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So much so, that she aims for a zero-waste Christmas by only giving people secondhand, homemade, or regifted presents. Some have called Hollie, 29, and her partner, Josh Cottrell, 32, ‘mean’ for their approach to present-giving, but the mum doesn’t care, as saving the world is far more important. She said: ‘I always come back to how I would feel if I was given a regifted present and I wouldn’t feel any different from getting a new one. ‘It’s not about giving away something you don’t like for the sake of it – you’re still putting thought into it.’ Regifting isn’t the only way Hollie is making her Christmas celebrations more environmentally friendly. All gifts will be wrapped in fabric rather than paper, using the Japanese art of furoshiki. Instead of a Christmas tree, Hollie has put up decorated sticks, and will serve vegan food free of plastic packaging on the big day. Of course, it’s not just Christmas when the family, made up of Hollie, Josh, and their three children; Alexis, 10, Zachary, eight, and Nox, two, make an effort towards sustainability. Hollie says she’s terrified of the implications climate change has for the future of her kids, and so since having Nox in 2018, she’s made an effort to cut down all waste. A key component of that lifestyle is using reusable nappies, along with choosing secondhand baby clothes and eco-friendly baby wipes. Hollie, who lives in Thornford, Dorset, said: ‘I have three children and I’m concerned for their future. We are really seeing the effects of climate change. ‘I really care about protecting our planet and everything on it. I live by the philosophy that no one is too small to make a difference.’Despite always being interested in the environment, it was having Nox that really triggered her journey into sustainable living, when she realised how much new stuff parents of new babies were expected to buy. ‘We wanted to make sure having a baby didn’t impact at all on the planet,’ she explained. ‘I chose to use reusable cloth nappies and everything else followed suit. ‘I started getting secondhand clothing for Nox and that kicked off a different way of shopping and living for the rest of us.’ Now, Hollie only buys secondhand clothing for her family, and resolved to buy nothing new in 2020. ‘The children only get wooden toys too, so we aren’t buying plastic. Usually, they will also be preloved,’ she added. In July this year, Hollie decided to start an Instagram challenge, calling on people to have a plastic-free month. ‘But keeping track of all the plastic waste really makes you realise how much of a challenge it is – and how we do it mindlessly.’ After the experiment’s success, the mum set herself another goal – to have a zero-waste Christmas. #Me and another account @earth_punk_mama, are running a photo challenge all month, asking people to get involved and share their ideas for how to have a zero-waste and eco-friendly Christmas,’ she said. ‘The first week, we focused on handmade things, so lots of people were sharing their ideas for handmade gifts and decorations. ‘Last week, the theme was secondhand, and this week is about food and how we can lower our waste in that area.’ Hollie hopes that she can break the taboo around regifting and get more people thinking about sustainability when celebrating Christmas. And following the news that many families will be unable to see each other at Christmas this year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Hollie advised people to freeze, give away and donate excess food, to save food wastage. ‘The main thing is donating it to food banks,’ she said. ‘If you can, donate or regift it. Don’t just cook it all for the sake of it! ‘There are also two apps I use and would really recommend – Olio and Too Good To Go – where you can upload your surplus food for local collection to other app users. ‘They could be such a valuable resource for so many feeling overwhelmed by the extra food and not able to get to a food bank.’ Hollie has calculated that her eco and meat-free Christmas is costing her just £80 – for the family’s full meal and all the presents for her children and relatives. While Hollie admits that it is not practical to live a completely waste-free life – especially with three young children – she wants to encourage people to make small changes that will add up and have a big cumulative impact on the planet. ‘If you can, donate or regift it. Don’t just cook it all for the sake of it! ‘There are also two apps I use and would really

The highest Covid death toll since April and the discovery of a second new variant of the virus have led to stark warnings that ministers are acting too slowly by waiting until Boxing Day to put 6 million more people into the toughest restrictions. A swathe of England will be placed under lockdown-like tier 4 curbs from Saturday, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, announced as the UK recorded 744 deaths – the highest since late April – and 39,237 cases. In total, 42% of England – nearly 24 million people – will be in tier 4 with a further 44% (nearly 25 million) in tier 3. With the virus surging 57% across the country in a week, and the R number rising to 1-1.3, the Isles of Scilly are the only area remaining in tier 1 The introduction of new measures on Boxing Day will leave millions of people in the worst-affected areas free to mix indoors with up to three households on Christmas Day when restrictions are eased for 24 hours. One expert warned the delay of “critical days” will mean “case numbers are going to be much, much higher” and “much more difficult to bring down”. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have announced nationwide restrictions in recent days in an attempt to contain the new variant announced last week, which emerged in Kent and is said to be up to 70% more infectious. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health confirmed a positive test in the region for the new variant of Covid-19 that was first detected in Great Britain. Advertisement During a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday to unveil the new tier moves, Hancock revealed details of a second Covid variant linked to South Africa that had been found in the UK. Late on Wednesday, the UK government announced that visitors from South Africa, or those who have passed through the country in the last 10 days, would be barred from entering England from 9am on Christmas Eve and direct flights would be banned. The ban excludes cargo and freight without passengers and also does not include British and Irish nationals, visa holders and permanent residents, who can still enter but must self-isolate along with their household for 10 days. Hancock also said coronavirus cases had risen 57% across the country in the last week, with nearly 19,000 in hospital with the virus. Hancock added: “Against this backdrop of rising infections, rising hospitalisations and rising numbers of people dying from coronavirus it is absolutely vital that we act. We simply cannot have the kind of Christmas that we all yearn for.” He also said: “We know that the three-tiered system worked to control the old variant and is working now in large parts of the country, especially in northern England. But we also know that tier 3 is not enough to control the new variant. This is not a hypothesis, it is a fact and we’ve seen it on the ground.” Dr Andrew Preston, reader in microbial pathogenesis at the University of Bath, said: “The situation is fast-moving and requires decisive decision-making. Today, the government has recognised that the situation is continuing to deteriorate in many areas and that tougher restrictions are required if the hope is to contain it. “With cases rising so quickly, the delay of three critical days – with new tiering not taking effect until Boxing Day – will mean that by then case numbers are going to be much, much higher and as a result much, much more difficult to bring down. If containment is the focus, then unfortunately, the restrictions need to be immediate, despite the fallout this will cause.” Before the announcement, Christina Pagel, professor of operational research at University College London, said waiting until Boxing Day to put more areas into tier 4 was too slow. She told Times Radio: “We are in an incredibly dangerous situation … If we just wait and we let it spread to the north, where things are much more under control, then the whole country is on fire and I just feel like we have to stop it now and protect the north from the south, effectively.” She added: “We’re constantly behind the curve. I think we have to put the whole country in tier 4 today, especially in those tier 2 areas around tier 4 that are just going through the roof. Why are we letting people mix at Christmas? You are just asking for trouble.” … just when we need it the most. Millions of readers around the world are flocking to the Guardian in search of honest, authoritative, fact-based reporting that can help them understand the biggest challenge we have faced in our lifetime. But at this crucial moment, news organisations are facing a cruel financial double blow: with fewer people able to leave their homes, and fewer news vendors in operation, we’re seeing a reduction in newspaper sales across the UK. Advertising revenue continues to fall steeply meanwhile as businesses feel the pinch. We need you to help fill the gap. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to vital public service journalism. So, unlike many others, we made a different choice: to keep Guardian journalism open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. This would not be possible without financial contributions from those who can afford to pay, who now support our work from 180 countries around the world. Reader financial support has meant we can keep investigating, disentangling and interrogating. It has protected our independence, which has never been so critical. We are so grateful. We need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. And that is here for the long term. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable.

