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Mikel Arteta cuts a disconsolate figure at Craven Cottage. Photograph: Mark Greenwood/IPS/Shutterstock Arsenal ‘A painful day’: Arteta says defeat at Fulham is low point of Arsenal’s season Gunners slip to meek 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage ‘What happened today, it cannot happen again’ Ben Bloom at Craven Cottage Sun 31 Dec 2023 18.56 GMT Mikel Arteta bemoaned Arsenal’s meek New Year’s Eve 2-1 defeat at Fulham as the club’s worst performance of the season, warning that they will come nowhere near challenging for the title if they repeat it. From their position at the top of the table a few weeks before Christmas, Arsenal have now dropped 11 points in their past five games, leaving them in fourth place at the turn of the year. Fulham track back against Arsenal's Bukayo Saka Misfiring Arsenal are a team without a plan B when Bukayo Saka is foiled Read more Goals from Raúl Jiménez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid enabled Fulham to win a game from behind for the first time in more than a year after Bukayo Saka’s opener. It was no less than the hosts deserved from a dominant performance. “It’s a painful and sad day,” said Arteta. “What happened today, it cannot happen again. If we do that again we’re never going to have the chance to do what we want to do. “Today could have been a beautiful day to end the year top of the league. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror because today’s performance is the worst we’ve had this season, that’s for sure.” The manner of the defeat was startling. When Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to West Ham on Thursday they had 77 touches in the opposition box and took 30 shots. At Craven Cottage, they were second best in all facets. “Against West Ham we lost a game that we fully deserved to win,” Arteta said. “Today was a very different story. We simply weren’t good enough. We didn’t have enough rhythm, enough purpose, enough threat. “Defensively we were second best. It was easy for them to win the first and second ball, and have the opportunity to run. We were never at the levels required. We didn’t deserve to win the game, that’s very clear and simple.” After his side halted a run of three straight league defeats without scoring, Marco Silva described the victory as one of Fulham’s best this season. “The last few months, we have been deserving of this kind of result against a top side because we have been so close,” he said. “It’s the best way to finish the year. For us it was really important to finish on a high. The best way is to play against title contenders and do it at Craven Cottage, which is the perfect afternoon for us. We were the best team on the pitch and we deserved the three points.” https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/31/a-painful-day-arteta-says-defeat-at-fulham-is-low-point-of-arsenals-season

Yang Guang and Tian Tian have been wowing crowds in the UK for the past 12 years, but now it's time for the Giant Pandas to return home to China, as ITV News Scotland Reporter Louise Scott explains Visitors have two weeks to see the UK's only giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo before they are returned to China. Access to giant pandas Yang Guang and Tian Tian will be restricted from November 30 by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the pair’s enclosure closed off as zoo officials prepare to ship them back to China in early December. Giant panda Tian Tian will be heading back to China in two weeks. Credit: RZSS Yang Guang and Tian Tian arrived in Scotland in December 2011 as part of a 10-year agreement between RZSS and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, which was later extended by two years. Giant pandas generally live between 15 and 20 years. Despite efforts to breed the two pandas, female Tian Tian, whose name means Sweetie, has not produced a cub during her time with Yang Guang (Sunshine) in Edinburgh. Tian Tian and Yang Guang are the only two giant pandas in the UK, and come December they will be headed back to China. Credit: RZSS David Field, RZSS Chief Executive, said, “With more than a million species at risk of extinction and our natural world in crisis, Yang Guang and Tian Tian have had an incredible impact by inspiring millions of people to care about nature. “That added interest in the pandas’ departure this year has allowed us to connect many more people with the conservation causes that RZSS is actively involved with, and with nature more generally. “Through scientific research by our expert veterinary and keeper teams, working alongside the University of Edinburgh, we have made a significant contribution to our understanding around giant panda fertility, husbandry, and veterinary care – which has been of real benefit to efforts to protect this amazing species in China. “It is encouraging that in recent years the outlook for giant pandas in the wild has improved, which gives real hope for the future.” Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know... https://www.itv.com/news/2023-11-17/last-chance-to-see-uks-only-giant-pandas-before-they-return-to-china

