla Inn and Club – Boca Grande, Gasparilla IslandSpend a weekend in “Old Florida” style at the Gasparilla Inn and Club, where guests have been checking in for romantic Florida getaways since 1913. For a special treat, arrange for a massage at the hotel’s spa in one of the suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Biscayne Bay. Situated on a North Florida barrier island, this romantic Florida hotel sits along more than a mile of dune-lined Atlantic Ocean beachfront ideal for strolling, paddleboarding and even horseback riding.

— Montana's Glacier National Park will implement a timed ticketed entry system again next summer — from Memorial Day weekend through the weekend after Labor Day — to manage traffic on the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road, park officials said Monday. Going-to-the-Sun Road takes visitors over Logan Pass on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 6,646 feet (2,026 meters). Park officials expect to have about 4,600 vehicles per day on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, spread out over the day. Four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles and the ability to change a tire are recommended for North Fork visitors, the National Park Service said. Arches National Park in Utah announced last week it is implementing a timed entry system next year while Zion National Park is holding a lottery for reservations to hike a popular trail.

Khoresh morgh nardooni (also called anar mosama) is a deeply flavorful dish from the northern provinces of Iran. It is wonderful for Shab-e Yalda, the Iranian celebration of the winter solstice, or for any holiday celebration. Pomegranates on Yalda symbolize a red dawn: the emergence of light and brighter days ahead. Here, the combination of pomegranate molasses and pomegranate seeds showcase the various ways the fruit is used in Iranian cuisine. Featured in: Welcoming Brighter Days On Yalda With Pomegranates.

This recipe is a version of aglio e olio pasta, which is often known as midnight pasta because it can be made quickly with a few pantry staples: garlic, olive oil, red-pepper flakes and pasta. This recipe takes a bit more time because it calls for roasting the garlic first, but doing so adds a complex, mellow flavor to the entire dish. If you’re a planner, you could even roast a couple of heads of garlic in advance. (Roasted garlic will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and in the freezer for up to two months.) Add whatever vegetables or proteins look good to you.

Similar to cucidati, the Italian fig cookies traditionally served at Christmastime, these adorable mini pies are filled with dried figs, dried cherries and almonds, then topped with a pretty almond-flavored glaze. But unlike most cucidati recipes, this one calls for softening the dried fruit in simmering water before it is puréed with nuts and spices. Sometimes dried fruit from the store comes without a drop of moisture left in it, so rehydrating it helps bring back some softness and ensures that the filling doesn’t rob moisture from the pastry as it bakes. Featured in: 24 Days Of Cookies.

In 1510, when the Portuguese invaded Goa, a region on the west coast of India, they brought with them a dish called carne de vinha d’alho, a sailors’ preserve of pork stored in wine vinegar and garlic. Goan cooks reimagined the dish with local ingredients, like cinnamon, black pepper and coconut palm vinegar, and it came to be called vindaloo. Chiles are always included, but the dish is not traditionally superhot. In this version, the pork benefits from slow cooking in the vinegar and spices, making marination unnecessary. The blender does double duty: It purées the aromatics and grinds the whole spices at the same time.

Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. ‘Slides of Sedition’The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is looking into a 38-page PowerPoint document sent to President Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, that included plans to overturn the 2020 election. “PowerPoint? They weren’t just trying to overturn democracy, they were trying to bore it to death,” Stephen Colbert said on Monday night.

When New Yorkers hunt for well-made chocolate, they go far beyond the tourist-clogged Hershey and M&M stores in Times Square to a wealth of purveyors in every borough. Carlos Cortés, the creative director of a 92-year-old family-owned chocolate company in Puerto Rico, hopes to create a new destination for chocolate enthusiasts in the Bronx. On Friday, Chocobar Cortés plans to open its first brick-and-mortar location on the United States mainland, Chocobar Cortés NYC, on a busy block in the Mott Haven neighborhood. The restaurant and cafe will be not only an expansion, but also a reconnection with the Puerto Rican diaspora. “We want to start where our community is, and then grow from there,” said Mr. Cortés, 34, the scion of the bean-to-bar company, which also operates in the Dominican Republic.

The Supreme Court seems all but certain to rewrite the country’s abortion laws when it rules in coming months on a case from Mississippi. In another scenario, the ruling could lead to sweeping changes in abortion access and a large decline in abortions. That’s one of the takeaways from a statistical portrait of abortion in the U.S., created by my colleagues Margot Sanger-Katz, Claire Cain Miller and Quoctrung Bui. The narrow path …During oral arguments at the Supreme Court this month, all six Republican-appointed justices suggested that they would uphold the Mississippi law, which bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. It is less clear whether the justices will go further, scrapping Roe v. Wade entirely and allowing states to outlaw all abortions.

Carey and other unnamed accomplices tried to contact Williams and Lanway on March 10, prosecutors said. They showed up at Williams’s apartment, but the attempt to speak with her was “unsuccessful,” according to court documents. That day, they also allegedly tailed Lanway in a grocery store but did not approach him directly.

She had a single photograph of her firstborn child that she sometimes slept with, her daughters recalled. She would cradle the black-and-white framed image tightly in her arms, like a baby. In it, both mother and baby look healthy and cared for, so it is possible it was taken before Rapaport was shipped to a concentration camp, or perhaps mother and daughter were both released from the camp, at least for a time.

Pegasus is a moneymaker for NSO, bringing in around half of its revenue. But it’s also highly controversial. It has been used to target journalists, human rights activists and business executives, an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 media partners found. The U.S. government blacklisted the firm last month, blocking it from receiving U.S. technology, after the Biden administration found that it was used to “maliciously target” academics, activists, government officials and journalists.

The office is “so small that to survive it is necessary to keep the door open to obtain the necessary cubic feet of air,” Marshall wrote in his book. Capitol guides pointed him out to tourists as if he were “a curiosity,” he wrote; so he “went to the door one day and said, ‘If you look on me as a wild animal, be kind enough to throw peanuts at me; but if you are really desirous of seeing me, come in and shake hands.’ ”

“The streets were packed and all people were chanting ‘with souls, with blood, we redeem you, Yemen,’ ” said Alaa Hussein Mohammed, 30, who watched the game with friends in the southern city of Aden, where the Southern Transitional Council, a secessionist group, is also competing with the government for control. “There was no place for politics. We were all one: in the north, in the south, everywhere.”

Trang was initially detained in Ho Chi Minh City on Oct. 6 last year, the same day that officials from the United States and Vietnam held discussions on human rights and freedom of expression. Following her arrest, Trang was held incommunicado until Oct. 19 this year, when she was allowed to meet with one of her lawyers.

Equally space out up to 8 cookie dough balls on the second lined baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, then rotate the pan from front to back and bake for another 8 minutes, or until the edges are caramelized and the centers are puffy, but still a little pale and underbaked (the cookies will set during cooling). Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet until cool enough to handle, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough, making sure your baking sheet is cool before adding more dough.

“Our primary challenge is we just don’t have enough people resources to match up with the effort required to operate flights and serve our customers. The root cause is we just need more people resources, period,” Kelly told analysts. “An assumption that I made was that we were going to call them and say, ‘Okay, it’s time to come back,’ and they were going to show up, and everything’s going to be just like it was. … I personally underestimated that coming into this year.”

In an early analysis, a second ongoing study that was designed to test whether the pill, called Paxlovid, relieved covid-19 symptoms faster in people who are not considered high risk found no benefit for symptom relief. But the pill regimen did cause the amount of virus in patients’ bodies to plummet and reduced the already low risk of hospitalization and death, though the result was at the edge of statistical significance, a sign that it could be due to chance.

is up to 88 people , with 74 in Kentucky, which was hit hardest. At least 109 people in that state are unaccounted for, so that number will probably grow.

Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. The updates come as COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalization are all rising again and the U.S. hovers around 800,000 pandemic deaths. Late last month, Merck said that its pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by 30% in high-risk adults. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFX strategist names the currencies he likes going into 2022Francesco Pesole, FX strategist at ING, names the currencies he believes will be on the up in 2022.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDr. Gupta: Looking at hospitalizations vs. daily COVID case rates is keyDr. Vin Gupta, pulmonologist and global health policy expert at the University of Washington, discusses what the public and medical community should be more focused on than daily COVID case rates, and why the FDA and CDC should redefine what "fully vaccinated" means.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSoftware AG CEO: We're a totally different company than 3 years agoSoftware AG CEO Sanjay Brahmawar discusses private equity firm Silver Lake's investment in the German company and its decision to remain a publicly listed company.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInternational travel is on a long, slow slog back: Fmr. Spirit Airlines CEOBen Baldanza, former Spirit Airlines CEO and host of the podcast ‘Airline Confidential’, joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to discuss the return of international travel.

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPfizer's Covid drug reduced hospitalization, death risk by 89% in final resultsCNBC's Meg Tirrell joins 'Squawk Box' to break down the final results from a Phase 2/3 clinical trial of Pfizer's coronavirus pill, known as Paxlovid.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailToday's RBI: Positive news at the gas pumpBrian Sullivan details data from from GasBuddy that suggests gasoline prices may finally be starting to come down both nationally and in specific regions of the country.

AMC Entertainment (AMC) – The movie theater operator's stock slid 6% in premarket trading, after extending a losing streak to 3 days with a more than 15% plummet Monday. Last week, CEO Adam Aron sold all his holdings in AMC while CFO Sean Goodman sold the bulk of his AMC stock. Beyond Meat (BYND) – The maker of plant-based meat substitutes saw its stock jump 4.8% in premarket action, putting it in a position to break a 3-day losing streak. Tesla (TSLA) – Tesla shares slid 1.5% in premarket trading after CEO Elon Musk sold more of his holdings to cover tax bills generated by the exercising of stock options. Neogen (NEOG) – The food safety company's stock surged 12.1% in premarket trading after it announced a deal to combine itself with the food safety division of 3M (MMM).

Pfizer on Tuesday said final analysis of its antiviral Covid-19 pill still showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast-spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus. Nobody in the trial who received the Pfizer treatment died, compared with 12 deaths among placebo recipients. The Pfizer pills are taken with the older antiviral ritonavir every 12 hours for five days beginning shortly after onset of symptoms. Pfizer also released early data from a second clinical trial showing that the treatment reduced hospitalizations by around 70% in around 600 standard-risk adults. The U.S. government has already secured 10 million courses of the Pfizer drug for $5.29 billion.

A customer wears a face mask as they lift weights while working out inside a Planet Fitness gym as the location reopens after being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on March 16, 2021 in Inglewood, California. Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images

Kroger employees put groceries and other goods into plastic totes. Those totes are gobbled up by a grid where robots help retrieve items for customers' online orders. Kroger will eliminate some Covid-19 benefits for unvaccinated employees starting next year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing a company memo. Kroger will no longer provide two weeks of paid emergency leave for unvaccinated employees who contract Covid-19, unless local jurisdictions require otherwise, and will also add a $50 monthly surcharge to company health plans for unvaccinated managers and other non-union employees, according to the report. The reported push to get more employees vaccinated comes as U.S. President Joe Biden faces setbacks in implementing his vaccine-or-test mandate for private businesses.

Hundreds of kayaks decked with Christmas lights and decorations lit up the winter darkness in the Danish capital as they floated through the city's canals to celebrate Saint Lucia's Day.Dec.

Additional data from Pfizer's clinical trial of its oral COVID-19 antiviral drug confirm the treatment's high level of effectiveness, the company said in a news release Tuesday. In the final analysis of its Phase 2/3 clinical trial, the antiviral, called Paxlovid, was found to be 89% effective at preventing high-risk people from being hospitalized or dying from COVID, the company said. Experts say an antiviral pill for COVID would have a major impact on the pandemic by making treatment available at home. Two of the pills are an experimental antiviral called nirmatrelvir; the third pill is an existing HIV drug called ritonavir. The FDA has yet to authorize the drug, called molnupiravir.

People wearing face masks following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak walk on a street in Shanghai, China, December 14, 2021. Zhejiang has reported 217 locally transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms in just eight days since the first case on Dec. 6. Major industries in Zhenhai, which has a port, include manufacturing of precision machinery and chemicals. PROVINCE ON ALERTWhile the factory closures are limited to certain districts, the general public in Zhejiang face broader restrictions. "After all, Wenzhou is not a big city and COVID-19 prevention work remains a top priority," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The first major real-world study of the omicron Covid-19 variant found that it appeared to cause less severe illness in South Africa, where it was first discovered last month, but that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine offer reduced protection against it. South Africa is the first country to experience an omicron-driven surge. The South African study Tuesday was led by Discovery Health in collaboration with South Africa's Medical Research Council, SAMRC. The study found that two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech provided just 33 percent protection against infection in South Africa compared with unvaccinated people. South Africa has so far used both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Winter and autumn warm cozy sweaters for charity. Is there anything more frustrating than when expensive fabrics like wool and cashmere begin to deteriorate? Luckily, there are a few simple items available that can give these fabrics a much-needed refresh, leaving them looking and feeling practically new despite years of use. Wool or cashmere coats and sweaters are generally big-ticket items that don’t come cheap, but they can last a lifetime if they are properly cared for. AdvertisementWe hunted down the most highly-rated fabric-saving products at a range of price points, so you don’t have to turn to pricey professionals to revive your wool and cashmere items every winter season.

The ban is part of new COVID-19 restrictions intended to stem the spread of the Omicron variant | JACK TAYLOR/AFP via Getty ImagesNorway will ban the serving of alcohol in bars and restaurants, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, as part of new COVID-19 restrictions intended to stem the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. There's "no doubt the new variant changes the rules," Gahr Støre told a news conference Monday, announcing the country's fourth round of measures in two weeks. "For many this will feel like a lockdown, if not of society then of their lives and of their livelihoods," the PM added. Norway has reported the largest outbreak of Omicron in continental Europe, with 958 cases confirmed, according to the daily bulletin of the EU’s disease control agency on Monday. The number of hospitalizations has remained steady with around 30 new patients admitted every day in December.

The U.S. drugmaker last month said the oral medicine was around 89% effective in preventing hospitalizations or deaths when compared to placebo based on interim results in around 1,200 people. Nobody in the trial who received the Pfizer treatment died, compared with 12 deaths among placebo recipients. Rival Merck & Co (MRK.N) has asked for emergency use authorization of its antiviral pill molnupiravir. However, Dolsten said that for next year he expects the drug will be mainly produced by Pfizer. The U.S. government has already secured 10 million courses of the Pfizer drug for $5.29 billion.

In an ideal world, you have an endless supply of money and can shower everyone in your life with presents without considering the price tag. But in this world, with rent, utilities, car payments and more, you have a pretty firm budget for your holiday shopping. Whether you’re trying to find a sweet but affordable gift for your bestie or need something small but thoughtful to give your new brother-in-law, these gifts under $10 will show you care without breaking the bank. The key for scoring a sweet present for under $10 is keeping it simple, but elevated. To make your online shopping even easier, we’ve rounded up the best bougie-looking presents under $10 to give this holiday season.

A great-looking desk calendar offered at MoMA from Japanese studio Good Morning features 3D cityscapes of Tokyo, New York and Paris. (MoMa Design Store via AP)This image provided by MoMA Design Store shows a city landscape calendar. A great-looking desk calendar offered at MoMA from Japanese studio Good Morning features 3D cityscapes of Tokyo, New York and Paris. (MoMa Design Store via AP)Why are many of us still drawn to paper calendars in this digital age? For history fans, the History Channel’s 2022 This Day in History will be a trove of interesting facts.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. AdvertisementSeparate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

FILE - This undated image provided by Pfizer in November 2021 shows the company's COVID-19 pills. (Pfizer via AP, File)FILE - This undated image provided by Pfizer in November 2021 shows the company's COVID-19 pills. (Pfizer via AP, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. ADVERTISEMENTBoth the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 40 people and injuring dozens of others, officials and news reports said Tuesday. The blast occurred late Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated. He said he observed how some people were using buckets to scoop up gasoline from the truck and the street to take back to their house. The explosion occurred as Haiti struggles with a severe shortage of fuel and spiraling gas prices. Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph also mourned the victims, tweeting, “I share the pain and sorrow of all the people.”

FILE - Afghans inspect damage of Ahmadi family house after U.S. drone strike, Aug. 29, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Afghan survivors of an errant U.S. drone strike in August that killed 10 members of their family, including seven children, said Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, that they are frustrated and saddened by a decision that no U.S. troops involved in the strike will face disciplinary action. (AP Photo/Khwaja Tawfiq Sediqi, File)FILE - Afghans inspect damage of Ahmadi family house after U.S. drone strike, Aug. 29, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Afghan survivors of an errant U.S. drone strike in August that killed 10 members of their family, including seven children, said Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, that they are frustrated and saddened by a decision that no U.S. troops involved in the strike will face disciplinary action. (AP Photo/Khwaja Tawfiq Sediqi, File)KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Afghan survivors of an errant U.S. drone strike in August that killed 10 members of their family, including seven children, said Tuesday they are frustrated and saddened by a decision that no U.S. troops involved in the strike will face disciplinary action.

Pfizer data shows that its COVID-19 pill is effective against severe diseaseEnlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesPfizer released additional data about its pill to treat COVID-19 that shows it was effective in preventing hospitalization and death when taken by people with mild to moderate illness within a few days of first symptoms. The medicine, called Paxlovid, is taken twice a day for five days in combination with a second medicine called ritonavir, a generic antiviral. When taken with five days, the drug reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 88%. Preliminary results from a second study showed a 70% reduction in hospitalization risk among several hundred people at lower risk for severe disease. If the agency authorizes the medicine, the U.S. government has a contract with Pfizer to buy 10 million courses for $5.3 billion.

Vaccine protection vs. omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe diseaseEnlarge this image toggle caption Shiraaz Mohamed/AP Shiraaz Mohamed/APThe new coronavirus variant, called omicron, was first identified in South Africa only about a month ago and is already spreading quickly in Europe and North America. The Moderna shot isn't available in South Africa. But this new study does offer really good news when it comes to vaccine protection against severe disease: That dropped a bit but not nearly as much as protection against infection. That's a drop from 90% observed during the previous surge in South Africa when the delta variant dominated. In South Africa, many people have been exposed to the coronavirus virus.

By Michael DabaieMedtronic PLC said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance for its INVOS 7100 cerebral/somatic oximetry system for children from birth through age 18. The FDA clearance expands use of the system, helping clinicians better monitor organ-specific oxygen levels and identify warnings signs for neonates and children earlier, the company said.

The U.K. competition regulator said Tuesday that its interim report has found that a duopoly of Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google limits competition and choice, and that the firms are “exercising a vice-like grip” over mobile devices. The Competition and Markets Authority said its report into mobile ecosystems suggests users are losing out because of the companies’ control. It had launched a probe in June over concerns that Apple AAPL, -2.07% and Google GOOGL, -1.47% have too much power over the iOS and Android operating systems, respectively, along with their app stores and web browsers.

The analysis was based on more than 211,000 positive COVID-19 test results, 41% from adults who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The study has been carried out in the weeks since omicron was first announced in November by scientists in South Africa and Botswana. South Africa is the first country to experience a surge in COVID-19 driven by the omicron variant. South Africa has experienced rapid community spread — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng — dominated by the omicron variant. Encouragingly though, the result shows that these same vaccinated individuals who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine have 70% protection against hospital admission in this same time period.

Pfizer Inc. PFE, +4.59% said Tuesday that final data from a late-stage trial of its COVID-19 antiviral found it reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% within three days of symptom onset by 89% and reduced it by 88% within five days of symptom onset, compared to placebo. The drug giant said there were no deaths reported in non-hospitalized, high-risk adults with COVID-19 compared to placebo. The data has been shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of an ongoing rolling submission for an Emergency Use Authorization. The Phase 2/3 trial involved 2,246 adults and the results were consistent with an interim analysis released in November, Pfizer said in a statement. Pfizer shares were down 1.7% premarket but have gained 50% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 SPX, -0.91% has gained 24% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.89% has gained 16%.

Footprint International Holdco Inc., a maker of coating technologies that allow plant-based materials to compete with traditional plastic-based materials, is going public via a merger with special-purpose acquisition corporation Gores Holdings VIII Inc., the companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday. The deal is expected to create a company with an estimated enterprise value of $1.6 billion. The new company will be named Footprint International Inc. and will trade on Nasdaq under the new ticker "FOOT." Footprint was founded in 2014 as a material science company using plant-based fiber technology. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2022.

A truck carrying gasoline exploded in northern Haiti, killing more than 40 people and injuring dozens of others, officials and news reports said Tuesday. The blast occurred late Monday in the city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said, adding that he was devastated. No further details were immediately available. Police didn’t immediately return calls requesting information.

Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow as authorities continued to work around debris that slowed recovery efforts. Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage. Still, efforts turned to repairing the power grid, sheltering those whose homes were destroyed and delivering supplies. Across the state, about 26,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, according to poweroutage.us, including nearly all of those in Mayfield. Five twisters hit Kentucky in all, including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles (320 kilometers), authorities said.

(Adds details and quotes)LONDON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is showing a higher rate of reinfection that other variants and its growth rate is shortening in the United Kingdom, the Health Security Agency's chief medical adviser said on Tuesday. "This is growing very fast with a growth rate of initially two to three days, and that growth rate seems to be shortening rather than lengthening," Dr Susan Hopkins said. "We are seeing a higher rate of reinfection than we've seen before," Hopkins said. Hopkins said infection from one variant of coronavirus should protect against severe disease from another variant, but it may not protect against mild disease or from transmission of the virus. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton, Editing by Paul Sandle)

And valuations, it notes, “have almost never been the sole cause of a market correction.”BNP also details the exuberance elsewhere, such as in options. As for institutional investors, there’s a high bar to decrease allocations to equities while real returns for many assets are low or negative, the so-called there-is-no-alternative, or TINA, trade. Historically, the team says, it’s the end of the tightening cycle, not the start, that has been problematic for stocks. Historically, U.S. sales growth has been correlated to global nominal gross domestic product growth (that is, real growth plus inflation). BNP’s estimate of 4.8% real GDP growth, and 4.1% consumer-price index growth, translates into earnings per share growth of 12.4%, 5 percentage points above the consensus.

Forget toys, give the gift that really does keep on giving: investments. Here's what to know about custodial accounts and how they can become a kid's best gift.

Vestager's proposal needs to be ironed out with EU countries and lawmakers next year before it can become law, the first of its kind in the world. The committee also agreed to a ban on targeted advertising for minors, extensive rules that requires online platforms to be more transparent on their algorithms and identification requirements for porn platforms. "We are moving in the direction where we get the algorithms to play by the democratic rulebook, they haven't done so today but they will do in future," Christel Schaldemose, a lawmaker who is steering the DSA through Parliament, told Reuters. EU lawmaker Dita Charanzova said the draft rules addressed issues raised by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Tech lobbying group CCIA, whose members include Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, called for a compromise during the January vote on the committee's position.

After teasing, delaying and just generally riling up retro gamers, Analogue’s Pocket is almost here. So while he racks up enough hours of play for a full review, we get a few first impressions. Analogue has announced that orders for the Pocket open again today. If you want this surprisingly authentic taste of handheld gaming’s past, it’ll set you back $220. If it follows you for 10 minutes, you can use the app to tell the tracker to play a sound, making it easier to find.

Associated PressA car that was stuck partly submerged near the brink of Niagara Falls after a daring rescue attempt last week went over the falls this weekend and cannot be seen from the shore, state parks officials said Monday. The car was last seen in the churning rapids above the American Falls at about 9 p.m. Saturday amid rising water and heavy winds. The car was gone from the brink by daybreak Sunday when the water receded, according to a statement from the state parks department.

Pony.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving company backed by Toyota, can no longer test fully self driving vehicles in California, for now at least. According to Reuters, the DMV suspended its driverless testing permit on November 19th, a few weeks after a reported collision in Fremont. While Pony.ai won't be able to test fully autonomous vehicles in California anymore, it can continue its trials with safety drivers behind the wheel. The company has 10 Hyundai Motor Kona electric vehicles registered for testing and only secured its driverless testing permit six months ago for three cities in the state. It's the eighth company to receive that kind of permit in California, following the likes of Waymo, Cruise and Baidu.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

In a statement accompanying the report, the joint committee on the draft Online Safety Bill’s chair, Damian Collins, said: “The Committee were unanimous in their conclusion that we need to call time on the Wild West online. “We want the Online Safety Bill to be easy to understand for service providers and the public alike. Back in 2019 the government quietly dropped an earlier plan to introduce mandatory age checks for accessing adult websites — saying it wanted to take a more comprehensive approach to protecting children from online harms via what’s now called the Online Safety Bill. However child safety campaigners want the bill to go further — and so, it seems, does the joint committee; albeit in a “proportionate” way. “We want all online services likely to be accessed by children to take proportionate steps to protect them,” the committee writes.

Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. NFL is requiring COVID-19 booster shots by Dec. 27 — 9:18 p.m.Associated PressThe NFL is requiring players, coaches and other team personnel to receive a COVID-19 booster by Dec. 27. Panic spreads in an instant even if, as with the Omicron variant, the extent of the threat is not yet known. New UK Omicron cases double as country plans daily tests — 10:51 a.m.BloombergThe U.K. confirmed 1,239 new omicron cases on Sunday, almost double the 633 cases reported the day before. Boris Johnson will speak later Sunday about accelerating the U.K.’s vaccine booster program.

Pfizer on Tuesday says final analysis of its antiviral Covid-19 pill still shows near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients. Pfizer (PFE) - Get Pfizer Inc. Report on Tuesday said final analysis of its antiviral Covid-19 pill still showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients. The complicated results suggest the pill remains likely to become a standard treatment for Covid patients at risk of developing severe disease. That analysis was based on more than 211,000 positive Covid-19 test results, 41% from adults who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. About 78,000 of these positive Covid-19 test results between Nov. 15 and Dec. 7 were attributed to omicron infections.

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provides just 33% protection against infection by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus but 70% protection against hospitalization, according to a large-scale analysis in South Africa released Tuesday. About 78,000 of these positive test results between Nov. 15 and Dec. 7 were attributed to infections by the Omicron variant. The study has been performed in the weeks since Omicron was first announced in November by scientists in South Africa and Botswana. South Africa is the first country to experience a surge in COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant. South Africa has experienced rapid community spread — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng — dominated by the Omicron variant.

Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears to be effective against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The company said separate laboratory testing showed that the drug retained its potency against the Omicron variant, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that the Omicron variant uses to reproduce itself. Both the Pfizer pill and a rival one from Merck are expected to perform well against Omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients.

Stocks set to open lower as the Fed kicks off its last meeting of 2021; U.K. watchdog eyes Apple and Google; GameStop, AMC, slump further; and Elon Musk sells more Tesla stock. Apple shares were marked 0.24% higher in pre-market trading at $176.16 each while Alphabet was little-changed from last night's close at $2,916.53 each. -- Tesla CEO Elon Musk Unloads More SharesTesla (TSLA) - Get Tesla Inc Report shares moved lower in pre-market trading following a move by founder and CEO Elon Musk to sell another batch of stock in the clean-energy carmaker. AMC Entertainment shares were marked 6% lower in pre-market trading Tuesday to indicate an opening bell price of $21.86 each, while GameStop slumped 4.3% to $130.93 each..5. Amazon said it would co-operate with the probe,Amazon shares were marked 0.05% higher in pre-market trading to indicate an opening bell price of $3,392.00 each.

Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. If granted, the pills would be the first COVID-19 treatments that Americans could pickup at a pharmacy and take at home. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

His face remained emotionless as Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick served him his sentence for murdering 33-year-old Rachel “Elias” Meisenheimer: 20 years to life. Then, he will serve 16 years to life, an indeterminant sentence for the second-degree murder of his former partner in July of this year and the enhancement of the use of a deadly weapon. Paepke turned himself into law enforcement July 1, days after killing Meisenheimer in her vehicle and driving her around in it. Meisenheimer’s family, however, detailed Paepke’s aggression against her that began with allegedly predatory behavior and ended with her family and friends having to enter this holiday season without her. She said, ‘This is going to be life-changing for me.’”Before turning Paepke in, Meisenheimer had left him.

Now we are lucky to have a local population of more than 2,500 elephant seals. Most importantly for people who want to view them, the colony expanded to Drakes Beach in the winter of 2019 during the government shutdown. Try calling the Visitor Center to find out if staff is available at Drakes Beach on a given day since the Drakes Beach Road may be closed if there isn’t adequate staff. To check on the handful that are over-wintering in Marin, go to the Drown Road Trail at Fort Baker in the Marin Headlands. Wendy Dreskin has led the College of Marin nature/hiking class Meandering in Marin since 1998, and teaches other nature classes for adults and children.

SAN DIEGO — Police and prosecutors bugged a holding area of a Southern California courtroom to secretly record two people who were accused of murder in a move defense lawyers say violated their rights. The case involved Marjorie Gawitt, 63, who was killed in March 2019 during a burglary at her Carlsbad home. Attorneys for James have filed misconduct allegations against the district attorney’s office, alleging that the recording violated her constitutional rights and court rules that ban recordings inside courtrooms. Prosecutors “used the courtroom to place their thumb on the scales of justice,” they said in court papers. Prosecutors argue that the recordings were legal because the holding area was technically considered a “detention facility” under control of the sheriff, despite the area being inside a court rather than in a jail.

San Rafael police detectives say they have arrested a juvenile suspect in an investigation of social media threats against members of the Davidson Middle School community. At 8 p.m. Friday, San Rafael police began investigating reports from parents and students about a social media post threatening harm to students and faculty at the school. Police contacted school officials about the threats and worked with the social media provider to identify a suspect and their source, according to Sgt. The person did not have the means to carry out the threatened actions described in the social media post, police said. Police are in contact with the school’s officials about the details of this case, which will be forwarded to the Marin County District Attorney’s Office.

As a recent wave of mob-led store robberies has put retailers, mall operators and communities on edge, one popular shopping center is keeping an unusual security measure in place through the holiday season. The Grove, a famous open-air shopping complex in Los Angeles, has added a high coil fence barrier that resembles barbed wire at the property’s entrances and exits. Management added the “tangled tape” coil fencing, which is made from a custom aluminum-and-steel mesh, ahead of Thanksgiving weekend. “The coil wire is a reasonably new technology in retail crime prevention,” said Mike Lamb, an expert in retail security and former vice president of asset protection and safety at Walmart, Home Depot and Kroger. At Los Angeles’ nearby Citadel Outlets shopping center, for example, general manager David Blagg said security has been tightened there too: “We have also increased our onsite security staff around the clock and have stationed security personnel throughout the center.

The quake hit 112 kilometers (69 miles) north of Maumere, on Indonesia’s Flores Island. The USGS said it struck at a depth of 18.5 kilometers (11 miles) in the Flores Sea at 10:20 a.m. local time (10:20 p.m. Maumere is the capital city of Sikka and the second-largest town on Flores with a population of about 90,000 people. Related Articles Earthquake swarm continues off the US Pacific Coast. In December 1992, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Flores Island, killing more than 2,000 people.

Science journalist Catherine Price wants you to recapture that joy. If we’re all in agreement that we really like fun, why do we have so little of it? To boost your fun, Price recommends taking a fun audit, keeping a fun-times journal, writing a personal fun history, mapping fun magnets and building a fun squad. Price cautions: Beware of fun inhibitors like spoilsports, judgy types, perfectionism and (worst of all) “Fake Fun.” Fake Fun is like junk food. “Fake Fun takes us in directions we don’t actually want to go and leaves us feeling vacant, anxious, unfulfilled, and numb,” Price writes.

The San Jose Police Department tries to unravel the traffic and metalhead gridlock, while the traveling Metallica “Load on the Road” show continues onward. San Jose rock station 98.5 KOME had rebranded from classic rock to “New Rock” — successfully straddling the two. According to a KNTV news report, Tower Records manager Barbara Williamson said she talked to San Jose city officials and was told they didn’t need a permit. “In reality, you don’t answer questions that have not been asked.”Such details matter little to Metallica fans like Jason Clark. The city also stuck Tower Records with a $7,000 tab for police, fire and emergency medical services.

My solution is to give a gift card, which the recipient can spend on whatever they might need or want. This child is turning five, and although I know I can’t come empty-handed, I also don’t want to give any gifts. — I’m Not CheapDear Not Cheap: There is no need to buy anything in order to give a child a wonderful gift. She can talk it over with you, make her selection, and enjoy her special birthday gift along with you. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O.

Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage from Friday night’s storms. Andy Beshear said in announcing that lodges in state parks were being used to provide shelter. More than 10,000 homes and businesses have no water, and another 17,000 are under boil-water advisories, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters. Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 in western Kentucky. Five twisters hit Kentucky in all, including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles (322 kilometers), authorities said.

In 2020, Asare began selling Sharay's Ghana Style Brittle at farmers markets, to store owners and on Facebook videos. Nostalgia started Asare's unexpected journey, but it continues largely because Sharay's brittle doesn't stick to teeth. Turns out that peanut brittle lovers don't love the clingy ways of typical American brittles. "But it seems I’ve resolved an issue people have with the regular peanut brittle.”When peanut brittle doesn't stick to teeth, it's easier to grow a business by word of mouth. Gold Coast Candy was launched with Sharay's Ghana Style Brittle as its first product.

DEAR ABBY: My husband is in his 40s and permanently disabled from injuries received in a recent automobile accident. DEAR ABBY: I’m a woman of 28. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O.

The suicide rate in the National Guard is higher on average over the past five years than the rate among full-time and reserve military personnel. Within months, all four Wisconsin National Guardsmen took their own lives. The four Wisconsin Guard members who died by suicide in a five-month spanMore:What should the Guard do to reduce suicides? The National Guard Bureau declined to be interviewed about Baldwin's letter. “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on interpersonal correspondence between elected officials and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau,” bureau spokesman Wayne Hall said.

“It’s what he has done after the military that I am most impressed with,” he said. “My dad is my role model. There were no words. These actions taught me how to be a husband. He showed me.”

On that matter of who was responsible, Hannity said, “I don’t care if the radical left, radical right — I don’t know who they are. They’re not people I would support. So how were officials not prepared? We got to answer that question. How did they allow the Capitol building to be breached in what seemed like less than a few minutes?”

In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. But the drug did achieve a second goal by reducing hospitalizations by about 70% among that group, which included otherwise healthy unvaccinated adults and vaccinated adults with one or more health issues. Less than 1% of patients who got the drug were hospitalized, compared with 2.4% of patients who got a dummy pill.

Cold-stun turtle season sets in later than normalTwo East End nonprofits - the Marine Rescue Center and the Hampton Bays-based American Marine Conservation Society, on Friday began rehabilitating a total of 36 sea turtles. Credit: NYMRC

WASHINGTON — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

JOHANNESBURG — A two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination provides just 33% protection against infection by the omicron variant of the coronavirus, but 70% protection against hospitalization, according to a large-scale analysis in South Africa released Tuesday. The study has been carried out in the weeks since omicron was first announced in November by scientists in South Africa and Botswana. South Africa is the first country to experience a surge in COVID-19 driven by the omicron variant. South Africa has experienced rapid community spread — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng — dominated by the omicron variant. Hospital admissions among adults diagnosed with COVID-19 attributed to omicron is 29% lower compared to the COVID-19 wave that South Africa experienced in mid-2020, after adjusting for vaccination status.

Two East End nonprofits - the Marine Rescue Center and the Hampton Bays-based American Marine Conservation Society, on Friday began rehabilitating a total of 36 sea turtles. Credit: NYMRC

An experimental antiviral drug from Pfizer to help combat COVID-19, delivered in a five-day course of pills, reduced hospitalization or death among high-risk people by 89%, according to a final analysis of a previously released study. Lab studies also suggest the antiviral will remain potent against the omicron variant, which has been rapidly spreading across the globe. Late last month, an FDA advisory committee narrowly recommended authorizing a different COVID-19 antiviral from Merck, called molnupiravir. ?On the heels of a record 37 players testing positive for COVID-19 on Monday, the NFL is requiring Tier 1 and 2 employees to obtain COVID-19 vaccine boosters. ? What we're reading: A year after the first COVID-19 vaccine, here's what's next for researchers – and what worries them.

Matthew PerroneAssociated PressWashington — Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they don’t target the coronavirus’ spike protein, which contains most of the new variant’s mutations.

Bidgely is an AI-powered SaaS Company accelerating a clean energy future by enabling energy companies and consumers to make data-driven energy-related decisions. Powered by our unique patented technology, Bidgely's UtilityAI™ Platform transforms multiple dimensions of customer data - such as energy consumption, demographic, and interactions - into deeply accurate and actionable consumer energy insights. We leverage these insights to empower each customer with personalized recommendations, tailored to their individual personality and lifestyle, usage attributes, behavioral patterns, purchase propensity, and beyond. With roots in Silicon Valley, Bidgely has over 17 energy patents, $75M+ in funding, retains 30+ data scientists, and brings a passion for AI to utilities serving residential and commercial customers around the world. For more information, please visit www.bidgely.com or the Bidgely blog at bidgely.com/blog.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that he has applied to be the next governor of Norway's central bank in an appointment that would last for six years if he gets the job. The current governor of Norges Bank, Oeystein Olsen, is retiring in early 2022 after holding the position since Jan. 1, 2011 for two terms. Stoltenberg told Norwegian news agency NTB on Tuesday that he was contacted by Norway’s Finance Ministry in November and asked if he would consider applying. “I have now done that, and this is a job I am very motivated for,” Stoltenberg told NTB. Stoltenberg, a former prime minister in his native Norway, became NATO secretary-general in 2014.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that he has applied to be the next governor of Norway's central bank in an appointment that would last for six years if he gets the job. The current governor of Norges Bank, Oeystein Olsen, is retiring in early 2022 after holding the position since Jan. 1, 2011 for two terms. Stoltenberg said he was contacted by Norway’s Finance Ministry in November and asked if he would consider applying. “I have now done that, and this is a job I am very motivated for,” the NATO chief said in a statement. Norges Bank, the central bank,confirmed that Stoltenberg applied for the position.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Motorists spun out on whitened mountain passes and residents wielded umbrellas that flopped in the face of fierce winds as Northern California absorbed even more rain and snow on Monday, bringing the possibility of rockslides and mudslides to areas scarred by wildfires following an especially warm and dry fall across the U.S. West.

One in 100 older Americans has died from the virus. In both sharp and subtle ways, the pandemic has amplified an existing divide between older and younger Americans. By now, Covid-19 has become the third leading cause of death among Americans 65 and older, after heart disease and cancer. The virus deaths of older people have sometimes been dismissed as losses that might have occurred anyway, from other causes, but analyses of “excess deaths” challenge that suggestion. The post As U.S. Nears 800,000 Virus Deaths, 1 of Every 100 Older Americans Has Perished appeared first on New York Times.

New data from South Africa and Europe hint that Omicron cases are poised to explode in the U.S., where the vast majority of the population isn't well protected against infection. But the variant is less likely to lead to hospitalization in adults than the original version. During the current Omicron wave, the two-dose regimen was 70% effective against severe disease requiring hospital admission. They found children had a 20% higher risk of hospital admission than they did from previous variants. European countries have also been reporting that the variant is spreading rapidly, with cases doubling every two to three days.

But Maund decided to do something else instead: He paid to have the pair killed, prosecutors say. That same day, Maund “communicated multiple times” with Gilad Peled, the owner of Austin-based firm Speartip Security. According to the indictment, Brockway owns a security company and served in the Marine Corps’s Force Reconnaissance, a Special Operations intelligence unit. The next day, Carey and Brockway drove to Memphis, where Brockway got on a flight to Austin, the indictment says. All four men will be transferred to Nashville, prosecutors said.

“We are tipping,” Grant Wise hollered so the entire party could hear, “a total of $4,400.”Cheers erupted from the table. The money was to be split between Brandt and the other servers who waited on Wise’s party. Others who didn’t eat at Oven & Tap that night added to the tip with donations. Oven & Tap co-owner Mollie Mullis denied to KNWA that Wise asked about the restaurant’s tipping policy in advance. On Dec. 7, the owners told Brandt they were firing her because she’d told Wise how his party’s tip was being distributed, Horton said.

Additional data from Pfizer's clinical trial of its oral Covid-19 antiviral drug confirm the treatment's high level of effectiveness, the company said in a news release Tuesday. In the final analysis of its Phase 2/3 clinical trial, the antiviral, called Paxlovid, was found to be 89 percent effective at preventing high-risk people from being hospitalized or dying from Covid, the company said. Experts say an antiviral pill for Covid would have a major impact on the pandemic by making treatment available at home. Two of the pills are an experimental antiviral called nirmatrelvir; the third pill is an existing HIV drug called ritonavir. The FDA has yet to authorize the drug, called molnupiravir.

Technically, any podcast you listen to while you walk is a walking podcast. If you’re after a companion, try Apple’s Time to Walk series, which is available to Apple Fitness+ subscribers with an Apple Watch. Obviously your enjoyment of this series will be directly linked to how much you like each presenter. National Trust walking podcastsThere are two ways to listen to the National Trust’s series of walking podcasts. There are a number of different walking scenarios to choose from – nature, the city, home – but they’re all rooted in basic mindfulness techniques.

Nuclear Biscuit, a simulated experience, allows US officials to wargame a missile attack and see the devastating consequences of their choices. Players experience what the president would have to do in the event of a nuclear crisis: make a decision that would end many millions of lives – and quite possibly civilisation on the planet – with incomplete information and in less than 15 minutes. Here's a snippet of the game as completed by Julian Borger, our world affairs editor

A 104-year-old woman has fulfilled her dream to learn to read. After starting in April, Kuttiyamma achieved 89% in literacy and 100% in mathematics in the Kerala state primary literacy exam last month, the oldest woman to do so. Kuttiyamma had been curious about reading and would often try to make out the alphabet herself, but when she was born in a village to a low-caste rural family, there was no education. Her neighbour Rehana John, a 34-year-old literacy trainer, persuaded her to start to learn to read. Previously, John’s oldest student had been 85

What could prove to be the longest tornado in US history has left a trail of destruction from Arkansas to Kentucky, part of a vast storm front that is feared to have killed at least 100 people in southern and central states of the US. A candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, and an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, were just two of the buildings destroyed in Friday night’s storm, which was all the more unusual because it came in December, when colder weather normally limits tornadoes

Hospitals increasingly are worried that a growing number of COVID-19 cases in several states will push them beyond their breaking point, even before the omicron strain really hits U.S. shores hard. ADVERTISEMENTSome public health experts worry that omicron could only make things worse, even in an optimistic scenario where the new variant doesn’t lead to deadly cases. New Hampshire and Maine officials also announced the National Guard’s deployment last week to assist with its overwhelmed hospitals. It’s unclear if and how the omicron strain could affect the demand on hospitals. Preliminary data suggests that the omicron strain may cause less severe illness but could be more transmissible than the delta strain.

And they were told by their bosses that offices are this nucleus of productivity that holds the fabric of our organization together. And then the pandemic comes, we all get forced into this experiment, and productivity doesn’t suffer – workers pull it off. If you can figure out the balance so that when you are working, the work is great and when you’re not working, you’re not thinking about your work all the time. But when I really started doing the inventory of [my work life balance], it was deeply upsetting. So we’re doing work all the time.

