Noticias ALEJANDRO

"If I had the discretion, it would not be my sentence," the judge said after Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was convicted. His lorry had ploughed into traffic on a mountain road in Colorado in April 2019, killing four people. Convicted on 27 counts, the 26-year-old was handed a 110-year prison term the judge said he was forced to impose. The sentence sparked uproar. Some 4.5 million have signed a petition on Change.org asking for clemency and Kim Kardashian weighed in on social media. She posted on Twitter calling on Colorado's governor to "do the right thing". One anonymous juror in the case told the local Fox station "I cried my eyes out", after the sentencing. 'Losing faith in America's justice system' Aguilera-Mederos was transporting lumber in the Rocky Mountains foothills when the deadly crash took place. The lorry careened downhill into stationary traffic, bursting into flames and causing a major pile up. Four people - Stanley Politano, 69, William Bailey, 67, Doyle Harrison, 61, and Miguel Angel Lamas Arellano, 24 - were killed. Aguilera-Mederos told officials that his brakes had failed, and that he had tried his best to avoid other vehicles as he lost control of his truck. He wept in court and begged for forgiveness from the victims' families. "I am not a criminal," he said, insisting he had "never thought about hurting anyone in my entire life". But prosecutors argued that the 26-year-old knew his brakes were failing. They said he dangerously weaved between vehicles, and that he drove past at least one runaway truck ramp - long lanes at the side of roads designed for vehicles with brake problems to drive into and stop safely. Why the US locks up prisoners for life The court convicted Aguilera-Mederos on dozens of charges, including vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. But it was the sentence that sparked controversy and calls for it to be overturned. Judge Bruce Jones told the court that - under Colorado law - he had to impose the mandatory minimum sentence for all convictions, and that they must be served consecutively. A Cuban immigrant, Aguilera-Mederos had no previous criminal record, and officials said no alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash. His lawyers have said he will appeal. A Denver Post editorial said the sentence was "far too severe", concluding: "We are losing faith in America's justice system, and clemency is one way to ensure the scales of justice remain balanced." Kim Kardashian, who is one step closer to becoming a lawyer after passing a key exam, posted about the case on Instagram and Twitter. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59750154

Lotus has ended production for all three of its stalwart models, with the final Elise, Exige and Evora models rolling off the production line ahead of the launch of the new Emira-led era. Combined, Lotus has produced 51,738 units of the three models, which amounts to nearly half of the firm’s total production over its 73-year history. The final version of each car to be finished will be kept in Lotus’ heritage collection. The new Emira will go into production in spring 2022. It will be the final pure combustion-engine Lotus, and the first new series production machine since the firm was bought by Geely, and along with the Evija hypercar will mark a new era of future models. Lotus boss Matt Windle paid tribute to the team who have worked on the three cars, nothing that they would transfer their expertise to producing the Emira and Evija. He added: "I would also like to convey enormous gratitude to all the customers of the Elise, Exige and Evora over the last 26 years for their passion, enthusiasm and support,” said Matt Windle, Lotus managing director. “These customers have given our ‘three Es’ true cult status – usually reserved for long-out-of-production classics. As we say farewell to the last few cars, we look forward to the Emira and Evija in the all-new factories at Hethel and sub-assembly facilities in Norwich, which introduce greater efficiencies and automation, higher quality and flexibility and the hugely exciting next chapter in our Vision80 strategy.” The Elise, first produced in 1996, has gained a Sport 240 Final Edition in yellow which is the final model out of 35,124 cars produced. The last Exige is a Cup 430 Final Edition in heritage racing green and is the 10,497th example to come out of Hethel. The model launched back in 2000. The two models are based on Lotus’ small car platform that was also used to produce the Vauxhall VX220 and the original Tesla Roadster. Around 7200 VX220s and 2515 Roasters were produced alongside the Lotus 340R, Europa, 2-Eleven and 3-Eleven cars for 56,618 cars produced on the platform. The larger Evora first hit UK roads in 2009. Its final model is painted in dark metallic grey and represents the 6117th Evora out of the firm’s Norwich factory. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-dealership%2C-sales-and-marketing/lotus-ends-production-elise-exige-and-evora

