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An increasing number of older people are turning to dating apps for mature people, in a quest for love. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/36dW9q9

A group of viruses, of which measles is one, are adept at jumping to species barrier. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/37rsXMw

LGBT activists are mounting legal battles against the Caribbean's colonial-era homophobic laws. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2sBFJcu

Four millennials on being the first black person some people meet, and other issues for black tourists. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/37uoJnn

Players say the virtual reality game makes them happier and healthier. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/37sD8Aa

Christmas is over, it's dark and cold - but there are plenty of bright spots on the horizon. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2QABINp

An increasing number of older people are turning to dating apps for mature people, in a quest for love. from BBC News - Business https://ift.tt/36dW9q9

The world celebrated the New Year on Wednesday with fireworks displays from Sydney to London, although celebrations were clouded by deadly wildfires in Australia, protests in Hong Kong and India and new nuclear tensions with North Korea. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2QABwOb

The United States is immediately deploying about 750 soldiers to the Middle East in response to the violent protests at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2Qe9dWQ

Iran denied it was behind violent protests at the U.S. embassy in Iraq on Tuesday and warned against any retaliation, after President Donald Trump blamed Tehran for an attack on the mission and said it would be held responsible. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2MIeILq

New research suggests most people still want to book package holidays despite what happened after the collapse of Thomas Cook. from BBC News - Business https://ift.tt/2rIc40I

By BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/36oXN8x

Woman on Walt Disney World ferry rescued after jumping into lagoon, officials say A woman onboard a Walt Disney World ferryboat was rescued after she appeared to intentionally jumped into the Seven Seas Lagoon. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2QDOWsV

Red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) perching on an impala (Aepyceros melampus) in Chobe National Park, Botswana. Learn more .

calends , n : Often with initial capital: the first day of a month, particularly (Ancient Rome, historical) the first day of a month of the Roman calendar. (by extension) A day for settling debts and other accounts. (by extension, biblical, Judaism, obsolete) Synonym of Rosh Hodesh (“the Jewish festival of the new moon, which begins the months of the Hebrew calendar”) (rare) Synonym of calendar; (figuratively) an account, a record. (figuratively, obsolete) The first day of something; a beginning. Happy New Year from all of us at the English Wiktionary!

"Begin cementing our unity one brick at a time," Archbishop of Canterbury says in new year message. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Qb675T

The Wikipedia article of the day for January 1, 2020 is Battle of Calais . The Battle of Calais took place in the early morning of 1 January 1350, during the Hundred Years' War. English troops in the occupied French city of Calais ambushed and defeated an unsuspecting French force which was attempting to take the city. Despite a truce being in effect, the French commander Geoffrey de Charny had planned to take the city by subterfuge, and bribed Amerigo of Pavia, an Italian officer of the city garrison, to open a gate for them. The English king, Edward III, became aware of the plot and personally led his household knights and the Calais garrison in a surprise counter-attack. The French were routed by this smaller force, with significant losses and all of their leaders captured or killed. Later that day, Edward dined with the highest-ranking captives, treating them with royal courtesy except for Charny, whom he taunted for having abandoned his chivalric principles by both fighting d

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday he hoped North Korea would choose peace over war, a response to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un saying would introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2SG2o1W

Protesters angry about U.S. air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, setting off a confrontation with guards and posing a new challenge for U.S. President Donald Trump. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/36fVtQS

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Seattle public schools to exclude unvaccinated students after winter break NYU Langone Medical Center associate professor Dr. Devi Nampiaparampil weighs in on Seattle's vaccine law. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2ZGDwJ1

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fullness of time , n : The time which is appropriate for something; a time that is not too soon. A peaceful New Year’s Eve from all of us at Wiktionary!