“Too often we focus on the to-do, not the ta-dah!”: What has Rhik got on his list this year? Photograph: Pål Hansen/The Observer The Observer New year Resolution revolution: how to make new year promises you’ll stick to It’s self-improvement season and the air is thick with vows to do better next year. Most will be abandoned before January’s over. But is there a way to make better, stronger intentions that might actually stick? Rhik Samadder Rhik Samadder @whatsamadder Sun 31 Dec 2023 10.00 GMT Afew weeks ago, I was asked at a party what my new year resolutions were. I found the very idea laughable. I’ve never made any – because I’m perfect, and delusional. I also didn’t think anyone did. I straw polled my friends, who were equally dismissive. “Nobody chooses to do anything,” pronounced Charlie, “they just happen.” Mimi, an artist, does make them – but only at solstice. “Ghastly to have everyone doing the same things at the same time.” James’s only resolution was “the Mountain Goats one.” He’s referring to the song This Year by the band of that name, which pledges: “I am going to make it through this year if it kills me.” This left me thinking a few things. First, I have very intense friends. Second, what are resolutions? Are they now a legacy pastime, like Auld Lang Syne? Something we joke about, rather than actually do? Resolutions fail, we know that. A YouGov survey at the end of 2022 found that just 28% of people managed to stick to all of their resolutions last year. But people do self- evidently still make them, and 53% managed to carry out at least some of them. Perhaps what we don’t take as seriously is the classic formulation: a bullet point list, written on 1 January. “There’s definitely a more consistent conversation, rather than people waking up once a year and realising improvement is needed,” says Gretchen Rubin, host of the wildly po[CENSORED]r Happier podcast. Rubin’s bestselling books are a font of productivity tips, habit-formation methods and motivational insights. It makes sense that for life-hack devotees, self-improvement is a rolling programme, and they employ more sophisticated strategies. My most put-together friend, Victoria, checks in on herself via a dedicated journal, broken into four categories: personal, career, financial and wellness. (I once saw her making a spreadsheet of her favourite nuts.) I’ve heard of others who focus on decluttering, consolidation and self-expansion. Rubin sets herself a word of the year, a personal challenge and, finally, writes a varied list of things she wants to do. “For people who don’t like resolutions, it’s a way to play with the idea.” ‘Even if we resist trendy thinking, we may be 'making resolutions with a fantasy self in mind.’ Photograph: Pål Hansen/The Observer I’m not that organised. I have a rebellious instinct and resist much of self-help. I believe making individuals responsible for improving their lives, and accountable for failures thereof, obscures social forces beyond their control. Yes, I am fun at parties, why do you ask? “Maybe they’re a cover for looming anxiety,” suggests Anna Cutteridge, a psychotherapist with the School of Life in London, who shares my reluctance. Resolutions are often made in a spirit of guilt about festive indulgence, she notes, and can mask a deeper, existential horror: starting another year as ourselves. “It’s a weird switch to flip – in January, I don’t drink alcohol and I go to the gym and I’m a different person.” If you’re upping exercise or cutting carbs, the middle of winter is the worst time to start. Yet experts, including Cutteridge, believe the symbolic threshold of a new year can lend energy to new habits. In behavioural science, the “fresh start effect” describes the motivation we feel with certain milestones. They create a sense of separate chapters in our experience – a helpful boundary between the “old” us and who we wish to be. January 1 is an arbitrary date; that doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. As a disorganised person who wants to be less pessimistic and judgmental, maybe it’s time I took a fresh look at the futile to-do list of the goody two-shoes brigade. New year resolutions date back 4,000 years, to ancient Babylonians vowing to pay their debts. The first recorded use of the phrase, however, appears in a Boston news-paper from 1813. The article lambasts readers who sin all through December before making mealy-mouthed promises, “with the full belief that they shall expiate and wipe away all their former faults”. (We’re still looking at you.) In its first outing, the phrase is already dripping with shame, self-delusion and hot takes. It’s a very western phenomenon, says Cutteridge. “A tickbox of the perfected self, very individualistic.” Where we exert our will, other cultures have fun. Nowhere more so than South America. At new year, Brazilians jump seven waves while making seven wishes; and neighbouring Colombians eat a grape for every chime of the clock at midnight. Argentinians leave the past behind, shredding old documents and flinging them like confetti. Peruvians, meanwhile, settle scores with an end-of-year fist fight. But they always hug it out. Should we make resolutions less self-centred? In Buddhist countries, bells are rung in the streets to wish good luck to all. The Japanese laugh as midnight rolls in, a generous offering to those around you. I’m charmed by the Romanian and Belgian custom of talking kindly to one’s livestock at New Year. Yet to paraphrase Bart Simpson: I don’t have a cow, man! Rubin insists there is no dilemma in prioritising our own happiness. “Research shows happier people are more interested in the problems of the world and other people,” she points out. They are more likely to vote, donate money and volunteer time. They have the emotional wherewithal to turn outwards. “If it’s selfish to want to be happier, we should be selfish, if only for selfless reasons,” she concludes, like a zen koan. OK, I’m sold. Let’s make some resolutions. How to know what to want? Even at this point, things are not so simple. Cutteridge relates a tradition among the friends with whom she spends 31 December. They each write a note to themselves, containing a wish. This is then handed to someone else and forgotten about; until next year, when the note is handed back. The idea is to see if it came true without conscious effort. Frequently, there’s another effect. “You open up the envelope, and you laugh. ‘This is what I wanted? This is what mattered to me?’” The lesson is perturbing. “We’re not good at knowing what will make us happy.” We develop throughout our lives, she explains, and frequently make choices barely recognisable to us even a short time later. She quotes her colleague, philosopher Alain de Botton: “If you’re not embarrassed by the person you were last year, are you really growing?” All sorts of strange ideas capture the zeitgeist, too, persuasive in their ubiquity. Think of the currently po[CENSORED]r “hustler” mentality that draws fatuous inspiration from the habits of mad CEOs, and negs us all into thinking we should get up at 4am to do intermittent fasting. Even a glance at the evidence suggests the most effective habit any aspiring millionaire should focus on is being born into money. Even if we resist trendy thinking, we may be making resolutions with a fantasy self in mind. I could decide I want to become a professional dancer, as I love to dance. My vulnerable achilles, inability to pick up choreography and general ancientness will have their say in the matter. Conversely, we may decide a particular resolution sounds too much like hard work – forgetting that growth is rarely comfortable. OK, park that – let’s talk about the how to actually follow through. Here, Rubin is my good angel, overflowing with practical tips. “Don’t break the chain” is one of her most po[CENSORED]r tools. Doing something every day is the best way to form a habit. It creates momentum, lowers the difficulty threshold and eliminates the effort of making a decision. It’s the same reason why abstention – from say, sugar – can be easier than “everything in moderation”. Let’s put some skin in the game. I don’t think I actually want to be less judgmental, when I think about it. It’s part of my job. So what do I want? I’m not proud of this, but I’m sick of being sensitive and tattered. I want lots of money. “That doesn’t mean anything!” objects Rubin. Resolutions should be concrete. What does my path to money involve? Do I want to switch careers, get a degree, invest in new tools? “It’s like saying, ‘I want to learn Italian.’ You can’t wake up one morning and learn Italian.” Abstract wants are wishes. Her advice is to focus on daily actions we can control, not outcomes. Identifying steps that can be taken every day lets us apply a frame of: “Did I do it, or not?” Yet Cutteridge says we should also avoid being overly prescriptive. “Turning a desire into a tickbox makes it lose all meaning.” She gives the example of someone who wants to be a better parent. Defining the achievement narrowly might make them grow rigid. “It may be more about staying open, communicating with your kids about how to do better. The bar can shift.” “Pairing” is another way to up one’s motivation. Allow yourself your favourite podcast only when you’re in the gym, for example. I’ve used this poorly in the past, pairing a two-minute run with a slice of lemon drizzle cake. This is the heart of my problem with resolutions: they seem so joyless. They are often a way of being hard on ourselves, agrees Rubin. But there’s no reason they can’t be pleasurable, such as diarising more time for reading, or other things I enjoy. I’d never thought this. A resolution can be delicious. She also recommends topping up one’s motivation with a “halfway there” day on 2 July; a chance to look back at what we’ve achieved so far. “Too often we focus on the to-do, not the ta-dah!” What are some of her fun pledges? “I want to take more naps,” she smiles. Deciding on a good resolution, and meeting it, ultimately share the same root: self-knowledge. Figure out your tendency, says Rubin, in particular how you respond to expectations placed on you, by yourself and others. Do you like the social accountability of a group? Or do you respond better to individual motivation and a customised routine? Reflect on what has worked for you in the past. If a resolution isn’t sticking, trust that – and try a different approach. “When an activity aligns with your core values, you are more likely to stick with it,” says Cutteridge. Find meaning in the change you’re making, and a fuller you will emerge. An awareness of your temperament, and striking a balance between concrete steps and core values seems to be the key to a good resolution. Sadly, I don’t think “golden toilet-level wealth” makes the cut, though it would be nice. And so this year I’m making a list, and checking it twice. I’m armed with good intentions and sound advice. I’ve arrived at seven rules that feel manageable and exciting. Or perhaps I just wish I was on a Brazilian beach. There’s always next year. Rhik’s seven resolutions Keep it simple and you just might stick to them 1. Write one sentence, idea or observation each day just for you. Keep creative. 2. You don’t need snacks or sugar. Your mouth is simply bored. Instead, get into herbal teas, tisanes, infusions and decoctions. Bore people with it, if you must. 3. Walk 10,000 steps, five days a week. Good for the stomach, inside and out. 4. Go out of your way to pet animals. Two legs good, fur legs much better. 5. Don’t take people in your life for granted. See them anew and keep telling them good things about themselves. 6. Brush your teeth after supper, so when you’re tired, you can simply slip into bed. 7. Get in the sea. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/dec/31/resolution-revolution-how-to-make-new-year-promises-that-you-will-stick-to

