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Toyota To Showcase Three Custom RAV4 PHEVs In Tokyo

January 3, 2023 Published by Thanos Pappas

Carscoops

Toyota Industries, a subsidiary of Toyota focused on machinery, announced it will bring a trio of customized RAV4 PHEV models at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon – the “Adventure”, the “OffRoad PKG” and the “Sporty PKG”.

Toyota Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of forklifts, is also in charge of the RAV4 production at the Nagakusa Plant in Japan, which explains the monotony of its Tokyo lineup.

Read: Toyota RAV4 Gets New Adventure Off-Road Package II In Japan, Makes Black Bumpers Cool Again

The Toyota RAV4 PHEV Adventure PKG looks virtually identical to the production-spec Adventure trim, so we don’t really know if it has any custom parts. The OffRoad PKG is another story, featuring a custom two-tone livery, a Yakima roof rack, off-road wheels, red mudflaps, extra LEDs on the front bumper, protective cladding on the side sills, and a tank mounted on the side.

Last but not least, the Sporty PKG is a road-focused proposal. The bodykit comprises a sporty front bumper extension with faux intakes, body-colored trim on the wheel arches and side sills, plus a set of larger-diameter wheels. The two-tone exterior combines a silver shade with a black finish for the roof, mirror caps, and alloy wheels. Those parts look like they are sourced from the recently revealed EU-spec Toyota RAV4 GR-Sport, although the LED headlights with the yellow indicators come from the US-spec model.

All three vehicles are fitted with the stock plug-in hybrid powertrain which combines a 2.5-liter petrol engine and dual electric motors. As the most powerful variant of the RAV4 range, the PHEV produces a combined 302 hp (225 kW / 306 PS). Power is transmitted to all four wheels through the standard E-Four AWD system.

Live coverage: House set to vote for next Speaker

January 3, 2023 Published by The Hill staff

Just In | The Hill

The 118th Congress opens on Tuesday and all eyes will be on the House as it votes for Speaker — the required first order of business.

It’s been more than a century since it took more than one ballot to elect a Speaker but as of Tuesday morning House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) doesn’t seem to have the required number of votes locked up.

The 118th Congress opens at noon. Stay with The Hill for live updates throughout the day below:

House, News, Speaker, Speaker vote, Speakership vote Read More

For the Sleep of Your Dreams, Understanding the (Very) Different Ways That Melatonin and Magnesium Impact Your Circadian Rhythm Is Key

January 3, 2023 Published by Michele Ross

Well+Good

If you get high-quality shuteye night after night, consider yourself (incredibly) lucky. But for the rest of us, we’re often required to seek and test out new ways to optimize our sleep, such as through healthy pre-ZZZ lifestyle habits and behaviors, finding ways to manage stress better in the daytime, and via food and supplements.

On this last point, there’s a decent chance you’re familiar with melatonin. But maybe you’ve also heard that magnesium has the potential to improve your sleep as well, and perhaps you’re wondering if you should prioritize the mineral in your wellness routine. To better understand how melatonin and magnesium differ in terms of improving sleep—as well as discover must-know tips and FYIs about intake—we consulted behavioral sleep specialist Carleara Weiss, PhD, MS, RN.

Melatonin vs. magnesium in terms of sleep and circadian rhythm

To kick things off, Dr. Weiss helpfully outlines the basics of both sleep aids. For starters, she says that melatonin is a hormone that our pineal gland produces on its own. “Its primary function is to regulate circadian rhythms and sleep; melatonin signals that sleep time is approaching, helping us to fall asleep,” says Dr. Weiss. (She also notes that melatonin has a range of additional functions, including cell protection, neuroprotection, and influencing the reproductive system.)

Next up, we have magnesium, a micronutrient that as much as 50 to 75 percent of Americans lack. While Dr. Weiss mentions that its effect on sleep and circadian rhythms has yet to be fully understood, it plays “a critical role in regulating the central nervous system and is believed to reduce stress and improve sleep.” In other words, greater calm and ease can promote higher-quality sleep and fewer restless nights, though it doesn’t encourage sleep latency in the same way that melatonin does. She adds that magnesium can help those who suffer from restless leg syndrome, which can lead to disrupted sleep. (Moreover, magnesium deficiency can contribute to everything from fatigue and weakness to muscle cramps and high blood pressure, which underscores how important it is to prioritize the mineral regardless of whether your sleep game is solid.)