So you can imagine what happened when the Metropolitan Police bizarrely decided to take a festive approach to hunting suspected criminals, by posting an odd video advent calendar in which a new suspect is revealed daily for the public to watch out for, up until December 25 itself. The lovely video starts with a red background and words with the jolly “12 days of Christmas crime” appearing on the screen, as cartoon snow falls gently. It then moves to an image of an advent calendar of 12 alleged wrong’uns silhouetted behind doors and it’s time to open door number one! This all seems pretty odd but the Met don’t appear to agree. But reacting to it, people thought the calendar was in pretty bad taste and just utterly bizarre.

British Airways has confirmed plans to launch a new budget operation at Gatwick with flights starting in March. It will use the British Airways name but exist as an "entirely separate entity". It will initially be run by British Airways, starting with three Airbus short-haul planes before ramping up to 18 aircraft by the end of May ahead of the summer. By autumn 2022 flights will be managed separately under the BA Euroflyer name, but the brand name will remain British Airways. The vast majority of British Airways' short-haul flights from Gatwick have been suspended since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Downing Street staff have been warned not to delete evidence relating to last year’s alleged Christmas parties, amid fears that vital information may have been wiped from Government email servers. All three allegedly occurred when the public were subject to strict Covid-19 restrictions on household mixing and gatherings. Should evidence of criminal wrongdoing be found, this would lead to Mr Case’s investigation being paused. Staff were also told some of them would be summoned in the coming days to give evidence to the ongoing investigation. However, in comments that suggest the inquiry may struggle to uncover all the evidence related to the three events, Mr Reynolds muted that emails are automatically deleted after 90 days as part of routine security procedures.

Taking a role at a Michelin-starred restaurant is no mean feat, but it’s a challenge that Gary Foulkes has firmly risen to. Foulkes began his culinary at just 17, taking on a weekend role at a local hotel after a school work experience stint. I believe that if we all cook seasonally and responsibly, seafood will be available for people to enjoy for a long time to come. Does cooking in a hotel restaurant influence your style? That’s the whole point of a restaurant – to serve food that delivers pleasure, otherwise I don’t see the point.

This recipe doubles down on its olive oil flavour by fortifying its sauce with a generous amount of torn green olives. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain. While the pasta’s cooking, in a large casserole dish, stir together the olive oil, walnuts and olives. Add the pasta and ¼ cup pasta water to the walnut mixture. Cook over medium-low, stirring and adding pasta water as needed, until the pasta is well coated.

During the initial lockdowns, a long period of isolation may well have been a necessary measure to protect public health against Covid-19 but it has been acknowledged that it could also have a detrimental impact on people’s mental health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) last year released a mental health guide for people who are self-isolating saying: “This time of crisis is generating stress in the population.”So what should you do if your mental health is suffering during self-isolation or while working from home; are there ways to ensure you safeguard your emotional and mental wellbeing during a potentially extended period of being alone? But Emma Carrington, advice and information manager at Mental Health UK, says: “Do your best to eat well. “Our physical health and mental health are linked so try to create a routine that includes some physical exercise,” he says. The World Health Organisation says: “A near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause anyone to feel anxious or distressed.

I don’t feel they saw what I was going through as being as serious as it was. And I don’t just mean in the weighing room but everywhere within the sport. Much has been made of the fact that in the closing submissions of the hearing, Louis Weston, representing the BHA, described the weighing room culture as “rancid”. Frost said: “It’s important to say there are extremely professional, good people in the weighing room. “I’ve already been made to feel I am part of the weighing room, they do want me to sit down and have a cup of tea with them.

The giant protests that broke out following last August's election were suppressed by riot police, with clear evidence that they used torture. There were also mass arrests: the Viasna human rights group has counted more than 700 political prisoners so far, including several of its own members.

Maxim Znak told the BBC it was because of a lack of evidence. He said there was only one reason why the trial was held in secret, because the charges "don't exist".

Thwaites Glacier is a river of ice the size of Great Britain. Currently, it is held back by an ice shelf, a floating extension of the glacier held in place by an underwater mountain. But recent research as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration has shown that this ice shelf is "under attack from all sides". AdvertisementMassive fractures are also forming and growing across the ice shelf surface. Thwaites Glacier currently accounts for around 4% of global sea-level rise - double that of the mid-1990s.

LONDON – The Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is showing a higher rate of reinfection that other variants and its growth rate is shortening in the United Kingdom, the Health Security Agency’s chief medical adviser said on Tuesday. “This is growing very fast with a growth rate of initially two to three days, and that growth rate seems to be shortening rather than lengthening,” Dr Susan Hopkins said. “We are seeing a higher rate of reinfection than we’ve seen before,” Hopkins said. Hopkins said infection from one variant of coronavirus should protect against severe disease from another variant, but it may not protect against mild disease or from transmission of the virus. And may not protect you from transmitting to others.”

– British Airways’ short-haul flights from London’s Gatwick airport will start by March end, with an initial plan to fly to 35 destinations, the airline said on Tuesday. The airline had in August announced its intention to create a short-haul standalone business at Gatwick, similar to its operation from London City Airport, which works under the British Airways name but exists as an entirely separate entity. The company, owned by London-listed IAG, said tickets to the destinations would be on sale from Tuesday. The new unit’s operations will herald the airline’s return to short-haul flying from the London airport, which was suspended in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. The recovery at British Airways, typically IAG‘s most profitable airline, has fallen behind the group’s Spanish units, Iberia and Vueling, as Britain steered through tougher and longer restrictions than Europe.

Movie director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” was announced Monday as one of the Golden Globe nominees for the best non-English language film. The three-hour drama is based on novelist Haruki Murakami’s short story of the same name in the author’s 2014 collection, “Men without Women.”The other nominees in the non-English film category this year are “Compartment No. Hamaguchi and screenwriter Takamasa Oe won the Best Screenplay Award for “Drive My Car” at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Last year’s best motion winner in the non-English category was “Minari,” a movie about South Korean immigrants pursuing the American dream in rural Arkansas. The winners of the 79th Golden Globe Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Jan. 9.

Chinese hackers are already exploiting a 'fully weaponised' software vulnerability which is causing mayhem on the web, with experts warning that it poses a threat to internet-connected devices across the globe. The vulnerability comes from Apache's Log4j, a popular open source library that helps software developers track changes in applications that they build. Chinese hackers are already exploiting a 'fully weaponised' software vulnerability which is causing mayhem on the web, with experts warning that it poses a threat to internet-connected devices across the globe. 'Log4Shell' was uncovered in a utility that's ubiquitous in cloud servers and enterprise software used across industry and government. The vulnerability, dubbed was rated 10 on a scale of one to 10 the Apache Software Foundation, which oversees development of the software.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi told Expo 2020 Dubai that he is happy in the French capital after his headline-grabbing move from Barcelona as he visited the World Fair on Monday. "It was a big change for us because we had been living in the same place [while playing for Barcelona] for many years and it was not easy to change," said Messi, who is an Expo 2020 Dubai Ambassador. "But the truth is that we are very well in a spectacular city, in one of the best teams in the world, so we are very happy". Messi toured a number of the top attractions at Expo, including the Argentina Pavilion, the UAE Pavilion, the Surreal water feature and Al Wasl Plaza.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Europe's oldest grave of a newborn girl has been found in Liguria, dating back to 10,000 years ago, according to a new article in the journal Scientific Reports. The grave was surrounded by tiny pears and lucky charms, said a team of Italian researchers. The baby, whom they have dubbed Neve (Snow), was just 40 days old. "Neve's discovery is of exceptional importance," said Benazzi. "It will help us fill in many gaps, throwing light on the ancient social structure and funerary and ritual behaviour of these ancestors of ours".

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - A school near Rome was evacuated Tuesday after a strong smell of gas was detected in the institute. A building collapsed after a gas blast in the same town, Rocca di Papa, early Tuesday. An 80-year-old British woman was pulled out of the rubble alive.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - An 80-year-old British woman was pulled out alive of the rubble of a building that collapsed after an explosion probably caused by a gas leak near Rome on Tuesday. She was taken to hospital where her condition is as yet unknown. The collapse took place at Rocca di Papa, in the Castelli Romani towns that dot the hills south of the Italian capital. Two gas canisters were found inside the building's garage.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - A reporter and her crew working for Italian state broadcaster Rai were held in a Bucharest police station for several hours Monday after an anti-vax Romanian Senator's husband allegedly attacked them during an interview in her office, diplomatic sources said Tuesday stressing that the Italian embassy was instrumental in getting them released from custody. Lucia Goracci and her crew were detained after the alleged attack by the husband of Senator Diana Iovanovici Sosoaca. Foreign Undersecretary Benedetto Della Vedova said Tuesday he had spoken to the Romanian ambassador who had voiced the Romanian government's strong condemnation of what happened and said that Romanian authorities had taken action against the Senators' husband.

Vulnerable to climate change, New York constructs seawallAfter major storms highlighted New York's weaknesses in the face of climate change, the city is erecting a $1.45-billion system of walls and floodgates to protect it from rising sea levels. Superstorm Sandy in 2012 was the trigger for establishing the East Coast Resiliency Project, running four kilometers along the shoreline of Lower Manhattan.

Share this Story: 'You don't fully absorb it': Omicron's spread across the province is taking experts by surprise'You don't fully absorb it': Omicron's spread across the province is taking experts by surprise Just weeks after it was first identified in South Africa, the highly contagious Omicron variant is spreading through Ontario with such speed that it has taken experts by surprise Photo by Tony Caldwell / PostmediaArticle content The Omicron variant does not so much announce its presence as it smashes the door down. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Even people with two doses can transmit and become infected with the Omicron variant.

Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump incorporated Trump Media & Technology Group shortly after he was kicked off the mainstream social media platforms, though he initially had difficulty financing it due to his track record of bankruptcies. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump’s lawyers are even trying to get trademarks for “Truth Social,” “truthing,” “retruth,” “post a truth” and the site’s “follow the truth” logo.

Hollywood legend Frank Sinatra was honored with a life-size bronze sculpture in his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey on Sunday 12 December 2021.

China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have both visited Africa in recent weeks. Photos: Getty Images

Russia has rolled out the first flight prototype of its Okhotnik (“Hunter”) stealth drone ahead of trials and future serial production, state media reported Tuesday. The Okhotnik’s latest configuration features a 3D-printed “flat jet nozzle” for reduced radar visibility, according to the state-run TASS news agency. The Defense Ministry previously showcased the Okhotnik’s first flight in 2019, when it made several circles at an altitude of 600 meters for 20 minutes. Later that year, the Russia military paired the Okhotnik with the Su-30SM and the advanced Su-57 fighter jets. TASS also reported that an Su-57 pilot would simultaneously coordinate four or more Okhotnik drones.

CNN's Don Lemon weighs in on text messages from lawmakers, Fox News hosts and Donald Trump Jr. to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows during the January 6 Capitol Hill riot.

"It's the facts of what happened to her as well, that's killing us. To lose a child, it's a horrible feeling. But it's the way we lost Star that's just horrendous."

To the surprise of archaeologists excavating the Galilean town of Magdala, today known as Migdal, a second synagogue dating to the Second Temple period has been found. The second is that Mary Magdalene is said to have hailed from Migdal, hence her soubriquet “the Magdaleine.”Open gallery view Archaeologists working on the site where the second synagogue was discovered in the ancient Galilean town of Migdal. Credit: University of HaifaThe Second Temple period began about 2,500 years ago, though its starting point depends who you ask: some cite 516-515 B.C.E. On the other hand, its ending is unambiguous: the Second Temple period ended in 70 C.E. In other words, the lifetime of Jesus and Mary Magdalene was within the Second Temple period.

A volcano that has been spewing lava in the Canary Islands for almost three months has quietened but scientists warned the lull did not necessarily mean the eruption was over. Experts recorded no seismic activity from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island since Monday night, the Canary Islands’ volcanology institute tweeted. 01:31 Lava erupts from a volcano on La Palma in Spanish Canary Islands – videoLa Palma’s longest eruption on record has destroyed about 3,000 local buildings, entombed large areas of farmland in lava and forced several thousand people to abandon their homes. Life has continued largely as normal on most of La Palma, where a section of the south-western side is hardest hit. The Canary Islands are a popular European holiday destination off Africa’s north-west coast.

An employee in personal protective equipment (PPE) removes vials of AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine from a visual inspection machine inside a lab at Serum Institute of India, in Pune, India, November 30, 2020. REUTERS/Francis MascarenhasNEW DELHI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - India is struggling to export its surplus of COVID-19 vaccines as logistical hurdles delay their use in many countries despite low levels of inoculation, vaccine producer the Serum Institute of India (SII) and a government official said on Tuesday. Top Indian health official Vinod Kumar Paul told the same event that current global COVID-19 vaccine production was enough to reach the nearly 3.6 billion who have yet to receive a shot. "India is in a position to offer vaccines, but is there traction (for it)?" The SII's monthly output of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which it brands Covishield, has nearly quadrupled since April to 250 million doses.

The German government has injected 60 billion euros into fighting the climate crisis. The investment is part of a new supplementary budget to "supercharge" the country's climate and transformation fund and encourage a shift towards a green economy, say officials. The budget, passed unanimously by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet, will channel billions of euros of unused debt in this year's federal budget into future green spending. The manoeuvre was agreed last month by the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), pro-spending Greens and fiscally more cautious Free Democrats (FDP) in their coalition deal. In addition to the debt-financed 60 billion euros, the government will channel some 18 billion euros of tax revenue, mainly stemming from eco taxes and the CO2 emission trading scheme, into its climate and transformation fund next year.

Authorities in Gujarat state investigating whether Missionaries of Charity forced girls in a shelter home to wear a cross and read the Bible. Indian police are probing a charity started by Mother Teresa in the latest example of growing pressure on Christians under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. Authorities in the western state of Gujarat’s Vadodara city said on Tuesday they were investigating whether the Missionaries of Charity forced girls in its shelter home there to wear a cross and read the Bible. According to the complaint, 13 Bibles were found in the library of the institute and girls staying there were forced to read the religious text. In 2020, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom listed India as a “country of particular concern” for the first time since 2004.

Youth across Canada are reporting higher levels of anxiety and substance use concerns, with less ability to handle pandemic stress. About 37 per cent of youth who use alcohol report increased use, compared with 27 per cent of the general population. “These findings highlight the importance of long-term investment in a range of youth mental health and substance use health services and supports. The results highlight the importance of continued effort and investment in youth mental health and substance use supports, fostering the resilience older adults have. Continued investments in youth mental health and substance use supports, resilience among older adults, and (further) stigma reduction efforts are needed.

Long lines formed Monday at vaccination centres across England as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect themselves against the omicron variant, and as the UK recorded its first death of a patient infected with omicron. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers Monday that omicron will be dominant in London “within 48 hours". Barely two weeks after it was identified in South Africa, 10 people are in British hospitals with omicron-related Covid-19. The other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – are also expected to speed up their vaccination campaigns. The omicron outbreak is also more visible in Britain because the UK is also a world leader in genomic sequencing, which identifies and tracks new variants.

Last month, CNN followed them on the grandaddy of them all: the Baja 1000. Typically, somebody would for this race, especially the 1,227 miles of this Baja 1000," she explains. Kristen Matlock has earned the nickname, "Iron Woman," due to her doing various iterations of the Baja 1000 solo. North America's most dangerous raceThe Baja 1000 is not known as North America's most dangerous race for nothing. But the Baja 1000 is nothing if not unforgiving, and the terrain soon begins to exact revenge on any sense of early optimism.

Top credit card wipes out interest until 2023Offer from the Motley Fool: If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card secures you a 0% intro APR into 2023! Those are just a few reasons why our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

An experimental antiviral drug from Pfizer to help combat COVID-19, delivered in a five-day course of pills, reduced hospitalization or death among high-risk people by 89%, according to a final analysis of a previously released study. Lab studies also suggest the antiviral will remain potent against the omicron variant, which has been rapidly spreading across the globe. Late last month, an FDA advisory committee narrowly recommended authorizing a different COVID-19 antiviral from Merck, called molnupiravir. ? Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 50 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 798,710 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. ? What we're reading: The omicron variant is fueling misinformation about COVID.

Image Paxlovid, Pfizer’s Covid treatment pill, being produced in a laboratory in Freiburg, Germany. Credit... Pfizer, via Getty ImagesA highly anticipated study of Pfizer’s Covid pill confirmed that it helps stave off severe disease, the company announced on Tuesday. Last month, Pfizer asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize the pill, known as Paxlovid, based on a preliminary batch of data. These volunteers including vaccinated people who carried a risk factor for severe disease, as well as unvaccinated patients with no risk factors. Among this group of 662 volunteers, Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 70 percent, the company said.

Less than three months ago, the U.S. reached 700,000 COVID-19 deaths, and public health experts mused over whether the toll would reach a once-unthinkable 1 million. US reaches 700,000 COVID-19 deaths: It's a milestone we never expected to reachExperts cringe at what winter could bring. That could make the "omicron variant in February 2022 more infectious in vaccinated persons than today." A hybrid approach of clinical and of public health practices such as hand washing and face covering remains the most viable method, he said. Such findings highlight "the politicization of public health recommendations,” said Wendy King, associate professor of epidemiology in Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health and a co-author of the Pitt-CMU study.

TOKYO — Masayuki Uemura, an engineer who developed the Nintendo Entertainment System, which helped start a global revolution in home gaming and laid the foundation for today’s video game industry, died on Dec. 9. His death was announced by Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, where Mr. Uemura led the Center for Game Studies. Video game consoles had a moment of popularity in the early 1980s, but the market collapsed because of shoddy quality control and uninspiring software that failed to provide the thrills of arcade hits like Pac-Man and Space Invaders. Truckloads of unsold game cartridges ended up in landfills, and retailers decided that home gaming systems had no future. But in 1985, the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States changed the industry forever.

In preparation for the move, my granddaughter brought her dog to stay for a week while she and her mother went back to finish packing. Because my granddaughter needed to leave the dog while she and her mother returned home to pack, she decided to board it. The first night, the dog escaped and caused some destruction. The kennel owner told my granddaughter that someone would have to come and pick up the dog. There are several Akita rescue groups in the area, and my husband wants my granddaughter to give the dog up.

Do you know what a “boomerang” means, in bar terms? Before I read “The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails,” edited by David Wondrich with help from Noah Rothbaum, I didn’t. A boomerang is a drink sent by a bartender in one bar to a bartender in another. “The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails” is an enormous and authoritative work of scholarship, nearly a decade in the making. The book covers, in some 1,150 entries across 834 pages, nearly every aspect of its subject matter, from absinthe spoons to maceration to the Zombie.

It has been a bumpy ride. After tens of millions people were vaccinated early this year, domestic travel surged. But the Delta variant depressed demand for flights this summer and fall. Last month, the Biden administration eased restrictions on foreign travelers, which has led to increased international travel. Now the Omicron variant is threatening to slow the recovery in that part of the business.

Roughly half of women who are unable to access a legal abortion would probably instead bear children, other research from Texas suggests. In some ways, a post-Roe America would mirror the pre-Roe one. Then, abortion was generally legal in four states, and 13 more allowed abortion for health reasons. Already, many American women order such pills online or cross the border to Mexico, where they are sold over the counter as ulcer medicine. Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, who has studied the history of abortion in the United States.

Much of the political debate about abortion in America focuses on abortions performed late in pregnancy, but the overwhelming majority of them occur in the first trimester. Forty-three percent of all abortions occur in the first six weeks of pregnancy, and 94 percent in the first 13 weeks. The Mississippi law before the Supreme Court concerns a ban on abortions after 15 weeks. The women who receive later abortions are more likely to be poor or young or to have serious health complications. It may also reflect the growing presence of charities that help poor women pay for abortions in states where public programs don’t.

Even as scientists are discovering trends around tornadoes and their behavior, it remains unclear the role that climate change plays. Is climate change the cause? Each of these factors may be affected differently by climate change. Scale is everythingA tornado’s relatively small size also makes it harder to model, the primary tool that scientists use when attributing extreme weather events to climate change. One possible reason is that tornadoes are relatively local weather events.

Researchers expect it to become dominant in many countries, though the Delta variant is still the most common around the world. Omicron cases are expected to rise, but, for now, the Delta variant remains dominant in America. Source: “ Data set for Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa ,” Juliet R.C. 21 days after second dose Original strain 155 Omicron variant 6 1 month after third dose Original strain 398 Omicron variant 154 21 days after second dose Original strain 155 Omicron variant 6 1 month after third dose Original strain 398 Omicron variant 154 Source: Pfizer-BioNTechAntibodies are just one component of the body’s immune system. It’s worth noting that several months into a global surge of the Delta variant, researchers are still debating whether that variant is more virulent.

Rising From the Antarctic, a Climate Alarm Wilder winds are altering currents. The immense and forbidding Southern Ocean is famous for howling gales and devilish swells that have tested mariners for centuries. In addition, the Southern Ocean is getting warmer, and that has another important climate effect. Researchers have long thought that the Southern Ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases, with a beneficial effect for climate. Plumes also rise to weaken the shelf from below: Antarctic ice shelves are not only retreating, but getting thinner.

Kentucky first lady Britainy Beshear, alongside her husband, launched a toy drive for affected children in western Kentucky. “This time of year, we all look forward to being home for the holidays, spending time with those who mean the most to us. Now, many of our families don’t have houses to go home to. Or even worse, they’ve lost someone they love who made their family whole,” she said Monday.

All of it started with Wise’s desire to dine with some of his clients at one of his favorite local restaurants while helping someone with a grand gesture. Wise, president and co-founder of a company that helps real estate agents effectively advertise on Facebook, had enjoyed his meals at Oven & Tap, in no small part because of Brandt, who’d waited on him. He and his wife wanted to share their experience with some of his clients, so they chose the restaurant for a seating of the $100 Dinner Club, whose participants agree to each tip $100 at establishments across town. Others who didn’t eat at Oven & Tap that night added to the tip with donations.

How does this relate to you and Marcus? He wanted to know if he could mix and match different wire sizes on the same circuit. You need to know that the wires inside the cables in your home come in different sizes much like shoes or T-shirts. The most common wire gauges used in residential buildings in the United States are 14, 12 and 10. It can be confusing because as the number gets smaller, the diameter of the wire gets bigger!

This man isn’t letting life skate by. Watch as a 77-year-old, who was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, performs an ice dance with his skating instructor in this heartwarming video in Seattle, Washington. “For anyone that thinks it’s too late to try something new,” his daughter, Rebekah Bastian, wrote on Twitter.

When scientists discovered the highly mutated Omicron variant of the coronavirus last month, it set off an eerily familiar chain of events. Virus trackers filled in their maps as the variant was reported in country after country. And the rest of us waited, with increasing unease, to learn more about the threat we were facing. The same sequence unfolded nearly two years ago when the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was first discovered. “And by that time, it had already circulated widely between multiple states and from coast to coast.”

Emerging technology and pandemic-related disruptions are redefining the skills people need to succeed in their jobs. As the CEO of a resume writing service, I've reviewed more than 1,000 resumes this year. Here are the five most important and in-demand types of skills to put on your resume today:1. As simple as it may sound, listing basic remote work skills on your resume can go a long way. Showcasing your critical thinking skills on your resume is just as important as demonstrating it in an interview.

It's been less than a month since the new, heavily-mutated omicron Covid strain was detected and designated a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization. Prior to this, studies had shown that the immunity provided by Covid vaccines waned after around six months — meaning that booster shots are essential to increasing protective antibodies to fight potential Covid infection. But the same studies have indicated that three vaccine doses — the two preliminary shots plus a booster dose — significantly increases the level of protection against omicron. However, it found that a "moderate to high vaccine effectiveness of 70 to 75% is seen in the early period after a booster dose." "The good news is that with the booster dose it increases about a hundredfold.

President of French telecoms and media group Altice, Patrick Drahi smiles during the inauguration of the Altice Campus in Paris on October 9, 2018. LONDON — French billionaire Patrick Drahi has increased his stake in British telecommunications company BT, sparking a response from the U.K. government amid fears over a full-blown takeover. BT said its board was notified that Altice, Drahi's telecoms group, had increased its ownership of BT to 18% from 12.1%. Shares of the £16.3 billion ($21.6 billion) firm are down around 55% in the last five years. He stunned the telecoms world in June when his firm paid £2.2 billion for a 12.1% stake in BT.

Silhouette of a mobile user seen next to a screen projection of the Apple logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. Bank of America on Tuesday upgraded shares of Apple, saying the company's plans to launch a headset for augmented reality and virtual reality could drive price action for the stock.

(CNN) The Omicron variant of coronavirus is spreading quickly in several countries where it has been discovered. "Given the current available data, it is likely that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant where community transmission occurs," WHO added. "What we now know about Omicron is that ... it's spreading at a phenomenal rate, something that we've never seen before. "Our findings show that vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease with the Omicron variant is significantly lower than with the Delta variant," the researchers wrote. Even without Omicron adding to the spread, the Delta variant combined with an undervaccinated population, is doing plenty of damage.

(CNN) Only about half of fully vaccinated nursing home residents have received a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine, leaving a high-risk group especially vulnerable as Covid-19 cases rise across the country and concern about the Omicron variant builds. By the end of October, a month after the initial recommendation, about a quarter of fully vaccinated nursing home residents had received a booster, according to data published Friday by the CDC. And while earlier waves of community spread led to even worse waves within local nursing homes, more recent waves of community spread have been less severe within nursing homes. Risks from staff and visitors remainBut nursing home residents are far from insulated from the risk Covid-19 continues to pose. Based on CDC data, booster uptake among nursing home residents is about the same as among the general senior population.

Pfizer hopes it can eventually offer the pills, under the name Paxlovid, for people to take at home before they get sick enough to go to the hospital. Among 682 who received placebo, 44 were hospitalized, including 9 who died. If given within the first five days of symptoms, the efficacy was similar: 88%. These results hold up against a similar announcement from the company last month, when not all the data had come in yet. The research also showed "an approximate 10-fold decrease in viral load at Day 5, relative to placebo," the statement said.

Modified vaccines will likely be needed in light of the new Omicron variant | Rob Pinney/Getty ImagesThe former chair of the U.K.’s Vaccine Taskforce said Tuesday that modified vaccines will likely be needed in light of the new Omicron coronavirus variant — but raised concerns over the country’s vaccines manufacturing capability. “We have to be nimble in how quickly we can manufacture these variant vaccines because I think we’re going to have to produce (them),” she told the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. Bingham, who has been praised for her work in quickly identifying and procuring COVID-19 vaccines when she was chair of the Vaccines Task Force last year, said she was “concerned” about the U.K.'s approach to manufacturing. The U.K. terminated its contract with the small biotech which had gone to the lengths of setting up a production presence in the U.K. as part of its vaccine deal, she said. Having a variant vaccine by March next year “isn't beyond the realms of possibility," she said, "but we need to have that capability to be able to do it."

Experts crack the secret to last letter of Mary, Queen of Scots before her executionEnlarge this image toggle caption Hulton Archive/Getty Images Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesOn the eve of her execution in 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots wrote what is thought to be her very last letter. To keep her message safe, Mary turned to the 16th-century equivalent of sending an encrypted email — a folding technique known as the spiral lock. Mary was using an elaborate form of letterlockingThe spiral lock that Mary used was a particularly elaborate example of a practice known as letterlocking, whereby the letter functions as its own envelope. "If you're worried about someone breaking into your letter, the spiral lock is a brilliant choice. "Even figures like Queen Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, whose lives have been pulled over very extensively."

In general, the new omicron cases have resulted in milder cases, with fewer hospitalizations and less severe cases requiring oxygen or intensive care. In general, the new omicron cases have resulted in milder cases, with fewer hospitalizations and less severe cases requiring oxygen or intensive care. ADVERTISEMENTThe study has been carried out in the weeks since omicron was first announced in November by scientists in South Africa and Botswana. South Africa is the first country to experience a surge in COVID-19 driven by the omicron variant. South Africa has experienced rapid community spread — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng — dominated by the omicron variant.

Two employees who work at nearby facilities said they had been given very little tornado-specific training and were expected to work through tornado warnings. She added that during two previous tornado warnings during her overnight shift, she was expected to continue working even when the company sounded alarms. Workers across Amazon facilities also pushed back against a policy that Amazon is bringing back barring phones at work. For years, Amazon has banned workers from carrying their phones in warehouse facilities. The collapse has only stirred the anger of Amazon workers across the country who have been trying to unionize.

By Ed FranklThe devastating effects of Hurricane Ida in the U.S. led world-wide yearly catastrophe losses for insurers to near the highest ever recorded, Swiss Re AG said Tuesday. While Hurricane Ida was the costliest natural disaster in 2021, Uri and other secondary peril events--which tend to generate small to mid-sized losses, such as hail, flood, storms or bush fires--caused more than half of total losses, it said. Man-made disasters--such as explosions, aviation or rail disasters, social unrest and terrorism--triggered another $7 billion in insured losses, Swiss Re said, making $112 billion in total insured catastrophe losses in 2021. The increase in natural-catastrophe losses continued a trend of annual 5%-6% rise in losses seen in recent decades, the Zurich-based company said. Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in the southern U.S. in late August, wreaked between $30 billion and $32 billion in estimated insured damages, with Uri causing $15 billion in insured losses in February.

By Matt GrossmanLi-Cycle Holdings Corp. is boosting the capacity plans for a battery-recycling facility is building near Rochester, N.Y., the company said Tuesday. As demand for recycling of lithium-ion batteries grows, Li-Cycle is increasing the planned annual recycling capacity at the site by 40%. Under the latest plan, the site will be able to process battery material equivalent to about 225,000 electric vehicles a year.

The global tally for the coronavirus-borne illness climbed above 270.9 million on Tuesday, while the death toll edged above 5.31 million, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. continues to lead the world after passing 50 million cases and 798,713 deaths. The U.S. is averaging almost 1,300 deaths a day, according to a New York Times tracker, , and cases and hospitalizations are rising again. Sandra Lindsay, the first person in the U.S. to receive a COVID vaccine one year ago, told the New York Times she would do it again. Brazil has second highest death toll at 616,457 and 22.2 million cases.

(The World Health Organization identified omicron as a variant of concern on Nov. 26)Biden’s vaccine mandate, which was set to take effect next month, is currently at a standstill. The mandate would require employers with 100 or more employees to require that workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or test negative on a weekly basis. The remaining share doesn’t fit the criteria for any of the federal vaccine mandates Biden announced. Three in 10 workers say their employers required them to get vaccinated, according to a recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation. More than half of employers either have vaccine mandates in place or would require one if Biden’s mandate took effect, according to a recent Willis Towers Watson survey.

As tornado victims in the south and Midwest dig out from the wreckage of the violent weekend storm, tax authorities and nonprofit industry experts highlighted a valuable charitable deduction for small-dollar donors that’s slated to expire in weeks. In some instances, a $600 deduction could trim a household’s tax liability by approximately $150, one expert previously told MarketWatch. But in the pandemic’s early days, lawmakers enacted an “above-the-line” deduction to offer more tax rewards for charitable donations — and hopefully more donations. “Right now, front line nonprofits need donations of all sizes,” Thompson said. The IRS has more tips on using the charitable deduction here.

A Rentokil disinfection company employee after disinfecting a bus in Paris as part of measures taken to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP via Getty ImagesU.K. pest-control services provider Rentokil Initial said Tuesday that it would acquire U.S.-based rival Terminix Global Holdings in a $6.7 billion deal that will boost its expertise in termite and residential services. The deal values Terminix (ticker TMX) at $55 per share, a 47% premium to Monday’s close. Terminix’s shareholders will own 26% of the enlarged group.

U.S. stock futures pointed to a mixed start for Wall Street on Tuesday, as investors looked toward the start of a Federal Reserve meeting and kept an eye on omicron updates. On Monday, the Dow Industrials DJIA, -0.89% fell by 320.04 points, or 0.9%, at 35,650.95., the lowest closing value since Dec. 6. The Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, -1.39% fell 217.32 points, or 1.4%, at 15,413.28, the lowest closing value since Dec. 6. Investors will get an update on producer price inflation, with November data due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors may also want to see the Fed’s viewpoint on the fast-spreading omicron variant of COVID.

(Adds details, quotes, context)MOSCOW, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Syarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of Belarus's opposition leader, was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 years in jail for organising mass unrest and inciting social hatred, the official Belta news agency reported. Five supporters of Tsikhanouski were tried along with him and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 to 16 years. Tsikhanouski, a video blogger, was jailed in May 2020 as he prepared to run against Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko in a presidential election in August that year. A few hours before the verdict was pronounced, Tsikhanouskaya called it "illegal" and something that "should not be tolerated". In September, Maria Kolesnikova, one of the leaders of mass street protests against Lukashenko last year, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Elon Musk told Time he was not dating anyone as he and Grimes remained "semi-separated." He's living near a SpaceX facility in Texas, which he described as "a technology monastery." Musk and Grimes dated for three years and have an 18-month-old son, X Æ A-Xii, together. "Grimes and I are, I'd say, probably semi-separated," Musk told Time. He said at the time that they still loved each other and "are on great terms" as they coparented their 18-month-old son, X Æ A-Xii.

Apple's latest software upgrade comes with new privacy features, and Elon Musk was named Time's "Person of the Year." The Apple Music Voice Plan: This lower-priced Apple Music subscription — $4.99 per month rather than $9.99 — can only be used via Siri. App Privacy Report: iPhone users can now read a report of which apps are tracking them. Instagram said the user's account was taken down because she was impersonating someone, and it wasn't until a month later that the platform apologized and reinstated her account. Senate Banking Committee hearing on "Stablecoins: How Do They Work, How Are They Used, and What Are Their Risks?"

Apple has released iOS 15.2, adding a host of new features to the iPhone. While some updates to the iPhone operating system bring only minor updates, the new features brings some of the more significant – and controversial – additions that have been held back since iOS 15 was released earlier this year. That could also prove controversial, given the outcry that Apple’s privacy-focused features have been met with from other companies such as Facebook. The update also includes other less controversial features, such as the rollout of the Apple Music Voice Plan. Story continuesMany of those features were announced in the summer, when Apple revealed iOS 15 at its WWDC event.

That as the UK reported its first death tied to the Omicron variant and says, 40% of COVID cases there are now attributed to the variant. BORIS JOHNSON: Sadly, yes, Omicron is producing hospitalizations, and sadly, at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron. - Here with her insight is Suzanne Judd, PhD epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at the Birmingham School of Public Health. I know that there has been a labor crunch, and the pandemic, and these vaccine mandates have just added to it. We've seen some great results with the Pfizer vaccine and the Omicron variant.

Manhattan Venture Partners Head of Research Santosh Rao joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss Apple approaching $3 trillion market cap and the company's future outlook. Apple stock is lower today, down by about .7/10ths of a percent. Here to discuss that is Santosh Rao, Manhattan Venture Partners head of research. SANTOSH RAO: Yes, good afternoon. Santosh Rao, Manhattan Venture Partners head of research, thank you so much for your time today.

Bank of America's monthly fund manager survey out Tuesday found cash allocation among investors surged 14 percentage points in December from November. Fund managers were net 36% overweight cash, the highest allocation to the asset class since May 2020. Besides cash, investors also rotated into defensive sectors of the market such as health care and REITs. "Hawkish central banks spark a surge in cash and more defensive asset allocation," explains BofA strategist Michael Hartnett. "If December FOMC [meeting] is dovish, crypto, unprofitable tech, banks, EM would rally… if hawkish, cash stays cash," Hartnett adds.

TheStreet’s Kevin Curran says it’s been a “bumpy ride” for initial public offering (IPO) companies in 2021. “Just in the last month, the Renaissance IPO ETF IPO has turned into negative territory for the year,” Curran said in Real Money. “Robinhood is perhaps the most startling, slumping to a nadir more than 70% below its post-IPO zenith,” Curran noted. “Meanwhile, Buzzfeed's BZFD big debut earlier this month was hardly buzz worthy.”Why have these formerly hot names turned so cold at the close of the year? For IPO names of late, many of which have been predicated on prioritizing growth over steady economics and downplaying the debt necessary to fuel these businesses, this is a major concern.

When looking at 13-year-old Dylan Tobias, his ballet resume might be the least impressive thing about him. As the middle child, Dylan provides support to his older brother Jadon, who has moderate to severe autism. Dylan’s advocacy for his other sibling takes the form of allyship. His younger sibling, who now goes by the name River, came out to his family as transgender non-binary about two months ago. “Now that they’re out, it’s not like they’re living behind a shell anymore.”No matter what form his advocacy takes, Dylan is passionate about helping people out of their shells.

Spread bread over 2 rimmed baking sheets and bake 25 minutes or until dry and light golden, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Pour mixture evenly over bread; lightly press on bread to submerge. Per serving: 445 calories, 9 grams protein, 28 grams fat (55% calories from fat), 11.5 grams saturated fat, 41 grams carbohydrate, 139 milligrams cholesterol, 238 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber. Per serving: 310 calories, 25 grams protein, 9 grams fat (27% calories from fat), 3 grams saturated fat, 27 grams carbohydrate, 71 milligrams cholesterol, 918 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber. Per serving: 202 calories, 27 grams protein, 7 grams fat (30% calories from fat), 2.5 grams saturated fat, 9 grams carbohydrate, 86 milligrams cholesterol, 348 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber.

The report, by the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, said the county gained nearly 80,000 older adult households between 2012 and 2019 — a 19.4%. Chicago’s older adult households are also largely lower income, with 35.4% of households earning less than 30% of an area’s median income, or “very low income,” the report states. The wage gap among older adult households is particularly evident along racial and ethnic lines. According to the report, most older adult households own their own properties countywide, but the share that rent is rapidly growing in the city. In 2019, 47.7% of older Black homeowners had a mortgage, compared to 43.3% of Hispanics, 33.8% of whites and 33.5% of Asians.

A former Orange County Sheriff’s deputy is facing felony charges for allegedly throwing scalding water on a mentally ill jail inmate who reportedly wasn’t provided treatment for his burn injuries for more than six hours. Shortly before 12:30 p.m., prosecutors allege, Ortiz used a hot water dispensary to fill a cup with scalding water, then walked with two other deputies back to the uncooperative inmate’s cell. Prosecutors allege that Ortiz poured the scalding water onto the inmates hands after he once again ignored the deputy’s orders. The inmate immediately pulled his hands back, allowing the deputies to close the hatch door, prosecutors said. It wasn’t until 7 p.m. – six and a half hours later – that another deputy contacted the inmate and requested medical attention, prosecutors said.

But today, Gratitude Lodge’s three addiction treatment facilities — two in Newport and one in Long Beach — remain open and licensed by the state. At some point, the blood of these kids is not just on the hands of these horrible operators, but on your hands as well.”Passions flared at Monday’s hearing, designed to highlight the issue so DHCS might step up its enforcement of addiction treatment facilities. “In order to ensure ethical, quality care, we support efforts to have mandatory, consistent, enforceable standards for addiction treatment. Foley also pushed on the adequacy of the state’s enforcement arm, with all its inspectors in Sacramento and the majority of treatment programs here in Southern California. In coming year, the agency plans to start publishing an easy-to-read online dashboard with metrics consumers can use to choose substance use treatment programs.

Each year, members of the public can suggest their own nominees via the Library of Congress website. The films must be at least 10 years old. A Library of Congress announcement this week cited rabid online support for “Return of the Jedi,” which even the Library of Congress noted was “perhaps not quite up to the lofty standards of its two predecessors,” and for “The Fellowship of the Ring,” part of director Peter Jackson’s hugely popular “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Also planned is a residential/retail building that would include student apartments. Andrews said university officials are talking with prospective developers and expect to announce plans within the next few months. The campus neighborhood now includes nothing larger than four-unit housing. Almost all Goodwin students are commuters and Connecticut residents, but officials say on-campus housing would attract students from farther away. The building also was to include market-rate and above-market-rate apartments.

Like I’ve read up on natural immunity. Natural immunity after a bout with one variant of COVID-19 may not provide protection against other variants. There have been documented cases of people getting COVID-19 despite vaccination, just as there are in people who have already had COVID-19. At least 30% of survivors of COVID-19 infection will have persistent symptoms three months after infection. Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible.

Pentimento (Stony Brook): After 27 years in the village, this atmospheric restaurant closed following a landlord dispute. It was one of the few places to find German food on Long Island. KuraBarn (Huntington): This pioneering, family-run Japanese restaurant closed in October. It had been serving gyoza and sushi since 1980, a time when Long Island was almost completely sushi-less. "We loved being a part of the Bay Shore community and … we hope to bring that same vibe and delicious menu back to Long Island someday."

Tuesday will deliver lots of sunshine, a mild daytime high of 50 degrees and a north wind topping out at about 9 mph, forecasters said. Those relatively balmy temperatures, accompanied by increasing breezes, will define much of the week’s weather, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight will turn cloudy, thermometers will fall to about freezing and the breezes will switch to blow from the east, the weather service said. So showers could arrive on Wednesday night, when the chances are 40% and the nighttime low will be a strikingly warm 50 degrees, the weather service said. After another unusually warm night – thermometers will only fall to around 47 under more clouds – the sun returns Friday, which should be clear and warm, with a high of 56.

For these reasons, it is clear that utilizing psilocybin as a therapeutic treatment would be beneficial for a wide range of psychiatric patients. This is why it is crucial for psilocybin to be removed from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Schedule I Narcotic list. Dropping psilocybin to a lower, more liberal drug scheduling would not only allow for its use as a psychiatric treatment, but also for more structured, thorough research to be conducted on it so that the body of knowledge can continue to grow. With less restrictions on the legality of psilocybin, we can minimize the burden of psychiatric illness for all patients.

Andrew MeldrumAssociated PressJohannesburg — A two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination provides just 33% protection against infection by the omicron variant of the coronavirus, but 70% protection against hospitalization, according to a large-scale analysis in South Africa released Tuesday. The study has been carried out in the weeks since omicron was first announced in November by scientists in South Africa and Botswana. South Africa is the first country to experience a surge in COVID-19 driven by the omicron variant. South Africa has experienced rapid community spread — concentrated in its most populous province, Gauteng — dominated by the omicron variant. Hospital admissions among adults diagnosed with COVID-19 attributed to omicron is 29% lower compared to the COVID-19 wave that South Africa experienced in mid-2020, after adjusting for vaccination status.

In a move aimed both at fulfilling a community need and advancing vehicle technologies considered a key part of its future, Ford Motor Co. is launching a fresh food delivery pilot in southwest Detroit using an autonomous vehicle shuttle. The pilot program will bring participants with an additional delivery, containing fresh produce and milk, each month. The pilot will use a low-speed autonomous shuttle that will run along a fixed route between the Southwest Detroit Ford Resource and Engagement Center and Rio Vista. The southwest Detroit pilot, however, does not involve Argo's technology, but that of Ford Autonomous Vehicle Future Tech team and Saline-based Quantum Signal AI LLC, a wholly-owned Ford subsidiary. More information about the Ford Resource and Engagement Center on the Go program and ZIP code eligibility is available by calling 313-806-0370.jgrzelewski@detroitnews.comTwitter: @JGrzelewski

>>Read More:OhioHealth pauses enforcement of COVID vaccine mandateAs of Monday, 58.7% of the state's population, or more than 6.8 million Ohioans, are fully vaccinated. "It's almost hard to remember what it was like before there were vaccines and how hopeful we were (once there were vaccines)," Thomas said. >>Read More:Omicron COVID variant not yet found in Ohio, but experts believe only a matter of time"This isn't just about a vaccine. Like Horowitz, Moodabagil was also one of the first Ohioans vaccinated at Ohio State on Dec. 14, 2020. While it was a hectic time for many health care workers, Thomas said the vaccine gave them a much needed morale boost.