Israel’s far-right finance minister says Israelis who would replace the Palestinians would ‘make the desert bloom’. Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for Palestinian residents of Gaza to leave the besieged enclave, making way for the Israelis who could “make the desert bloom”. Smotrich, who has been excluded from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet and discussions of day-after arrangements in Gaza, made the comments while speaking to Israeli Army Radio on Sunday. “What needs to be done in the Gaza Strip is to encourage emigration,” he said. “If there are 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs in Gaza and not two million Arabs, the entire discussion on the day after will be totally different,” he said. He added that if the 2.3 million po[CENSORED]tion were no longer there “growing up on the aspiration to destroy the state of Israel”, Gaza would be seen differently in Israel. “Most of Israeli society will say: ‘Why not? It’s a nice place, let’s make the desert bloom, it doesn’t come at anyone’s expense’.” In response, Hamas said Smotrich’s call to displace two million Palestinians and keep about 200,000 in Gaza is “a war crime accompanied by criminal aggression”. In a statement, Hamas added that the international community and the United Nations must take action to stop Israel’s crimes and hold it accountable for what it has done to the Palestinian people. Sara Khairat, reporting for Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv, said Smotrich’s comments “tie into a narrative that many are starting to believe that Israel wants to re-occupy Gaza”. “Pushing the idea that they want to push the Palestinians out”, Khairat said, would be reminiscent of scenes from the “Nakba” (catastrophe), the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in the wake of the 1948 war that accompanied the founding of the state of Israel. Most Palestinians displaced after the Nakba ended up in neighbouring Arab states, and Arab leaders have said any latter-day move to displace Palestinians would be unacceptable. In a speech on Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected any move to force Palestinians to leave their homes. “We will not allow displacement, whether from the Gaza Strip or the West Bank,” he said. Smotrich’s far-right agenda Smotrich, whose far-right Religious Zionist Party draws support from Israel’s settler community, has made similar comments in the past, setting himself at odds with Israel’s most important ally, the United States. But his views conflict with the official government position that Palestinians in Gaza will be able to return to their homes after the war. Smotrich’s party, which helped Netanyahu secure the majority he needed to become prime minister for the sixth time almost exactly a year ago, has seen its approval ratings slump since the start of the conflict. Opinion polls also indicate that most Israelis do not support the return of Israeli settlements to Gaza after they were moved out in 2005 when the army withdrew. Israel withdrew its military and settlers from Gaza in 2005 after a 38-year occupation, and Netanyahu has said it does not intend to maintain a permanent presence again, but would maintain security control for an indefinite period. However, there has been little clarity about Israel’s longer-term intentions, and countries including the US have said that Gaza should be governed by Palestinians. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/31/israeli-minister-reiterates-calls-for-palestinians-to-leave-gaza

