Gasoline...

Hong Kong police ended their blockade of a university campus after surrounding it for 12 days to try to arrest anti-government protesters holed up inside.

Police removed a stash of nearly 4,000 gasoline bombs left behind by protesters, who fought pitched battles about two weeks ago with riot officers on surrounding streets.  

The standoff at Hong Kong Polytechnic University was one of the most dramatic episodes in nearly six months of unrest that began in June with a huge march against an extradition bill seen as an erosion of freedoms promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997.

Protesters have since expanded their demands to include fully democratic elections and an investigation into police use of tear gas, rubber bullets and other force to suppress the violence. Police have arrested 5,890 people since June, ranging in age from 11 to 83.

Trap...

A man was shot and killed after he set off a booby trap in his own home on Thanksgiving night.

Ronald Cyr, 65, of Van Buren, Maine died of injuries sustained at his home on Nov. 28 after a handgun that was designed to fire upon anybody entering the front door of his residence went off.

The Van Buren Police Department, assisted by the U.S. Border Patrol, responded to a call indicating that Cyr had been shot. But when officers arrived on scene they discovered that he had been injured by a booby trap that he had allegedly set up himself, according to a statement released by the Van Buren Police Department.

However, following an extensive investigation that last several hours, it was determined Cyr had been shot unintentionally after discharging his own booby trap.

Flailed...

Assistant US attorney Bianca Forde was arrested for trying to keep cops from administering a sobriety test to her boyfriend in Hell’s Kitchen.

Forde, 35, was riding shotgun with her boyfriend when cops pulled over their 2020 Chevy Camaro about 12:15 a.m.

Forde jumped out of the car, which had Virginia plates, ignoring multiple police warnings to stay inside the vehicle.

She then began imploring her beau not to submit to the test, according to police, who said that she appeared to have been drinking.

Her 40-year-old boyfriend eventually submitted to the test, passed, and was not arrested, police said.

Instead it was Forde — who flailed her arms in the air as police attempted to cuff her — who was arrested, police said.

Not much...

Drones...

The use of lethal drones was once an area dominated by the US, but has spread rapidly, drawing in new conflicts and causing more civilian casualties as warfare is revolutionised.

The principal battleground is Libya, where both sides in the ongoing civil war are trying to gain air superiority with cheap Chinese-made craft run by the United Arab Emirates on one side, and equally inexpensive Turkish-made drones on the other.

The use of drones intensified when, after rapid early gains, Haftar’s forces were stalled by resistance from a coalition of militias fighting for the GNA.

Haftar is supported by Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The UAE operates a handful of Chinese-made.

Thanks to the Obama/Hillary dual regiem change that failed in every aspect and succeeded to start a civil war in the country. Just a thought.

Shale...

Chesapeake Energy—which helped propel the shale gas revolution in the late 2000s with leading positions in shale basins—is now facing tough times trying to heal its balance sheet, on which US$9.7 billion in total debt weighs.   

Chesapeake Energy has to focus on generating free cash flow and successfully manage the debt they had taken on to boost production instead of profits. Squeezed between the scarce availability of capital from debt and equity markets and investors demanding more profits, many U.S. oil and gas firms are reducing capital expenditure plans for 2020.   

In this challenging environment, aggravated by low commodity prices, Chesapeake Energy warned in early November that “If continued depressed prices persist, combined with the scheduled reductions in the leverage ratio covenant, our ability to comply with the leverage ratio covenant during the next 12 months will be adversely affected which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.”

terrified...

For five days, workers at a Florida wildlife facility watched anxiously as a bear remained stuck in a tree, hanging precariously over a tiger enclosure.

A caretaker at Florida C.A.R.E. Foundation first discovered the 50-pound (23-kilogram) bear Saturday. The bear appeared to be terrified by the 300-pound (135-kilogram) and 400-pound (180-kilogram) cats below, unaware they were in cages.

On Wednesday, workers tried to help the bear by moving the tigers to another location. The cub descended several branches but was still in the tree Wednesday night.

When the workers returned the next morning, the bear was gone. Foundation director called it a Thanksgiving miracle, saying the animal seemed exhausted.

Diverse...

Hearings...

Notice the faces of everyone including the dog. For a small bird, this discussion will help reduce the amount each eating.

Essentials...