Jim MillerSpecial to The OklahomanDEAR SAVVY SENIOR: When is it safe, or not safe, to split pills? The reason pill splitting is such a money saver is because of the way drugs are manufactured and priced. Purchase a proper pill cutter that has a cover and a V-shaped pill grip that holds the pill securely in place. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Infectious mononucleosis is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, one of the most common human viruses. In one study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that in teens with mono, about 1 in 10 continued to show fatigue a full six months after diagnosis. In some, mono can cause complications like strep throat, sinus infection or tonsillitis that further delay recovery. McEver, a physician-scientist, is vice president of research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Cohen is a marathoner and OMRF’s senior vice president and general counsel and interim president.

In the ruins of Mayfield, a search for hope in what's savedWINGO, Ky. (AP) — She arrived at the shelter sobbing. On the phone, Victoria Byerly-Zuck begged her neighbors to search the wreckage for the one thing she could not bear to lose. The 35-year-old was surrounded at this makeshift shelter by others who lost everything when a deadly tornado tore apart their small town of Mayfield. They lost cars, wallets, clothes, Christmas presents, all their furniture, photos and priceless family heirlooms. One 82-year-old widow with no home to go to asked volunteers how long she could stay, and they told her as long as she needed to.

MIDWEST CITY — Two elementary schools in Midwest City-Del City Public Schools will close at the end of this school year. Superintendent Rick Cobb said the school district could save $1.4 million per year by closing the two elementary schools. Students at Highland Park likely will attend Parkview, Epperly Heights or Townsend elementary schools next year. Steed students could be zoned to Ridgecrest, Soldier Creek or Midwest City Elementary. The firm produced a 400-page report, which included recommendations that four elementary schools shutter permanently.

OklahomanAfter a six-year absence, holiday lights have returned along Western Avenue in northwest Oklahoma City. The colorful display is highly visible along Western Avenue between NW 63 and Grand Boulevard. The annual light show was discontinued six years ago, but a private foundation, "Winter on Western," is paying for this year's $200,000 display.

Having spent almost two decades working for the state Health Department, Keith Reed has seen his share of public health emergencies. On Dec. 14, 2020, when the first vaccine was administered in the state, Oklahoma’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 2,072. More:As COVID-19 vaccines open to all in Oklahoma, Gov. ... To see the pandemic shift to an endemic state, that's going to occur when we no longer have this imminent threat to our health care system. First, second and booster dose appointments can be found on the state’s vaccine scheduling portal at vaccinate.oklahoma.gov.

MADRID (AP) — A volcano that has been spewing lava in Spain’s Canary Islands for almost three months fell quiet Tuesday, though scientists warned the lull didn't necessarily mean the eruption is over. Scientists recorded no seismic activity from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island since late Monday, the Canary Islands’ volcanology institute, Involcan, said in a tweet. “That does not mean the eruption has finished, because in the past this has been followed by a new surge in activity,” Involcan said. La Palma’s longest eruption on record has destroyed about 3,000 local buildings, entombed large areas of farmland in lava and forced several thousand people to abandon their homes. No injuries or deaths have been directly linked to the eruption on the island of around 80,000 people.

Photograph: Playground Games/MicrosoftForza Horizon 5A racing game that really captures the feel and fantasy of the open road, set in a sumptuous virtual Mexico. This is like a playable painting that you can sink into, where every daring jump and fast-paced fight feels great. Enhanced for Xbox Series S/X, running in glorious 4K and with much faster loading times, this treasured game is now even more valuable. Its memorable, playful take on mythology helps make this the best game in its genre. Highly optimised for Xbox Series X/S, with smoother framerates and more intricate visuals, Hitman 3 is a joy on the new consoles, and worth checking out again even if you’ve already played on Xbox One.

The full scope of the devastation from multiple tornadoes that hit Kentucky was beginning to come into focus Tuesday. The official death toll surpassed 70 and was expected to grow, with more than 100 still missing across the commonwealth in connection with the weather. The counties with the ongoing issues included Graves (about 5,200 outages), Hopkins (about 5,500 outages), Warren (about 5,000 outages) and Christian (about 1,800 outages), according to PowerOutage.us. How to help Kentucky tornado victims:Donate to relief funds, supplies and blood drivesTornado's track:A massive tornado ripped through Kentucky for more than 200 miles. Tornado assistance:Was your home damaged in the Kentucky tornadoes?

All were swept up in tornadoes that tore through Western Kentucky on Friday, carrying residents' belongings as far as Louisville, Southern Indiana and Ohio. Three pictures have since been found by strangers in Crestwood, Kentucky; Mauckport, Indiana; and Laconia, Indiana — all more than 100 miles away. How to help Kentucky tornado victims:Donate to relief funds, supplies and blood drivesKim Tyler of Alabama said she started the Facebook group on Saturday with people like Noffsinger and Owens in mind. Tyler remembers a major tornado striking Alabama in 2011, with reports of pictures and memorabilia being found miles away. Lowery lives with her parents in Moors Camp near Kentucky Lake and said the family's house was flattened by the tornado.

But my recent experience at the Radisson Blu Edwardian felt pretty close to what I imagine a prison visit to be like. Thankfully, the United States remained off the UK’s red list, meaning we wouldn’t have to enter hotel quarantine on our return. This was a quarantine hotel. “Don’t suppose you’re staying at the Radisson Blu Edwardian at Heathrow? These were the quarantine hotel inmates, whose crime was to have travelled to a sub-Saharan African country when they were perfectly entitled to do so.

Prince William’s latest runabout is a £133,000 supercar that mirrors his father’s efforts to go green. The RS e-tron GT is Audi’s top-of-the-range electric model – a four-door saloon with enough room in the back for an heir and a spare. The svelte grand tourer will be powered at Kensington Palace’s new charge points and is faster from 0 to 60mph than many supercars. The new vehicle choice may have been influenced by Prince Charles’ lifelong passion for the environment. The classic DB6 in Seychelles blue was gifted to Prince Charles in 1970 by the Queen for his 21st birthday and now leads a charmed life in the Cotswolds.

A new kind of battery that is both flexible and washable has been developed by researchers. The battery can be twisted and stretched to twice its normal length while also being machine washable. “However, up until now, stretchable batteries have not been washable. The completed battery is made up of several ultra-thin layers of these plastics, creating an airtight and waterproof seal. As well as watches and medical patches, the battery could be used in clothing that could change colour or temperature.

However, most cases in children were mild, with symptoms such as a sore throat, nasal congestion and fever resolving in two to three days. Discovery Health also teamed up with the South Africa Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to provide real-world insights into the Pfizer- BionTech vaccine effectiveness against omicron. 'Heartening and encouraging results'Prof Glenda Geray of SAMRC said: “ I think it's very heartening to see these results and release that vaccine effectiveness is still greater than 50 per cent. And so I think it's encouraging and again, the issue of boosting strategy may also mitigate the reduction in vaccine effectiveness. It is true we are seeing a linkage between the infections we are seeing and hospitilisations.

The link was to a webinar from New Ways Ministry, a U.S.-based group which ministers to LGBTQ Catholics who feel excluded or marginalized by the Church. The Catholic Church teaches that homosexuals should be treated with respect and that while homosexual tendencies are not sinful, homosexual actions are. The New Ways Ministry webinar of more than an hour was hosted by a professor form Fordham University in New York. Its topics included how LGBTQ Catholics can contribute to the consultation process ahead of the 2023 meeting Rome. New Ways Ministry executive director Francis DeBernardo said the Vatican website removed the link earlier this month and kept it off for about a week.

Belarusian state news agency Belta said the verdict was delivered at a court in the south-eastern city of Gomel on Tuesday. Three other opposition figures - Mikola Statkevich, Igor Losik, Vladimir Tsyganovich - were also found guilty as part of the same trial, Belta said.

By Philip PullellaVATICANCITY – A Vatican department has apologised for “causing pain to the entire LGBTQ community” by removing from its website a link to resource material from a Catholic gay rights advocacy group. The link was to a webinar from New Ways Ministry, a U.S.-based group which ministers to LGBTQ Catholics who feel excluded or marginalized by the Church. The Catholic Church teaches that homosexuals should be treated with respect and that while homosexual tendencies are not sinful, homosexual actions are. The New Ways Ministry webinar of more than an hour was hosted by a professor form Fordham University in New York. New Ways Ministry executive director Francis DeBernardo said the Vatican website removed the link earlier this month and kept it off for about a week.

"This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

STOCKHOLM – One crew member of a Danish ship which capsized after being struck by a larger British freighter in the Baltic Sea off the south coast of Sweden has been found dead, authorities said on Monday. The Swedish Maritime Administration said in a statement the crew member had been found after a search of the vessel. Police said the person was dead. The other member of the Danish crew is still missing. The Danish barge collided with a British vessel in a busy maritime route off Sweden during the night.

LONDON – Britain scolded China on Tuesday for using a National Security Law to repress opposition politicians, the media and civil society in Hong Kong. “The erosion of liberty in Hong Kong is an affront to freedom and democracy,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on the publication of a report on Hong Kong. “Just over a year since the introduction of the National Security Law, the mainland Chinese and Hong Kong authorities have used the law and related institutions against all opposition, free press and civil society in Hong Kong,” Truss said in a foreword to the report.

A World Health Organization (WHO) taskforce has been sent to South Sudan to investigate an unidentified illness which has killed 89 people. The WHO sent a rapid response team of scientists to the area, which is one of the worst hit by recent severe flooding, to collect samples from sick people, reports the BBC. A World Health Organization (WHO) taskforce has been sent to South Sudan to investigate an unidentified illness which has killed 89 people. The flooding in the north of South Sudan has cut off communities from accessing supplies of food and other vital commodities. Nearly a decade after South Sudan gained independence following a war, it faces the threat of conflict, climate change and COVID-19, the outgoing head of the U.N. mission in the country said in March.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Much attention and prudence is still required on COVID-19, President Sergio Mattarella said Tuesday. "We can now finally meet although we need to still have a lot of attention and prudence", the president told the young recipients of the 'Ensign of the Republic' award who had not been able to come to the presidential Quirinal palace to pick up their prizes due to the pandemic. He told them that their force of will made people have faith in the country.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - The 30-year-old suspected killer of a 27-year-old woman in Catania was found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wounds in an abandoned building in the Sicilian city on Tuesday. The man, Sebastiano Spampinato, is thought to have shot dead Giovanna 'Jenny' Cantarero on a road between Catania and Misterbianco on Friday night. Spampinato, who worked in a betting centre outside Catania, was said to have had a "tempestuous relationship" with his victim. He shot her several times in the face.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - A suspect was arrested Tuesday in the death of an ex-teacher near Bologna at the end of October. Retired teacher Natalia Chinni, 72, was found dead in her home at Santa Maria Villiana in Gaggio Montano on October 29. She was killed by a 12 calibre rifle, police said. The man who has been arrested is a former neighbour of the dead woman. The man has been placed under house arrest.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - An unvaccinated health worker died of COVID in Alessandria Monday, nurses' union Nursind said Tuesday. The woman, 64, had voiced the desire to get the virus. She had been suspended from her job at an Alessandria hospital for refusing to get the jab. In a video posted in November she said "it's better to die on your feet than to die crawling on the ground".

Sixth Covid-19 wave, fuelled by Omicron, to hit France in JanuaryFrance will be hit by a sixth Covid-19 wave next month due to the emergence of the new, more contagious, Omicron variant of the disease while the country is still in the midst of the current, Delta-fuelled, fifth wave of the pandemic, according to a leading French hospital executive.

The guardians of France's CalanquesYOU ARE HERE © FRANCE 24Between the southern French cities of Marseille and La Ciotat lies a magnificent coastline with 40 kilometres of cliffs and coves. The landscapes of the Calanques National Park are breathtaking. To safeguard this fragile natural heritage and rescue amateur mountaineers who get into difficulty, wardens and firefighters are constantly on a war footing. FRANCE 24 went to meet them.

Ubuntu, a lucid dream: African philosophical concept at core of new Paris exhibitWhat do Aimé Césaire, Fela Kuti and Nelson Mandela have in common? They embodied the strength of Ubuntu. The exhibition "Ubuntu, a lucid dream" invites us to reinvent a common horizon to overcome the current crises.

State-backed newspaper Beijing News on Monday published an article and subsequent videos taken by undercover reporters posing as a member of staff claiming to show expired cocoa liquid, matcha liquid and cream being used in drinks that were served to customers. Photo: Weibo

Those same corporate PACs quietly resumed and later increased their political giving, doling out a total of $2.3 million to GOP election objectors between September and October, the most recent months on record. The Credit Union National Association is the top PAC donor to the election objectors, shelling out nearly $177,000. are the top recipients of corporate PAC cash among the 147 Republicans, taking in nearly $255,000 and $202,000 respectively. That shift is driven by the reality that nearly two-thirds of House Republicans objected to the election results. Corporate PACs have largely stayed away from a small number of Republican lawmakers who have continued to falsely claim that the election was stolen from Trump.

In a speech to the Human Rights Council, she described Taliban rule as being marked by extrajudicial killings across the country and restrictions on women's and girls' basic rights. At least 72 of the more than 100 alleged killings have been attributed to the Taliban, she said, adding: "In several cases, the bodies were publicly displayed. The Taliban decree earlier this month fails to refer to women's and girl's rights to education, work and their freedom of movement and to participate in public life, al-Nashif said. "The safety of Afghan judges, prosecutors, and lawyers – particularly women legal professionals – is a matter for particular alarm", she added. Afghanistan's envoy from the former government accused the Taliban of committing a wide range of abuses including targeted killings and enforced disappearances.

The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif, is the holiest site for Jews and the third-holiest shrine in Islam. “We are not prepared to accept the sanctions against Jews that exist on the Temple Mount,” Raphael Morris, head of the Returning to the Mount group, told Channel 13. However, two weeks ago members did succeed in entering the Temple Mount, in the dead of night and despite the rainy weather. AdvertisementIn a closed-door meeting about the Temple Mount convened by Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, Shin Bet representatives said that every week individuals disguised as Arabs are caught trying to slip into the Temple Mount through entry gates that are dedicated for use by Muslims only. In a ruling earlier this year on a petition demanding Temple Mount prayer rights for Jews, the Supreme Court found that “every Jew has the right to pray on the Temple Mount, as part of the freedom of religion and expression.”It added, “At the same time, these rights are not absolute, and can be limited to take into account the public interest.”In 2015, Returning to the Mount offered to pay Jews $500 each to pray on the Temple Mount.

A volcano that has been spewing lava in the Canary Islands for almost three months has quietened as scientists warned the lull did not necessarily mean the eruption was over. Experts recorded no seismic activity from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island since Monday night, the Canary Islands’ volcanology institute tweeted. 01:31 Lava erupts from a volcano on La Palma in Spanish Canary Islands – videoLa Palma’s longest eruption on record has destroyed about 3,000 local buildings, entombed large areas of farmland in lava and forced several thousand people to abandon their homes. Life has continued largely as normal on most of La Palma, where a section of the south-western side is hardest hit. The Canary Islands are a popular European holiday destination off Africa’s north-west coast.

Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine labels are seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021. Vaccines appear weak vs Omicron infection, better vs severe diseaseVaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is likely to be much lower than against earlier variants, but they may still offer substantial protection against severe disease, a new analysis suggests. "Importantly, protection against severe disease is much higher" for all categories: recently vaccinated, waned, or boosted. "We estimated that protection against severe disease was 86% for recent mRNA vaccination against Omicron, 67% for waned immunity, and 91% following 3rd dose boosters," Kilpatrick said. "There are still no direct estimates of vaccine effectiveness for severe disease from any country yet, so our estimates cannot be compared to direct estimates yet."

Divers work aboard the Danish cargo ship Karin Hoej which collided with the British cargo ship Scot Carrier between Ystad and Bornholm, on the Baltic Sea December 13, 2021. read moreOne of the two Danish crew members from the capsized barge was found dead in the hull. The other crew member was still missing and rescue efforts were abandoned after ships and helicopters scoured the waters to no avail on Monday. Two of the Scot Carrier's crew, a Briton and a Croatian, remained in custody on Tuesday as part of the preliminary investigation. The Briton in custody was suspected on multiple counts, including causing death through negligence, and had been on watch at the time of the collision, after which the smaller Danish ship capsized.

Nearly 5,700 firearms have been confiscated at airport security checkpoints in 2021, the highest number recorded by the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) since its inception. Airports in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston ranked highest in confiscated firearms. "It's an all time high," TSA Administrator David Pekoske told reporters during a Monday briefing. Pekoske told CBS News he believes the increase in firearm seizures reflects "what's going on in the country." Those with a history of carrying loaded weapons into security checkpoints may be forced to shell out as much as $13,910.

WASHINGTON – Advocates on opposing sides of the nation's abortion battle don't agree on much, but everyone seemed to read a Supreme Court decision last week about Texas' ban on the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy the same way: As a sign pointing to a potentially major shift in how the court views reproductive rights.

A year ago today the firstCOVID-19 vaccines were given out, and more than 450 million shots have been administered across America since. The rapid development and manufacturing has been described as one of the greatest scientific achievements of our time. With all that progress – not to mention billions of dollars spent on vaccine development – what's next for vaccines?

“Today, we are supercompetent when it comes to efficiency, utility, speed, convenience, and getting ahead in the world; but we are at a loss concerning what it’s all for,” Leon Kass writes in his 2017 book “Leading a Worthy Life.” “This lack of cultural and moral confidence about what makes a life worth living is perhaps the deepest curse of living in our interesting time.”[You can listen to this episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” on Apple, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.] Kass spent more than 30 years as an award-winning teacher at the University of Chicago, where he gained a reputation among students for his commitment to the big questions of human existence and the study of classic texts. And he’s written books and essays on marriage, sports, ethics, friendship, romance, the philosophy of food, biblical wisdom and more. In many ways, Kass’s career represents a lifelong effort to grapple with the biggest question of all: What does it mean to live a meaningful life? This conversation, between Kass and the New York Times Opinion columnist David Brooks, is an attempt to answer that question.

Why would groups that want to end abortion not support the most efficient way to make abortions less common? The answer is that their mission extends beyond abortion and into the regulation of sex, gender roles and the family. Just 11 of those 28 abstinence-stressing states require that students be taught about contraception. A mere 18 states require that sex ed be medically accurate, and only 11 states and Washington, D.C., require teaching students about sexual consent. Abstinence education may not work, but it does conform with a set of conservative political goals.

The number of fully vaccinated Americans surpassed 200 million — just over 60 percent of the population — earlier this month, but the road to that milestone was not straight or smooth. With virus cases soaring to record levels after the 2020 holidays, officials in many states moved to expand vaccine eligibility. But as the pandemic appeared to dwindle in the United States, so did the appetite for the vaccines. Image In the year since Sandra Lindsay received the first coronavirus vaccine dose administered in the United States outside a clinical trial, 200 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. Do you want it to burn itself out and kill a lot more people and make a lot more people sick?

, who lived in a mobile home in Mayfield, Ky., were newcomers who had only moved to the city in 2020 with their five children. Part of the local Amish community, the family of seven adhered to ideals of simplicity and were well loved by their neighbors. Searchers found the bodies of the 31-year old couple as well as 7-year-old Marilyn and 4-year-old Daniel over the weekend.

The weekend starts on the warmer and potentially wetter side with Saturday expected to see cloudy skies and periods of rain possible, although the exact location of any steadier rain is still uncertain. Highs should reach the lower to mid-60s. Colder weather returns Saturday night, with more showers possible, as a cold front drops lows into the 30s with an increasing breeze. Can’t rule out a lingering shower early Sunday but with some clearing, especially by afternoon, as breezy winds add a bit of a wind chill to highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Confidence: Low-Medium

Blinken is using his three-country swing through Southeast Asia, which will include stops in Malaysia and Thailand, as a means for spelling out the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Beijing has drawn criticism in the region for laying claim to much of the South China Sea, which is disputed by smaller countries in the region such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. China has also moved military hardware into the waters and dismissed a 2016 international tribunal decision that refuted its historical claim there.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailResearch center says U.S. has done well in raising 'tempo' of diplomacy in Southeast AsiaAshley Townshend of the United States Studies Centre says U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Southeast Asia is significant because the Biden administration is in the early stages of rolling out what it says will be a comprehensive Indo-Pacific economic framework.

JAKARTA — A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Tuesday triggering a tsunami warning and sending residents fleeing from their homes but causing only minor damage and injuring one person, authorities said. The tsunami warning was lifted about two hours after the quake struck in the Flores Sea, about 70 miles northwest of the town of Larantuka, in the eastern part of Flores island. “Everyone ran out into the street,” Agustinus Florianus, a resident of Maumere town on Flores, told Reuters. Children hide under a desk during an earthquake in Maumere, Indonesia on Dec. 14, 2021. A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia near the town of Maumere on Dec 14.

Pointer said they eventually sold for “substantially more.” Their Boca Chica home is now part of SpaceX’s production shipyard and has been converted into an office dedicated to hazardous environmental safety. But Pointer blames state and county officials, not Musk or SpaceX. The SpaceX facilities are seen behind Airstreams adjacent to the homes in Boca Chica Village, Texas, on Sunday. Newstead conducted a study of the local population of piping plovers, sparrow-sized shorebirds that nest and feed in coastal sand and are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The Starship that SpaceX hopes to get approval to launch from Boca Chica will have at least 29 of them.

Kentucky crews search painstakingly for 109 people missing after deadly tornadoesAudio will be available later today. Geoffrey Deibler, a police chief from neighboring Morganfield, came to volunteer on one of the search-and-recovery crews fanning out across Kentucky on Monday. Enlarge this image toggle caption Brian Mann/NPR Brian Mann/NPRMeanwhile, teams like this one, crewed by volunteers and National Guard troops, are going house to house and also searching fields and woodlands. Enlarge this image toggle caption Brian Mann/NPR Brian Mann/NPRMembers of this crew haven't found anyone alive so far, but they did recover one body during a previous day's search. Enlarge this image toggle caption Brian Mann/NPR Brian Mann/NPR"I was a nurse for several years," said Bobbie Brown, who works now as a police dispatcher in Morganfield.

'Return of the Jedi,' 'Selena' and 'Sounder' added to National Film RegistryEnlarge this image toggle caption Lucasfilm/Walt Disney Company Lucasfilm/Walt Disney CompanyEvery year, the Library of Congress adds 25 new movies to the National Film Registry. "It is a great honor to have The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring selected this year by the National Film Registry," the filmmaking team of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens said in a statement. toggle caption Ringling Bros Parade Film/Courtesy: Niles Essanay Silent Film MuseumSince the National Film Registry was started in 1988, it's enshrined more than 800 titles intended to reflect the vast scope of American moviemaking. The Flying Ace, from 1926, was made by a Black film studio in Florida. One relatively recent classic is the 1997 film Selena, which gave us Jennifer Lopez in her first major role as Tejana megastar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

By Ronnie HaruiSINGAPORE--Sembcorp Industries Ltd.'s U.K. subsidiary is planning to build the biggest battery energy-storage system in Europe to help the U.K. reach its net zero target. Sembcorp Energy UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sembcorp, intends to construct a 360-megawatt battery at its site at Wilton International in Teesside, the Singapore company said Tuesday.

By Kim RichtersContinental AG said Tuesday that it has appointed Katja Duerrfeld as the new chief financial officer of the company effective Tuesday. Ms. Duerrfeld is responsible for group finance, controlling and information technology at the German car-parts supplier. She will also be in charge of finance and controlling in the company's future Automotive division from Jan. 1 as announced earlier this year, Continental said.

A growing number of studies indicate Omicron is more resistant to current vaccines than previous Covid variants, though boosters seem to help. WSJ’s Daniela Hernandez gets an exclusive look inside a lab testing how antibodies interact with Omicron. Photo illustration: Tom Grillo

Every holiday season I hear from loved ones that they have no idea what to get me. Or, if you love to cook, make a batch of your older neighbor’s favorite soup or meal and gift it to him in frozen, single-serving containers. Also valued are gift cards to favorite restaurants or shops; the expensive, not-covered-by-Medicare vitamins that help macular degeneration; magazine subscriptions and large-print books. Either our walkers make tasks difficult for us or we aren’t included in activities because our loved ones don’t think to ask. It’s also an incredible gift when my loved ones call and ask me to teach them to sew a button or how to knit.

Two shots of the COVID vaccine produced by Pfizer PFE, +4.59% and BioNTech BNTX, +7.97% may offer 70% protection against hospitalizations due to the omicron variant, a South African study showed Tuesday, Bloomberg reported. The study was released by Discovery Ltd., the country's biggest health-insurance provider, which also found that Pfizer shots were 33% effective against the newly discovered variant. The study looked at clinical and vaccination records and lab tests in examining 78,000 COVID-19 test results for infections of that strain from Nov. 15 to Dec. 7.

Associated PressA coalition of California restaurants and grocery stores has filed a lawsuit to block implementation of a new farm animal welfare law, adding to uncertainty about whether bacon and other fresh pork products will be much more expensive or in short supply in the state when the new rules take effect on New Year's Day. Since voters approved Proposition 12 by a 2-to-1 ratio in November 2018, state officials have missed deadlines for releasing specific regulations covering the humane treatment of animals that provide meat for the California market. “We’re saying this is not going to work,” said Nate Rose, a spokesman for the California Grocers Association. It has allowed pork processed under the old rules and held in cold storage to be sold in California in 2022, which could prevent shortages for weeks or even months.

A commuter using his mobile phone passes an advertisement of Chinese smartphone maker Oppo at a train station in SingaporeSHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Oppo unveiled on Tuesday a new self-developed chip, as the hardware company moves further into the semiconductor sector. The company is owned by BBK Electronics, which also owns Vivo, another top-selling Chinese smartphone brand. In addition to MariSilicon X, Oppo has also developed a power management chip that it uses for some of its chargers. The chip efforts dovetail with a government push for Chinese companies to boost the country's domestic chip sector, which for decades has lagged behind that of the United States and other East Asian economies. The measures crippled the company's smartphone division as well as its in-house chip division HiSilicon, once the only Chinese unit developing smartphone processors that could rival those of Qualcomm Inc.

By Sarah WuTAIPEI (Reuters) - German supplier of chemicals and materials used in making semiconductors, Merck KGaA, announced on Tuesday it is to invest 500 million euros in Taiwan over the next five to seven years, primarily in semiconductor technologies. Merck said it would be its largest investment in Taiwan since it established operations there in 1989. "We are very grateful for Merck's confidence in Taiwan, investing in Taiwan, investing in Taiwan's democracy, investing in Taiwan's freedom, investing in Taiwan's technological development," Deputy Economy Minister Chen Chern-Chyi told the news conference. Merck has about 1,000 employees in Taiwan and expects to hire 400 more as a result of the new investment. "Within Merck's global reach, Taiwan plays a very special role," said Jorg Polster, the de facto ambassador for Germany in Taiwan.

LG is slated to showcase two lifestyle TVs with unusual designs at CES 2022, one of which is the recently announced premium OLED Evo TV with motorized cover. It's a smaller wireless TV with built-in battery called StanbyME that you can roll in and out of any room in your home. The 27-inch display is mounted on a moveable stand with concealed wheels, and you can adjust its height to customize its position for whatever you're using it for. Despite that limitation, you can use the StanbyME to view whatever content you want using the apps it supports, which include Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video. Plus, you can use it as a screen for your laptop or PC via wireless connection or by using USB or HDMI.

Agricultural microinsurance startup IBISA announced that it has raised a seed round of €1.5 million – approximately $1.70 million. In IBISA’s case, these are small farmers whose livelihoods might be affected by adverse climate events, which are unfortunately on the rise. But there are also several reasons for them not to have agricultural insurance – most of them don’t, according to IBISA. Its name actually stands for “Inclusive Blockchain Insurance Using Space Assets,” and it has been accelerated by the European Union’s blockchain-focused project Block.IS. At the time of joining the program last September, IBISA’s co-founder Jean-Baptiste Pleynet made mention of IBISA’s insurance, satellite and blockchain components, as well as of its potential to drive positive impact.

My solution is to give a gift card, which the recipient can spend on whatever they might need or want. Related Articles Ask Amy: Should I confess I revealed his secret to my family? I’m Not CheapDear Not Cheap: There is no need to buy anything in order to give a child a wonderful gift. She can talk it over with you, make her selection, and enjoy her special birthday gift along with you. You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O.

By Jack Guy | CNNKim Kardashian has passed a law exam and moved a step closer to being able to practice as an attorney in the state of California. Kardashian revealed that she passed the exam at the fourth attempt in an Instagram post published Monday. “OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!! !,” Kardashian wrote, alongside an image of herself in a bright blue dress, looking into a mirror. The state bar declined to comment on Kardashian’s exam result to CNN, saying individual results were confidential.

Copiague man legally changed his name to Santa ClausThere is a Santa Claus, and he has a place here in Copiague. Born Frank Pascuzzi, he legally changed his name in 2012, inspired by a Christmas miracle that touched his own life. Newsday's Steve Langford reports. Credit: Newsday / Raychel Brightman

Entrancing shimmering lights and mellifluous sounds will turn Old Westbury Gardens into a magical winter wonderland this year. Dubbed Shimmering Solstice, the immersive nighttime experience will keep the gardens, typically closed from November until April, open through the winter holiday season. The idea for both the Chicago and Old Westbury gardens was to create a non-holiday-themed event that will invite people to enjoy the destinations at a time they’d typically stay away, explains Kong. This Winter and BeyondShimmering Solstice will embrace the history of the area, the garden grounds and the iconic Westbury House, says Kong. The exhibit, which takes about 20 people to design and another 50 or so to install, is expected to run for the next few years and change every year at Old Westbury Gardens.

For Bayport and Blue Point residents, going to their new library may feel like a religious experience. Set to open Saturday following a three-year transformation of the former St. Ursula Center convent on Middle Road in Blue Point, the library evokes the 40-year-old building's ecclesiastical history. Bayport and Blue Point residents in December 2018 approved a $16.85 million bond to buy the convent and convert it to the library. Library district residents will see a $228 annual tax hike to pay for the new library. "There's so much to offer to the public," Firestone said.

Steel Equities is proposing to purchase and rehabilitate the buildings on East Second Street, along with a parcel on Union Street, from Great Neck Saw Manufacturers Inc. Great Neck Saw's plansLast month, Steel Equities incorrectly told the IDA that Great Neck Saw was leaving New York State after more than 90 years. Responding to questions from Newsday, Richard Hollingsworth, chief financial officer of Great Neck Saw, said the company "is not moving from Long Island." Great Neck Saw also has a small factory in West Babylon. Great Neck Saw has 349 employees, with 124 in Mineola and four in West Babylon.

This year, families are heading outdoors for another tradition — cutting down their own Christmas tree. "Cutting down your own Christmas tree is a multigenerational wholesome family experience," says owner Ed Dart. INFO 631-369-1300, dartschristmastreefarm.comTREE COST $99.95-$200SIT BY THE FIRE PIT AT PAUL’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARMTake your pick among the 5-acres of trees at Paul’s Christmas Tree Farm in Center Moriches to cut down a Norway spruce, white spruce, Douglas fir, white pine or blue spruce. WHEN/WHERE 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; 240 Frowein Road, Center MorichesINFO 631-878-8645, facebook.com/PaulsChristmasTreeFarmTREE COST $15 a footICE SKATE AND S'MORES AT SANTA’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARMGoing to Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm in Cutchogue is like taking a trip to the North Pole between the tree selection and surrounding festive fun. WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; 30105 Main Road (Route 25), CutchogueINFO 631-735-9242, santaschristmastreefarmli.comTREE COST $90SLEIGH 'RIDE' AT MATT’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARMOver at Matt’s Christmas Tree Farm in Manorville visitors can walk the 15-acres picking out a Christmas tree to cut down ranging from Norway spruce to white spruce to blue spruce to balsam fir.

The Magical Santa Experience (extra fee apply) includes a photo with Santa and a letter from Santa sent to your child before Christmas. Breakfast with Santa at the Glen Cove Mansion Breakfast Say good morning to Santa between 9 and 11 a.m. and enjoy a brunch with Santa from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekend in December, $45 for adults, $30 children for breakfast; $65, $35 children for brunch, themansionatglencove.com, 516-751-5623. Decorate a cookie with Santa Full brunch buffet with Santa Claus. Brunch with Santa Santa visits from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 19 for a brunch. Santa and the elves The restaurant is hosting Santa and his Elves for photo op on Dec. 18 and 19.

“It’s about reinforcing our strengths so we can keep the peace, as we have done in the region for decades,” he said. He did not elaborate further but the administration made waves earlier this year by agreeing to a pact that will see Australia produce nuclear-powered submarines. Blinken insisted that the U.S. is not trying to force countries to choose between the United States and China, or seeking conflict with China. But he laid out a litany of complaints about “Beijing's aggressive actions” from “Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and from the Mekong River to the Pacific Islands." At a daily briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Blinken's latest comments showed the U.S. was contradicting itself by “playing up the so-called China threat on the one hand while claiming that it has no intention to seek conflict with China on the other.”Wang criticized the U.S. for “frequently sending ships and aircraft to the the area to flex muscles and stir up trouble."

A new exhibit at the Kentucky Derby Museum tells the story of "Derbyville," the third-largest city in Kentucky. And just like any other major city, Churchill Downs (on Kentucky Derby Day) is made up of a series of unique neighborhoods. He's the British artist who accompanied gonzo journalist and Louisville native Hunter S. Thompson to the Kentucky Derby in 1970. On it you'll find his notation for the cost of the ticket to attend the 96th Kentucky Derby — a whopping $1. Residents line the streets each Derby Day offering pop-up parking, food and parties on race day.

An Indian exam board has withdrawn a passage from a nationwide English exam that appeared to promote the subservience of wives, after an outcry over “blatant misogyny”. The passage appeared in an English language and literature exam taken by 14 and 15-year-olds on Saturday. After students, teachers and parents objected, Sonia Gandhi, the president of the opposition Congress party, drew attention to the exam. She described the exam as “atrocious”, “shockingly regressive” and perpetuating “blatant misogyny”. As per their recommendations, it’s been decided to drop the passage,” the board said in a statement.

“OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!! “For anyone who doesn’t know my law school journey, know this wasn’t easy or handed to me.”Passing the test – better known as the baby bar – means Kardashian can continue her legal studies and will be able to take the full bar exam. California is among the handful of states that has such a programme and is the only one with a baby bar. Pass-rate information was not yet available for the exam Kardashian took on 26 October but only 21% of those who took it in June passed – less than half the rate for the state’s most recent regular bar exam. The State Bar of California said baby bar results were confidential and it could not confirm Kardashian passed.

Just after 4 p.m. Friday, Mayfield Health and Rehabilitation nursing home residents hunkered down inside the small-town Western Kentucky facility for a tornado practice drill. Mayfield's four-wing, one-story nursing facility suffered catastrophic damage and was declared a total loss by insurance agents Monday. 'Divine intervention'Before the twister touched down in Mayfield, Stewart said staffers recently moved eight residents out of one of the four wings so construction could take place. Staff began bringing residents and staff to the center of the building. You may like:After surviving tornado, Mayfield residents anxiously wonder where they go from hereBehind her, Next Level Hospitality Services Regional Director of Culinary Services Sarah Waggoner stood near her two-door Honda Accord.

Holiday Old FashionedIf you can’t entirely give up this Louisville go-to cocktail, jazz it up with a homemade spiced apple syrup with this creation from Bolton. Let sit 4-6 hoursSimple SyrupCombine 8 ounces of cane sugar with 8 ounces of hot water and blend until sugar is fully dissolved. Next, add the egg white to the other ingredients and fill the tin 3/4 of the way full with ice. Hibiscus syrup2 cups white sugar1/4 cup dried hibiscus flowers2 cups hot waterAdd 2 cups of white sugar and 1/4 cup dried hibiscus flowers to a 32-ounce Mason jar. Naughty But NiceFrom Emily Heyde at Fork & Barrel (2244 Frankfort Ave.), this spirit-forward rye cocktail will warm you through and through.

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That may be why she now gets a lot of clients over the age of 60, who feel ready for their first tattoo at her studio, Inkscape, in Bexhill-on-Sea. Neil Davies has his daughter’s name, Emily, tattooed on his arm and adds a star on his birthday each year. I had extensive skin grafts, and have scars over about 60% of my body. Photograph: Emma Venables‘When you’re 86 you can do what you like’Nancy Venables, 86, lives in Wolverhampton and got a tattoo earlier this yearMy granddaughter Emma is a tattoo artist. It’s the start of my new life, and I had my tattoo done in Amsterdam.

However, some destinations still require proof of a negative PCR test result from all arrivals, while others only request a vaccine certificate for entry. Additionally, all those aged 12 years and over have had to take a PCR or lateral flow Covid test before they travel to England from abroad. Here is everything you need to know about international travel, from testing requirements to paperwork and quarantine. The rate for one additional adult, or a child aged 12 or over, is £1,430; while children aged between 5–11 are £325 each. All people aged 12 years and over must take a PCR or lateral flow Covid test before they travel to England from abroad.

China has detected its two first instances of the omicron Covid variant. A second case was found on Tuesday in Guangzhou, a major manufacturing hub in southern China, also via a traveller, 67, arriving from overseas. Both are in mandatory quarantine receiving treatment, according to Chinese state media. Chinese officials have said they’re confident the country’s strict testing and sequencing capabilities would provide a strong defence against mass spread of the omicron variant. Such stringent measures appear to have been enough to stave off the omicron variant until now.

Dominic Raab has been criticised after he twice provided the wrong figures about the number of people hospitalised with omicron. “Last I saw it was in the low hundreds, 250 the last time I looked, but of course the data is being updated all the time,” he said. Then, he popped on to BBC Breakfast where he massively slashed the figure to nine: “I know we’ve had one death. His comments came as modelling from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggested omicron is currently infecting 200,000 people a day across the UK. A real “the sea was closed” moment.

When the Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the premiere of No Time to Die in late September, it was A Fashion Moment. Her glittering golden gown seemed to hail a new era of glamour after the low key previous year. Almost three months on, it’s clear that Kate’s Bond girl moment has had a more profound effect. Look at almost any red carpet of late and somewhere you will see another iteration of what we can now christen the Glittering Golden Gown. With its floaty tulle cape and sequin embellishments, Lawrence’s Dior creation bears a striking resemblance to Kate’s look, but with a slightly subtler, more delicate effect.

When I ask Jeanne Damas for her tips on how to look sexy, there’s a baffled pause on the other end of the line. After a moment of silence, she says, “Bah, just be yourself. “Use movement or confidence or your voice to be desirable, rather than just showing your body. Women think being sexy means flashing lots of cleavage but Jane Birkin was one of the sexiest women of the last century and she was very flat-chested. Her Instagram account has over 1.5 million followers and is filled with pictures of her wearing slightly unbuttoned print dresses or broderie anglaise tops with high-waisted jeans in various scenic spots around the French capital.

If you – or any of your immediate family – get a positive PCR test from this point on, your festive plans and any travel which you have organised are almost certainly scuppered. So how should you untangle your travel plans in such a scenario to make the best of a bad job? Holidays abroadThe good news is that many travel insurance policies do now cover cancellation costs if you can prove that you have fallen ill with Covid and are unable to travel as a result. For those who aren’t insured, most airlines and tour operators also now offer a good deal of flexibility. In any event, if you do decide to change holiday plans, always contact your holiday company or airline before taking any action.

Holly Humberstone is the recipient of the Brits Rising Star award 2022, picked out as the new artist whom the British music industry believes will have the biggest impact in the coming year. “I’m still in shock,” admits the 21-year-old singer-songwriter, whose thoughtful, highly-strung pop songs gained millions of listeners around the world during the pandemic. Passionate Northern rocker Sam Fender won in 2019, and surprised Humberstone with the award last week while the two were recording an acoustic duet of his song Seventeen Going Under. Three years later, I’m singing with Sam and he actually gave me the award. Writing songs is my way of picking things apart and putting them into a shape I can understand.

The UK Government has added 11 countries to the travel red list due to the emergence of the omicron Covid variant. Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho are all subject to hotel quarantine restrictions. All flights to the UK from the 11 countries are now banned. However, reports have emerged that hotel quarantine could soon be scrapped for red list arrivals as soon as today (December 14). Previously, on November 1, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the red list would be temporarily scrapped, but kept "in place as a precautionary measure to protect public health."

It’s been the year style has been put on ice in favour of track suit pants and slippers. In our Wardrobe Whisperer column, our team will find a solution for every style crisis. Dear Wardrobe Whisperer,Every year I buy my wife a scarf for Christmas because she never asks for anything different and I lack the imagination to think of anything, but I can tell it’s far from thrilling for her. We’ve had a tough year adjusting to our twins leaving for university so I’d like to treat her. The Queen has a vast collection and there are plenty to choose from in a rainbow of colours and patterns.

Two shots of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine provides 70 per cent protection against hospitalisation, according to a major real-world study from South Africa analysing the impact of the omicron variant. It found that the effectiveness of two Pfizer shots at preventing severe disease – defined as hospitalisation – has dropped to 70 per cent, substantially lower than the 93 per cent protection offered during South Africa’s delta wave. The study – conducted by scientists at South Africa’s largest private health insurance administrator, Discovery Health, and SAMRC – also broke down protection against hospitalisation by age. Overall effectiveness against infection has also fallen, from 80 per cent to 33 per cent. Children, however, appeared to have a 20 per cent higher risk of hospital admissions with complications – though experts warned at a briefing that the numbers remain very low.

Apple and Google have a “vice-like grip” over people’s phones, the UK’s regulator has warned. “Apple and Google have developed a vice-like grip over how we use mobile phones and we’re concerned that it’s causing millions of people across the UK to lose out,” said Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA. “Most people know that Apple and Google are the main players when it comes to choosing a phone. “Any intervention must tackle the firms’ substantial market power across the key areas of operating systems, app stores and browsers. We will continue to engage constructively with the UK Competition and Markets Authority as their work on this study progresses.”

Zendaya attended the world premiere of her new film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, on Monday evening - and the actor certainly dressed appropriately. For the event, the 25-year-old actor wore a floor-length beige and black gown that was custom-made by Valentino and covered in sparkly cobwebs. The couple’s red carpet appearance comes after Holland was praised on social media for his comments about height differences between men and women. Zendaya, 25, is 5 ft 10 inches, while Holland, 25, is 5 ft 8 inches. I honestly never thought of it as a thing because my parents were always that way, so I didn’t know that people cared.

Parmesan, especially that of the quality Ombra serves, falls under that category as far as I’m concerned. I could have written this review a hundred times over because I truly love Ombra. Ombra grew up a little bit over lockdown, finding its best self in what has been seen by many as a post-Covid necessity: the set menu. There’s endless ingenuity in this menu; culinary creativity that can be harder to achieve when you’re serving up multiple dishes at conflicting times and lobbying requests (like extra parmesan). Even better, the restaurant has retained its endearing charm, as if it just found itself plonked on this siren-soundtracked, canal-bordered corner of Hackney.