The celebrations come as ongoing conflicts raise security concerns and lead to muted or cancelled festivities. 31 Dec 2023 Revellers across the world are celebrating the countdown to a New Year with fireworks and brightly lit signs – offering a hopeful start to 2024 for some. Sunday’s celebrations come even as the globe’s ongoing conflicts raise security concerns and lead to muted or even cancelled festivities. New Zealanders were among the first in the world to celebrate the arrival of 2024 with a fireworks display in Auckland. The fireworks illuminated the cloudy night sky and were accompanied by a laser light and animation show. Sydney, Australia hailed 2024 with a dazzling fireworks display featuring silver and gold pyrotechnics to mark the 50th anniversary of its famous Opera House. Fireworks illuminated the night sky and were accompanied by a laser light and animation show during New Year’s celebrations in Tokyo. Metro Manila, Bangkok, Seoul, Singapore, Beijing, Moscow, Istanbul, and other parts of the globe also celebrated. Here are some pictures as the world bids farewell to 2023 and welcomes the New Year. Fireworks burst from the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, to celebrate the New Year. [Hayden Woodward/New Zealand Herald via AP] People release balloons in front of the Tokyo Tower during a countdown event. People in Tokyo celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, the zodiac sign of 2024. [Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images] People carry an illuminated "mikoshi" or portable shrine during a countdown event to celebrate the New Year in Yokosuka, Japan, south of Tokyo. [Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters] Fireworks explode over Rockwell Center in celebration of the New Year in Makati, Metro Manila, the Philippines. [Eloisa Lopez/Reuters] Fireworks light the sky over the Grand Palace during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand. [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters] People gather to listen to a music concert to celebrate New Year's Eve at City Hall in Surabaya, Indonesia. [Juni Kriswanto/AFP] People attend a ceremony to celebrate the New Year in Seoul, South Korea. [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters] Fireworks light up the Marina Bay ahead of the New Year celebrations in Singapore. [Edgar Su/Reuters] Artists react during the New Year's Eve celebration at Shougang Park in Beijing, China. [Tingshu Wang/Reuters] Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong. [Peter Parks/AFP] People visit India Gate for the New Year celebrations, in New Delhi, India. [Amarjeet Kumar Singh/Anadolu Agency] Children and their parents ride a carousel at a Christmas market set up in Red Square and decorated for the New Year and Christmas festivities in Moscow, Russia. [Marina Lystseva/AP Photo] Istiklal Avenue is packed with people ahead of New Year celebrations at Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey. [Hakan Akgün/Anadolu Agency] A traditional street musician walks past people having a drink as residents celebrate the last day of the year in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece. [Sakis Mitrolidis/AFP] A man wears 2024 fancy party glasses and wig during a rehearsal for New Year's Eve celebrations at the landmark Puerta del Sol Square, in Madrid, Spain. [Isabel Infantes/Reuters] https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/12/31/photos-new-year-2024-celebrations-around-the-world

sic title: Love The Way You Lie Signer: Eminem - Rihana Release date: 2010 , August , 10 Official YouTube link:

Nick movie: DAMASCUS TIME Time: V Movies Netflix / Amazon / HBO: N/A Duration of the movie: 113 Mins. Trailer:

بمناسبة السنه الميلادية الجديدة أقول لكم .. كل عام ونحن لا شأن لنا بهم كل عام ونحن لنا دين نعتز به كل عام ولنا قدوة حسنة نقتدي به (صلى الله عليه وسلم) ان كان للنصارى (بابا نويل ) يحقق لهم أحلامهم كل سنه ف لنا رب " يحقق لنا أحلامنا كل حين فاعتزوا بدينكم (كن مسلماً معتزاً بإسلامك) "كل عام ونحن نشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأنَّ محمداً رسول الله"

Voted

Yes @NINJAAAA?

Mercedes-Benz, in its infinite wisdom, has never made a G-Wagen Cabriolet modified by AMG. The closest it got was the 2013 G500 Final Edition, with a 388-horsepower naturally aspirated V8. Refined Marques, a custom tuner in Germany, has decided to fill the gap in the market with an AMG-ified convertible G-Class of its own, complete with a set of adorable suicide rear doors. Refined Marques' Mercedes-AMG G63 Cabriolet is a one-of-20 custom creation that uses the new G63 as a base, complete with that car's 577-hp twin-turbo V8 engine. While the general style of the soft top is the same as that two-door Final Edition truck, the company has added two smaller doors for the rear bench for easier ingress and egress. Refined Marques CEO Ahmed Al Bakry tells Motor1 that originally, the rear doors were designed to open traditionally, like you'd see on a normal G-Class. "Then I said no, let's make them suicide doors, because then it'll make access easier for big passengers," says Al Bakry. Al Bakry says that an American super-model — whom he refused to name — called him as soon as she learned about the G63 Cabriolet, complaining of her current G Cabrio's rear seats, which were so difficult to get out of that she tore her dress and broke her heels. She offered to buy the first example shown in these photos, but settled for one of the 20 spots in line. Interestingly, this G63 convertible was originally supposed to be a one-off. Al Bakry says he got the idea from his son. "I have a G Brabus that I made for him; it's a one-of-one," Al Bakry says. "One day we were driving in traffic and he asks me, 'Baba, why don't you make this with a soft top so it opens, and a small door for me so I can get in and out?' And that intrigued me." While in the development process, Al Bakry told his friends and clients – mostly very wealthy collectors from the middle east — about the car. Naturally, they all wanted one of their own. So the one-off became a one-of-20. And just because this G63 Cabriolet isn't a factory product, don't think it's a hastily made hack job. It took Refined Marques 18 months of development to get this truck just right. Al Bakry says his clients wouldn't accept anything less than factory-level quality or better. He even presented the finished product to a former head of quality control at Mercedes-Benz, who, after an hour of searching, couldn't find a single fault. Naturally, most of the 20 examples planned have been sold. In fact, Al Bakry tells Motor1 he's waiting for a client to put a deposit down on the final build slot. So if you want one of these special G-Wagens, you'll have to buy second-hand. But don't expect it to be cheaper. Al Bakry says the owner of the China Blue example you see here has already received an offer more than double the $1.3-million starting price, which they declined. If you thought the normal G Cabrio was exclusive, just try to get your hands on one of these. https://www.motor1.com/news/702559/new-mercedes-amg-g63-cabriolet/

