André Gomes scored what proved to be Everton’s winner in their FA Cup third-round replay against Crystal Palace. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters As Sean Dyche put it, any distraction is welcome at Everton right now amid the threat of a second points deduction, legal cases, financial disputes and not knowing exactly what they are playing for in the Premier League this season. André Gomes, the beauty in a beast of an FA Cup third round replay, provided one against Crystal Palace. The former Barcelona and Portugal midfielder illuminated a scrappy contest with a superb free-kick to book Everton a fourth round tie at home to Luton. It was Everton’s first goal direct from a free-kick in 197 games, stretching back to Lucas Digne’s effort at Lincoln in August 2019, and ended a run of six matches without a win for Dyche’s team. The hosts were also indebted to another Portuguese asset, the 24-year-old goalkeeper João Virgínia, who seized a rare chance in place of Jordan ­Pickford to repel Palace with several fine saves, particularly from Jeffrey Schlupp in stoppage time. “It has been tough for Evertonians and tough for the club,” said Dyche, after Everton’s latest charge of breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules. “But mentally we have been resolute all season. We were not fluid in our play tonight but we found a way to win. We looked solid and that’s a good base when you don’t play well.” Palace, as Roy Hodgson must have feared, missed their best chance to progress when Everton were reduced to ten men in the first encounter at Selhurst Park. The visitors offered little until the closing minutes and Hodgson’s decision to withdraw Eberechi Eze after 64 minutes sparked a furious reaction from the Palace fans who had made the long midweek trek to a freezing Merseyside. “I absolutely understand it,” said the Palace manager. “I had to think very carefully about it and I appreciate it’s a long way to come and we appreciate their support. I’d have been disappointed to see Eze come off because he’s one of our best players, but I’d also have been disappointed if he’d got injured in the last 30 minutes and wasn’t able to play against Arsenal [at 12.30pm on Saturday]. Even without him I felt we had enough chances but unfortunately we didn’t take them.” Uncertainty not only surrounds Everton’s Premier League position. The US investment firm 777 Partners is still awaiting word from the Premier League on its proposed takeover having announced a deal with the eager-to-leave owner, Farhad Moshiri, in September. Richard Masters, the Premier League’s CEO, told the culture, media and sport committee of MPs on Tuesday that the delay was down to a lack of satisfactory answers from the controversial company and a final decision remains weeks away. Eberechi Eze was Crystal Palace’s biggest threat before being substituted at Goodison Park. Photograph: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images Whether as a show of confidence or mere coincidence, several 777 representatives were in attendance in the directors’ box having toured the club’s new stadium at Bramley Moore dock earlier in the day. There was a subdued start to a replay both managers could have done without and the first half followed the pattern of the Selhurst Park game: pedestrian, lacking quality and with opportunities limited. Spectators numbed by the sub-zero temperatures found no respite until Gomes injected a moment of much-needed class into proceedings. Everton’s careless approach play was testing Goodison’s patience when, completely out of context, Dyche’s side took the lead in style. Gomes was deployed in an advanced role with Abdoulaye Doucouré facing another spell out with a hamstring injury and was running through when felled by Jefferson Lerma. The midfielder took the free-kick himself and curled an exquisite set piece over the Palace wall and in off Sam ­Johnstone’s left post. Palace almost curtailed the celebrations immediately when Odsonne Édouard and Eze combined to find Tyrick Mitchell unmarked on the left of the Everton area. The wing-back connected cleanly but Virgínia reacted well to tip over at close range. Eze was by far the visitors’ most creative source, unsettling Everton defenders every time he ran at them, and so there was understandable dismay among the Palace fans when he was substituted just after the hour with their team trailing. Hodgson’s decision was met with boos and chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing”. The veteran manager was close to conjuring the perfect response, however, when Naouirou Ahamada, one of a triple substitution, dispossessed Dwight McNeil and centred for Édouard. The striker spun away from James Tarkowski but his low shot was saved by the legs of Virgínia as the keeper again came to Everton’s rescue. Pickford’s deputy excelled himself in stoppage time when blocking Schlupp’s header at point-blank range. Victory and a distraction were just what Everton required. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/17/everton-crystal-palace-fa-cup-third-round-replay-match-report

With deeper breaths, the mind settles … Emms walking in Epping Forest. Photograph: Colin Bannon A moment that changed me Health & wellbeing A moment that changed me: my husband and I split up – and I started walking 15,000 steps a day My father used to tell me that everything is resolved by walking. He was right. A daily walk became my therapy, and I haven’t stopped yet One sweltering evening in 2020 during the first lockdown, as we sat drinking wine in the shed at the end of the garden, my husband and I came to the surprise decision to finish our 17-year relationship. “It’s the end of the line, isn’t it?” I ventured. “I know,” he replied, looking down at his glass. “Every day I think about it.” The unspoken had finally been said. I took a breath. Unexpectedly, there was a wave of relief as recent frustrations dissolved. We toasted our newfound honesty, and chatted into the early hours, celebrating how civilised we were. But the next morning, reality hit: it felt strange sipping a takeaway coffee together on a sunny bench, and yet not reneging on what had been agreed. Admittedly I was also grieving, after the recent death of my father and then our beloved jack russell in quick succession. Was I doing the right thing? Was it too much to start again in my mid-40s? And all against the backdrop of Covid. The airless heat wasn’t helping. The only way to make sense of it all, I surmised, was to get out and walk. The idea of doing 15,000 steps every day came swiftly, a relatively achievable goal that I hoped would provide consistency and comfort, a ritual to help frame the next stage of my life. As a travel writer, I’ve written about walking occasionally, whether it’s completing the 78-mile Capital Ring walk in a week or hiking the Kent coast over a weekend. But a daily quota was different. “Everything is resolved by walking” was my dad’s catchphrase. The hot weather soon broke. In the relentless rain that followed, I found peace on my two-hour hikes; luckily, I’m surrounded in London by the towering trees and winding paths of Epping Forest; the rivers, canals and wetlands of the Olympic Park; and the semi-wild marshes near Hackney and Walthamstow. I would find my rhythm and feel as if I could go on and on, the drum of anxieties quietening. With deeper breaths, the mind settles: along with journalling, it became my