Victor Lindelof has recovered well from the breathing difficulties suffered during Manchester United’s win over Norwich City, with the issue not linked to the club’s Covid-19 outbreak. United confirmed that Lindelof is still undergoing “precautionary investigations” into the problems, which saw Lindelof substituted midway through the second half of the 1-0 win at Carrow Road. United said that there has been no indication that Lindelof’s breathing difficulties were connected to the outbreak. “Victor is currently undergoing a series of precautionary investigations,” the club said in a statement. I think he had a collision with another player and had problems to breathe.

By Terje Solsvik and Gwladys FoucheOSLO -Norway will further tighten restrictions in a bid to limit an expected surge of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told news agency NTB on Monday. The spread of infection is too high and we have to take action to limit this development … Omicron changes the rules,” he said. Norway is setting record highs both in terms of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations, partly due to the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus. In a risk assessment released on Monday, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) recommended the government moved quickly. To speed up vaccination with booster doses, the health ministry has asked Norway’s armed forces as well as pharmacies to assist in the inoculation campaign, VG reported.

By Marco TrujilloLA PALMA, Spain – Authorities in Spain’s La Palma lifted a stay-at-home order on Monday just a few hours after telling people to stay indoors due to poor air quality caused by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano . The eruption, which has sent spectacular rivers of molten lava running down the slopes of Cumbre Vieja for nearly three months, is the longest running on the Spanish Canary island since records began in 1500. In affected municipalities, residents were told to stay inside, while students were told to remain in schools and parents not to pick them up until the air quality cleared. However, a few hours later, emergency services lifted the order thanks to an improvement in air quality data and said students would leave school at the regular time. “We’re all a bit scared,” said 64-year old Carlos Ramos in Los Llanos de Aridane, explaining that nothing similar had happened with previous eruptions on the island.

Many of these events were exacerbated by climate change. Scientists say there are more to come – and worse – as the Earth’s atmosphere continues to warm through the next decade and beyond. Scientists say that unusual weather patterns exacerbated by climate change created ideal conditions for insects to thrive. Scientists predict climate change will worsen desertification, as hotter summers and drier winters reduce moisture levels. Atmospheric rivers are expected to become larger — and possibly more destructive — with climate change, scientists say.

By Guy Faulconbridge and Michael HoldenLONDON -At least one person has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain. Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in the United Kingdom, Johnson has imposed tougher restrictions and on Sunday cautioned that the variant could overcome the immune defences of those inoculated with two shots of vaccines. Britain gave no details on the death or whether the patient had been been vaccinated or had underlying health issues. Deaths from Omicron may have occurred in other countries but none has been publicly confirmed yet outside Britain. “Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron,” Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.

BUDAPEST – Europe needs strategic autonomy in three areas, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday as Budapest hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for a summit of East European leaders. “We support the policy of common European defence capabilities, nuclear energy and a strong European farming sector,” Orban told a news conference.

By Marco TrujilloLA PALMA, Spain -Authorities in Spain’s La Palma lifted a stay-at-home order on Monday just a few hours after telling people to stay indoors due to poor air quality caused by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano . The eruption, which has sent spectacular rivers of molten lava running down the slopes of Cumbre Vieja for nearly three months, is the longest running on the Spanish Canary island since records began in 1500. In affected municipalities, residents were told to stay inside, while students were told to remain in schools and parents not to pick them up until the air quality cleared. However, a few hours later, emergency services lifted the order thanks to an improvement in air quality data and said students would leave school at the regular time. “We’re all a bit scared,” said 64-year old Carlos Ramos in Los Llanos de Aridane, explaining that nothing similar had happened with previous eruptions on the island.

By Hereward HollandKINSHASA – Democratic Republic of Congo’s president Felix Tshisekedi said on Monday he will ensure that Ugandan troops’ presence in Congo, where they are fighting an Islamist militant group alongside Congolese forces, is for a strictly limited period. “I will ensure that the presence of Ugandan troops on our soil is limited to the time strictly necessary for this operation,” Tshisekedi said in a state of the union speech that also covered the economy and COVID-19. At least 1,700 Ugandan soldiers have so far crossed into eastern Congo, and Uganda’s defence ministry has said its troops will stay as long as needed to defeat the ADF. Reforms have already helped improve Congo’s economic outlook, with growth expected to reach 6.4% in 2022, the IMF said last week. Congo has the lowest coronavirus vaccination rate in the world, with roughly 0.1% of its 90-million-strong population inoculated.

– Health authorities in northern China’s port city of Tianjin have detected the first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the country’s mainland, the state-run Tianjin Daily reported on Monday. The infection was discovered in a traveller who arrived in the city from overseas on Dec. 9, the newspaper said, adding that the patient is currently being treated in isolation in hospital.

BEIJING – Major Chinese manufacturing province Zhejiang is fighting its first COVID-19 cluster this year, with hundreds of thousands of citizens in quarantine and virus-hit areas suspending business operations, cutting flights and cancelling events. The outbreak in three Zhejiang cities – Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou – was developing at a “relatively rapid” speed, while the situation nationwide was largely stable, National Health Commission official Wu Liangyou said on Saturday. Before the current outbreak, Zhejiang – home to a legion of small and medium-sized enterprises, many of which are exporters – reported only one local case in 2021. More than a dozen Chinese-listed companies said they had suspended production in parts of Zhejiang owing to tightened COVID-19 curbs. Apart from the 74 local symptomatic infections in Zhejiang, Shaanxi province and the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia reported one and five local cases respectively on Sunday.

By Tassilo HummelPARIS – Former French Olympic swimmer Yannick Agnel, who was placed under formal investigation last week for suspected rape of a minor, has admitted to a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl, a public prosecutor said on Monday. “When there is a ten-year age difference, this is considered by the law to be a case of constraint,” Roux-Morizot told Monday’s news conference. Agnel had told investigators he “did not have the feeling that there was constraint”, Roux-Morizot said. “I think that he regrets not thinking seriously enough about the age difference at the time,” the prosecutor added. Agnel, who won the 200 metre individual freestyle and 4×100 metre freestyle relay in London, now works as a sports and media consultant.

* Born in Morocco, Drahi, 58, moved to France at the age of 15 and studied at Polytechnique in Paris, one of France’s most prestigious higher education institutions. * By 2017, the company was carrying debt of 51 billion euros ($57.7 billion) — five times its core earnings. * Among recent deals, Drahi snapped up art auction house Sotheby’s in a deal worth $3.7 billion in 2019. * Drahi’s newly created vehicle Altice UK bought a 12.1% stake in BT in June, before raising it to 18% on Tuesday. Altice UK is owned by Next Alt, Drahi’s private holding, which also controls SFR, the second largest telecoms operator in France behind Orange.

JOHANNESBURG -South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, is still showing mild symptoms and has had to delay a booster vaccine he was due to receive this week, his office said on Monday. Ramaphosa, who was given Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine in February, tested positive the same day that he addressed a state memorial to the last leader of South Africa’s white minority government, FW de Klerk, in Cape Town. His office said on Sunday that Ramaphosa had tested negative on Wednesday last week when he returned to South Africa from a trip to four West African countries. In the past few days South Africa has reported around 20,000 new COVID-19 infections a day, in a fourth wave believed to be linked to the Omicron coronavirus variant. South African scientists so far see no sign that the variant causes more severe illness.

The U.K. will open hundreds more vaccination sites in the coming days, including at soccer stadiums and racecourses, as it tries to massively ramp up delivery of booster shots amid a surge in omicron cases. With two vaccine doses deemed to provide insufficient protection against omicron, the government is accelerating its booster program in an effort to ensure the National Health Service isn’t overwhelmed. The question is whether more will be needed, especially if the booster program falls short of the target. More than 90,000 volunteers are already working in almost 3,000 vaccine sites across England. This will be widened to hundreds more sites, mobile units and pop-ups within the next week, Johnson’s office said, including sports stadiums and shopping centers.

A British family got an unwelcome festive surprise when a deadly venomous snake emerged from their Christmas tree - after they had finished decorating it. 'It was a very long two hours until the snake catcher got here and it was like the cavalry turning up but once he hooked it out with his tongs we could breathe again.'. 'Then my mobile rang and it was Rob who sent the photos and promised me they really did have a boomslang in their Christmas tree and it was no joke. 'I drove over to theirs telling them not to take their eyes off it in case it slithered away from the Christmas tree and found itself a hiding place in their home. 'Finding a tree inside was a bonus but sadly it was the family Christmas tree!'

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - ISTAT said Tuesday that Italy registered 12,500 fewer births in the first nine months of 2021 than it did in the equivalent period last year. "This strong decrease should be linked to the unfolding of negative effects sparked by the COVID-19 epidemic, which saw the biggest decrease ever registered in January 2021 (almost 5,000 fewer births, -13.6%)," the national statistics agency said. The fall is the continuation of a downward trend In 2020 there were 404,892 births in Italy, 15,000 fewer than in 2019. ISTAT said Italy's fertility rate has dropped to its lowest ever level, with an average of 1.17 children born per Italian woman.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Tuesday reiterated his call for people have a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, saying this was crucial to curtail the impact of the highly contagious Omicron strain of the coronavirus. "The third doses are even more important in order to face the Omicron variant," Speranza said at a conference on health services in the home and palliative care. "Yesterday half a million doses of COVID vaccine were given (in Italy). "In total over 100 million doses have been given and in recent weeks 450,000 people have had heir first dose". Italy is set to start vaccinating five-to-11-year-old this week and Speranza said the number of parents booking jabs for these younger children was high.

Is video showing 'Russian helicopters in Mali' what it seems? TRUTH OR FAKE © FRANCE 24As Mali and Russia continue to strengthen their military cooperation, a video purporting to show Russian helicopters during military exercises in Mali does not necessarily seem that far-fetched. So how to go about debunking it? Find out in Truth or Fake.

Hadi Jumaan and his team of volunteers have returned more than 1,000 bodies of fighters killed in the Yemeni conflict to their families. Holding a white flag high, Hadi Jumaan walks onto the battlefield in Yemen. He’s there to collect the bodies of fallen fighters so they can have proper burials. Hadi Jumaan and his team of volunteers often travel to the frontlines to evacuate the bodies of fallen fighters. Besides evacuating fallen fighters, Jumaan has also negotiated several prisoner exchanges between the Houthis and the loyalist forces.

Sebastián Álvarez flew into ‘the Devil’s House’, becoming the first person ever to wingsuit in and out of a live volcano.

The Chinese government has expressed its condolences to the US and offered emergency aid in the wake of the devastating tornadoes. Photo: Reuters

However, the study found that the vaccine from U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German partner BioNTech provided just 33 percent protection against infection, much less than the level for other variants detected in the country so far. At the same time, the vaccine provided 70 percent protection against severe complications that would require a patient to be hospitalized, the study found, calling that “very good protection.”

Parliament has passed a sex self-identification bill, allowing people to change the sex on their birth certificate with greater ease. Parliament has unanimously passed a sex self-identification law which will make it easier to amend a person’s sex on their birth certificates. (file photo)READ MORE:* Explainer: The decades-long battle for gender self-identification* Bill allowing trans people to change sex on birth certificates passes second reading unanimously* City council spent $30,000 on unsuccessful bid to stop public meeting“This bill has had some controversy. "This bill recognises that those who need to amend their birth certificate can do so. The change to the birth certificate process will come into effect in 18 months time.

Yemeni officials say a senior military commander was killed in clashes between government forces and the Houthi rebels attacking a key central cityCAIRO -- Clashes between Yemeni government forces and the country's Houthi rebels attacking the key central city of Marib left a senior military commander dead Monday, officials said. The Houthis launched an offensive earlier this year on the city in an effort to complete their control over the northern half of Yemen. Government forces had earlier advanced a few kilometers (miles) following fierce battles south of the city, one of the officials said. The rebels stepped up attacks on Marib in recent weeks, sending waves of fighters to try and breach government defenses. Last month, government forces took the district of Hays and a major highway linking the contested port city of Hodeida with the rebel-held capital of Sanaa.

Workers walk towards the construction site of the Lusail stadium in Doha that will be used in the 2022 soccer World Cup in this December 2019 photo. © ReutersMICHAEL PEEL, Nikkei Asia executive editor, and NESREEN BAKHEIT, Nikkei staff writer

Share this Story: 'It is time to cancel plans': Omicron surging in London area'It is time to cancel plans': Omicron surging in London area Cancel Christmas gatherings amid “exponential” growth in Omicron variant cases, the London area health boss says, as the hyper-contagious virus overtakes Delta to become the dominant COVID-19 strain in the London area. Article content Cancel Christmas gatherings amid “exponential” growth in Omicron variant cases, the London area health boss says, as the hyper-contagious variant overtakes Delta to become the dominant COVID-19 strain in the London area. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

“Some friends in common suggested she introduce herself,” Archie, a furniture designer and antiques dealer, remembers of how he and the head of productions and special events at Rick Owens first connected. All of this happened in the factory in Concordia.”The first dress they showed Anna was called “AL” gown, named after Rick’s nickname for Anna, Anna Lupo. “We managed to pack everybody into the tiny church and even had a room for some musicians who played throughout the ceremony,” Archie says. For this, Anna’s sister Katharina asked Rick and Elsa, the CEO of Rick Owens, for a roll of fabric to have a dirndl made. “And [shortly thereafter], I was dressed in a Rick Owens’ dirndl – it was crazy incredible!

She’s one of the world’s best referential dressers, thanks to a stylist who treats fashion as storytelling, but last night, Zendaya outdid herself again. Matt WinkelmeyerZendaya and her “image architect” “image architect” Law Roach are long-time friends of Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, but her Bulgari ambassadorship paid dividends, too. Albert L. OrtegaSpeaking of Parker, Roach has also started dressing Tom Holland, who is incidentally the Euphoria actor’s boyfriend. Their couple’s red-carpet moments are quietly brilliant, with Zendaya playing the poster girl for comic book couture, and Tom letting her shine. Note the very specific shade of yesterday’s tailoring – a rich chocolate brown that brought out the colour of Zendaya’s glittering gossamer.

The ultimate wardrobe binder – a white T-shirt. Nine times out of 10, a crisp white T-shirt can solve the conundrum of having “nothing to wear”. Lucky, then, that the Vogue editors have you covered, with their picks of the best white T-shirts. Read more: The Best White Shirts For WomenWhen it comes to fabrics, seek out natural options such as organic cotton and Tencel, which is crafted from wood cellulose. Here, the Vogue editors share their failsafe white T-shirts for life.

Nikki Campbell and Sophie Coote, the women behind Sir, talk to Vogue Australia about their top tips for party dressing this season—from the trends they’re spotting, to the colours they’re looking forward to stepping out in, to the power of the mighty mini.

I have a Louis Vuitton bag from the Aughties that I have been slugging around for years like an anvil. Along with a flip-phone pocket on its side, it looks like it is from way back when thanks to its condition. This past Fashion Week, I ran into writer Taylore Scarabelli, who was toting a black Balenciaga bag. The then boho-loving Olsen strutted around town with her Motorcycle bag stained with a bull’s-eye of red wine splotched onto its bottom. ‘It explains my life,’ Olsen says, sighing, when asked about her beloved accessory’s sorry state.”

It threatened to rain, so the reception was moved into the Ocean Grill Restaurant at the Setai Hotel. “We are so fortunate that some of our dear friends who were guests, also happen to also be some of the best DJs in the world—Pedro, Zack Bia, Daniel Chetrit, and Dza. Needless to say, the dancing started right away, and didn’t ever stop!”

Whether you opt for a real tree or an artificial version, “flocked trees definitely continue to be in this season,” says Lakein. Another pick is the King Noble Fir in the Charlie Brown style.

We’re at the end of the year, excitement—and fear of the unknown—are at an all-time high and the only thing that can bring us comfort is burying ourselves under a pile of food. Capping off this festive season are a slew of new restaurants and menus to last you through the month. We’ve spotlighted several of them across Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Nashik, Bengaluru and Kolkata that you should bookmark for the next time you’re dining out or ordering in. MumbaiBalsaPositioned as an easy-going cocktail and tapas bar, Balsa is one of the newest additions to the city’s dining out scene. The space aims to be an unpretentious, casual dining spot, offering a relaxed tropical vibe in an alfresco setting.

Texture is an important factor to consider when you’re thinking about makeup. Get the look: Ananya Panday’s radiant skin and glossy lipsInstagram content This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. If you have oily skin that tends to get greasy with time, set the makeup with a light dusting of translucent powder. To complete the look, use a liquid highlighter like the Live Tinted Hueglow on the neck, collar bones and shoulders. Also Read:10 beauty and wellness tricks you can learn from Ananya Panday's Instagram5 makeup lessons you can learn from Ananya PandayThis easy-to-find ingredient is Ananya Panday and Malaika Arora's trick to soothed, glowing skin

Winter is here—there's a nip in the air and the humidity is low, making it a great time to explore Indian cities on foot. Apart from city attractions, many tour companies also offer themed walks centred on food, architecture, culture, history and more. Mumbai’s eclectic architectureInstagram content This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Uncovering stories of DelhiInstagram content This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. With its sprawling parks and gardens, the best way to explore the Garden City of Bengaluru is on a Nature Trail with Unhurried.

For me, it was a time when I began designing more by hand—the surroundings brought on a whole new perspective. Our second home became not just our lockdown home, but a safe and caring sanctuary. This is my most personal collection yet and it was made in the safe arms of our beach house. We now give out our beach house on short stays as a way to share our place of healing and joy with those who care. Also read:8 home decor items that will instantly spruce up your space this holiday season8 best #WorkFromHome accessories to treat yourself toKarishma Manga Bedi's second family home in Rishikesh is a haven of happiness

We got two Mumbai-based skin experts to help us decode stressed skin and understand how you can nurse it back to health. “Stressed skin can get quickly irritable. While an increase in cortisol levels contributes to mental stress, Dr Bijani explains the additional causes that can lead to stressed skin. Lifestyle: “Factors like smoking, drinking, not taking off your makeup and excessive exposure to pollution can also cause your skin to be stressed, often resulting in dull, dehydrated or tired looking skin. Diet: A sudden change in your diet like signing up for fad diets or consuming excessive junk food, sugary, spicy or oily food all cause the skin to get stressed.

This year we saw both Vicky Kaushal and Rajkummar Rao opt for ‘Tiffany Classic’ platinum wedding bands. Vicky Kaushal picked an original Tiffany wedding band ring in platinumKatrina Kaif opted for a ‘Tiffany Soleste’ platinum ring with a cushion-cut tanzanite centre stone. Not to mention this setting brings more attention to the central stone, making the ring bigger and bolder than the classic solitaire. And similar to the eternity band, the halo setting represents everlasting love, because it has no beginning or end. The collection offers a variety of options for centre stones like diamonds, aquamarines, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, yellow diamonds, and Katrina’s stone of choice— tanzanites.

In the sixth grade, my group of girlfriends developed the mercurial habit of waging cold wars against one another. But in this act of reconciliation, Val made herself bigger than the rest: She broke from the hive mind. I can recall no meet-cute, however, just that Valerie and I were as thick as thieves from elementary school through high school graduation. Val’s big house and big family provided a trove of elder siblings’ high school yearbooks and sorority photo albums, paving the way for our own exciting future. On one road trip, her parents told me about the University of Virginia, a beautiful school they said they could see me attending.

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In a metallic gold gown, reflective of Ball of Arabia’s dazzling lights, Dorra Zarrouk attended the event in a futuristic look draped with shredded galvanic flakes by the Lebanese designer Jean Pierre Khoury. The Tunisian beauty shared that her presence marks her second time attending the Ball of Arabia, and her third time showing in an event by Vogue, and she takes pride in that. On a note of endearment, Zarrouk feels very proud of Vogue Arabia that has proved itself to the region. She shared that she feels like she is part of the Vogue Arabia team, actively participating in it ever since it was launched. Read Next: Dorra Zarrouk Just Shared This Throwback Wedding Day Picture & Fans Love It

Jennifer Lopez kept her love for Arab designers going strong in a couture dress by Elie Saab last evening. The award-winning pop star, who often champions regional talent, recently walked the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of The Tender Bar, wearing a waterfall-like soft blue piece designed by the Lebanese couturier. The dress—although toned down in comparison to most of the star’s red carpet appearances—served as the perfect date night outfit for Lopez, who came with beau Ben Affleck. The duo, as they often tend to do, looked perfect together on the red carpet, where they were seen sharing a little secret and a laugh in front of cameras. This followed her look at the Global Citizen Vax Live Concert, where she walked the red carpet in a sparkling silver and white Elie Saab jumpsuit.

Pro? je kryoterapie pro ple? lepší než gua sha a rollery Cindy Kerberová 14. Jednou z nich je za m? kryoterapie. Rozhodn? to neznamená, že v mrazáku vylovíte kostku ledu a jdete na v?c. Vypadají jako rumba koule a vybrat si je m?žete ve verzi své oblíbené barvy, se t?pytkami, nebo bez. Zejména kolem o?í ve?te pohyb do st?edu ven a následn? dol? po hran? obli?eje, zbavíte se tak opuchlých ví?ek.

Paired with a black satin corset, Njeim’s suit was complemented by an emerald jewelry set from UAE-based jewelry house Damas. Her picks for the evening came from the Damas Sama Collection, and were pieces that celebrated the beauty of emeralds and natural diamonds. During the ball, Njeim was asked who she counted among the most inspirational women in the Emirates. A sketch of Nadine Njeim’s Deign with Glamoda Couture. Read Next: Mona Zaki Was a Modern Day Cleopatra in Her Gold Zuhair Murad Gown at 2021 Ball of Arabia

It happens every year, timed just before the holiday break and it’s dubbed the Winter Wonderland Ball. The format goes like this: guests get gussied up in black tie and make their way to the NYBG. Inside, a glamorous procession appears as gowns snake their way through the greenhouse to view replicas of iconic New York landmarks and trains chugging by. “We are thrilled to welcome you back in person to this year’s Winter Wonderland Ball. Following her remarks, the Buffets helped to open the dancefloor, which would remain open until midnight or so, but who is counting?

If you didn’t get a chance to purchase something from the first Dundas x Revolve collaboration (it sold out quickly after debuting on the runway during New York Fashion Week last September), the duo is back with round two. Photo: Jon BrownOf course, the collection is filled with party-ready pieces, from body-hugging leotards to sheer dresses, but somehow Dundas and Revolve managed to amplify the wow factor even more. PHoto: Jon BrownFor their second duet, Dundas and Revolve also turned classic outerwear pieces into festive wardrobe essentials. Photo: Jon BrownBelow, take a closer look at the latest Dundas x Revolve collection and shop the collaboration before it sells out—because it will! Dundas x Revolve Jean maxi dress $348 REVOLVE Shop Now Dundas x Revolve Grace mini dress $298 REVOLVE Shop NowDundas x Revolve Crawford maxi dress $328 REVOLVE Shop Now Dundas x Revolve Munroe embellished mini dress $528 REVOLVE Shop NowDundas x Revolve Marion trouser $268 REVOLVE Shop Now Dundas x Revolve Atlas bodysuit $198 REVOLVE Shop Now

We've rounded up the best seasonal wreaths from Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Amazon and more so you can create the most showstopping doorscapes in time for Christmas. Marks & Spencer has created this metallic must-have, layering glittery foliage over a traditional wicker base. Christmas Roses Wreath, £24, EtsyNothing says Christmas like ruby red and thanks to Etsy you can bag this wreath for just £24. 60cm Blue Berry Christmas Wreath Micro Light Bundle, £89.99, Lights4FunBrighten up your doorstep with a light-up wreath this Christmas! 25cm Christmas Wreath, £81.99, WayfairEffortlessly elegant, Wayfair's pastel wreath is what dreams – and social media feeds – are made of.

Best leather trousersAutograph leather cropped trousers, £139/$245, Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer's straight cut leather trousers have a flattering figure-skimming shape and cropped finish. Ankle-length leather trousers, £199.99, H&MMade from buttery soft leather, you'll want to wear H&M's slim fit trousers with everything this season. Saks Potts Rosita logo-embossed leather trousers, £560/$665, SelfridgesAdd something extra to your outfit with these amazing Saks Potts logo-embossed straight cut leather trousers. Lara skinny fit leather trousers, £568/$1,070, ReissThese skinny leather trousers from Reiss will last a lifetime. Best leather-look leggingsCora leather-look high-rise leggings, £129/$198, All SaintsAll Saint's super skinny leather-look leggings would pair perfectly with chunky boots.

We may earn a commission for products purchased through links in this articleWhen it comes to shopping for holiday presents, it's the thought that counts, of course - but finding an amazing holiday gift under $25 is something we can all appreciate. RELATED: 12 best holiday gifts under $50We've found amazing holiday gifts from brands like Lululemon, Coach and Skims, and your favorite stores, too, from Target to Nordstrom - and they all come in at $25 or less. So if you're looking for a stocking stuffer, Secret Santa gift, or just budget-friendly chic gifts that look expensive, this is definitely the edit for you! MORE: 17 best holiday gifts under $100We're talking tech must-haves, quirky surprises, fashion finds, toys, home gifts and beauty buys - basically the best holiday gifts that will bring everyone joy, especially your wallet. 's selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of.

It’s almost 2022, and companies still aren’t getting it right for women in tech. To make matters worse, bro culture is rife in tech companies, according to the 2021 Women in Tech Report by TrustRadius. advertisementAt InHerSight, we ask women workers how satisfied they are with their access to learning and development opportunities. And within the biggest 1,000 tech companies, less than one in five CIOs or CTOs are women. advertisementAnd, because of bro culture and the dearth of other women around them, women in tech often have experienced unequal treatment firsthand.

advertisementadvertisementYet, one big privacy feature was missing from iOS 15 when it first shipped: App Privacy Report. All about Transparency Some have likened iOS 15.2’s App Privacy Report to a type of privacy report card. App Privacy Report shows you this X-ray of what apps are doing on your iPhone in two main ways. How to enable App Privacy Report App Privacy Report lives in the System Preferences app on iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 and later. Here’s how:advertisementOpen the Settings app Tap Privacy Scroll down and tap on App Privacy Report (it’s at the very bottom of the page) On the App Privacy Report screen, tap Turn On App Privacy Report It should be noted that after enabling App Privacy Report you might not see an instant report.

Innovation Editor Christine Liu decided to tackle these questions head-on with the help of Joel Schwartzberg, author of, Get to the Point! CHRISTINE LIU: I’m kind of lost what exactly you’re trying to find out. CHRISTINE LIU: Friendly, generous, divergent, darkly funny, creative in capital letters, curious, competitive, and collaborative. CHRISTINE LIU: Certainly. CHRISTINE LIU: If I were asked this question again, yeah, It’s not like the most natural thing to answer, but for sure it’s a lot less scary than it used to be.

I’ve heard from people who mask their autism to avoid stereotyping or discrimination at work. The result is an overwhelming number of autistic people who feel isolated, misunderstood, and discriminated against in life and at work. We are creative, funny, sensitive, empathetic, accomplished people who help one another work through lifetimes of self-blame and self-hate. When organizations respect our identities and support people bringing their authentic selves to work, everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Finding interest-based groups beyond your work will help you build meaningful connections and build community.

By astrophysical standards, such an object would be considered compact, much like a small black hole or a neutron star. For instance, it could have been a product of a black hole born in a supernova. Or it could have resulted from a middle-weight black hole stripping away material from a passing star. “The only thing that can be that small is a compact object — either a neutron star or black hole,” Pasham says. “This rules out the idea that the signal is from an intermediate black hole,” Pasham says.

David Li, from Woodbury, Minnesota, has been selected as a Marshall Scholar and will commence graduate studies in the UK next fall. “We are very proud of all the MIT students who applied for the Marshall this year,” says Professor Will Broadhead, who chairs the committee along with Professor Tamar Schapiro. Li has been interested in CRISPR technology since middle school, when he enrolled in an online version of MIT’s introductory biology class. When he arrived at MIT, Li immediately began working in the Zhang Lab at the Broad Institute, which seeks to develop molecular and cellular tools for manipulating biological systems. Li has served as a community teaching assistant for the MIT biology department’s online courses on edX, and has tested content for new online courses since middle school.

Instagram revealed its 2022 Instagram Trend Report, looking at upcoming trends for next year, as defined by Generation Z, that will shape culture.

The Post could not confirm whom the Chinese-language presentations were shown to, or when. Some of the slides showcase surveillance functions specific to police or government agencies, suggesting that Chinese government authorities may have been the intended audience. Many of the PowerPoints have a creation timestamp of Sept. 23, 2014, with the latest modifications to the files made in 2019 or 2020, according to the presentations’ metadata.

Full vaccination against COVID-19 continues to provide 70% protection against severe disease, according to the Discovery Health study. The new omicron variant is substantially more contagious and reduces the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, but people who are fully vaccinated are still largely protected against severe disease, according to a study from South Africa released Tuesday. Omicron accounts for 90% of COVID-19 cases in South Africa and is a growing problem in Europe. Omicron also appears to be able to reinfect people who had an earlier disease variant. Approximately 78,000 of these positive COVID-19 test results, identified between Nov. 15 and Dec. 7, were attributed to omicron infections.

The effects of climate change are already thought to be leading to increased competition for scarce water resources in places such as Africa. And although world leaders agreed to speed up action at a U.N. climate summit in Glasgow in November, the agreement fell short of the transformative breakthroughs scientists say need to happen to avoid the most dire effects of global warming.

The operator of Ghana 's main international airport will fine airlines $3,500 for every passenger they fly in who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 or who tests positive for the coronavirus upon arrival, it said on December 13. The rule comes into effect on Tuesday at Kotoka International Airport in the capital Accra, Ghana Airports said. It follows a health ministry move last week to require all people entering Ghana to be vaccinated. The authorities launched a massive vaccination drive this month ahead of the enforcement from January 22 of a vaccine mandate for targeted groups, including government employees, health workers and students. It plans to recruit more health workers to be able to double daily inoculation from 140,000.

Willow Andring, a 14-year-old transgender high school freshman, said she faces regular harassment at her school, Armstrong Junior-Senior High School in Kittanning, about 45 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh. At least a dozen news articles — from California to Florida — specifically mentioned trans students being harassed or attacked, some of them in bathrooms. Regardless, they and the parents of trans students who have experienced violence say that schools aren’t doing enough to address the problem, and the students themselves say they feel unsafe. She added that trans students do have a bigger issue with bullying and harassment "and we need to do more to address such," she said. A group of high school students who were frustrated with the Berlin Area School District’s response staged a walkout last month in support of Lucas.

Summary France keeping close eye on surge in COVID cases in UKUK hit by flare-up in COVID Omicron variant numbersAround 130 confirmed cases of Omicron in FrancePARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - France is contemplating tightening controls for travellers coming from Britain, where the new, more contagious, Omicron coronavirus variant seems to be rapidly spreading, said French government spokesman Gabriel Attal. "Regarding Britain, the current rule is to show a negative test less than 48 hours old in order to enter France," Attal told France Info radio on Tuesday. read moreAttal said France, currently engulfed in a fifth wave of COVID fuelled mainly by the Delta variant, presently had 133 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong in late November. France reported on Dec 13 that a further 231 people had died from COVID in hospitals in the last 24 hours, while the number of COVID patients in intensive care units (ICUs) had risen by 150 to stand at 2,752. Register now for FREE unlimited access to reuters.com RegisterReporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Sudip Kar-GuptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

One of the Boy Scouts of America’s primary insurers, Chubb Ltd unit Century Indemnity Company, said on Monday it will contribute $800 million to a deal proposed by the youth organization to settle sexual abuse claims. The money would be used to settle around 82,500 claims from people who say they were sexually abused as children by troop leaders. Under the Boy Scouts’ proposal, those who filed claims in the organization’s ongoing bankruptcy proceeding will receive settlements according to the severity of their cases and when the alleged abuse occurred. Century’s contribution comes after more than a year of back-and-forth between the insurer and the Boy Scouts. The deal, which is subject to court approval, is also backed by the Boy Scouts’ other primary insurer, The Hartford Financial Group, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which previously chartered Scouting groups and activities.

By Joe HoppeVela Technologies PLC shares rose Tuesday after it said a clinical trial for a potential coronavirus treatment which it invested in has been completed with positive results. Shares at 0835 GMT were up 0.01 pence, or 26%, at 0.06 pence.

To save lives, overdose antidote should be sold over-the-counter, advocates argueEnlarge this image toggle caption Aneri Pattani/KHN Aneri Pattani/KHNLouise Vincent figures her group, the North Carolina Survivors Union, saves at least 1,690 lives a year. The harm-reduction and syringe service program in Greensboro, N.C., distributes the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone to people who use drugs. It has allotted an unprecedented $30 million in federal funds for harm-reduction groups and announced the creation of a model law that state legislatures can pass to improve access. The product has long been deemed safe and effective for community use, harm-reduction groups say, even by the FDA. Harm Reduction Therapeutics, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company, said it plans to apply for an over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray next year, with the goal that it be on shelves in 2023.

Associated PressSouth Korea on Tuesday marked its deadliest day of the pandemic as an unrelenting, delta-driven spread stretched thin hospitals and left people dying while waiting for beds. Health experts warn that the country’s medical system is quickly approaching its limits and that fatalities could worsen if the government continues to be slow and hesitant in tightening social distancing. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 94 virus patients died in the past 24 hours while a record 906 were in serious or critical condition. The 5,567 new infections were the highest yet for a Tuesday — daily tallies are usually smaller at the start of the week because of fewer tests on weekends – indicating the virus has continued to gain speed after the government moderately tightened social distancing last week.

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk unloaded another batch of shares on Monday, in a rough start to the week for the electric car maker. Musk exercised options to buy 2.1 million shares at $6.24 each, then sold 934,091 at prices between $952 to $1,002, for a total of about $906.5 million, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A hand-drawn map offered to authorities a day after the state of Mississippi executed killer David Neal Cox has led to the apparent remains of his missing sister-in-law, authorities said Monday. David Neal Cox, convicted in the 2010 murder of his estranged wife, Kim Kirk Cox, had long been suspected in the 2007 disappearance of Felicia Cox, then 40. Pontotoc County Coroner Kim Bedford on Monday night said those remains, recovered in her jurisdiction Sunday, appear to be the those of Felicia Cox. Miskelly and other relatives of Felicia Cox were present and viewed excavation of the remains, he said. Pontotoc County Coroner Kim Bedford said there is reason to believe remains found there are those of Felicia Cox, 40, missing since 2007.

Stoltzfus sees bottlenecks in both the supply chains and the labor markets as the chief drivers of the rising prices. Shares are selling for $14.69 and the $25.50 average price target indicates room for ~74% appreciation from that level over the coming year. Buy) rating and $40 price target on PLRX. Again, we’re looking at a stock with a unanimous Strong Buy consensus based on 4 recent reviews. Pliant’s stock is selling for $15.53 and it has a $40.75 average price target suggesting an upside of ~162% over the next 12 months.

YouTube TV has warned viewers that channels including ABC, ESPN, FX and others may disappear by 11:59 PM on December 17th if it can't come to terms with Disney over carriage fees. If that happens, YouTube TV will lower its price by $15 (from $65 to $50) while Disney content remains off the service. We are in active conversations with them and are working hard to keep their content on YouTube TV," it said in a press release. That said, YouTube TV has also seen some failed negotiations, such as when it disappeared off new Roku devices in April 2021 before finally returning in December. Just in case, though, YouTube TV said that users might want to sign up for the $14 Disney Bundle to keep access to ABC and other channels.

MarketWatchFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has finally jettisoned the use of the word “transitory” to describe the rise in inflation. Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser for Allianz, went on the CBS program “Face the Nation” on Sunday and stuck the proverbial dagger in. El-Erian did allow that Powell and the Fed can still catch up now and regain control, as he recommended the Fed ease off the accelerator. The Fed this week is expected to ease off the accelerator by increasing the pace at which it decreases the purchases of bonds.

FILE PHOTO: Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory groundbreaking ceremony in ShanghaiIn this article:(Reuters) - Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has sold another 934,091 shares of the electric vehicle maker worth $906.5 million, U.S. securities filings showed on Monday. He also exercised stock options to buy 2.13 million shares of Tesla, according to the filings. (Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

South Korea on Tuesday marked its deadliest day of the COVID-19 pandemic as an unrelenting, Delta variant-driven spread stretched hospitals thin and left people dying while waiting for beds. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 94 COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, with a record 906 in serious or critical condition. More than 1,480 patients were still waiting to be admitted to hospitals or treatment shelters. Health experts have called for stronger measures, such as more working from home and expanding the government’s financial support to small businesses to ensure their compliance with social distancing. “We express deep concern that there will be a high possibility of serious fatalities if [the government] fails to employ stronger measures to reverse the crisis before it’s too late.”

One person was killed, and four others were wounded, in shootings Monday in Chicago, including a man who was fatally shot in an apartment in Lawndale on the West Side. In non-fatal shootings, a man was shot in the head in a Jewel-Osco parking lot in West Elsdon on the Southwest Side. The older man then pulled out a gun and opened fire, striking the younger man in the head. Three others were wounded in shootings citywide. Three people were killed, and twenty-six others were wounded, in shootings last weekend in Chicago.

"It is very tragic, especially for the next-of-kin person on board still," the captain said. "Also [for] a crew that was dealing directly with the person that was holding him, trying desperately to save him and he just slipped out of their hands."

DEAR MISS MANNERS: On arriving at my birthday celebration, one of my son’s newly acquired stepdaughters said to me, “Oh, it’s your birthday! Related Articles Miss Manners: Was I wrong in how I dealt with the aisle blocker? Miss Manners suggests that you consult a cultural anthropologist before you accept the cultural excuse for behavior that is considered rude where it is being done. GENTLE READER: Not being a therapist, Miss Manners concerns herself more with how people treat one another than why. Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

DEAR ABBY: My husband is in his 40s and permanently disabled from injuries received in a recent automobile accident. Dear Abby: If a locked-out jogger did this, would you call it weird? Dear Abby: My wife says I can’t go to Hawaii with my exDear Abby: When should I reveal what I didn’t mention in my roommate screening? DEAR ABBY: I’m a woman of 28. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips.

James Ford Sr. 7-22-56 to 12-13-20 You will always be my little brother. Love and miss you, your favorite sister, Anita.

Or at least that’s the conclusion I drew on my hunt for the best coffee machines. "Weighing your coffee will mean you get consistently good coffee – rather than relying on a tablespoon or eyeballing." How I tested the best coffee machinesI worked my way through a constant rotation of flat whites from a selection of coffee machines (with varying results). Here are the best coffee machines, starting with my favourite... The best coffee machines to buy in 20211.

One Starbucks customer woke up and chose chaos - and decided to try to order a drink with an endless amount of add-ons that costs $50 for a single cup. (Caramel Brulee sauce, chocolate malt and cinnamon powder, holiday sugar sparkles, and white chocolate mocha sauce but to name a few mentioned on the order). One person wrote: “Barista here - i don’t think we’d even make it. But what everyone wants to know is... did the TikToker manage to get his long-winded order? The clip then cut to the TikToker where he took a sip of the drink and commented: “Not bad tbh,” in text on the video.

Perhaps in part as sweet revenge for the way Boris Johnson disrespected the business world during his CBI speech, Ryanair has savaged the government over the now infamous Downing Street party allegations by mocking their Covid alert system. Posting on Twitter, the airline posted the system, rightly informing people that the Covid alert level has been moved from level three to four. But it then posted a complimentary scale showing what kind of party they’d expect to see in Downing Street at each Covid level. At level one, when Covid is no longer present in the UK, Ryanair joked Downing Street would host a small gathering with wine and cheese. And since the tweet blew up, the airline posted an update about the latest member of their legal team who will deal with any backlash...That’s one airline firmly off Boris’ Christmas card list.

We know one person who can relate…An American woman lived perhaps everybody’s worst nightmare when she accidentally broadcast her and her husband having sex – on Facebook Live. Perhaps worst of all, the clip didn’t go unnoticed and was viewed by 46 people. My husband still thinks it’s hilarious.”In the comment section she clarified how the blunder happened. It was on his feed.”Another wrote: “One of my best friends went live on accident and she was going down on her husband. We haven’t spoke about it and I have left it at that.” Replying, another user said: “You’re a true friend”.

For the second day running, lateral flow tests are unavailable to be ordered via the Government website. Britain's fightback against the highly-contagious strain stuttered on Monday after the NHS vaccine website crashed for those trying to book a booster, queues for jabs stretched a third of a mile and lateral flow tests ran out. A message on the site on Tuesday morning said there were no tests available for home delivery, although tests can still be collected from pharmacies. But Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab insisted the issue with ordering lateral flows from the Government website is not due to a lack of the tests, rather a problem with "allocation, distribution and delivery". Some queued for five hours on Monday for their booster jabs, and lengthy queues were already developing for booster vaccinations in England on Tuesday morning.

Nisha Katona MBE, a former barrister who switched careers to open the Mowgli group of Indian street food restaurants, was born and raised in Liverpool. Last month she opened her first London branch – bringing her collection to 13, with four more in the pipeline for 2022 – and released her fourth cookbook, 30-Minute Mowgli. “Things have changed dramatically,” says Katona of her home city’s dining scene. They do really delicate turnip puffs, tripe in ginger and spring onion and cheung fun with scallops. It’s phenomenal.”9-13 Berry St, Liverpool L1 9DF; meimeiliverpool.comWreckfish Bistro

Tech companies across the world are under pressure to fix a software vulnerability that many cybersecurity experts are calling one of the worst to be discovered in recent years. The vulnerability, known as Log4shell, was identified in Apache’s Log4j software library that helps developers keep track of changes in the applications they build. An unauthenticated remote actor could exploit this vulnerability to take control of an affected system,” CISA noted in a statement. Companies have strongly urged customers managing applications with Log4j2 to update to the latest version, or their operating system’s software update mechanism. “Affected UK organisations should report any evidence of compromise relating to this vulnerability to the NCSC via our website,” it added.

Whether you’re looking to dip your toe into a more flexitarian diet or you simply want a bit of a detox after weeks of festive overindulgence, you might be considering trying Veganuary. But how do you get started, what do you need to know before you begin, and are there any quick tips and tricks worth knowing about? Find out all about that and more at our free live event where myself and the IndyEats team will be speaking to vegan chef Bettina Campolucci Bordi and plant-based nutritionist Rohini Bajekal about all the ways you can make Veganuary work for you. We’ll go over the hows and whys, easy starter recipes, hacks to make your life easier, and advice on making the switch in a healthy, sustainable way. Taking place over Zoom on Thursday 6 January from 6.30pm, it’s completely free to attend - just make sure you sign up here in advance.

Fortnite has gone down ahead of a new update. Developers Epic Games said they had disabled matchmaking ahead of the upcoming v19.01 update. On its server status page, it noted that almost all parts of Fortnite – from the game services to the item shops and leaderboards – were “under maintenance”. All other parts of Epic, such as other games like Rocket League, as well as the Fortnite website, were still functional as normal. But it is likely to include bug fixes, as well as new content such as the preparation for its annual “Winterfest” event.

Grimes seemed to take a swipe at ex-boyfriend Elon Musk after he was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year. In response, singer Grimes – who split from Musk earlier this year after three years of dating – reshared the cover to Twitter on Monday night. “And he cut his own hair for this pic too - icon,” she tweeted, adding three sword emojis. Fans were split over the tweet, with some convinced Grimes was mocking Musk while others believed it to be sincere. Earlier this month, Grimes released a new single titled “Player of Games”, which many fans have taken to include thinly veiled references to the SpaceX CEO.