A season to forget so far for Manchester United brought a predictably dismal end to 2023. The 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground swept away all the positive energy generated by the thrilling Boxing Day comeback against Aston Villa. Proposed new club director Sir Dave Brailsford sat next to legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson for the latest painful staging post in an awful campaign that has already seen United lose an incredible 14 games - the most before the end of the year in a single season since 1930-31, when they finished bottom. Big-money signings are not delivering and others with huge reputations are also underperforming. As has been the case for the best part of a month now, Ten Hag has responded to a defeat by saying he cannot use injuries as an excuse yet at the same time insisting results will come when he gets the likes of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof, Rasmus Hojlund and Harry Maguire back. Other observers are far less forgiving in their judgement, with former captain Gary Neville telling Sky Sports: "Manchester United are back to their worst, back to what they are - inconsistent and awful." Just how bad has United's season been? Manchester United have never had fewer points, nor scored fewer goals, at this point of a Premier League season. Only in 1930 (28), 1972 (25) and 1921 (24) have they lost more games in a calendar year than the 21 defeats they suffered in 2023. They have lost nine out of their opening 20 league games for the first time since 1989-90. United only lost nine times in the league in Ten Hag's first season in charge. This season they have lost more games (14) than they have won (12) in all competitions. United have lost five out of eight games in December, scoring six times and conceding 12. Their best run of the season is three successive victories. They have won two games in a row just twice. 'No team can deal with so many injuries' Ten Hag told Brailsford - a key figure for new club co-owners Ineos - he did not want to speak to him until there was a gap in his side's schedule. That will come in January, when United have only one Premier League game - against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in a fortnight's time - after which they have a week off as part of the Premier League's winter break. For Financial Fair Play reasons, United's January transfer window will be quiet unless there are significant outgoings - Jadon Sancho's future remains unresolved - and as part of the deal with the Glazer family, Ineos would have to be told of any business, even though they cannot legally run the club. Whether Ten Hag will want any interruptions next week is open to question, with his side's next game at League One side Wigan in the FA Cup. They memorably knocked Pep Guardiola's Manchester City out of the cup as a League One club in 2018 and Latics manager Shaun Maloney scored the only goal when Wigan beat United for the only time in 2012. A repeat of that loss at the DW Stadium on 8 January is unthinkable in the current climate. As for Ten Hag, he can only hope he is right when he says a fit squad - which he is hoping to have at his disposal by mid-January - will make all the difference. "It is clear we are not consistent," he said. "Every time I say it doesn't matter how we line up, we have to win, but the routines are not there because every time we have to swap. Football is quick, so you need communication in a split second. When the players are returning, I am sure this side will be stronger.- I believe. "They [Ineos] know me. They know when I have a squad available the results will be there. This is part of a project. We were overperforming last year, this year we are underperforming. We have to step up and I have to lead that process. "No team can deal with so many issues and injuries we have." Midfielder Christian Eriksen added: "This season in general has been one step forward and two steps back and it felt like that today. Things will heal and get better." "The most boring team in the league?" - how pundits reacted Former defender Neville told Sky Sports: "They [Ineos] will make a decision on the manager before the end of the season, I have no doubt, even though they will keep him in charge until the end of the season. They have been so poor though and if that continues, Erik ten Hag will find himself under real pressure. "Ten Hag did a very good job in his first season, now the new ownership will be on a watching brief and Brailsford will look at what this club is and he is not going to like what he sees. "I have more optimism under the new owners. They are currently operating without a sporting director, without a CEO and without a head of recruitment. What club in the world does that? "Ten Hag is operating without a management team around him, which is incredible to think. He has been handed the keys to the safe and that shouldn't happen." Ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I had someone message me earlier asking if Manchester United are the most boring team in the Premier League. You know what, it's hard to argue with that. "The thing that troubles me with Erik ten Hag is I don't know what game he was watching when he comes out and answers like that. There comes a time when he has to take responsibility. He has spent over £400m." Former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage told BBC Radio 5 Live: "You are looking at the standard of players like Antony. He will develop but at Manchester United is the number of goals and assists he has good enough? No. "Who has been saying, 'let's go and buy Antony for £90m' when he's worth £30m? Or Casemiro for £60m? And also, how many of the players who have been brought in have increased their value?" 'Ten Hag needs to be moved on' - what you said James: This is so bad. No clue, no plan, no identity, and no desire. It's so bad. The 3-2 versus Villa papered over the cracks again. ETH needs to be moved on. The players don't understand him and what he wants. So obvious. Disgusting how the richest club in the world has the worst elite team. Anon: I can't see ETH surviving much longer. It's clear the players are a big part of the problem but I can't see what he is trying to achieve. I don't know what the style is, there seems no plan, no effort, players stropping at one another. Maybe Ineos will think 'a new manager for a new start'. Martin: All the hype on Tuesday about United having top-four hopes, welcome back to reality. Be lucky to be in the top half of the table. Ben: One thing that really, really bugs me watching the conduct of United's players over the last few years is the general demeanour and attitude towards one another throughout a game. We witnessed Rashford doing it against Villa to Hojlund, stropping and having a go. For goodness sake, support each other, give your team-mates a lift! I expect that for £200k+ a week... James: The only thing I don't understand is how on earth Man Utd will be seventh in the Premier League after this match. Andrew: United take off Mainoo half-time. No defensive midfielder on the pitch. Concede two goals from the defensive midfielder position. This is not rocket science. Nigel: Sums it up for me. Forest were fighting to the end, we just looked like we were turning up again and hoping for the best. We can't continue to paper over cracks. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67850900