The Wikipedia article of the day for December 31, 2019 is Turbinellus floccosus . Turbinellus floccosus, the shaggy chanterelle, is a cantharelloid mushroom of the fungus family Gomphaceae native to Asia and North America. It was known as Gomphus floccosus until 2011, when it was found to be only distantly related to the genus's type species, G. clavatus, and transferred to Turbinellus. The orange-capped vase- or trumpet-shaped mushrooms may reach 30 cm (12 in) high and 30 cm (12 in) wide. The lower and outer surfaces are covered in wrinkles and ridges rather than gills or pores, and are pale buff or yellowish to whitish. T. floccosus forms symbiotic relationships with the roots of various conifers in woodlands across Eastern Asia, from North Korea to Pakistan, and in North America, more frequently in the west. The mild-tasting mushrooms are consumed locally in northeastern India, Nepal and Mexico, but can cause gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

There are also concerns in Australia that "extraordinary fire behaviour" will increase the flames. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2Q9moIE

Pompeo: US strikes on Iranian-backed militia a 'defensive action' Strikes renew concerns of escalating tensions in Iran; Kevin Corke reports. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/37o8kk8

Sudan sentences at least 27 to death for torturing, killing detained protester A Sudanese court sentenced at least 27 members of the country's intelligence service to death by hanging for the torture and death of a protester during demonstrations against then-President Omar al-Bashir. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2spsJGY

US blames Iranian-backed militia for attack that killed American contractor Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin reacts to U.S. airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/36bqg1n

China sentences Christian pastor to 9 years in prison A well-known Christian pastor in China who operated outside the state’s legally recognized protestant organization was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2QbAj0T

Romanian woman dies after being set on fire during surgery A Romanian woman with pancreatic cancer has died after she was apparently set on fire last week during a surgery procedure, according to reports.  via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2Fj2BjT

Taliban claim responsibility for deadly attack in Afghanistan after agreeing to temporary cease-fire The Taliban have claimed responsibility for a pre-dawn attack on a pro-government militia compound that killed at least 14 people in Afghanistan; Benjamin Hall reports from London. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2QDVF6a

Will US airstrikes against Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria deter Iran? The U.S. targets Iran-backed militia after a rocket strike kills a U.S. contractor and injures four American soldiers. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/37ksknR

British teen could face prison after Cyprus court finds her guilty of lying about gang rape claim A 19-year-old woman was convicted on a charge of causing public mischief after prosecutors proved she lied about being gang raped in the Cyprus resort town, Ayia Napa. The young teen could serve a year in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for early January. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2F4t6cn

Mexican cartel violence, Notre Dame up in flames and Justin Trudeau blackface scandal: World in review 2019 There was no shortage of news from around the world that captivated headlines in 2019. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/36coc98

Moscow brings in fake snow in time for New Year festivities after record-breaking warm December It's finally starting to look like winter in the Russian capital after authorities dumped artificial snow in the center of Moscow in time for New Year's Eve festivities.  via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2ZD5aqj

An ice cave on Olkhon Island, eastern Siberia, Russia.. Learn more .

By BEN DOOLEY and HISAKO UENO from NYT Business https://ift.tt/2F70Gi9

With some blockbuster space missions underway, 2019 saw some amazing images beamed back to Earth. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2SCCSuA

Artists and everyday people send images of life outside prison to inmates in solitary confinement. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2ZBapXx

Hydrogen-powered drones have several advantages to lithium ion-powered ones, says Dr Enass Abo-Hamed. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Qyv76b

The few remaining inhabitants of a bombed-out Syrian town take comfort from hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cats. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2MFNvJ9

What did we buy and what did we leave on the shelf during a decade of invention and changing habits? from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Q9OX8N

People diagnosed with autism in adulthood describe growing up believing they were "bad" or "alien". from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/353DXhz

Grime's prospects were shaky in 2010, but the genre has ended the decade triumphantly. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2MHcNGN

Just before her first "handiversary", transplant miracle Cor Hutton explains why the smallest things mean so much. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2QbrhRz

Match of the Day pundits Ian Wright and Martin Keown discuss changing the offside rule in light of recent VAR controversies in the Premier League. from BBC News - Home https://ift.tt/2Qagqr4

Yang Zhaoyu quit his job in a big Chinese city nine months ago and moved to a small community that preaches sustainable living and mindful consumption. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2F68nVS