"It's not rocket science" is a phrase usually used to suggest that a task or concept is not actually so difficult but fairly simple to do or understand. But a new study suggests aerospace engineers and brain surgeons are not necessarily brighter than the general population - and that a career in either field is within anyone's reach if they apply themselves. Researchers said the purpose of the study - in part - was to settle this debate once and for all - and question whether public perceptions of rocket science and brain surgery were borne out in reality. Their findings of their assessments suggest that contrary to belief, there were little difference between the intelligence of neurosurgeons, aerospace engineers and the general population. Neurosurgeons were able to solve problems faster than the general population but showed a slower memory recall speed.

LONDON – Long queues formed at a vaccine centre in central London on Tuesday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged all adults to get a booster shot, a Reuters photographer said.

LONDON – Sky news said on Tuesday that British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab had misspoken when he said 250 people were in hospital with the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus. When asked for a comment, a spokesman for the justice ministry told Reuters to call the health ministry and suggested Reuters use different figures. The health ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Monday that 10 people were in hospital with Omicron.

The 55-metre Karin Hoj barge capsized when it crashed with the 90-metre Scot Carrier off the island of Bornholm in fog and darkness early on Monday. One of the two Danish crew members from the capsized barge was found dead in the hull. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement that a preliminary investigation was underway into several suspected crimes — gross negligence in maritime traffic, causing death through negligence, and marine intoxication. “In line with standard procedures, (…) all crew members of the Scot Carrier were tested for drugs and alcohol with two crew members exceeding the legal limit,” Scotline, which owns the Scot Carrier, said in a statement late on Monday. The company said it has a strict drug and alcohol policy in place and zero tolerance of any breaches.

HSBC, Europe’s leading banker to corporate Asia, laid out its long-awaited policy on financing thermal coal on Tuesday, and said it expected all its clients to have a plan in place to exit fossil fuel by the end of 2023. Under its plan, HSBC will cut exposure to thermal coal financing by at least 25% by 2025 and then by 50% by 2030, although non-EU or non-OECD-based clients could be funded until a global phase-out by 2040, the bank’s sustainability chief said. Building on an existing pledge not to finance new coal-fired power plants or thermal coal mines, HSBC said the policy would help phase out existing coal use in line with the science of climate change and be reviewed annually. It contributes 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions,” HSBC Group Chief Sustainability Officer Celine Herweijer said. HSBC said it expects clients to publish their own transition plans, although campaigners, including ShareAction, have previously said such language would leave HSBC too much wiggle room.

Tokyo confirmed 24 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, with the daily figure remaining below 30 for the 33rd straight day. The seven-day average of daily new cases came to 18.1, compared to 15.9 a week earlier. The number of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms under Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s criteria came to four, the same as the previous day. One new death from COVID-19 was reported Tuesday. On Monday, 79 new cases and one death from COVID-19 were confirmed nationwide.

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Premier Mario Draghi's government is expected to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency until March 31 at a cabinet meeting later on Tuesday, sources said. The state of emergency, which gives the government special powers and has been extended several times since first being declared when the pandemic broke out early in 2020, is currently set to expire at the end of this year. "At the cabinet meeting today more decisions will be taken on the emergency that we are going through," Health Minister Roberto Speranza said.

Late last month anti-government protests sparked widespread looting and arson in the Solomon Islands' capital HoniaraHoniara (AFP) – Police in the restive Solomon Islands on Tuesday pursued charges against a leading member of the opposition over deadly riots that rocked the country last month. "Police have released the suspect on bail," a police spokesperson told AFP, adding the suspect "will appear before Honiara Central Magistrate (in) February of 2022." Late last month anti-government protests sparked widespread looting and arson in the capital Honiara, causing US$67 million worth of damage and leaving the city's Chinatown district in ruins. The protests were sparked by opposition to veteran Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who is keen to forge closer ties with Beijing. Ally Peter Kenilorea urged supporters not to take to the streets, saying "I call for calm at this time."

In tonight's edition: Tunisia's president says the democratically-elected parliament will remain suspended for at least another year. Kais Saied also announced a referendum and elections for 2022. AdvertisingAlso, the EU slaps sanctions on a Russian mercenary group it says is committing atrocities in several African nations. This comes as Tigrayan forces claim to have taken back territory that the government re-captured from them just days ago. And FRANCE 24 takes you to a special exhibition in Paris displaying artists' interpretations of Ubuntu.

NATIONAL(Yonhap)President Moon Jae-in, who is on a state visit to Australia, met with Australian businesspeople on Tuesday to discuss expanding cooperation in key minerals between the two countries.The meeting came a day after the Korean and Australian industry ministries signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the core mineral supply chain.It was attended by Simon Crean, Australian head of the Korea-Australia Economic Cooperation Committee, Ian Gandel, non-executive chairman of Australian Strategic Materials, Stephen Grocott, managing director at Queensland Pacific Metals, Joe Kaderavek, CEO of Cobalt Blue, and Tom Seymour, chief executive officer of PwC Australia.Moon told the businesspeople he hopes to expand cooperation between Australia, which has abundant core minerals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium, and Korea, which has a high demand for core minerals in secondary batteries and electric vehicles, according to the statement released by Cheong Wa Dae.He also evaluated the progress of various cooperation such as supply contracts and investments between companies in the two countries, saying he would strengthen cooperation between governments to support the efforts of these entrepreneurs.Australian entrepreneurs said they hoped to expand cooperation with Korean companies in the future, emphasizing that the logistics system between the two countries has been smooth for a long time in the field of mineral resources, according to the Korean presidential office.“The importance of new energy technology in responding to climate change is expected to grow further and the demand for key minerals essential to realizing it is expected to surge,” Cheong Wa Dae said. “The meeting was held as a preemptive response to secure the supply chain of key minerals stably.”By Shin Ji-hye ( shinjh@heraldcorp.com

NATIONALSon Young-rae, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, speaks during a December press briefing at the government complex building in Sejong, North Chungcheong Province. (Yonhap)As deaths and hospitalizations continue a record-breaking streak, the South Korean government says it has yet to decide if COVID-19 restrictions will be brought back.The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s spokesperson Son Young-rae told Tuesday’s news briefing that it “may need to evaluate” if reintroducing restrictions is necessary. The previous record was set three days ago on Saturday with 80 deaths.So far on each day in December an average of 54 people lost their lives to COVID-19. And yet they make up 51 percent of critical care hospitalizations and 53 of deaths. Critical care medicine and infectious disease societies and nurses’ associations said hospitals were overwhelmed and forced to ration care.

The earthquake was initially reported to have magnitude of 5.3 but was revised lower to be at 4.9.Authorities said Jeju Island residents could have experienced huge vibration due to the earthquake and was in process of verifying if any damages occurred. They advised people in the area to take cover and protect themselves from the turbulence.Social media users believed to be in Jeju Island reported the ground shaking for three to four seconds, with some structures shaking. The National Fire Agency said no damages were immediately reported while people also reported feeling the earthquake in areas other than Jeju Island.The latest earthquake is the 11th-strongest earthquake recorded in South Korea’s modern history, according to KMA data, and is the first earthquake of magnitude exceeding 4.5 in four years. The last strong earthquake with similar magnitude was recorded in 2018 when a 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.The strongest earthquakes recorded in South Korea was a 5.8 magnitude shake observed in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in 2016. The earthquake, despite being stronger than a 5.4 magnitude earthquake reported a year later, reported far less damage than expected.By Ko Jun-tae ( ko.juntae@heraldcorp.com

The earthquake was initially reported to have magnitude of 5.3 but was revised lower to be at 4.9.Authorities said Jeju Island residents could have experienced huge vibration due to the earthquake and was in process of verifying if any damages occurred. They advised people in the area to take cover and protect themselves from the turbulence.Social media users believed to be in Jeju Island reported the ground shaking for three to four seconds, with some structures shaking. The National Fire Agency said no damages were immediately reported while people also reported feeling the earthquake in areas other than Jeju Island.The latest earthquake is the 11th-strongest earthquake recorded in South Korea’s modern history, according to KMA data, and is the first earthquake of magnitude exceeding 4.5 in four years. The last strong earthquake with similar magnitude was recorded in 2018 when a 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.The strongest earthquakes recorded in South Korea was a 5.8 magnitude shake observed in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in 2016. The earthquake, despite being stronger than a 5.4 magnitude earthquake reported a year later, reported far less damage than expected.By Ko Jun-tae ( ko.juntae@heraldcorp.com

President Moon Jae-in, who is on a state visit to Australia, met with Australian businesspeople on Tuesday to discuss expanding cooperation in key minerals between the two countries.The meeting came a day after the Korean and Australian industry ministries signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the core mineral supply chain.It was attended by Simon Crean, Australian head of the Korea-Australia Economic Cooperation Committee, Ian Gandel, non-executive chairman of Australian Strategic Materials, Stephen Grocott, managing director at Queensland Pacific Metals, Joe Kaderavek, CEO of Cobalt Blue, and Tom Seymour, chief executive officer of PwC Australia.Moon told the businesspeople he hopes to expand cooperation between Australia, which has abundant core minerals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium, and Korea, which has a high demand for core minerals in secondary batteries and electric vehicles, according to the statement released by Cheong Wa Dae.He also evaluated the progress of various cooperation such as supply contracts and investments between companies in the two countries, saying he would strengthen cooperation between governments to support the efforts of these entrepreneurs.Australian entrepreneurs said they hoped to expand cooperation with Korean companies in the future, emphasizing that the logistics system between the two countries has been smooth for a long time in the field of mineral resources, according to the Korean presidential office.“The importance of new energy technology in responding to climate change is expected to grow further and the demand for key minerals essential to realizing it is expected to surge,” Cheong Wa Dae said. “The meeting was held as a preemptive response to secure the supply chain of key minerals stably.”By Shin Ji-hye ( shinjh@heraldcorp.com

Oppo unveiled its first self-designed chipset, the MariSilicon X, during its InnoDay event on December 14, which the company said offers faster and better image processing. Photo: Oppo

A 67-year-old man is being treated at Guangzhou Number 8 Hospital after testing positive to the Omicron variant. Photo: Xinhua

As deaths and hospitalizations continue a record-breaking streak, the South Korean government says it has yet to decide if COVID-19 restrictions will be brought back.The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s spokesperson Son Young-rae told Tuesday’s news briefing that it “may need to evaluate” if reintroducing restrictions is necessary. The previous record was set three days ago on Saturday with 80 deaths.So far on each day in December an average of 54 people lost their lives to COVID-19. And yet they make up 51 percent of critical care hospitalizations and 53 of deaths. Critical care medicine and infectious disease societies and nurses’ associations said hospitals were overwhelmed and forced to ration care. To avert an imminent collapse, pausing the return to normal scheme -- which kicked off Nov. 1 -- was imperative.Government estimates show Korea is headed toward a bigger surge.

TAIPEI -- Taiwan could turn up the heat on a long-simmering issue between itself and the U.S. as the public here prepares to vote on whether to once again ban American pork.

However, the study found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provided just 33 percent protection against infection, much less than the level for other variants detected in the country so far. At the same time, the vaccine provided 70 percent protection against severe complications that would require a patient to be hospitalized, the study found, calling that “very good protection.”

Questions over worker safety at Amazon are intensifying once again after a tornado struck an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Friday, leaving six people dead and another hospitalized. On Monday, the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration said it opened a workplace safety investigation into the warehouse collapse. “This incident calls into question so much of Amazon’s practices in their warehouses,” said Marcos Ceniceros, an organizer at Warehouse Workers for Justice. 00:32 Drone footage shows collapsed Illinois warehouse after tornadoes sweep US – videoSpeaking to the Intercept on Monday, 12 Amazon workers described concerns over workplace safety. An Amazon spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, said the warehouse received tornado warnings between 8.06pm and 8.16pm on Friday and site leaders directed workers to immediately take shelter.

REUTERS/Eduardo MunozWASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday advised Americans against travel to Italy, Greenland and Mauritius, citing COVID-19 concerns. The State Department on Monday also added Italy and Mauritius to its “Level Four: Do Not Travel” advisories. The United States imposed new rules, effective Dec. 6, requiring international air travelers arriving in the United States to obtain a negative COVID-19 test within one day of travel. Under the prior rules, vaccinated international air travelers could present a negative test result obtained within three days of their day of departure. The White House has repeatedly said it is reviewing the African travel restrictions on a regular basis to determine if they should be lifted.

They also do not mention his and his family’s business ties to the Chinese state. They found that six of the 10 most commonly shared YouTube videos in the tweets were from the pro-China influencers. After The Times asked about the payments and free travel from Chinese state media, YouTube said it would remind the creators of their obligations. This allows some YouTubers to obscure the fact that they work for Chinese state media. As his trips with state media grew longer, the outlets paid him for his time, he said.

"It was an interesting sign of hope," Pastor Danny Lybarger tells PEOPLEAmid the devastation from a deadly series of tornadoes that hit six states, the Defiance, Missouri community is holding on to an unexpected glimmer of hope provided by a Christmas tree. You look right in and the only thing that's left standing is their Christmas tree with presents underneath," Lybarger says. "It was like the season was left standing," Lybarger continues. He says the tree remains the "most visible thing" from a nearby roadway, prompting cars to "slow down to look at it." "This is the deadliest tornado event we have ever had," Beshear, 44, told host Jake Tapper on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday.

Panda twins Huanlili and Yuandudu, born in August, made their public debut at the Beauval Zoo near Paris on SaturdayHuanlili and Yuandudu have taken their first clumsy steps into the limelight. The female panda twins, born at France's Beauval Zoo in August, made their public debut on Saturday. Huanlili and Yuandudu are only the second and third cubs born in France, according to The Associated Press. panda twins debut Credit: GettyThe twins will eventually move to China as well to help bolster the country's native panda population. panda twins debut Credit: GettyFor the next couple of years, Huanlili and Yuandudu will stay put in France to delight zoo guests and grow into happy, healthy adults.

"And we wanna help them out. It needs a little love," Dave says about the motivation to give the shelter a face-lift. "This is something special, something for the holidays, that we get to do for the animals. I mean, they love you unconditionally and so we are gonna pull as many favors as we can, we're gonna call everyone we know, we're gonna use all the extra supplies we have to make this thing come together. This is for the animals; this is for the amazing people that work here."

"We switched from a $600 Roomba that didn't work all that great to this beast," another user wrote. We run this in about 1,000 square feet (kitchen, living room, kid's playroom, and dining room) every night. It goes from carpet to hardwood to tile to rugs with no issues at all. It gets under the couch, around the table, and does a great job with the dried Play-Doh that seems to be everywhere (toddlers!)." They added, "This is by far the best value in robots!"

The only thing to note is that unlike some other leggings made by the brand, these don't come with a pocket in the waistband. But if you're mostly planning on wearing them to yoga class or while out on an errand, that likely won't bother you too much.All in all, these leggings are a great choice for anyone who enjoys stylish support — which is to say, all of us. And with that discount, it's the perfect time to pick up a pair from Nordstrom.

After the Sex and the City revival killed off Mr. Big with an exercise-related death, Ryan Reynolds recruited Chris Noth to help bring the iconic character back to life. “By pure luck, we’d been talking to Peloton about our Creative as a Subscription product in the week before this all happened,” Reynolds, 45, told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, December 13. She emailed us right after the episode aired and we all knew just what to do.”One day prior, the Deadpool actor made headlines after he shared an ad for Peloton starring Noth, 67, and real-life Peloton instructor Jess King. Peloton, Chris and the show itself,” he noted on Monday, revealing that the entire project from conception to filming took 24 hours. “I’m sure SATC fans, like me, are saddened by the news that Mr. Big dies of a heart attack.

US cities are breaking all-time homicide records this yearAdded: 13.12.2021 22:17 | 15 views | 0 commentsSource: www.briggsfreeman.comOne of the fastest-growing cities in the country, the capital of Texas is nearing the end of its deadliest year on record in 2021 as cities nationwide are experiencing a rise in homicides and gun violence incidents that began last year when the pandemic tightened its grip on the US. More in www.cnn.com » Tags: Texas

Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. You probably already own blue skinny jeans, but this pair may have you ditching them thanks to its stretchy, comfy fabric. Get the JEN7 High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (originally $99) for just $74 at Nordstrom! Allbirds Tree DashersThis isn’t the first time we’ve spotted Kunis is a pair of Allbirds. The Shop With Us team may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test.

17 Sweaters to Wear With Your Dresses During the HolidaysShorter Shrugs1. Best Classic Shrug: This GRACE KARIN sweater is the definition of a typical shrug, and it can be teamed with a variety of vibes! Best “Feminine” Shrug: The lettuce-edge detailing on the hem of this SATINIOR piece gives it an adorable girly feel! Our Absolute Favorite: This cozy wrap from MELIFLUOS DESIGNED is incredibly chic, and you can wear it with anything — beyond just dresses! Best Wrap Sweater: This open-front knit from Auburet comes with a matching belt that you can tie to cinch in the waist!

Added: 13.12.2021 23:17 | 45 views | 0 commentsUSA Gymnastics, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and their insurers agreed to pay $380 million in a settlement with the victims of Larry Nassar, the former Olympic doctor who sexually abused girls for decades, according to an attorney for multiple victims.

Dr. Oz's show will end in January as he seeks US Senate seatAdded: 13.12.2021 22:17 | 15 views | 0 commentsSony Pictures Television said Monday that "The Dr. Oz Show" will end in its thirteenth season on January 14, 2022.

Pentagon decides no US troops will be punished over botched Kabul drone strike that killed 10 civiliansAdded: 13.12.2021 22:17 | 14 views | 0 commentsDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin has decided that no US military personnel will be punished over the August drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians, including seven children.

15 sobering stats that tell the tale of the coronavirus in the U.S.Added: 13.12.2021 22:51 | 34 views | 0 commentsSource: bestlifeonline.comA look at some of the big numbers that put it in perspective — even as the political debate has largely moved on. More in www.washingtonpost.com »

The striking, sobering stats of the coronavirus’s toll on the United StatesAdded: 13.12.2021 21:54 | 17 views | 0 commentsA look at some of the big numbers that put it in perspective — even as the political debate has largely moved on.

Added: 14.12.2021 7:17 | 24 views | 0 commentsWith winter almost upon us and people spending more time indoors, Covid-19 cases have been rising.

Minnesota state investigator outlines differences between Kim Potter's gun and Taser during former officer's trialAdded: 14.12.2021 2:30 | 30 views | 0 commentsFormer Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer Kim Potter killed Daunte Wright by firing a single bullet to his chest, a county medical examiner testified Monday at her criminal trial.

Added: 14.12.2021 2:16 | 37 views | 0 commentsThe Boy Scouts of America has reached a tentative $800 million settlement agreement with insurer Century Indemnity Company and other Chubb companies to contribute to a trust to compensate survivors of sex abuse, according to a press release from the organization.

Added: 14.12.2021 1:17 | 16 views | 0 commentsAmid rising Covid-19 cases and fears that the highly transmissible omicron variant could spark a new wave of infections, the nation's largest state is

Victims of deadly tornadoes remembered; one of the youngest was 2 months oldAdded: 14.12.2021 1:17 | 15 views | 0 commentsThe swarm of tornadoes and powerful storms that leveled large swaths of communities across the Midwest and the South, reducing them to heartbreaking panoramas

Added: 14.12.2021 0:05 | 40 views | 0 commentsFood and farming businesses have called on the government to help with ongoing supply chain problems.

Added: 13.12.2021 23:34 | 42 views | 0 commentsThe firm said events happened quickly at the Illinois site and it was "deeply saddened" by the deaths.

Added: 14.12.2021 6:17 | 12 views | 0 commentsA former sheriff’s deputy was accused Monday of pouring scalding water on a mentally ill inmate at a Southern California jail this year, causing first- and

Added: 14.12.2021 6:17 | 29 views | 0 commentsThe Air Force has discharged 27 active-duty members who refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as required, a spokesperson said Monday.

Added: 14.12.2021 8:59 | 16 views | 0 commentsThe unemployment pictures continues to improve, but there are doubts about the impact of Omicron.

Added: 14.12.2021 5:17 | 26 views | 0 commentsThe carmaker said components plants in South East Asia had faced disruptions due to the pandemic.

How hologram tech may soon replace video callsAdded: 14.12.2021 1:17 | 35 views | 0 commentsThe coronavirus pandemic and travel bans have accelerated interest in holographic communication.

Online Safety Bill: New offences and tighter rulesAdded: 14.12.2021 0:05 | 36 views | 0 commentsSource: atlanticcapitalbank.comThe next stage of the landmark Online Safety Bill recommends major changes and tougher regulation. More in www.bbc.co.uk »

Taipei warns China could invade Taiwan by 2025 as Beijing targets 'reunification'Added: 14.12.2021 0:43 | 33 views | 0 commentsCHINA may invade Taiwan by 2025 by harassing the transport ships and planes, Taipei's defence ministry has suggested in its latest report.

Added: 14.12.2021 0:01 | 37 views | 0 commentsURSULA VON DER LEYEN has been accused of "brainwashing" young people across the bloc following the announcement of a new programme.

EU red tape means Britons can no longer take these items on holiday to SpainAdded: 13.12.2021 22:17 | 36 views | 0 commentsPRODUCTS such as cheese, mince pie or fudge are not allowed in UK tourists' suitcases upon entry in Spain.

Added: 14.12.2021 4:10 | 34 views | 0 commentsAN "EXTREME" earthquake has rocked Indonesia and led experts to issue a subsequent tsunami warning.

WhatsApp changes Last Seen feature, hides from strangers by defaultAdded: 14.12.2021 0:07 | 38 views | 0 commentsThe change should better protect users' privacy from people they don't know.

Added: 14.12.2021 0:00 | 35 views | 0 commentsWe tested smart thermostats from Amazon, Ecobee, Honeywell, Nest and more. Here's what you need to know.

Best laptop 2021: The 15 laptops we recommendAdded: 13.12.2021 23:30 | 33 views | 0 commentsSource: www.cnet.deThere are so many to choose from, so let CNET help you choose the right laptop. More in www.cnet.com »

Online Safety Bill: New offences and tighter rulesAdded: 14.12.2021 0:05 | 33 views | 0 commentsSource: nmrestaurants.orgThe next stage of the landmark Online Safety Bill recommends major changes and tougher regulation. More in www.bbc.co.uk »

2,400-Year-Old Tea Residue Found in ChinaAdded: 13.12.2021 22:04 | 34 views | 0 commentsArchaeologists have found the ancient charred remains of tea in a bowl from a Warring State period tomb in the ancient capital city site of the Zhu Kingdom, China. “China is the first country in the world to discover and cultivate tea,” said Professor Shuya Wei from the Institute of Cultural Heritage and History of [...] More in www.sci-news.com »

Light at end of tunnel? South African Omicron outbreak already 'levelling off' – new dataAdded: 14.12.2021 7:00 | 17 views | 0 commentsSOUTH AFRICA'S Omicron wave may already have begun to "level off", health experts in the country have reported.

Best Target holiday deals: Save big on Beats earbuds, Apple Watch 7 and more this weekAdded: 14.12.2021 1:24 | 31 views | 0 commentsNew holiday deals have arrived at Target, with savings so good you can afford to give Santa this year off.

Genesis reveals interior images, specs and features of G90 flagship sedan - RoadshowAdded: 14.12.2021 0:59 | 25 views | 0 commentsThe new Genesis G90 is absolutely packed with features, from automatic doors to a foot massager.

Biden order will streamline government services like passports, taxes and health careAdded: 14.12.2021 0:22 | 35 views | 0 commentsServices like passport applications and student debt repayment should get faster and easier under the new order.

The usual way to spray medicine up your nose may not be the bestAdded: 14.12.2021 8:00 | 6 views | 0 commentsNasal sprays come with instructions to insert vertically into your nose, but a computer simulation suggests there may be a better way

Added: 14.12.2021 3:12 | 27 views | 0 commentsProbe comes amid increasing complaints about workplace conduct at the iPhone maker.

Best meal kit delivery service for 2021Added: 14.12.2021 2:50 | 26 views | 0 commentsSource: www.ayusyahomehealthcare.comThe perfect meal kit service will deliver delicious preportioned ingredients and weekly recipes to make mealtime a breeze. More in www.cnet.com »

Spider-Man: No Way Home -- all the villains' backstories explainedAdded: 14.12.2021 2:49 | 26 views | 0 commentsLet's dive into the backstories of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman and the Lizard prior to their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut.

Best Xbox Series X and S controllers for 2021Added: 14.12.2021 2:35 | 25 views | 0 commentsSource: www.pocket-lint.comWhether you're looking to get more control over your gaming experience or expand your collection for couch co-ops, these are the best Xbox controller options we've tested. More in www.cnet.com »

Pixel Watch rumors: Everything we're expecting from Google's first smartwatchAdded: 14.12.2021 2:09 | 30 views | 0 commentsThe Pixel Watch could provide a blueprint for what Google thinks Android smartwatches should be, similar to Pixel phones.

Added: 14.12.2021 6:42 | 13 views | 0 commentsA nonprofit group will get its day in court Tuesday when it argues that the Food and Drug Administration should release all documents tied to the approval of the Pfizer/BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine, which they claim could take decades for the agency to produce, a report said.

Added: 14.12.2021 5:39 | 16 views | 0 commentsActor Ingo Rademacher is suing ABC over their COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to reports. He was fired from "General Hospital" in November.

Added: 14.12.2021 9:03 | 4 views | 0 commentsDelta will make investments in Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico and LATAM as its partner airlines seek to survive the Covid-19 pandemic. The carrier hopes to be well positioned when growth returns to the sector.

Putin sounds off starting gun to war as Russian navy stalks French frigate in Black SeaAdded: 14.12.2021 7:07 | 8 views | 0 commentsVLADIMIR Putin appears to have sounded off the starting gun for war, as Moscow has ordered the Russian navy to stalk a French frigate in the Black Sea.

Added: 14.12.2021 8:42 | 5 views | 0 commentsMEPs will today thrash out plans for the 'European Year of Youth' in what is set to be a tense parliament.

Added: 14.12.2021 8:35 | 7 views | 0 commentsElon Musk is a fascinating figure, a jumble of contradictions. He’s a visionary who has created such innovative companies as Tesla and Space X when doubters saw only Mission Impossible. And now, he's Time's Person of the Year.

Added: 14.12.2021 9:11 | 5 views | 0 commentsFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared on “The Ingraham Angle” on Monday to discuss his office's report that more than 70 night-time flights moving migrants from the border landed in Jacksonville since the summer.

Added: 14.12.2021 1:16 | 16 views | 0 commentsA ransomware attack has hit the Virginia state Legislature's IT branch and state agencies are helping with the recovery, a spokesperson for Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday.

In Kentucky more than 70 killed in tornado outbreakAdded: 14.12.2021 0:56 | 17 views | 0 commentsSource: www.old-games.comAt least 88 people - including 74 in Kentucky - were killed by the tornado outbreak that swept across several states. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says searches continue for the missing amid efforts to shelter those whose homes were destroyed. (Dec. 13) More in rssfeeds.usatoday.com »

Is Wokeness Almost Over? Added: 14.12.2021 5:16 | 15 views | 0 commentsExtremist political cycles seem to have a natural lifespan, but it requires real political will to overcome them.

Added: 14.12.2021 3:17 | 14 views | 0 commentsDespite showering voters with hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars, Biden is discovering that the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan is not buying him love - or even decent approval ratings.

Added: 14.12.2021 7:16 | 10 views | 0 commentsWith winter almost upon us and people spending more time indoors, Covid-19 cases have been rising.

Minnesota state investigator outlines differences between Kim Potter's gun and Taser during former officer's trialAdded: 14.12.2021 2:30 | 17 views | 0 commentsFormer Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer Kim Potter killed Daunte Wright by firing a single bullet to his chest, a county medical examiner testified Monday at her criminal trial.

Added: 14.12.2021 1:56 | 18 views | 0 commentsGeorge Washington dies at age 67; Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his group reach South Pole; Leaders of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia sign an internationally-brokered peace treaty; Baseball's Roger Maris dies at age 51.

UK reports first known omicron death; California mandates masks indoors; US tops 50M cases: Today's COVID-19 updatesAdded: 14.12.2021 1:18 | 20 views | 0 commentsBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday reported the first known death from the omicron variant. Latest COVID-19 updates.

Light at end of tunnel? South African Omicron outbreak already 'levelling off' – new dataAdded: 14.12.2021 7:00 | 8 views | 0 commentsSOUTH AFRICA'S Omicron wave may already have begun to "level off", health experts in the country have reported.

Pentagon: No US troops to be punished for Afghan drone strikeAdded: 14.12.2021 2:14 | 13 views | 0 commentsIt follows a Pentagon review of the attack that killed an aid worker and nine of his family members.

Added: 14.12.2021 4:10 | 15 views | 0 commentsAN "EXTREME" earthquake has rocked Indonesia and led experts to issue a subsequent tsunami warning.

Added: 14.12.2021 4:31 | 12 views | 0 commentsThe carmaker said components plants in South East Asia had faced disruptions due to the pandemic.

Srinagar: Three dead, 11 injured in militant attack on police busAdded: 14.12.2021 8:27 | 5 views | 0 commentsThree militants fired at a bus carrying policemen in capital Srinagar on Monday, officials said.

Added: 14.12.2021 8:42 | 6 views | 0 commentsMEPs will today thrash out plans for the 'European Year of Youth' in what is set to be a tense parliament.

Srinagar: Three dead, 11 injured in militant attack on police busAdded: 14.12.2021 8:27 | 4 views | 0 commentsThree militants fired at a bus carrying policemen in capital Srinagar on Monday, officials said.

Added: 14.12.2021 8:26 | 8 views | 0 commentsU.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss this week's Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, the 19-year-old Briton said on Monday.

Added: 14.12.2021 6:55 | 9 views | 0 commentsWith winter almost upon us and people spending more time indoors, Covid-19 cases have been rising.

The “Dash for Cash” disastrous event that went viral took place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but apparently, it had gone unnoticed that this type of intermission event was used in Green Bay at the United States League games for years. The Sioux Falls fiasco could’ve happened in any sport, especially in minor pro leagues, where franchises are desperate for revenue and interest. But it happened in hockey, and so hockey has to be part of the lesson. The organizers of Dash for Cash event have apologized and are donating additional money to area teachers, but one thing is clear: there can never be another “dash for cash” involving any underpaid group in society. It deserved much better than it got in Green Bay and Sioux Falls.

After the hustle and bustle of the hectic holiday season is over, you’ll have time to plan that well-deserved golf getaway you’ve been dreaming about. These nine golf destinations were chosen for the overall experience, meaning if golf is all you want, that's fine. But if you also want additional amenities that appeal to a broad array interests, these places deliver.

As founder and CEO of Otherland, an unlike-any-other maker of candles and home fragrances, Abigail Cook Stone knows a thing or two about how to use storytelling to build a brand. Join Inc. for what promises to be an inspiring conversation as Stone shares pivotal moments in her personal and professional journey. Hear her talk about how she takes a visual-forward approach combined with the principles of modern scent design to differentiate Otherland from other brands on the market. From creating a strong customer community to being a savvy and smart marketer, Stone will offer advice on how to create immersive marketing opportunities across any industry. Register today for our next Inc. Real Talk, with Abigail Cook Stone!

A vulnerability in the open source Apache logging library Log4j sent system administrators and security professionals scrambling over the weekend. If anything, it's now excruciatingly clear that Log4Shell will continue to wreak havoc across the internet for years to come. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre emphasized on Monday that enterprises need to “discover unknown instances of Log4j” in addition to patching the usual suspects. By its nature, open source software can be incorporated wherever developers want, meaning that when a major vulnerability crops up, exposed code can lurk around every corner. Even before Log4Shell, software supply chain security advocates had increasingly pushed for “software bills of materials,” or SBOMs, to make it easier to take stock and keep up with security protections.

PEN15 Home Season 2 Episode 15 Editor’s Rating 5 stars * * * * * « Previous Next Photo: Hulu“Every time you hear this song, think about how I’m breaking up with you. What would have happened to Anna if Maya weren’t there to distract her from family stuff with a witchcraft phase? What would have happened to Maya if Anna hadn’t been there to support her through the racism of their classmates? Real Maya and Real Anna are doing Real Motherhood simultaneously, right the fuck now. If there’s anything we should learn from PEN15, it’s that life is hard and we should accept true companionship whenever we can.

This Spurcycle bell has been on his bike for seven years, and Moloon says it’s the favored bell of many other cyclists, too. Socks made for cycling are also “thinner than athletic socks so you get better feedback from shoes and pedals,” Sawyer adds. $99 at Wild Rye BuyFlandriens Hero Cycling Figures $32 Photo: retailer Finally, an accessory for a cyclist’s desk. As much as they would like to be on their bikes, cyclists can’t always ride, Moloon reminds us, for any number of reasons. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels.

The outsiders (Tom, Greg, Gerri) have had something to prove since day one; succession isn’t their birthright. It’s what prompted Kendall’s dramatic exit in the season-two finale: Kendall saw the hook and he wriggled. Tom tells Logan, “I won’t wriggle.” This earns Tom a pat on the back from Logan, foreshadowing their body language in the finale. Gerri rephrases this line in the season finale, not as a piece of advice to help Roman but as she betrays him. Brian Cox’s McDonald’s commercials: “I’m Lovin’ It.”These foreshadowed our loving this season of Succession.

Abloh was hyperaware of youth culture, recognizing it as the nexus of influence for creative industries around the world. In July 2020, Abloh announced that $1 million dollars had been raised for his “Post-Modern” Scholarship in partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund that will provide tuition support for Black design students. The Fashion Scholarship Fund and Abloh reviewed the submissions and selected 20 scholars to receive the award, the prize included connections to internships in design, merchandising and marketing. Photo: Courtesy of the subject“He spoke to us about not only creating our own space but inviting others into it. He stressed collaboration and lifting up our peers,” wrote Elizabeth Ayorinde, 23, a recent graduate and Post-Modern recipient who interned at Rimowa as part of her scholarship.

Photo: Courtesy of Mara HoffmanWith the supply chain backed up, this year’s holiday season might include a lot more in-person shopping. We are tracking all the stores opening locations in New York City for the first time, organized here in alphabetical order and added to frequently. Stores that have had a large online presence, like Little Words Project and Aberizk, opened their doors, while seasoned designers like Mara Hoffman graced the streets of Soho with their debut brick-and-mortar stores. AberizkFounded by Allison Aberizk and Justin Xavier in 2020, the concept store focuses on emerging designers and designer vintage pieces. Photo: Courtesy of ÂmeAMIFounded by Alexandre Mattiussi in 2011, this Parisian store just opened its first American Flagship in Soho.

Emergency crews search through the flattened Mayfield Consumer Products building on December 11. But according to NBC News, employees say they heard managers deny that request, demanding the facility’s 110 workers stay on through their shifts. In Edwardsville, Illinois, a tornado from the same stormfront collapsed an Amazon warehouse, killing at least six people. Amazon chief Jeff Bezos responded to the deaths on Saturday night, describing the “news from Edwardsville” as “tragic” hours. The condolences came hours after he posted a smiling selfie with the training crew for his rocket into space.

Photo: Nisha Sondhe/Duke University PressThe last dispatch from the alien/agent provocateur known as Greg Tate beamed out from perhaps his most inconspicuous dwelling. I didn’t know what a Black critic meant until our meeting, nor that I could actually be one. Tate’s ethic of linking the intellectual, practical, and transgressive dimensions of Black cultures came alive in verbose bouts of playfulness that came straight from his participation in Black communal spaces. Greg Tate has created so many critics and held open such essential realms. There’s further learning in that impulse to do as he taught: Tate always pointed the brilliance back to the Black subject, the Black communal, and the wealth of Black knowledge that kept him in pursuit.

When home decor YouTuber Alexandra Gater was planning to upgrade the bedroom she shares with her partner, Noah, she surprised herself. It was scuffed and scratched, but it also had warm wood tones that became the backdrop for the entire palette. Gater sought to heighten the softness of the space, not create starkness, so she opted for a DIY project that would accomplish this feel. "I really loved playing with different materials to keep the space feeling styled and interesting, and the result is truly a sanctuary." Alexandra Gater Minimalist Bedroom with wooden bed frame Credit: Photography by Carla AntonioGet the Look:

Australia's government said Tuesday it plans to start making mRNA vaccines at home with a new plant that could produce up to 100 million doses each year. Australia's government said Tuesday it plans to start making mRNA vaccines at home with a new plant that could produce up to 100 million doses each year. (Andrew Henshaw/AAP Image via AP)CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government said Tuesday it plans to start making mRNA vaccines at home with a new plant that could produce up to 100 million doses each year. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was in the country’s national interest to produce vaccines locally. “The mRNA vaccines have proven to be, I’d argue, the biggest scientific discovery over the course of this pandemic,” Morrison said.

By Anthony O. GoriainoffADM Energy PLC said Tuesday that it will convene a general meeting after receiving a requisition for a general meeting to remove certain company directors. The London-listed oil-and-gas company said the requisition asks shareholders to consider resolutions to remove Osamede Okhomina, Richard Carter and Oliver Andrews as company directors. It also asks for the appointment of Richard Jennings as a director.

By Sabela OjeaTrellus Health PLC said Tuesday that it has made progress in 2021, noting that it has seen strong operational performance. The company, which provides personal care, data science and technology to help people manage chronic health conditions, said it continues to control costs tightly and to manage investment in the business closely, as it begins to transition from the development phase into early revenue generation.

By Xavier FontdegloriaSurface Transforms PLC said Tuesday that revenue for 2021 will be below 3 million pounds ($4.0 million), significantly short of market expectations, as a result of delays in the commissioning of production capacity at its Knowsley facility. The manufacturer of reinforced carbon-fiber brake discs said that a series of minor startup challenges has caused output delay, missing the output target for the fourth quarter of the year. These issues have been almost solved in December, but given the short time frame the company is unlikely to recover the sales gap this financial year, it said. Analysts expected Surface Transforms' 2021 sales to be at GBP4.7 million, according to a consensus forecast provided by FactSet. The company said that the revenue gap, whilst proportionately large in 2021, is small in relation to overall 2022 volumes, and that it expects to recover the shortfall through the first half of 2022.

By Sabela OjeaSynectics PLC said Tuesday that it has won a contract from Wright Bus Co. to provide connected vehicle solutions for Translink PLC in Northern Ireland for an initial value of around 800,000 pounds ($1.1 million). The supplier of security and surveillance systems said this order adds to another one earlier this year. which takes the overall commitment to Synectics this year to more than GBP1.0 million.

By Kyle MorrisShares in GETECH Group PLC rose 7.7% in early trade Tuesday after the company said it has signed an agreement with SGN Commercial Services to develop a green-hydrogen production, storage and distribution facility in Inverness, Scotland. The energy industry products and services provider said it has also agreed with SGN to progress three further U.K. sites and that they are discussing several recently identified sites.

If Tesla (ticker: TSLA) stock keeps rising then early exercise ends up being a bullish trade and tax minimization strategy. After the income tax is paid, the new cost basis for the shares held is the stock price at exercise. So for Musk on Monday, he bought Tesla stock at $6.24 a share. Gains from $970 to whatever Tesla stock hits will likely be taxed as long-term capital gains. There is still a ways to go for investors with these stock sales.

Expectations around the iPhone 13 cycle have taken on a bullish hue recently. Demand for the new model appears to be stronger than anticipated, despite the disruptions wrought by the global supply shortages and the ongoing pandemic. This has been reflected in Apple (AAPL) stock, which performed sluggishly in the year’s first half but has picked up steam since with the shares reaching new peaks recently. Chatterjee expects further “upgrades to consensus iPhone shipments” due to the early 2022 launch of the budget iPhone SE model, which will also for the first time boast 5G capabilities. (To watch Chatterjee’s track record, click here)Most analysts agree that AAPL stock is a Buy.

Schools are being told to revert to remote lessons on the advice of public health advice, a union leader has said. He told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "I think it's just important to say that this decision was not at the whim of a head teacher. "That was on public health advice and I think what we're getting through all of this is the national narrative, quite rightly, that we want to do everything we can to keep young people in school. "But on the ground - in particular areas such as Bury St Edmunds - public health are saying 'Actually, because of the infection rates, we are recommending that young people should move to remote learning'. Mr Barton added schools across the country are seeing "very severe low attendance" as the Omicron variant spreads.

Crew members on board a British-bound cargo ship involved in a fatal collision tested positive for drugs and alcohol, the vessel's owner confirmed. Two people were arrested after an Inverness-registered ship called Scot Carrier collided with Danish boat Karin Hoej in the Baltic Sea off the Swedish coast. Scotline Marine Holdings Limited, the owner of Scot Carrier, confirmed two of the crew members on board were over the limit when undertaking a drugs and alcohol test. A distress call was made at about 3.30am local time (2.30am GMT) on Monday after the boats crashed at sea. One of Karin Hoej's crew remains missing at sea.

Winter holidays could soon become less complex and costly as Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said that the spread of omicron in the UK has “minimised” the justification for the more stringent rules that were introduced over the past fortnight. Ben Bradshaw, a member of the Transport Select Committee, pointed out on Monday that Mr Javid had previously agreed that “once omicron became widespread here, the very draconian, costly and complex travel rules that he introduced two weeks ago to stop omicron coming would be pointless” and asked why they were still in place. Reports suggest that ministers could approve the scrapping of hotel quarantine for red list travellers today – passengers from the 11 southern African countries in the category would instead be asked to self-isolate at home, or in other accommodation, for 10 days. There is a wish to avoid having any travellers in a quarantine hotel on Christmas day, according to The Times. Scroll down for the latest travel updates.

One of the students said that no-one was above the law and that even if it were her father - who happened to be in the auditorium - she would turn him in. Some in the large audience of Saudi students and academics applauded.

A small railway town in southern England could go down in history as the place where nuclear fusion kicked off. Nuclear fusion poses huge technical challenges. Is nuclear fusion safe? In case it rings alarm bells to anyone in the vicinity, nuclear fusion is very different from nuclear fission and its associated disasters. Fusion energy would be a major pathway in the green transition - alongside natural sources like solar, wind and tidal.

The UK, Germany and Sweden all responded differently to the pandemic, but the responses all led to a similar loss of public trust. According to researchers, who wanted to get insights on how we could prepare better for future pandemics, all three governments struggled to manage the public health crisis well. The study, published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health, looked at differences in government structures, the role of academics and scientists in the responses, and public health communication. While this appeared to be appreciated during the first wave, during the second wave the government faced heavy criticism as a result of the changing messages. As a result, the public was hammered with rapidly changing public health communication.

First detected in South Africa, the potentially more virulent Omicron COVID-19 variant is now spreading around the world. CyprusCyprus has detected its first cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, its health ministry said on Friday. EstoniaA total of 26 COVID-19 Omicron variant cases have been identified in Estonia, six of which have been confirmed during sequencing. United KingdomThe number of cases of the original Omicron variant detected in the UK rose by 1,576 as of December, 13, bringing a total of 4,713 confirmed cases across the UK. As for Wales, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 Omicron cases is 15 additional cases.

The fledgling bank – U.S. giant JPMorgan’s first overseas consumer bank – has already handled hundreds of millions of pounds of purchases across more than a million transactions, lifted by a spending splurge in the run up to Christmas, the bank said. JPMorgan plans to replicate the Chase model in other markets across continental Europe in the next few years, he said. JPMorgan was prepared to launch a ring-fenced UK retail bank if required rather than slow its growth, Viswanathan added. Banks currently have to run any retail bank with 25 billion pounds or more of deposits on a standalone basis, although this rule is under review. “The UK bank wasn’t set up to help fund the investment bank.