As 2023 draws to a close, how strong is Hamas after nearly three months of bombardment and ground invasion? Smoke billowing after Israeli attacks over the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas in Rafah, December 20, 2023 [Mahmud Hams/AFP] 30 Dec 2023 Almost 23,000 people – the vast majority Palestinian – have been killed since the unprecedented Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7, which launched the Israeli assault on Gaza. As the end of 2023 approaches, the Israeli offensive is showing no signs of any let-up and the death toll is certain to rise on both sides as fighting continues. Political attempts at peace have failed. Israel has stated from the outset that its objective is to eliminate Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. To this end, it has continued the aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip almost without pause, since October 7. While Israel admits it has failed in this mission so far, it claims it is just a question of time before it achieves this goal. But does the situation on the ground support that claim? The answer is a cautious no. A detailed and impartial analysis of various aspects of its performance leads to the conclusion that so far, Hamas has experienced more successes than failures – for the following reasons. Hamas continues to exist The organisation is still very much alive and kicking. Politically, it is still recognised – de facto if not de jure – as the only entity exercising control over what remains of the heavily damaged civilian structures in the Gaza Strip. It is party to indirect negotiations that have already managed to produce a one-week-long pause in the assault on Gaza and a limited exchange of Israeli and Palestinian captives and hostages. As long as it holds on to its remaining hostages, Hamas will continue to be an inevitable “other side” without which no release of those captives will be possible. Israel has repeatedly stated that there is “no place” for Hamas in the post-war civilian structures of Gaza but has never produced any semblance of a concrete, alternative plan. Various vague, unfocused suggestions that the future of Gaza would be better without Hamas have been floated but nobody has produced any coherent suggestion of how to remove Hamas and what to replace it with. The US, some Arab states and various international organisations have suggested that a post-war Gaza should be run by Fatah or a pan-Arab force, but have presented no tangible plans for how to achieve that. For now, this remains wishful thinking. For the predictable future, therefore, Hamas is here to stay. Hamas remains an effective military force The military wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, has never publicly disclosed information about its structure, organisation or numbers. Some experts, using open sources and leaked intelligence from Israeli, US, Arab and Russian sources, estimate the Qassam Brigades’ strength at between 30,000 and 45,000 fighters. Even the most cautious of analysts believe that before the war, the force could count at least 18,000 well-trained, disciplined and ideologically highly motivated first-line soldiers in its ranks, with everything above that number being the second echelon. Various Israeli claims of having killed as many as 10,000 Hamas fighters are almost certainly exaggerated. The Qassam Brigades have been taking heavy losses but most of its battalions remain effective combat units. Institute for the Study of War, an influential and well-informed US think tank estimates that out of 26 to 30 battalions of fighters, which were believed to exist on October 7 – each having 400 to 1,000 men, only three have been rendered inoperable – or, in civilian parlance, destroyed. Of the remainder, four or five have been “degraded”, meaning that their strength is reduced but they continue to fight, either alone or by joining other units. In one aspect, the Hamas military wing has proved exceptionally effective: all units whose commanders have been killed have nevertheless continued fighting under their deputies. Relying on its excellent field intelligence, Israel has managed to kill at least five battalion commanders in targeted air raids, with at least six more dying in battle, including the commander of the Northern Brigade. Yet none of those units was rendered “headless” and collapsed, confirming Hamas’s clear ability to plan and train competent deputies. Israel has been destroying or blocking tunnel entrances wherever it can find them but there are clear signs that Hamas still maintains enough underground facilities to move forces between front lines and often successfully flank and surprise the enemy. Hamas has support from other armed factions Reports from Gaza sometimes make it appear that the Hamas armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, is doing all the fighting. In fact, there are no fewer than 12 different armed groups, affiliated with different political and ideological blocs. The second-best known is Islamic Jihad, but others include the Po[CENSORED]r Resistance Committee and two Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine of almost the same name – one calling itself “Po[CENSORED]r” while the other is “Democratic”. Probably the most unlikely to be associated with Hamas is the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, the armed wing of its rival, Fatah. Political differences aside, however, it fights in coordination with and largely under the general command of the Qassam Brigades. Putting all these groups under the Hamas umbrella is a pragmatic solution born out of necessity, but it seems to work to the satisfaction of all involved, with no visible tensions or cracks so far. There have been no reliable claims of any of this plethora of smaller units caving in under pressure from Israeli armed forces, disbanding, deserting or collaborating with the enemy. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that some of them may merge, at least temporarily, into the Qassam Brigades. The continued co-existence of these armed factions while they face the same threat is without doubt a success for Hamas. Hamas has gained po[CENSORED]rity in the West Bank Contrary to the predominant Israeli and Western image of Hamas as unacceptable terrorists and murderers of innocent civilians – a view particularly reinforced after reports of indiscriminate slaughter on October 7 – many Palestinians see it in a different light. Those who see themselves as victims of Israeli oppression, unequal treatment, lawlessness and discrimination often idolise Hamas as a fearless defender of Palestinians, and often as the only group doing so. Many young people born since the 1990s Oslo Accords, which were meant to produce a two-state solution, admit to being frustrated by the Palestinian authorities’ inability to secure what was agreed, promised and signed in those accords. This feeling of frustration has become particularly strong in the West Bank, run by Fatah, which is viewed by many young people as inefficient, corrupt, incapable and uninterested in working for the Palestinian cause. Increasing aggression from illegal Israeli settlers, who continue to harass, steal from and inflict violence upon Palestinians in the West Bank with impunity, has additionally alienated Palestinians. Many West Bank Palestinians reacted to the war in Gaza by openly flying Hamas flags, often alongside those of Fatah. Young Palestinians living in the walled and dismembered West Bank have long been angry about being passive underdogs always on the receiving end of this sort of treatment. Many have now placed their hopes and expectations with those who rose, fought back and hit Israel hard even though Israel is so much stronger. While this view may defy logic and seem shocking to outsiders, there is no doubt that it is genuine. Even if Israel were to achieve its goal of “ending” Hamas – a completely unrealistic prospect – many Palestinians would remember Hamas as the one group which refused to sit passively and just receive blow after blow from Israel. Despite the heavy casualties it has taken and the image it has acquired in the West, Hamas probably has more reasons to be satisfied than worried. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/12/30/analysis-has-israel-weakened-hamas-enough-to-win-the-war-on-gaza