therapy. And, pragmatically, the Pacer app helped – this goal, I realised, was proving addictive. As winter edged in, so did boggy paths, sparse woods and low afternoon sun. My ex and I, now separated, would meet from time to time to continue our discussions, but our minds were firmly set. Meanwhile, I’d search out off-the-beaten-track routes, with self-imposed rules: podcasts or music were only allowed during the “boring bits” – those repeated stretches of pavements on traffic-clogged roads. It was more restorative to be mindful, whether practising gentle meditation exercises or just pondering the half-finished novel I was struggling with. When satisfying pangs of hunger inevitably hit, along with the anticipation of a lie-down, the feeling lingered that time had been spent productively. My sleep improved, too. So many people tell me, slightly haughtily, that they are “far too busy” to fit in 15,000 steps a day – but, as a freelancer, it still provides a framework for my working week, easy to absorb into my routine, whether it’s a stroll to and from my co-workspace or to another neighbourhood for a night out. Seasonal variations take over too: heatwaves mean early-morning walks, while in winter I’ll wait for the day to warm up. I’ve even been known to tick off a couple of thousand in the flat when I’m feeling poorly (luckily for my neighbours, I’m on the ground floor). Once I was ready to download dating apps – for the first time ever – walking, along with the odd workout, became increasingly important to feel attractive and build confidence. Three years on, post-divorce, my ex and I are now great friends – and both happy in new relationships. My boyfriend is amused, if not entirely convinced, by my daily step count, although nowadays I’m not quite as religious about it: some days the total is less, sometimes more, but still the monthly average stays quietly on target. Most importantly, the practice is, for me, a reminder of life’s transience, of how you never stop evolving – and of that moment in my garden shed that kickstarted a new chapter. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/17/a-moment-that-changed-me-my-husband-and-i-split-up-and-i-started-walking-15000-steps-a-day

Police appeal for witnesses after tortoises’ bodies discovered last week in Devon Warning: this article contains pictures of dead animals An Aldabra giant tortoise in Seychelles. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images The bodies of seven giant tortoises have been discovered in a forest in Devon, triggering a police investigation. The Aldabra giant tortoises, one of the largest tortoise species in the world, were found dead in the National Trust’s Ashclyst Forest. Devon and Cornwall police are appealing for witnesses. The reptiles were found by National Trust staff who were left upset by the discovery in the 272-hectare (672-acre) woodland, one of the largest forests in Devon, north-east of Exeter. The Aldabra giant tortoises, one of the largest tortoise species in the world, were found dead in the National Trust’s Ashclyst Forest Photograph: RSPCA A statement from the National Trust said: “We can confirm that sadly seven rare Aldabra giant tortoises have been discovered dead on National Trust land near Exeter over the past few days. The tortoises are not native to the UK. The incident is now being investigated by police and we are unable to comment further at this time.” Two of the bodies were discovered on 8 January and a further five were found nearby on 12 January. The Aldabra giant tortoise is endemic to Seychelles, the island nation in the Indian Ocean. Males can grow up to 250kg (550lb) and their shells can grow to about 122cm (48 in) in length. Insp Mark Arthurs said: “We are appealing to members of the public for information to try to establish the circumstances around this discovery and to identify those responsible. We would ask that if anyone knows anything, they get in touch. “We would also like to hear from anyone who has recently purchased a giant tortoise in the area or knows of anyone who normally has a large number of tortoises but has fewer now.” Ashclyst Forest, where the reptiles were discovered, is a large natural woodland pasture with commercial conifer plantations and rare wet woodland. The nearest village is Broadclyst, about three miles away. There was no sign of any police activity at the forest on Tuesday. It is not the first time a giant tortoise has been found in the woodland. In December 2021, Vale Vets Devon posted an appeal on its Facebook page for the owners of a giant tortoise that had been handed in to the Cullompton branch. “At the Cullompton branch we have a giant breed of tortoise that has been handed in,” the post read. “This tortoise was found in the area of Ashclyst forest.” Vale Vets Devon has been contacted for comment. An RSPCA report on the illegal trade in tortoises, titled Shell Shock, said it was “illegal in the UK to import or sell live wild-caught protected species of tortoises or products made from them without a permit for commercial purposes”. “Breeders can sell only captive animals bred from parental stock in their care. New-born animals must be identified with a microdot and adults with a microchip or other appropriate method,” the report added. The report says tortoises make “bad pets”, explaining the body temperature, humidity and diet required by most species is “virtually impossible” to replicate. An RSPCA spokesperson said: “We are aware of the distressing discovery of several large dead tortoises in Ashclyst Forest near Cullompton, Devon. “While Devon and Cornwall police are leading on this matter, we would like to find out what happened to these animals. If any members of the public have any information about the tortoises, including who might have owned them, we would ask them to contact us on the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.” Police asked for anyone with information that could help with inquiries to contact them by calling 101 and quoting 50240006127. Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling freephone 0800 555111, police said. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/16/aldabra-giant-tortoises-found-dead-woodland-near-exeter

Advocates say labelling the Houthis a ‘global terrorist group’ risks worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Newly recruited Houthi fighters hold up firearms during a ceremony at the end of their training in Sanaa, Yemen, on January 11 [File: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters] By Jillian Kestler-D'Amours and Joseph Stepansky Published On 17 Jan 2024 17 Jan 2024 It was one of Joe Biden’s first major foreign policy decisions. Less than a month after taking office in January 2021, the United States president lifted two “terrorist” designations imposed by his predecessor, Donald Trump, against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. At the time, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the move came in “recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen”. The United Nations, as well as humanitarian groups and US lawmakers, had warned the “terrorist” designations could interrupt the flow of aid to the country. Now, almost exactly three years later, the Biden administration is reimposing one of the designations against the Houthis, declaring them to be a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist group” amid a series of attacks