A famous monument to the memory of French resistance fighters and combatants in World War II has been vandalised with graffiti spelling out “Anti Pass”. The two letters ‘s’ from the word “Pass” were drawn to resemble the acronym SS, referring to Nazi Germany’s paramilitary force. It is assumed to be a protest against France's COVID health pass, which prevents the unvaccinated from going to places like bars and restaurants. French president Emmanel Macron called the desecration of Mont Valérien "an insult to the memory of our heroes and to the memory of the nation". The inscription on the Memorial of Fighting France, inaugurated by General de Gaulle in 1960 in Suresnes, is 50 metres long, police told AFP.

Support groups and local governments in Japan are promoting efforts to give coronavirus vaccinations to those who are unable to receive inoculation vouchers from municipalities, such as homeless people without resident registrations. “We hope to realize a society where no one is left behind,” an official engaged in such efforts said, asking for assistance from the central government. Hunting for a job while living on welfare, the woman said that job seekers are asked to show vaccination certificates. Kenji Sawada, an official at the center, noted; “Although the number of COVID-19 patients has gone down, there still remains demand for vaccinations. There are people anxious about a possible sixth wave of infections.”Akiko Mera, chief of the secretariat at Medecins du Monde Japan, stressed, “Amid expanding poverty, there are still people who have been unable to receive vaccinations.”

Few objects sent into space have looked more outlandish than the James Webb Space Telescope. The JWST has been compared to a giant slice of honeycomb balancing on a sheaf of silver wrappers. It is named after former Nasa administrator James E. Webb, who almost became a victim of 'cancel culture' this year. All set: The James Webb ready for shipping to the launch siteUntil now, scientists have had to rely on the Hubble Telescope, which has been in orbit since 1990. The stargazers at Mission Control will be praying the James Webb doesn't suffer a similar setback.

This is the shocking moment a male straphanger slapped a woman in the face on a New York City subway train. The incident occurred on the Brooklyn-bound R Train at 12.10am on Friday morning, near Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street Station in downtown Brooklyn. The male suspect responds, repeating to her: 'I ain't filming you, I ain't filming you,' before telling her: 'You know what? He was reportedly seen leaving the subway station, wearing a green beanie and an Adidas hoodie under a black jacket with dark-colored pants. The suspect wielded the large shivs at a 46-year-old woman near the 59th Street subway station in Manhattan on last Monday, cops said.

Advertising Read more"The war is not over yet in my family," said 82-year-old Cerkini, an ethnic Albanian whose son Reshat is among the missing. Thousands more went missing -- many of whom were abducted during bouts of ethnic cleansing and later murdered with their bodies dumped in mass graves, water wells or burnt. In the years following the war, forensics experts from across the globe descended on Kosovo in a bid to identify remains and return them to their families, as well as to document potential war crimes. "It's getting harder and harder to find mass graves. In Kosovo, where Bajram Cerkin's NGO Voice of Parents is one of several representing families of the missing, the issue resonates beyond the political sphere.

Time magazine on Monday named Tesla chief and space entrepreneur Elon Musk as its person of the year 2021, citing his embodiment of the technological shifts but also troubling trends reshaping people's lives. Advertising Read moreMusk -- who overtook Amazon founder Jeff Bezos this year to become the world's wealthiest person -- wields impact on Earth with his Tesla electric car company and beyond our planet with his SpaceX rockets. Among those trends, Felsenthal listed "the continuing decline of traditional institutions in favor of individuals; government dysfunction that has delivered more power and responsibility to business and chasms of wealth and opportunity." Elon Musk (@elonmusk) is TIME's 2021 Person of the Year #TIMEPOY https://t.co/8Y5BhIldNs pic.twitter.com/B6h6rndjIh — TIME (@TIME) December 13, 2021 Elon Musk is TIME's 2021 Person of the Year'Wealthy, mostly white men'Felsenthal noted Musk's provocative vision is accompanied by a persona which is a "blunt instrument that often seems to revel in division and aggressive mockery as he gives the world access to his id through social media." "To Musk, that is progress, steering capital allocation away from the government to those who will be good stewards of it," Felsenthal wrote.

Federal and Victorian governments have signed an in-principle deal with Moderna to produce its vaccines in Australia. The plant is expecting to be operating by 2024 and will have the capacity to produce 100-milliion vaccine doses a year. Experts say the deal will be very advantageous for Australia’s medical ecosystem, despite the delay.

Washington (CNN) Hundreds of millions of devices around the world could be exposed to a newly revealed software vulnerability, as a senior Biden administration cyber official warned executives from major US industries Monday that they need to take action to address "one of the most serious" flaws she has seen in her career. As major tech firms struggle to contain the fallout from the incident, US officials held a call with industry executives warning that hackers are actively exploiting the vulnerability. Big financial firms and health care executives attended the phone briefing. CNN has reached out to CISA for comment on the call. CyberScoop, a technology news site, first reported on contents of the call.

In a speech on Monday posted to his official Facebook page, President Kais Saied said he would hold a series of online consultations open to the public early next year to gather ideas for revising Tunisia’s Constitution, which would then go to a commission to draft amendments. Tunisians would vote on the new Constitution on July 25, 2022, the one-year anniversary of the day Mr. Saied suspended Parliament and took control. Parliament will remain frozen until new elections on Dec. 17, 2022, he said. “I assume this responsibility before the people and before God,” Mr. Saied said. “We seek to liberate our people and our country.

By ALEX WICKHAMPRESENTED BYSend tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browserGood Tuesday morning. YESTERDAY’S UK COVID STATS: 54,661 new cases, ?? 5,807 on Sunday. New meaning of fully vaxxed: Tory MPs will queue up to complain about the government in the pre-vote debate. POLITICO UK: Boris Johnson: Down but not outPoliticsHome: Up to 100 Tory MPs could rebel against COVID certification with Commons vote. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | Playbook Paris | EU Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | AI: Decoded | Digital Bridge | China Direct | D.C. Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters

By Olivia BugaultTelefonica SA said late Monday that it was provisionally awarded exclusive broadcast rights to some LaLiga football matches in Spain for several seasons. Its subsidiary Telefonica Audiovisual Digital got the provisional rights at a price of 520 million euros ($586.8 million) for each season from 2022/2023 to 2026/2027, the Spanish telecommunications company said.

The online grocer and retail-technology specialist said three of the four Autostore patents were found invalid and the fourth wasn't infringed. The fifth patent was abandoned by Autostore the night before the trial. The company said all 33 claims across five patents were rejected by the judge or abandoned by Autostore. Ocado said it is separately pursuing claims against Autostore for infringement of Ocado's patents in the U.S. and Europe. "We have consistently stated that Ocado does not infringe any valid Autostore IP, and we are pleased that the judge has now agreed with us," an Ocado spokesperson said.

By Kyle MorrisOmega Diagnostics Group PLC said Tuesday that analysis from clinical samples shows that its Covid-19 antigen test performs with the same high accuracy on the Omicron variant. The London-listed medical-diagnostics company said its technology partner, Mologic Ltd., has informed it that data shows that the Mologic Covios(R) Ag lateral flow test performs with the same high accuracy on the Omicron variant as it does with existing known variants. The Mologic Covios(R) Ag lateral flow test is manufactured and sold for professional use by Omega as the VISITECT(R) Covid-19 antigen test. "We remain encouraged by emerging commercial opportunities for our VISITECT(R) Covid-19 antigen test," Chief Executive Colin King said. Write to Kyle Morris at kyle.morris@dowjones.com

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said the "level of violence here is stunning" after authorities announced the arrest of Jose Manuel Martinez Garcia. According to Hestrin, authorities believe Garcia often approached the victims in his truck while they were walking on the street or somewhere in public. Investigators believe Garcia “may have known” at least some of the victims. After a “lengthy investigation into several violent sexual assaults,” by Indio Police detectives and the Riverside County Sheriff’s office—in collaboration with the FBI—Garcia was arrested on Oct. 5. Investigators believe Garcia drove two separate vehicles during the alleged crime spree: a Chevrolet Silverado and a white Dodge Ram.

That would be part of an overall investment of 8 trillion yen in electrified vehicles, including hybrids and hydrogen vehicles, by the end of the decade, the company said. The Japanese carmaker, which was a pioneer of hybrid electric cars but a latecomer to full EVs, also said on Tuesday it planned to invest 2 trillion yen in battery production by 2030, up from the 1.5 trillion yen it announced earlier. EVs still only account for a small portion of car sales, but the market is growing rapidly, with new registrations up 41% in 2020 even as the global car market contracted by a sixth that year. In November, Toyota declined to join a pledge signed by six major carmakers, including General Motors, and Ford Motor Co. to phase out fossil fuel cars by 2040. In addition to BEVs, Toyota also builds hydrogen fuel cell cars, and is developing internal combustion engines that run on hydrogen fuel, although it has not said when it might commercialise the technology.

(Adds quotes, detail)NEW DELHI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The Serum Institute of India (SII) plans to launch the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for children in the country in six months, its CEO said on Tuesday, adding global vaccine supplies were outstripping the absorption capacity of many countries. "It is under trial and has shown excellent data all the way down to the age group of 3." Apart from the Novavax vaccine that it has already exported to countries such as Indonesia, SII also makes the AstraZeneca and Sputnik shots. Poonawalla said current global vaccine supply was far bigger than what many countries could consume despite them inoculating only a fraction of their population, mainly due to infrastructure shortages. "Certain countries have only vaccinated to the tune of 10% or 15% of the population, they really need to go to 60-70%."

Southern Europe has sometimes been seen as a little bit of a backwater in terms of venture capital funding. This is the third fund for VentureFriends, which launched in 2016. The new fund is backed by family offices/HNW, founders and operators, the European Investment Fund and the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments. VentureFriends’ portfolio includes proptech Blueground ($180 million Series C), grocery delivery marketplace Instashop in the Middle East (acquired by Delivery Hero), fintech B2B Belvo in Mexico ($43 million Series A), fintech Plum out of London ($20 million Series A) and FBA roll-up Factory14 from Spain ($200 million Seed). The VC also said it intends to invest beyond Europe, in Latin America, and the Middle East.

North West is about to get her social media access revoked! Pierre Suu / GC ImagesThe eight-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian found herself in a bit of trouble after going live on TikTok when she definitely wasn't supposed to. Kim immediately sits up, trying to end the live, saying, "No stop, you’re not allowed to!" North shouted before quickly ending the live. Fortunately, a fan captured a recording of the entire hilarious interaction...that without a doubt ended with an off camera scolding for North!

SAN JOSE — A number of Bay Area freeway ramps are expected to remain closed due to flooding as commuters hit the road Tuesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. In San Jose, the connector ramp from southbound Interstate 280 to State Route 87 will be closed until 4 p.m. Tuesday, a CHP spokesperson said late Monday. The Bird Avenue off-ramp from southbound I-280 is also expected to remain closed until the same time. The Ashby Avenue off-ramps from eastbound and westbound I-80 are also expected to remain closed until noon Tuesday. As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, official 24-hour precipitation totals included 3.05 inches at Oakland International Airport, 2.97 inches in downtown San Francisco and .58 inches at San Jose International Airport.

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ENJOY NEW FRIENDS AND OLD ONES Here at the CAroors ARBORS OF HOP ROOK Le Man Reniv Camniy Arbors of Hop Brook - a vibrant, active, independent lifestyle, wellness services, plus access to our on-site, award-winning health care center Manchester Manor. More than 99% of Arbors staff and residents are vaccinated Limited Availability, call today to schedule your tour! DF 860-724-4711 | ArborsCT.com OEe 403 West Center Street I Manchester, CT 06040 ENJOY NEW FRIENDS AND OLD ONES Here at the CAroors ARBORS OF HOP ROOK Le Man Reniv Camniy Arbors of Hop Brook - a vibrant, active, independent lifestyle, wellness services, plus access to our on-site, award-winning health care center Manchester Manor. More than 99% of Arbors staff and residents are vaccinated Limited Availability, call today to schedule your tour! DF 860-724-4711 | ArborsCT.com OEe 403 West Center Street I Manchester, CT 06040

DAmico & Pettinicchi, LLC ·ATTORNEYS AT LAW Specializing in Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Participants Needed Focus group participants needed to listen to a summary of evidence in a pending personal injury lawsuit. If selected, participants who sit for the presentation will be compensated $125 for their time and input. Strict confidentiality is required Participants will be interviewed remotely via Zoom on Tuesday, Dec 21st at 5:30 p.m. If selected, participants who sit for the presentation will be compensated $125 for their time and input. Strict confidentiality is required Participants will be interviewed remotely via Zoom on Tuesday, Dec 21st at 5:30 p.m.

December 14, 2021This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers, click here

In Our Own Image: Photography in Ireland, 1839 to the Present is the first in a series of exhibitions forming the first comprehensive historical and critical survey of photography from across the island of Ireland. Coinciding with the centenary of the establishment of modern Ireland, In Our Own Image draws on material from from archives, private collections and contemporary commissions, charting how the medium has both reflected and shaped Irish cultural identity. In Our Own Image: photography in Ireland, 1839 to the present curated by Gallery of Photography Ireland in partnership with Dublin Castle / OPW is at The Printworks, Dublin Castle until 6 February

If you’re really desperate, bring a large pan of chicken or vegetable stock to a simmer, then take the meat off the bone and poach it in that. Photograph: Olena Mykhaylova RF/AlamyYour pesky niece was a vegetarian last week and now, suddenly, she’s a vegan, but nobody told you. Create legitimate escape routes for people who need them, otherwise they’re really going to give you a pain in your butt by about 6pm. They’ll split up when they’re ready, and Christmas Day at your house is nobody’s idea of ready. You realise your kids have crossed over into cynicism and will never experience the magic of Christmas again.

The anxieties are so poignant – would they be heading into their 20s without having had sex? The trend was already towards having sex later in life – one in eight millennials had not had sex before the age of 26, according to a survey in 2018. Long Covid sucked the life out of a lot of people, while a lot of others were simply overexposed to one another. Rather, if you think you have missed the boat, you ought to know that the boat you missed is dangerously underpowered and going round in circles. There will be another – better – one around the corner and you will be glad you missed the low-pleasure cruise.

“I had a rough year, dad.”The whole of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums builds to those six words, one syllable each. This is why Anderson’s best work holds up so beautifully on repeat viewings: they’re dense with feeling, yet ruthlessly economical. Twenty years later, The Royal Tenenbaums feels like his signature achievement, proof that he could manage an ensemble like a complex organism, with many individual parts harmonizing in perfect balance. Take a step back and this is a film about a family that’s fallen short of the dreams it had for itself. One of Anderson’s greatest talents is his lightness of touch: The Royal Tenenbaums is about disappointment, regret, grief, loneliness, and at-times suicidal depression, and it has the Nico, Nick Drake, and Elliott Smith songs to prove it.

Video: La Palma volcano erupts at nightLava flows have damaged or destroyed at least 2,910 buildings, according to the EU satellite monitoring system Copernicus, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes on the island.

Video: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers as he takes a dip in GangesIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a plunge in the River Ganges following the completion of a $100m (£75m) improvement to a temple in the city of Varanasi. Mr Modi is looking to consolidate political support ahead of elections next year following his response to the pandemic.

By Paul Sandle and Kate HoltonLONDON -Patrick Drahi said on Tuesday he had increased his stake in BT to 18%, drawing a defensive response from the British government even though the Franco-Israeli telecoms entrepreneur said he did not intend to launch a takeover. The British government said it was monitoring the situation closely and would not hesitate to act if required. Drahi announced in June he had bought a 12.1% stake in BT, worth 2.2 billion pounds ($2.9 billion) at the time. BT said it had been notified that Drahi’s Altice UK had increased its stake. He increased his stake, at a price of 1.02 billion pounds ($1.35 billion) based on BT’s closing share price on Monday, after a previous six-months standstill expired at the end of last week.

LONDON – British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said on Tuesday that there were at least 250 people in hospital with Omicron and that those numbers could increase dramatically unless swift action was taken.

Calls for hospitals to install free Wi-Fi connection systems are growing in Japan, with the coronavirus pandemic having led to restrictions on visits to patients by family members and friends. Shinsuke Kasai, a freelance television announcer, was hospitalized for treatment of malignant lymphoma for four and a half months from December 2019. In addition, only 21% of 563 hospitals surveyed by the group between June and August, including major cancer treatment hospitals, pediatric cancer hospitals and hospitals under the National Hospital Organization, had introduced free Wi-Fi systems. By prefecture, Wi-Fi systems have been installed at more than 50% of surveyed hospitals in Iwate, Yamagata and Ehime, but at none in Miyagi, Akita, Toyama, Yamanashi, Shiga, Hiroshima and Kochi. “I do hope hospitals will consider introducing access to the internet because it is a lifeline for patients in hospital rooms.”The Kasai-led group lists the names of hospitals where the use of free Wi-Fi systems is available on its website.

New Zealanders stuck in Australia are becoming increasingly concerned after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern signalled a potential delay in opening borders due to the emergence of the Omicron Covid strain. The Omicron variant is yet to land in New Zealand, and Ms Ardern's government is keen to keep it out while scientists assess how transmissible and deadly it may be. 'We haven't changed any decisions at this stage around reconnection... but I think people understand we need to review the latest details and evidence around Omicron,' Ardern said. 'This new (Omicron) variant is something we have been able to perceive for a long time. On Tuesday, NZ health officials confirmed there were currently 80 community Covid-19 cases, with 62 people in hospital with the virus.

"Like the folks in western Kentucky, I'm not doing so well today and I'm not sure how many of us are," Beshear said. But the governor said fears of a devastating death toll in the collapse of the candle factory in the ravaged town of Mayfield were apparently unfounded. Biden to visit KentuckyPresident Joe Biden said he will visit Kentucky on Wednesday and survey damage in Mayfield. Biden has declared a major disaster in Kentucky, allowing additional federal aid to be channeled into recovery efforts. A massive search effort was underway on Monday at the candle factory, which was left a twisted ruin by the force of the powerful winds.

Russia has confirmed 10,046,454 cases of coronavirus and 290,604 deaths , according to the national coronavirus information center. — The developer of Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has said Moscow should make jabs mandatory as inoculation rates remain low despite record deaths and campaigning by authorities. — The European Union’s drug regulator will not approve Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine until at least the first months of 2022, Reuters reported. Aug. 26— Russia registered its fifth coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona-N, Interfax reported. — Most service sector businesses in Moscow met a Friday deadline to ensure 60% of their workforce received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, the capital’s coronavirus taskforce said.

NATIONALKazakhstan Ambassador Bakyt Dyussenbayev delivers remarks to commemorate the 30th anniversary Kazakhstan independence at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Monday. (Sanjay Kumar/The Korea Herald)Kazakhstan marked the 30th anniversary of its independence at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on MondayKazakhstan marked the 30th anniversary of its independence Monday commemorating the development, peace and prosperity it has achieved since then.Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union on Dec. 16 1991.Kazakhstan Ambassador Bakyt Dyussenbayev declared 2021 as significant year for Kazakhstan-Korean relations due to the state visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the first visit by a foreign head of state since beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.“The state visit raised level of Kazakhstan-Korea bilateral relations to an expanded strategic partnership,” Dyussenbayev said.“The remains of Gen. Hon Beom-do, previously buried in Kazakhstan, were handed over to the Korean side,” the ambassador sai.Hong was a Korean independence fighter during the Japanese occupation who served as general commander of Korea’s independence army.He is a historic figure in the Korea’s fight for liberation. Hong is especially famous for leading a historic victory in the Battle of Fengwudong, called Bong-o-dong in Korea, in northeastern China against Japanese forces in 1920.Hong spent the end of his life in Kazakhstan, having been forced to migrate there under then Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin’s policy and died in 1943 at the age of 75.His remains had been buried in the Kazakh region of Kyzylorda.According to the Kazakhstan Embassy, a monument for Kazakh poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbayev opened in Seoul with the support of Shinil Education Foundation and Seoul Cyber University in Korea.The embassy said that Kazakhstan and Korea was planning numerous bilateral, cultural, humanitarian events and intergovernmental visits in 2022 as part of 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplom

Likewise, the Korean population faces mental health challenges and continues to have the highest suicide rate among OECD countries. We need to work together to support the mental health well-being, care, and treatment of our people.In Korea and Denmark, we strive to improve mental health for all citizens. The center helps young people who suffer from mental health issues with treatment programs.Denmark also supports mental health in the following ways: First, the fight against stigma. Denmark acknowledges the need to continue to eliminate stigma against mental health disorders. Most mental health disorders appear in childhood and young adulthood.

WA Health is currently investigating exposures caused by two separate truck drivers who may have been infectious in WA for up to three days. Both drivers entered the state from South Australia and followed all testing requirements and health orders. They both tested negative upon arriving at the state, but returned positive tests upon returning to South Australia.

The best political cartoons of the year have gone on display at the Museum of Democracy in Canberra. ‘Behind the Lines’ is an annual demonstration of the power of satire, as cartoonists manage to help people raise a smile during another difficult year.

(123rf)A senior US diplomat in charge of economic and trade policy is scheduled to visit Seoul this week to discuss cooperation on supply chain, technology, healthcare and other sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. Jose W. Fernandez, US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, plans to arrive here on Wednesday for a three-day visit after travelling to Tokyo. On Friday, Fernandez will hold a meeting with Seoul's Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon and lead the sixth annual Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) on bilateral economic issues, the ministry said. "The two vice ministers will discuss cooperation on the bilateral supply chains, science and technology, vaccine, climate change and infrastructure," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said. The two sides are expected to touch on ways to bolster ties in key industries, including semiconductors and batteries, and other technology sectors.

Kim Byung-chan leaves Seoul Namdaemun Police Station to be transported to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Nov. 29. (Yonhap)Police in Seoul were ordered to look into all pending stalking and sexual offense cases again to see if the victims are under sufficient protection, officials said Tuesday, after recent two deaths were blamed on failures to provide due police protection. Last month, a 35-year-old man named Kim Byung-chan was arrested on charges of killing his ex-girlfriend with a knife at her studio apartment in central Seoul after stalking her for months. Since the anti-stalking law took effect on Oct. 21, the average number of daily stalking reports increased fourfold to 105, according to police. Police said they plan to devise a more comprehensive response against stalking crimes and explain the details in a press briefing on Wednesday.

High school student Yang Dae-rim (C) arrives at the Constitutional Court in central Seoul last Friday, to submit a petition challenging the government's plan to expand the COVID-19 vaccine pass program to teenagers starting February. (Yonhap)The education ministry on Tuesday promised to come up with measures to improve its plan to place cram schools under the government vaccine pass system amid strong opposition from students and parents, officials said. Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae held a meeting with representatives of the Korea Association of Hakwon (KAOH), a cram school industry trade group, and agreed to present measures related to the vaccine pass expansion by the end of the year. KAOH officials stressed it has conducted strict antivirus measures at cram school facilities and actively complied with the government's various pandemic response measures. The ministry and KAOH agreed to form a joint consultation group to move forward related discussions.

Globally, more than 970 million people live with a mental health disorder, corresponding to more than 1 in 10 people. Likewise, the Korean population faces mental health challenges and continues to have the highest suicide rate among OECD countries. We need to work together to support the mental health well-being, care, and treatment of our people.In Korea and Denmark, we strive to improve mental health for all citizens. The center helps young people who suffer from mental health issues with treatment programs.Denmark also supports mental health in the following ways: First, the fight against stigma. Denmark acknowledges the need to continue to eliminate stigma against mental health disorders.

Kazakhstan Ambassador Bakyt Dyussenbayev delivers remarks to commemorate the 30th anniversary Kazakhstan independence at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Monday. (Sanjay Kumar/The Korea Herald)Kazakhstan marked the 30th anniversary of its independence Monday commemorating the development, peace and prosperity it has achieved since then. Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union on Dec. 16 1991. Hong was a Korean independence fighter during the Japanese occupation who served as general commander of Korea’s independence army. Kazakhstan marked the 30th anniversary of its independence at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Monday

But the court added it determined the sentences after taking into consideration the fact that the defendants smuggled the narcotics to use them to sleep better and for other personal reasons, not for profit.

SRINAGAR, India, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Indian troops killed a suspected militant during a gunbattle in the federally-controlled Jammu and Kashmir region on Tuesday, two officials said, as violence escalated in the territory at the heart of the decades of tensions with Pakistan. Fighting between Indian security forces and militants broke out in the early hours in the Surankote area of Jammu's Poonch district, where a small group of insurgents are believed to be holed up, a police official said. "We have shot one militant," another security official said. read moreVijay Kumar, Kashmir valley's police chief, said Monday's attack had been carried out by militants from the Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based group. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting an armed insurgency in Kashmir, a Himalayan region that both countries claim in full but only control parts of.

Seven people were killed and four injured when a car with a Serbian licence plate carrying migrants crashed into a house in Hungary late on Monday, after its driver refused to stop for a check, police said. The driver saw that police were checking cars in the village of Morahalom near the Serbian border and attempted to avoid them by speeding away, police told the MTI news agency on Tuesday. The car, which was carrying 10 migrants and was headed towards the town of Szeged, then crashed into a house and rolled over. Police said that the driver, who was also injured, was detained and proceedings against him would be launched for people trafficking and causing a fatal mass accident. (Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Tom Hogue)

MOSCOW, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday its Black Sea Fleet forces were tracking the French navy's Auvergne frigate after the vessel entered the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported. East-West tensions are at a high with Ukraine, the United States and Western capitals voicing fears over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to reuters.com RegisterReporting by Maxim Rodionov; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Leeds United - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 14, 2021 Fans sit in front of covid signage outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Phil NobleMANCHESTER, England, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Manchester United's Premier League match at Brentford on Tuesday has been postponed due to a number of COVID-19 cases at the Old Trafford club, the league announced on Monday. "The decision (to postpone the Brentford-United game) was taken following guidance from medical advisers due to the exceptional circumstances of an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak within Manchester United's squad," the league said in a statement. The Premier League found a record 42 cases of COVID-19 among players and staff at various clubs over the past week. "We respect the Premier League's decision and acknowledge that the health and safety of both clubs' players and staff must always come first. "We wish everyone affected a speedy recovery and look forward to hosting Manchester United at the Brentford Community Stadium in the new year."

"I love Mexican hot chocolate in winter for my physical and mental health," Moreno said. "Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder and homemade hot chocolate is full of antioxidants and mood-boosting compounds." According to Moreno, there is no separation from the soul, spirit, and our bodies. Pour hot chocolate into cups. Inhale the fragrances, and luxuriate in your homemade hot chocolate!

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. I spend a lot of my free time online shopping, and one of the more surprising places I've found cute clothing items is Amazon. I stumbled across four bodysuits that I absolutely fell in love with. To keep these bodysuits in the best shape possible, I typically wash them on delicate with like colors and hang them to dry.

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. Whether you're looking for a thoughtful gift for your mom or grandmother, something your dad or uncle will actually use, or a trendy present for your sibling, Amazon is the perfect place to find gifts for the whole family. and entertaining finds the whole family can enjoy like fun games and streaming sticks for movie nights. We even found cozy picks like a wearable plush blanket, candles perfect for the holiday vibe, gourmet gift sets for the foodies, and more.

When it comes to shopping for jeans, everyone has their personal preferences of style, fit, and wash. But right now, we can't get enough of straight-leg jeans, a universally flattering cut that can be interpreted and styled tons of different ways. Basically, straight-leg denim is different from skinny jeans and boyfriend jeans in that it tends to fall somewhere between too tight and too loose. And not all straight-leg jeans look the same — some flow into a flared bottom, and others are cropped above the ankle, and they come in all different washes and colors. If you're somehow not sold on this '90s-inspired trend just yet, take a look at some of our faves ahead.

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. Whether you're a parent, an aunt or uncle, or a godparent, the kids are the ones we're all shopping for at the last minute. These 21 presents will definitely put a smile on their face, and they'll all arrive quickly, which is essential at this point. Whether you're looking for standout dollhouses or cool STEM toys, these are the presents that will make their eyes widen this holiday season.

But there's also a more natural way to ease your sore throat: by using essential oils. Here are the best essential oils to try if you have a sore throat, as well as some advice for using them safely. Essential Oils That Can Soothe a Sore ThroatThe experts POPSUGAR spoke with suggested the following essential oils, which, according to preliminary data, may offer some benefits for those fighting an infection. For a sore throat, Dr. Gupta recommends inhaling 12 drops in 150 ml of boiling water up to three times a day. "In addition, it may manage muscle spasm, a cause of cough that normally leads to a sore throat," Dr. Boyer said.

When you first begin strength training, you can save yourself a world of hurt (literally) by taking the time to learn proper technique. In other words, you want to exhale during the most strenuous part of the strength training exercise. A lot of people go into strength training expecting to see immediate results, but that's just not practical. Good bodyweight moves for beginners include:Good weightlifting moves for beginners include:But don't only focus on strength training. Now you know strength training can also mean bodyweight exercises, and it can be done in a lot of different ways.

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. Temperatures are dropping, and unless you live somewhere warm (lucky you), it's time to start adding some warm pieces to your wardrobe that both look stylish and keep you from shivering. The good news is that winter fashion trends are so good this year. While you could spend an arm and a leg by purchasing designer takes on these styles, you could also purchase them at Walmart — yes, really.

From a colorful desktop for your home office to a portable Bluetooth speaker that's ideal for backyard reunions with loved ones, here is a list of the best gadgets of 2021. Best streaming stick to watch box office hitsThe movie theaters can wait. Best laptop to get a head start on Windows 11You won't find a better intro to Windows 11 this year. Best all-around wireless earbudsApple released a new pair of AirPods this fall, but they weren't even the best wireless earbuds the company released that month. The Beats Fit Pro may not outwardly bear Apple's name, but they are by far the best wireless earbuds Tim Cook and co. have ever made.

Apple has released the latest version of iOS 15, which includes the Apple Music Voice Plan the company first teased at its October event. Apple iOS 15.2—along with iPadOS 15.2, tvOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3—are now available for compatible devices. The standout features of iOS 15.2 include the introduction of the Apple Music Voice Plan, which drops the music subscription's cost to $5 per month but also restricts users to accessing the service with Siri, the addition of a dedicated App Privacy Report in the Settings app, and the debut of new parental control features. Apple has also added Legacy Contacts—friends or family members of the user's choice—to Apple ID as part of its Digital Legacy program. But it's generally a good idea to update as soon as possible anyway to defend against vulnerabilities found in previous versions of iOS.

Apple has released a new Android app allowing users to detect whether there's an unfamiliar AirTag following them. When Apple announced its new Bluetooth AirTag trackers in April, they were quickly met with privacy and security concerns. Now, Apple's Tracker Detect app will finally allow Android users to check whether they're being shadowed by any maliciously-intended AirTags, hopefully catching them early. SEE ALSO: The best headphones for your Android devicesThough Tracker Detect appears to be a handy safety tool, it isn't without flaws. On the other hand, Tracker Detect could potentially drain your phone's battery if it was automatically scanning all the time.

Now a study has identified another, unexpected source of protection: clonal hematopoiesis, a blood cell imbalance best known as a risk factor for cancer and heart disease. Clonal hematopoiesis is not cancer—people with the condition have a normal number of blood cells—but it can be a prelude to blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Other investigators, after all, had shown that the brain’s own immune cells, the microglia, may drive Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers inferred that altered blood cells produced in the bone marrow had slipped into the subjects’ brains. It’s possible, for example, that mutant microglia are better at clearing away the beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles that build up in Alzheimer’s disease.

To immediately fill in the gaps, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation did what has become routine: start a GoFundMe. “Without the GoFundMe, the Missoula Smokejumpers, and the Wildland Firefighter Foundation…,” he said before pausing, “there’s absolutely no way I would have made it. Advocates like the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters have long been pushing for Congress to address the low pay and federal bureaucracy that has left wildland firefighters frustrated and at times barely staying afloat. His family also has a GoFundMe going — though Charlie, who donates to every wildland firefighter campaign he sees, didn’t want to set one up for himself. And across GoFundMe, pages ask donors to help wildland firefighters with testicular cancer or mesothelioma.

If you’re curious about celebrity families, then you’re likely wondering who Jamie Lee Curtis’ daughter Annie Guest is. Guest, who celebrated her 35th birthday in December 2021, is the eldest of Jamie Lee Curtis’ two kids. Annie Guest Is A Dance TeacherAnnie Guest has worked as a dance instructor for several years, most recently at MNR Dance Factory in Los Angeles. Annie Guest & Jamie Lee Curtis Both Have Great StyleFor her June 2019 wedding to husband Jason Wolf, Guest wore a stunning, dramatic Zac Posen gown, and posed in it with her stylish mother. Annie Guest & Jamie Lee Curtis Are Total Mom & Daughter GoalsRon Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty ImagesThe mother-daughter duo has been working the red carpet together in coordinated ’fits since the ’90s (hello, velvet leopard print).

Take Chrissy Teigen and John Legend as an example: The happy couple tells me they don’t get stressed during the holidays and that their entire family gets along swimmingly. When you think about who Teigen and Legend are as celebrities, this unexpected mindset surrounding the holidays makes a lot of sense. Teigen and Legend are currently working with Chex Mix, and turn to the staple snack brand for gifting. John Legend: My favorite has always been the fact that I proposed to Chrissy in the Maldives during the holidays [in 2011]. Teigen: I really love the holidays.

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) began her grieving process onscreen, the company’s stock began to drop, and Peloton went into full damage-control mode. Then, as Bustle predicted, known Peloton spoofer and fast advertising mogul Ryan Reynolds stepped in with his MNTN marketing team to produce an ad featuring Big and real-life instructor Jess King. “I’m sure SATC fans, like me, are saddened by the news that Mr. Big dies of a heart attack,” she said on Dec. 10. “HBO procured the Peloton Bike on their own. Peloton was aware that a Bike would be used in the episode and that [King] would be portraying a fictional Peloton instructor,” she told the publication.

This year, for the column’s 45th anniversary, we’d like your help picking the best Diary entry of 2021. You can change your vote as many times as you’d like until then, but you may only pick one, so choose wisely. Click "Vote" to select your favorite Diary entry Click "Vote" to select your favorite Diary entryCool Breeze Dear Diary: One early fall morning some years ago, I decided to walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and spend a few hours there before meeting a friend for lunch. – Vern SchrammEmergency Quarters Dear Diary: Every morning before I left for school, my mother would hand me an emergency quarter. “You have any chicken left?” – Carlos MatiasWalking Tour Dear Diary: I stepped out of an East Side funeral home into the bright June sunshine.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThreat of container fees has eased shipping congestions: Port of Los AngelesGene Seroka of the seaport says although "there's still a lot of work to do," the threat of container fees has worked better than other methods in reducing shipping congestions.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSinovac Biotech says it has 'massive' production capacity for a vaccine against omicronHelen Yang of the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm says it's still assessing whether its existing vaccine works against the omicron variant. She adds that the company is also in the process of developing a new one.

Viktor Orbán a pour sa part exprimé son goût pour les “débats sérieux”, parfois même “tranchants”, avec Emmanuel Macron. AUSSI À L’AGENDAEmmanuel Macron s’entretient à 16 heures avec Franck Riester, et à 17 heures avec Jean Castex et Gérald Darmanin. Puis à 11h15, à la Tour La Marseillaise, il présente les projets de mobilité du plan “Marseille en Grand”. Les sénateurs élisent de 14h30 à 15 heures un juge suppléant à la Cour de justice de la République. Un grand merci à : Laura Kayali, mon éditeur Jules Darmanin, Pierre-Paul Bermingham pour la veille et Grace Stranger pour la mise en ligne.

Background: For those who are unfamiliar with the fine details of EU tech regulation, the DMA and DSA are the bedrock of the European Commission’s plans to rein in Big Tech. PARLIAMENT POLITICSSASSOLI’S SLIM HOPES SLIP AWAY: If there was any doubt that the S&D’s David Sassoli has little chance of securing another two and a half years as the European Parliament president, his hopes are likely to dissipate today. — EEAS chief Josep Borrell and Parliament President David Sassoli meet President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo. — European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | Playbook Paris | EU Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | AI: Decoded | Digital Bridge | China Direct | D.C. Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters

A man walks down a street in Encinitas, as California Governor Gavin Newsom said his state would keep its mask order in place for another month, in California, U.S., May 17, 2021. REUTERS/Mike BlakeSACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec 13 (Reuters) - California will impose a statewide mask mandate in all indoor public spaces as COVID-19 case rates soar, the state's senior government health official said on Monday as precautions ramp up against the Omicron variant. Register now for FREE unlimited access to reuters.com RegisterThe rate of COVID-19 infections in California has jumped 47% since Thanksgiving to more than 14 cases per 100,000 people, Ghaly said. read moreIn the UK, at least one person has died after contracting the Omicron variant, which now accounts for 44% of new infections in London, officials said. Such rules are not currently under consideration, and officials hope they will not be needed if residents comply with the mask rule, Ghaly said.

A hand-drawn map offered to authorities a day after the state of Mississippi executed killer David Neal Cox has led to the apparent remains of his missing sister-in-law, authorities said Monday. David Neal Cox, convicted in the 2010 murder of his estranged wife, Kim Kirk Cox, had long been suspected in the 2007 disappearance of Felicia Cox, then 40. Pontotoc County Coroner Kim Bedford on Monday night said those remains, recovered in her jurisdiction Sunday, appear to be the those of Felicia Cox. Miskelly and other relatives of Felicia Cox were present and viewed excavation of the remains, he said. Pontotoc County Coroner Kim Bedford said there is reason to believe remains found there are those of Felicia Cox, 40, missing since 2007.

Migrants stand on the Bolivian side of the border as soldiers stand guard on the Chilean side near Colchane, Chile, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)Migrants stand on the Bolivian side of the border as soldiers stand guard on the Chilean side near Colchane, Chile, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. The migrants fear that if far-right candidate José Antonio Kast wins he will close the border as he promised during his campaign. It’s a divisive issue and recently there was a widely publicized case of Chileans attacking Venezuelan migrants in Iquique, near the border with Bolivia and Peru. I expect a better quality of life for my children in Chile, that’s why I came here.”____Luna reported from Santiago, Chile.

"Everyone ran out into the street," Agustinus Florianus, a resident of Maumere town on Flores, told Reuters. Maumere was badly damaged by a quake of a similar magnitude in 1992. Tsunami warnings were issued for the areas of Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and Southeast and South Sulawesi. The U.S. Geological Survey later said the quake had a magnitude of 7.3. An aftershock of 5.6 magnitude hit Larantuka after the first quake, the Indonesian agency said.

MGM Resorts International has agreed to sell the Las Vegas Strip’s first megaresort, the Mirage, to Hard Rock International for nearly $1.1 billion in cash. A new vision for the Las Vegas StripWhen the Mirage first opened its doors, Las Vegas was still known as a value destination with affordable rooms, giveaway entertainment and 99-cent shrimp cocktails. That posed a problem for Las Vegas Strip properties, which brought in nearly 60% of their revenue from casinos in that period. Experts agree that the megaresort would be an inspiration to Las Vegas Strip properties for years to come. "We think there is an opportune time and we think this might be it to sell asset an in Las Vegas.

Something might prompt you to ask yourself, “What really matters?”Taurus (April 20-May 20)The moon is in your sign today and tomorrow. This happens for two days every month, and when it occurs, it increases your emotions about things and heightens your reactions to others. This means that when you’re dealing with others, you have to be cooperative and show largess and be accommodating. In two weeks, when the moon is in your sign, you’re the star! Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)This is a favorable day for you because the moon in Taurus is supportive to your sun in Capricorn.

(Inside Asian Gaming)The theory gaming industry analysts hypothesized months ago appears to be holding true: Companies operating on the Strip are struggling more than their regional counterparts. Fresh news came two weeks ago when the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported another billion-dollar-plus month of gaming win in October. Companies showing third-quarter losses were Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts Ltd., Caesars Entertainment Inc. and Bally’s Corp., which plans to manage the Tropicana. Two publicly traded airlines with heavy interest in Las Vegas, Southwest Airlines and Allegiant Travel Co., are on the mend. Jordan is quite familiar with the Las Vegas aviation landscape.

You can make a special card for her, telling her that she can choose her own activity and “spend” this card on: A special “play date” with you; a “cooking lesson,” where you will assist her as she makes a special dish in the kitchen; two-hours with you, ice skating or kicking a soccer ball… (the options are fairly endless).

Five years ago: President-elect Donald Trump convened a summit at Trump Tower for nearly a dozen tech leaders whose industry had largely supported Democrat Hillary Clinton; the CEOs included Apple’s Tim Cook, Google’s Eric Schmidt, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Tesla’s Elon Musk. Trump announced his selection of former campaign rival Rick Perry to be secretary of energy. Yahoo said it believed hackers had stolen data from more than one billion user accounts in Aug. 2013 (in Oct. 2017, Yahoo raised that figure to 3 billion). One year ago: The largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history began with health workers getting shots on the same day the nation’s COVID-19 death toll hit 300,000. U.S. government agencies and private companies rushed to secure computer networks after the disclosure of a sophisticated, long-running cyber-espionage intrusion suspected of being carried out by Russian hackers.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday that it has opened an investigation into the collapse of the Amazon warehouse in Illinois. Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in the city. Windows were blown out and roofs torn off the buildings that were still standing. Not far from Mayfield, a church serving as a shelter in Wingo said it expected to host more than 100 people Monday night. Glynda Glover, 82, said she had no idea how long she would stay at the Wingo shelter: Her apartment is uninhabitable since the wind blew out the windows and covered her bed in glass and asphalt.

Byerly-Zuck’s 3-year-old son spent a day trying to climb into any car that came and went from this shelter. They’d been alone at their rented house in downtown Mayfield when the storm roared in. It did not occur to her that those hastily selected items would be all they’d have left. She climbed onto the edge of the tub, trying to balance her body to shield her son without crushing him beneath her. I don’t know care about anything else.

James and Jennifer Crumbley are accused of failing to intervene on the day of the tragedy despite being confronted with a drawing and chilling message — “blood everywhere” — that was found at the boy’s desk. They entered not guilty pleas to each of the four involuntary manslaughter counts against them at their arraignment. Detroit Police Chief James White has said the couple “were aided in getting into the building” and that a person who helped them may also face charges. Oxford High School, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit, has been closed since the shooting. Students on the school's sports teams began returning Monday to competition.

The Duty of Care Bill must protect news publishers from having articles removed from social media sites, MPs and peers have demanded. MPs said an “automatic exemption” for recognised news publishers on social media was needed to ensure the new regime protected freedom of expression. The committee has spent the past six months examining the Government’s plans to place a legal duty of care on tech companies to protect users, a move for which The Telegraph has campaigned since 2018. In the report, MPs and peers warned that legitimate news content was often taken down by moderation algorithms that mistook it for misinformation. The committee argued that this would make it easier for Ofcom to force tech companies to purge their sites of such material and prevent vulnerable people from falling down online “rabbit holes”.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge are set to administer the first needle-less, air-powered Covid vaccine on Tuesday that could work against all variants. The phase one clinical trial is being conducted in Southampton and will see 40 adults receive an experimental Covid booster jab. Named DIOSvax, the vaccine is made with DNA and is designed to work on all past, present and future forms of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19. Volunteers will be paid £785 to receive the jab and must be between 18- and 50-years-old, as well as having already had their first two doses but not a booster. “We're trying to do it in such a way that it will not only protect us from the next variants, but the next pandemic virus that comes from the coronavirus family.”