The coronavirus pandemic is having a far-reaching effect on the automobile industry. The pandemic not only hampered sales but also disrupted the global supply chain. And let's not discount the financial and economic impacts of the coronavirus. A combination of this has compelled automakers in India to increase the prices of their vehicles from the next year. Carmakers like Maruti Suzuki, Kia, Mahindra, Renault, and Honda have decided to make their vehicles costlier from the next year. Adding to this list is BMW Group, which has decided to hike the prices of BMW and MINI cars' price in India. This price increment will come into effect from 4 January and will make the cars expensive by up to two per cent. Just like other carmakers, even BMW has ascribed the price hike to increasing input costs. It must be noted that BMW is not only the only luxury brand that has announced an impending price hike; Audi India too will make its entire portfolio costlier by up to two per cent from 1 January, 2021. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India, said, "In an unprecedented year, the company has been focused on providing best-in-class products and unparalleled services to its esteemed clientele. From January 4, 2021, BMW Group India will introduce the new pricing for BMW and MINI portfolio, increasing the prices marginally by up to 2 per cent to offset the increasing input costs."BMW's current lineup in India includes locally assembled vehicles like 2 Series Gran Coupe, 3 Series, 3 Series GT, 5 Series,6 Series GT, and SUVs like X1, X3, X5, and X7. The company's portfolio also includes models like 8 Series Gran Coupe, X6, Z4, M2, M5 Competiton, X3 M, and X5 M, all of which reach our shores via CBU (completely built-up) route. Besides these, the group also retails MINI three-door version, MINI five-door version, Cooper, Clubman, etc.

To say that tech has become monumental in our lives in the last year would be an understatement. For so many people, our laptops, phones and smart watches have been instrumental in doing our jobs, keeping in touch with loved ones and even prioritising a bit of self-care when everything got too much. But while we’ve been relying on tech to maintain as normal routine as possible in lockdown, we’ve also been assessing our relationship with it. Shows like The Social Dilemma have made us all more conscious of our social media use, and being so virtually connected has sparked tons of discussions around screen time. Quite ironically, the answer to our problems appears to be more tech, or rather, mindful tech. Speaking to women about how they utilise tech to manage their hectic lifestyles, from helping them get their jobs done to reminding them it’s time to kick their feet up, it seems that tech has gone from being our source of entertainment to our very own personal assistant. So whether you’re re-evaluating your relationship with tech or just need some time-saving tips, here’s how we’re all using our tech to manage our obscenely busy lives right now… ‘It might feel counterintuitive to say my Apple Watch has transformed my screen time for the better, but it’s been a godsend,’ says Amy, from Adelaide, Australia. ‘I can lock my phone in a draw and ignore it without fear of missing a calendar reminder or important WhatsApp message and I don’t have to risk being sucked into a two hour doom scroll on Twitter.’ ‘I’ve set the reminder app as a widget on my iPhone home screen so every morning when I wake up and look at my phone I’m faced with my to do list,’ says Lillian. ‘It’s great, especially given how many times I look at my phone, it’s always there. It just forces me to focus in one what I actually have to do that day and not waste any time, so it all gets done much more efficiently and I can actually enjoy the rest of the day!’ ‘When the nurseries closed in lockdown I had to balance childcare and working from home so the iPad became my saving grace,’ says Vicky, from Liverpool. ‘My daughter is obsessed with it, so I would throw on an educational TV show or YouTube video (and the occasional kinder egg unboxing video, don't ask) and she could sit right next to me engrossed in her shows while I worked away. Getting those few hours of peace meant I could often finish work early and spend actual quality time with her later on.’ ‘I use the “bedtime” function on my iPhone now because it really helps me not look at it so much in the evening and properly wind down,’ says Jessica, from Bath. ‘The aim is that I actually put my phone down at a certain time and don’t lie there watching TikToks all night, and it’s really helped. Just laying out that boundary helps me stop my work and social life bleeding into the time I’m meant to be winding down.’ ‘I don't have loads of time to keep up to date with the news and current affairs since having my son, so I totally rely on listening to news podcasts,’ says Rebecca, from London. ‘If I’m going for a run or taking him out for a walk in the pram, it really helps me to keep up to date with what's going on. That’s felt so important especially in the last year but also for my job. Plus, it feels like I'm carving out a bit of time for myself even when I'm just going for a walk to the supermarket.’ ‘I didn’t realise how unhealthy my social media usage was until watching The Social Dilemma and I started to add up how much time I spent mindlessly scrolling,’ says Emma, from Brighton. ‘I deleted all the apps off my iPhone and moved them onto my iPad so that I have to make a conscious choice to go and get the iPad when I want to scroll social media. It’s been life-changing if I’m honest, I’ve freed up so much more time in the day and I don’t feel the temptation, or rather dread, of a scrolling binge when I go on my iPhone.’ Life coach Rebecca Lockwood agrees this is a great way to re-establish your relationship with social media. ‘Removing social media apps from your smart phone onto an iPad makes them less distracting,’ she says. ‘You’ll be able to engage in them properly and effectively when you choose to give time to them rather than reacting to notifications.’ ‘I didn’t realise how little exercise I was doing, and how unfit I was, until I was given my Apple Watch last Christmas,’ says Michaela from Liverpool. ‘Even just knowing how many steps you’ve done that day or how your activity has changed overtime is so useful in encouraging you to get out the house – particularly in lockdown. It helped me realise I needed to make time for some exercise first thing in the morning which has forced me to prioritise a bit of self-care and to be honest, has made me way more productive at work too. ’

The Spanish Health Ministry reported on Monday 22,013 new coronavirus cases and added 334 deaths to the official toll, bringing the total to 49,260. This covers deaths and infections reported on Saturday and Sunday as data is not released over the weekend. According to Monday’s report, the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants has risen to 224, up from 214 on Friday. The total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 1,819,249. In the last 24 hours, 2,156 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed. The highest number was reported by Catalonia, with 474, followed by Madrid, with 294. The number of Covid-19 patients who have been hospitalized in the past seven days has risen to 2,041, while 154 people have been admitted into intensive care units (ICUs). There are currently 11,431 Covid-19 patients in hospital, which equates to an occupancy rate of 9.4%, up from 9.14% on Friday. In ICUs, Covid-10 patients occupy 20% of all beds. Spain’s secretary of state for health, Silvia Calzón, noted the slight increase in new daily coronavirus cases since Friday, but said this could be due to delays in notification over the weekend. Even so, the seven-day incidence rate of the coronavirus represented “an upward trend that should continue to worry us,” she said, explaining that it could place hospitals under more pressure in the coming days. The Balearic Islands continues to be the region with the highest incidence rate, reporting a 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants of 406, up from 338 on Friday. The archipelago is followed by Madrid, with 300 cases, up from 276 on Friday, and Extremadura, with 280, a rise of 18 points in three days. The territory with the lowest incidence rate is the North African exclave city of Ceuta, with 106, down 24 points since Friday, followed by the Canary Islands and Andalusia, with 133 and 138, respectively. La Rioja has the highest occupancy rate in ICUs, with Covid-19 patients occupying 35% of intensive care beds, followed by Castilla y León (29%), Catalonia (28%) and Madrid (26%). The territories with the lowest ICU occupancy rate are Galicia (7%), the Canary Islands (11%) and Ceuta (12%) Spaniards more willing to get vaccinated According to the survey from the CIS research institute, released on Monday, the percentage of Spaniards unwilling to get vaccinated against the coronavirus straight away has fallen from 47% in November to 28% – a drop of 19 percentage points in just a month. The poll, which interviewed 3,817 people, was carried out between December 1 and 9 – a period which covers in part the beginning of the vaccination drive in the United Kingdom. According to the results, 40.5% of respondents said they were willing to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine became available, up from 36.8% in November. The survey was published on the same day the European Commission formally approved the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The Spanish government has announced that the immunization drive will begin on December 27. English version by Melissa Kitson.

