THE WASHINGTON POST – this recipe checks all the boxes for the kind of food I want to usher me into the new year. It’s healthful and comforting (yes, it’s possible to have both!) and it’s convenient – easy to pull together, make ahead and reheat.
It’s a better-for-you spin on a familiar favourite, baked ziti, made with whole-grain pasta (although regular pasta would be fine if you prefer it), packed with vegetables – sautéed mushrooms, broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes – and made cheesy and creamy with a more healthful than usual balance of part-skim ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan.
Baked until bubbly inside and melty and golden on top, it’s the kind of dish that’s like a cozy spot in the sun on a cold day.
This recipe makes eight to 10 servings, so it is an easy cook-once-eat-twice situation for most families.
When I’m just cooking for my husband and myself, rather than baking it all at once in a nine-by-13-inch pan, I divide the batch into two eight-by-eight-inch baking dishes and place one, tightly covered, in the freezer to double the dinner-at-the-ready payoff.
It’s an easy win to start 2022.
Three Cheese Pasta and Vegetable Bake. PHOTO: THE WASHINGTON POST
THREE CHEESE PASTA AND VEGETABLE BAKE
Active time: 35 mins | Total time: 1 hour 15 mins
8-10 servings
Storage Notes: Refrigerate for up to four days, or cover tightly and freeze for up to three months.
INGREDIENTS
– One pound whole grain or regular penne pasta, or other tube shaped pasta
– Two tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing the pan
– One pound baby bella (cremini) mushrooms, sliced
– Six cloves garlic, thinly sliced
– One bag frozen broccoli, defrosted (may substitute with five cups blanched fresh chopped broccoli)
– Seven sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes, drained and thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
– One teaspoon dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
– 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
– One container part-skim ricotta cheese
– Four cups marinara sauce
– One cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
– 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for two minutes less than suggested in the package directions. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
Meanwhile, position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Brush a nine-by-13-inch ovenproof dish with oil.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering.
Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until their liquid evaporates and they begin to brown, about eight minutes.
Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, two minutes more.
Add the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Add the vegetables to the drained pasta in the pot, along with the ricotta and marinara, and stir to combine well.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and evenly spread it out.
Sprinkle the top with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and cover the dish loosely with foil.
Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) – The news last February that defending Chinese Super League (SL) champion Jiangsu FC was ceasing operations set the tone for a depressing year for football in the world’s most populous country.
It wasn’t a memorable campaign as China Daily, an English-language publication wrote on December 29.
“Shandong Taishan savoured winning its fifth Chinese Super League title over the weekend, however the news barely caused a stir on social media amid dwindling interest in the financially stricken domestic game,” the paper explained.
The spending spree on famous foreign stars that started in 2011 and reached a peak of over USD400 million in the winter of 2016-17 when Chinese Super League clubs collectively spent more than any other in the world, has well and truly ended.
Instead of South American and European internationals, clubs are left with debts and uncertain futures.
Brazilian striker Alex Teixeira poses for photos upon his arrival in China in 2016. PHOTO: AP
On February 28, retail giant Suning, which also owns a majority stake in Inter Milan, pulled the plug just three months after Jiangsu won its first championship.
“Even though we are reluctant to part with the players who have won us the highest honours, and fans who have shared solidarity with the club, we have to regretfully make an announcement,” a Jiangsu FC statement said.
“From today, Jiangsu Football Club ceases the operation of its teams.”
Most of the 16 teams in China’s top tiers are backed financially by property developers meaning that the downturn in China’s real estate market has had on-field consequences.The biggest company involved in football is Evergrande which took over Guangzhou in February 2010.
Significant investment in the team saw it win eight Chinese and two Asian championships by the end of the decade. In June however, Evergrande announced debts of over USD300 billion.
The team subsequently lost its star players as well as coach Fabio Cannavaro. According to reports, the company is considering selling its club.
In October Hebei FC, owned by China Fortune Land Development, revealed it was struggling. “Since 2020, Hebei FC has run into unprecedented difficulties,” the club said. “It is true that the club cannot pay water and electricity bills and travel expenses.”