"It's not rocket science" is a phrase often used by disgruntled bosses to employees failing to do something simple. But its impact hinges on one thing – rocket science being difficult. Researchers from University College London, King's College London, Imperial College and others tested the intelligence of 600 aerospace engineers – rocket scientists – and 148 brain surgeons, another profession intrinsically linked with intelligence. Rocket scientists were better at mental manipulation, imagining what figures and shapes looked like from different viewpoints. The researchers wrote: "Despite [both rocket scientists and brain surgeons having] stereotypes, and the higher proportion of males, aerospace engineers and neurosurgeons vary in their cognitive aptitudes as does the general population.

Moving for better value, green space, larger homes and a more relaxed lifestyle is a booming pandemic era trend. But one group of people may hate you for it: your teenagers. Parents planning moves with older children need good schools and easy access to local amenities, such as sports facilities, cinemas and shops – places where their kids can meet friends without needing a begrudging chauffeur. It analysed English local authorities in the top half of the deprivation index, which ranks areas by factors such as life expectancy. These are the best places to buy in every region in England.

California regulators have proposed sharply lowering subsidies and adding new fees for home solar users, rattling a solar industry that was benefiting from the wildly successful program to help customers go green. In addition, rooftop solar users would have to pay a new grid-connection fee that would average $40 a month. The changes will deter many from installing rooftop solar and storage and slow clean energy development in the state, argue solar advocates and the main industry group. “Only the wealthiest Californians will be able to afford rooftop solar, shutting out schools, small businesses, and the average family from our clean energy future,” Solar Energy Industries Association Chief Executive Officer Abigail Ross Hopper, said in a statement. A deep cut to incentives would likely slow installations in the largest solar state and prompt other sunny jurisdictions to follow.

South Korea records highest number of COVID patients in critical conditionSouth Korea has marked its deadliest day of the pandemic as a Delta-driven spread stretched thin hospitals and left people dying while waiting for beds. In the latest 24 hour period, 94 virus-related deaths were recorded in the country and 904 COVID patients were in serious or critical condition. The 5,567 new infections recorded yesterday were the highest yet for a Tuesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency figures. More than 1,480 patients were still waiting to be admitted to hospitals or treatment shelters. At least 17 patients died last week at home or at facilities while waiting for beds.

By Lawrence White and Simon JessopLONDON – HSBC, Europe’s leading banker to corporate Asia, laid out its long-awaited policy on financing thermal coal on Tuesday, and said it expected all its clients to have a plan in place to exit the fossil fuel by the end of 2023. Under its plan, HSBC will cut exposure to thermal coal financing by at least 25% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, although non-EU or non-OECD-based clients could be funded until a global phase-out by 2040, its sustainability chief told Reuters. Building on an existing pledge not to finance new coal-fired power plants or thermal coal mines, HSBC said the policy would help phase out existing coal use in line with the science of climate change and be reviewed annually. We need to turn our attention to the urgent phase-out of coal alongside the scientific timelines”. HSBC said it expects clients to publish their own transition plans, although campaigners, including ShareAction, have previously said such language would leave HSBC too much wiggle room.

"It is possible that both neurosurgeons and aerospace engineers are unnecessarily placed on a pedestal," the study reflected. "Other specialties might deserve to be on that pedestal, and future work should aim to determine the most deserving profession."

For years, Amazon prohibited employees from having their phones on warehouse floors and required them to leave them in their vehicles or in lockers near break rooms. An Amazon spokeswoman said company policy currently allows all Amazon employees and delivery drivers to have access to their phones during their shifts. The deadly collapse of the Edwardsville, Illinois, warehouse near St. Louis amplified concerns among its blue-collar workforce about the return of the phone ban in work areas. Five Amazon employees, including two who work across the street from the building that collapsed, said they want access to information such as updates on potentially deadly weather events through their smartphones — without interference from Amazon. Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel released a statement saying: “We’re deeply saddened by the news that members of our Amazon family passed away as a result of the storm in Edwardsville, IL.

A woman has shared the incredible upcycle of her old backyard shed online after she transformed it into a pink-themed gin bar. The UK resident began the shed transformation by adding a Red Felt Roof and innovatively used an old broken IKEA light-fitting for the roof centrepiece. What did Rhian use to create her backyard Gin Bar? To finish the Gin bar makeover she hung up lights and an upcycled slate sign in remembrance of her best friend who passed away during the shed transformation. 'My life is incomplete without a Gin Shed.

Video: Red list to be scrapped after just a fortnight and replaced with testing for the fully vaccinatedPrime Minister Boris Johnson said the government would take another look at the process of red-listing countries, in light of new Omicron trends. He acknowledged that it was not fair on the public to have to undergo...

AdvertisementNHS leaders last night warned that Boris Johnson's Covid booster rollout is setting up the health service for 'failure' and raised questions about the possibility of success. A third dose of the Covid vaccine has been long planned because the immunity vaccines offer against the virus wanes over time. People who want to go to a nightclub or another large venue have been told to show the NHS Covid pass to gain entry. Younger people were also turned away in the confusion as they tried to get booster jabs. Early real-world data from the UK's first 500 Omicron cases suggests that AstraZeneca's vaccine provides even less protection against mild illness.

Elon Musk's plan to take a 'futuristic Noah's Ark' to Mars has been ridiculed by scientists who say the claim is little more than a 'a brilliant sound bite' and the reality is centuries off and would be incredibly difficult to achieve. An illustration from Elon Musk's company SpaceX shows his Starship vehicles imagined on Mars. The FCC application shows the orbital launch could take place anytime between December 20, 2021 and March 1, 2022, from SpaceX's testing facility in Boca Chica, Texas. 'We're close to our initial orbital launch,' he said. Musk replied: 'My plan is to use the money to get humanity to Mars and preserve the light of consciousness.'

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has revealed shocking data that reveal how more than 5700 firearms at airport security checkpoints have been confiscated in 2021, the highest ever in a single year. It means around 16 weapons every single day are being found at security checkpoints with about 85 per cent of them loaded. Those passengers who are found with firearms at checkpoints face fines of up to $13,910. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said security personnel had confiscated more than 5,700 firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2021The TSA has confiscated an average of 16 guns a day at airports across the U.S. this year85% of the weapons found are loaded. Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston airport saw the highest number of confiscated firearms.

Actors in Squid Game, including Jung Ho-yeon who played the role of participant number 67 in the survival competition, also garnered millions of new followers.Instagram’s Reels, where users can edit together a collage of short video clips under a minute, was one of the most popular functions on the social media platform, officials said. According to Instagram’s survey result, about 90 percent of Instagram users in Korea were found to be following company brands. In the survey, two-thirds of the respondents said they regard Instagram as a space to communicate with different brands.“Todayhouse” was one of the leading brands on Instagram. Their posts cover everything from home-styling trends to community-sourced tips related to home decoration. In doing so, it became one of the most popular accounts on the social media platform, Instagram Korea said.LG Electronics, another successful brand account on Instagram, used augmented reality technology that enabled users to see how it would look like to have LG’s product in their homes.“We plan to help large and small businesses to sail toward bigger goals through many programs such as Boost with Facebook and Instagram Academy,” Jung said.By Kan Hyeong-woo ( hwkan@heraldcorp.com

LIFE&STYLECheongsando Slow Trail in Wando, South Jeolla Province (KTO)The Korea Tourism Organization predicted next year’s domestic travel trends with the acronym, HABIT-US, on Tuesday, the results showing a shift in travel preferences and patterns brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic.The results were based on travel-related big data analysis over the past three years, including travel expenses and use of social media, as well as in-depth interviews with industry experts.The acronym was derived from “habitus,” which refers to a person’s socially ingrained habits, skills and dispositions. The KTO found that individuals, in adjusting to the pandemic, formed unique habits and travel styles.“The research was meaningful in that we were able to comprehensively grasp the changes of both the public’s psychological and behavioral patterns on tourism,” Jeong Seon-hee, head of the tourism consulting team at the KTO said.HABIT-US stands for Hashtags, Anyone, Beyond boundary, In a wink, Therapy, Usual unusuality and Special me.Below are seven key words or phrases of HABIT-US, and what each means in relation to tourism:Hashtags -- Distinct preferences were shown in travel types. Social media posts mentioning specific travel types such as “workation,” a combination of “work” and “vacation” referring to staycations at hotels, have increased by 16 percent during the eight months from February to September this year from the 12 months ending January 2021.Anyone -- a diversification of travel companions was also detected, with a hike in data on traveling with kids, friends, pets, as well as travel-alone options.Beyond boundary -- Long-distance travels, which shrank in the early days of the pandemic, also came back, with telecommunication data indicating active movements within or among 242 cities and districts.In a wink -- Growing uncertainties in pandemic times have sparked spontaneous or short trips.Therapeutic -- Therapeutic nature-themed travels are gaining the spotlight, as more

Try refreshing your browser, or Daily horoscope for Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Back to videoTaurus (April 20-May 20) The Moon is in your sign today and tomorrow. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend, perhaps a female, will be meaningful to you. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today your feelings are intense. In two weeks, when the Moon is in your sign – you’re the star! Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today you need to talk to someone because you have something you want to say.

NATIONALA smartphone application (R) for authenticating users' vaccine status through a digital QR code is seen not properly working at a restaurant in Seoul on Tuesday. "I normally use the shake function on my Naver app to authenticate my vaccination, but it failed to work properly," a 60-year-old office worker surnamed Lim, who works in Yeouido, western Seoul, said.Lim said he was finally able to enter a restaurant by authenticating his status using the Kakao Talk app. "I was dumbfounded after the QR codes failed to appear both on the Kakao Talk and Naver applications," 27-year-old cram school instructor surnamed Shin said.Shin said the government's vaccine pass system seemed under prepared as of now, and added she plans to visit her local community center to get a sticker proving her vaccination status before heading to work.Many restaurant and cafe owners were also infuriated by the extended outage. Businesses can be fined 1.5 million won ($1,260) if they fail to abide by the vaccine pass system. "I'm worried over potential connection errors continuing today," 30-something Japanese restaurant owner surnamed Kim said.He recalled his experience of keeping customers in line due to the connection issue on Monday as being "warlike."

BUSINESSLG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo (left) and LX Holdings Chairman Koo Bon-joon (LG Group)LX Holdings, a holding company which was established in May by taking four non-electronics affiliates from LG group, said Tuesday that its Chairman Koo Bon-joon has sold his stake in LG Group to complete the spinoff procedure.The company said Koo Bon-joon’s stake in LG Group has reduced to 2.04 percent from 7.72 percent. Together with his family’s stake, Koo’s total stake is now at 2.96 percent, meeting the prerequisite of the chief and relatives owning no more than 3 percent for the spinoff under the current law.He sold his 4.18 percent stake in LG Group, worth 650 billion won ($548 million), to external investors through a block deal, in which the two parties agree to buy or sell shares at an agreed price among themselves prior to opening of the market.Koo Bon-joon is an uncle of current LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and a younger brother of late LG Group chief Koo Bon-moo.Following the family tradition that the eldest son of the group’s chief inherits the management, the brothers of the chief have to create their own business group with spin-off companies when the chief passes away. LS Group, LIG Group and Heesung Group are examples of this tradition.For more than 70 years since the group was founded, LG had always smoothly completed the succession and separation of business between family members.The company said that Koo also purchased a 32.32 percent stake in LX Holdings from LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and eight other family members, becoming the largest shareholder of the holding firm with a 40.04 percent stake.Market estimates some 300 billion won have been cost for the stake trade.To follow the LG Founder Koo In-hoi’s community contribution values, Koo Bon-joon has donated his 1.5 percent stake in LG Group to three philanthropic foundations run by LG, according to the company.LX Holdings said the company will apply for an official spinoff to the Korea Fair Tra

BUSINESSLogo of Samsung Biologics (Samsung Biologics)Samsung Biologics will begin manufacturing AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 antibody combination Evusheld by expanding their earlier deal, officials said Tuesday.The newly expanded deal is estimated at $380 million, up about $50 million from the initial contract of the two pharmaceutical giants’ long-term strategic partnership signed in September 2020.Evusheld, formerly known as AZD7442, is a combination of two long-acting antibodies, tixagevimab and cilgavimab. It has the effect of preventing coronavirus infections for those at an increased risk in receiving a vaccine shot due to underlying diseases or a weakened immune system.Evusheld is the first long-acting antibody combination to receive emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. As Evusheld has not been approved in South Korea, the Samsung Biologics-made coronavirus antibody combination will be rolled out overseas.Under the expanded agreement, Samsung Biologics will also begin manufacturing AstraZeneca’s oncology product -- Imfinzi -- from next year.“We will support our clients by bringing innovative solutions to an array of diseases, especially during this time when it is needed the most, and together find ways to expedite the delivery of crucial therapies to the market,” said John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics.“We will quickly solve the problem of COVID-19, which is seriously threatening public health around the world and contribute to changing patients‘ lives by providing innovative anti-cancer drugs to the world more quickly,” said Kim Sang-pyo, CEO of AstraZeneca Korea.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced Monday that it has decided to approve the manufacturing and supply of Moderna’s vaccine Spikevax, which is also produced by Samsung Biologics.In May, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the ministry as an imported drug under the name of Moderna Spikevax. However, the global pharmaceutical firm’s drug, “Spikevax,”

BUSINESS(From left) LG Energy Solution’s CPO Kim Myung-hwan and CEO Kwon Young-soo, and Siemens’ Digital Industries CEO Cedrik Neike, and Factory Automation CEO Rainer Brehm pose for a photo after an MOU signing ceremony held at the battery maker’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. (LG Energy Solution)LG Energy Solution, the battery-making unit of LG Group, said Tuesday it has joined forces with German industrial giant Siemens to upgrade its battery plants into more advanced smart factories.Under a deal signed earlier in the day, the battery firm agreed to adopt Siemens’ software and other technologies to build an “intelligent manufacturing system.”Intelligent manufacturing, or smart manufacturing, is designed to optimize energy efficiency and quality control at production plants using advanced information technologies such as data analysis and machine learning. The system is also considered a key requirement for businesses to meet their ESG goals.The Korean battery maker said that the new system will first be adopted by its production line run by a joint venture with General Motors in Tennessee and it will support the wider adoption at other plants in phases.“Intelligent manufacturing is a key capability we have to secure in order to advance the quality of our batteries and maximize the efficiency of our manufacturing supply chain,” said LG Energy Solution CEO Kwon Young-soo. “Through the latest deal with Siemens, a global leader in smart factory technology, we will offer the best services to our clients by upgrading our manufacturing prowess.”By Lee Ji-yoon ( jylee@heraldcorp.com

BUSINESSFrom left: Promotional images of Dyson Purifier Cool, Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde, Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde and Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde (Dyson)A visual concept image shows a solid-state formaldehyde sensor mounted on Dyson’s air purifiers. (Dyson)UK-based home appliance maker Dyson said Tuesday it started selling its air purifiers equipped with technologies to sense and destroy indoor air pollutants including formaldhyde more precisely in South Korea.Its new fanless air purifiers feature algorithm-powered, solid-state formaldehyde sensors that distinguish the colorless gas pollutant from other volatile organic compounds. Dyson said the solid-state sensor, using electrochemical cell technology, is superior to gel-based sensors in that the latter can deteriorate overtime and may confuse volatile organic compounds with formaldehyde.Moreover, the new products use Dyson’s cryptomelane mineral-coated selective catalytic oxidation filter to ensure the destruction of formaldehyde -- known to be 500 times smaller than particles the size of 0.1 micron -- at a molecular level. Dyson said the pollutant emanates from furniture, wooden products, insulating materials, paint, wallpaper, varnish and household cleaning products, and formaldehyde‘s off-gassing tendency has led to prolonged exposure of airborne chemicals harmful to humans’ health.Of the four new air purifiers rolled out in Seoul, the three products -- Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde, Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde and Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde -- are capable of precisely monitoring formaldehyde levels while ignoring other gases detected by a separate sensor to detect home pollutants such as allergens, bacteria, pollen, mold spores and influenza A virus subtype H1N1, as well as other particles as small as 0.1 micron.All four products, including one without the formaldehyde sensor and destroyer called Dyson Purifier Cool, are capable of capturing 99.95 per

BUSINESSLG AI Research chief Bae Kyung-hoonLG Group’s AI research hub LG AI Research on Tuesday unveiled its new “ultra-large” artificial intelligence language model EXAONE that boasts more parameters than any other similar models created by its South Korean rivals.EXAONE, which refers to “expert AI for everyone,” has some 300 billion different parameters or variables that it can tune in. Being large means that the AI model has a better capacity to process data more efficiently and perform more advanced language skills.Because most human knowledge is encoded in language, tech firms around the world have been pouring resources into building their own extremely large AI language systems.The LG center, launched last year, said it has trained EXAONE to curate, ingest and interpret massive datasets. It has helped the AI software, equipped with a more advanced natural language processing, to reach a “human-like” language performance.While the existing AI models search for an image based on text analysis, the LG model can create a brand-new image for itself based on data it has studied.What also makes EXAONE unique is that it has been trained to perform both in Korean and English. Compared to its US or Korean rivals that have a specialty in one specific language, the dual language system has the potential for a wider adoption.LG said it aims to nurture EXAONE as a top 1 percent AI expert that can be used in almost all sectors like manufacturing, research, education and finance.Under the goal, the center has set up a three-phase long-term plan: testing in collaboration with LG affiliates, creating a global AI alliance and building an ecosystem for mass-market application.The AI model has already been adopted by LG’s key units like LG Electronics, LG Chem, LG Uplus and LG CNS, for uses such as developing a more fluent chatbot or discovering a new material by analyzing complex chemicals research papers published over the past 100 years.“Ultimately, we aim to play a role in bu

NATIONALA civic group holds a protest against government’s plan to expand the vaccine pass system to teenagers aged between 12 and 18, near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Saturday. We need to think about whether it is appropriate or not to include cram schools in the vaccine pass system,” Choi said. “In vaccination of teenagers, individuals don’t share the same interests with the nation. The government should focus on persuading parents and students.”Jung Jae-hun, a professor at Gachon University of Medicine and Science, argued it is more important to persuade parents by providing accurate data on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, rather than to force vaccination through the vaccine mandate system.“Expanding the vaccine pass mandate to teenagers is about encouraging vaccination. “For schools’ return to normalcy, we will continue the full-scale, in-person class scheme without going into an early vacation.”By Im Eun-byel ( silverstar@heraldcorp.comRelated Stories

The Federal and Victorian governments have signed an in-principle deal with pharmaceutical company Moderna to manufacture mRNA vaccines in Australia. Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Ed Husic welcomes the announcement as a positive step, but has criticised the government for not sticking to their previous timeline.

80% of 17-year-olds who have been to prison will return there. However, a new mentoring program has been set up aimed at helping children who’ve been in prison turn their lives around. The head of ‘Shine for Kids’ says childhood trauma shouldn’t be criminalised.

The Korea Tourism Organization predicted next year’s domestic travel trends with the acronym, HABIT-US, on Tuesday, the results showing a shift in travel preferences and patterns brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic.The results were based on travel-related big data analysis over the past three years, including travel expenses and use of social media, as well as in-depth interviews with industry experts.The acronym was derived from “habitus,” which refers to a person’s socially ingrained habits, skills and dispositions. The KTO found that individuals, in adjusting to the pandemic, formed unique habits and travel styles.“The research was meaningful in that we were able to comprehensively grasp the changes of both the public’s psychological and behavioral patterns on tourism,” Jeong Seon-hee, head of the tourism consulting team at the KTO said.HABIT-US stands for Hashtags, Anyone, Beyond boundary, In a wink, Therapy, Usual unusuality and Special me.Below are seven key words or phrases of HABIT-US, and what each means in relation to tourism:Hashtags -- Distinct preferences were shown in travel types. Social media posts mentioning specific travel types such as “workation,” a combination of “work” and “vacation” referring to staycations at hotels, have increased by 16 percent during the eight months from February to September this year from the 12 months ending January 2021.Anyone -- a diversification of travel companions was also detected, with a hike in data on traveling with kids, friends, pets, as well as travel-alone options.Beyond boundary -- Long-distance travels, which shrank in the early days of the pandemic, also came back, with telecommunication data indicating active movements within or among 242 cities and districts.In a wink -- Growing uncertainties in pandemic times have sparked spontaneous or short trips.Therapeutic -- Therapeutic nature-themed travels are gaining the spotlight, as more travelers seek comfort through experiences in nature.Usual unusuality

Actors in Squid Game, including Jung Ho-yeon who played the role of participant number 67 in the survival competition, also garnered millions of new followers.Instagram’s Reels, where users can edit together a collage of short video clips under a minute, was one of the most popular functions on the social media platform, officials said. According to Instagram’s survey result, about 90 percent of Instagram users in Korea were found to be following company brands. In the survey, two-thirds of the respondents said they regard Instagram as a space to communicate with different brands.“Todayhouse” was one of the leading brands on Instagram. Their posts cover everything from home-styling trends to community-sourced tips related to home decoration. In doing so, it became one of the most popular accounts on the social media platform, Instagram Korea said.LG Electronics, another successful brand account on Instagram, used augmented reality technology that enabled users to see how it would look like to have LG’s product in their homes.“We plan to help large and small businesses to sail toward bigger goals through many programs such as Boost with Facebook and Instagram Academy,” Jung said.By Kan Hyeong-woo ( hwkan@heraldcorp.com

A smartphone application (R) for authenticating users' vaccine status through a digital QR code is seen not properly working at a restaurant in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)The government's digital vaccine pass system malfunctioned for the second day on Tuesday, leading to a number of access failures during lunch time despite the addition of emergency servers to deal with heavy user traffic. Shin said the government's vaccine pass system seemed under prepared as of now, and added she plans to visit her local community center to get a sticker proving her vaccination status before heading to work. Businesses can be fined 1.5 million won ($1,260) if they fail to abide by the vaccine pass system. "I'm worried over potential connection errors continuing today," 30-something Japanese restaurant owner surnamed Kim said.

From left: Actor Seol Kyung-gu, director Byun Sung-hyun and actor Lee Sun-kyun pose for photos during a press conference for “Kingmaker” at Megabox Coex in southern Seoul, Monday. (Megabox Plus M)While the South Korean presidential election is less than three months away, the fact-based political drama “Kingmaker” aims to raise a question about using unjust means to achieve a goal. Set in the 1960s-70s, “Kingmaker” revolves around an opposition party politician who dreams of becoming president and his excellent strategist. “I was curious about the man who was described with only a few lines in Kim‘s autobiography. From left: Actor Seol Kyung-gu, director Byun Sung-hyun and actor Lee Sun-kyun talk about the upcoming film “Kingmaker” during a press conference at Megabox Coex in southern Seoul, Monday.

We need to think about whether it is appropriate or not to include cram schools in the vaccine pass system,” Choi said. “In vaccination of teenagers, individuals don’t share the same interests with the nation. The government should focus on persuading parents and students.”Jung Jae-hun, a professor at Gachon University of Medicine and Science, argued it is more important to persuade parents by providing accurate data on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, rather than to force vaccination through the vaccine mandate system.“Expanding the vaccine pass mandate to teenagers is about encouraging vaccination. More students are infected outside of schools,” Kim said. “For schools’ return to normalcy, we will continue the full-scale, in-person class scheme without going into an early vacation.”By Im Eun-byel ( silverstar@heraldcorp.com

LG Group’s AI research hub LG AI Research on Tuesday unveiled its new “ultra-large” artificial intelligence language model EXAONE that boasts more parameters than any other similar models created by its South Korean rivals.EXAONE, which refers to “expert AI for everyone,” has some 300 billion different parameters or variables that it can tune in. Being large means that the AI model has a better capacity to process data more efficiently and perform more advanced language skills.Because most human knowledge is encoded in language, tech firms around the world have been pouring resources into building their own extremely large AI language systems.The LG center, launched last year, said it has trained EXAONE to curate, ingest and interpret massive datasets. It has helped the AI software, equipped with a more advanced natural language processing, to reach a “human-like” language performance.While the existing AI models search for an image based on text analysis, the LG model can create a brand-new image for itself based on data it has studied.What also makes EXAONE unique is that it has been trained to perform both in Korean and English. Compared to its US or Korean rivals that have a specialty in one specific language, the dual language system has the potential for a wider adoption.LG said it aims to nurture EXAONE as a top 1 percent AI expert that can be used in almost all sectors like manufacturing, research, education and finance.Under the goal, the center has set up a three-phase long-term plan: testing in collaboration with LG affiliates, creating a global AI alliance and building an ecosystem for mass-market application.The AI model has already been adopted by LG’s key units like LG Electronics, LG Chem, LG Uplus and LG CNS, for uses such as developing a more fluent chatbot or discovering a new material by analyzing complex chemicals research papers published over the past 100 years.“Ultimately, we aim to play a role in building a global AI alliance where a slew of

Samsung Biologics will begin manufacturing AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 antibody combination Evusheld by expanding their earlier deal, officials said Tuesday.The newly expanded deal is estimated at $380 million, up about $50 million from the initial contract of the two pharmaceutical giants’ long-term strategic partnership signed in September 2020.Evusheld, formerly known as AZD7442, is a combination of two long-acting antibodies, tixagevimab and cilgavimab. It has the effect of preventing coronavirus infections for those at an increased risk in receiving a vaccine shot due to underlying diseases or a weakened immune system.Evusheld is the first long-acting antibody combination to receive emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. As Evusheld has not been approved in South Korea, the Samsung Biologics-made coronavirus antibody combination will be rolled out overseas.Under the expanded agreement, Samsung Biologics will also begin manufacturing AstraZeneca’s oncology product -- Imfinzi -- from next year.“We will support our clients by bringing innovative solutions to an array of diseases, especially during this time when it is needed the most, and together find ways to expedite the delivery of crucial therapies to the market,” said John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics.“We will quickly solve the problem of COVID-19, which is seriously threatening public health around the world and contribute to changing patients‘ lives by providing innovative anti-cancer drugs to the world more quickly,” said Kim Sang-pyo, CEO of AstraZeneca Korea.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced Monday that it has decided to approve the manufacturing and supply of Moderna’s vaccine Spikevax, which is also produced by Samsung Biologics.In May, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the ministry as an imported drug under the name of Moderna Spikevax. However, the global pharmaceutical firm’s drug, “Spikevax,” which had a different name from “Moderna Spikevax,”

LX Holdings, a holding company which was established in May by taking four non-electronics affiliates from LG group, said Tuesday that its Chairman Koo Bon-joon has sold his stake in LG Group to complete the spinoff procedure.The company said Koo Bon-joon’s stake in LG Group has reduced to 2.04 percent from 7.72 percent. Together with his family’s stake, Koo’s total stake is now at 2.96 percent, meeting the prerequisite of the chief and relatives owning no more than 3 percent for the spinoff under the current law.He sold his 4.18 percent stake in LG Group, worth 650 billion won ($548 million), to external investors through a block deal, in which the two parties agree to buy or sell shares at an agreed price among themselves prior to opening of the market.Koo Bon-joon is an uncle of current LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and a younger brother of late LG Group chief Koo Bon-moo.Following the family tradition that the eldest son of the group’s chief inherits the management, the brothers of the chief have to create their own business group with spin-off companies when the chief passes away. LS Group, LIG Group and Heesung Group are examples of this tradition.For more than 70 years since the group was founded, LG had always smoothly completed the succession and separation of business between family members.The company said that Koo also purchased a 32.32 percent stake in LX Holdings from LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and eight other family members, becoming the largest shareholder of the holding firm with a 40.04 percent stake.Market estimates some 300 billion won have been cost for the stake trade.To follow the LG Founder Koo In-hoi’s community contribution values, Koo Bon-joon has donated his 1.5 percent stake in LG Group to three philanthropic foundations run by LG, according to the company.LX Holdings said the company will apply for an official spinoff to the Korea Fair Trade Commission and expects to receive an approval in the first half of next year.According to F

From left: Promotional images of Dyson Purifier Cool, Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde, Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde and Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde (Dyson)UK-based home appliance maker Dyson said Tuesday it started selling its air purifiers equipped with technologies to sense and destroy indoor air pollutants including formaldhyde more precisely in South Korea. Its new fanless air purifiers feature algorithm-powered, solid-state formaldehyde sensors that distinguish the colorless gas pollutant from other volatile organic compounds. Dyson said the solid-state sensor, using electrochemical cell technology, is superior to gel-based sensors in that the latter can deteriorate overtime and may confuse volatile organic compounds with formaldehyde. Of the four new air purifiers rolled out in Seoul, the three products -- Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde, Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde and Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde -- are capable of precisely monitoring formaldehyde levels while ignoring other gases detected by a separate sensor to detect home pollutants such as allergens, bacteria, pollen, mold spores and influenza A virus subtype H1N1, as well as other particles as small as 0.1 micron. A visual concept image shows a solid-state formaldehyde sensor mounted on Dyson’s air purifiers.

A man visits a booth at SEMICON China, in Shanghai, March 17, 2021. The semiconductor industry has taken centre stage in tech rivalry between China and the US. Photo: Reuters

PLK HKTA Yuen Yuen Primary School. Photo: PLK HKTA Yuen Yuen Primary School. A five-minute long clip from an RTHK documentary was shown to Primary One pupils at the PLK HKTA Yuen Yuen Primary School on last Thursday. He said the footage was “extremely brutal,” as he urged the Education Bureau to review the material. The Education Bureau.

Malaysian band Terrer have dropped a music video for their debut single ‘Hang Loklaq’, which the rockers say is a “statement of pushback against religious hypocrisy”. The band shared the satire-laden song and music video on Sunday (December 12). ‘Hang Loklaq’ will appear on their forthcoming EP ‘Kaum Lelaki’ (‘Mankind’). In northern Malaysia, ‘Hang Loklaq’ is a term often used to describe ‘strange’ or ‘creepy’ behaviour, frontman Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri told NME. The ‘Hang Loklaq’ music video was also shot in October 2019, but the band postponed the release of the single and visual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's eastern coast on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), prompting people in nearby towns to run into the streets and seek higher ground. The quake hit 112 kilometers (69 miles) north of Maumere, on Indonesia's Flores Island. The USGS said it struck at a depth of 18.5 kilometers (11 miles) in the Flores Sea at 10:20 a.m. local time (10:20 p.m. Based on the preliminary earthquake parameters, the US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, "hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of the earthquake epicenter." The head of Indonesia's Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati, later confirmed a tsunami warning had ended.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Flores Island on Tuesday — triggering a tsunami alert for the country, authorities said. The earthquake hit 11.5 miles under sea and was centered 74 miles north of Maumere, the second-largest town on the island in East Nusa Tenggara province, according to the US Geological Survey. Indonesia’s meteorological agency warned of the possibility of tsunami waves. But the quick reaction team is working to gather the information,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari told The Associated Press. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions as the heavily populated archipelago is located on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific.

More from Carolyn HaxFrom the archive:Six years in, I fear my wife is getting a degree in career-dodgingShe wants a baby and 8 to 10 hours of sleep. Carolyn has a live chat with readers on Fridays. Read the 2021 Hootenanny of Holiday Horrors here. The final chat of 2021 is Dec. 17. Chat glossary.

Over the years, I’ve helped him overcome a lot of these things — and God knows he’s helped me be a better person, too. But he still refuses to answer if I call him from another room, thinking it’s more expedient to leave his options open like he did with his family. Meanwhile, I have no idea if he’s heard me, and I feel compelled to call him again. He gets annoyed, while I feel disrespected and devalued.

Former “General Hospital” star Ingo Rademacher filed a lawsuit Monday against ABC over the company’s vaccine mandate that he argues is unconstitutional, a report said. Rademacher, who played Jasper “Jax” Jacks, was canned from the long-running soap opera last month after refusing to get the jab. He argues in the suit that ABC religiously discriminated against him by denying him a religious exemption for the vaccine, Variety reported. Before he was fired, Rademacher pleaded his case to the company’s human resource department, but to no avail. Rademacher was fired from ‘General Hospital’ after he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

They returned hours later to find their house destroyed and their neighbors dead. One had been sucked from his home, his body flung into a cornfield. A few lots away, the house was shattered and the couple who lived there were both in the front yard, lifeless. Within a short drive, an additional nine people had been killed, bringing the local toll to 12 — an astonishing number in a community of just 300.

Omicron has raised new questions about how far even these doses can go. Given the variant’s apparent ability to evade the antibodies created by vaccinations, some experts are suggesting that the definition of being “fully vaccinated” should include booster shots. Even those who have received vaccines that were highly effective against other variants, such as Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, both of which use advanced mRNA technology, are being told by Britain’s Johnson and other figures they may need additional doses to be fully immunized against omicron.

The Air Force has discharged 27 active-duty members who refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as required, a spokesperson said Monday. The Pentagon has required vaccinations for members of the military, and the deadline for active-duty Air Force members was Nov. 2. They are the first active-duty Air Force members to be discharged over the Covid-19 vaccine issue, Stefanek said. Around 97 percent of active-duty Air Force and Space Force members had been vaccinated as of Dec. 7, according to statistics from the Department of the Air Force, which includes the Space Force. More than 1,000 active-duty Air Force and Space Force members are listed as having refused, and about 4,700 are listed as having religious requests in the process of being decided.

Hong Kong (CNN) China has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant on the mainland, posing a fresh challenge to the country's zero-Covid strategy in the lead-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics. Subsequent genome sequencing reviewed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed it was the Omicron variant, according to state media. The individual is now being treated in isolation in hospital, the report said, without providing further details. The fast-spreading Omicron variant has raised alarms around the world, prompting governments to impose travel restrictions. It has been reported in more than 50 countries since first detected in South Africa late last month.

For Elon Musk, Monday evening was a family affair. Waving to his mother Maye Musk in the audience, and balancing his toddler X Æ A-Xii (pronounced “X”) on his knee, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO sat down for a Q&A with TIME Editor in Chief Edward Felsenthal. Musk had just been named TIME 2021 Person of the Year, and gathered with TIME editors and members of the TIME 100 community in New York City to discuss his selection. “[Few] individuals have had more influence than Musk on life on Earth, and potentially life off Earth too,” Felsenthal wrote earlier, explaining the Person of the Year choice. “In 2021, Musk emerged not just as the world’s richest person but also as perhaps the richest example of a massive shift in our society.”Read more: Why TIME Chose Elon Musk as the 2021 Person of the YearIn a wide-ranging discussion that included democracy and Silicon Valley, the conversation often returned to the subject of risk.

The Taser and gun have different triggers, grips and safety mechanisms, McGinnis testified. McGinnis also testified that Potter didn’t perform a function test on her Taser at the start of her shift. Prosecutors asked to have the jurors handle a Taser, but Judge Regina Chu didn’t allow it after Potter’s attorneys objected. Any injuries from the crash were insignificant in terms of what caused Wright’s death, Jackson said. They want to ask officers about it so jurors can evaluate any potential bias toward Potter.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea on Tuesday marked its deadliest day of the pandemic as an unrelenting, delta-driven spread stretched thin hospitals and left people dying while waiting for beds. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 94 virus patients died in the past 24 hours while a record 906 were in serious or critical condition. More than 1,480 patients were still waiting to be admitted to hospitals or treatment shelters. At least 17 patients died last week at home or at facilities while waiting for beds. The country reported around 6,000 new cases a day last week, including three consecutive days of over 7,000.

Amazon, meanwhile, said workers at the warehouse had little time to prepare when the National Weather Service declared a tornado warning on Friday night. The tornado arrived soon after, collapsing both sides of the warehouse and caving in its roof. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the warehouse received tornado warnings between 8:06 p.m. and 8:16 p.m. Friday, and site leaders directed workers to immediately take shelter. “How do we make sure the facilities are built in a way to best protect the workers inside?”Living With Climate Change: Was the deadly Kentucky tornado due to climate change? “It was basically a warehouse, with nothing particularly distinctive to Amazon,” said Wulfratt, president of MWPVL International, a consultancy in Montreal.

Now, Nikon has their own variant in the form of the new Nikon 28-75mm f2.8 Z. Nikon 28-75mm f2.8 Z Tech SpecsThe following specs were pulled from the press release for the Nikon 28-75mm f2.8 Z. We’ve added to it. How Will The Nikon 28-75mm f2.8 Z Perform? For the Nikon system, the Nikon 28-75mm f2.8 Z is a new lens. Nikon 28-75mm f2.8 Z Sample Images

You get a bit of good news that keeps your smile alive for most of the day, and you may find that it's easier than usual to communicate with difficult people. Use this to your advantage if you can! Want even more insight? Get your personalized Birth Chart today.

In the interest of leveling the playing field for poor versus rich criminals, the cities instituted “bail reform.” But the tragedy of Waukesha, Wisconsin, proved that bail reform doesn’t work — and, as currently implemented, never can or will. The perpetrator, now incarcerated, killed seven people, injuring many more, by driving a vehicle into Christmas paradegoers. The person was a repeat offender released on a minor cash bond. Just declare that violent offenders never, ever get released on no- or low-cash bail. Use no-cash bail only for nonviolent crimes and offenders, not violent criminals and repeat offenders.

As a domestic worker in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sri Siti Marni was imprisoned and subjected to daily beatings. Domestic workers often toil seven days a week, work excessive hours and earn a fraction of the minimum wage. Indonesia’s domestic workers number between 4 million and 11 million, depending on which labor organization you ask. I always dreamed that my children would have a better life by going to university.”Like many housemaids in Indonesia, Supartini did not finish her basic education. “I want to continue working as a domestic worker because this is what I have been doing for 26 years,” she said.

The schools will remain open for the week, officials said, offering mental health support for students who need it. Two Anderson class of 2020 grads spoke at the meeting, pleading for further mental health support within the district. The district needs mental health instruction in its curriculum, she said, and more counselors and therapists within school buildings. "Mental health should be taken as seriously, or more seriously, than physical health," she said. Gonzales suggests having a similar requirement for mental health awareness and education.

A former University of Portland employee who was angry about the way the school handled his daughter’s sexual assault allegation was sentenced to 18 months in prison Monday for attacking his colleague in 2019. Patrick Ell, 54, of Portland pleaded guilty in Multnomah County Circuit Court to a single charge of third degree assault. He told police he thought Ell was trying to kill him. His daughter reported being assaulted by another student in her dorm room in 2016, when she was a freshman at the university, according to a UP Beacon article. Rygg told police he received Facebook messages and emails from Ell until three months before the attack, though none were threatening.

To hear House Speaker Ron Mariano tell it, the denizens of the State House are as sturdy as puff pastry. For though the state gave the all-clear for businesses to reopen on May 29, with the encouragement to follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and hygiene protocols, the State House remains closed. Last month, approximately .6 miles from the State House, Michelle Wu was sworn in as mayor — and not in a Zoom call. “I’m very concerned as we talk about reopening the State House. The State House sees over 100,000 visitors a year.

Keith RoachTo Your HealthDear Dr. Roach: Is it safe for an unvaccinated person experiencing long-term symptoms after a COVID-19 infection to get the vaccination, or must they wait until the typical 90-day period for symptoms to diminish or disappear? — P.M.Dear P.M.: In general, people can expect to have symptoms of acute COVID-19 infection for up to four weeks after the onset of symptoms. Roughly a third of people with symptomatic COVID-19 symptoms will have persistent symptoms. I do recommend vaccination after COVID-19 infection, with or without persistent symptoms. Vaccination has not been associated with worsening of symptoms in people with persistent COVID symptoms.

Dear AbbyJeanne PhillipsDear Abby: My husband is in his 40s and permanently disabled from injuries received in a recent automobile accident. He is in pain, on pain medicine 24 hours a day and basically sleeps his days away. — Sad Fate in PennsylvaniaDear Sad Fate: If the situation were reversed, is this the way you would like your husband to treat you? Dear Abby: I’m a woman of 28. She said she just needs some time to herself and that she’s having some second thoughts about all of this.

Dear Abby: My husband is in his 40s and permanently disabled from injuries received in a recent automobile accident. He is in pain, on pain medicine 24 hours a day and basically sleeps his days away. Dear Abby: I’m a woman of 28. She said she just needs some time to herself and that she’s having some second thoughts about all of this. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips.

Blinken insisted that the U.S. is not trying to force countries to choose between the United States and China or seeking conflict with China. But he laid out a litany of complaints about “Beijing's aggressive actions” from “Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and from the Mekong River to the Pacific Islands." Blinken is in Indonesia on the first leg of a week-long, three-nation tour of Southeast Asia that will also take him to Malaysia and Thailand. Countering China’s growing aggressiveness in the region, particularly in the South China Sea, in Hong Kong and against Taiwan is prominent on his agenda. “We do too.”“We are determined to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” he said.

Copyright © 2021 Albuquerque JournalNew Mexico could see damaging winds, blowing snow and dust, and cooler temperatures this week as a series of storm systems whip through the state. Albuquerque has a forecast high of 56 degrees Tuesday, with a 10% chance of precipitation. Jennifer Shoemake, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, said winds will start to pick up across the state Tuesday night and last through Wednesday. The Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for the northeast plains for Wednesday afternoon because of the high winds and dry air. Thursday and Friday are expected to be quieter weather days, with high temperatures in the low 50s for Albuquerque.

The report identified White’s death as a homicide, with Huntington’s disease, obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease listed as contributing conditions. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court of New Mexico, names as defendants the Albuquerque Police Department, the City of Albuquerque and two APD officers. No other APD personnel were disciplined and no criminal charges have been filed in connection with White’s death, he said. The lawsuit alleges that a 911 call initiated a series of missteps that led to White’s death. The suit alleges the city and APD were negligent in hiring, training and supervising the two APD officers and the 911 dispatcher involved in the response.

“Engineering and physics kind of went hand in hand …,” she said. The two-year $195,000 LANL program, launched in mid-November, consists of 10 weeks at the lab and year-round mentoring. Officials are seeking “to make it a more permanent program,” said Astrid Morreale, a researcher in the Particle Physics and Applications group at LANL and a co-leader of the program. When Laurie Williams, dean of the physics and engineering department at Fort Lewis College, learned of the mentorship grant, she sent out a flyer and emails asking interested Indigenous women to submit a letter of interest. The other successful applicant is Fort Lewis senior Julie Nelson of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

The two were then placed in the area and their conversation recorded as authorities listened from a nearby room. The conversation didn't turn up incriminating evidence and it appeared both defendants suspected they were being heard, the paper said. Attorneys for James have filed misconduct allegations against the district attorney's office, alleging that the recording violated her constitutional rights and court rules that ban recordings inside courtrooms. Prosecutors “used the courtroom to place their thumb on the scales of justice,” they said in court papers. Prosecutors argue that the recordings were legal because the holding area was technically considered a “detention facility” under control of the sheriff, despite the area being inside a court rather than in a jail.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Navy prosecutors alleged Monday that a sailor charged with setting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard last year was “disgruntled” after dropping out of Navy SEAL training, while his defense lawyers said there was no physical evidence connecting him to the blaze. Defense attorneys said fellow sailors considered Mays “arrogant" because he had come from SEAL training. They disputed that Mays hated the Navy more than any other sailor assigned to deck duty like he was, which involves cleaning the ship. The junior sailor was charged with aggravated arson and the willful hazarding of a vessel. The fire that was the worst noncombat Navy warship blaze in recent memory.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Navy prosecutors alleged that a sailor charged with setting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard last year was “disgruntled” after dropping out of Navy SEAL training, while his defense lawyers said there was no physical evidence connecting him to the blaze. Defense attorneys said fellow sailors considered Mays “arrogant” because he had come from SEAL training. They disputed that Mays hated the Navy more than any other sailor assigned to deck duty like he was, which involves cleaning the ship. The junior sailor was charged with aggravated arson and the willful hazarding of a vessel. The fire was the worst noncombat Navy warship blaze in recent memory.