Yotam Ottolenghi’s baked camembert with ’nduja and honey. Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food styling: Emily Kydd. Prop styling: Jennifer Kay. Food Styling Assistant: Eden Owen-Jones. Photo Assistant & Retouching: Sophie Bronze. Yotam Ottolenghi recipes New year Baked cheese, glazed sausages and veggie dip: Yotam Ottolenghi’s easy recipes to usher in the new year Here’s to good, simple food – variously unctuous and melting, meaty and spicy, crunchy and green – to satisfy every palate Yotam Ottolenghi Yotam Ottolenghi @ottolenghi Sat 30 Dec 2023 08.00 GMT 75 Whether you’re having a big get-together or lying low on the sofa, seeing out the year with good food is always a good idea. The options, as I see them, are threefold. One is to go all out – cue an entire baked cheese, not least because we know, come the stroke of midnight, we’re all granted a clean and shiny new slate, right? Second, stick to old-school classics, which in my book means chipolatas, full stop. And the third? The third is for those who by this stage of festive proceedings are craving something that’s deliciously, nutritiously green. Whichever option you go for (not that you have to choose – why not have all three?), here’s to making good food, sharing good food and celebrating all the good things that doing so can bring. Baked camembert, ’nduja and honey (pictured top) Serve this as a party sharer or a starter for two, or spirit it away and devour solo on the sofa – either way, it’s an unashamedly rich, sweet, spicy, tangy and decadent way to mark the new year. Prep 5 min Cook 25 min Serves 2-4 (or 1) 50g ’nduja 1 tsp olive oil 1 tsp rosemary leaves, roughly chopped 1 tbsp runny honey 1 tsp moscatel, sherry or white-wine vinegar ¼ tsp fennel seeds, coarsely crushed in a mortar ⅛ tsp flaked sea salt 1 x 250g box camembert To serve 1 conference pear, cut lengthways into thin wedges 1 head red or white chicory (AKA endive), leaves separated Crusty bread, toasted Put the ’nduja, oil and rosemary in a small pan on a medium-high heat and, once it starts sizzling, turn down the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for three minutes. Take off the heat, and stir in the honey, vinegar and a teaspoon of cold water. In a small bowl, mix the crushed fennel seeds and sea salt, and heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6. Remove and discard all the plastic from the camembert, then score the top of the cheese in a crisscross pattern and return it to its cardboard casing. Put the box on a roasting tray, then spoon the ’nduja mix on top of the cheese and spread it out evenly. Bake for 17 minutes, until melted and bubbling, then remove, sprinkle over the fennel salt and serve straight away with the pear, chicory and bread alongside, for dipping. Sticky treacle sausages with whisky and orange Yotam Ottolenghi’s sticky treacle sausages with whisky and orange. A party isn’t a party without chipolatas, right? They’re the ultimate finger food, and they’re super-practical, too, because you can eat them hot or at room temperature. Prep 10 min Cook 40 min Serves 8-12 130g diced pancetta 2 tbsp whisky 35g treacle 30g demerara sugar, or light brown sugar 24 pork chipolatas (680g), separated 1 orange Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6. Put the pancetta in a small saucepan and saute on a medium heat for five minutes, until it turns golden and a decent amount of fat renders out. Add the whisky, stir to deglaze the pan, then add the treacle and sugar, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, just until the sugar dissolves. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper, put the sausages on top and pour over the pancetta sauce. Stir to combine, then spread out the sausages evenly across the tray and bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring once or twice, until nicely browned and coated in the glaze. Remove and leave to cool slightly. While the sausages are cooking, use a peeler to pare off two strips of zest from the orange, being careful to avoid the bitter white pith, then cut each piece of zest into very fine strips. Transfer the sausages to a platter, spoon over any pancetta glaze left in the tray, sprinkle over the orange zest and serve. Kale and mixed peel dip Yotam Ottolenghi’s kale and mixed peel dip. There’s nothing like adding mixed peel to a dip to keep the festivities going. We’ve used kale, but the same approach works just as well with all the trimmings from brussels sprouts. The hawaij spice lends the dish a wonderful warmth, but if you can’t get your hands on any, try another warm spice blend, such as Lebanese seven spice or baharat. You can make the dip in advance and top it with the crisp kale when you’re ready to eat. Eat with pitta chips or a crudite such as chicory. Prep 10 min Cook 25 min Serves 6 150g kale, leaves stripped off, stalks discarded (115g) 35g pumpkin seeds 105ml olive oil 1½ tsp hawaij spice, or baharat Fine sea salt and black pepper 80g spring onions, trimmed and roughly chopped 250g Greek-style yoghurt 100g soured cream 45g chopped mixed peel 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 40g picked coriander leaves 20g picked dill leaves ½ tsp urfa chilli flakes Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6. On a lined baking tray, mix 45g of the kale with the pumpkin seeds, a tablespoon of olive oil, half a teaspoon of the hawaij spice and an eighth of a teaspoon of salt, then roast for eight minutes, until the kale has crisped up and the seeds are toasted. Remove from the oven and set aside. Put the remaining 70g kale and 50g of the spring onions in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Heat four tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan and, once hot, add the kale and spring onion mixture, season with a half-teaspoon of salt and the remaining teaspoon of hawaij spice and fry, stirring, for five minutes, until the kale mix has softened and the spices smell fragrant. Tip into a bowl, then stir in the yoghurt, soured cream, mixed peel, garlic and a good crack of pepper. Wipe out the food processor, add the coriander, dill and the remaining 30g spring onions and pulse until finely chopped. Stir this into the yoghurt bowl. Spoon the yoghurt mixture into a shallow serving dish. Pour the remaining two tablespoons of oil over the top, then scatter over the crisp kale, pumpkin seeds and urfa chilli, and serve. https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/dec/30/baked-cheese-glazed-sausages-veggie-dip-easy-recipes-new-year-yotam-ottolenghi

