Airbnb, gambling and public transport costs: what changes will 2019 ring in?

From public transport fee hikes to new rules covering Airbnb tenancies, here are some changes you can expect after January 1.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Sir Alastair Cook: From captain to knightwatchman

Mere months after walking away from the grind of international cricket, Alastair Cook's record-breaking efforts in an England shirt have been recognised with a knighthood.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
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Should US Rethink Decision to Leave Syria? The Kurds Say 'Yes' – Here's Why

President Trump's decision to remove our troops from Syria has been criticized by many of his political allies in the US. However, one of our closest friends in the region is also hoping America won't pull its support.

from CBNNews.com
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’68 Rides Again: The Return of Sergio Corbucci

By J. HOBERMAN from NYT Movies https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/movies/sergio-corbucci-the-great-silence.html?partner=IFTTT
“The Great Silence,” one of the best genre films of that year, is arguably the director’s masterpiece.

‘The Day the Clown Cried’: Why Jerry Lewis’s Lost Holocaust Film Is Still Lost

By PETER TONGUETTE from NYT Movies https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/movies/jerry-lewis-day-the-clown-cried.html?partner=IFTTT
With the release of Orson Welles’s “The Other Side of the Wind,” Lewis’s notorious drama may be the world’s most famous unfinished film. It may also stay that way.

FOX NEWS:- 'Porch pirates' targeted for harsher punishment in Texas lawmakers' proposals

'Porch pirates' targeted for harsher punishment in Texas lawmakers' proposals



Two Texas state lawmakers have proposed bills that would make package theft, also known as "porch piracy," a state jail felony in the state, a report said. 

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/texas-lawmaker-want-stricter-punishment-for-porch-piracy-crimes-report

FOX NEWS:- Marco Rubio calls MLB deal with Cuba 'a farce' that needs to be 'overruled'

Marco Rubio calls MLB deal with Cuba 'a farce' that needs to be 'overruled'



Like a catcher guarding home plate, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio this week decried a recent agreement between Major League Baseball, its players union and the Cuban Baseball Federation that's intended to make it easier for Cuban players to play in the big leagues without having to defect.

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/sen-marco-rubio-vows-to-stop-deal-allowing-cuban-players-to-sign-with-mlb

FOX NEWS:- Republican Sen. Mike Lee wants EEOC commissioner Chai Feldblum out over concerns about her stance on religious liberty

Republican Sen. Mike Lee wants EEOC commissioner Chai Feldblum out over concerns about her stance on religious liberty



GOP Sen. Lee says the reappointment of Feldblum to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission threatens religious liberty; reaction from Tony Perkins, president of The Family Research Council.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/5984327193001

FOX NEWS:- Rep. Devin Nunes: 'Pretty darn clear' that California's sanctuary policies are leading to the murder of innocent people

Rep. Devin Nunes: 'Pretty darn clear' that California's sanctuary policies are leading to the murder of innocent people



Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes comments on the killing of California police officer Ronil Singh.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/5984310653001

FOX NEWS:- Is porous southern border a national security risk to the United States?

Is porous southern border a national security risk to the United States?



Analysis from Steve Rogers, former member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and retired CIA senior intelligence officer Daniel Hoffman.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/5984311094001

FOX NEWS:- Democrats refusing to compromise on border funding in effort to spite President Trump?

Democrats refusing to compromise on border funding in effort to spite President Trump?



As negotiations to end the partial government shutdown stall, President Trump cancels his trip to Florida and will remain in the White House through the New Year; reaction from Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/5984303425001

FOX NEWS:- Former Trump speechwriter David Sorenson on the dangers of uncorroborated allegations

Former Trump speechwriter David Sorenson on the dangers of uncorroborated allegations



Like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Sorenson faced a trial by media and saw his reputation tarnished.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/5984303229001

FOX NEWS:- Rudy Giuliani says the time has come for special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation to be investigated

Rudy Giuliani says the time has come for special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation to be investigated



President Trump's defense lawyer Rudy Giuliani says Mueller should be probed to see if he helped destroy evidence after thousands of text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page went missing; reaction from Francey Hakes, former federal prosecutor.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/5984301533001