Key tips and FYIs about using melatonin vs. magnesium for better sleep

If you have a history of insomnia, Dr. Weiss clarifies that neither melatonin nor magnesium will be the gold standard for treatment. “The ideal treatment for insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy,” she says. (Read: If your sleep issues are chronic instead of touch-and-go, your best bet will be to see a sleep specialist to get to the root of the problem once and for all.) With that said, melatonin supplementation is most appropriate “for shift work disorder, jet lag, and circadian rhythm disorders,” Dr. Weiss continues.

However, Dr. Weiss calls out that newer studies testing the impact of melatonin and magnesium in people with insomnia are starting to show promising results. “Melatonin and magnesium are considered safe for consumption when respecting the adequate dose and can be taken together,” she says. These points considered, it’s essential to be mindful about your intake.

“For melatonin, the ideal dose is 0.3 to five milligrams, taken 30 minutes to one hour before bedtime,” Dr. Weiss shares. However, she notes that the dosage can be very different from what’s commercially available, so be sure to read your labels carefully and to slowly scale up if necessary. “The ideal dose for magnesium—glycinate or citrate—is 200 milligrams, 30 minutes before bedtime, [though] some researchers postulate that a safe dose of magnesium ranges from 200 to 400 milligrams,” the sleep specialist continues.

With these suggestions in mind, Dr. Weiss still suggests opting for other sleep solutions before beginning a new supplement routine. (And, as always, it’s best to consult a physician or health professional before beginning any new supplement protocol.) “I recommend opting for dietary sources and changing sleep behavior first, which means following a healthy diet and practicing sleep hygiene,” Dr. Weiss advises.

On top of sticking to a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet, you can also incorporate more foods and drinks that contain these sleep aids throughout your day. On a parting note, Dr. Weiss shares her list of foods that you may want to pin for your next grocery haul:

Melatonin: banana, pineapple, corn, almonds, spinach, kiwi, tart cherries, turkey, walnut

Magnesium: cashews, almonds, soybeans, baked beans, whole grains, quinoa, edamame, spinach

10 new attractions and things to do coming to Disney World in 2023

January 3, 2023 Published by Summer Hull

The Points Guy

The last several years at Walt Disney World have been very exciting and fast-paced when it came to new attractions and offerings.

From the opening of Toy Story Land (2018), Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (2019) and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (2020) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; the launch of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel experience (2022), Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (2021) and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (2022) at Epcot; the opening of the Riviera Resort on the new Skyliner route (2019) and even the park’s 18-month long 50th-anniversary celebration, there hasn’t been a dull moment at Disney World in the last five or six years.

However, 2023 will likely mark the beginning of at least a temporary change in the pace of major new openings at Disney World.

This is due to a “pandemic pause” in new projects and the cancellation or scaleback of some already in motion. Because of this, there will inevitably be a few years without as many new rides, restaurants and other major new additions as we’ve grown accustomed to the last few years. Even if Disney ramped things back up again tomorrow, due to the length of time it takes to get projects of that scale from greenlight to completion, there will be a slowdown.

Additionally, we are just about to the end of the pipeline of projects that started before the pandemic and were just completed a bit later than planned.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Pixie dust is still alive, however, and there are a few more of those pre-pandemic-era projects up Mickey’s sleeve. This means 2023 will see some major Disney World offerings (finally) debut. There will also be smaller additions to the list of offerings, such as meet-and-greets and shows.

Strap in for another year of new things to see, do, eat and watch with these 10 new attractions coming to Walt Disney World in 2023.

Tron Lightcyle Run

This is it. After several years of anticipation and delays, Disney has said spring 2023 will mark the grand opening of the Magic Kingdom’s first new ride since 2014: Tron Lightcycle Run.

Tron Lightcycle Run in Tomorrowland will be one of the fastest rides at Disney World. Guests will sit on their own Lightcycle and race through eight Energy Gates. There has been a Tron Lightcycle Run in Shanghai Disneyland since that park opened in 2016, which is said to hit speeds around 60 miles per hour.

There have already been some human tests of the ride completed at Disney World, so the spring opening seems on track. Some are estimating annual passholder previews will be held in March, followed by an April grand opening, though Disney has confirmed no date specifics beyond spring 2023.

DISNEY

If history is an indicator, when Tron opens it will utilize a virtual queue and a paid individual Lightning Lane. This could potentially mean that this is approximately when Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy attraction ceases to use a virtual queue and becomes accessible via an old-fashioned standby line.

Woody’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Another Disney World offering that has been delayed more than once but is now said to open in spring 2023 is Woody’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ, inside Hollywood Studio’s Toy Story Land.

Adorned with the theme of Andy’s toys, this sit-down restaurant will join the popular counter-service restaurant in Toy Story Land to add to the list of dining options with “family-style barbecue-inspired comfort foods.”

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

Epcot has been on a multi-year transformation that is now nearing completion. While the new marquee rides (Remy and Guardians) have already opened, a remaining key component of this park’s overhaul, the Journey of Water, will open in late 2023.

TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

The Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, is not a ride, but it is a themed walk-through area in the park’s World Nature neighborhood. This trail will not only offer guests a chance to learn about water and its history and role on this planet, but Disney says that you’ll get a chance to interact with the water, which, as you may recall from Moana, has a “mind of its own.”

New Epcot nighttime show and continued transformation

It’s not just about water and Moana inside Epcot in 2023; the World Celebration neighborhood is also rumored to be completed in late 2023. This will include the opening of Communicore Hall and Communicore Plaza, which will become a new home for festivals and can be used as a new central gathering spot.

Also, in late 2023, Disney says Epcot will launch a new yet-to-be-named nighttime show. This will replace Harmonious, which debuted in the fall of 2021 as part of Disney’s 50th-anniversary celebration.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Disney has not yet announced what that means for the controversial barges used for Harmonious that have been a 24/7 fixture in Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon.

Happily Ever After returns

Disney World’s other nighttime show that debuted as part of the 50th anniversary, the Magic Kingdom’s Enchantment, will also take its final bow in 2023. This is expected to happen with the 18-month-long anniversary celebration that concludes on March 31, 2023.

In its place, the fan-favorite fireworks show, Happily Ever After, will return with what Disney describes as some “updates.” Don’t expect very many dry eyes around the castle’s steps as the narrator’s voice kicks the show off with the line, “And they all lived happily ever after.”

DISNEY

Figment meet-and-greet

This may seem small, and it is, but the little purple dragon, Figment, illicits outsized responses from some Disney guests. From sold-out popcorn buckets in his likeness to an entire ride featuring Figment that has devoted fans (self-included) despite its somewhat aging approach to imaginative storytelling, Figment is undeniably popular.

As was first announced at Disney’s D23 conference in fall 2022, Figment will make his way to Epcot for character meet-and-greets for the first time in many years at some point in 2023.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Hatbox Ghost

Much like Figment has his legion of loyalists, so does the Haunted Mansion. And out west at the Disneyland version of Haunted Mansion, there’s been a popular character within the ride that Disney World had yet to receive … until 2023.

DISNEY

This year, the Hatbox Ghost will appear at Disney World’s Haunted Mansion. No word yet on if this will fill the ride’s quota for 1,000 happy haunts, or if another will depart, keeping the count steady at 999 with room for one more …

Walt Disney World Railroad

Enough about enhancements, shows and characters; let’s talk about something you can climb aboard and ride. For the first time since 2018, you can again climb aboard the 100-year-old steam train and take a trip around the Magic Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Railroad.

COURTNEY KIEFER/DISNEY

This opening-day attraction reopened after four years at the very end of 2022 with a new narration as guests make their way through the different lands of the Magic Kingdom.

Room renovations at multiple popular Disney World hotels

From the Polynesian Village to the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and well beyond, Disney World has been very busy waving its magic wand at several resort hotels and giving many of them extensive makeovers. This renovation schedule will stay busy in 2023, with properties such as All-Star Sports, the Grand Floridian and at least some rooms at Caribbean Beach next up for a fresh look.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

While some DVC rooms and new studios at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa were given a beautiful, fresh look in 2022, other parts of the hotel and its rooms will be beneficiaries of some renovations this year.