The global pandemic has made the situation worse and not just because it has hit the bottom line of owners. In 2020, games were played in empty stadiums and while a limited number of fans were allowed at various points of the 2021 season, all games took place in either Guangzhou or Suzhou, reducing the revenue of clubs with sponsors and broadcasters also looking to reduce their investments.
The decision to suspend the league season from August to December to help the national team in qualification for the 2022 World Cup pushed the league further to the margins.
It was also ineffective as the local league will not receive a boost from China reaching its first World Cup since its 2002 debut.
The team has won just one out of six qualifiers so far and in November coach Li Tie left his position.
Amid all the gloom, it was perhaps fitting that Shandong Taishan, the last champion before the spending took off, has returned to the top now it has stopped.
HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kong authorities ordered about 170 people, including several officials, to be quarantined at a government facility yesterday after they attended a birthday party where two guests later tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam expressed disappointment on Thursday that government officials had attended the large party during the Omicron outbreak, saying it did not set a good example for the public.
Fears of a new virus cluster were sparked when the two guests tested positive.
Yesterday, health authorities said all guests at the January 3 party would be classified as close contacts and be sent to mandatory quarantine.
The city has been racing to control the Omicron variant, with authorities locking down multiple residential buildings for mass testing and sending hundreds of people into quarantine.
About 170 guests attended the birthday party, including about nine government officials and nearly 20 lawmakers.
“We now think that every person who had gone to the party is now a close contact.
“Therefore, our quarantine work is specifically aimed at the people who have attended the party,” said head of the communicable disease branch at the Center for Health Protection Chuang Shuk-kwan.
The Women’s Bureau and Economic Bureau of Panchor Mentiri Village Consultative Council (MPK) held a donation presentation ceremony yesterday.
The donations for orphans and underprivileged students was held at the residence of MPK Kampong Panchor Mentiri Deputy Chairperson Haji Mohd Eddie Hardey bin Haji Ibrahim.
RPN Kampong Panchor Mentiri Acting Village Head Helmi bin Haji Ahmad, the guest of honour, also presented the donations.
The event began with a recitation of Doa Selamat followed by the presentation of donations.
RPN Kampong Panchor Mentiri Acting Village Head Helmi bin Haji Ahmad presents a donation. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
At the age of 63, Matnarudin Ibrahim’s (Haji Dyn) passion for long distance running is stronger than ever. He is also looking to continue to compete in ultra-marathon events while also hope to inspire many more Bruneians to enjoy running.
The former general manager of DST Group Subsidiaries and Customer Service has participated in numerous Ultra Road and Ultra Trail Marathon races.
It’s not an easy feat, he had to fight off fatigue and endured harsh weather as well as unfamiliar environments to cross the finish line.
He was awarded as the oldest Bruneian to participate and finish in the 200-km TiTi Ultra road run on March 19, 2019 by the Brunei Book of Records. Haji Dyn was also recognised as Asia Trail Master (ATM) Grandmaster as well as the oldest Bruneian to compete and finish in the most number of Ultra Marathons with distances of between 50 and 200km.
“If someone asks me, what type of runner I am, I will say I am an ultra-endurance runner,” shared Haji Dyn.
Recalling when his passion for running began, he said, “I started running quite late, probably when I was 45 doing short distances of five to 10km. At the same time, my love for hiking began to grow where I would usually go to Bukit Shahbandar and Tasek Lama since these were the two places available during those times. There was no Bukit Silat, no Bukit Sipatir and no Bukit Sarubing.
Matnarudin Ibrahim receives a certificate for his entry in the Brunei Book of Records. PHOTO: JAMES KON
“From there, my passion for running or hiking grew. I started to join running and trail events especially those associated to charity,” he continued. “My first ultra-distance event then was the SMARTER Chairman’s Big Walk from Kuala Belait to Rimba Point in Brunei-Muara, covering a distance of 107km. Only four completed the challenge. My first official full marathon (42.2km) was the Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Charity Marathon for ALAF. I was very fortunate to be selected as one of the runners. Alhamdulillah, I have completed these two events and have managed to raise a small fund for charities.”
His interest in running continued to grow further as he joined and finished full road marathons in Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Jakarta, and Manila.
“I then started Ultra Endurance Running in both road and trail categories with finishing one 200km ultra road marathon, a few 100 miles road and trail ultras and a few 100km road and trail ultras,” he said, adding that this passion continues to this day, and that he would love to invite, guide, share knowledge and experience with other runners or those who want to be one.
Some of his achievements in his Ultra Marathon running journey include: the Titi Ultra 2019 200km; Selangor Malaysia Road Ultra Route 68 Challenge 2018 168km; Gombak Selangor Titi Ultra 2017 100km; Road Ultra Jesselton 107 2017 107km; Malaysia Road Ultra Jesselton 107 2018 107km; Malaysia Road Ultra Kuching Ultra Marathon 2018 100km; Sarawak Malaysia Road Ultra, Kuching Ultra Marathon 2017 70km; Sarawak Malaysia Road Ultra, Mejawa Ultra 2020 12hrs 54km; Brunei Road Ultra Endurance; Ultra Trail Marathon (Butm) 2020 100 Miles; Sabah Malaysia Trail Ultra, Ultra Trail Panaromic (Utp) 2019 100 Miles; Pai, Mae Hg Son Thailand Trail Ultra, Beacons Way Ultra 2019 100 Miles; Wales, United Kingdom Trail Ultra Ultra Trail Panaromic (Utp) 2017 100 Miles; and Mae H Son – Pai Thailand Trail Ultra.
Some of the Ultra Marathons that he has completed include eight Physical Ultra Road Marathons comprising one 200km, one 168km, two 107km, two 100km, one 70km, and one 54km. He has also completed 27 Physical Ultra Trail Marathons comprising distances of four 100 miles, 15 of 100km, one 84km, one 75km, one 70km, three 60km and two 50km. This means that he has participated in a minimum total of 35 Ultra Marathons (Real/Physical (Non-Virtual) Ultra Marathons) with varying distances of 50km to 200km.
However, he was also forced to stop half-way in several ultra-marathons due to the unbearable trail conditions, such as high altitude or extreme weather. “You must know when to stop at your limit. Don’t over exert yourself. That could bring injuries or even worse – death,” he said.
During the pandemic, Haji Dyn also took part in virtual ultra marathon races, though he acknowledged that they are not as fun as the real events.
He also shared some valuable tips for runners, especially on preparation before a race. “It is vital to know what lies ahead in the race by studying and listing out the challenges, whether it is hilly or a 100-per-cent covered road. We should also consider whether the trail runs through Orang Asli villages with mostly no road lights or lampposts. It is always good to be ready for any two loops of 100km, a distance that covers two nights and two days, lack of sleep, unpredictable weather, dehydration, drop bags at 50km/150km (half and three-quarter distances) and 100km/200km (start/finish). So, you have four drop bags, two at each location, and it is important to label your drop bags and others.”
He said that once preparations are complete, one needs to develop the training as well as running and pacing strategies on facing these challenges to finish the race.
Haji Dyn also spoke on doing Long Slow Distance (LSD), and Long Moving Time (LMT), five to 10 hours in one go. “Do not pause your watch (keep it running). Remember rest is part of your race, so rest is also part of your training. Train together with your running friends or, better still, with your running buddy who will be participating in the same event.
“Weather plays a very important part which affects your performance on any road ultra race. Be prepared for rain or shine. Train at night, to include coping with sleep deprivation, and during the day, to include heat tolerance. Apart from the long distance and hilly roads, the two major challenges at TITI Ultra 200KM are sleepiness and heat exhaustion.”
As for road ultra, most of one’s training should be on similar kinds of routes, with roads including hills, while for TITI Ultra the route is always hilly with a long climb and long descent.
“You need to find the highest and the longest hills possible for your training. Finding these in Brunei are difficult, so compromise; find the tallest and longest hills and do hill repeats. For ultra endurance races, speed is not the essence here; it is more of LMT through jogging, walking up, jogging and walking down the hills. TITI Ultra 200km routes are nearly 100 per cent tarmac. The weather is usually hot during the day so train for your LSD and LMT under the heat.”
Another advice is to carry mandatory equipment, a medical kit, food and drinks during all these trainings in a suitable and comfortable vest. This is for one to get used to running with a vest of similar weight during the race. He said one should use the food and drink they carry to refuel and replenish energy, and for hydration.
They should also get used to eating and drinking what they carry while they run, and remember not to feel exhausted.
He reminded not to ever try wearing or using new kits, and rather to wear those that are used during one’s training and are proven be comfortable even after doing one’s LSD and LMT. “Carry spare socks all the time to prevent blisters. Change your socks if they get wet.
When you begin to feel you are developing hot spots on your feet, do not wait until you have blisters.”
Haji Dyn also shared about calorie loading, where about three days before the actual race is the time for one to store glycogen in their muscles and body to fuel their race, with suitable food intake. The types of food and fuel will be different from one runner to the other, but this must be tried and tested pre-race during training.
“It may be best to take those food, fuel and supplements that can be taken before, during and after race. I call this a three-in-one supplement for energy, endurance, and recovery.
“Most runners tend to train hard in the last few days. This is to be avoided. Never do any hard training on the final days. The last few days are for us to ensure our body is ready for the race; – the real challenge. Just do short distance jogs and run or walk at a very low pace.
“Get yourself mentally ready. Ultra-endurance running requires higher mental strength than physical strength, in the ratio of 80 per cent to 20 per cent. These may be quite difficult to develop, and can only be achieved through smart training, and gaining experience by doing a few ultra-events. Patience is key.”
During a race, he advised for runners to have a race and spacing strategy.
“These include your strategy on calorie consumption, re-fuelling, hydration, rest, running buddy or buddies, food to carry, food and changing kits (shoes, socks, shorts, tops, hats, buff) at drop bag points.”
He explained that one of the main strategies is to still feel quite fresh (semi-tired but not exhausted) at quarter-way, half-way and three-quarter way points. By doing this, he said one will be in the best position to complete a race within one’s planned strategy, or probably even better.
It would be best to start from the back of the group, sticking to one’s pacing strategy. “We are not elite, so let the elite occupy the front of the pack. If we are in front, we tend to start at a faster pace and thus not follow our running and pacing strategy. This is one of the main reasons why most runners tend to be exhausted in the first 50km. Stick to your own planned pace. The real race is not at the start – it is in the last 50km, and where you need your energy and strength most. The real race is in the last 20km to the finishing line.”
He said that at the finish line, be grateful, be thankful. “Enjoy the moment. Celebrate. Then it will be toward recovery by having a recovery meal to replenish calories, repair muscles, full rest, sports massage and short breaks. Try not to do a ‘recovery run’ of 20km. Chill, take it easy, and be kind to your body and yourself. Be patient.”
Once fully rested, runners will feel the eagerness to register for a new challenge or challenges. “It is now time to plan your next and future ultras. Also at the same time, review the race to find out in what ways you can improve your performance in the race.”
Haji Dyn said, “I am not a certified coach, nor an expert in running, but I believe the experience that I have gained and gone through, and knowledge I have gathered through my running journey are worth sharing.
“It may be a good time now for me to share with you all these experiences. It is my great hope that these could provide you as guides and be useful in your own running journey.”
He expressed hope that sharing his vast experience and journey can further inspire more people in the country to join long distance running activities.
BANGKOK (AP) – World markets were lower yesterday, tracking a retreat on Wall Street led by declines in big technology stocks.
Shares fell in Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Shanghai but rose in Hong Kong. United States (US) futures also slipped.
A resurgence of coronavirus outbreaks has added to uncertainties over a revival of tourism and other business activity in many parts of the world including Asia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said a record 9.5 million COVID-19 cases were tallied over the last week as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus swept the planet, a 71 per cent increase from the previous seven-day period that the United Nations (UN) health agency likened to a “tsunami”.
Germany’s DAX lost 0.7 per cent to 15,942.67 while the CAC 40 in Paris declined 0.5 per cent to 7,215.30. Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 0.1 per cent to 7,443.90, The future for the Dow industrials lost 10 points while that for the S&P 500 slipped 0.2 per cent.
Germany’s leaders were set to consider possible new restrictions and changes to quarantine rules as the new Omicron variant was quickly advancing.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the country’s 16 state governors were likely to build on restrictions introduced just after Christmas that limited private gatherings to 10 people, among other things. Japan approved new restrictions yesterday to curb a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the three most affected southwestern regions of Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima.
People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo yesterday. PHOTO: AP
Asia has seen smaller numbers but infections are rising rapidly and bottlenecks in testing mean that still more cases are likely unreported. At the same time, alarm has been kept in check by signs the Omicron variant may cause less severe illness, especially in countries with high levels of vaccination against COVID-19.
“The highly transmissible Omicron variant is a near-term growth risk for low vaccinated emerging market economies, and to supply chains amid China’s zero-COVID strategy,” Sonal Varma of Nomura said in a report.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index edged less than 0.1 per cent lower to 28,478.56 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong jumped 1.8 per cent to 23,493.48. South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.2 per cent to 2,954.89, while the Shanghai Composite index shed early gains to fall 0.2 per cent, closing at 3,579.54. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.3 per cent to 7,453.30.
Shares in Taiwan dropped 1.1 per cent and India’s Sensex was nearly unchanged.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 slipped 0.1 per cent to 4,696.05. The Dow slipped 0.5 per cent to 36,236.47. The Nasdaq composite lost 0.1 per cent to 15,080.86, while smaller company stocks bucked the broader market, with the Russell 2000 index gaining 0.6 per cent to 2,206.37.
Weakness in big tech companies like Apple was the main culprit.
Bonds continued to climb. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 1.73 per cent, the highest level since March. It was 1.70 per cent late Wednesday.
The selling followed a broad slide for the markets on Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve indicated it was ready to raise interest rates to fight off inflation.
The US Labour Department reported that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remained at historically low levels, suggesting that the job market remains strong.
Much attention will be focussed on the US Labour Department’s monthly jobs report. A strong jobs report could add urgency to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tackle inflation by raising interest rates.
In other trading yesterday, US benchmark crude oil added 54 cents to USD80.00 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It jumped 2.1 per cent on Thursday, helping to push energy stocks higher.
Brent crude, the basis for pricing international oil, climbed 54 cents to USD82.53 per barrel.
The US dollar slipped to JPY115.90 from JPY115.85 late Thursday. The euro rose to USD1.1315 from USD1.1298.
BANGKOK (AP) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Myanmar seeking to revive peace efforts after last year’s military takeover has provoked an angry backlash among critics, who said he is legitimising the army’s seizure of power.
Hun Sen is the first head of government to visit Myanmar since the military takeover last February. The authoritarian Cambodian leader has held power for 36 years and keeps a tight leash on political activity at home.
In his role as the current chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, plunging Myanmar into violent conflict and economic disaster.
Photos posted by a military-related publication, the Popular News Journal, showed the two standing side by side in face masks, bumping forearms and seated on ornate gilt chairs before an elaborate golden screen.
Protests and rallies were held in some parts of Myanmar as people expressed anger over Hun Sen’s visit.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reviews an honour guard with Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin on his arrival at Naypyitaw International Airport. PHOTO: AP
Hundreds of protesters burned portraits of the Cambodian prime minister and chanted, “Torch inhumane Hun Sen. People who engage with Min Aung Hlaing should die horrible deaths,” videos of the protest posted online showed.
Last April, ASEAN leaders, including Min Aung Hlaing, agreed on a five-point roadmap toward a peaceful settlement of the Myanmar crisis, including an end to violence and a political dialogue between all stakeholders.
The Myanmar leader was barred in October from attending ASEAN meetings after the group’s special envoy was prevented from meeting with Suu Kyi and other political detainees, which was one of the stipulations of the agreement.
Hun Sen said on Wednesday before leaving Cambodia that he had not set any preconditions for his visit. “What I would like to bring to the talks is nothing besides the five points, consensus points that were agreed upon by all ASEAN member states,” he said.
Myanmar’s military has said Hun Sen will not be allowed to meet with Suu Kyi, who was convicted in December on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentenced to four years in prison – a sentence that Min Aung Hlaing then cut in half.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (AP) – Top-ranked Ash Barty has advanced to the Adelaide International semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin while Rafael Nadal advanced via a walkover in tune-up tournaments ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam event.
Barty used her usual backhand slice and powerful forehand drive but also set down 17 aces and won 31 of 32 points on her first serve to advance yesterday. Barty lost to Kenin in the Australian Open semifinals at Melbourne Park two years ago.
“I was able to look after my service games pretty well and it was a lot of fun playing out here again and to get a little bit more court time and to start to play a little bit better,”
Barty said.
On Wednesday, Barty beat Coco Gauff in three sets in her season opener after almost four months since her last competitive outing.
“That’s what you want. It’s nice to come out here right from the start and know that you have to bring your very best level,” the 2021 Wimbledon champion said. “Obviously looking at these last two matches, there’s still work to do.”
Ashleigh Barty plays a forehand return. PHOTO: AP
Barty next plays either two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka or Iga Swiatek today.
In earlier results at Adelaide, seventh-seeded Elena Rybakina beat Shelby Rogers 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals.
Nadal, the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion, advanced without taking the court when his Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor withdrew. Officials didn’t initially confirm why Griekspoor couldn’t play.
It was only one day after Nadal played and won his first competitive match in five months, beating Ricardas Berankis in straight sets.
Nadal will play unseeded Emil Ruusuvuori today for a place in the final. Ruusuvuori earlier beat Alex Molcan 6-2, 6-1.
In other men’s play yesterday, Marin Cilic and top-seeded Gael Monfils won their quarterfinals at the Adelaide International. Cilic beat Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-2 and Monfils defeated sixth-seeded Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-1.
Second-seeded Simona Halep advanced to the semifinals of the Summer Set 1 tune-up event in Melbourne with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Viktorija Golubic. Zheng Qinwen also advanced after beating Ana Konjuh 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6).
Top-seeded Naomi Osaka and second-seeded Simona Halep advanced to the semifinals of the Summer Set 1 tune-up event in Melbourne.
Osaka beat Andre Petkovic 6-1, 7-5 while Halep defeated Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.
Despite the win, Halep was her usual critical self.
“Nothing was working today,” Halep said in her on-court interview. “I fought with myself a lot and found it difficult to control my emotions but she put me in this situation and put pressure on me. But if you want to win, you don’t give up.”
In quarterfinal play of the WTA’s Summer Set 2 in Melbourne, Amanda Anisimova beat Irina-Camelia Begu 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Daria Kasatkina had a 7-5, 6-1 win over Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
The Adelaide and Melbourne tournaments are two of six tune-up events being staged in Australia this week ahead of the season-opening major at Melbourne Park, which starts on January 17.
THE WASHINGTON POST – Whatever else happened in 2021, there were undeniable bright spots – in the form of cherished books that distracted, entertained and moved us. Expect more like them in 2022. If you want to really replicate the reading experience, here are some titles to consider based on recent favorites.
IF YOU ENJOYED AFTERPARTIES BY ANTHONY VEASNA,
READ FIONA AND JANE BY JEAN CHEN HO
Ho’s buzzy novel is a tender portrait of female friendship. It’s about two Asian American women, Fiona and Jane – longtime best friends whose relationship is strained when life scatters them to opposite coasts. The story spans decades as they grow together and apart, navigating love, death, complicated families and heartbreak.
IF YOU ENJOYED KLARA AND THE SUN BY KAZUO ISHIGURO, READ THE BOOKS OF JACOB BY OLGA TOKARCZUK
In 2014, Nobel laureate Tokarczuk’s acclaimed novel was published in Poland, where she lives. Now, it’s set to be published in the United States (US). The Books of Jacob is about Jacob Frank, a controversial religious leader in the 18th Century. At nearly 1,000 pages, it’s a hefty, intense read.
IF YOU ENJOYED THE PEOPLE WE KEEP BY ALLISON LARKIN, READ THE BOY WITH A BIRD IN HIS CHEST BY EMME LUND
In Lund’s debut novel, a chatty bird named Gail lives inside Owen’s chest. After a nurse discovers the bird, Owen’s mom ships him off to live with his uncle and cousin, where he eventually makes a good friend. The two cheer each other on in this coming-of-age story about finding your community and becoming your true self.
IF YOU ENJOYED NO GODS, NO MONSTERS BY CADWELL TURNBULL,
READ MOON WITCH, SPIDER KING BY MARLON JAMES
The highly anticipated second installment of James’s Dark Star trilogy revisits the events that happened in Black Leopard, Red Wolf – but from Sogolon the Moon Witch’s perspective. It also dives into the century-long feud between Sogolon and Aesi, the powerful chancellor to the king. Expect another epic fantasy adventure.
IF YOU ENJOYED IT’S BETTER TO BE FEARED: THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS DYNASTY AND THE PURSUIT OF GREATNESS BY SETH WICKERSHAM,
READ COACH K: THE RISE AND REIGN OF MIKE KRZYZEWSKI BY IAN O’CONNOR
Basketball fans might feel as though they already know Coach K – or Mike Krzyzewski, the decades-long coach of the Duke Blue Devils who’s set to retire after this season. In this insightful biography, sportswriter O’Connor captures the formative experiences and inner drive that catapulted the coach to icon status. Even the most die-hard fans will learn something.
IF YOU ENJOYED THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME BY LAURA DAVE,
READ THE LOVE OF MY LIFE BY ROSIE WALSH
In her follow-up to 2018’s Ghosted, Walsh introduces readers to Emma, a marine biologist, wife and mother. When she becomes sick, her husband, an obituary writer, copes with his anxiety by researching and writing about her – which isn’t as soothing as expected, given that her entire life turns out to be a lie. To regain his trust, Emma has to reveal a past she’d rather have kept hidden.
IF YOU ENJOYED WE ARE WHAT WE EAT BY ALICE WATERS, READ TO BOLDLY GROW BY TAMAR HASPEL
Haspel, a Washington Post food columnist, considered herself a subpar gardener – until she moved to Cape Cod and decided to take a more active role in cultivating her sustenance. She and her husband started raising chickens, growing tomatoes, foraging mushrooms and hunting their own meat. To Boldly Grow is part memoir, part how-to guide and wholly delightful.
IF YOU ENJOYED THE ROAD TRIP BY BETH O’LEARY, READ IN A NEW YORK MINUTE’ BY KATE SPENCER
Spencer – co-host of the popular podcast Forever35 – delivers a romantic romp through the Big Apple. When Franny’s dress gets caught in the subway doors, a stranger named Hayes offers her his (Gucci) jacket so she doesn’t flash half the city. The pair doesn’t realise a fellow commuter has posted the incident online until it goes viral. Their Internet fame is surely fleeting, but their attraction to each other just might have staying power.
IF YOU ENJOYED THE PERSEVERANCE BY RAYMOND ANTROBUS,
READ TIME IS A MOTHER BY OCEAN VUONG
The Vietnamese American poet Vuong – who published his debut novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, in 2019 – presents us with a stirring collection of poetry. He experiments with language and form while probing the aftermath of his mother’s death and his determination to survive it. Take your time with these poems, and return to them often.
IF YOU ENJOYED BROKEN BY JENNY LAWSON, READ BOMB SHELTER: LOVE, TIME, AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES BY MARY LAURA PHILPOTT
Early one morning, Philpott – most recently the author of I Miss You When I Blink – woke to the sound of her teenage son having a seizure. The incident rocked her world, dismantling any sense of safety and security. In this collection of essays, she reckons with how we manage to exist when there’s always some unknown threat lurking nearby. It’s the literary equivalent of a therapy session.
IF YOU ENJOYED FAKE ACCOUNTS BY LAUREN OYLER, READ HAPPY FOR YOU BY CLAIRE STANFORD
Here’s a snappy addition to the office novel canon: In Happy for You, a young woman starts working at a major tech company, where she has to build an app that helps users quantify and augment their happiness. It’s a somewhat ironic task given her less-than-happy feelings about her own life, which the experience will crystallise.
IF YOU ENJOYED EARLY MORNING RISER BY KATHERINE HEINY, READ MARRYING THE KETCHUPS BY JENNIFER CLOSE
The Sullivans, a restaurant-owning family in Chicago, are in a tailspin: Their grandfather, who they assumed would be flipping burgers until the end of time, has dropped dead. In Marrying the Ketchups, Close zeroes in on the not-so-adult adults left behind. The novel is fun and messy, just like the restaurant’s deep-fried treats.
IF YOU ENJOYED WILL BY WILL SMITH,
READ FINDING ME BY VIOLA DAVIS
The Oscar-winning actress – whose resume includes roles in The Help and The Suicide Squad – opens up about her poverty-stricken childhood in Rhode Island, and how she overcame the odds to make it in Hollywood. Davis also reflects on the risks and struggle that can surround a Black woman following her dreams.
IF YOU ENJOYED MALIBU RISING, BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID, READ THE SUMMER PLACE BY JENNIFER WEINER
Weiner is the queen of fun, feisty summer reads, and she’s back with a multigenerational story that dishes out the best kind of family drama. When Sarah’s stepdaughter announces she’s marrying her pandemic boyfriend in a mere three months, Sarah is stunned but agrees to help plan the wedding. It’ll be the final hurrah at the family’s beach house – if their secrets and grudges don’t prevent them from getting there.
IF YOU ENJOYED WELCOME TO DUNDER MIFFLIN BY BRIAN BAUMGARTNER AND BEN SILVERMAN,
READ THE OFFICE BFFS BY JENNA FISCHER AND ANGELA KINSEY
Nearly a decade after The Office ended, its stars help us fill the void by dishing out their own memories of the show. Fischer and Kinsey – who portrayed Pam and Angela, respectively – are real-life best friends whose Office Ladies podcast is revealing and entertaining. Now they’re collaborating on a behind-the-scenes book about their days starring on the beloved show and how it changed their lives.
IF YOU ENJOYED ONE LAST STOP BY CASEY MCQUISTON,
READ YERBA BUENA BY NINA LACOUR
Young adult (YA) author Nina LaCour’s adult debut focusses on two women who find each other while searching for themselves. Emilie and Sara experience an instant connection, but they’re both haunted by demons that threaten to upend their happiness. It’s a poignant, beautiful novel.
IF YOU ENJOYED SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER BY ASHLEY C FORD,
READ MY LIFE IN THE SUNSHINE BY NABIL AYERS
In 1971, a White onetime ballerina had a child with the Black jazz musician Roy Ayers. In this memoir, their son, who also became a musician, recounts a lifetime spent grappling with his father’s absence and whether DNA defines a family. It’s a thoughtful – and thought-provoking – read.
AP – Airbnb hosts in Oregon will soon only see the initials of some prospective renters, not their full names, in a change designed to prevent discrimination against Black users of the online lodging marketplace.
The new policy stems from the settlement of a lawsuit that claimed hosts could reject customers because they could conclude that the prospective renters were Black based on their first names.
The change takes effect on January 31 and will last for at least two years.
It will only apply in Oregon – it won’t even cover people from other states trying to rent an Airbnb listing in Oregon, according to the company.
Civil rights representatives and the company said on Thursday that they see the policy as a research tool.
The Airbnb app icon is displayed on an iPad screen in Washington, DC. PHOTO: AP
“If Black users face fewer incidents of discrimination under this system where you’re obscuring first names, then it should be applied nationwide,” said Johnny Mathias, an official with Color of Change, which has worked with Airbnb to measure discrimination on the site.
Asked about expanding the initials-only policy, Airbnb spokeswoman Liz DeBold Fusco said, “We want to evaluate the impact of this change first… to understand if there are learnings from this work that can inform future efforts to fight bias.”
In 2017, three Black women in Oregon sued Airbnb, claiming that the company’s requirement that customers post full names and photos enabled hosts to discriminate based on race, in violation of the state’s public-accommodations law.
Airbnb changed its policy the following year so that hosts could only see a photo after they accepted a booking.