Questions over worker safety at Amazon are intensifying once again after a tornado struck an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Friday, leaving six people dead and another hospitalized. On Monday, the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration said it opened a workplace safety investigation into the warehouse collapse. “This incident calls into question so much of Amazon’s practices in their warehouses,” said Marcos Ceniceros, an organizer at Warehouse Workers for Justice. Speaking to the Intercept on Monday, 12 Amazon workers described concerns over workplace safety. An Amazon spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, said the warehouse received tornado warnings between 8.06pm and 8.16pm on Friday and site leaders directed workers to immediately take shelter.

As England moves to plan B, Boris Johnson has announced that all adults will be offered a booster vaccine by the end of December. But will that be enough to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed? Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample, about the spread of Omicron, and what we can do to prevent a tidal wave of casesHow to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know

It’s not quite midday, yet I am standing in an off-licence knocking back mulled wine and bubbly. But this is not a normal off-licence and these aren’t normal drinks. Welcome to Britain’s first alcohol-free off-licence, which opened at the weekend off Regent Street in London. The bubbly is Noughty, a Champagne-style, alcohol-free rosé wine made from Spanish grapes using German technology. The Alcohol-Free Off-Licence is all white walls and blond wood shelves, stacked with colourful rows of bottles and cans, designed to resemble the hard stuff.

Indonesia issued a tsunami warning on Tuesday morning after a powerful earthquake struck off Flores Island, the meteorological department said. Some experts estimated the quake's size at magnitude 7.3, while others - such as the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre - said 7.7. The eastern Indonesian quake could cause hazardous tsunami waves, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre warned. The US-based warning centre said tsunami waves could be possible for coasts within 1,000km of the quake's epicentre. The earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia at 3.20 GMT on Tuesday, but initially no tsunami warning was issued.

But whatever it is we do have, the likelihood is that it was the same this morning as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow. Yes, researchers from the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands have revealed – via studies in the US and France – that breakfast is officially the dullest, most unchanging meal of the day. They have a simple message in the morning: toast, coffee. And thus it is, day in day out, until the weekend or we manage to go away. You know you can do better than this, you know you should.

He implored backbenchers to believe Covid certification to enter certain venues did not amount to a "Covid passport". But in spite of these assurances - and the prime minister warning of a "tidal wave of infections" - the potential Conservative revolt could be the biggest of Boris Johnson's premiership.

Videos on social media showed people in the city of Makassar running out of shops and buildings. There are reports that a hospital and hotel were evacuated.

JeM is a Pakistan-based group which has been designated a terror organisation by India and the United Nations, as well as the UK and US. It previously claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on 14 February 2019 in Kashmir in which at least 46 soldiers died. It was one of the deadliest attacks on Indian forces in the region for decades.

No U.S. troops involved in the August drone strike that killed innocent Kabul civilians and children will face disciplinary action, U.S. defense officials said Monday. There were no recommendations for discipline made by the generals, said John Kirby, chief Pentagon spokesman. But he concluded that the strike was a tragic mistake and not caused by misconduct or negligence. He concluded that better communication between those making the strike decision and other support personnel might have raised more doubts about the bombing, but in the end may not have prevented it. He also recommended that the military improve its procedures to ensure that children and other innocent civilians are not present before launching a time-sensitive strike.

A tsunami warning has been issued for parts of Indonesia after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook the nation's south islands. The earthquake struck the Flores Sea, about 112km north-west of Larantuka, at a depth of 12km at about 10.20am on Tuesday. Experts said tsunamis could hit a series of small island communities in the region, including Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and Southeast and South Sulawesi. Indonesian officials do not believe the earthquake caused any injury or damage, but people in nearby towns said it 'felt like a wave'. Indonesia straddles an area of high seismic activity that rests atop multiple tectonic plates, making it susceptible to quakes.

A mysterious Jesus Christ-like figure has been spotted in the night sky above an Australian outback town. The mysterious shape illuminated over a shed was photographed by a resident in Laramba, about 200km west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory on Saturday night. While just exactly what the figure may be is unclear, many believe it was Christ making his appearance as a 'Christmas miracle'. A mysterious Jesus Christ-like figure was seen in the night sky above the Northern Territory town of Laramba on Saturday nightAdding to the mystery of the sighting, the figure was spotted when a group of locals had gathered together for a Christian community gathering. Other reported sightings of Jesus have made headlines over the years including in clouds and even food.

MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said the agency 'intends to vigorously defend against this lawsuit, which appears to be without merit.' Ruth Leon-Villegas, 56, broke her neck after a stranger shoved her into a metal subway pole last December. The victim suffered obvious injuries to his head and was pictured sitting on the train station floor with bandages covering his eyes and forehead. Police are hunting for a man who allegedly threatened to kill a woman on the New York subway with two wooden spikes after making 'anti-white statements' late last month. The suspect wielded the large shivs at a 46-year-old woman near the 59th Street subway station in Manhattan on last Monday, cops said.

Police in California were on the scene of a Tesla factory on Monday afternoon, after a man was found dead in the parking lot. According to an advisory from the Fremont Police Department, firefighters responded to a call about a person seen face-down in the parking lot of the 53 million square foot facility at around 3.25pm Monday. The firefighters tried to render medical aid but the man was pronounced dead on the scene. Police were on the scene of a Tesla factory on Monday afternoon after a man was found dead in the parking lot. 'At this point, we have a dead body in the parking lot and homicide investigators are taking over the investigation,' Police Captain Fred Bobbitt told FOX News.

Imagine living just ten minutes from a big city and having no internet and no mobile reception. That’s the reality for hundreds of residents in one of Queensland’s fastest growing regions, and they say it’s putting them in danger.

Travellers from across the country continue to descend on Queensland now its borders are opened to fully vaccinated people from COVID hotspots. It’s welcome news for small businesses, but a customer vaccine mandate that comes in on Friday could cause some backlash

California's mask mandate applies to all individuals, whether vaccinated or notLos Angeles (AFP) – Authorities in California said Monday they were reinstating mask mandates in all indoor public spaces to try to curb the resurgence of Covid-19 in recent weeks. Advertising Read moreThe mask mandate, which will come into force Wednesday, applies to all individuals, whether vaccinated or not. California's Health Secretary Mark Ghaly said the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases had prompted the new rule. Ghaly said that wearing a mask could help prevent a repeat of last winter's high rates of infection and death. The mask mandate will remain in place until January 15.

LG Energy Solution, the battery-making unit of LG Group, said Tuesday it has joined forces with German industrial giant Siemens to upgrade its battery plants into more advanced smart factories.Under a deal signed earlier in the day, the battery firm agreed to adopt Siemens’ software and other technologies to build an “intelligent manufacturing system.”Intelligent manufacturing, or smart manufacturing, is designed to optimize energy efficiency and quality control at production plants using advanced information technologies such as data analysis and machine learning. The system is also considered a key requirement for businesses to meet their ESG goals.The Korean battery maker said that the new system will first be adopted by its production line run by a joint venture with General Motors in Tennessee and it will support the wider adoption at other plants in phases.“Intelligent manufacturing is a key capability we have to secure in order to advance the quality of our batteries and maximize the efficiency of our manufacturing supply chain,” said LG Energy Solution CEO Kwon Young-soo. “Through the latest deal with Siemens, a global leader in smart factory technology, we will offer the best services to our clients by upgrading our manufacturing prowess.”By Lee Ji-yoon ( jylee@heraldcorp.com

I am still... scared," said Nuraini, a resident of Adonara island in the East Flores regency. No significant damage or deaths were immediately reported from the areas where the quake was felt, but authorities urged caution. It's still safe there, there has been no damage," East Flores district head Antonius Hubertus Gege Hadjon told Metro TV. It was strong," said Alwan, a resident of Buton in Southeast Sulawesi -- one of the areas where a tsunami warning was issued. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake no longer posed a threat of tsunamis after earlier warning that such waves were possible within a 1,000 km radius of the epicentre.

Traffic control measures are in place in Dalang in Dongguan city after two people tested positive to coronavirus. The asymptomatic pair, aged in their 30s, had visited restaurants, hotels, beauty parlours and karaoke bars. Photo: Weibo

China’s power grid, the world’s largest, is complex to manage and costly to secure. Photo: Bloomberg

With very low concentrations of uranium in seawater, it’s far more difficult and expensive to extract from the oceans than to mine from the ground. Photo: Shutterstock

At this point, if you haven't been vaccinated, it's really your own darn fault." NEW YORK ORDERS MASK MANDATE FOR INDOOR PUBLIC SPACES STATEWIDE"Those who get sick, it's almost entirely their own darn fault," he continued. "You know, public health [officials] don’t get to tell people what to wear; that's just not their job. You don't tell people to wear a jacket when they go out in winter and force them to [wear it]. "If you haven't been vaccinated, that's your choice.

The BBBA includes several provisions that would lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and private insurance and reduce drug spending by the federal government and private payers. The key prescription drug proposals included in the BBBA would:This brief summarizes these provisions and discusses the expected effects on people, program spending, and drug prices and innovation. The legislation appropriates 10-year (2022-2031) funding of $3 billion for implementing the drug price negotiation provisions. A separate CBO estimate of the same Medicare drug price negotiation provision included in another House bill in the 116th Congress (H.R. The legislation also allows beneficiaries the option of smoothing out their out-of-pocket costs over the year rather than face high out-of-pocket costs in any given month.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei says his country will stay by Taiwan's side and has ruled out accepting vaccines from China as that country ramps up its international vaccine diplomacy. Giammattei was interviewed by Reuters Tuesday evening (June 2), ahead of next week's visit by American Vice President Kamala Harris. However, the president dismissed the prospect of importing Chinese vaccines, unlike neighboring Honduras, which reportedly considered pursuing Chinese jabs earlier this year, and El Salvador, which has received several hundred thousand doses of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. Giammattei pointed to the lower efficacy of Chinese vaccines, adding that Guatemala has no plans to court Beijing and will instead stick to its decades-old alliance with Taiwan. El Salvador switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2018.

Indonesia Earthquake: An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Indonesia. (Representational)A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, with monitors briefly warning of the possibility of hazardous tsunami waves before lifting the threat. It was strong," said Alwan, a resident of Buton in Southeast Sulawesi -- one of the areas where a tsunami warning was issued. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake no longer posed a threat of tsunamis after earlier warning that such waves were possible within a 1,000 km radius of the epicentre. Later that year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.

The USGS said the chance of casualties was low, while noting that "recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as tsunamis and landslides that might have contributed to losses". Among Indonesia's string of deadly quakes was a devastating 2004 9.1-magnitude tremor that struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including about 170,000 in Indonesia. The Boxing Day disaster was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. In 2018, a powerful quake shook the island of Lombok and several more tremors followed over the next couple of weeks, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa. Later that year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.

Why aren’t there hearings or investigations about these sex crimes at the C.I.A.? has amassed credible evidence, including confessions, that 10 employees and a contractor committed sex crimes against children and that only one was ever charged with a crime. officer prosecuted for child sex crimes had also mishandled classified information. They were serious sex crimes against children. I know that I sound like a broken record when I ask, “Where is the Congressional oversight?” Why aren’t there hearings or investigations about child sex crimes at the C.I.A.?

“It’s a rather simple surgery in theory, but public hospitals will almost always turn patients away because we are aware of the risks involved in doing something that’s not explicitly okayed by the government,” said Yang, the director of a hospital in Jingzhou city, Hubei province, who gave only part of his name for fear of punishment for speaking to foreign media. “The fundamental policy is that China needs more childbirths.”

Friedman’s essay was about the “social purpose” of corporations, but he added his idea of shareholder ownership almost as an aside. Though it was actually a radical new idea, Friedman posed shareholder ownership as the common sense of economists, simplified for readers of The New York Times. Neither shareholder ownership nor shareholder primacy have any basis in American law. But before we accept shareholder ownership as a de facto reality, we should consider the motivation of this idea’s original purveyor. That the world has accepted shareholder ownership and shareholder primacy as unshakable realities instead of a statement of values is one reason that mission was successful.

* Another one… Today, the Illinois Federation of Teachers announced their endorsement of Nikki Budzinski in the IL-13 Democratic primary. The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) represent a massive 103,000 members across the state of Illinois. The Illinois Federation of Teacher’s endorsement is the latest in a broad coalition of support that Budzinski is building, including U.S. * And another one… Today, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) announced the early endorsement for the Illinois Supreme Court (3rd District) judicial race in the June 2022 Primary Election. The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor union representing transit and allied workers in the U.S. and Canada.

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New Orleanians must wait a few more weeks to learn who their next sheriff will be, with a runoff called between incumbent Sheriff Marlin Gusman and former New Orleans Police Department Independent Monitor Susan Hutson. Whoever wins the runoff will take the position and manage a jail that has been shrouded in controversy for nearly a decade. In an agreement with the Department of Justice, final authority was given to an independent jail compliance officer. Much of that reduction in the jail population has been attributed to pressure from criminal justice reform groups, including the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition. They're doing without lights and water and food to stay in touch with loved ones or to help loved ones in the jail,” Hutson said.

Jenna Marie Adams and Andrew Lee Kalloch were married July 8 at Coopers Hall, a winery and restaurant in Portland, Ore. Caitlin McKee, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the event, officiated. She graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene and received a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. She is a daughter of Leona K. Henderson-Burtner of Eugene, Ore. and the late Steven D. Adams, and a stepdaughter of David K. Burtner. The groom, also 32, works as a policy manager for Airbnb and is responsible for trying to get short-term-rental legislation favored by Airbnb passed in New York City. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, from which he also received a law degree.

Victoria, TX (77901)TodayCloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Areas of dense fog. Winds light and variable. Areas of dense fog. Winds light and variable.

Healey’s big hireSCOOP: HEALEY STAFFS UP — State Attorney General Maura Healey has hired veteran Democratic strategist Mindy Myers as a general consultant for her as-yet-to-be-announced 2022 campaign. She worked with Boston Turnout Project's IEPAC in support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's campaign and is a partner at MZL Media. Anthony Collins joins as organizing director after a successful run as field director for Kendra Hicks’ Boston City Council campaign. Emily Neckes joins as finance director, the same position she held on Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell’s mayoral campaign. by Steve Brown, WBUR: "[Baker campaign advisor] Jim Conroy said they are happy to provide refunds to any donors who ask.

The directive delays all primary races across the state, not just those in areas affected by the redistricting. The move also puts a freeze on new candidate filings for anyone running for office in North Carolina in 2022. After the filing period opened on Monday, the State Board of Elections said more than 1,400 candidates filed to run. Those who already processed their paperwork should not have to refile.

We don't have billionaire backers like some right-wing media outlets. Half our revenue comes from readers like you, meaning we literally couldn't do this work without you. Can you donate $3 right now to help Daily Kos keep fighting?

My argument here is not with that essay, or whether or not it is a “Christmas film.” My argument here is that violence as redemption goes way deeper than Die Hard. When any movement (whether USAmerica or Christianity or any other movement) is founded on “violence as redemption” it is difficult to stray far from that core tenet because it gets built into everything that follows. Here we have a scene of sexual violence and child abuse. Attributing her pregnancy to a so-called “holy spirit” of a god-the-father does not mitigate the violence, it makes it even more abusive. Here is more violence: this child is doomed from the start, born into poverty in an occupied land with no prospects ahead but certain death.

Via MIT Technology ReviewThis is a short post but fairly important to those who live along any coast. Where I live in the UK, winter storms and flooding have caused visible damage, but they always have. More importantly, sewage dumps have become common and problematic. The progressives among us blame it on lax Tory regulation, privatisation, and a lack of investment to update Victorian infrastructure. All of these contribute, but the physical reality of rising groundwater, increasing storm runoff and a culture that tends to blame the obvious doesn’t help.

They’re now modern folk heroes, and congress has slapped on competition knee pads to sprint after all of them. When antifa didn’t show, Trumpanistas had no one to fight but the police. Wouldn't it almost be cool to have a mob kill for you? Mike Pence disagrees and discovers it is equally uncool to have that mob kill you. Peter Navarro tries to pull an Eichmann, which didn’t really work for Eichmann, btw.

Man whose wife won a court battle to treat his COVID-19 with ivermectin has died. His widow Darla Smith is obviously going through a difficult time, and is dealing with a great deal of anger. Trust me, you do not want this burden.”One of the few things different about this is that Darla Smith is having doubts about God after going through this. Reading through the report of Keith Smith’s death, only one line is given to something that might have made a difference. Meanwhile…Somewhere, sometime very soon now, if it hasn’t already happened, we will hit 800,000 Americans dead from Covid.

a westerly bayThe Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. December 9-12, 2021SalishSea, PacificNorthwestWhere I live in the islands of the Salish Sea, the sky changes radically from day to day in winter. Sometimes it’s just socked in, grey from horizon to horizon, usually raining also, not great days to be out. ??December 9:a southeasterly bay, with first quarter moon visiblesame baythe westerly bay on a moderately calm day?? December 11: and again, this time looking directly west rather than southwest. Our late Bucket is open now for your observations.

That the media create racists with the angle of coverage is an understatement. Hal H. Harris discusses race & politics. It chose a black and Latino clergy by name as they abstracted the evil deeds of others. They highlighted two preachers, both with checkered practices, as bastions who pay taxes on their expensive properties. Hal H. Harris, the winner of the $10,000 Medium Writers Challenge talk about race and politics.

Doomsday GlacierA glacier the size of the United Kingdom or the State of Florida may well shatter within three to five years and trigger a domino effect collapsing the great floating ice platforms across West Antarctica warns the International International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration. The land ice of Thwaites ice stream holds two feet of sea-level rise. Currently, the loss of freshwater from Thwaites contributes four percent to global sea rise. The loss of the ice shelf will increase that number to 25% due to the observed changes. Other Antarctica glaciers are also a threat to civilization, as are Greenland and mountain glaciers, all of which are rapidly melting from human-caused global heating.

Questions, questions, questions... In today’s article, “National Guard's Jan. 6 role was to 'protect pro Trump people,' Mark Meadows said” by Laura Clawson www.dailykos.com/… She remarks, “(Can’t wait to find out which senator that was. )” when referring to Meadow’s communication with an unnamed Senator. Well, I’m curious also. So here’s the poll:

Kitchen Table Kibitzing is a community seriesfor those who wish to share a virtual kitchen table with other readers of Daily Kos who aren’t throwing pies at one another. Drop by to talk about music, your weather, your garden, or what you cooked for supper…. Newcomers may notice that many who post in this series already know one another to some degree, but we welcome guests at our kitchen table and hope to make some new friends as well.

The Colorado State Open Thread is for people interested in all things Colorado. I’ve been out of the state for a long weekend and I’ll be back tonight, but I’m posting this early so it is ready and published at 7PM. I hope, by the time I’m able to turn on my computer that I’ll still be awake and energized enough to still participate. Suggestions:Political goings-onBoebert’s latest Faux PasHow much you hate talking about herWhat your plans are for the upcoming holidaysAny favorite foods/drinks/recipes you’d like to share with your friendsAny photos of beautiful ColoradoThe weather — did you get snow? Your favorite holiday moviesThe floor is yours…

What the ACA did was reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, one of the main reasons patients seek abortions. $165 billion for health care spending. The bill would reduce health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act by several hundred dollars a month, making it easier for some people who are currently uninsured to gain health insurance. A 2012 Supreme Court decision upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, but allowed individual states to opt out of the act’s expanded Medicaid coverage. For starters, it will provide reproductive care, reduce unwanted pregnancies, and result in fewer abortions.

someone please explain this to me??? I mean, it appears somebody didn't get the moral of THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS. Doubling the irony is that the people who put this up thought Dr. Suess was in threat of being canceled when he never was. Yah know, hysteria to own somebody, not sure who anymore. Tripling the irony — they think the left is stealing Christmas.

If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! But, when you are ready to write that diary, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMOM a Kosmail with the date. If you live in the Western US and want to know how to help this beautiful species, you can, easily.

An unforgettable theme song, "Bill, Bill, Bill…" starts ringing in their ears. Manchin will also meet Tuesday with a group of moderate Democrats on voting rights. Voting-rights advocates want to see if Manchin would be open to a ‘carve-out’ to the Senate’s filibuster rule for voting rights legislation. The idea gained more urgency for voting rights advocates after the chamber approved a ‘one-time exception’ to its rules to approve a debt-limit increase by a simple majority vote. The crew of the Overnight News Digest consists of founder Magnifico, regular editors side pocket, maggiejean, Chitown Kev, eeff, Magnifico, annetteboardman, Rise above the swamp, Besame and jck.

PWBPeeps is a group that posts a daily diary and nightly open thread for animal lovers. We share photos, seek & give advice about pet health and behavior issues, support each other in times of sadness and stress, celebrate together when times are good, and on most days have an inordinate amount of fun. You are welcome to join us! Here are few not-too-onerous PWB rules

“Documents reviewed by OSC prove that officials at Health and Human Services clamped down on damaging information about the severity of COVID-19 and limited the free speech of its scientists,” Freddy Martinez, a policy analyst at Open the Government, told Buzzfeed News. “When creating its press policies, HHS officials disregarded its employees’ important whistleblower rights in favor of secrecy.”While Caputo was only in that role for part of 2020, the Office of Special Counsel previously said that HHS violated federal law on gag rules on three other occasions in 2017 and 2018. And Caputo’s science adviser, Paul Alexander, made a separate effort to censor the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, an important weekly epidemiological digest from the CDC. I ask it to be stopped now!”Keeping scientists and public health experts from speaking about what was going on was a part of the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response. However, HHS employees are not required to speak to the media.

First, some background on what the NSA actually involves for patients, and how it could play out it in your own life. In short, the NSA creates federal protections for patients who receive medical care that’s actually out-of-network, whether it’s an out-of-network physician, hospital, or vendor they did not choose. Hospitals need these workers, obviously, so they accept their terms—but then patients end up with these surprise (and often enormous) bills. Importantly, the NSA also applies to non-emergency services provided to patients by out-of-network physicians at in-network facilities. As always, every step to protect patients is a step in the right direction, but what we really, ultimately need is Medicare for All.

still from The General Returns From One Place To Another(Image by Michael Robinson) Details DMCASonnet: Democracy in a Fugue Stateby John Kendall Hawkins. I may be a savage, but at least I'm not a poet, say dumbstrucktyrants, anxious to rub out the cries of freedom --I am, I am, I am, I am, I am, affirmedagainst the growing darkness of false light once termedProgress, vigils of hope blown out one by one, Te DiumLuciferus New Church gargoyles fugue and upchuck. They'll cry, the wheels have fallen off: free thought must die;monotonal megalomaniacal gloamenforced by savage algos of the Meta-physical regime,and it may be that it will take time to redeemthe ancient wisdom from ashes of old Romemixed with new life in old Grecian urns marked Why? In the cathedral's fading light you feel the doomof the once sacrosanct cogito ergo sum.

Ivermectin has been attacked by pro-vaccine interests despite it being a cheap, safe and proven medicine for COVID treatment and prevention. If you get stricken with COVID and are seriously ill your doctor and hospital will not provide ivermectin. In Illinois it took a court to force a hospital to capitulate to family demands to give a very sick elderly patient IVM. The drug "most definitely" saved the elderly patient's life "because his condition changed right immediately after he took ivermectin," said the attorney. Ivermectin was also at the center of three successful court cases in three upstate counties of New York involving hospitalized COVID patients - 65, 80 and 81 years old.

Since it’s the holiday season, we thought we would have a conversation about the impact of holidays on prisoners in the prison-industrial complex. And I mean, that’s not even close to the kind of isolation that prisoners feel on a day-to-day basis. But most prisoners don’t do that, and most prisoners end up suffering a big, empty space in their life, like 10 years. Every little bit lightens that burden of the massive depression that holiday seasons bring in the prison system. And you will hopefully bring somebody home that’s less damaged than the prison system intended to make them.

Jackson Women’s Health Organization, or the “Pink House,” due to its color, is the only abortion clinic left standing in Mississippi. On Wednesday, both anti-choice and pro-abortion demonstrators from across the country congregated in the nation’s capital, including members of the Pinkhouse Defenders, Shout Your Abortion, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, Thank God For Abortion, Abortion Access Front, Plan C and NYC for Abortion Rights. The contours of the abortion hearings and abortion struggle today have shifted dramatically in the nearly 50 years since Roe. The fight against abortion is a pillar of the far right, and it is impossible to understand the growth of one without the other. The abortion and women’s health movements, supported by physicians, and the women’s liberation and gay liberation movements, which came out of the civil rights movement.

Transmasculine and gender variant people have used synthetic testosterone for nearly a century. Many gender variant people, including myself, have experienced discrimination and hostility at the hands of pharmacists. Many gender variant people, including myself, have experienced discrimination and hostility at the hands of pharmacists. Transgender care in the US is gatekept even for gender variant people who have societal privileges like whiteness or wealth. Gender variant people should be more than acknowledged in drug policy reform; we should be prioritized.

Amazon’s strict no-phone policy is drawing renewed national attention after a tornado in Edwardsville, Illinois caused one of the company’s warehouses to collapse, killing six workers. But because of a longstanding company policy that bans cell phones at worksites, it’s unclear if workers at the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville ever received that warning. Company representatives told Gizmodo that Edwardsville workers were sent “various alerts” about the tornado that hit the facility on Friday. Many social media users said that Amazon was responsible for the deaths at its Edwardsville warehouse. “The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was so deadly because management locked the doors to ‘prevent theft’ and keep out union organizers,” said CNN editor Michael Ballaban, sharing a link that referenced the Amazon warehouse deaths.

The University of California, Santa Barbara, has unveiled plans for “Munger Hall,” a dormitory for more than 4,500 students, designed by Charles T. Munger, a billionaire and executive at Berkshire Hathaway. The design has been denounced by architect Dennis McFadden, who served as a consultant on the university’s design review committee. UCSB students gathered outside of the library last month to protest the building of Munger Hall, and the December eviction of students. All across the country, the lack of decent, affordable housing has seen many students and their supporters demanding change. At Virginia Commonwealth University, 400 students at a dormitory in Johnson Hall were told to move after dangerous levels of mold were discovered.

Recent reports show that the response of the Labour Party-led government in New Zealand to the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic has further widened the already vast gulf between rich and poor. The number of applicants on the public housing waiting list has increased by two thirds since the pandemic to 24,536. Some members of the ruling class are nervous about the consequences of the extreme inequality that has built up under successive governments. He said it had “done a really good job… financial stability is really strong in New Zealand. The WSWS calls on workers to break from the unions and form rank-and-file committees, controlled by workers themselves, in schools and workplaces.

The National Union of Workers and Transport Workers (Unott) called the walkout after the latest round of negotiations with the National Association of Bus Road Transport Companies (Anetra) failed to reach an agreement. According to Unott, workers’ wages have eroded by 15 percent and the union proposed recovering “part” of the losses in March, though Anetra has proposed payment in June. United StatesHuntington Beach, California sanitation workers strikeTrash pickup for residents of Huntington Beach and Fullerton, California, was delayed Friday by a strike of 400 workers employed by Republic Services. Fred Meyer workers in Pacific Northwest vote in favor of strikeSome 29,000 Fred Meyer Supermarket and Quality Food Center workers in Oregon and southwest Washington state have voted to grant their union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, strike authorization. Postal union reaches three-year tentative contract dealThe American Postal Workers Union and the US Postal Service announced agreement on a new three-year contract December 9.

Last Tuesday, another teenager died from COVID-19 in the state of Minnesota, marking the fourth death among teenagers aged 15–19 from the virus in the state and the second in less than a one-week period. This comes in the wake of two Minnesota teachers dying from COVID-19 at the end of last month. The second case of the more infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the state. As of December 13, the seven-day average of hospitalizations in Minnesota from COVID-19 is 1,786, with 338 in intensive care. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, there have been 956,779 total recorded cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota so far, with over 21 percent of COVID-19 cases occurring in people 19 and under.

The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) held a successful online meeting on Saturday, October 11 attended by educators, parents and students across Australia and internationally, including from New Zealand, the Philippines and the US. The meeting was titled, “COVID -19 spreads through Australian schools: Put lives before profit! Stop the Pandemic!”This is the second CFPE online meeting in the past month organised against the dangerous re-opening of schools that has led to an upsurge of COVID-19 infections and clusters in schools in Victoria and New South Wales. The meeting was addressed by Evan Blake, a member of the Socialist Equality Party from the United States, and a leading writer for the World Socialist Web site. A full report of the meeting will follow in the next few days.

Not least, the Labor Party governments in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have all “reopened” or set dates to do so. NSW Health reported 804 new cases. There are now 85 Omicron cases officially recorded in NSW—up by 21 in a day. NSW Health expects further Omicron cases to be identified in the coming days as genomic testing results are confirmed. “A number of these cases are likely to be the Omicron variant,” NSW Health said.

The seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants rose above 1,000, and in several states and among children and adolescents it was far higher. So far, the vaccination rate of around 67 percent is far too low. Scientists and physicians have strongly criticized the relaxation of measures to contain the spread of infection. The Coronavirus Commission, an expert advisory panel, expects the situation to soon worsen again because of the spread of the Omicron variant. In Texingtal, Lower Austria, where Karner was mayor, there is a museum honouring Engelbert Dollfuss, the Austrian chancellor who paved the way for fascism.

The current surge of COVID-19 is exposing the French website Révolution Permanente (RP), affiliated to Argentina’s Morenoite Socialist Workers Party (PTS). While they criticize the widely-decried inadequacy of French health spending, they align themselves with President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal to implement scientific public health measures necessary to stop mass deaths. (AP Photo/Jean-François Badias)Each week sees over 2 million new cases of COVID-19 and nearly 30,000 deaths across Europe. This social layer is far more concerned about the damage public health measures would deal to their stock market portfolios and to the corporate profits that pay the budgets of the trade union bureaucracies than about saving human lives. This requires a conscious break with the reactionary politics of the pseudo-left, and the building of rank-and-file committees in every workplace and school to fight the Macron government and its political satellites for a scientific health policy.

The number of COVID-19 patients receiving intensive care continues to rise and is now just under 4,900. There are currently fewer free intensive care beds than at any other point in the pandemic. The share of free intensive care beds is only 10 percent nationally, which is considered to be the limit of the hospitals’ ability to respond. The intensive care doctor and scientific director of the Divi intensive care register, Christian Karagiannidis, told DPA that the situation worries him, especially due to the Omicron variant. In the intensive care registry, only 921 available intensive care beds were specifically identified for COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon.

The TTB and other organizations also criticized it because it did not cover all health care workers. Outraged nurses and other health care workers organized work stoppages last week to protest the bill in hospitals across Turkey. Healthcare workers march during a strike action on December 6 in ?zmir, bearing a banner saying ‘Health care is teamwork. Demanding that care continue for emergency patients, dialysis patients, pregnant women, pediatric emergencies, cancer patients, intensive care patients and COVID-19 clinics, the health care workers called for support from broader sections of the population: “This struggle is not only for physicians and health care workers, but it is for the whole society, for all of us. The burgeoning strike movement among health care workers shows that a counteroffensive by the international working class is emerging.

In public CHSLDs (long-term care homes) and private institutions for the elderly, approximately 4,000 residents died during the first months of the pandemic between March and June 2020, when Quebec recorded one of the highest per capita mortality rates in the world. The report identifies “significant pre-existing and long-known systemic deficiencies” as one of the main causes of the tragedy that occurred in Quebec’s CHSLDs. It was not until April 11, when the situation was completely out of control in the CHSLDs, that these transfers stopped. At the same time, the government also prohibited COVID-stricken residents from being transferred to hospitals for treatment, leaving them facing death without adequate care. Workers in Quebec and the rest of Canada should not expect anything from inquiries commissioned and directed by the capitalist class to absolve itself of any responsibility.

A massive contamination of the drinking water supply for residents of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam was discovered on November 20, when 14,000 gallons of jet fuel spilled at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility has a long history of leaks dating back to 1943 when it was first built, during the intensive military build-up for WWII. Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility consists of 20 fuel tanks and an array of pipelines that use gravity to deliver fuel to Pearl Harbor, a short 2.5 miles away. Nearly 16,000 gallons of fuel and fuel-laced water have leaked from Red Hill pipes above the aquifer just this year. “The results of the Red Hill sample showed petroleum hydrocarbons roughly four to ten times below the Hawaii Department of Health Environmental Action Level (EAL).

A 22-year-old man was shoved onto the tracks at a Brooklyn subway station in an unprovoked attack early Sunday morning, police said. An unknown male suspect first punched the victim in the face then pushed him onto the roadbed at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station at about 8:50 a.m., according to the NYPD. The attack left the victim with a fractured left arm and wrist and cuts and bruises to his knees, cops said. Surveillance footage of the suspect who shoved a man into subway tracks in Brooklyn on December 12, 2021. DCPI The attack took place at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station in the morning.

They also do not mention his and his family’s business ties to the Chinese state. They found that six of the 10 most commonly shared YouTube videos in the tweets were from the pro-China influencers. After The Times asked about the payments and free travel from Chinese state media, YouTube said it would remind the creators of their obligations. This allows some YouTubers to obscure the fact that they work for Chinese state media. As his trips with state media grew longer, the outlets paid him for his time, he said.

Nassau County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman won’t enforce Gov. “Nassau County is not in crisis, and should not be painted with the same broad brush as the rest of the state. Nassau County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman says the majority of adults “have received at least their first dose of the vaccine.” in his county. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran will be leaving office on Dec. 31, 2021. Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said Gov.

Danny Carey, the renowned drummer for rock band Tool, was arrested for misdemeanor assault at Kansas City International Airport after getting into an altercation with a security guard, according to reports. According to TMZ, the drummer shoved the man in the chest with two fingers, shouting “”You’re a f*****g f****t!” several times. Video of Carey’s arrest obtained by TMZ shows the 60-year-old drummer wearing a Kansas City Chiefs jersey. Danny Carey, of the rock band Tool, plays the drums with the Kansas band during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri. Carey, a Kansas Native, joined the Kansas University Basketball Pep Band at the Missouri vs. Kansas college basketball game on Saturday afternoon.

A longtime chief city lifeguard might need some rescuing himself after the Department of Investigation revealed Monday that he refused to be questioned about “systemic problems” plaguing the program to keep Big Apple swimmers safe. “However, both ultimately did not respond to DOI to schedule interviews,” according to the 18-page report. Stein and chief lifeguard Richard Sher both ignored multiple requests to be interviewed by the DOI. Monday’s report said the botched handling of the saliva-smearing supervisor was part of the “systemic problems with the management and accountability of the Lifeguard Division that are attributable, in large part, to an entrenched structure and culture.”The DOI probe found “systemic problems with the management and accountability” in the lifeguard division. Over the last eight years, there have been zero drownings where a lifeguard is on duty.”

Sweet and a little crunchy from a seed-filled inside, dried figs are one of the only fruits that provide calcium: Just one serving of five dried figs has 68 mg of this bone-building nutrient. If you notice a white, flaky substance on your dried figs, it is most likely natural sugars that have crystallized on the surface of the fruit instead of added sugars — but you can always check the ingredients label just to be sure.

Califf, a well-known cardiologist and researcher who served as FDA commissioner during the last year of the Obama administration, was nominated for a second stint last month by President Biden. That ended a search that took almost a year, during which an overextended FDA scrambled to review and regulate coronavirus vaccines, tests and treatments — and to navigate other hot-button issues involving Alzheimer’s treatments, opioids and tobacco products.

A magnitude 7.3 undersea earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island on Tuesday, and the country's meteorological agency warned that tsunami waves are possible. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said residents in the area felt the earthquake strongly. MEXICO HIT BY EARTHQUAKE EAST OF ACAPULCO, ‘PEOPLE ARE WORRIED’TV footage showed people running away from buildings that shook from the impact. But the quick reaction team is working to gather the information," Muhari said. NEW ZEALAND SEES 8.1 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE, LIFTS TSUNAMI WARNINGS FOLLOWING SERIES OF QUAKESThe last major earthquake was in January, a magnitude 6.2 that killed at least 105 people and injured nearly 6,500 in West Sulawesi province.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As a powerful tornado tore across hundreds of miles of America's heartland Friday night, a pilot managed to capture video of the storm's supercell from the air. The pilot told meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Louisville, that they were flying at 45,000 feet near Memphis Friday night when they passed near the thunderstorm that was producing the tornado. You could see the towering supercell that radar estimated was 47,000 feet tall at this point and still rising. That storm would continue to track across 200 miles of Kentucky, perhaps ranking as the longest tornado in U.S. history.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSouth Korea is in the 'same boat' as Australia in dealing with China, says former ambassadorBill Paterson, former Australian ambassador to South Korea, discusses the defense deal between both countries. He says Australia's efforts to build relationships with "like-minded" partners like South Korea are unsurprising, given China's "increasingly aggressive" policies in the Asia Pacific.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailParody conspiracy theorists swear birds aren't realNBC's Ben Collins joins The News with Shepard Smith reports that Gen Z-ers across the country are joining in on a parody conspiracy theory that the U.S. government has replaced all birds with look-alike drones being used to spy on Americans. The movement is meant to show the absurdity of conspiracy theories so rampant in the U.S.

Seoul South Korea will soon roll out a pilot project to use artificial intelligence, facial recognition and thousands of CCTV cameras to track the movement of people infected with the coronavirus, despite concerns about the invasion of privacy. The nationally funded project in Bucheon, one of the country's most densely populated cities on the outskirts of Seoul, is due to become operational in January, a city official told Reuters. Governments around the world have turned to new technologies and expanded legal powers to try to stem the tide of Covid-19 infections . China, Russia, India, Poland and Japan as well as several US states are among the governments to have rolled out or at least experimented with facial recognition systems for tracking Covid-19 patients, according to a March report by Columbia Law School in New York. The Bucheon official said the system should reduce the strain on overworked tracing teams in a city with a population of more than 800,000 people, and help use the teams more efficiently and accurately.

More than 50 million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the United States as new cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus continue to be identified across the country. The latest million cases were diagnosed in just over three months; the country reported 4 million cases in early September. Cases of the omicron variant had appeared in more than 50 countries as of Thursday. The omicron variant, which was first identified by South African scientists, has since been identified from Australia and Hong Kong to Canada. The first handful of omicron cases in the U.S. have been mostly mild, with most patients reporting symptoms such as cough or a runny nose, a CDC report said.

Milam, two white men, who accused him of being sassy with Bryant’s wife in a country grocery store. The Justice Department on Monday closed a recent investigation into Till’s lynching without charging anyone. That’s why the Justice Department’s announcement in 2018 that it had reopened the Till case didn’t cause any excitement. The Justice Department said in a memo Monday that it was impossible to prove that the woman at the center of the country’s most infamous lynching had ever lied to investigators. Though the Justice Department blames the South for Till’s death, we shouldn’t accept its attempt to dismiss the South as some other country.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A magnitude 7.3 undersea earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Flores Island on Tuesday, and the country’s meteorological agency warned that tsunami waves are possible. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii later lifted a regional tsunami alert. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said residents in the area felt the earthquake strongly. He added that residents had joined a tsunami drill before and they know what to do. The last major earthquake was in January, a magnitude 6.2 that killed at least 105 people and injured nearly 6,500 in West Sulawesi province.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort was closed Monday, saying on social media that it was not safe to open with 17 inches of overnight snow and high winds. Most western U.S. reservoirs that deliver water to states, cities, tribes, farmers and utilities rely on melted snow in the springtime. “Most of California, if not all, will see some sort of rain and snow,” she said. Caltrans traffic-monitoring camera captures a truck making its way through the snow along Interstate 80 at Donner Summit, Calif., on Monday. The welcome rain didn’t stop Oakland resident and artist Zhenne Wood from walking her neighbor’s dog, a short-legged corgi.

SHANGHAI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Several companies in one of China's biggest manufacturing hubs have suspended operations as local authorities try to contain a COVID-19 outbreak, halting production of goods from batteries to textile dyes and plastics. The outbreak in three Zhejiang cities - Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou - was developing at a "relatively rapid" speed, health authorities said over the weekend. Prior to the current outbreak, the province had reported just one local case this year. Companies reporting suspended production on Tuesday included Zhejiang Mustang Battery Co Ltd, Guobang Pharma Ltd and textile dyes maker Zhejiang Runtu Co Ltd . The companies said they halted operations after local governments in one district in Ningbo and another in Shaoxing curtailed all production bar essential manufacturing.

A man was fatally shot Monday night in an apartment in Lawndale on the West Side. About 7:30 p.m., someone shot the 33-year-old in the chest in an apartment in the 1600 block of South Karlov Avenue, Chicago police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. He has not yet been identified. There was no one in custody.

A Carlton County man allegedly admitted to killing his wife, whose body was discovered with two gunshot wounds Friday, authorities said in east-central Minnesota. Raymond Arthur Julian, 65, was arraigned Monday in Carlton County District Court in Carlton on a charge of intentional second-degree murder in the killing of Tracy Ellen Julian, 62. “The deputy told defendant that he and his wife weren’t in any trouble,” according to the probable cause statement. Having made statements about hurting himself, authorities said the defendant was taken to a hospital for observation before he was booked at the Carlton County Jail on Saturday afternoon. Autopsy results were still pending, but authorities said it appeared Tracy Julian died from gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

The nation’s COVID-19 death toll stands at around 800,000 as the anniversary of the U.S. vaccine rollout arrives. Developed and rolled out at blistering speed, the vaccines have proved incredibly safe and highly effective at preventing deaths and hospitalizations. In Oklahoma, nearly 60% of COVID-19 deaths occurred after all adults were vaccine-eligible. California has seen more than 15,000 COVID-19 deaths since the state opened eligibility to all adults in mid-April. Her brother was sick, too, but “he refused to let me into the house because he said I shed coronavirus because I was vaccinated,” McKibbens recalled.

Three Suffolk police officers were treated at a hospital Monday for smoke inhalation after rescuing a dog from a house fire in Deer Park, authorities said. Officers Zakary Goldbach, Joaquin Castillo and Justin Oshea responded at 11:45 a.m. to a 911 call reporting a fire at a Homer Avenue home, according to Suffolk police. The officers were told by the resident a cat and dog remained inside the home, which was filling with thick, black smoke. The three officers entered the home, where Castillo located the dog, who was brought outside by Goldbach, police said. Castillo, Goldbach and Oshea were taken to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of smoke inhalation, police said.

At least three students in Warren Consolidated Schools are facing expulsion after they were accused of posting threats or inappropriate messages online, the district's leader announced Monday night. "The students then made the very poor decision to share this on social media." Another student at Carter Middle School is under investigation and facing expulsion after allegedly posting a “hit list” through a classmate's account, Livernois wrote. "We have engaged the Warren and Sterling Heights Police Departments in both situations, and neither are credible threats to the schools," he said. Youths have been arrested or charged in communities including Grosse Pointe Woods, Lake Orion, Harper Woods, Bloomfield Township and Waterford Township.