Welcome

Voted

Happy birthday

The group of thirteen legislators from the Pachakutik bench replied in writing to the president of Conaie, Leonidas Iza, where they reject his claim to judge them for alleged damage caused by their actions in the National Assembly, where the coordinator of the movement, Marlon Santi, is also involved. . In the letter to more than reject the intention of the indigenous leader, the assembly members, remember that it does not give him the power to exercise jurisdictional functions, typical of the ordinary sphere, and that as president of the Conaie, he cannot undermine the legitimate authority in the exercise of the assembly members and less exercise, judging functions against the assembly members. The letter is signed by the assembly members: Guadalupe Llori, president of the National Assembly, Rafael Lucero, bench coordinator, Ricardo Vanegas, Efrén Calapucha, Jessica Castillo, Rosa Cerda, Celestino Chumpi, Isabel Enríquez, Gisella Molina, Edgar Quezada, Sofía Sánchez , Consuelo Vega and Cristian Yucailla. The name of the leader, Marlon Santi, also appears. PK assembly members clarify to Leonidas Iza that he does not have competence and jurisdiction to apply indigenous justice to them “Your attitude, Mr. Leonidas Iza, president of CONAIE, is totally wrong, absurd, illegal, arbitrary and illegitimate; since he assumes functions that he does not have, by trying to sanction us by applying indigenous justice, without having competence or jurisdiction; since these attributions are born of the Law ”, it is highlighted in the fifteen-page document. They also insist that in no part of the Conaie statute gives it powers for the application of indigenous justice. "This is the sole responsibility of indigenous communities, so we are not willing to submit to the abuse of a president of the Conaie, who wants to make a political arena at the expense of our exercise as assembly members, trying to undermine our responsible work that we have done for seven months approximately ”, underlines the document. They reject, due to form and substance, the performance of Leonidas Iza, as president of the Conaie, since he is causing irreparable damage to indigenous justice; because he "uses it irresponsibly, to get personal political profits." On December 17, the assembly members of the Pachakutik movement were notified so that they must go and make use of their legitimate right to defense, in the assembly of the peoples and nationalities of the Conaie, to be held in the Otavalo canton, this Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 09:00. The objective is to resolve the “llaki” (damage) conflict, supposedly caused by the legislators and the national coordination of the movement. According to the communication sent by Iza, the assembly members and leaders of the Pachakutik National Executive Committee demonstrated an unethical, immoral, incoherent attitude, disloyal to the political and ideological project, which breaks with all community discipline and contravenes the effective exercise of the collective rights. On December 15, nine legislators who agree with the leader of the Conaie, Leonidas Iza, declared rebellion before the coordination of the bench, Rafael Lucero, and said that they mark autonomy with the government of Guillermo Lasso. Nine assembly members of Pachakutik declare in absentia and mark total autonomy from the government of Guillermo Lasso Without foundation The assembly members who signed the official letter in response to Leonidas Iza, consider that the president of Conaie does not have the power or competence to judge them. Indigenous jurisdiction is the right to be judged by its own authorities, in accordance with its rules and procedures, within its territorial scope, in order to guarantee respect for coexistence. That in reference to the classification that should already be exposed in his petition, he only makes an allusion to the misnamed “llaki”, not clarifying on what a possible sanction is based, nor what would be the circumstance or reason under which such assertions, being therefore a non-typified cause. This does not mean that all conduct of the authorities called to appear should be acquitted by the president of Conaie, for any act of reprehensible origin, the indigenous jurisdiction not being competent to hear this fact. That Conaie has the objective of consolidating indigenous communities, peoples and nationalities, the fight for indigenous land and territories, the fight for education; Therefore, legislators ask at what moment, within this line of ideas, is Conaie considered as a court that, without having jurisdiction, intends to impose sanctions on national authorities, on their elected dignitaries, not only by communities, peoples or indigenous nationalities, if not, by the Ecuadorian po[CENSORED]tion. In addition, they indicate that the Conaie, a social organization of struggle https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/politica/trece-legisladores-de-pachakutik-no-estan-dispuestos-a-someterse-a-abusos-de-leonidas-iza-nota/

Audi has described itself as “close to the finish line” in its deliberations on entering Formula 1 in a letter written to the sport’s governing body, the FIA, and seen by Autocar. The Volkswagen Group has been evaluating entries for Audi and Porsche from 2026, when major rule changes are planned to introduce new, more environmentally conscious powertrains and reduce costs of competing substantially. It has been included in discussions regarding new technical regulations as a result, including a renewed focus on using sustainable fuels and more electrical assistance. In the letter, addressed to outgoing FIA president Jean Todt, Audi CEO Markus Duesmann and Oliver Hoffmann, its head of technical development, wrote: “Thanks to your efforts we are now close to the finish line. Recently, we saw another milestone being reached - the first draft of the technical, sporting and financial regulations… We believe that it contains satisfying solutions for all the objectives.” The letter goes on to highlight that any decision to enter the sport must still be approved by the supervisory board of the Volkswagen Group, but adds: “We look forward to working with you and your team, to complete this important process and to confirm our Formula 1 entry early next year.” There is no news on whether Porsche could compete as well, or whether the Volkswagen Group will opt instead to just enter Audi, in what would be billed as a head-to-head with arch-rival Mercedes. It is also unclear if Audi intends to enter the sport as a full factory team or as an engine supplier. It is believed that talks with McLaren and Red Bull about a partnership are ongoing, potentially with equity stakes in the race teams being discussed. However, while McLaren has acknowledged 'early stage’ talks with Audi, it has said that other potential partners are also in discussions with it, with a view to investing either in the race team or the entire group of companies. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport-news-f1/audi-set-announce-2026-f1-entry-early-next-year

It's described as the biggest divorce case in British legal history - a settlement of more than £500m involving the billionaire ruler of Dubai and his estranged wife. The UK's High Court on Tuesday awarded a lump sum settlement of £251.5m to Princess Haya Bint Al-Hussain - the 47-year-old daughter of Jordan's former King Hussein. She is the youngest of six wives of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum - the multi-billionaire ruler of Dubai, prime minister of the UAE and influential horse-racing owner. The judgment provides Princess Haya with sums to cover the cost of running two multi-million pound properties - one next to London's Kensington Palace, as well as her main residence in Egham, Surrey. There is also provision for a substantial "security budget" as well as holidays, salaries and accommodation for both a nurse and a nanny, armoured vehicles for the family, and the cost of maintaining various ponies and pets. It has also awarded secured payments of £5.6m-a-year to each of her two children, a 14-year-old daughter and a nine-year old son. These are to be secured with a £290m guarantee. 'In fear of her life' This long-running court custody battle has thrown a spotlight on the normally closed world of Middle Eastern royal families. Princess Haya fled from Dubai to Britain with her children in 2019, saying she was in fear of her life, after discovering Sheikh Mohammed had previously abducted two of his other daughters - Sheikha Latifa and Sheikha Shamsa - and rendered them back to Dubai against their will. Sheikh Mohammed, 72, who is also a giant figure in the horse-racing world, has denied the abductions - despite a 2020 High Court judgement saying they were, in all probability, true. He published a poem called "You lived, You Died", widely assumed to threaten the princess after discovering she was having an affair with her British ex-Army bodyguard. Princess Haya continued to receive threats after moving to Britain, with messages saying "we can reach you anywhere" and she has since spent vast sums on security for fear her children would be abducted and flown back to Dubai. The High Court ruled this year that Sheikh Mohammed had illegally hacked the mobile phones of Princess Haya, her bodyguards and her legal team, which includes the Tory peer Baroness Shackleton. The hack was made using invasive spyware called Pegasus, which infects targeted phones and was produced by the Israeli firm NSO Group. Sheikh Mohammed said he had no hacked material in his possession and no surveillance had been undertaken with his express or implied authority. However, the president of the Family Division of the High Court in the UK found to the contrary. The princess who vanished Timeline: Failed escapes of sheikh's daughters Latifa urges UK to reopen sister's kidnap case In the divorce judgment, Mr Justice Moor, decided that, given earlier rulings, the princess and her two children were particularly vulnerable. He said they needed watertight security to ensure their continued safety in the UK. The main threat they faced was not from outside sources, he said, but from their father, a man who had access to the full weight of the state. "There is a clear and ever-present risk to these children that is almost certain to persist until they obtain their independence," the judge said. As to Princess Haya, he added: "There will remain a clear and ever-present risk to [Princess Haya] for the remainder of her life, whether it be from [Sheikh Mohammed] or just from the normal terrorist and other threats." The court was told of a security assessment that put the risk to Princess Haya and her children as "severe". The judge subsequently awarded funds to cover the running costs of armoured vehicles for transporting the family. The High Court judge said he had done his best to reach a reasonable conclusion, given "the exceptional wealth and remarkable standard of living enjoyed by these children during the marriage". He said that took the case "entirely out of the ordinary". Lawyers for Princess Haya insisted she had made no claims for her own future needs but she was criticised during court hearings for her lavish spending. Her son, for example, aged just nine, has been given three expensive cars as he was "accustomed to being given cars as gifts". This was, said the judge, a legitimate criticism. The judgment includes evidence provided by Princess Haya that she had been blackmailed by members of her security staff over an affair she had with one of them. She made several payments to four of these staff, some of which came from her children's bank accounts. To correct this, she said she had sold jewellery to the value of over a £1m and had since had to sell more. Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai has said heirlooms given to his former wife would be sent on to her. These included ballet shoes given to her by the world famous dancers Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. He also said he has removed the online poem ascribed to him, which the princess perceived as a threat to her life. He said he had no intention of causing harm to the princess. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59739563

Welc9me

Porsche has given a first glimpse at its new endurance racing prototype that will compete for victory in the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours. The German manufacturer will return to top-flight endurance racing for 2023 with a new machine built to the cost-controlled LMDh regulations. Porsche will begin an extensive test programme with the car next year, and has signed experienced racer Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr to lead the development work. The images show zoomed-in elements of a prototype car in a camouflage livery, mostly focusing on the rear end and large rear wing. They show that the car features a distinctive low rear brake light bar. No images showing the front of the car - where Porsche has the most styling freedom - have been shown. Unlike the Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) regulations that Toyota and Peugeot’s sports prototypes are built for, the LMDh rules are based around spec chassis, which manufacturers must source from one of four entrants. Porsche is collaborating with VW Group sibling Audi, which will also enter the LMDh class in 2023, on the project. Both cars will use chassis built by Multimatic. While the aero specs off the cars are set, Porsche will be allowed to fit bespoke bodywork to link the machine to its road cars, and can add its own powertrain elements – although all LMDh cars must use a spec hybrid electric motor. Peak power output is capped at 670bhp. LMDh cars will be eligible for both the World Endurance Championship, which includes Le Mans, and the American IMSA Championship. Porsche will enter both, with leading US squad Team Penske running its works programme. American Cameron, 33, has extensive experience of racing in IMSA, having twice won the top prototype title in 2016 and 2019. He also spent three season racing a Penske-run works Acura. Nasr, 29, has also won two IMSA titles driving for Action Express Racing in 2018 and this season. The Brazilian previously raced in Formula 1 for Sauber in 2015 and 2016. Penske Porsche Motorsport is due to begin an “extensive” test programme for the new LMDh car in January. Porsche will face stiff competition when it returns to endurance racing in 2023: as well as Toyota and Peugeot in the LMH class, Audi, Acura, BMW and Ferrari are among the marques to commit to LMDh for 2023 onwards. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport-news-le-mans-and-sportscars/porsche-showcases-new-2023-racer-le-mans-24-hours

The health secretary has refused to rule out further Covid restrictions for England, as the Omicron variant spreads around the country. A further 12,133 Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK, although the true number is likely to be far higher. Asked about possible new measures to slow the spread, Sajid Javid said there were "no guarantees in this pandemic". The government and devolved leaders are discussing the situation in a Cobra meeting. When it was suggested to him he was not ruling out a circuit-breaker - a short, sharp lockdown - or new restrictions before Christmas, Mr Javid told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "There are no guarantees in this pandemic, I don't think. And leaked notes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergency (Sage) suggest that, without intervention beyond current Plan B rules in England, hospital admissions could reach 3,000 a day. On those notes, Mr Javid said: "It's a very sobering analysis. We take it very seriously." However, he added: "We do have to challenge data and underlying assumptions, I think that is appropriate, and take into account a broader set of facts." Current Plan B rules for England include Covid passes for certain events, face masks in more places and people being urged to work from home if they can. Other nations of the UK have similar rules - though Scotland has gone further by asking people to limit social contact to three households at a time in the run-up to Christmas, and could go further still in the new year. Wales has also ordered nightclubs to close from 27 December. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the BBC it was "inevitable" new coronavirus measures would be brought in for England. "I think if we don't bring in new restrictions sooner rather than later, you're going to see even more positive cases and potentially public services like the NHS on the verge of collapse, if not collapsing," he said. "I think we should be able to celebrate Christmas safely. But I think sooner rather than later we're going to look at social distancing, we're going to have to look at household mixing. "If we don't, the number of cases is only going one way." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59718601

As of December 1, in some establishments such as supermarkets, minimarkets and others, the entry into force of the Economic Development and Fiscal Sustainability Law (tax reform) was applied, which provides for the elimination of the value added tax (VAT) for sanitary napkins. , various feminine hygiene products, masks, antibacterial gel and other products. In Santa María supermarkets the change in the system was scheduled on November 30, says Armando Puyol, the company's marketing assistant manager. “Everything is automated. When the regulation came out, it was validated in the system. As they are automated, the addresses are entered into the system and it runs them nationwide in all branches, we put it in the night (before) so that the next day it is ready in all the cash registers. This can facilitate price changes when necessary and when the regulations say so ”, he explains. Why is it said that the tax bill was not approved, denied or filed? Supermercados Santa María made these changes in its 38 branches for sanitary napkins, personal hygiene products, masks, oximeters, po[CENSORED]r disposable diapers, among others. According to Puyol, these types of products are widely consumed. At the moment there have been no public consultations on this issue. Meanwhile, from the Orders Market, this measure was also executed on December 1. They modified their VAT rates for the super online category, which is the one they handle. How much will those who earn more than $ 2,000 a month pay in income tax in Ecuador? "The modification of VAT rates implies their adaptation within the catalog which, although it applies to the products that are sold in all stores, has a manual process that is the identification of the products susceptible to change", explains Alejandro Figari, managing director of Orders Already in Ecuador. Orders It already has nine super online stores and these changes are also automatic. The company considers this measure positive because "it allows greater accessibility to basic necessities, which will possibly generate greater dynamism in all the commercial sectors of the country." (I) https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/empresas-cumplieron-con-baja-de-impuesto-en-toallas-mascarillas-y-otros-productos-desde-el-1-de-diciembre-nota/

The isolated Faroe Islands were home to an unknown po[CENSORED]tion in AD 500, some 350 years before the Vikings arrived, according to new research. And the evidence comes from an unusual source: ancient sheep dung. The striking Faroe Islands are a small archipelago located in the North Atlantic halfway between Norway and Iceland. The Vikings came to the islands once they developed ships for long-distance navigation, around 850 AD, before moving to Iceland in 874. For a long time, researchers believed that they were the first human inhabitants of the rugged Faroes. Were the Vikings in America 500 years before the arrival of the Spanish? Until this century, the only evidence of the first people to set foot on the Faroe Islands before the Vikings came from mentions in medieval texts. There is no current evidence to suggest that indigenous peoples have ever lived there. https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2021/12/17/islas-feroe-excremento-antiguo-oveja-poblacion-vikingos-trax/

Murray Walker never realised just how po[CENSORED]r he was. Judging by spectator reaction at home (and quite often abroad, most notably in Australia), he appreciated that his excited television commentary seemed to go down well with viewers. But such was his natural modesty that he never fully understood the genuine affection that grew solidly in the latter half of a broadcasting career spanning more than 50 years. The experience of respected motorsport presenter Suzi Perry is typical. “I was always in love with Murray,” she says. “I did so much work with him; I interviewed him a lot during my MotoGP days. I always thought of him as being an extremely good friend: someone I could pick up the phone to, someone I could email. When I got a job in Formula 1 [in 2013], he was the first person to call, asking if I needed any help. “We did some filming with him at one stage. He turned up with a thick book of notes. He would have been 90 or 91, and he had more energy than me by a million miles. The job was to sit and talk about races and what was happening at the time from his point of view. He hadn’t broadcast for a long time, but you could see that it ignited his whole being to talk about racing again; to just be there and be a part of it. It seemed as if he really resumed part of his old life during that show. “At one point, he had been asking me about social media. I was trying to explain about Twitter, Instagram and so on. He was fascinated but he obviously didn’t really understand it and didn’t want to get involved. I suggested I do a tweet about him. We did a recording with him saying: ‘Four lights, five lights… It’s go, go, go!’ I put that up and Twitter just melted, went absolutely berserk. ‘There you are, Murray,’ I said. ‘Everybody loves you; they really do.’ He looked on and shook his head in complete and utter disbelief. And then that smile broke out.” Such bewilderment would have been no surprise to Mark Wilkin, who for many years was the producer of BBC Television’s F1 coverage. “Murray never seemed to realise his place in everyone’s hearts and minds,” said Wilkin. “Traditionally, on the night before we left the UK for a race, Murray would stay in a hotel at Heathrow overnight. It worked well because I would be driving past the hotel in the morning on my way to the airport, so I would always stop and pick him up. “As he got in the car, I would ask: ‘How are you? Did you have a good night?’ ‘Oh, it was marvellous,’ he would reply. ‘I got in and I went to dinner as usual. And, do you know, I was sitting on my own and this lovely couple at the next table, John and Wendy, said: ‘Oh Murray, are you eating on your own? Please do come and join us.’ There was a sort of incredulous tone to the way he said it, as if had it been me sitting there on my own, John and Wendy would have invited me over as well, because they were charming people being nice. People would have paid £1000 to have dinner with Murray Walker! He never really understood that. He never, in his lovely way, fully grasped the effect that he had on people.” Despite his vast experience and global reputation, Murray remained self-effacing and relentlessly professional. As a summariser on F1 for BBC Radio 5 Live in 2007, I was to discover this first hand, when Murray was persuaded to make a brief comeback as a stand-in as our lead commentator, David Croft, was forced to miss the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. There were no airs and graces, no prepared excuses for being rusty or out of touch after six years away from the microphone. Murray arrived early and insisted on being a part of our team at every turn, both business and social. He never came close to playing the ‘Well, in my experience’ or ‘I think we should do it this way’ cards that you might have expected of somebody with his vast experience. If anything, he was mildly apprehensive. But it didn’t take long for the adrenaline to kick in. In fact, he couldn’t wait to get going at the start of qualifying. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/murray-walkers-co-commentators-remember-motorsport-hero

A major incident has been declared in London and more than 10,000 new Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK, as the variant surges across the country. A further 90,418 daily Covid cases have been reported across the UK on Saturday, after days of record highs. Cabinet ministers have been briefed on the latest Covid data. London's mayor said he was "incredibly concerned" by the city's infection levels and the major incident was "a statement of how serious things are". How many cases are there in my area? Action needed to limit hospital admissions - Sage scientists 'We're not looking forward to doing it all again' Sadiq Khan said Friday's 26,000 new cases in London were having an impact on staff absences for the capital's emergency services. He said that NHS trusts, councils, the fire service, police and City Hall were "incredibly concerned by the huge surge in the Omicron variant". In this context, the major incident status would allow organisations to work more closely together, he added. Meanwhile, police officers suffered minor injuries during "scuffles" at a protest against coronavirus restrictions at Westminster. The World Health Organization has said the Omicron variant has been identified in at least 89 countries - and is spreading significantly faster than the Delta strain. It is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of po[CENSORED]tion immunity, it added. In England, modelling indicates hospital admissions could peak at at least 3,000 a day without intervention measures beyond the Plan B rules currently in place, advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said in the leaked minutes of a meeting held on Thursday. The current Plan B rules for England include Covid passes for certain events, face masks in more places and people being urged to work from home if they can. The other nations of the UK have already brought in similar rules - and Scotland has gone further by asking people to limit social contact to three households at a time in the run-up to Christmas. Wales has also ordered nightclubs to close from 27 December. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59711474

Welcome !

The anti-pull harnesses have been designed to minimize the force that a dog or an animal can exert when taking a walk on a leash, ensuring greater comfort. The harness is placed on the chest of the dog and has a clamping ring on the chest, a location that favors the reduction of the jerks of the animal and at the same time helps its education if it is a small and growing dog . In addition, the anti-pull dog harnesses have padded and breathable fabrics, are comfortable and have adjustable straps to customize the stockings according to the size of the animal. And, it also helps pet owners to drive the animal more freely and safely on each walk, avoiding discomfort to the hands and wrists. Discover what are some of the best options available on Amazon in this selection, in which you will find different models for all tastes and with reflective bands that light up in the dark. https://elpais.com/escaparate/2021-12-16/los-mejores-arneses-para-perros-antitirones.html