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BMW Group India on Monday informed that it will revise prices for all BMW and MINI models from January 4 of the new year. The prices will be hikes by up to two per cent across all models. Blaming input costs, BMW states that it has become necessary to pull up prices from next month onwards. ". From 4 January 2021, BMW Group India will introduce the new pricing for BMW and MINI portfolio, increasing the prices marginally by up to 2% to offset the increasing input costs," said Vikram Pawah, President at BMW Group India. "This will ensure that customer satisfaction, dealer profitability and sustainable growth, which are fundamentals of a successful business, remain strong." BMW currently offers 8 Series Gran Coupe, BMW X6, BMW Z4, BMW M2 Competition, BMW M5 Competition, BMW M8 Coupe, BMW X3 M and BMW X5 M in the country. Mini dealerships have MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door, MINI Convertible, MINI Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Hatch on offer.Car makers like Maruti, Honda, Renault, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ford - among others, have also announced price hikes on their products on offer. Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp has also announced that it will increase price of its vehicles by up to ₹1,500 from January 1, 2021 to offset the impact of rising input costs. Among luxury car makers, Audi will also hike the ex showroom prices of its models while others are expected to follow. The good news though is that the new year brings with it the promise of new launches galore, widening the choice Indian buyers have in most passenger vehicles' segments.Audi India is also offering a four-year Comprehensive Service Package on pre-bookings of the A4. The luxury sport sedan's launch is slated for early 2021.2020 has been a massively challenging year for the world at large and the automotive industry in particular. And yet, some massively powerful launches gave the Indian car market both a sense of purpose and some definitive direction.The Cub D4 Decor helmet claims to provide maximum all-round head protection and a quick release chin strap. The helmet gets a hypoallergic liner which seeks to protect riders from allergies or infections arising from continuous contact. The Gravitas SUV will appeal to buyers seeking a three-row SUV. Tata Motors will likely announce the pricing of the Gravitas SUV in the first quarter of 2021. Tata Gravitas will be a rival to the likes of Hector Plus. The drive was launched in a bid to check on the rising number of incidents involving vehicles used for kidnapping, looting dacoity, among other such nefarious acts. The drive was launched in a bid to check on the rising number of incidents involving vehicles used for kidnapping, looting dacoity, among other such nefarious acts. Bihar has a high crime record and in many instances, vehicles - more than firearms - become the main weapon used to carry out illegal acts. This is especially true in the case of grab-and-get kidnapping cases or to transport illegal substances from one location to another.

Living alone is becoming more common. According to the Asia Research Institute, the one-person household is the fastest-growing type of household in Asia. That’s because there are serious perks to living alone. You have your own space; you control your time, and no one will judge you for lounging in your pajamas all day. You can also avoid being interrupted by unwanted disruptions during your weekly Zoom calls. In a COVID-19 altered world, Malaysians are now spending most of their time at home – whether that’s learning how to cook their favourite restaurant dishes using DIY cooking kits, growing their own vegetables and plants, or simply seeking shelter from the outside. If this is your first time living alone or you’re looking for tips to improve your home living experience, here are some tips to help create a living environment that works for you.Here are some tips to keep you safe while living alone: Don’t forget to change the locks before you move in. For those of you who are renting, ask your landlord if they change locks in between rentals. If not, you can always offer to pay for it. It’s a worthwhile investment if you don’t want any uninvited visitors during your occupancy. Find out if there are any in-built home security features such as CCTV cameras, motion sensors, and home alarm systems that can boost the security of your new home. Stay in touch with your neighbours by joining an online chat group so you can get regular updates on what is happening around you. Have a first-aid kit on hand so you are prepared for minor accidents and injuries at home. Your first-aid kit should include essentials such as different sized bandages/plasters, sterile gauze dressings, a digital thermometer, and antiseptic cream. Now that you’re on your own, make sure you brush up on basic first aid skills too.As remote working becomes commonplace, it’s time you designated an actual home workspace that isn’t your kitchen countertop or bedroom. If possible, also invest in computer monitors, keyboards, and laptop stands that will promote good posture and make it easier for you to work from home.According to cognitive scientist Anja Jamrozi, there are five essentials for working well: having good access to natural light, a comfortable temperature, good air quality, comfy furniture, and a strategy to minimize distractions. You should try setting apart your workspace from the rest of the house by picking a corner or a room and dedicating that space as your new office. This creates boundaries and lets your mind know where to work and where to rest, promoting a healthier work-life balance. Want to add a splash of colour to your home? Try using a proper paint tape like the ScotchBlue™ Original Painter’s Tape to create the perfect geometric feature wall. This painter’s tape a great painting tool as it resists paint bleeding and removes easily after the paint dries, leaving you with a fine and crisp line art. Who needs virtual backgrounds for conference calls when you’ve got such an amazing real-life backdrop?A house isn’t a home until you’ve made it yours. According to Marie Kondo, an internationally renowned organizing guru who stars on Netflix: “The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.” Make room for the things that matter now by being intentional with what you keep and where you keep them. Declutter and organise along the way so your house won’t be a mess a few years from now. A good example of a space you can declutter is the bathroom, kitchen, and storeroom which can be a sanctuary or a battlefield depending on how it is organised. Visual appeal is key to making your space work, so don’t just scatter your items all over. Instead, make use of vertical spaces so everything can be kept neatly without taking up your floor space. Command™ products are made for that purpose, and now you can organize your belongings without the need to drill. Want to change the position of the hooks? Just pull the strips to remove the hooks and it will not leave any residue behind. Extra plus points for those of you who are renting!The general rule is that you should clean as you go to avoid big piles of mess. To help inculcate a good cleaning habit, invest in efficient, easy-to-use, and long-lasting household cleaning tools. Here are some tips for a stress-free clean-up during cooking and cleaning: Smelly kitchen scourers that are not very effective? Invest in quality kitchen scourers like Scotch-Brite™ Scrub Dots that can cut through tough stains, repel residue, and resist unpleasant odours. Dust allergy acting up when you sweep? When sweeping with a traditional broom, dust tends to take flight which can put you in a sneezing fit and at the same time cause the dirt to just settle elsewhere. Good quality sweepers are usually expandable and come with a refillable disposable cleaning cloth that attracts dust, dirt, and hair so they won’t fall out once it is picked up.It is important to invest in a good quality water filtration system to improve the overall household water quality. Be sure to purchase water filters from trusted brands like 3M through their authorized partners to avoid buying counterfeit products. Look for products that offer features like easy-change cartridges, comprehensive warranty, and adhere to NSF international standards and protocol.Living alone doesn’t mean being lonely, and social distancing doesn’t mean emotionally disconnecting from others. You’d be surprised how a dinner over Zoom can pick you up and help you feel better. Always reach out when you need support or if you just need to be alone, try picking up a project to work on. “Our homes play a large role in our self-care,” said Joanna Townsend, a life coach and a Washington D.C.-based psychotherapist for Blush Online Life Coaching. So, remember this the next time you pick up a project to improve your home. You’re not only working on making your house a home, but you’re also working on yourself. There’s no place like home! It’s up to you to cultivate an internal space that will help you to become the best version of yourself, regardless of the external circumstance.

