ClubSocial: 2019-12-22

BBC NEWS - ‘Gardening gives me a lot of peace’

Joanna is an urban gardener trying to reconnect with nature in Singapore.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50866760

Crash causing heavy congestion on Brisbane Motorway

Police are urging drivers to avoid the area as all lanes are blocked northbound.

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People holidaying in Gippsland told to leave

Tens of thousands of holiday-makers in East Gippsland have been urged to leave ahead of Monday's high fire danger day, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp says.

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BBC NEWS : Ten brands that disappeared from the High Street over the last decade

Toys R Us, Borders, Maplin and BHS are some big names that have disappeared over the last decade.

December 29, 2019 at 06:54AM

from BBC News - Business
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Man reportedly injured in incident with bullet south-west of Brisbane

A Queensland man is in hospital with a head injury after reportedly hitting a bullet with a hammer in the early hours of the morning.

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Day after rocket attack on military base, Pompeo arrives in Iraq

Cairo [Egypt], Dec 29 (Sputnik/ANI): US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the Iraqi Ayn Al-Asad airbase in western Anbar province, which hosts American troops, shortly after a rocket attack on an

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New on Sports Illustrated: How Many Heisman Trophy Winners Have Won the National Championship?

Will Joe Burrow be the next Heisman Trophy winner to capture the national championship in the same season?

2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers are headed to the College Football Playoff national championship after defeating Oklahoma 63–28 in the Peach Bowl.

Burrow threw for 493 yards and recorded eight touchdowns in the CFP semifinal game. For most of the regular season, he was the frontrunner to win the Heisman. The senior shattered single-season school records for passing touchdowns and yards while throwing just six interceptions during his rise from being an average Joe to becoming a potential No. 1 NFL draft pick.

An Ohio native, Burrow grew up dreaming of playing at Nebraska, who passed on him. The QB spent the first three seasons of his college career sitting on the bench at Ohio State before he decided to transfer to LSU as a redshirt junior.

Will Burrow add to his dominant season and join the elite list of players who have won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship in the same season? Fourteen players have accomplished both feats. Check out the full list below:

1. Davey O’Brien, QB, TCU, 1938
2. Bruce Smith, RB, Minnesota, 1940
3. Angelo Bertelli, QB, Notre Dame, 1943
4. Felix 'Doc' Blanchard, FB, Army, 1945
5. John Lujack, QB, Notre Dame, 1947
6. Leon Hart, TE, Notre Dame, 1949
7. Tony Dorsett, RB, Pittsburgh, 1976
8. Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State, 1993
9. Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida, 1996
10. Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan, 1997
11. Matt Leinart, QB, USC, 2004
12. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama, 2009
13. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn, 2010
14. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State, 2013

December 29, 2019 at 06:31AM
How Many Heisman Trophy Winners Have Won the National Championship?

New on Sports Illustrated: LSU Flexes Its Muscle vs. Oklahoma in a Playoff Semifinal It Was Always Going to Dominate

The Tigers are on to the national championship game after a record-setting night by Joe Burrow and Co.

ATLANTA — It is hard to say exactly why LSU destroyed Oklahoma, 63–28, in a College Football Playoff semifinal here Saturday, but it might have been because LSU had much better line play, superior talent at the skill positions and one of the best quarterbacks in the sport’s recent history. O.K., maybe it’s not hard.

Joe Burrow and LSU are going to the national championship game. That one will be in New Orleans, which gives Tigers fans a chance to fill the stadium and LSU’s opponent a few days to learn voodoo. Good luck, Clemson, or Ohio State. Against Oklahoma, Burrow completed 21 of 27 passes for 403 yards and seven touchdowns … in the first half. For some programs, that’s October. Burrow then opened the the second half by running for a touchdown. If he had wanted, he probably could have skipped, jumped, moonwalked and juggled for touchdowns.

Burrow is more accurate throwing on the run than most quarterbacks are in the pocket. The Sooners gave him time and open receivers. They might as well have asked him how many touchdown passes he wanted to throw. Early in the game, Burrow placed a pass in Justin Jefferson’s hands, but Jefferson dropped it … so on the next play, Burrow placed another one in his hands for a touchdown.

We now know that the national championship will be won by one of the great teams in college football history: Either LSU, or somebody good enough to beat LSU.

In the meantime: There has been a lot of talk about inviting more teams to the College Football Playoff, but first maybe we should focus on getting Oklahoma to show up. Is that a cheap shot? No cheaper than Oklahoma’s Brendan Radley-Hiles trying to remove the head of LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a play made even dumber by the fact that Burrow was running for a first down and Radley-Hiles ignored him to hit Edwards-Helaire. Radley-Hiles was ejected for targeting. Maybe he wanted to leave before he gave up more touchdowns.

The playoff is a 365-day argument interrupted by 10 hours of football, and this is the Sooners’ reality: What we saw Saturday can and will be used against them. People will say Oklahoma has lost three straight semifinals, and after this debacle against LSU, why give OU another shot?

It’s not quite fair. Oklahoma earned its playoff spots. Two years ago, Oklahoma took Georgia to overtime—Riley said this week “it was a coin flip,” and he was right. Last year Oklahoma fell behind Alabama 28-0 but actually made a game of it, sort of. And even in defeat this year, the Sooners showed some offensive creativity, with plays ranging from chucking the ball in the air and hoping CeeDee Lamb would catch it to chucking it in the air and hoping Lamb would draw pass interference.

Oklahoma did not belong on the field with LSU this weekend. But who did? Georgia? In its last game, LSU whipped the Bulldogs. Alabama? The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, and now Tua Tagavailoa isn’t even playing. Oregon? Come on, do you really think Oregon would have given LSU a game?

The pool of true national championship contenders is only three-deep this year. LSU, Clemson, Ohio State. That’s it. LSU probably would have destroyed anybody other than Clemson and Ohio State. This may explain why Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spent so much time talking about how great his team was. Maybe he knew the value of being the No. 1 seed and facing No. 4.

And maybe Riley knew, too. There were little hints this week that he understood he was trying to climb a mountain in roller skates. He implied that his team would be content playing slow, which is what underdogs often do, to limit the number of possessions. He said more than once that this team suffered more injuries than any other he had—and this was before three players were suspended for the semifinal.

On Oklahoma’s first possession, Riley called for a handoff on third-and-16. He might as well have screamed “S-E-C! S-E-C!” This was the kind of call you make if you don’t think you can make a big play, and you just want to limit turnovers, play a field-position game, and hope the football gods will smile upon you. LSU didn’t need gods. It has Joe Burrow.

