Sam Jones, Sharpshooting Celtics Star of the 1960s, Dies at 88

By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports
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A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in N.B.A. history and played on 10 N.B.A. championship teams.

The Times Square celebration will be muted. The police presence will not.

By BY MICHAEL WILSON from NYT New York
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Betty White: Biden leads tributes for Golden Girls actress

The long-time Hollywood star died on Friday at the age of 99 after an eight-decade film and TV career.

from BBC News - Home

Desmond Tutu: Body of South African hero to be aquamated

In line with his eco-friendly beliefs, the water-based process uses a tenth of the energy of cremation.

from BBC News - Home

Betty White, the Golden Girl with a heart of gold, dies

One of America's original screen stars, Betty White enjoyed a career spanning eight decades.

from BBC News - Home

Quebec government faces backlash over New Year’s Eve curfew.

By BY VJOSA ISAI AND DAN BILEFSKY from NYT World
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Residents who leave their homes past 10 p.m. could face fines of up to $4,750.

Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer 'fine' after hospital drama during panto

Heavily pregnant Dani Harmer says she's fine after leaving Cinderella mid-performance.

from BBC News - Home

A New Year and a New Leader, but Germany’s Focus Remains on Covid

By BY CHRISTOPHER F. SCHUETZE from NYT World
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Olaf Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel as chancellor about three weeks ago, gave the traditional New Year’s Eve address for the first time and called for unity and vaccinations.

Ukraine tensions: Biden and Putin phone call seeks 'diplomatic path'

The presidents of the US and Russia will speak in a bid to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine.

from BBC News - Home

Covid: Woman isolates in toilet for five hours after positive mid-flight test

A US teacher says she spent five hours in the toilet after testing positive for Covid-19.

from BBC News - Home

Leicester City v Norwich City postponed because of Covid cases and injuries

Norwich confirm their Premier League game at Leicester on Saturday is off after positive Covid cases and injuries within the Canaries squad.

from BBC News - Home

U.K., With Surging Cases, Is on ‘War Footing’ Against Virus

By BY MEGAN SPECIA from NYT World
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With cases surging and straining health care and other services, Britain’s challenges foreshadow the impact of the Omicron variant in other countries.

Russia labels Pussy Riot members foreign agents

Journalists and other prominent figures also feature on an updated justice ministry list.

from BBC News - Home

8 New Books We Recommend This Week

By Unknown Author from NYT Books
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Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

Man arrested after missing 12-year-old girl found

Police say the 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of child abduction and kidnap.

from BBC News - Home

Sports Stories That Hit Home in 2021

By BY JONATHAN ELLIS from NYT Sports
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Take a look at some of The Times’s most-read sports coverage of the year.

Ghislaine Maxwell: Key moments in the sex trafficking trial

The jury has now delivered a series of convictions - here's what you need to know about the evidence.

from BBC News - Home

Ukraine tensions: Biden and Putin phone call seeks 'diplomatic path'

The presidents of the US and Russia will speak again in a bid to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine.

from BBC News - Home

Russia orders health and drug checks for foreigners

Business groups criticise a new law requiring mandatory fingerprinting, drug tests and STD checks.

from BBC News - Home

Ghislaine Maxwell: How accusers' testimony brought her down

This was a victory for the women who fought to bring Jeffrey Epstein's co- conspirator to justice.

from BBC News - Home

Spurred by Omicron, Europe Is Setting Coronavirus Infection Records Every Day

By BY MARC SANTORA from NYT World
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The surge of cases is causing chaos as people scramble to obtain tests, businesses grapple with staff shortages and New Year’s festivities are thrown into question.

Covid: Daily UK case numbers hit record of 183,037

The spike in reported cases comes as frustration grows over a lack of available lateral flow tests.

from BBC News - Home

Alaska 'Icemageddon' warning follows heat record

The coldest US state faces weather extremes after heavy snowfall and torrential rain.

from BBC News - Home

How to Clean Suede Boots and Shoes

By BY EVE O’NEILL AND CALEB CHIN from NYT Smarter Living
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It's easy to revive your suede footwear after trudging through winter weather.

Four people injured in London stabbings

A double stabbing at Seven Kings railway station was followed by another in Kilburn High Road.

from BBC News - Home

How We Treat Farmed Animals

By Unknown Author from NYT Opinion
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Readers react to a column by Ezra Klein about the horrors of factory farming. Also: Hospitals and the unvaccinated; unwanted holiday gifts. 

Covid: Omicron and Delta driving tsunami of cases - WHO

The warning comes as record cases are once again reported across the US and Europe.

from BBC News - Home

W.H.O. Warns of a ‘Tsunami’ of Delta and Omicron Infections

By BY THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT World
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The World Health Organization said the circulation of these coronavirus variants could drive a rapid spike in infections, but the agency added that early data showed vaccines continue to offer protection from severe illness and death.

Four Smithsonian museums are among those shuttering amid Omicron staff shortages.

By BY SARAH BAHR from NYT Arts
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The museums, which are smaller ones, will be closed through Sunday as the Smithsonian routes staff to more-visited outposts.

Sharon Gless Admires Eddie Redmayne and L.A.’s Union Station

By BY KATHRYN SHATTUCK from NYT Arts
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The “Cagney & Lacey” star discusses her unflinching new memoir and why Jean Smart’s performance in “Hacks” gives her hope.

Nottingham police officers pay for homeless boy's presents

The boy, 12, turned up at a police station with only a bin bag holding a few possessions, officers said.

from BBC News - Home

‘Ain’t Too Proud’ will close on Broadway as Covid takes its toll.

By BY MICHAEL PAULSON from NYT Theater
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Jermaine Cools: Teenager arrested over murder of boy

Jermaine Cools, 14, took himself to a south London hospital but died a short time later.

from BBC News - Home

J.D. Crowe, Banjo Virtuoso and Bluegrass Innovator, Dies at 84

By BY BILL FRISKICS-WARREN from NYT Arts
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Drawing on rock and R&B, Mr. Crowe recast the sound of bluegrass while helping launch the careers of some of the genre’s biggest stars.

Leona Peach: Police seek father of missing 12-year-old girl

Leona Peach was last seen in Newton Abbot and may have travelled to be with her dad, police say.

from BBC News - Home

‘People Want Jewelry With Meaning’: How Breast Milk Became a Gem

By BY EMMA GRILLO from NYT Style
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Mothers are memorializing their breastfeeding experiences with stones made from the liquid.

10 Photos of the Year From California

By BY SOUMYA KARLAMANGLA from NYT U.S.
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The past 12 months were more than just Year 2 of the pandemic.

Covid-19: Extra vaccine mandates come into force in New York City

The measures include vaccine mandates for private-sector workers and children entering venues.

from BBC News - Home

A ‘Tragic Mistake’ by Officer Potter, but Not a Criminal One

By Unknown Author from NYT Opinion
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Two readers disagree with the verdict in the shooting of Daunte Wright. Also: Tributes to Desmond Tutu and Joan Didion; Amy Coney Barrett and Roe.

New York expands coronavirus testing as case counts continue to climb.

By BY LOLA FADULU from NYT New York
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This week, six million coronavirus tests will be delivered to schools, 13 new state testing sites will open, and five additional M.T.A. stations will begin offering testing.

‘Brown Girls,’ a Daring Debut That Follows Its Characters Through Life and Beyond

By BY DWIGHT GARNER from NYT Books
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Daphne Palasi Andreades’s brash and talky novel is about a group of women who grew up together in an outer borough of New York City.

For Pop Music, 2021 Was the Year of the Deep Dive

By BY JON PARELES from NYT Arts
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Documentaries brought us closer to musicians this year, and it wasn’t always pretty.

Sweeping private-sector vaccine mandate goes into effect in N.Y.C.

By BY DANA RUBINSTEIN from NYT New York
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I’ve Spent 25 Years as a Joan Didion Thief

By BY JAY CASPIAN KANG from NYT Opinion
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Didion inspired at least two generations of impostors.

I’ve Spent 25 Years as a Joan Didion Thief

By BY JAY CASPIAN KANG from NYT Opinion
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Didion inspired at least two generations of impostors.

Wayne Thiebaud, Playful Painter of the Everyday, Dies at 101

By BY MICHAEL KIMMELMAN from NYT Obituaries
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Mr. Thiebaud’s rich and luminous depictions of midcentury Americana separated him from the classic Pop Art of the time.

Declaration of Mark Kroll, Ph.D.

By Unknown Author from NYT U.S.
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In a case regarding the in-custody death of Kevin Piskura.

Hundreds more flights are canceled as Omicron scrambles air travel.

By BY MARC TRACY from NYT Business
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The virus, and winter weather, are making flights trickier during a busy season.

Is Disney the Met’s Fairy Godmother?

By BY MAX LAKIN from NYT Arts
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art hopes to entice visitors with a show of 150 Disney artifacts and its own objets d’art. But does getting cozy with a behemoth serve the public?

Trial Testimony Declaration of Dr. Tom Neuman

By Unknown Author from NYT U.S.
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From a lawsuit over the 1994 death of Daniel Price.

Is Disney the Met’s Fairy Godmother?

By BY MAX LAKIN from NYT Arts
https://ift.tt/3pt1mGr
The Metropolitan Museum of Art hopes to entice visitors with a show of 150 Disney artifacts and its own objets d’art. But does getting cozy with a behemoth serve the public?

India, wounded by Delta’s disastrous spring surge, expands vaccinations and starts boosters to fight Omicron.

By BY MUJIB MASHAL from NYT World
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Those 15 and older will be eligible for vaccination as of Jan. 3, and health workers and high-risk people over 60 can receive booster shots as of Jan. 10.

Arrest over theft of copper pine cone bollards in Glasgow

Two of the public artworks were reported stolen in the Gorbals area of Glasgow earlier this month.

from BBC News - Home

Sardi’s, Broadway’s iconic watering hole, is back, just in time for Omicron show closures.

By BY MICHAEL PAULSON from NYT World
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U.S. Covid hospitalizations are rising among children. New York urges parents to vaccinate the young.

By BY TODD GREGORY from NYT New York
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Anti-Coup Protesters in Sudan Press Their Demand for Return to Civilian Rule

By BY ABDI LATIF DAHIR from NYT World
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The protests on Saturday underscored the resolve of protesters to continue defying the Oct. 25 coup that derailed the country’s nascent attempt to transition to democratic rule.

A U.S. Navy combat ship is stranded in Guantánamo Bay with a virus outbreak.

By BY CAROL ROSENBERG AND AISHVARYA KAVI from NYT World
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The crew held an open-air Christmas service on the pier, allowing the sailors to remain socially distanced.

Winter Storms Threaten to Disrupt Travel in the Northwest

By BY AMANDA HOLPUCH from NYT U.S.
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Parts of Oregon and Washington were also bracing for single-digit temperatures as the Southern United States recorded temperatures more than 25 degrees above normal.

As Prices Rise, Biden Turns to Antitrust Enforcers

By BY JIM TANKERSLEY AND ALAN RAPPEPORT from NYT Business
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A wide-ranging presidential order helped block a railroad merger and tackle supply-chain problems, and it is planting the seeds for bigger actions.

As Russian Threat Looms, Ukraine’s Government Is No Laughing Matter

By BY ANDREW E. KRAMER from NYT World
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President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former actor, has surrounded himself with advisers from his old comedy troupe. No kidding.

Is It Safe to Have a New Year’s Eve Party?

By BY RONDA KAYSEN from NYT Real Estate
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When it comes to handling the uncertainties surrounding the Omicron surge, assess your own risk tolerance and weigh those risks against the rewards.

Some New Yorkers who test positive may be able to go back to work faster.

By BY JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN from NYT New York
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The new policy, announced on Friday by Gov. Kathy Hochul, is meant to help keep the ranks of employees in key industries from being severely depleted.

The Students Returned, but the Fallout From a Long Disruption Remained

By BY ERICA L. GREEN from NYT U.S.
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“They’re like, ‘The world’s out of control, why should I be in control?’” the principal of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pa., said of some of his struggling students.

We’re Locked Down Again in the Netherlands. Here’s a Warning.

By BY SENAY BOZTAS from NYT Opinion
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The failure to vaccinate more people, start a booster campaign earlier and spin up free testing capacity quickly have created a crisis.

Didion’s Prophetic Eye on America

By BY MICHIKO KAKUTANI from NYT Opinion
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Didion always knew something was out of sync in this country.

Covid: Glimmer of hope on Omicron and millions facing travel disruption

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Friday evening.

from BBC News - Home

Despite a rise in Omicron, the U.K. is determined to keep Christmas.

By BY MEGAN SPECIA from NYT World
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Love Letter: A Kinky Holiday Rendezvous

By BY CHARANNA ALEXANDER from NYT Style
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And: Is the Grinch bringing sexy back?

The Weekender

By BY JILLIAN RAYFIELD from NYT Briefing
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How to catch a polar bear. Also in this edition: the famous dispute over the Parthenon Marbles, and an appraisal of Joan Didion’s career.

How Do Saudis Celebrate Christmas? Quietly, but Less So.

By BY VIVIAN YEE from NYT World
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“Am I in Saudi Arabia?” Once officially banned, Christmas is coming out of hiding in the kingdom, as its ultra-constrictive religious rules are eased.

South Africa ends quarantines and contact tracing, and authorizes booster shots.

By BY LYNSEY CHUTEL from NYT World
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The new regulations follow data showing that while the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, it has not caused high rates of severe disease in South Africa.

LadBaby score historic fourth Christmas number one

They surpass the Beatles and the Spice Girls as the act with the most festive chart-toppers in a row.

from BBC News - Home

Tracing the Origins of a Black American New Year’s Ritual

By BY KAYLA STEWART from NYT Food
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Families have long embraced the tradition of eating black-eyed peas and greens on Jan. 1, but the inspiration for the ritual crosses cultures and continents.

Police stray bullet kills teen in LA store's dressing room

The teenager was in a changing room with her mother trying on dresses for her 15th birthday party.

from BBC News - Home

As Hindu Extremists Call for Killing of Muslims, India’s Leaders Keep Silent

By BY SAMEER YASIR from NYT World
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Right-wing Hindu activists at a conference took an oath to harm Muslims if necessary to make “a Hindu-only nation,” the most blatant example of rising anti-Muslim sentiment across India.