A new strain of coronavirus is sweeping across southern England, spurring heightened restrictions in the region and flight bans within Europe and globally. So what do we know about the new virus mutation? Over the weekend, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the fast-moving new variant of the virus is 70% more transmissible than existing strains, and appears to be driving a rapid spike in new infections in London and southern England. However, "there's no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness," or that vaccines would be less effective against it, he said. Britain has alerted the World Health Organization that the new strain — identified last week — is the likely cause of the surge in infections, accounting for around 60% of London's cases. Just over 1,100 COVID-19 cases with the new variant had been identified as of Sunday, according to a statement from Public Health England. The strain was also detected in South Africa last week.New lockdown announced In response to the surge, Johnson has announced a stay-at-home order for the capital and southeast England until at least December 30 to slow the spread of the disease. "We're learning about it as we go, but we already know enough, more than enough, to be sure that we must act now," Johnson said during a press conference on Saturday. "When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defense." "Given how much faster this new variant spreads, it's going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out," Health Minister Matt Hancock told Sky News on Sunday.New strain is more contagious Virus mutations are not unusual, and scientists have already found thousands of different mutations among coronavirus samples. However, the majority of these mutations have no effect on how easily the virus spreads or the severity of the symptoms. Last month, millions of mink were discovered to be carrying a variant of COVID-19. In October, researchers also found evidence that a coronavirus variant had originated in Spain and spread through Europe. However, neither of the strains were found to increase the spread of the disease. When the UK's new strain was first detected last week, health officials were debating whether the rapid spread of the virus was due to widespread carelessness or the contagiousness of the strain itself. After further investigation, scientists found that the new strain is, in fact, significantly more transmissible. However, they don't believe the variant leads to an increase in cases of severe illness or more serious side effects. Researchers are still evaluating whether the strain will be more or less receptive to the vaccines currently being rolled out. No formal conclusions have been made, although health authorities have said it is unlikely that the mutation would hinder the vaccines' effectiveness. Richard Neher of the University of Basel's Biozentrum in Switzerland has said vaccines generate an immune response against several virus characteristics at the same time. Therefore, even if one of those characteristics changes, the immune system would still be able to recognize the pathogen and protect the vaccine recipient. "I don't see any reason for alarm at the moment," Neher told the dpa news agency, adding that it was still necessary to monitor further developments.In response to the rapid spread of the virus in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands has banned all passenger flights from Britain until at least January 1. The ban, which took effect at 6 a.m. (5 a.m. GMT) on Sunday, came just hours after Britain announced the new stay-at-home order. The Dutch public health body, the RIVM, recommended "that any introduction of this virus strain from the United Kingdom be limited as much as possible by limiting and/or controlling passenger movements." "Over the next few days, together with other EU member states, [the government] will explore the scope of further limiting the risk of the new strain of the virus being brought over from the UK," the statement said. Several other countries, including Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Israel and Canada later followed suit.

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Over the past few years, we've complained plenty that today's BMW four-doors shy away from the sports-sedan greatness of the previous-generation models. As the brand's SUVs continue to ratchet up the sporting attitude, its sedans—particularly ones without an M in their alphanumeric names—are left to play a different role, catering to buyers who are specifically looking for a comfortable, long-distance cruiser. While the 3-series still offers a decent level of driving satisfaction, the larger 5- and 7-series cars have evolved (or devolved, depending on your perspective) into ultimate comfort machines. Although that's disappointing news for driving enthusiasts, we acknowledge that there's room in this world for quietly competent, sedately mannered luxury sedans, and the 2021 5-series receives a number of enhancements to further that mission.A larger front grille, more aggressively styled headlamps, and new wheel designs give the 2021 model a fresh, expensive-looking appearance. Inside, BMW added a larger 12.3-inch infotainment display with in-dash navigation, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay all offered at no extra charge. New perforated faux-leather upholstery with contrast stitching dresses up the modestly equipped models. Our test vehicle, a well-equipped all-wheel-drive 540i xDrive ringing in at $78,235, came with the optional nappa leather—in a lovely mocha-brown hue—as well as the Luxury Seating package ($1000), which includes 20-way adjustable front seats with heat and ventilation.The 540i's wide body translates to a spacious cabin with room for four adults to travel in comfort. Although we wish the interior design offered more flair than the less expensive 3- and 2-series models, its material quality and precise construction are appreciated. The 20-way adjustable seats provide plenty of options to dial in just the right driving position, but our tester's thrones lacked the $1000 massage function to pamper our backsides.Still, the 540i's subdued driving nature, luxe curb appeal, and first-class cabin make for a great executive car, especially for those days when a restful commute home is really all that matters. To that end, BMW's myriad driver-assistance features can work to mitigate your gridlock-induced stress. The $1700 Driving Assistant Plus package is worth getting, as it includes adaptive cruise control with a traffic-jam assistant feature, allowing the 540i to follow the cars ahead through bumper-to-bumper logjams. It's telling that we'd recommend an option that makes you even less involved with driving the car. There was a time when any 5-series, regardless of powerplant or suspension package, was a sports sedan by default. But that era ended about a decade ago, with the departure of the Bangle-designed fifth-gen 5-series. So, perhaps it's time for us to accept that BMW's mid-size four-door is no longer inherently aggressive and instead appreciate the 5-series as it is now—a imperious cruiser with understated power. And if you long for a 5-series that delivers on the promise of a BMW sports sedan, the M5 still exists.

Running a brick-and-mortar store during the pandemic has been a roller coaster ride for countless independent retailers across America, including Jill Lindsey. She had to close her eponymous storefront in Brooklyn, N.Y.—a combo fashion boutique, cafe, and wellness center—for more than three months. Relief from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program totaled less than one month’s rent. Most of her employees moved away. In April, Lindsey sat on her store’s cement floor trying to come to terms with the reality that her dream might fail—through no fault of her own. Since she opened in 2014, the business has been profitable every year. Meanwhile, New York City small business revenue dropped 36% and the number of small businesses open decreased 22%, from January to June, according to a recent report from advisory firm Next Street. “If I’m not meant to do this, universe, take it—but hopefully, give me something better,” she recalls thinking.The universe responded the next day, when the SBA deposited into her bank account an economic injury disaster loan of about $98,000 she applied to in March. She reopened in July. Since then, sales have been better than before the pandemic, even though the store is operating on reduced hours, says Lindsey. October revenue, for example, was about $10,000 more than the same month drew last year. “When the pandemic really hit, everyone was like” ‘Pivot, pivot, pivot. Pivot this, pivot that.’ The more I kept listening to that, the more I thought, I love what I do. I don't want to pivot.” She attributes the increase to customers eager to keep her in business. To them, the shop is “more than a store: It’s a healing space; a connecting space,” Lindsey says. With the pandemic worsening and many brick-and-mortar stores still in coronavirus limbo, Lindsey is nonetheless managing a modest expansion. In mid-November, she opened a second location in Manhattan’s iconic Rockefeller Center. While it doesn’t have a cafe or a wellness space as the Brooklyn location does, Lindsey became the first woman to open her own independent retail shop at the famous complex. “It was a weird thing to announce it, because I feel bad for all the small businesses in the city that had to close,” she says. The deal for the 1,500 square-foot street-level space is for six months. Instead of paying a fixed rent, Lindsey shares a portion of her sales with Tishman Speyer, the real estate company that owns and manages Rockefeller Center. The complex has about 100 retailers and restaurants and a vacancy rate of roughly 6%. “I negotiated hard on the percentage, and I got what I wanted,” she says. The recently launched initiative makes spaces available temporarily to independent New York businesses at an affordable cost, says EB Kelly, a managing director for Tishman Speyer who oversees the center. The program, which has been in the works for several years, is “a way to open new stores in the middle of Covid—something that almost no one is doing,” Kelly says. It “reduces the upfront capital that can be so burdensome to the launch of a new business.” Lindsey’s Rock Center expansion didn't happen overnight; she's been in discussions with Tishman Speyer about renting space there for several years. She had a separate location for roughly two years at a Malibu, Calif., hotel until the hotel was sold. She was about to open a 5,000-square-foot location in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood in 2017, but it didn’t work out. Lindsey now is looking at leasing a large long-term space in Rock Center that will include a café and a wellness center—and an exclusive on providing wellness services in the complex.Getting investors to help her go national is her next step. If curated the “right way, it’s a concept that can work in any place with a community of makers,” she says. “It’s proven by the fact the business has been profitable every year.” She’s mostly eschewing e-commerce. Online sales have increased a bit from doing deliveries while the store was temporarily closed but still account for a small fraction of her revenue. The whole point of the store is for people to come hang out, have a coffee or a glass of wine, take a class, get a tarot card reading, buy a piece of jewelry made by a neighbor, says Lindsey. “Online shopping isn’t for every single person.” On a brisk morning a few days after opening her Manhattan location, Lindsey shares the origin stories of a few of the locally-made products she stocks. She plans to interview the entrepreneurs behind them and others on a new weekly podcast Tishman Speyer wants her to host. Then she describes her next location: A popup space a local business group is giving her at an outdoor market that lasts through Christmas near her original Brooklyn location. To make it all happen, she now has three full-timers and four part-timers. “I am what people call a manifester,” Lindsey says. “If I put my energy into something and it’s positive, it generally happens.” Lindsey’s advice to fellow business owners: Don’t pivot if it makes you miserable. “Do what you have to do to survive, but ground yourself in what makes you happy and why you’re doing your business to begin with,” she says. The pandemic prompted her to stop for the first time since launching to assess. The time spent reflecting strengthened her resolve to stick to her original vision, instead of trying to create an online version of her business. Be open to sharing your costs. Be candid with customers. A few years ago, she shared with New York magazine the “nitty-gritties” of her earnings and costs. “It was true numbers: This is what it costs to run my business in New York City,” Lindsey says. She believes more people would shop more at local small businesses than they already do if businesses shared “what it really takes to do what you do.” Be wary of sales. “It is a rare occasion that I will allow anything to be put on sale because I feel like, just because it was a season late, doesn't mean that it isn't worth the actual price of what it cost to be made,” she says. “Unfortunately, in the United States it’s expensive to make stuff.” Four years ago, instead of doing Black Friday, Lindsey started doing Rainbow Friday. She’s still doing it. “The idea is to celebrate paying full price for people to actually make things with their heart and their soul.” For more stories, strategies, and advice for Main Street business owners, check out the Bloomberg Businessweek Small Business Survival Guide.

A new strain of coronavirus is sweeping across southern England, spurring heightened restrictions in the region and flight bans within Europe. So what do we know about the new virus mutation? UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the fast-moving new variant of the virus is 70% more transmissible than existing strains, and appears to be driving a rapid spike in new infections in London and southern England. However, "there's no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness," or that vaccines would be less effective against it, he said. Britain alerted the World Health Organization that the new strain — identified last week — was the likely cause of the surge in infections, accounting for around 60% of London's cases. Just over 1,100 Covid-19 cases with the new variant had been identified as of Sunday, according to a statement from Public Health England. The strain was also detected in South Africa last week.New lockdown announced In response to the surge, Johnson announced a stay at home order for the capital and southeast England, until at least December 30, to slow the spread of the disease. "We’re learning about it as we go, but we already know enough, more than enough, to be sure that we must act now," Johnson said during a press conference on Saturday. "When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defense." "Given how much faster this new variant spreads, it's going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out," Health Minister Matt Hancock told Sky News.New strain is more contagious Virus mutations are not unusual, and scientists have already found thousands of different mutations among coronavirus samples. However, the majority of these mutations have no effect on how easily the virus spreads or how severe symptoms are. Last month, millions of mink were discovered to be carrying a variant of COVID-19. In October, researchers also found evidence that a coronavirus variant originated in Spain and spread through Europe. However, neither of the strains were found to increase the spread of the disease. When the UK's new strain first appeared last week, health officials were debating whether the rapid spread of the virus was due to widespread carelessness or the contagiousness of the strain itself. After further investigation, scientists found that the new strain is, in fact, significantly more transmissible. However, the variant does not lead to an increase in cases of severe illness, and does not cause more serious side effects. Researchers are still evaluating whether the strain will be more or less receptive to the vaccines currently being rolled out. No formal conclusions have been made, although health authorities have said that it was unlikely that the mutation would hinder the vaccines' effectiveness. Richard Neher of the University of Basel's Biozentrum in Switzerland and Andreas Bergthaler from the Austrian Academy of Academy of Sciences (CeMM) in Vienna have said the vaccines generate an immune response against several virus characteristics at the same time. Therefore, even if one of those characteristics changes, the immune system would still be able to recognize the pathogen and protect the vaccine recipient. "I don't see any reason for alarm at the moment," Neher said, but added it was necessary to monitor further developments. In response to the rapid spread of the virus in the UK, the Netherlands banned all passenger flights from Britain until at least January 1. The ban, which took effect at 6 a.m. (5 a.m. GMT) on Sunday, came just hours after Britain announced the new stay at home order. The Dutch public health body, the RIVM, therefore "recommends that any introduction of this virus strain from the United Kingdom be limited as much as possible by limiting and/or controlling passenger movements." "Over the next few days, together with other EU member states, [the government] will explore the scope of further limiting the risk of the new strain of the virus being brought over from the UK," the statement said. Several other countries, including Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Ireland, later followed suit.

Over the past few years, we've complained plenty that today's BMW four-doors shy away from the sports-sedan greatness of the previous-generation models. As the brand's SUVs continue to ratchet up the sporting attitude, its sedans—particularly ones without an M in their alphanumeric names—are left to play a different role, catering to buyers who are specifically looking for a comfortable, long-distance cruiser. While the 3-series still offers a decent level of driving satisfaction, the larger 5- and 7-series cars have evolved (or devolved, depending on your perspective) into ultimate comfort machines. Although that's disappointing news for driving enthusiasts, we acknowledge that there's room in this world for quietly competent, sedately mannered luxury sedans, and the 2021 5-series receives a number of enhancements to further that mission. A larger front grille, more aggressively styled headlamps, and new wheel designs give the 2021 model a fresh, expensive-looking appearance. Inside, BMW added a larger 12.3-inch infotainment display with in-dash navigation, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay all offered at no extra charge. New perforated faux-leather upholstery with contrast stitching dresses up the modestly equipped models. Our test vehicle, a well-equipped all-wheel-drive 540i xDrive ringing in at $78,235, came with the optional nappa leather—in a lovely mocha-brown hue—as well as the Luxury Seating package ($1000), which includes 20-way adjustable front seats with heat and ventilation.The 540i's wide body translates to a spacious cabin with room for four adults to travel in comfort. Although we wish the interior design offered more flair than the less expensive 3- and 2-series models, its material quality and precise construction are appreciated. The 20-way adjustable seats provide plenty of options to dial in just the right driving position, but our tester's thrones lacked the $1000 massage function to pamper our backsides. Still, the 540i's subdued driving nature, luxe curb appeal, and first-class cabin make for a great executive car, especially for those days when a restful commute home is really all that matters. To that end, BMW's myriad driver-assistance features can work to mitigate your gridlock-induced stress. The $1700 Driving Assistant Plus package is worth getting, as it includes adaptive cruise control with a traffic-jam assistant feature, allowing the 540i to follow the cars ahead through bumper-to-bumper logjams. It's telling that we'd recommend an option that makes you even less involved with driving the car. There was a time when any 5-series, regardless of powerplant or suspension package, was a sports sedan by default. But that era ended about a decade ago, with the departure of the Bangle-designed fifth-gen 5-series. So, perhaps it's time for us to accept that BMW's mid-size four-door is no longer inherently aggressive and instead appreciate the 5-series as it is now—a imperious cruiser with understated power. And if you long for a 5-series that delivers on the promise of a BMW sports sedan, the M5 still exists.

Rudy Giuliani is the man tasked with the seemingly impossible job of trying to prove Donald Trump was the alleged victim of voting fraud. The President’s personal lawyer has been scrambling around in a desperate bid to overturn the US election results since Joe Biden was announced president elect on November 8. But it seems his daughter Caroline – a loud and proud Democrat (and major fan of Kamala Harris, the first ever female vice-president elect) – thinks her dad should let it go. The 31-year-old has penned a humorous list of “self-care tips” to help “Trumpworld” accept defeat. And in light of her dad’s recent public downfall, which include the former 9/11 hero and New York mayor suffering an embarrassing hair dye fail and a humiliating cameo in the latest Borat film, people are urging Mr Giuliani to take note. RELATED: Should Donald Trump concede? Have your say in our online poll Among the many zingers Caroline wrote in her piece for Vanity Fairis a plea to stay away from artificial dyes while making “false claims of voter fraud in Philadelphia” – a clear message for her dad who was photographed with dark steams of dye rolling down his face at a recent press conference. She also urged to him to “take stock of your failures” – writing that “only sociopathic narcissists have delusions of grandeur, blaming others for their failings, often with tragic consequences”. Caroline also poked fun at the Four Seasons Total Landscaping fiasco, which saw her dad holding a press conference at a garden centre situated between a crematorium and an adult sex shop called Fantasy Island, rather than at – as had been expected – Philadelphia’s Four Seasons hotel. Some of her helpful nuggets of advice appear to be aimed at social media fan Donald Trump as she suggested staying off Twitter for a minimum of eight years, adding “forever” would be better. “Pack up any and all belongings from the White House. Then trek into the wilderness until you lose cell service and Twitter will no longer refresh. Stay until America is back on track. This may take anywhere from eight years to forever,” she wrote. She also implored sore losers to take up a new hobby, but stated “whining, lying, and grabbing women by the pussy are not skills”, which appears to be another not-so-subtle stab at the outbound president. Among all the laughs seemed to be a personal plea from Caroline to her dad. “Stop ignoring your relatives who just want you to allow the democratic process to unfold unobstructed. (Artsy daughters are especially insightful.)” Understandably, Twitter has erupted over the “hilarious” piece with many branding it “clever and courageous”.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference in response to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street, London ,Britain, Dec. 19, 2020. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed new coronavirus lockdown measures in England Saturday, reversing initial plans to ease restrictions during the holiday season after a new strain of the coronavirus was detected in the country. “I know how much emotion people invest in this time of year ...I know how disappointing this will be,” Johnson said at a news conference. “There is no alternative open to me.” Johnson imposed tighter controls after England’s chief medical officer confirmed Saturday that a new strain of the coronavirus in the country could spread faster and lead to even more surges in infections if left unchecked. The prime minister noted the new strain is up to 70% more transmissible than previous strains. Dr. Chris Whitty said in a statement there was no evidence the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or was more resistant to newly approved vaccines, but that urgent efforts were underway to confirm that. Whitty said Britain has alerted the World Health Organization about the strain, which British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday was detected in the south of England. As a result of the new measures that become effective at midnight Saturday night, people in London and southeast England are now under a new higher tier of restrictions, affecting about one-third of the country’s po[CENSORED]tion. They will be required to remain at home except for essential reasons, such as work. Non-essential retail stores will close, along with leisure and entertainment venues. In the U.S., American drug maker Moderna, Inc. and partners have started distributing its COVID-19 vaccine, the second approved for emergency use in the country. Trucks will begin shipping the vaccine to more than 3,700 U.S. locations on Sunday, U.S. Army General Gustave Perna said Saturday during a virtual news conference.

2020 might’ve been a dreadful year for most of us but keeping certain traditions alive is one way to cope with. That’s why December is still, even in 2020, the award season and BMW managed to claim some valuable wins this time around too. The German car maker won multiple awards in competitions set up by Auto Bild, Computer Bild and Auto moto und sport, all of them reputable magazines from their homeland.In the Connected Car Awards presented by Auto Bild and Computer Bild, the BMW Digital Key was recognized as the winner, a feature that will make your life considerably easier with the integration of your key fob into your smartphone. The BMW 3 Series was also deemed the car with the most innovative connectivity features in the ‘Connected Cars’ category by some 11,000 readers who completed the survey carried out by the auto, motor und sport and Moove magazines.The BMW Driving Assistant Professional collected the most votes from readers in the “Driver Assistance Systems Safety” category as well, marking yet another win. The ongoing expansion of connectivity towards a digital, emission-free future is – according to BMW – one of the central areas of activity through which the company is driving forward its strategic transformation of the mobility sector.Christoph Grote, Senior Vice President Digital Car, BMW Group, expressed his appreciation for the awards: “On behalf of the whole team at BMW I would like to sincerely thank all the readers involved for the three awards,” he said. “For us, these distinctions represent the best reward and motivation – above all, because the readers have decided the outcome. This vote of confidence from you confirms to us that we are heading in the right direction, and we will continue to do everything we can to delight our customers over and over again.”

“Mama, how many sleeps until Santa comes?” I look at my seven-year-old daughter; her eyes are alive with excitement and her smile reveals her missing front tooth. It’s only a matter of time before the other one falls out. When it does, I know I will indulge in a good cry. My baby with the gummy grin is long gone. The young girl before me still believes in St. Nick—for now. By this time next year, she might not, and as her mother, I want to do everything in my power to make this time of year extra-magical and memorable for her. Why? Because this is my first Christmas as a single mom. ALSO SEE: 27 amazing last-minute gift ideas for the hard to shop for people on your list If you had asked me last year if I thought my marriage would crumble amidst the chaos and loss of a global virus, I would have called the idea farfetched. If you had told me my little family of three would be split down the middle, I wouldn’t have believed it. Yet here we are. “Fifteen,” I finally answer her, counting down the days in my own head to see how much time I have left to mentally prepare for the holidays. It’s always been such a special time of year for me, ever since I was a little girl growing up. I remember my sister and I laying out our stockings, waking up at five in the morning, nearly bursting from the thrill of it all. Waiting for my parents to get up so we could head downstairs and see all the gifts Santa had delivered. Once my daughter came along, I wanted to continue some of the same traditions I had grown up with, like my dad reading “The Night Before Christmas” after we left out some cookies and milk for St. Nick. My ex’s family always celebrated on Christmas Eve, however, so sometimes we would get home quite late, and my daughter would be half-asleep and worn out, in no mood to put out food or hear an old-fashioned story. The lack of time that night always hurt my heart a bit, and I knew I had the next day to follow our other Christmas traditions as we celebrated with my side of the family.

By Alistair Smout and William James LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he hoped that England would not need to go into a third lockdown after Christmas and follow Wales and Northern Ireland in imposing the measure to stop the growing spread of COVID-19. Northern Ireland and Wales have both outlined plans to head back into lockdown after Christmas to control infection rates, raising suggestions that England might follow suit. "Obviously we're hoping very much that we'll be able to avoid anything like that," Johnson told reporters. "But the reality is that the rates of infection have increased very much in the last few weeks." Earlier schools minister Nick Gibb had said nothing was ruled out, but defended the tier system of restrictions as working well. Swathes of England's po[CENSORED]tion, including London, have either entered or will enter the highest tier of restrictions this week, Tier 3, which requires all hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants to close except for takeaways. Data released on Friday showed infections were spiking. The Office for National Statistics Infection Survey said cases had increased after England's latest national lockdown ended on Dec. 2. Talk of tighter restrictions comes as Britain prepares to relax all measures over Christmas. Johnson resisted pressure to change the law, keeping a promise to allow three households to meet up over five days next week, but urging people to exercise extreme caution. John Edmunds, epidemiologist at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said the Christmas relaxation was a risk as prevalence was still high. "It doesn't look like the tier system is holding the epidemic wave back, unfortunately" he told Sky News. "I think we are going to have to look at these measures and perhaps tighten them up." (additional reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Giles Elgood)

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There are more than 600 million internet users in India, but only a fraction of this po[CENSORED]tion is fluent in English. Most online services and much of the content on the web currently, however, are available exclusively in English. This language barrier continues to contribute to a digital divide in the world’s second-largest internet market that has limited hundreds of millions of users’ rendition of the world wide web to a select few websites and services. So it comes as no surprise that American tech giants, which are counting on emerging markets such as India to continue their growth, are increasingly attempting to make the web and their services accessible to more people. Case in point: A feature that Google provides to quickly translate the content of a web page from English to Indian languages has been used more than 17 billion times by users in India in the past year. Google, which has so far led this effort, on Thursday unveiled some of its new efforts. The company — which counts India as its biggest market by users, and this year committed to invest more than $10 billion in the country over the coming years — said it plans to invest more in machine learning and AI efforts at Google’s research center in India and make its AI models accessible to everyone across the ecosystem. The company also plans to partner with local startups that are serving users in local languages, and “drastically” improve the experience of Google products and services for Indian language users.

The auto manufacturers have started to recover post the coronavirus pandemic. The earnings of the automotive segment are expected to rise further in 2021. German luxury carmaker BMW expects the operating profit margin at its automotive segment to come in at the upper end of its guidance in 2020, finance chief Nicolas Peter said, adding that business had recovered faster than expected. The group now expects the segment's margin on earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to come in at 2%-3%, having previously expected 0%-3%, Peter said. "The year has developed better than expected," Peter told journalists on Wednesday, adding volumes were now expected to decline by around 10%, compared with a forecast of at least 10% earlier. Volumes will rise in 2021, Peter said. (Also read | BMW takes its iX electric car to Arctic Circle) "We've also got a real pickup in order intake," he said, adding the group was preparing for a strong first quarter in Asia, including China. The group last month said Chinese demand for luxury cars had helped third-quarter profits rise nearly 10%, though it warned a new wave of coronavirus infections sweeping Europe and the United States posed a "considerable" risk to business. "We can see it in our order intake, but it's definitely not of the same magnitude we saw in spring." This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

“Mama, how many sleeps until Santa comes?” I look at my seven-year-old daughter; her eyes are alive with excitement and her smile reveals her missing front tooth. It’s only a matter of time before the other one falls out. When it does, I know I will indulge in a good cry. My baby with the gummy grin is long gone. The young girl before me still believes in St. Nick—for now. By this time next year, she might not, and as her mother, I want to do everything in my power to make this time of year extra-magical and memorable for her. Why? Because this is my first Christmas as a single mom. ALSO SEE: 27 amazing last-minute gift ideas for the hard to shop for people on your list If you had asked me last year if I thought my marriage would crumble amidst the chaos and loss of a global virus, I would have called the idea farfetched. If you had told me my little family of three would be split down the middle, I wouldn’t have believed it. Yet here we are. “Fifteen,” I finally answer her, counting down the days in my own head to see how much time I have left to mentally prepare for the holidays. It’s always been such a special time of year for me, ever since I was a little girl growing up. I remember my sister and I laying out our stockings, waking up at five in the morning, nearly bursting from the thrill of it all. Waiting for my parents to get up so we could head downstairs and see all the gifts Santa had delivered. Once my daughter came along, I wanted to continue some of the same traditions I had grown up with, like my dad reading “The Night Before Christmas” after we left out some cookies and milk for St. Nick. My ex’s family always celebrated on Christmas Eve, however, so sometimes we would get home quite late, and my daughter would be half-asleep and worn out, in no mood to put out food or hear an old-fashioned story. The lack of time that night always hurt my heart a bit, and I knew I had the next day to follow our other Christmas traditions as we celebrated with my side of the family.

It's not every day you drive to the lyrical strains of an Oscar-winning composer who has pulled out all the stops just for you. But such was my fate when I got behind the wheel of BMW's new iX3 sports utility vehicle to take it for its first drive on UK roads before it reaches customers in Summer. That's because it's the first BMW car for which Academy Award-winning movie composer Hans Zimmer has written a soundtrack in collaboration with the firm's sound designer Renzo Vitale. And once underway, driver and occupants of the near-silent vehicle enjoy a strong cinematic sense of rising crescendo from the synthetic sound as velocity increases. In future, it will also warn pedestrians of its imminent approach. But does the iX3 strike the right note? It's certainly entering a busy market with the likes of the Tesla Model-X, Ford's Mustang Mach-E, VW's ID4, Nissan's Ariya and the Skoda Enyaq, as well as Audi's e-tron, Mercedes-Benz's EQC, and Jaguar's I-Pace. Many may be relieved that the iX3 looks so normal. It lacks the much debated massive cartoonish grille on some of the most recent BMWs which have divided opinion. Other than seeing the driver on the 'wrong' side of the road, the left-hand drive version of the iX3 I drove is one BMW electric car that is unlikely ever to shock. Its looks are entirely conventional. Apart from the covered grille, the lack of exhaust and some specific trim and exterior tweaks, you'd be hard pushed to tell it from its petrol, diesel and hybrid siblings. That's not necessarily a bad thing unless you really want to boast about your eco-credentials. The rear end has also been sculpted to reduce air resistance and aerodynamically designed light-alloy wheels help reduce drag coefficient by around 5 per cent adding around 6 miles to the range. Order books for the iX3 are open now with prices from £58,850 for the electric BMW iX3 Premier Edition and from £61,850 for the Premier Edition Pro (which includes the synthetic sound). The iX3 does not qualify for the Government's tax-payer funded UK plug-in car grant of £3,000, which is capped at £50,000. Other variants are set to follow. The iX3 is part the first BMW range to offer customers a choice of pure electric drive, plug-in hybrid, petrol or diesel options – emulating a 'pick'n'mix' power choice strategy pioneered by French rivals Peugeot. By comparison, petrol and diesel combustion iX3 models start from £42,115 and hybrids from £49,250 – suggesting an electric mark up from around £16,000 and £9,000 respectively. The iX3 also the first model to be built for export at BMW's Shenyang factory in China operated by the joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive. The mantra of the firm with plants in the UK, US and beyond has long been that quality depends on being 'built by BMW' not 'built in Germany'. Out on the road the sprightly new 'green' SUV is sufficiently butch to be considered a bimmer – sprinting from rest to 62mph in 6.8 seconds up to a top speed limited at 112mph. It's comfortable and pretty engaging to drive but don't expect the ultimate driving machine. It's for active owners and small families, not would be racers. Running on 20 inch black aerodynamic wheels the iX3 offers drivers a range of up to 279 miles (on the new 'real-world' WLTP test cycle) – which would leave you about 21 miles short and needing a top up on a 300 mile run from London to Newcastle. BMW said the storage capacity of the battery has been 'substantially increased' with a gross energy content of 80 kWh delivering 74kWh of useable charge. On a fast DC charger of up to 150 kW it will charge up to 80 per cent in 34 minutes. Or you can give a 62 miles boost to the car's driving range with a swift 10 minute burst. But BMW says it would still need to make fewer and shorter charging stops than a comparable electric vehicle whose efficiency is compromised by larger and heavier high-voltage batteries. The slim, low-slung high-voltage battery sits low down in the underbody and lowers the car's centre of gravity by around 7.5 centimetres – or about three inches - compared with its conventionally powered BMW X3 siblings. Acceleration is pretty brisk, sporty and engaging. You can also fine-tune your driving style. Pull the drive-lever down to 'D' and the driver can choose a high, medium or low brake energy regeneration setting – increasing or decreasing the amount of resistance you feel when you take your foot off the accelerator. The higher the resistance, the more energy you recuperate for your battery. But slide it left into driving position 'B' allows you to drive with 'one pedal' style – with your foot only on the accelerator. Take it off and the intense braking kicks in immediately, boosting energy gain. In an adaptive setting, the intensity of the car's brake energy regeneration can also adjust according to the road conditions using data gleaned from the navigation system and the driver assistance system sensors. So it is maximised if you are approaching a junction or a vehicle on the road ahead. Out on the open road, it coasts if you take your foot off the accelerator. ' The same electric motor, power electronics, charging technology and high-voltage battery used in the iX3 to boost performance, power consumption and range will be fitted in the new BMW iX and BMW i4 models from 2021. The electric motor's power density is 30 per cent higher than existing fully electric vehicles and up to 93 per cent efficient - compared with under 40 per cent for combustion engines. The 188-cell battery is 20 per cent more powerful than existing ones. Inside is a fully-digital high-resolution 12.3 inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch central display with a choice of control via touchscreen, buttons, voice or gesture. Spoken commands are possible via the latest version of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant by saying 'Hey BMW' or your personal call.

Single Indians are now ready to dip their toes back into dating in real life (IRL) as India unlocks. However, how does one do that in the midst of this ongoing pandemic? The pandemic has changed how we communicate with each other but what hasnt changed is the need for making meaningful connections. Also Read - Ira Khan Dating Aamir Khan’s Fitness Coach Nupur Shikhare? Here’s What We Know So Far! Bumble’s new study has found that one in two people claim they are ready to go on an in-person date. As India unlocks, Shahzeen Shivdasani, Bumble India’s relationship expert and the author of ‘Love, Lust and Lemons’, shares a handy guide and tips to help you navigate the new rules of dating in 2020. Also Read - Bigg Boss 14 November 3 Episode Highlights: Jasmin Bhasin, Aly Goni Go Emotional Seeing Each Other, Are They Dating? Virtual dating is the way to go! Also Read - Akshay Kumar Spills Beans on Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra Dating Rumours, Says 'Yeh Siddhanto Wali Ladki Hai' Meeting people at bars, going out with your friends, or even bumping into old acquaintances, now seems like a way of the past. Since finding love is as important as ever during such tough times, virtual dating is the way to go! It is through this realm that people seem more at ease with getting to know new people. Virtual dating allows you to set the boundaries and decide when you’re ready to take the next step to meet. You can plan your next virtual date on Bumble, the social networking app where women make the first move, using the apps Video Call and Voice Chat features without sharing any personal information! Understanding each other’s lifestyle is crucial No matter how attracted you are to a person, it’s essential to understand whether their everyday habits align with yours, especially during a pandemic. Asking questions like � do you have a social bubble? Do you go to work? Do you attend large gatherings? Are you ready or feel comfortable to meet in person? � help you understand whether you would even be interested in forming a connection with them. If you’re seeking to find a new connection on a dating app, Bumble’s recently-launched badges are a great way to communicate how you would like to date during this pandemic – you can opt to show your potential matches your dating preferences such as virtual, socially-distanced, or socially distanced with a mask . Setting a timeline to meet Once you have found someone that you are interested in getting to know more, most people are left wondering, “if I only get to know them virtually, will this fizzle out”? Discussing a timeline for when you are willing to meet is key. Virtual dating during the pandemic has given us a chance to not rush the dating process by getting to know people on an emotional level before getting to know them on a physical one. This change in the dating sphere has allowed more meaningful connections to blossom. Let your crush know how long you would like to get to know them online before discussing a meeting in-person. Don’t forget to ask them what they are comfortable with as well. Protocols for IRL dates Your health and safety matters but so do the relationships you make. So, how do you make this work? Discussing protocols that are mutually agreed upon prior to the date is a must! During these testing times, there are a lot of do’s and don’ts that one must keep in mind. It’s important to establish mutual boundaries so both sides feel comfortable on a date. The best way to ensure this is by addressing questions like how many people you both have interacted with, whether they should get tested, or where they’d be most comfortable meeting. Even staying in a two-week quarantine before the date could be an option to consider. Outdoor and ready for distance-dating! First dates can be nerve-wracking for a lot of people. And now, we have to do it with special gear on! However, regardless of the dilemma you might face with this required accessory, your safety comes first and wearing your mask is a must! Socially distance when you meet in-person. Although this is certainly not what you are used to, by following these few protocols you will begin to feel at ease, and once that feeling sets in, you will only be able to enjoy your date. The new rules of dating might be different from the old ones, we have to find a way to strike a balance and adapt to whatever life may throw at us. The best part about being single is that you get to choose the person you wish to embark on a new adventure with. So, take your time to get to know someone better and when you do, if you’re comfortable to date in-person, make sure you follow all safety measures.