For More Tigers Coverage, Visit LSU Maven

December 29, 2019 at 06:24AM
LSU Flexes Its Muscle vs. Oklahoma in a Playoff Semifinal It Was Always Going to Dominate

New on Sports Illustrated: LSU OL Adrian Magee Sends Tweet Out During Halftime of College Football Playoff Semifinal vs. Oklahoma

LSU guard Adrian Magee felt so comfortable with the Tigers' 49-14 halftime lead that he appeared to take to Twitter and send out a tweet related to the game.

Clearly LSU guard Adrian Magee felt comfortable with the Tigers' 49-14 halftime lead.

The senior offensive lineman appeared to go on Twitter during halftime, quote-tweeting a comment from former LSU running back and current Washington Redskins back Derrius Guice.

Guice wrote that the Tigers had "the best offense in college football history," to which Magee responded, "Thanks bro"

Magee also liked a few other tweets.

The senior from Franklinton, La., had a busy first half, switching from left guard to right early in the first quarter after LSU's Damien Lewis suffered a lower-body injury. Magee was second-team All-SEC this season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow, Magee and the rest of the Tigers' offense had a record-setting first half against Oklahoma. Burrow broke all kinds of records, including passing TDs in a College Football Playoff game and most single-game passing TDs in LSU history.

The Tigers cruised to a 63-28 victory over Oklahoma.

December 29, 2019 at 06:17AM
LSU OL Adrian Magee Sends Tweet Out During Halftime of College Football Playoff Semifinal vs. Oklahoma

Man reportedly injured in incident with bullet south-west of Brisbane

A Queensland man is in hospital with a head injury after reportedly hitting a bullet with a hammer in the early hours of the morning.

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Astronaut sets record for longest spaceflight by a woman

NASA congratulated Christina Koch for "reaching new heights" in mission that will help scientists understand the effects of microgravity on the human body.

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Kementari gelded, opening door for race return

Godolphin has pulled the pin on Kementari's career at stud, gelding the group 1 winner to leave the door ajar for a return to the races.

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Small plane crashes in Louisiana car park, killing 5

Six people were on board the plane, which also hit a car when it crashed into a post office car park shortly after takeoff.

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Burns gives England fighting chance of improbable success at Centurion

Set an imposing 376 runs to win the first of the four-match series by South Africa, England reached 1-121 at stumps on the third day.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Russia Stuns Canada 6-0 at WJC, Lafreniere Injured

Russia scored three opening-period goals on the way to stunning Canada 6-0 at the world junior hockey championship on Saturday.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Russia scored three opening-period goals on the way to stunning Canada 6-0 at the world junior hockey championship on Saturday.

Canada forward Alexis Lafreniere, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL draft, also left the ice with the help of his teammates after picking up what seemed to be an injury to his left leg in the second period.

It was the worst defeat for Canada since the tournament became official in 1977. In the 1976 edition, when it was an invitational event, the team was thrashed 17-1 by Sweden.

“They played a great game,” Canada captain Barrett Hayton said. “We weren’t good enough. We got behind early again tonight and it’s tough to come back. We have to be better, and we will be.”

Alexander Khovanov, Pavel Dorofeyev, Nikita Rtishev, Nikita Alexandrov, Yegor Sokolov and Grigori Denisenko scored as Russia recovered from a 4-3 loss to the Czech Republic hosts in the opening game on Thursday.

Khovanov, Alexandrov and Denisenko added an assist each.

Goaltender Amir Miftakhov stopped 28 shots for the shutout in the Group B game.

Khovanov set the pace, scoring 1:44 into the game with the help of a lucky bounce off goaltender Nicolas Daws. Dorofeyev and Rtishev then put the Russian team in command with two more goals in the opening period.

Canada pulled off Daws for Joel Hofer after Alexandrov made it 4-0, 2:18 into the second period.

Daws allowed four goals from 18 shots.

But Hofer couldn’t stop Sokolov and Denisenko increasing the Russian lead to 6-0.

Canada, which beat the U.S. 6-4 to open the tournament, next faces Germany on Monday.

All five teams in Group B have one win and a loss after two games.

In Group A, Sweden tops the standings after beating Switzerland 5-2 with Samuel Fagemo scoring twice.

Finland got its title defense back on track by routing Slovakia 8-1 in Group A with Aku Raty netting two goals. The Finns lost 3-2 in overtime to Sweden in their previous game.

The host Czechs were upset 4-3 by Germany in Group B, Dominik Bokk scoring twice for the Germans.

December 29, 2019 at 05:51AM
Russia Stuns Canada 6-0 at WJC, Lafreniere Injured

BBC NEWS - US saw highest number of mass killings on record in 2019, database reveals

Researchers say 41 mass killings claimed 211 lives this year, even as the overall homicide rate fell.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50936575

RFS expected to give Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks the go-ahead

The Rural Fire Service says it's “highly unlikely” Sydney Harbour’s New Year's Eve fireworks will be called off, with the danger rating predicted to stay well below catastrophic.

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Japan police make grim discovery on 'ghost boat', believed from North Korea

Japanese police are investigating after the boat was found adrift with human remains on board and no survivors.

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Three fitness moves to try in your week off

Although there is nothing fancy about bodyweight exercises like push-ups, sit-ups and squats, in 2019, these humble moves continued to punch well above their weight.

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RFS expected to give Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks the go-ahead

China scraps forced labour for sex workers

China's parliament has abolished a system of forced labour used to punish sex workers and their clients for up to two years.

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Mitchell laments Phoenix defensive woes in race for the finals

Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell knows his side can score with anyone in the NBL but their defensive shortcomings are being exposed and he fears it could cost them a finals place.

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New on Sports Illustrated: No. 19 Kentucky Outlasts Rival No. 3 Louisville in Overtime Win

Kentucky big man Nick Richards dominated down the stretch, as the Wildcats notched a much-needed overtime win over rival Louisville.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Nick Richards had 13 points, including seven consecutive ones in overtime, and No. 19 Kentucky scored the final eight points for a 78-70 victory over No. 3 Louisville on Saturday in a thrilling Bluegrass rivalry showdown.

Louisville led 68-65 on Jordan Nwora's 3-pointer with 2:20 left before Richards converted a 3-point play to make it 70-68. The junior forward added another layup and two more foul shots before Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey provided a six-point cushion from the line. Ashton Hagans' dunk with 4.9 seconds left sealed the tense win at Rupp Arena.

Maxey's free throws capped a career-best 27-point performance while Richards had 10 rebounds to end a two-game losing streak by the Wildcats (9-3). Quickley had 18 points for Kentucky, which shot 46% for its 10 win over Louisville in 13 meetings.

Steven Enoch had 18 points and Dwayne Sutton for the Cardinals (11-2). Louisville shot just 40% and made just 3 of 9 in overtime. The Cards were also dreadful from the line, making just 9 of 20.

BIG PICTURE

Louisville: The Cardinals fought back from second-half deficits of 12 and six points to force OT but left a lot of points on the floor with misses from inside and outside the arc and especially at the line. High-scoring Jordan Nwora managed just eight points with one 3-pointer after entering the game averaging 21.2 points per contest.

Kentucky: Though coach John Calipari insisted this game wouldn't make or break the Wildcats' season, there was urgency to end the losing streak with SEC play starting next weekend. Richards provided needed strength in the post while Maxey supplied the offense, especially with clutch baskets after Louisville tightened the game and took the lead in overtime. Shutting down Nwora was a big help.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Kentucky avoided dropping out of the rankings with a much-needed win. Louisville might drop a couple of spots but remain in the Top 10.

UP NEXT

Louisville returns to Atlantic Coast Conference play seeking a 3-0 start when it hosts Florida State on Jan. 4.

Kentucky hosts Missouri on Jan. 4 in its Southeastern Conference opener.

December 29, 2019 at 05:33AM
No. 19 Kentucky Outlasts Rival No. 3 Louisville in Overtime Win

Teenager arrested after Brisbane highway pursuit

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after a police pursuit in which an allegedly stolen car was driven on the wrong side of a Brisbane highway.

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Man charged over fire as firefighters prepare for worsening weather

A 71-year-old South Coast man has been charged at his property over allegedly lighting a fire without a permit that became the Araluen Road blaze, now more than 100 hectares in size.

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Point to prove: Aussies stunned at another controversial DRS verdict

The decision review system is again in the spotlight after a questionable verdict denied Australia the wicket of Mitchell Santner on the third day.

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Teenager arrested after Brisbane highway pursuit

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after a police pursuit in which an allegedly stolen car was driven on the wrong side of a Brisbane highway.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Don Imus, Made and Betrayed by His Mouth, Dead at 79

The legendary radio personality of "Imus in the Morning" passed away Friday morning of complications from lung disease.

NEW YORK (AP) — Radio personality Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died. He was 79.

Imus died Friday morning at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, after being hospitalized since Christmas Eve, according to a statement issued by his family. Deirdre, his wife of 25 years, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, with his son Zachary Don Cates returning from military service overseas.

He died of complications from lung disease.

Imus survived drug and alcohol woes, a raunchy appearance before President Clinton and several firings during his long career behind the microphone. But he was vilified and eventually fired after describing a women’s college basketball team as “nappy headed hos.”

His April 2007 racist and misogynist crack about the mostly black Rutgers squad, an oft-replayed 10-second snippet, crossed a line that Imus had long straddled as his irascible rants catapulted him to prominence. The remark was heard coast to coast on 60 radio stations and on a simulcast aired each morning on MSNBC.

At the time, his “Imus in the Morning” show was home to presidential hopefuls, political pundits and his favorite musicians, a must-listen in the media and political corridors of New York and Washington. Ten years earlier, Time magazine had named him one of the 25 most influential Americans. But the remark made him an immediate pariah and he was dropped by CBS Radio and MSNBC.

Imus apologized repeatedly, calling his remark “completely inappropriate ... thoughtless and stupid,” and met with the team to hear how his comment hurt them. Although he returned to radio, and the Fox Business Network simulcast his show for a number of years, he never approached the same influence before retiring in 2018.

The incident “did change my feelings about making fun of some people who didn’t deserve to be made fun of and didn’t have a mechanism to defend themselves,” Imus told CBS News upon his retirement.

Imus’ unsparing on-air persona was tempered by his off-air philanthropy, raising more than $40 million for groups including the CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He ran a New Mexico ranch for dying children, and often used his radio show to solicit guests for donations.

A pediatric medical center bearing Imus’ name was opened at the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.

Imus, born on a Riverside, California cattle ranch, was the oldest of two boys — his brother Fred later became an “Imus In the Morning” show regular. The family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where Imus joined the Marines before taking jobs as a freight train brakeman and uranium miner.

Only at age 28 did he appear on the airwaves. His caustic persona, though it would later serve him well, was initially a problem: Imus was canned by a small station in Stockton, California, for uttering the word “hell.”

The controversy only enhanced his career, a pattern that continued throughout the decades.

Imus, moving to larger California stations, earned Billboard’s “Disc Jockey of the Year” award for medium-sized markets after a stunt where he ordered 1,200 hamburgers to go from a local McDonald’s.

He moved to Cleveland and by 1971, was doing the morning drive-time show on WNBC-AM in New York, the nation’s largest and most competitive radio market. He brought along a destructive taste for vodka.

He was a “shock jock” before the term was coined, and listeners flocked to hear what outrageous things he’d say, like phoning people to wake them up and ask, “Are ya naked?” His demons also made it an open question many mornings whether he’d show up for his 6 a.m. shift.

Imus was fired by WNBC but returned in triumph two years later adding a new vice: cocaine. While his career turned around, his first marriage, which produced daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth and Toni, fell apart.

Imus struggled with addiction until a 1987 stint at a Florida alcohol rehabilitation center, coming out just as WNBC became the fledgling all-sports station WFAN, which retained Imus’ non-sports show as its morning anchor.

His career again soared. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and MSNBC signed up his simulcast when the network started in 1996. He mixed comedy with A-list guests like Senators John Kerry and John McCain. Media personalities like NBC’s Tim Russert and Frank Rich of The New York Times were regulars.

A book plug on Imus’ show guaranteed sales, and authors were soon queuing up for a slot on the show.

Imus rarely missed a chance to get in trouble, even in the good times. He engaged in a long-running feud with shock jock Howard Stern, who usurped Imus’ position as the No. 1 morning host in New York City.

But as he retired, Imus called Stern one of the top five radio personalities of all time. He gave himself the same rank, adding Arthur Godfrey, Wolfman Jack and Jack Benny.

“He had a big problem with me,” Imus said about Stern. “I didn’t with him.”

In 1996, Imus outraged guests at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner in 1996, cracking wise about President Clinton’s extramarital activities as the first lady sat stone-faced nearby. “We all know you’re a pot-smoking weasel,” Imus said at another point about Clinton.

A White House spokesman called Imus’ bit “fairly tasteless.”

One year later, he was sued by a Manhattan judge after ripping the jurist on air as a “creep” and “a senile old dirtbag.” Critics carped over the show’s content, with Imus deflecting most complaints by claiming he was an all-inclusive offender. However, one show regular was fired in 2005 after a particularly vile crack about cancer-stricken singer Kylie Minogue.

A February 2006 profile in Vanity Fair contained the quote that might best serve as Imus’ epitaph.

“I talk to millions of people every day,” he said while riding home in a limousine after one show. “I just like it when they can’t talk back.”

Imus remarried in December 1994, to the former Deirdre Coleman. They had one son, Wyatt, and adopted Zachary after he attended one of his camps for cancer-stricken children.

December 28, 2019 at 07:18AM
Don Imus, Made and Betrayed by His Mouth, Dead at 79

New on Sports Illustrated: LeBron James Gifts Ohio State Football Beats Headphones Ahead of Fiesta Bowl

One of Ohio State's most famous fans gave the team a pregame College Football Playoff gift earlier this week.

Ahead of the No. 2 Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl matchup against No. 3 Clemson on Saturday, Ohio native LeBron James gave the entire team Beats headphones and sent the group a motivational note.

“Best of luck men!” James wrote. “You guys are here for a reason so just enjoy the moment and make the most of it! Don’t settle for nothing less than greatness! O-H … #GoBucks!”

James, a native of Akron, Ohio, has been a longtime Ohio State football fan. He has given the football team headphones previously, providing the Buckeyes team with new Beats ahead of their National Championship matchup against Oregon in Jan. 2015. That year, he worked with the NCAA to make sure the school and players would not be violating any rules by accepting the headphones.

He’s been to multiple games when his schedule allows, and this week it was also discovered that Ohio State was selling basketball jerseys with the NBA star's name on the back.

It's unclear how much of Saturday's Fiesta Bowl James will watch however, as his Lakers tip off against the Blazers two hours after the football game begins.

Kickoff for Ohio State-Clemson is set for 8 p.m. ET.

December 28, 2019 at 07:14AM
LeBron James Gifts Ohio State Football Beats Headphones Ahead of Fiesta Bowl

New on Sports Illustrated: Le'Veon Bell Optimistic About Jets' Future, Committed to Rebuild

Despite New York's struggles this season, Le'Veon Bell reiterated Friday that he wants to return next season.

Le'Veon Bell and the Jets (6-9) enter Week 17 three games under .500, having struggled for extended portions of the 2019 season. But despite the team's inconsistent play, Bell wants to return to New York next season.

"I wouldn't have signed here for four years if I didn't want to be here four years," he told reporters Friday.

Bell signed a free agent contract worth $52.5 million over four years this past offseason, but he has had the worst statistical year of his career. Through 14 games of action, he's rushed for only 748 yards and three touchdowns, adding 425 receiving yards and a single receiving touchdown.

By comparison, in his last season with the Steelers, the Michigan State product rushed for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns. He also recorded 85 catches for 655 yards and two scores.

When Bell joined the Jets he discussed the importance of wanting to get increased security.

"Ultimately, I wanted to get a long-term contract," he told SI's Jenny Vrentas. "And, be happy and go somewhere where I feel valued and get guaranteed security over the course of my contract of playing football."

And he admitted Friday that he knew success on the field wouldn't happen overnight.

"When I did sign here, I didn't expect us to go 16-0, you know what I'm saying?" Bell said. "I knew it would be a process. I understand everything. We got a young quarterback, a whole group of guys coming in -- new offensive coordinators, head coaches. ... I understand what goes on."

The team was reportedly looking to deal Bell before this year's trade deadline, but his $13.5 million in 2020 limited the market and might also prevent him from being moved this offseason. The 27-year-old, however, has no contract guarantees after next season.

New York ends its 2019 campaign this Sunday when it travels to Buffalo to face off against the playoff-bound Bills. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.

December 28, 2019 at 06:50AM
Le'Veon Bell Optimistic About Jets' Future, Committed to Rebuild

Helicopter crash site found in Hawaii, search for survivors on

Washington DC [USA], Dec 28 (Sputnik/ANI): US rescue teams have found the wreckage of a helicopter that went missing in Hawaii with seven people aboard and continue searching for survivors, the Kauai

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WADA Vows 'Utmost Vigor' In Defense Against Russia Doping Appeal

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says it will defend itself with "utmost vigor" after Russia lodged a formal protest over the agency's decision to ban the country from major sporting events for

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BBC NEWS - Edward Gallagher: Navy Seals called platoon leader 'freaking evil'

Newly released video shows testimony against Seal accused of war crimes but championed by Trump.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50931195

Rapper's number and sperm concerns among Brits' strangest consular queries

The British Foreign Office received some doozies from Brits abroad in 2019 and has been forced to remind citizens of the purpose of consular assistance.

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Only the agonising weight of history can stop Liverpool now

The Premier League leaders' win over Leicester gives them a huge lead at the midpoint of the season. But the Reds have seen it all unravel before.

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Forget Parma night at the local pub, try the real thing instead

A palazzo pitstop in Parma provided plenty of provisions with prosciutto and parmesan too pleasant to pass-up.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: James Wiseman Signs With Agency, Officially Ending College Career

James Wiseman has officially turned his attention to preparing for the 2020 NBA draft.

James Wiseman has officially turned the page to the next stage of his basketball career.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Wiseman, a potential No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, has signed with Excel Sports for his professional representation, ending his college career. In doing so, he will start preparing for the 2020 draft.

On Dec. 19, Wiseman announced that he had left the University of Memphis and was turning his attention to the NBA.

Wiseman's departure from Memphis came amid a 12-game suspension he was in the middle of serving. He received the ban on Nov. 20 after the NCAA discovered his mother accepted $11,500 from coach Penny Hardaway to help the family relocate from Nashville to Memphis in 2017. Wiseman was still in high school at the time. The NCAA also ordered him to donate $11,500 to a charity of his choice. Memphis appealed Wiseman's suspension, which the NCAA ruled to uphold on Nov. 27. He was eligible to return from his suspension on Jan. 12, 2020, when Memphis faces South Florida.

Hardaway was an assistant coach at East High School in Memphis at the time he made the payment to Wiseman's mother. The NCAA determined he was a University of Memphis booster because he donated $1 million to the school in 2008 to help establish its Penny Hardaway Hall of Fame.

Wiseman was first ruled ineligible by the NCAA on Nov. 8, hours before Memphis' game against Illinois-Chicago. However, a Tennessee judge put the ruling on hold pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the forward against the NCAA. Wiseman later withdrew his lawsuit because it became "an impediment" to Memphis' efforts to reach a resolution with the NCAA on his eligibility status, his lawyers said.

Wiseman played three games for the Tigers, averaging nearly 20 points per game on 77% shooting from the field.

In joining Excel Sports, he joins an agency that represents a number of the league's top players, including Nikola Jokia, Kemba Walker, Kevin Love and Brandon Ingram.

December 28, 2019 at 06:14AM
Report: James Wiseman Signs With Agency, Officially Ending College Career

BBC NEWS - India Citizenship Act protests: 'Our son was shot dead by police'

Muslims in India tell the BBC of police brutality, and why they fear losing their citizenship rights.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-50929194

BBC NEWS - French government to scan social media for tax cheats

French court says government can comb profiles, posts and pictures for evidence of undeclared income.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50930094

BBC NEWS - Jeffrey Epstein case: FBI 'investigating Ghislaine Maxwell'

The British socialite and others are part of an inquiry into "people who facilitated" the financier.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50927651

Veteran and former Queensland RSL identity dies

Terrance Meehan lost his battle with cancer just before Christmas.

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'Like a meteorite': New Russian weapon travels 27 times speed of sound

Russia's defence minister has advised the President that the country's new Avangard hypersonic missile has been deployed for the first time.

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Veteran and former Queensland RSL identity dies

Terrance Meehan lost his battle with cancer just before Christmas.

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Race-by-race tips and preview for Randwick on Saturday

Everything you need to know to find a winner at headquarters.

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Sue Lyon, Star of ‘Lolita,’ Is Dead at 73

By BY NEIL GENZLINGER from NYT Movies https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/27/movies/sue-lyon-dead.html?partner=IFTTT
She was 14 when she was cast in the title role of Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 film of the Nabokov novel. It remained her best-known credit.

New on Sports Illustrated: College Football Playoff History: Results From Every Year

Look back on every College Football Playoff matchup since its start in 2015.

It's time for the College Football Playoff, where four teams will compete for a chance to win the national championship.

This year's semifinals include No. 1 LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow against No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Later, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson will meet in Glendale for the Fiesta Bowl. Both games will be played on Dec. 28, with the winners of each matchup advancing to the national championship game in New Orleans on Jan. 13.

The College Football Playoff is still a relatively new tradition and was adopted in 2015.

The selection committee ranks teams based on their evaluation of the program's performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparison of results against common opponents to decide which teams are comparable.

At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings advance to the CFP semifinals, which rotate annually among the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The two winners of the semifinals meet in the national championship, which is held in a different city each year.

Ohio State won the first College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015. Since then, both Clemson and Alabama have each won two championship titles.

Here's the Results From Every Playoff Semifinals and National Championship Game:

This year's College Football Playoff semifinals will kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 28 with LSU vs. Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl. Following that game, the Fiesta Bowl will start at 8 p.m. ET featuring Ohio State vs. Clemson.

December 28, 2019 at 05:38AM
College Football Playoff History: Results From Every Year

Gay, Christian and a former preacher, I'm coming out to help anyone hurt by Folau

The unseen casualties of the Israel Folau saga were gay Christians from Pacific Island nations. A former preacher asks his people to act more like Jesus, less like Folau.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Eastern suburbs solicitor accused of misappropriating wills

Suspended Edgecliff lawyer Mark Leo O'Brien and his wife Therese are both facing criminal charges, as well as civil proceedings.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Coles zeroes in on Chinese market with new logo application

The grocery giant filed a trademark for a Coles logo including three Chinese characters, translating to ‘Customer Australia Market’.

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Coles zeroes in on Chinese market with new logo application

The grocery giant filed a trademark for a Coles logo including three Chinese characters, translating to ‘Customer Australia Market’.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Gay, Christian and a former preacher, I'm coming out to help anyone hurt by Folau

Eastern suburbs solicitor accused of misappropriating wills

Suspended Edgecliff lawyer Mark Leo O'Brien and his wife Therese are both facing criminal charges, as well as civil proceedings.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Film company that portrayed Jesus as gay targeted in firebomb attack

The Brazilian company has been criticised over the Netflix comedy 'The First Temptation of Christ', in which Jesus brings home a male partner on his 30th birthday.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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My parting advice for the AFL

An Age stalwart is saying goodbye to Melbourne after writing about everyone from Weary Dunlop to Archie Roach. And then there was the footy.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Batsmen must get smarter in the battle of the bounce

Too much short-pitched bowling can make for boring cricket, but batsmen need to think about how they combat the tactic.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Billionaire philanthropists donate $1m to bushfire emergency response

As Australia battles through a deadly bushfire season philanthropists John and Pauline Gandel have donated $1 million to help with the national response to the crisis.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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From the Archives, 1962: Policeman seizes his convict kidnappers

In 1962, two prison escapees took a policeman hostage at gunpoint in a violent attack. After 200 miles the officer escaped and recaptured both escapees.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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CA keen for Boxing Day Test to be held 'in perpetuity' in Melbourne

The summer cricketing schedule continues to be a point of debate but CA has made one thing clear - it wants the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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BBC NEWS - Inside China's child pop star factory

Young, mostly female, wannabe stars are trained for a booming industry worth billions of dollars.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-50265218

BBC NEWS - The mosque siege that changed Saudi history

An armed takeover of the Grand Mosque in Mecca put a halt to the modernisation of Saudi society.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-50852379

BBC NEWS - Is 'super coral' the key to saving the world's reefs?

Scientists in the Seychelles have started the world's first large scale coral reef restoration project.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50588790

BBC NEWS - The African women standing up for change in 2019

Here are the women on the continent who've been shaking the table this year.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-50874489

Egg-standing test goes viral as 'ring of fire' eclipse crosses Asia

KUALA LUMPUR - Can you make an egg stand on its narrow side during a solar eclipse?

According to a popular scientific theory, an egg will support itself that way when the moon obscures the sun and during the spring equinox, due to increased gravity.

While the theory has been debunked, that did not stop Malaysian and Indonesian social media users from putting it to the test on Thursday (Dec 26), as thousands of skywatchers gathered across parts of Asia to witness a rare annular solar eclipse.

Videos shared online showed dozens of users succeeding in getting eggs to balance on different surfaces including on gravel, a window pane, and a plate during the 'ring-of-fire' eclipse.

Mr Hakeem Maarof, a Malaysian father of two, filmed eggs standing on end on a stone pavement and on the road after remembering being told about the theory by a friend.

"It's more of an experiment for my kids," Mr Hakeem, who posted the footage of Facebook, told Reuters.

from Asia
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Billionaire philanthropists donate $1m to bushfire emergency response

From the Archives, 1962: Policeman seizes his convict kidnappers

App helps parents of premature babies stay in touch

An app has been developed to help parents stay in touch with their premature baby when they can't be in hospital.

from BBC News - Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-50867743

Peter Wollen, Who Wrote a Film Theory Bible, Is Dead at 81

By BY NEIL GENZLINGER from NYT Movies https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/26/movies/peter-wollen-dead.html?partner=IFTTT
His “Signs and Meaning in the Cinema,” part of a varied career that also included making his own movies, re-energized film studies.

Russian Police Raid Navalny's Office Over Critical Video

Russian police have raided the office of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in Moscow, a step he claims is an attempt to disrupt the publication of a damning i

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The end of the road: Six tech products that died in 2019

Here today, gone tomorrow. With the rapid pace of innovation and competition constantly entering the technology stratosphere, some products don't always last.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Gold Coast factory erupts in flames, generating plumes of thick smoke

There are unconfirmed reports the factory is used to manufacture surfboards.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Tablet interactive: Boxing Day Test Australia v New Zealand

Follow our live blog as Australia take on New Zealand in the most eagerly awaited clash of the summer.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Massive fire destroys 150 homes in seaside Chilean town

The fire was doused in urban areas but remains active in the woods.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Mitchell Swepson called into Australian squad for Sydney Test

Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson will have a chance to make his Test debut in Sydney next week, having been added to the Australian squad for the third and final clash against New Zealand.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Female artists shine the brightest

In a year when rock’s older, male guard hit us with just about everything it could it took a couple of potent female artists to stand out on the Sydney stage in 2019.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Modi unveils plan to tackle water shortages in India's heartland states

NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a 60-billion-rupee (S$1.13 billion) plan to tackle water shortages in the country's seven heartland states where agriculture is a mainstay.

India, the world's second-most populous country, faces the worst long-term water crisis in its history as demand outstrips supply, threatening farm output and overall economic growth in Asia's third-largest economy.

Almost every sector of the US$2.6 trillion economy is dependent on water, especially agriculture, which sustains two-thirds of India's 1.3 billion people.

"Water shortages in the country not only affect individuals and families; the crisis also has an effect on India's development," Mr Modi said. "We need to prepare the new India to deal with every single aspect of the crisis."

The plan launched by Mr Modi would help replenish ground water and boost overall availability in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat states, which produce staples such as rice, wheat, sugar and oilseeds.

from Asia
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Fels backs calls to use artificial intelligence as wage-theft detector

Former ACCC chairman Allan Fels has supported union calls to use artificial intelligence and data matching to detect wage theft.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Songs without words speak of sublime

A year for minimalism, powerhouse singers and fostering social cohesion.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Republican senator 'disturbed' by party vow to coordinate Trump trial

An Alaskan senator, whose potential Republican swing vote would count against Donald Trump, is unhappy by the partisan approach taken by Mitch McConnell.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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BBC NEWS - Trump impeachment: Lisa Murkowski 'disturbed' over co-ordination

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged "total co-ordination" with the White House.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50913932

BBC NEWS - The bakery in a mental health hospital

In an unusual bakery in a mental health hospital outside Beijing, the patients are the bakers.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50866758

BBC NEWS - Ari Behn: Author and Norway princess's ex-husband dies aged 47

Author Ari Behn and the king's eldest child, Princess Martha Louise, divorced in 2017.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50913962

BBC NEWS - Radio silence: The Syrian broadcasters in exile

Emma Jane Kirby meets exiled journalists who are now off air, and have nowhere that feels like home.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-50856273

BBC NEWS - The island struggling to secure its future

After being hit by a hurricane, Puerto Rico is seeking ways to counter years of economic decline.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50458311

BBC NEWS - The children at risk of eating themselves to death

"One sweet here, another one there - that could kill him," says a man whose son has Prader-Willi syndrome.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50816048

New on Sports Illustrated: Pelicans vs. Nuggets Live Stream: How to Watch, TV Channel, Start Time

Find out how to watch Pelicans vs. Nuggets on Christmas

The fifth and final game of Christmas Day features the New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets. This will be the Nuggets' first Christmas Day game since 2012, when they lost 112-100 in Los Angeles against the Clippers. The Pelicans are winless in two games on Christmas in their franchise's history and enter the game with 2019 NBA draft No. 1 pick Zion Williamson still inactive.

How to Watch:

When: Wednesday, Dec. 25

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN.com

This matchup has lost some of its juice as a result of Zion Williamson's absence. The Pelicans enter Christmas Day with one of the worst records in the NBA, having struggled throughout the first third of the season.

Denver comes into its first Christmas matchup in more than five years after knocking off Phoenix on Monday night. The 21-8 Nuggets currently sit as the Western Conference's No. 2 seed, in large part due to the play of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. A number of different Nuggets, however, have provided stellar contributions as the team presents one of the deepest rotations in the entire league.

December 26, 2019 at 06:00AM
Pelicans vs. Nuggets Live Stream: How to Watch, TV Channel, Start Time

BBC NEWS : Christmas shopping online or in person - who wins?

Online shopping is on the rise, with more and more people choosing the sofa to buy goods, but which is better?

December 26, 2019 at 05:40AM

from BBC News - Business
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50898576

Christmas Day lightning just misses campers, thousands still without power

Thousands were without power on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day due to storm damage and emergency repairs.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Man attacked after Whittlesea mayor's flag-waving stokes up Balkan tensions

Police are investigating after a group of up to five men attacked a 26-year-old, leaving him with facial injuries before fleeing.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Christmas Day lightning just misses campers, thousands still without power

Thousands were without power on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day due to storm damage and emergency repairs.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Simmons' 76ers make big Christmas Day statement

Ben Simmons and his Philadelphia 76ers have made a big Christmas Day statement by thumping NBA leaders Milwaukee 121-109.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Man attacked in South Morang restaurant amid local Greek-Macedonian tensions

Police are investigating after a group of up to five men attacked a 26-year-old, leaving him with facial injuries before fleeing.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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'Safety reasons': Sydney to Hobart organisers reaffirm smoke haze ruling

With bushfires still burning along the south coast, race skippers are annoyed that satellite phones can not be used as a substitute for high frequency radio.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Bittersweet tinge to W-League surge for Wanderers' midfield gun

Western Sydney's Irish international Denise O'Sullivan won't be around to celebrate the W-League silverware she believes they're capable of winning.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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US military told not to use 'risky, unreliable' at-home DNA tests

Pentagon leadership say there are serious risks associated with the popular Christmas gifts, which could be detrimental to military careers.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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BBC NEWS - Burkina Faso: Many women killed in jihadist attack

Burkina Faso has declared two days of national mourning after Tuesday's attack on a base and town.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-50908880

Typhoon Phanfone ruining Christmas for thousands of Filipinos

MANILA - Typhoon Phanfone smashed into the central Philippines on Tuesday (Dec 24), leaving thousands of people unable to get home for the Christmas holidays and forcing many others to evacuate in the face of the onslaught.

The tropical storm was upgraded to a typhoon shortly before it made landfall on Christmas Eve in the mainly Catholic nation, but early reports indicate there had been no casualties so far.

It struck the southern tip of the impoverished island of Samar in the afternoon with gusts of up to 150 kilometres an hour that snapped branches off trees and knocked down power pylons and mobile phone relay towers.

"(There are) no signs of heavy damage except for houses made of light materials," Ben Evardone, the governor of Eastern Samar province, told AFP, adding there were no casualties there.

Just under 1,700 people were evacuated from coastal areas as well as those prone to flooding and landslides, according to early official tallies seen by AFP.

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Christmas presence: The rise of the Nuggets from jokers to contenders

Nikola Jokic takes great joy in the rise of his Denver Nuggets side who will host a marquee Christmas Day NBA fixture.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Who will take out the bluewater classic? Sydney to Hobart explained

This year's race has been plagued with concerns over smoke haze, with the Sydney to Hobart pre-race, the Big Boat Challenge, abandoned because of the bushfires. As a result, it is the first year the supermaxis have not been able to compete against one another before the bluewater classic.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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'Extreme heat' to bake nation's south-east as hot air mass shifts east

Holidaymakers heading to coastal and inland areas of Australia's south-east after Christmas face potentially "extreme heatwave" conditions that will also elevate the already heightened fire risks.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Police in urgent search for Perth teen missing since Christmas eve

WA Police and State Emergency Services crews are searching for a 17-year-old who has been missing since Tuesday.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Brad Mooar joins All Blacks coaching team under Ian Foster

New Zealand Rugby has reached an agreement with the Scarlets club in Wales to allow coach Brad Mooar to return to New Zealand.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Stosur's Australian Open advice to Barty: Get selfish

Having tried and failed herself, Samantha Stosur believes Ashleigh Barty must reveal her selfish side if she's to break Australia's 41-year Australian Open drought.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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BBC NEWS - We gave up Christmas to fight measles in Samoa

British doctors and nurses are battling to save children's lives from measles on Christmas Day.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50813227

BBC NEWS - Executing a dictator: Open wounds of Romania's Christmas revolution

A bloody battle played out on the streets of Bucharest in 1989 as Romania's communist dictator fell.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50821546

Police in urgent search for Perth teen missing since Christmas eve

WA Police and State Emergency Services crews are searching for a 17-year-old who has been missing since Tuesday.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Into the firing line: Blundell's strategy for biggest Test of career

When Tom Blundell enters the fray at the MCG it will be the first time he has opened the innings in his first-class career.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Paine confident he can bat at No.6 if Neser replaces Head

Tim Paine is confident he can handle the added pressure of batting at No.6 should Australia decide to hand Michael Neser a baggy green cap on Boxing Day.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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BBC NEWS - Pope Francis: God still loves us all, even the worst of us

The comments at Christmas Eve Mass are seen as a reference to Church scandals, including sex abuse.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50908016

BBC NEWS - The Christians helping Bethlehem shepherd families give birth safely

An ancient Christian order runs a maternity hospital in Bethlehem for people of all faiths and ethnicities.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-50856272

BBC NEWS - Turkish artisans hand-craft bespoke cymbals for drummers

Artisans in Istanbul have been hand-crafting cymbals the same way for more than 600 years.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50743794

BBC NEWS - 'I sent my seven-year-old across the border alone'

More parents are sending their children across the US-Mexico border alone to get around asylum rules.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-50866766

Potato salad sold at supermarkets recalled over listeria contamination

While listeriosis is a rare illness, it is serious for pregnant women and the elderly and can cause death.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Family put into emergency accommodation after Christmas house fire

"Another five minutes the whole house would have been destroyed": Family's lucky escape.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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Russia Extends Detention of American Accused of Spying

A Russian court on Tuesday extended the pre-trial detention of an American being held on espionage charges.

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who holds US, British, Canadian and Irish citizensh

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Potato salad sold at supermarkets recalled over listeria contamination

While listeriosis is a rare illness, it is serious for pregnant women and the elderly and can cause death.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Bumrah back for India-Australia ODI series

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has recovered from a back injury and been named in India's one-day international and Twenty20 squads for the upcoming series against Australia and Sri Lanka.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Hundreds rally against Myanmar police over child rape case

YANGON - Hundreds of people joined a protest on Monday (Dec 23) against Myanmar's police after the force broke the law by revealing the name of the child victim of a high profile rape case following the acquittal of a suspect.

The case of the three-year-old girl - known to the public by the nickname 'Victoria' - has become a focus for accusations of police misconduct in Myanmar, where the force remains under the control of the army under a transition to democracy.

Lawyers and journalists had tried hard during the trial to conceal the identity of the child and her family to protect their right to privacy.

Around 400 people holding the signs of "Shame on you Myanmar Police Force" and "Justice for Victoria" marched through the centre of Yangon under a hot sun.

The child was allegedly raped at a nursery school in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, in May.

from Asia
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Thai court to rule on case linking opposition to Illuminati cult

BANGKOK - Thailand's Constitutional Court says it will rule on a sedition complaint that claims a popular opposition political party is linked to the Illuminati, a cult which conspiracy theorists say secretly seeks world domination.

The complaint filed in July by lawyer Natthaporn Toprayoon charges that the Future Forward Party seeks to overthrow Thailand's constitutional monarchy.

The new party, which won the third-highest number of seats in a March general election, denies the allegation. It could be dissolved if convicted.

The court's statement, made public on Sunday, said no hearings would be held in the case because the court already had enough evidence. No date for its ruling was specified.

Party spokeswoman Pannika Wanich said its request for a hearing was refused, but that it had sent the court documents in its defence.

The opposition party has been a strong irritant to Thailand's conservative establishment - led by royalists and the military - in whose favour the courts have consistently ruled.

The party is disliked by officialdom not only for its anti-military stance but also because of its strong popularity.

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Indonesian housewife tackles homelessness for 250 feral cats

PARUNG, Indonesia - On the outskirts of suburban Jakarta, housewife Dita Agusta lives with more than 250 cats she has taken in off the streets, creating a shelter for the animals she hopes will one day be adopted.

"It is hard to see abandoned cats on the streets," Agusta, 45, told Reuters.

She had wanted to rescue cats since she was a child and saw stray cats running wild around her neighbourhood.

When she and her husband, Mohamad Lutfi, a catfish farmer, moved four years ago from Bekasi city in West Java to a bigger house in Parung in the same province, south of Jakarta, she was able to take action and began taking in cats.

Now the couple spends at least one million rupiah (S$97) a day to cover the cost of food, medicines and litter for the 250 cats they keep.

They also employ a pool of five workers to clean the entire house twice a day to make sure the shelter is hygienic.

from Asia
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Police scour croc-infested river in search for missing Victorian man

Milan Lemic, 25, has been missing in Northern Queensland's Daintree Rainforest since Sunday.

from Sydney Morning Herald - National
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BBC NEWS - Russia's reluctant teen activist: 'Mum's house arrest changed my life'

Being a teenager isn't easy when you're standing in for your political activist mother.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50892133

BBC NEWS - The US Ship of Miracles that saved 14,000 North Korean refugees

For thousands of refugees in North Korea, the ship was their only chance of survival.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50805106

BBC NEWS - China is getting smarter - but at what cost?

How closely tied is tech in cities to government monitoring?

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50658538

BBC NEWS - How is Australia tackling climate change?

As the country deals with deadly bushfires, focus is on the government's climate policies.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-50869565

New on Sports Illustrated: How Close Are the Seahawks to Signing Marshawn Lynch?

Also, remembering how A.J. Green actually injured his ankle, Travis Frederick accurately voicing the Cowboys’ position right now, the biggest problem in Carolina and more.

Both Week 16 and the regular season are barreling towards the finish line …

• So why does Marshawn Lynch make sense for the Seahawks right now? Obviously, losing Chris Carson, C.J. Procise and Rashaad Penny to injuries is a major part of it. And with only one regular-season game left, Lynch’s institutional knowledge of that place will help get him up to speed quickly. On top of that, a handful of players are left from when Lynch was last in the building, meaning any of the baggage leftover from the breakup of the Legion of Boom isn’t nearly as relevant as it might’ve been two years ago. That shouldn’t be overlooked as a factor.

• Seattle also does not plan to ask the world of Lynch right off the bat. He’s 33 years old with a lot of mileage on his legs, and the hope is he can be a piece of the solution. One team official conceded to me Monday that it’s too early to know what kind of shape Lynch is in. They’ll need to see him actually play football first.

• With Bengals WR A.J. Green going on IR, let’s not forget how this injury was caused in the first place—with the NFL desperately trying to preserve a silly 100-year celebration in Dayton, Ohio at the beginning of training camp this summer.

If you remember, their original plan was to build a field at Triangle Park, where the first NFL game was played, but that fell through when evidence was found that the site had evidence of an ancient Indiana burial group on it. The NFL still wanted to practice in Dayton, and so the Bengals cleared the idea of going to the University of Dayton’s home stadium, but several people saw the field as subpar. Still, the league pushed through, and we ended up with a star wide receiver injured for the season.

• If there was an overall vibe I got from the Cowboys locker room on Sunday night, I think center Travis Frederick encapsulated it well, when I asked what’s missing: “We've been trying to figure out what that is. Obviously, there's something that hasn't been quite right. When you look down the roster and you look at all the guys that we have, we have a really talented group of people. And a really great coaching staff. So we got to find it and put our finger on it and get a win this week.”

Unfortunately for Dallas, Week 17 is pretty late in the game to be searching for an answer on that front, and getting a win this week may not matter much.

• Panthers rookie Will Grier was sacked five times and picked off thrice against the Colts, but I don’t think the coaching staff was pulling fire alarms in the aftermath. There were bigger problems around him that created a near impossible situation for a first-time starting quarterback. How bad has it gotten? The Panthers defense is now two scores away from allowing the most rushing touchdowns in NFL history.

• Ravens coach John Harbaugh told the Baltimore press that he’s planning on sitting Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram, Mashal Yanda, Earl Thomas and Brandon Williams. I’m told the coaches will probably pick one more player on each side of the ball to sit, or at least pace, on Sunday. My understanding is that, as you’d expect, the choices were made with age and value in mind—like Harbaugh said, with a 53-man roster, you can’t sit everyone.

• Word around the campfire is that whoever the next Carolina coach is could have significant say in how football operations is run. And that could include power of elements like the strength program and the training staff. It may not sound like a big deal, but it is to coaches—things like this caused the initial fraying in the gentleman’s agreement between Indianapolis and Josh McDaniels a couple years ago. That probably appeals to Mike McCarthy, who just interviewed there.

• Two teams that feel like they’ll wind up better for what they went through in 2019 next year: The Steelers and Eagles. In the case of the former, the injury to Ben Roethlisberger forces them to confront their future at the position, and it also put the onus on the defense to grow up, which it did in a very big way. On the latter, the plague of skill position injuries in Philadelphia put more on the shoulders of Carson Wentz. And starting with his big second-half against the Giants in Week 14, he’s taken his game to another level.

• Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins’ rookie year is over—he’ll sit in Week 17 with a high ankle sprain—but the team saw serious strides over the last few weeks as he gained experience. In particular, Haskins effectively started to tie his feet and his eyes to his progression, did a better job of aggressively getting the ball to his first read if it was there, became more proficient in finding matchups and even improved in learning to climb the pocket to where he was better positioned for off-schedule situations. All this fundamental improvement is a pretty good sign in his ability to take and apply the coaching, and reflects his work.

• I know the Dolphins have taken some grief for losing draft position with the continued improvement of Brian Flores’s team. But if you want an example of the value of how they’re playing, you can find it right there in the AFC East. Ask anyone in Buffalo, and they’ll tell you how important the 9-7 season of 2017 was in establishing Sean McDermott’s program. It made getting their quarterback in 2018 tougher. But it was worth it, given the foundation they have now. And if Flores turns the Dolphins around, I bet they’ll wind up looking at 2019 similarly.

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

December 24, 2019 at 05:51AM
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