FOX NEWS:- Lawmakers request that DHS, CBP investigate Guatemalan boy’s death

Lawmakers request that DHS, CBP investigate Guatemalan boy’s death



Several lawmakers signed a letter Friday seeking the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection to open an investigation into the death of an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy who recently died while in U.S. custody.

via FOX NEWS https://foxnews.com/politics/lawmakers-request-that-dhs-cbp-investigate-guatemalan-boys-death

FOX NEWS:- House Democrats are reportedly ramping up staff hirings to beef up legal team to investigate the Trump administration

House Democrats are reportedly ramping up staff hirings to beef up legal team to investigate the Trump administration



Congressional job postings suggest Democrats are recruiting lawyers with experience in administrative law, oversight work and executive branch investigative counsel; reaction from Rep. Louie Gohmert, Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee.

via FOX NEWS http://video.foxnews.com/v/5984297276001

2 people die in plane crash that looked like 'a yellow ball of fire'

Police say two people died when a small plane crashed in a residential neighbourhood in a South Dakota city.

Sioux Falls Police Captain Loren McManus confirmed a second fatality at a news bri

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Blue light illuminates New York sky after Con Edison transformer explosion

The explosion caused a bright blue light that illuminated the New York skyline. The lights caused a stir on social media as several witnesses posted photographs and videos of the flash.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Richard Overton, oldest World War II veteran in U.S., dies at 112

A family member says the nation's oldest World War II veteran who was also believed to be oldest living man in the U.S. has died in Texas. Richard Overton was 112.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Trump claims 'most of the people not getting paid' in shutdown are Democrats | IOL News

President Donald Trump claimed that "most of the people not getting paid" in the partial government shutdown are Democrats,

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Selling of Nazi memorabilia sparks heated debate on morality | IOL News

At a time of growing anti-Semitism and white nationalism, the buying and selling of Third Reich tchotchkes is stirring up a debate.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Deported from US to face death in their crime-ridden country | IOL News

Ronald Acevedo waited eight months for asylum in Phoenix. Days after he was deported, he was found dead in the trunk of a car.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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After two years, Trump finally hews to ritual of meeting troops in harm's way | IOL News

In a surprise trip to Iraq, Donald Trump defended his decision to withdraw US forces from Syria where they have been helping battle Islamic State.

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Indian woman cuts off alleged stalker's genitals to 'teach him a lesson' | IOL News

A middle-aged Indian woman attacked her alleged stalker and cut off his genitals before rushing him to hospital to save his life, police said.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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What to do with animated, musical holiday pieces that no longer work | IOL News

Companies that manufacture animated or musical holiday scenes don't always make it easy for people to identify, much less find replacement parts.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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China's ex-deputy intelligence chief handed life sentence for graft | IOL News

Ma Jian, China's former deputy intelligence chief, has been sentenced to life in prison for allegedly aiding an exiled real estate billionaire.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Millionaire paid Jews to move to Alabama, but after 10 years many are leaving | IOL News

Millionaire Larry Blumberg paid Jewish couples up to $50 000 to move to his hometown but ten years later 7 of the 11 families who accepted have left.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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WATCH: Lasers help tell story of German U-boat that sank in 1942 | IOL News

A laser scan reveals a sunken U-boat resting under 213 metres of water off North Carolina, in which the bodies of dozens of sailors are entombed.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Indonesian police bring the heat as 800kg marijuana contraband goes up in flames | IOL News

A towering stack of marijuana that weighed a hefty 800 kilograms went up in smoke as Indonesian police lit up the pungent contraband.

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Trafficking suspected after 152 tourists vanish in Taiwan | IOL News

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry suspects that the disappearance of 152 Vietnamese tourists over the weekend may be linked to "possible human trafficking."

from Latest Breaking News RSS feed – Big News Network
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Musk seeks to dismiss 'pedo' defamation claim

Mr Musk's insults to cave rescuer were a "schoolyard spat" say Tesla chief's lawyers.

from BBC News - Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46693736

Outcry as Instagram tries horizontal scrolling

The video and image sharing site apologises after a test was accidentally rolled out to millions of users.

from BBC News - Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46693741

Tech became 'darker and more muddy' in 2018

EU's competition commissioner says tech firms must become more transparent about their use of data.

from BBC News - Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46675680

Huawei: 'Deep concerns' over firm's role in UK 5G upgrade

Chinese state sometimes acts in a "malign way", Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is reported as saying.

from BBC News - Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46690627

Africa: Your Favourite Sport Stories of 2018

[allAfrica] Cape Town -With the whistle about to blow for 2018, it's time to take a look back at the top sports stories of the year.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Macron's Disgraced Bodyguard Using Diplomatic Passport to Africa

[Deutsche Welle] Alexandre Benalla, a former bodyguard for French President Emmanuel Macron, has allegedly been using a diplomatic passport on business trips to Africa. France's Foreign Ministry is considering legal action.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: 21 Million Africans Shopped Online In 2017 - Report

[Guardian] According to recent figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) approximately 21 million shoppers in Africa in 2017 helped drive a market valued at US$5.7 billion in sales.

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Africa: From Venomous Snails to Sunsetting Solar Panels, a Look At Our Top Stories of 2018

[Ensia] This past year was filled with troubling environmental stories, from  devastating hurricanes and deadly wildfires  to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's recent report giving the world just 12 years to make major changes or face climate devastation on a scale for which there is "no documented historic precedent."

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Universal Healthcare in Africa Is a Necessity for Genuine Development

[Fahamu] A recent conference in South Africa raised issues on whether universal healthcare should be a private or state-driven endeavour.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Ancestral Territory to Digital IDs - Five Property Rights Victories in 2018

[Thomson Reuters Foundation] Bangkok -Secure land rights can help improve food security, limit deforestation and tackle climate change, activists say.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Climate Change - Why the Air You Are Breathing Could Send You to the Grave

[East African] Climate change is the single greatest health challenge that the world faces today, because it affects all aspects of human life and threatens to undo all the improvements made in health, warns a report by the World Health Organisation.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Africa Gets Enhanced Funding Pledges At Poland Climate Talks

[East African] Africa was a big beneficiary at the just concluded climate change talks in Katowice, Poland, getting strong financial commitments to help it push its climate change agenda.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Africa Must Work Together to Boost Oil Cash, Be At Par With Big Players

[East African] The secretary general of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation Mahaman Laouan Gaya spoke with Julius Barigaba about the continent's oil potential and why all countries with proven reserves need to join the group.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: China Takes Centrestage in Africa Through Infrastructure

[East African] Chinese contractors have taken centrestage in the implementation of infrastructure projects in Africa, as funding by the continent's development finance institutions shrinks.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Isabel dos Santos and the Economic Empowerment of African Women

[Chronicle of the Week] At a United Nations debate in New York, Isabel dos Santos, who is currently the richest woman in Africa, spoke of the economic empowerment of African women as a key to transforming society. This and many of her other hopeful and encouraging messages have inspired many citizens in African countries, mainly young women, to pursue their ambitions in business.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: From Wacky to Well Meaning, 7 Upbeat Stories of Improving Lives in 2018

[Thomson Reuters Foundation] London -From an auto-repair shop in Uganda jumpstarting child soldiers into new lives to the boxing Barbie doll championing women's rights, the past year saw its fair share of upbeat stories about efforts to improve people's lives.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: 5 Global Super-Athletes Who Conquered the Year 2018

[Nairobi News] Here are our pick for the top five athletes who conquered the year 2018.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Youth Voices - Securing the Future of Women in Africa By Standing With Girls Today

[UNFPA] Accra -"It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that wherever you are, you empower girls to speak out.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: 1st African Vocational Training Forum in Dakhla, 'Resounding Success' (Ministry)

[MAP] Rabat -The 1st African Vocational Training Forum held in Dakhla on Dec. 21-22, 2018, was a "resounding success", the ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research pointed out.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: The Gossip That Got You Going in 2018

[allAfrica] Cape Town -As the new year approaches, it seems like every year is dubbed 'a year like no other', But 2018 truly was more dramatic than many other years in recent memory. From the stories of loss, love, recklessness, stardom and more, it is the blend that has captivated all aspects of African culture in 2018.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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Africa: Satellites to Safety Apps - 10 New Uses of Technology to Help People in 2018

[Thomson Reuters Foundation] London -From stopping child trafficking to mapping slums or delivering medicines, governments and companies found new ways to use technology in 2018 to help people globally.

from AllAfrica News: Africa
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