Puds, a golden retriever, sitting in front of a Christmas tree with her nine puppies with black fur Credit: PA A Guide Dogs mother has given birth to a litter of nine puppies just in time for Christmas. Four-year-old golden retriever Puds, a breeding dog for the charity, gave birth to five girls and four boys at a home in Northamptonshire on December 7. Thanks to their father, a German shepherd named Shadow, the puppies have distinctive black fur in contrast to their mother’s sandy brown coat, with one young puppy sporting a white tail tip. When the puppies reach 14 months old, they will train to become guide dogs to help people with sight loss. Puds gave birth to nine healthy puppies on December 7 Credit: PA Janine Dixon, head of breeding operations at Guide Dogs, said: “It’s fitting that Puds has had her babies in time for Christmas – we’ve affectionately named her puppies ‘the puddings’ for now. “There are now nine more future guide dogs in the world, which is a lovely thing to celebrate at this time of year. “At Guide Dogs, we wouldn’t be able to do our work without help from volunteer Breeding Dog Holders, who look after fantastic mums like Puds and help give these very important puppies the very best start in life.” When the puppies reach 14 months old, they will go into training to become qualified guide dogs Credit: Michael Leckie/PA The litter will stay with their mother at home and be cared for by a Guide Dogs volunteer for eight weeks. They will then be taken to puppy raisers, where they will stay for the next year to get on with their training. The puppy raisers will take the dogs on trains and buses and in restaurants and shops, so they become accustomed to remaining calm and confident in a variety of situations. Two golden retriever/German shepherd puppies snuggling up to one another Credit: PA https://www.itv.com/news/2023-12-24/golden-retriever-gives-birth-to-nine-future-guide-dogs-in-time-for-christmas

The jailed leader’s bid to overturn his disqualification in the wake of conviction in a corruption case rejected by election body. 30 Dec 2023 Pakistan’s election body has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nomination to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections, with Khan’s Pakistan Tahreek-e Insaf (PTI) party accusing authorities of stopping most of its candidates from participating in the elections due in February. The 71-year-old former cricket star, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for corruption, was barred from politics for five years by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). But he still filed nomination papers on Friday. Election officials disallowed Khan’s candidacy because of his conviction and what they said was his disqualification under the Constitution, according to documents seen by the AP. They also rejected the candidacies of former members of his cabinet. The ECP released a list of rejected nominees from Lahore on Saturday, which also contained Khan’s name. It said the former prime minister could not become a nominee because he is not a registered voter of the constituency and due to him being “convicted by the court of law”. The cricketer-turned-politician’s nomination bid was also rejected in his hometown of Mianwali in Punjab province, according to his media team. Khan has not been seen publicly since his incarceration in August in the corruption case in which he was accused of unlawfully selling state gifts while in office. Last week, the Supreme Court granted him bail in a case alleging he leaked state secrets, but he is continuing to fight a barrage of legal cases that have dogged him since being removed from office last year. Most po[CENSORED]r leader Khan, who is widely seen as the country’s most po[CENSORED]r leader, has alleged that Pakistan’s powerful military is colluding with traditional parties to destroy his political party and prevent him from running for office again. The military has historically played a major role in the country’s politics and has directly ruled for decades since independence in 1947 from British rule. The 71-year-old leader has also alleged that the Pakistani military and the United States government conspired to topple his administration after he visited Moscow just before Russia invaded Ukraine. Washington and Pakistan’s military have denied the accusations. However, the US-based news site The Intercept published in August what it claims to be the details of a secret diplomatic cable that suggested the US administration wanted to remove Khan from power. The ECP had previously ruled that Khan’s PTI party cannot contest general elections using its cricket bat logo, but the High Court in the northwestern city of Peshawar earlier this week handed his team a legal victory by suspending the order. In addition to the 71-year-old Khan, the election commission has also rejected nomination papers submitted by other senior members of his party, including vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The commission, however, has accepted a nomination bid from former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from two constituencies, weeks after a court overturned two corruption convictions. But Sharif, who also has been facing legal challenges for years and returned home in October to end a four-year self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom, still needs to remove a life ban on holding public office, a hearing for which will be held in January. The PTI has accused the Pakistani authorities of rejecting 90 percent of nominations from its party candidates while allowing nomination papers from other parties, including Sharif’s Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/30/pakistan-poll-body-rejects-ex-pm-imran-khans-nomination-for-2024-elections

sic title: Famous Sally & YB - What Yo Name Is (Official Music Video) Signer: FamousSally & YB Release date: 1 , Dec 2023 Official YouTube link: