The Daily Populous

Wednesday January 1st, 2020 day edition

image for Taiwan leader rejects China's offer to unify under Hong Kong model

FILE PHOTO: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen talks during a graduation ceremony for the Investigation Bureau agents in New Taipei City, Taiwan, December 26 , 2019.

China claims Taiwan as its territory, to be brought under Beijing’s control by force if necessary.

Taiwan says it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.

Fear of China has become a major element in the campaign, boosted by months of anti-government protests in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong.

“Under ‘one country, two systems’, the situation continues to deteriorate in Hong Kong.

Taiwan’s parliament passed an anti-infiltration law on Tuesday to combat perceived threats from China, further straining ties between Taiwan and Beijing.

Tsai denies seeking independence and reiterated that she would not unilaterally change the status quo with China. »

100 Best Games of the Decade

Authored by denofgeek.com

We've looked at the last decade and chosen an eclectic list of titles that defined this decade and will perhaps inspire the next.

For the most part, this is a standalone game about the bond between a squad of super-soldiers and the dire situation they're in.

The prospect of “getting into” a series by starting with its 11th installment likely strikes you as daunting and absurd. »

Illinois governor pardons 11,000 for low-level marijuana convictions

Authored by theguardian.com

Illinois governor JB Pritzker granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions on Tuesday, describing the step as a first wave of thousands of such expungements anticipated under the state’s new marijuana legalization law.

Officials estimate 116,000 convictions for possession of 30g or less of marijuana are eligible for pardons under the new law.

Illinois regulators said 34 dispensaries have been issued licenses to sell recreational marijuana but not all plan to participate immediately. »

Elton John Puts Down in Words How Wonderful (and Weird) Life Has Been

Authored by nytimes.com

He founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the early 1990s, and the memoir — carefully apolitical about anything but L.G.B.T.Q. issues — more than once refers to his advocacy to explain away some controversy or other.

John describes himself as a sexual voyeur, and speculates that his desire to look rather than touch may have kept him safe from the disease.

“Me” was written with the help of the British music critic Alexis Petridis, who met with John frequently, heard his stories and created a facsimile of how John speaks. »

Peter Crouch beats Harry Kane as Tottenham's 'Team of the Decade' poll hijacked by Liverpool and Arsenal fans

Authored by standard.co.uk

Rivals fans appear to have hijacked Tottenham's end-of-decade poll to decide their best striker of the 2010s.

A three-man shortlist of Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Harry Kane - chosen by the club - went up against each other to earn the place up front of their best XI of the decade.

However, a number of Liverpool and Arsenal fan accounts reacted by putting their support behind Crouch and hand the striker a commanding lead. »