Alpine has produced a bespoke version of its A110 sports car specifically for rapid-response teams of the French gendarmerie. The limited-run model has been equipped by Durisotti, a French firm that specialises in the conversion of commercial vehicles. Each A110 is kitted out with a bespoke emergency service livery, reflective front and rear decals and a blue flashing light on its roof. The cars are equipped with the same 1.8-litre four cylinder engine as the standard car, producing 252bhp and 236lb ft of torque. Inside, the model gains a host of specialist equipment, including a police radio and a bespoke tablet for all emergency needs. Alpine says the cars will “contribute to the modernisation and rejuvenation of the automobile fleet of the police forces.” The A110 cars will be used by rapid-response teams and will be deployed when pursuing high-speed offences or as part of road safety missions. Just 26 models will be built over the next four years, with two dedicated to rapid-response training. The first deliveries are expected in early 2022 to different units of the gendarmerie. It’s not the first time a sporty Renault Group model has been used as a bespoke police car. The firm’s history with the Rapid Intervention Brigade (BRI) extends as far back as 1966, when the original A110 marked the first-ever Rapid Intervention Brigade vehicle in the country. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/alpine-a110-joins-french-police-force

The UK's top civil servant is expected to step aside from his role leading an inquiry into Downing Street lockdown parties, after it emerged an event was held in his own office. Simon Case had been due to report on claims Covid rules were broken at events for staff last year. But his role was put into doubt after reports a party was held in his office, while London was under Covid rules. No 10 is expected to issue a statement later on Mr Case's position. Which parties are being investigated? PM pictured in No 10 Christmas quiz last year PM urged to get a grip after by-election rout The BBC understands a quiz was held for members of Mr Case's private office on 17 December 2020, and invites were sent out titled "Christmas Party!" About 15 people were invited to the gathering at 70 Whitehall, near Downing Street, although it is understood not everyone turned up. 'Corruption and sleaze' The BBC has been told that while Mr Case did not take part in the Christmas quiz, he was present for the event. Staff who were in the office that day took part from their desks, and others joined remotely. There was no catering, but people consumed drinks and snacks which they bought. The party was first reported on the Guido Fawkes website on Friday afternoon. Mr Case, who has been cabinet secretary since last September, has been asked by Boris Johnson to investigate gatherings for staff in government buildings last year. His inquiry is focusing on events in Downing Street on 27 November, 15 December and 18 December, and at the education department on 10 December. Responding to press reports of the gathering in Mr Case's office, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "Boris Johnson as prime minister has set the tone for the civil service and the rest of government. "With each new revelation there is growing evidence of a culture of turning a blind eye to the rules. "Labour made it clear when the investigation was launched that the person in charge should be uncompromised and able to make a fair and independent judgement. These fresh revelations put that into question." The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Mr Case's investigation "cannot be trusted and it must now be scrapped". He urged the prime minister to appoint a judge, independent of government, to lead the inquiry. Speaking to the BBC he said the Mr Case had been allowed to "mark his own homework" and that his position was "no longer tenable". "This is a government that stinks of corruption and stinks of sleaze," he added. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-59701369

The Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources reported this morning that the country would lose at least $ 600 million due to problems in the oil sector, due to the suspension of oil pumping and its consequences generated by regressive erosion in the Coca River and its tributaries the Quijos and Piedra Fina. Meanwhile, it was reported that with the seventh variant of the SOTE that is under construction, the pipeline could resume the activities of transporting oil by December 29, while the ninth variant of the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP) would be ready for the first. January week. These variants are key to overcoming the problem of the stoppage of the pumping of both pipelines in Ecuador. According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy, Petroecuador and OCP are executing work on variants to reestablish the transportation of crude oil in extended hours. As reported by EP Petroecuador, the seventh variant of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE), located in the San Luis sector, registers an advance of 73%, while the ninth of the OCP Ecuador is 40% complete. In the Shushufindi-Quito pipeline, which transports gasoline and LPG, the fifth variant of 2.5 km is at 81% and will be operational from December 18, 2021. The works for the construction of the variants are carried out in extended days of 24 hours to meet the established deadlines and are carried out under adverse weather conditions, since in the sector the rains are constant. The Government ratified that the supply of fuel is guaranteed on a national scale. To face the effects of the natural phenomenon, from the first moment, prevention measures were implemented, such as permanent monitoring, early warnings, suspension of pumping of the SOTE, OCP and Poliducto and the drainage of the existing hydrocarbons in the pipeline, with which avoided environmental damage in the area. Regressive erosion is a natural phenomenon that manifested itself since February 2020 when the collapse of the San Rafael waterfall occurred. Then, in April of the same year, the phenomenon also known as hungry waters led to the destruction of the two pipelines that transport the country's crude, causing significant economic losses. This week the advance of the erosion was known, for which the pumping had to be suspended, likewise a section of the Quito-Lago Agrio highway was destroyed. The phenomenon threatens the town of San Luis and is located a few kilometers from the catchment works of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant. https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/600-millones-de-perdidas-calcula-el-gobierno-por-la-suspension-de-bombeo-del-crudo-por-erosion-regresiva-nota/

Volkswagen will roll out a major upgrade to the often criticised infotainment system of the eighth-generation Golf with new hardware and software to speed up the system and add extra voice control functions. The latest Golf uses the MIB3 infotainment system, which was designed for a dashboard featuring a greatly reduced number of physical buttons. But the system has drawn criticism for being slow to respond and occasionally buggy. Volkswagen has revealed that latest versions of the new Golf will now feature an upgraded infotainmentThis is linked to a major software update that includes a number of changes to the way the system works. In a bid to prevent people from selecting the wrong controls, VW has now set the system to automatically disable the haptic buttons and volume slider when a user puts their finger near the screen. The update has also enhanced the infrared sensors to enable gesture control from a greater distance. system with a number of hardware improvements. Changes include a more powerful System on Chip (SoC), which is a new central processing unit that, VW claims, offers triple the graphics performance of and 25% more computing capacity than the previous system. In addition, VW has made a major revision to the voice recognition control, which, it says, has been optimised to be faster and give more precise responses to general questions. The system now has greater understanding of natural voice control, so saying “I’m cold” will prompt the car to turn the heating up. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/volkswagen-upgrade-golf-infotainment-new-software-and-hardware

Five children have died and four others are injured after falling from a bouncy castle that was blown into the air in Australia, police say. The accident - caused by a wind gust - happened on Thursday at a primary school fun day in Devonport, Tasmania. Police said the children had fallen from 10m (32ft), with two boys and two girls among the victims. The children were in grade six, meaning they were probably 10 or 11 years old. A fifth child died later in hospital. "A wind gust had reportedly caused the jumping castle and inflatable balls to lift into the air," Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. "Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as "unthinkably heartbreaking". "Young children on a fun day out… and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of the year, it just breaks your heart," he said. Paramedics arrived quickly at Hillcrest Primary School after the accident at about 10:00 local time (23:00 Wednesday GMT). The children were given first aid before being flown in helicopters to hospital. Four children were initially pronounced dead and a fifth child later died in hospital. Parents were alerted immediately following the incident, which happened on the last day of the school year. ABC reporter Monte Bovill tweeted that locals "have been running to the school to collect their children". One parent, speaking to a local newspaper, said the school had previously installed such floats on similar occasions with no problems. "You wouldn't dream a fun activity day would end like this," the woman told the Hobart Mercury. "We all feel so heartbroken for the parents involved. And feel guilty that we are also relieved our children were not injured." A coroner's investigation was under way, police said. Devonport, on Tasmania's northern coast, is a small port city with just under 30,000 residents. There have been other fatal bouncy castle incidents. In 2019, two children were killed and 20 others injured in a similar accident in China. A year earlier, a girl died in the UK after being thrown from a bouncy castle that eyewitnesses say exploded on a Norfolk beach. And two fairground workers were jailed for manslaughter by gross negligence after a bouncy castle blew away with seven-year-old Summer Grant inside, in Essex, in March 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-59677855

Burgers, pizzas, chicken, typical food and grill are the most requested by restaurants through delivery applications, according to the top 5 made by Rappi. This application highlights the growth in internet access in Ecuador and that consumers lost their fear of requesting basic necessities, through one click. “Thus, the vertical‘ Supermarket ’that is within the Latin American Super App, is one of the most visited by users, where meats, snacks, as well as fruits and vegetables are the most requested products. Home market purchases, a trend that continues and is on the rise This is the top 5 of mass consumption in Ecuador and what is most consumed in those categories: Supermarkets: meats, snacks and fruits and vegetables. Express: snacks, sodas and waters, and fruits and vegetables. Liquors: wines and beers Pharmacies: digestive health, sexual health and formulas and foods. Pets: dog food, cat food and cat litter The categories that move the most are: Home: hardware, lighting and organizers. Technology: accessories, chargers, headphones and storage devices. Health and beauty: makeup, hair care and fragrances. Gifts: accessories, toys and balloons. Toys: toys, board games and dolls and stuffed animals. This platform cites data from the Ecuadorian Chamber of Electronic Commerce that estimates that at the national level this industry will grow 50% more in the remainder of 2021 in contrast to the 2.3 billion users in 2020. And that is equivalent to more than double the number of buyers. online, as well as from businesses offering their products and services through various non-face-to-face channels. Sweets and snacks are now more home orders after two months of quarantine And in line with that expansion, Rappi is targeting two new services in Ecuador for the first half of 2022. Turbo, which will be delivered in less than 10 minutes. And Rappi Travel, so that Ecuadorians reach the places they like the most. These are innovations that this platform that operates in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta, Ambato, Machala, Santo Domingo, Portoviejo and Salinas is betting on. It has more than a million users who have downloaded the application and more than 4,500 commercial establishments. (I) https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/hamburguesas-pizzas-y-pollo-entre-lo-que-mas-se-consume-en-restaurantes-por-delivery-en-ecuador-nota/

What is it? BMW’s first mid-sized electric saloon seems to have been a long time coming, even if it’s nearly nine years since the company started its EV journey with the pioneering i3 hatchback way back in 2013. In truth, it appears to have been that i3 experience that has slowed BMW’s move into the mainstream EV market, to challenge established arrivals from Tesla, Porsche and Mercedes. Whereas the i3 was a courageous and radical little car that didn’t quite work (and neither did its equally novel supercar stablemate, the i8), this new i4 sits at the other end of the engineering and styling spectrum. Instead of taking the I’m-electric-so-I’m-different route, it adopts a judiciously modified version of a well-proven platform, already used for conventional 3 and 4 Series models, and also adopts relatively familiar Gran Sport four-door body styling that looks sleek and sporty but doesn’t frighten the horses. Not that the i4 is any the worse for this corporate pragmatism: it's a thoroughly attractive, ideally sized and well-proportioned car. But it is fascinating to see that BMW now believes buyers of mid-sized EV saloons, many of them business user-choosers, are already taking a big enough step in ditching ICE, and don’t want to be challenged to adopt an unsettling new look and body layout as well. The i4 has just about the same proportions and road footprint as a 3 Series. Its tracks are a little wider, and its centre of gravity is lower largely because the battery is mostly carried under the floor (and a little bit in what used to be the transmission tunnel). Step closer and differences become obvious. Long accents on the body sides give the car its own character and advertise the presence of the 80.7kWh (net) lithium ion battery. At the front, there are very thin LED headlights either side of an angular, technical-looking iteration of BMW’s kidney grille, similar to that used on the new iX SUV. In the i4’s case, the grille is almost completely blanked off because electric cars need less cooling. Instead, it provides an excellent home for the car’s various forward-looking cameras. Two models are offered, the headline-grabbing 537bhp twin-motor, all-wheel-drive i4 M50 (£63,905) we’ve already tested, and the slightly lighter, slightly calmer single-motor, rear-drive eDrive40, driven here, with 335bhp on tap, which can be specified in either basic Sport or the M Sport trim we tried. Our car’s most eye-catching figure is an official range of 367miles on the WLTP cycle: this, plus its £9500 lower price and a very healthy 0-62mph time of 5.7sec mean the eDrive40 is the i4 model likely to appear on most UK driveways. BMW’s launch blurb helpfully points out that the 40-model’s output “puts it on an equal footing with BMW’s most powerful current in-line six-cylinder diesel”. Given the performance and range, our test car’s kerb weight of 2125kg doesn’t look too bad against competitors. BMW says the i4’s battery, assembled with the rest of the car in Munich, is now 40% more energy dense than that used in the pioneering i3 because its cooling, packaging and chemistry are all better. It also uses no rare earth constituents and is made entirely by renewable energy. What's it like? Step into the i4’s cockpit and you find a mix of familiar and impressive new components. The driving position, the standard sports seats and most of the controls and switchgear are familiar from 3 and 4 Series, but there’s a huge, sweeping glass instrument display, angled towards the driver, that provides a plethora of driving data and infotainment can be set up in a variety of different configurations. The iDrive system is BMW’s eighth iteration, now quick and intuitive. The whole cabin has an aura of quality and comfort, and you sit quite low in the car (as with other Gran Sport models) so it feels sporty from the outset. The cabin is perfectly spacious enough for its front occupants – in their standard sports bucket seats – but full-sized adults in the rear are rather constrained on knee and head room by the rakish lines of the Gran Sport body design. Kids can cope perfectly well, though. Most important, this i4 drives like a BMW. The steering and pedal efforts feel familiar, if you discount the fact that there are no gears and allow for the instant torque of this single-motor fifth-generation eDrive system. The car accelerates swiftly and silently, as we’ve come to expect from the latest EVs. When you lift off, you have the choice of a 'sail' coasting mode or another that provides a high level of regenerative braking, although there’s nothing in between. The powertrain is instant, powerful and nearly silent, especially after you’ve found the centre-screen menu that dulls the artificially configured 'sound of motion'. Like most BMWs, the car generates a degree of road noise on the UK’s coarser Tarmac roads but copes with bumps in a quiet and refined way. Best of all, the i4 eDrive 40 rides well. It’s sporty but comfortable, with barely a hint of the pitch and uncontrolled jiggling that seems to affect some EV saloons. BMW has clearly put considerable effort into developing the EV version of this platform (in both Sport and Comfort modes) for what is an unusual weight distribution compared with the ICE versions made alongside it. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i4/first-drives/bmw-i4-edrive40-m-sport-2021-uk-review

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyd's civil rights. Chauvin, 45, is serving a state sentence of more than 22 years for murdering Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man. On Wednesday, he reversed an earlier not guilty plea on the federal charges as part of a deal with US prosecutors. The agreement means he will not face trial in January. It may also result in a federal lighter sentence for Chauvin. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this spring on murder and manslaughter charges in Minnesota for kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. The killing of Mr Floyd - captured on a bystander's phone camera - incited global outrage and a wave of demonstrations against racial injustice and the police's use of force. The federal charges against Chauvin include two counts against him for deprived Mr Floyd of his rights by kneeling on his neck as he was in handcuffs, and by failing to provide medical care during the May 2020 arrest. As part of the plea agreement, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old boy during another arrest that took place in 2007. According to the indictment, Chauvin held the boy, who is black, by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boy's neck and upper back while he was handcuffed and not resisting. Chauvin, who has appealed his state murder conviction, has been in solitary confinement in a Minnesota prison since April. The guilty plea on federal charges is likely to extend Chauvin's jail time beyond his existing one. US prosecutors recommended up to 300 months (25 years) in prison for the the civil charges, but the plea agreement would allow Chauvin to serve the two sentences concurrently. The other officers present on the day of Mr Floyd's arrest - Alexander Keung, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao - have also been accused of violating Mr Floyd's civil rights. They are scheduled to go on trial in March for state charges that they aided and abetted second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59671567