in the Red Sea. And once again, rights advocates and political analysts are sounding the alarm over the negative effects the decision may have on Yemeni civilians. Many also question whether Wednesday’s designation will succeed in pushing the Houthis to end their attacks. “I’m very concerned about the devastating consequences for ordinary people in Yemen,” said Afrah Nasser, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC who previously worked as a Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch. Nasser told Al Jazeera that the designation risks deepening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which has experienced a years-long war between the Houthis and a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. More than half of the Yemeni po[CENSORED]tion — 18.2 million people — is in need of assistance, according to the UN, as the country reels from an economic crisis, rising costs, mass displacement and hunger. “The ordinary Yemeni family today is suffering because of both the Houthi domestic policies and also the international community policies in Yemen, such as this [US] designation that we heard today,” Nasser said. “Yemenis are caught between two fires.” Red Sea attacks In a statement on Wednesday morning, Blinken said the “Specially Designated Global Terrorist group” designation (SDGT) came in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. “This designation seeks to promote accountability for the group’s terrorist activities. If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will reevaluate this designation,” the top US diplomat said. The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control large swaths of Yemen, began firing missiles at Israel and attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea shortly after the war in Gaza began in October. The group pledged to target Israel-linked vessels as part of an effort to pressure the country’s government to end its Gaza bombardment and allow more humanitarian aid deliveries into the coastal Palestinian enclave. It later expanded the threat to any commercial vessels travelling to and from Israel along the arterial trade route off Yemen’s coast. The attacks led shipping companies to suspend operations in the Red Sea and drew condemnation from the US and its allies. Washington launched a naval coalition to protect commercial vessels in December, and it also carried out several strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen this month in what observers called a “dangerous” escalation. On Wednesday, the Biden administration defended its decision to reimpose the SDGT designation on the Houthis, saying there would be “carve-outs” to protect aid to Yemen. “Today’s designation targets the Houthis, not the Yemeni people,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said in a press conference. When asked about how any related sanctions would impact negotiations with the Houthis, Kirby responded firmly: “There’s no negotiations. There’s not a bargaining chip. It’s a way of holding the Houthis accountable.” But experts cast doubt on whether the SDGT designation would lead the Houthis to stop their attacks in the Red Sea, as the administration suggested. “It seems highly unlikely to have any positive effect on the behaviour of the Houthis,” said Brian Finucane, a senior US programme adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank. “I think it’s a form of do-something-ism,” he told Al Jazeera. The reimposition of the SDGT designation, he added, is a reflection of Washington’s refusal to recognise that recent Houthi attacks are linked to the war in Gaza. “The Biden administration has put itself in a box … where it doesn’t have good policy options.” The designation An SDGT designation focuses primarily on the finances of an individual or a group. In this case, it will freeze the Houthis’ assets in the US and prohibit American citizens from having any financial dealings with the organisation. And while “civil and criminal penalties may be assessed for violations”, the designation is more narrow in scope than the second label that the Trump administration had imposed on the Houthis: that of “Foreign Terrorist Organization” or FTO. That label makes it a serious crime to provide support to a blacklisted group. “This [SDGT designation] is sort of a minimal: restricting access to funds from abroad, access to international markets. These are things that Houthis don’t have and never had. They don’t own stock on the New York Stock Exchange,” said Nabeel Khoury, a former deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Yemen. Houthi supporters attend a protest against US-led air strikes on January 12, 2024, in Sanaa, Yemen [AP Photo] Nevertheless, Khoury told Al Jazeera that the Houthis are unlikely to make a distinction between an SDGT or FTO designation and will see Wednesday’s decision as an affront that could lead to further escalation. Hours after the designation was announced, the Houthis said they fired “naval missiles” at an American ship in the Gulf of Aden. US Central Command later confirmed the US-owned and operated Genco Picardy was struck, causing some damage but no injuries. “It’s really baffling what this administration is engaged in. I don’t think there’s much thought that went into this,” Khoury said. “This designation is more like an insult. It’s the old glove in the face, slap someone with your glove. You’re sort of challenging, but not really hurting them.” Nasser also warned that the designation could further embolden the Houthis and “contribute in radicalising some parts of the po[CENSORED]tion and strengthen the Houthi recruitment system”. ‘Level of uncertainty for Yemenis’ Yet, while the SDGT designation is “narrower” than an FTO, the Biden administration is aware “that these sanctions could make things worse for the people of Yemen”, said Finucane. That’s because financial institutions and humanitarian organisations “are likely to be very cautious about engaging with the Houthis in Yemen”, particularly until clear rules around the redesignation are laid out, Finucane explained. On Wednesday, the Biden administration said it is “taking significant steps to mitigate any adverse impacts this designation may have on the people of Yemen”. The decision will come into effect in 30 days, Blinken’s statement said, during which time the administration will consult with aid organisations and other stakeholders. The US Department of Treasury also is expected to publish licenses “authorizing certain transactions related to the provision of food, medicine, and fuel, as well as personal remittances, telecommunications and mail, and port and airport operations on which the Yemeni people rely”. But that hasn’t dampened fears the designation will affect Yemenis negatively. “This designation would add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises,” Scott Paul, associate director of peace and security at Oxfam America, told Al Jazeera in a written statement. “The Biden administration is playing with fire, and we call on them to avoid this designation immediately and prioritise the lives of Yemenis now.” With files from Al Jazeera’s Ali Harb in Washington, DC. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/17/biden-playing-with-fire-by-redesignating-yemens-houthis-as-terrorists

Nick movie: The Vince Staples Show Time: Netflix Netflix / Amazon / HBO: Netflix Duration of the movie: 1min - 16sec Trailer:

Music title: twenty one pilots: Stressed Out [OFFICIAL VIDEO] Signer: twenty one pilots Release date: 2015/04/28 Official YouTube link:

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New tech and convenience features more than offset this sports sedan's mild price increase, but those who want factory summer tires will feel the pain. MARC URBANO|CAR AND DRIVER The route from Southern California to the southern Oregon coast traverses some 800 miles of varied terrain that ranges from boring to breathtaking. You begin by tolerating a maddening stretch of Interstate 5 laden with truck traffic that wreaks havoc on traffic flow because the speed limit for civilians and semis differs by 15 mph. Next, Highway 101 passes into wine country, getting increasingly sinuous, damp, and uneven as it finally gives way to tight, twisty two-lanes through the redwoods. It's a great place to fully suss out a new car such as the 2024 Acura TLX Type S we're driving, but the best bits are so far off the beaten path that few people come here. This new TLX Type S is not wholly unfamiliar, though, because the 2024 edition is a mid-cycle refresh of the 2021 Type S that debuted nearly three years ago. It's the same generation TLX, in other words, with the identical long hood and cab-aft styling that gives the impression of a rear-wheel-drive straight-six machine. That's not true, of course, as the base TLX is a front-wheel-drive sidewinder, with a deftly calibrated all-wheel-drive system (Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive or SH-AWD) added to the Type S to better deploy the power of its turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine that again makes 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Driving the TLX Type S Whether the road is straight or sinuous, the Acura's steering is resolutely well weighted and communicative, particularly in the Sport setting. Corner turn-in is especially crisp and direct with the optional 20-inch Pirelli P Zero PZ4 summer tires, which is the same setup that managed 0.96 g of grip when we tested the 2021 model. This time, it's also apparent they hold fast on the damp roads of Oregon. Under braking, the four-piston Brembo brake setup consistently delivers excellent feel and controllability. Thing is, these performance summer tires were originally a separate trim level that ran just $800 more than the standard all-season tires, and they came on lightweight NSX-inspired Y-spoke wheels that trimmed 4.5 pounds of unsprung weight from each corner. That's changed for 2024, as the sticky Pirellis and trick wheels are now a $3299 dealer-installed accessory. You do get the copper-colored version of the Y-spokes from the 2023 model year's PMC Edition, at least. Still, the procedural switch seems off-base to us, and the effective price is up $2499—unless you can convince the dealer to give you the factory-fitted all-season setup so you can recoup some cash on Craigslist. If you're not interested in summers and want to run the factory 20-inch all-seasons, on the other hand, the lightweight copper Y-spokes are available a la carte as a $2200 accessory. As ever, the turbocharged V-6 pulls hard and teams perfectly with the 10-speed automatic. The default Normal mode is just fine for relaxed cruising, but dialing the mode up to Sport sharpens throttle response and spurs the gearbox to downshift more readily under braking. It's enough that the shift paddles rarely seem necessary. Moreover, this year's recalibrated Sport+ mode now offers even more aggressive throttle response than before. Back in 2021, our Type S test car put all this together to sprint to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds on the way to a 13.6-second quarter-mile pass at 103 mph. The Type S turns magic when you accelerate through tight hairpins, particularly uphill ones. Corners that seem destined to push this nose-heavy machine (nearly 60 percent of its mass sits over the front axle) into understeer hardly make an impression, as the rear-biased SH-AWD system shunts as much as 70 percent of the drive torque to the rear, with the possibility of shifting as much of 100 percent of that to the outside tire, if necessary. The result is a complete exorcism of any hereditary front-drive stubbornness to directional changes. Until, that is, you charge downhill under braking through the same bends. At this point SH-AWD has no torque to ship rearward, which breaks the spell and makes the nose feel heavier and more recalcitrant. It's an admittedly subtle thing, but you can pick up on it if you blast up and then down something like California's Highway 39. A lack of ride composure is one of the Type S's shortcomings, particularly on aging concrete pavement and truck-damaged roads, for which its adaptive dampers are tuned too aggressively. We find their Comfort mode to be the necessary solution there and on the earthquake-warped asphalt of NorCal and Oregon—it even stands up well to hard cornering. For this reason, we pair the Comfort suspension setting with the Sport steering and engine settings by programming the Individual mode, which saves all of your preferences so you can press the centrally mounted Mode dial as a shortcut. New Digital Displays Individual also lets you program your choices for ambient lighting and 2024's new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which replaces last year's racy-looking physical dials with, well, a screen containing configurable fake ones. There's certainly more information on offer, but we don't see the point of the Crafted (two dials) setup or Advanced (odd-shaped parenthesis), when neither offers decent-sized numerals that are actually legible. It reminds us of the new Mustang's tomfoolery, where the Fox Body throwback setting saves the day. Sadly, there's no such savior here. The 2024 Type S now comes with a standard 10.5-inch head-up display. It's crisp and legible but oddly does not have a rotational adjustment to align the information with your personal idea of what horizontal should be. It certainly didn't match ours. To the right, the 12.3-inch central touchscreen is now 20 percent larger, which makes it better suited to displaying Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (both of which are now wireless) at a decent size. Its faster processor has no noticeable lag, but the dreadful touchpad on the center console is still the only way to make selections, and it still isn't consistently accurate enough to casually select CarPlay icons at speed. Ever lose the mouse arrow on your laptop screen? That happens here a lot as you oftentimes can't see where the highlighted icon is and you have to fiddle around to find it. This is particularly frustrating within Apple CarPlay, where the targets are much smaller than they are in the native Acura menus, which are much larger but still hard to accurately select. Interior Space and Comfort We drove more than 2000 miles, and the front seats seemed to get better and better—once we mastered the 16-way adjustments and got them set. And once you look beyond the touchpad, the bulk of the interior looks exquisitely made and operates with perfect logic. We have nothing but praise for the climate controls, the steering-wheel controls, and the nearby switches and stalks. The new wireless charge pad is cleverly located, and we even like the touchpad's wrist rest as a simple wrist rest. What's missing is habitable back seats, which have 2.5 fewer inches of legroom than the Integra. Rear headroom is technically similar, but the TLX's sedan roofline feels more confining. Remember when we mentioned the TLX's long-hood/cab-aft styling? This is the downside to that sleek look. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a46362532/2024-acura-tlx-type-s-drive/

Good gut habits may have a positive effect on factors from skin health to cognitive function A healthy, active lifestyle is supported by good gut health. Photograph: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images When was the last time you listened to your gut? Having a “gut instinct” – or tapping into our own intuition – is one of the first ways we understand how we feel about a situation, and it even helps us make decisions. Historically, it’s been a practice used by everyone from Albert Einstein (“I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am.”) to Coco Chanel (“Fashion is in the air, born upon the wind. One intuits it.”), but in busy modern life, our gut is often drowned out by external forces – and by how we treat it. Our gut is also an essential part of the well-oiled machine that is the human body. And in recent decades, research has increasingly uncovered relationships between dietary patterns, our gut and wider health. Nutritionist Jane Aherne says: “We are building up a pool of data and research that undeniably shows how the gut influences the whole body. This should be of no surprise as our body systems are all connected and all influence one another.” We need to start with what we’re eating – less than a third of the UK po[CENSORED]tion manages the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and this poor diet affects our general health. But as almost two-thirds of Brits would like more support to help understand their gut health, it’s something we need to be talking about more – as well as how healthy diets and exercise can contribute to a happy gut. Although there are broad-brush rules that can help the majority of people have happier guts, everybody’s gut health is ultimately a unique landscape, so seeking advice that’s tailored to you is a smart first step. Try popping into Holland & Barrett to speak to one of its in-store experts to get started on your gut health journey. Free, online 45-minute nutritionist consultations can be booked through its website. In-store, you can speak to one of Holland & Barrett’s trained advisers about any issues, if required. Staff will also be able to recommend gut-friendly supplements such as prebiotics and probiotics, as well as introducing the company’s Plant Points system, to help increase the amount of plants eaten in our diets. For any serious symptoms or specific medical issues, see a GP or your local medical practitioner. “Everyone is unique with regards to what works for their gut and what their triggers are,” says Aherne. “We should be striving to take a personalised approach to supporting a healthy gut. A good starting place is arguably maintaining a healthy, varied wholefood diet, containing a reasonable level of variety.” With this framework in place, here’s how some additional good gut habits can have a positive impact on three areas of wellness within our bodies: Immune support Our body’s defence system can be protected and strengthened by good gut health, says Aherne. “The trillions of various bacteria inside us are all part of our gut microbiome, and this collection of bacteria helps us digest and absorb nutrients in the gut and is essential for supporting a healthy immune system.” Less than a third of the British po[CENSORED]tion eats the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables. Photograph: Studio Firma/Stocksy United However, this delicate microbiome can become unbalanced if we are eating foods with poor nutritional value. Aherne says: “The gut microbiome can be negatively influenced by multiple factors such as illnesses, antibiotics and other medications, and poor nutrition. The foods we eat can have a direct negative impact on the gut microbiome by causing imbalances and/or overgrowths of certain bacteria or fungi, which could eventually result in compromised immune function. “Within the body we have something called the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, and this houses a large proportion of the body’s immune cells. Our microbiome helps to train and modulate these immune cells, helping us to distinguish between harmless substances and potential threats. “A poor quality diet, and certain medications can all lead to imbalances within the digestive system, potentially opening us up to immunological imbalances, such as autoimmunity.” How can we boost our microbiome? Eating foods such as natural yoghurt, kefir and kombucha is a good place to start, as is introducing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Eat foods high in fibre and minimise alcohol. This is all beneficial for creating a happy, healthy gut. Cognitive function Of course, there’s a literal link between the brain and the gut, but it goes deeper than just nerves and synapses. “The gut health’s impact on cognitive function, predominantly focuses on the gut-brain axis,” says Aherne, “a communication network linking our nervous system of the gut to the central nervous system. Emerging studies have shown the balance of microbes appears to be able to influence brain chemistry and behaviour.” Getting a good night’s sleep helps contribute to good gut health. Photograph: Tanya Yatsenko/Stocksy United Skin health To shine from the outside, you need to shine from the inside first. “Much like the gut-brain axis, we also have a gut-skin axis,” says Aherne. “This interplay between our gut and skin is influenced by microbes, the immune system and inflammation levels. Imbalances of microbes in the gut may contribute to inflammatory skin conditions. Skin conditions such as acne and rosacea have been linked to bacterial overgrowths in the gut, especially the small intestine. Microbial imbalances have also been linked with the transport of unwanted bacterial byproducts, known as endotoxins, from the bowel into general circulation causing inflammation.” Studies also show that gut bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Proteobacteria and Enterobacteria can impact inflammation in inflammatory skin disorders. Ultimately, caring for your gut health should be a holistic effort. Aherne suggests focusing on wholefoods that your body appears to tolerate well, adding: “Ensure you stay hydrated, prioritise sleep health and consider adding prebiotic and probiotic foods to your diet.” It’s food for thought for us all, really. For a science-backed gut-health plan that’s tailored to you, book a free 45-minute online appointment with one of our qualified, professional nutritionists at hollandandbarrett.com. (For a limited time, normally £45) https://www.theguardian.com/the-year-of-your-gut/2024/jan/02/digest-this-why-your-gut-health-is-key-to-your-overall-wellness

‘Voracious predators’ threaten honey production and pose risk to biodiversity, says Salvatore De Meo The Asian hornet has the capacity to kill up to 30 bees a day, according to one MEP. Photograph: Guillaume Souvant/AFP/Getty Images Italian MEPs are calling on the European Commission to crack down on Asian hornets, which are spreading across some EU countries and killing off bees. The yellow-legged hornets, native to south-east Asia, were first identified on the continent two decades ago, arriving in France before spreading to Spain, Belgium, Holland, Portugal and Italy, where after first appearing in 2012 they are causing havoc in the country’s northern regions. There was also a sharp rise in sightings of the invasive species in the UK last year. Bees are vital for the production of honey and maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Eleven MEPs from the rightwing Forza Italia have asked the commission to devise “specific measures to fight against the diffusion of the insect through funding control systems with EU resources”. The Asian hornet was a “voracious predator” with a capacity to kill up to 30 bees a day, the MEP Salvatore De Meo told Il Messaggero. “Since 2004, this has caused a significant decline in the bee po[CENSORED]tion in some EU countries,” he said. “This phenomenon jeopardises traditional pollinators, especially the honeybees on which the production of high-quality Italian honey depends, and risks damaging our biodiversity.” The Asian hornet, Vespa velutina, is believed to have entered Europe through the port of Bordeaux in 2004 in a container containing pottery imported from China. The invaders cost the French economy an estimated €30.8m a year, while the insects have caused a 35% drop in honey production in Portugal in recent years. In Italy, the insects were first identified in Liguria before spreading to Piedmont, Tuscany and, more recently, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. It is unclear how much the Asian hornet has so far affected honey production at a national level, but losses in Liguria have been estimated at 50%, while beekeepers in Tuscany and Veneto are raising the alarm. “We are worried,” said Michele Meridio, the president of the beekeepers’ association in Veneto. Meridio said Asian hornets were different from the oriental hornet, or Vespa orientalis, which is blighting areas of Italy’s south. “An oriental hornet might attack a single beehive, whereas an Asian hornet attacks several beehives at the same time,” he said. “They kill bees at such an incredible speed – dismembering them and bringing the remains back to their own nests to feed their young – that the bees no longer leave their hives.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/15/asian-hornets-killing-off-honey-bees-in-europe-say-meps

Shipment of aid for Palestinians and medicines for captives held by Hamas to leave Doha on Wednesday for Egypt and transport to Gaza. Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies in the Gaza Strip [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters] Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to allow medicines to be delivered to Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip and for aid to be transported to residents in the besieged Palestinian territory, Qatar has announced. The deal will see humanitarian aid delivered to civilians in “the most affected and vulnerable areas” in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of medication to Israeli captives held by Hamas, the group that governs Gaza, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday. Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said medication and aid will leave Doha on Wednesday for the Egyptian city of El Arish in preparation for their delivery into the Gaza Strip. He said the agreement was mediated by Qatar in cooperation with France. Earlier, Philippe Lalliot, head of France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Crisis Centre, which organises aid efforts, said negotiations had been going on for weeks and the initial idea had come from the families of some of the Israeli hostages. Specific medical packages for several months, which were put together in France, would be delivered to each of the 45 hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross will coordinate on the ground. Hamas seized about 240 people as hostages during its attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which at least 1,139 people were killed, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on official statistics. Israel responded to the assault with a devastating bombardment, siege and ground invasion of Gaza. More than 24,000 people have been killed in the Israeli assault, according to Palestinian authorities. More than 100 captives were freed during a week-long truce in late November following lengthy negotiations mediated by Qatar and the United States. In exchange, Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from jails. Earlier on Tuesday, the White House said US Middle East Envoy Brett McGurk was in Doha in recent days discussing a possible deal for the release of captives. National security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that McGurk was involved in “very serious and intensive discussions” with the Qataris about another deal. “We are hopeful it will bear fruit and bear fruit soon,” he said. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/16/qatar-announces-israel-hamas-deal-for-medicine-and-aid-to-enter-gaza

A fight over the primary’s first-in-the-nation status has left a rift between state and national Democratic officials. US President Joe Biden will not be on the ballot in New Hampshire on January 23 amid a row over the Democratic Party's primary schedule [Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters] “Never going to happen.” That’s how New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu responded early last year to the prospect of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) stripping his state of its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. For more than 100 years, New Hampshire has held the first primary contest in the United States, giving state voters a hefty voice in the process through which candidates ultimately receive their party nomination. It was such a source of pride that the state even enshrined its earliest-primary status in its laws. But the Democratic Party, at the urging of President Joe Biden, was under pressure to rearrange its primary calendar and move forward states that better reflect US demographics. So in February 2023, the DNC demoted the rural, largely white New Hampshire to second on its primary calendar, behind South Carolina, despite the state’s objections. Now, as the primary season kicks off on January 23, the Democratic primary in New Hampshire is set to be a showdown — between state and national party officials as much as between the candidates themselves. The state has refused to relinquish its top primary spot, and in response, the DNC has stripped the primary of its delegates, rendering it purely symbolic. Biden, who likely faces a tight reelection race in 2024, will also not appear on the New Hampshire ballot. But why does going first matter? And with this year’s primary contests widely expected to confirm Biden as the Democratic nominee, will the brouhaha in New Hampshire have any effect? ‘Point of pride’ Liz Tentarelli, the president of the League of Women Voters New Hampshire, a non-partisan group, likens the state’s primaries to when “the circus comes to town”. National media arrive in droves, and candidates crisscross the state, an area of just over 24,000sq km (9,300sq miles). Many presidential hopefuls hold small, in-person town halls and meet-and-greets, allowing some of the state’s 1.3 million residents to engage directly with candidates. “Voting is a point of pride in New Hampshire,” said Tentarelli, a resident of the small town of Newbury, about 50km (30 miles) northwest of the state capital, Concord. Holding the first primary, she explained, is “a big deal”. “I think it reflects that New Hampshire is the state that’s aware of politics more than some other states,” she told Al Jazeera, pointing to historically high voter turnout in primary and general elections. “We’re also a small state that makes it easy for candidates who are not massively funded to campaign in the state. They can get around to different towns and hold these events, and the people turn out.” According to Andrew Smith, a political science professor and president of the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Survey Center, holding the first primary is first and foremost “important culturally and historically to the state”. “It’s what people from New Hampshire are known for,” he told Al Jazeera. “We never set out to have the first primary. It kind of happened by accident.” To save money, the state’s early primaries were initially scheduled to coincide with Town Meeting Day, an occasion for community gatherings. New Hampshire held its first presidential primary in 1916, but it was four years later, in 1920, that the state began its first-in-the-nation tradition. Since then, Smith said, New Hampshire residents have been willing to “fight” to keep their state’s first-place status. Supporters of Donald Trump cheer as he speaks during a rally in Durham, New Hampshire, in December [Brian Snyder/Reuters] Trump leading, Biden not on ballot However, the 2024 primaries have been more muted than in past years, said Tentarelli. That’s in large part because political observers expect this year’s presidential race to come down to a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 election. Unlike its Democratic counterpart, the Republican National Committee has retained its traditional primary calendar, which began with the Iowa caucuses on January 15 and continues with New Hampshire holding the inaugural primary. Trump remains the frontrunner in the party’s race, with a solid lead both in New Hampshire and across the country. He also notched a decisive victory in the Iowa caucuses. But one of his Republican rivals, former United Nations envoy Nikki Haley, has been gaining ground in New Hampshire in recent weeks, according to recent polls. And on the Democratic side, Biden’s absence from New Hampshire’s primary ballot has highlighted tensions within the party itself. After the state’s row with the Democratic National Committee over the new primary calendar, Biden did not file paperwork to be on the ballot on January 23. That schism was further underscored by a tense exchange between state officials and DNC representatives. In a letter last week, obtained by Politico, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee called the January 23 primary “detrimental”, “non-binding” and “meaningless” for Democrats. The letter reiterated that New Hampshire’s vote could not be used to choose Democratic Party delegates, who represent the state in picking the party’s nominee for the general elections. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella responded on January 8, calling the DNC’s remarks “false, deceptive, and misleading”. He also warned that any attempt to discourage primary voters could constitute a violation of state law. Biden has not campaigned in the state either, leaving long-shot Democratic candidates like author Marianne Williamson and Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips an opening to post higher-than-expected primary results. Williamson and Phillips “have made some appearances, but they have not generated much interest this year because we know they’re long shots”, Tentarelli said. She added that, among Democratic voters, “there is a sense of annoyance, I think, that Biden is not on the ballot”. Yet, despite the ongoing rift between state and national party officials, some top New Hampshire Democrats have backed a grassroots effort calling on voters to write in the president’s name on their primary ballots. “While misguided DNC rules are leaving Joe Biden off the primary ballot here, New Hampshire Democrats and Democrat-leaning Independents overwhelmingly support Joe Biden and plan to write him in,” the website for the Granite State Write-In campaign reads. Approximately 65 percent of the state’s likely Democratic primary voters said they planned to write in the president’s name, according to a mid-November poll by the UNH Survey Center. “Support for Biden has declined since September, but no strong challenger has yet emerged,” the survey said, noting only 10 percent support for Phillips and 9 percent for Williamson. Meanwhile, a December poll from the Saint Anselm College Survey Center showed that Biden would beat Trump by 10 percentage points in New Hampshire in a hypothetical general election. The centre noted that Trump faces a “looming problem” in the state: Supporters of his Republican rivals Haley and Chris Christie, who recently dropped out, would rather back Biden than Trump if the pair face off. Signs promoting the write-in campaign to put Biden’s name on the New Hampshire Democratic primary ballot, in Hooksett, New Hampshire, January 15 [Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters] Expectations and momentum The experts who spoke to Al Jazeera said that not taking part in the New Hampshire primary will have little effect on Biden’s ability to secure the Democratic nomination, or on his general election chances. “I think by November, most voters will have forgotten the issue around the primary, and it’s a whole new ballgame,” said Tentarelli. Raymond Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, echoed that sentiment. He said he does not expect the primary tiff to affect the general election. “We’re still going to be ready for November and have a great year,” Buckley told Al Jazeera. He added that, while Biden’s absence on the ballot was “disappointing”, Democrats are still hoping for a “robust turnout” in the New Hampshire primary. When asked whether Biden would have to answer for his decision to forgo the New Hampshire primary in his general election campaign, Buckley said that is still “a ways away”. “I’m sure there will be some brainstorming down there on what that message will be, and I look forward to hearing it,” he said. Still, Dante Scala, a political science professor at UNH who has observed the state’s primaries for more than two decades, said that if he were a member of the Biden campaign, he would be trying to downplay expectations ahead of the January 23 primary vote. That’s because an underwhelming showing could raise scrutiny over whether “there [is] something to the idea that the Democratic base is really not thrilled with Biden”. “That’s been a story off and on for months,” he told Al Jazeera. “Like, ‘Boy, a lot of Democrats say Biden’s too old.’ A lot of Democrats say, ‘I wish we had other choices.’ And now we actually [will] see some results.” Biden’s decision not to run in the New Hampshire primary is ‘disappointing’, says the head of the state’s Democratic Party, Raymond Buckley [File: Leah Millis/Reuters] New Hampshire’s importance does not lie in the number of delegates it wields, Scala pointed out. Out of the thousands of delegates slated to appear at the Democratic National Convention, New Hampshire will only send about 33. But Scala explained that the New Hampshire primary does play a significant role in helping presidential candidates build or lose campaign steam. “The importance of New Hampshire is we’re the stage on which the candidates audition. And they audition not just in front of us any more, but they audition in front of the whole nation,” he said. For his part, Smith, the UNH political science professor, said the power of the New Hampshire primaries is largely linked to “the story that is told in the media about what happened”. If “the story coming out of New Hampshire is that President Biden loses in New Hampshire or almost gets beat by an unknown congressman from Minnesota, well, that is going to be a very difficult narrative to turn around”, he said. “Because we’re already seeing a significant number of Democrats in New Hampshire and across the country wish they had somebody else as their nominee, but they don’t.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/16/new-hampshire-primaries-a-muted-circus-with-biden-missing-from-ballot

Ghana’s shock defeat to Cape Verde has further dimmed fans’ hopes of ending a trophy drought that dates back to 1982. A Ghanaian supporter reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Group B match between Ghana and Cape Verde at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 14, 2024 [Franck Fife/AFP] By Emmanuel Ayamga Published On 16 Jan 2024 Accra, Ghana – It has been a challenging week for Ghana football. First, there was a January 8 performance to forget as the Black Stars, ranked 61st in world football, laboured to a goalless draw against 115th-ranked Namibia in front of their home fans in a preparation match in Kumasi. Then came a disastrous showing in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Abidjan on January 14, where they were largely outplayed and beaten 1-2 by a determined Cape Verde side. It is a dire situation that has left many fans at a tipping point. The boiling frustration reached its zenith right after Ghana’s disappointing loss to Cape Verde on Sunday, when an angry supporter confronted Chris Hughton at the team’s hotel lobby, verbally accusing the coach before the timely intervention of Ivorian security officers helped prevent the tense situation from spiralling into outright chaos. For many Ghanaians, the Black Stars have looked unrecognisable in recent years. From being a team that once oozed class on the pitch – reaching the semifinal of every AFCON from 2008 to 2017 and qualifying for three successive World Cups in 2006, 2010, and 2014 – the national team is currently a characterless unit that no longer strikes fear in its opponents. Under Hughton, like the last few coaches at the helm, the football has been dreadful, fans and experts say. The issues are stacked; no visible style of play, non-existent attacking intent, atrocious defending and the inability to sometimes string basic passes. Many players who are usually decent for their clubs have been underperforming in the national team. Even members of the side have admitted to not just being good enough. “We have always lost concentration at crucial moments,” forward Jordan Ayew admitted after the defeat to Cape Verde. ”We need to be more aggressive, we need to play more, we need to create more chances,” said defender Alexander Djiku. Cape Verde’s players celebrate after winning at the end of the AFCON Group B football match against Ghana at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 14, 2024 [Sia Kambou/AFP] Little optimism back home At the last AFCON in Cameroon, the Black Stars crashed out without winning a single game, suffering a shock 1-1 defeat at the hands of minnows Comoros. Fans are already worried about this edition’s outcome. “There’s no way we [Ghana] can beat Egypt,” longtime Black Stars fan Francis Kungu told Al Jazeera. “Even Mozambique, it will be a miracle if we get a draw. Even if we progress from the group stage, we’ll meet Nigeria and other heavyweights, so I don’t think we have a chance.” Kungu is not alone. Many of his compatriots are indifferent about the chances of the team in Ivory Coast, a hunch fuelled by Ghana’s poor run of form. Hughton’s side has won just once in their last six matches. Even worse, the Black Stars have failed to win any of their last five AFCON games, a miserable run that stretches across three tournaments now. “The team has displayed a lack of confidence since his appointment, notably evidenced in their recent loss to Cape Verde,” Godfred Budu, a Ghana sports journalist who works with Afrik-Foot, told Al Jazeera of the coach. “Hughton’s failure to advance the Black Stars’ playing style has left many Ghanaian football fans feeling pessimistic about the team’s prospects in Ivory Coast.” For many in Ghana, unconditional support for the national team has now become mere tolerance, and they say it is because the Black Stars have consistently failed to shine at successive tournaments, undoing the bond they used to share with the fans. Cape Verde’s forward Jovane Cabral (C) fights for the ball with Ghana’s defenders Alexander Djiku and Mohammed Salisu during the AFCON Group B match [Franck Fife/AFP] Four decades of heartbreak It has now been more than four decades since Ghana last laid hands on any major piece of silverware, long before any of the current squad members were born. When the iconic Charles Kumi Gyamfi, po[CENSORED]r as CK, led the West Africans to the AFCON title in 1982, beating hosts Libya on penalties in the final, no one in this football-loving nation imagined a long drought afterwards. It was the fourth time the Black Stars had won the competition. Yet multiple generations of Ghanaians have been left wondering when their country will lift the gold-plated trophy again. Sampson Baah was just eight years old when Ghana last won the AFCON. It was during the military regime, and the now 50-year-old recalls the fanfare at the time. “Cars were honking, our mothers and fathers sang nonstop that day,” Baah tells Al Jazeera. But, he added, in a rather regretful tone: “It’s a shame many of the current generation have never experienced this feeling. As young as I was, the sense of pride and joy was unforgettable. You never forget such times, it’s etched in your mind forever. The current generation deserves that winning feeling too.” As Ghana prepare to face Egypt in their next group game on Thursday, there is very little expectation of victory among Ghanaians. “I don’t think the drought will end any time soon,” Salim Odametey, another fan, told Al Jazeera. “I have no confidence in them.” When President Nana Akufo-Addo met the team at a farewell dinner before its departure for Ivory Coast, he tried to tap into Ghana’s famed colonial-era resilience to spark a response from the players on the pitch. “We are Ghanaians, the first nation south of the Sahara to be free of colonialism and imperialism. We always lead the way, and we do not sit back and watch others,” he rallied them. “We have a skilful, determined squad. Let us not put breaks on them and let us not park the bus.” In reality, though, as the Black Stars forlornly sit at the bottom of Group B going into their game against Egypt, the last edition’s runners-up, the average Ghanaian fears that it will take a lot for the 42-year losing streak not to be extended. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/1/16/dim-hopes-in-ghana-as-black-stars-attempt-to-end-42-year-old-afcon-jinx

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