It’s not just the deluxe resorts getting attention. Disney announced that the pirate-themed rooms at the Caribbean Beach moderate resort will transform into a new Little Mermaid-inspired look with muted Caribbean tones and nods to life under the sea. These rooms in the Trinidad section of the large resort will sleep five with a queen bed, a pulldown queen Murphy bed and a pulldown single sleeper.

DISNEY

While All-Star Movies and All-Star Music have been renovated in recent years, the third in the trio of value resorts, All-Star Sports, had been waiting its turn. But now renovations are underway for the All-Star Sports rooms, lobby and more, which we expect to have a similar feel to the other All-Star properties, albeit with a sporty twist.

Summer House on the Lake

We can’t leave Disney Springs off this list entirely, especially since it is getting a new restaurant in 2023, Summer House on the Lake. This restaurant has outposts in Chicago and Maryland, but it’s California-inspired with salads, pizzas, tacos and more.

While an exact date has not been announced, based on a look at construction this will likely open in the latter half of 2023 and will be located on the western side of Disney Springs near the AMC movie theater.

What to expect when visiting Disney World in 2023

So far, 2023 is shaping up to look a lot like 2022 at Walt Disney World. With the recent return of Bob Iger as Disney’s CEO and some (wishful) reading between the lines of things he has said, there is some hope of some simplification and relaxed restrictions in Disney World at some point in 2023, though for now, that remains a wish a heart makes.

As things stand right now, many pandemic-era operational procedures are still in place. For example, you cannot park hop until 2 p.m. and need a Park Pass reservation for the first park you wish to visit.

Genie+, the paid app-based FastPass replacement that enables you to access the shorter Lightning Lanes.Genie+ is now variably priced with rates that have varied from $15 to $29 per day at Disney World. In fact, we’ve now seen the first sell-out of Genie+ for the day at Disneyland.

KENT PHILLIPS/DISNEY

The price to visit Disney World now varies based on the park you want to visit, with Animal Kingdom as the lowest-priced park and Magic Kingdom as the highest price.

In broader Orlando news for 2023, the high-speed Brightline train should connect the city to South Florida later in the year, and the near-Disney Evermore Resort development (which includes a new Conrad hotel) has a planned summer 2023 debut.

While most Disney World restaurants, shows, hotels and more have reopened after the 2020 closure, some of the rules and complexities that were introduced that same year remain. If 2023 will be your first Disney World trip in a few years, this means you need to do some research in advance of your arrival to Main Street U.S.A.

Peeking ahead to Disney World in 2024

If you are deciding whether to make the trip to Disney World in 2023 vs. waiting until 2024, here’s a little peek into the slightly more distant future.

Splash Mountain, as we know it in Frontierland, will close for good in January 2023 to make room for the much-anticipated The Princess and the Frog retheme the attraction will undergo. That reimagined attraction is currently scheduled to debut in late 2024 as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

DISNEY

At Animal Kingdom, the Dinoland area is already undergoing some changes and construction and it is possible that the area will be rethemed into Zootopia or Moana, though details are still light, and that transformation could slip beyond 2024.

And while not specifically Disney World related, if you like to combine a theme park trip with a sailing on the newest Disney Cruise Line ship out of Port Canaveral, Disney Treasure is now under construction in Germany and is currently expected to join the fleet in 2024. This is the same year that construction on Disney’s second island in the Bahamas, Lighthouse Point, should be completed.

Bottom line

Big additions are coming to Disney World in 2023, most notably the spring opening of Tron at the Magic Kingdom. But beyond what we already know, the hope is that 2023 is the year Disney guests will learn of some big future developments coming to the parks.

In 2022 Disney publicly discussed some “big ideas” it was thinking about, including a potential land “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” at the Magic Kingdom, which could feature Encanto or Coco theme. Even a potential villain-themed area has been said out loud, though none of those would be for 2023 or likely even 2024 at this point.

DISNEY

However, with the 2020 pandemic closure well in the rearview and Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park on track for a 2025 opening, we look forward in 2023 to not only enjoying what’s new at Disney World this year but perhaps learning what is to come in the years beyond.

Watch live: House begins new Congress, elects Speaker

January 3, 2023 Published by

Just In | The Hill

Tuesday marks the first day of the 118th Congress and the biggest day for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), as the House of Representatives is set to vote for its new Speaker.

This is McCarthy’s second Speakership run after his fruitless 2015 bid, where he faced the same opposition from the right wing of the Republican Party he is expected to face for this bid. He was able to secure the nomination from the GOP, but McCarthy might not have the votes he needs to win Tuesday’s Speakership election.

Assuming a full House, McCarthy needs 218 votes to win the Speaker’s gavel. In a 222-213 Republican majority chamber, that means he can only afford to lose four GOP votes.

The vote is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Watch the live video above.

News, 118th Congress, house of representatives, Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House, Speakership vote Read More

America’s ‘strategic ambiguity’ on Taiwan gets more dangerous by the day

January 3, 2023 Published by Joseph Bosco, Opinion Contributor

Just In | The Hill

More than 24 years ago, The Washington Post became the first major newspaper to publish an opinion piece calling for an open U.S. commitment to defend Taiwan’s democratic sovereignty. It argued, “America’s policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ has failed. Only strategic clarity will prevent another dangerous miscalculation.”

The 1998 article followed the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, 1995-1996, when China fired missiles toward Taiwan, Washington sent carrier battle groups to the region, and a Clinton administration official called it “our own Cuban missile crisis; we had stared into the abyss.” But when Chinese officials asked how the U.S. would respond to an outright attack on Taiwan, a more senior official said, “We don’t know. … It would depend on the circumstances.”

Since then, scores of articles have appeared defending or assailing the ongoing ambiguity about Washington’s intentions to defend Taiwan. At the same time, the circumstances surrounding the situation across the Taiwan Strait have changed dramatically over the ensuing decades.

The danger to Taiwan and regional security has increased significantly, even beyond that fraught episode. Last week, a Chinese fighter jet aggressively maneuvered within 20 feet of a U.S. reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea, evoking the 2001 EP-3 collision under similar circumstances.

No longer is the Seventh Fleet present in force to guarantee Taiwan’s security, and Chinese submarines constantly patrol the waters. Anti-ship ballistic missiles of the People’s Liberation Army threaten U.S. and allied vessels with a “sea of fire” if they intervene to defend Taiwan.

Indeed, over the past 27 years, only one carrier battle group, the USS Kitty Hawk in 2007, has made the transit through the international Strait that the Seventh Fleet kept safe and open for decades until it was withdrawn as a preemptive concession to China by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger in 1972.

Except for a single passage by the USS Nimitz battle group in 1996, the U.S. Navy mostly avoided the Strait until 2006, when the George W. Bush administration learned of the self-imposed restraint and abruptly ended it.

When Beijing protested the Kitty Hawk’s 2007 passage through “Chinese waters,” Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of the Pacific Command, responded, “We don’t need China’s permission to go through the Taiwan Strait; it is international waters. We will exercise our free right of passage, whenever and wherever we choose, as we have done repeatedly in the past and will do in the future.”

Unfortunately, during the remaining two years of the Bush administration, eight years of Barack Obama, four years under Donald Trump, and two years so far of Joe Biden’s administration, no Navy battle group has returned to the Strait — even though at least two of China’s three new aircraft carriers pass unimpeded through those waters on a frequent basis.

U.S. carriers stayed away even during the “Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis” in August when China fired missiles and conducted air and sea maneuvers over and around Taiwan to protest a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Beijing’s show of force demonstrated that China has the ability and the will to attack Taiwan and/or to impose a strangling blockade on the island if it chooses.

Three weeks after the Chinese exercise, the U.S. sent two cruisers through the Strait to resume scheduled Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS) by combatant ships other than carriers, a program that was regularized by the Trump administration and expanded to monthly transits under Biden. But Beijing still entertains the wishful delusion that Washington may be bluffing. Under those conditions, a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan seems inevitable.

Biden has made several personal attempts to redress the harm caused by longstanding U.S ambiguity on Taiwan. Four times, he has pledged that the U.S. will defend Taiwan. But, as occurred when Bush and Trump gave similar indications, State Department and White House spokespersons repeatedly stated there was no change in U.S. policy. To add to the confusion, Biden himself has repeated the disclaimer of his own remarks.

Xi Jinping and his colleagues have grown accustomed to observing the disparity between U.S. actions and its rhetorical flourishes. They saw it when Washington guaranteed Ukraine’s security in 1997, prevailed upon NATO in 2008 to invite Ukraine and Georgia into the Alliance, and then acquiesced to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014.

They saw it in 2012 when Obama, with Biden as his vice president and foreign policy guru, set down an evanescent “red line” on Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons attacks against the Syrian people and on his regime’s tenure in power. Both “red lines” vanished when Putin sent Russian forces to prop up Assad.

They saw it again in 2021, when Biden and his team tried to deter Putin from invading Ukraine by threatening “harsh” and “extreme” economic sanctions, and then stood by as China technically complied while dramatically expanding its imports of discounted Russian oil. That financial workaround, legal under current sanctions regimes, effectively undermines the sanctions and keeps Putin’s war well-funded with Chinese money.

Yet, Biden is reluctant to criticize Beijing’s sleight-of-hand, even though it is consistent with China’s “moral,” political and diplomatic support for Russia. The joint statement by Xi and Putin in February, declaring the new cold war that both have been waging against the West for years, is now openly coordinated as a “no limits strategic partnership.” In Putin’s war against Ukraine and Xi’s rising threats against Taiwan, each supports the other against the West’s rules-based international order.

Last week, the two dictators held a virtual meeting where they reinforced their deepening alliance and blamed the West’s sanctions and “containment” policies for the increase in international tensions. Putin called for even closer military cooperation after the two militaries conducted joint live-fire exercises in the East China Sea last month.

The State Department expressed its “concern” about the ominous burgeoning relationship: “Beijing claims to be neutral, but its behavior makes clear it is still investing in close ties to Russia.”

Xi and Putin have learned that the one Biden signal they can rely on are statements of what he will not do. The shameful Afghanistan debacle after the Trump-Biden fulminations against “forever wars” remains a stain on U.S. credibility. Now they note his visceral aversion to either direct U.S. military intervention in Ukraine or to the provision of weapons Kyiv could use to strike military targets in Russia that are systematically destroying Ukraine’s vital infrastructure and threatening the survival of millions of men, women and children.

Observing Biden’s stalemate strategy in Ukraine, Xi is no doubt updating his plans for China’s aggression against Taiwan. Only a formal declaration of American determination to defend Taiwan will avoid a catastrophic Chinese miscalculation.

Joseph Bosco served as China country director for the secretary of Defense from 2005 to 2006 and as Asia-Pacific director of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief from 2009 to 2010. He served in the Pentagon when Vladimir Putin invaded Georgia and was involved in Department of Defense discussions about the U.S. response. Follow him on Twitter @BoscoJosephA.

International, Opinion Read More

What we've learned in 100 years since 1923

January 3, 2023 Published by Fox News

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

People speak of a new year as turning the page, or starting out fresh, or forgetting the past.

At the start of a new year, I like to look back a century ago to see what has changed and what hasn’t.

In 1923, America had finally recovered from the Spanish flu, which killed 675,000 in the U.S. and an estimated 50 million worldwide. If we learned anything from that plague, it wasn’t enough to have protected the 1.08 million Americans who have died from COVID-19 (through November according to the CDC).

The biggest political event of 1923 was the death of Warren Harding, which elevated Calvin Coolidge to the presidency. The centenary of his inauguration will be observed in several ways this year, but it is worth noting that virtually every economic principle held by Coolidge (smaller government, reduced spending — he left office with a budget surplus and a smaller budget than when he entered) has been thrown over to our national detriment and disgrace. Among my favorite Coolidge quotes is this one about government: “If we give the best that is in us to our private affairs we shall have little need of government aid.” If only that attitude prevailed today.

NEW YEAR’S QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THESE FACTS ABOUT RINGING IN A NEW YEAR

In the early 1920s, Rowell’s Directory calculated that there were more than 20,000 newspapers published in the United States, including dailies, weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies. As of 2018, there were 1,279 daily newspapers in the United States. One-third of large U.S. newspapers experienced layoffs in 2020, more than in 2019. More than eight in 10 Americans now get their “news” from digital devices, including social media. If we get the leadership we deserve, the decline in good journalism might have something to do with it.

One hundred years ago, the USSR was born. By the time of its collapse, an estimated 61 million people had been murdered with Josef Stalin said to be responsible for 43 million.

The last American troops left Germany following the end of World War I, but they would return 19 years later. Fascism was already on the rise in Germany and Italy in 1923.

Here’s a personal favorite: It became legal in 1923 for American women to wear trousers. Admit it, you never knew it had been illegal.

Harry Houdini freed himself from a straight jacket while hanging upside down. There must be a modern political analogy involving our upside-down economy and politics.

The Disney brothers launched their cartoon studio. It turned out that Washington was not the only Mickey Mouse operation.

The Senate issued its first report on the scandal known as Teapot Dome. More scandals would follow as they inevitably do when too many politicians hold too much power for too long. Term limits anyone?

In December 1923, President Coolidge delivered the first radio broadcast speech and at the end of the month the first transatlantic radio broadcast took place.

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There were conflicts, labor strikes and other problems we still experience today in one way or another. Air travel became easier and more available although safety was still a major concern in 1923.

Looking back 100 years at least two things are clear: While leaders and events may change, human nature never changes. As King Solomon wisely observed thousands of years ago, “There is nothing new under the sun.” A French saying echoes his observation: “plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.” The familiar English translation: The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Happy New Year!

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Russia planning ‘prolonged’ drone attack: Zelensky

January 3, 2023 Published by Sarakshi Rai

Just In | The Hill

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed in his New Year address to Ukrainians that Russia is planning a “prolonged” attack with drones supplied by Iran.

In an open letter published Monday, Zelensky said that since the start of 2023, the number of Iranian drones shot down over Ukraine numbers more than eighty.

“This number may increase in the near future. Because these weeks the nights can be quite restless. We have information that Russia is planning a prolonged attack with ‘Shaheds’. Its bet may be on exhaustion. On exhaustion of our people, our air defense, our energy sector,” he wrote.

Zelensky sought to provide hope and encouragement to Ukrainians and said that the Russian regime needs “mobilizing emotions” to demonstrate to their country that everything is going “according to the plan”.

“And our task is to give Ukraine every day successes, achievements, even small, yet victories over terrorists and terror. Each shot down drone, each shot down missile, each day with electricity for our people and minimal schedules of blackouts are exactly such victories,” he added.

Russia has also deployed a series of exploding drones around Kyiv during the New Year weekend, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Zelensky’s warning comes a week after Ukrainian forces reportedly fired rockets from a U.S.-provided HIMARS multiple launch system in the eastern Donetsk region where Russian soldiers were stationed.

According to a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry, 63 troops were killed. Ukraine claims it killed around 400 Russian troops. However, neither of these claims have been verified by the U.S.

The Associated Press added that this was one of the deadliest attacks on the Kremlin’s forces since the war began more than 10 months ago leading to renewed criticism within Russia over the war with Ukraine.

News, International, HIMARS, Iranian drones, Russia-Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky Read More

GOP Rep. Fallon set to file Mayorkas impeachment articles once new Congress sworn in

January 3, 2023 Published by Fox News

Rep. Pat Fallon is set to file impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as soon as the new Congress is sworn in and as the new House GOP majority gears up to fight the Biden administration.

Dozens of House Republicans, including Fallon of Texas, co-sponsored legislation to impeach Mayorkas in the previous Congress, largely owing to his handling of the border crisis. Fallon’s impeachment resolution, which includes three articles, cites similar reasons.

“Since day one, Secretary Mayorkas’s policies have undermined law enforcement activities at our southern border,” Fallon said in a statement to Fox News. “From perjuring himself before Congress about maintaining operational control of the border to the infamous ‘whip-gate’ slander against our border patrol agents, Secretary Mayorkas has proven time and time again that he is unfit to lead the Department of Homeland Security.”

Fallon’s first article alleges that Mayorkas has failed to faithfully execute the “Secure the Fence Act of 2006.” The impeachment article says that law “requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to “maintain operational control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the United States.”

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE RIPPED FOR CLAIMING BIDEN HAS WORKED TO SECURE THE BORDER: ‘MOST EGREGIOUS LIE I’VE HEARD’

The second article alleges that Mayorkas “in violation of his constitutional oath, willfully provided perjurious, false, and misleading testimony to Congress.” To back up that charge, the article quotes Mayorkas at April 26 and Nov. 15 congressional hearings in which he said the border was indeed secure.

The final of the three articles charges that Mayorkas “publicly and falsely slandered” border agents who were falsely accused of whipping Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, in 2021.

“The 511-page report by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Personal Responsibility found ‘no evidence that [Border Patrol agents] involved in this incident struck, intentionally or otherwise, any migrant with their reins,’” Fallon writes. “Secretary Mayorkas slandered his own Border Patrol agents and TXDPS Troopers involved in this incident, contributing to a further decrease in already-low morale among agents.”

Many Republicans say they would like to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
(Reuters/Michael A. McCoy/File)

ICE DEPORTATIONS REMAINED WELL BELOW TRUMP-ERA LEVELS IN FY 2022, AMID HISTORIC BORDER CRISIS

In response to previous calls to impeach Mayorkas, a DHS spokesperson said in November that calls to impeach the secretary amount to little more than finger-pointing from Congress.

“Secretary Mayorkas is proud to advance the noble mission of this Department, support its extraordinary workforce, and serve the American people,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Members of Congress can do better than point the finger at someone else; they should come to the table and work on solutions for our broken system and outdated laws, which have not been overhauled in over 40 years.”

BIDEN ADMIN FACING THIRD YEAR OF CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH UNCERTAIN IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN 2023

When asked previously if she stands by Mayorkas’ claims that the border is secure, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre backed up the Homeland Security secretary.

“We have historic funding to do just that, to make sure that … the folks that we encounter at the border be removed or expelled,” Jean-Pierre said. “We agree that the border is secure, but there is still more work to be done.”

Fallon will not actually be able to file his impeachment resolution until the House picks its speaker and swears in its members. That could take some time as remains unclear whether House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has enough votes to secure the speaker’s gavel.

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If McCarthy does not get a majority of the votes for speaker when the House opens Tuesday, the chamber must keep voting until someone reaches the majority threshold. It is not clear how long that could take.

However, even McCarthy has said he is for impeaching Mayorkas – likely a sign that the GOP will prioritize investigating the DHS leadership.

“[Mayorkas’] willful actions have eroded our immigration system, undermined border patrol morale, and jeopardized American national security,” Fallon wrote. “He has violated the law and it is time for him to go.”

Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

Kelly Phares is an Assignment Editor for Fox News in Washington, DC. Follow her on Twitter: @kellyfphares

source

Regulators in the Bahamas back their estimate on $3.5 billion in seized FTX crypto assets, saying the exchange’s counter-claim of $296 million is due to ‘incomplete information’

January 3, 2023 Published by [email protected] (Brian Evans)

Business Insider

Photo illustration by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Regulators in the Bahamas stood by their estimate on the $3.5 billion in crypto assets they seized from FTX.
They rejected FTX’s claims that the assets are worth just $296 million.
“Such public assertions by the Chapter 11 debtors were based on incomplete information,” the SCB said.

Regulators in the Bahamas are standing by their estimate of crypto assets seized from FTX, saying they are worth more than $3.5 billion.

The Securities Commission of the Bahamas pushed back against FTX’s own valuation of $296 million, saying “Such public assertions by the Chapter 11 debtors were based on incomplete information.”

The SCB said last month that it seized the FTX customer assets temporarily, transferring them to digital wallets under the control of regulators on November 12, a day after FTX filed for bankruptcy.

The move was aimed at safeguarding the assets, the regulator said, after more than $370 million were reportedly stolen from the crypto exchange in an apparent cyber attack after the firm went bust.

Regulators and FTX have been sparring over the SCB’s attempt to liquidate FTX Digital Markets and have sought records to expedite the process, but the company’s bankruptcy team has pushed back against the effort.

Meanwhile, FTX founder and former chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried is set to be arraigned in court on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.

Bankman-Fried is facing allegations of fraud in conjunction with mishandling client funds on FTX that were suspected to be commingled with trading firm Alameda Research.

Read the original article on Business Insider