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Stunning images show how the US military rung in 2017 in Afghanistan while under threat

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afghan new years

That time of year has come again, the time to engage in the rituals of marking the end of one year, and ushering in a new one. It's time to make new resolutions to change things about ourselves that we are less fond of, and time to reaffirm the things that have positively changed in our lives over the last year.

But as many Americans gather their families to watch the festivities in Times Square, either in person, or on the television, many other Americans, halfway around the world, gather with their families of a different kind — their brothers and sisters in arms.

Now over 15 years since the US and NATO forces first entered Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, coalition forces continue to face challenges as the Taliban now controls 10% of the country with an additional 30% of the country currently being contested.

Against this backdrop, these photos show what life is like for coalition soldiers based in Afghanistan as another year comes to an end.  

SEE ALSO: Incredible images from one of the longest wars in American history

A cake marking the New Year, made by the service members of Task Force Tiger, based at Bagram, Afghanistan, celebrating the joint accomplishments of the United States’ coalition work beside the 32nd Light Infantry Battalion from the country of Georgia. Task Force Tiger, 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas, is comprised of US Soldiers, Marines Airmen, Soldiers from Georgia and Czech Republic, and is partnered with the local Afghan security forces.

Back in the US, the New Year is rung in with food, music, noise-makers and fireworks.

For our troops in Afghanistan, much of that is the same, except the fireworks here are mortars and rockets, and the noisemakers are loud speakers that shout things like: “IDF Impact. Take Cover. Don IBA if available. Continue to take cover. Sector security sweeps in progress.”

IDF is military speak for indirect fire, referring to such weapons as mortars, rockets, and artillery; and IBA stands for individual body armor. The sounds of explosions and gunfire, followed by the loud speakers blasting their warnings come both during the day and at night.



After an IDF attack, a Military Police vehicle conducts sector security sweeps.

New Years in Afghanistan is not all doom and gloom, as the men and women serving in Afghanistan find time to make video calls to family members, hang around the smoke pit (an activity performed by those who smoke or vape, and those who do not alike), watch a movie on their tablet or a dvd, or, as in the case of this New Years Eve, catch some UFC fights on the American Forces Network, the military radio and television service.



Airman from the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron of the US Air Force based in Little Rock, Arkansas, watch the Cruz – Garbrandt UFC 207 fight. While deployed, Airman First Class Parks, 19, (foreground, left side), Senior Airman Cox, 22, Staff Sergeant Hauch, 26, Senior Airman Budd, 24 (left to right on the couch respectively), and Tech Sergeant Casswell, 36, (far right) are assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, of the United States Air Forces Central Command.

“We get to look forward to the Dining Facility’s special meals on holidays.” said Budd. “All we are trying to do here is maintain our sanity, and enjoy our family here.” continued Criswell.

“We are all like a big family here. On Christmas, we had ugly sweaters and Santa hats. We do the best we can” Budd admitted. “It gives you a sense of normalcy- I am a movie guy, so getting to see a movie, things like that.” said Parks.

When asked how the holidays are different than the other days here in Afghanistan, Tech Sergeant Caswell, quickly replied “When you are here, you work, you sleep, you get up, and you work, and then hit the bed. Your conversations are about work. On holidays, we relax; we get a few seconds to chat about other things.”

When asked how they handle being away from family, the answer was quick. “We have two families, you see, there’s our family back home, then our family here.” Cox chimed in, before Budd interjected “When I go home, for about the first month, all I want to do is hang out with the guys I deployed with. Yes, I just spent every day for months with them, but I can talk openly with them.

"Sometimes it is hard to talk to civilians when I get home, cause I use an acronym here, everyone knows it. Back home, you have to explain them. I still have some great friends back home who are civilians, and I really want to enjoy their time, and stay positive. You have to remember the deployment, enjoy it, and then move on with life.”

Today is not much different than any other day for the maintainers from the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Their job today, is the same one as yesterday- keep the pilots and crew of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing safely in the air, doing their job.



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11 career lessons that got me 7 job offers

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woman with headphones

When I first stepped onto Cal Poly’s campus, I felt completely lost. The school wasn’t my first choice — in fact, it wasn’t even in my top 10.

Of the 13 colleges I’d applied to, I’d gotten rejected from all but my three safeties.

It’s not like I was an under-achiever: I’d applied with a 4.4 GPA, tons of extracurriculars and charity work, great recommendations, and solid essays.

But these rejections showed me following the "traditional" path didn’t always work. If I wanted to be successful (which I did, more than ever), I needed to do something different.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve known I wanted to be a writer. So, I decided that I couldn’t count on a four-year education to get me there. If I wanted a guarantee that things would work out the way I wanted, I’d have to go after it myself.

So, during the first month of freshman year, I started applying for writing gigs — despite having no professional experience. While the student paper seemed liked the natural place to start, they weren’t looking for contributors.

Instead, I began applying for all the college advice sites I’d read in preparation for coming to Cal Poly. Most of these never got back to me, but I kept trying. Finally, a few did.

SEE ALSO: KFC manager allegedly rescinded a job offer once he realized the candidate was transgender

1. Don’t let the first "nos" stop you

By October, I was an unpaid contributor for four publications. Plus, after continually checking in with the editor of the newspaper, he finally agreed to let me write for a new section.

My writing clips started piling up. However, even though this aspect of my career seemed to be going well, I’d already started looking toward the next step in my career: getting an internship.



2. Keep setting new goals

None of the people in my classes were talking about internships yet, and I only knew getting one was important because all the sites I was writing for kept mentioning them.

It made sense to apply as an intern for one of these very sites: Her Campus. If I’d have known the company got hundreds of applications per year for less than 10 spots, I might’ve aimed a little lower. But I didn’t, so I didn’t — and thanks to all the writing samples I now had, I got the job.



3. Learn from the people around you

That Her Campus internship ended up being a game-changer. I was the youngest intern by far, and being around a bunch of older women taught me so much about workplace communication and behavior. Plus, I was working on articles all day long and working with two great editors, so my writing improved more in three months than it had all year.

Since I was learning so much, I decided to start emailing random professionals in the city and asking to buy them coffee. I had no idea these meet-ups were usually called "informational interviews," I just knew people usually liked helping students and giving advice.

This strategy totally paid off. When I flew back home at the end of the summer, I’d gotten together with award-winning journalists, freelance writers, editors, startup founders, PR reps, and marketers. I didn’t know it, but I’d begun building my network.



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MEET THE NEW EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Here's who Trump has appointed to senior leadership positions

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President-elect Donald Trump has a lot of key positions to fill in the coming weeks that will shape his next four years in office.

While rumors have been flying around about who he will appoint since he won the election, Trump now only has three official Cabinet-level appointments left to make. He's filled 20 such positions so far, and made dozens of other high-ranking hires.

We'll update this list as he announces more senior leadership positions, but here's what we know so far:

trump Cabinet 1/3

SEE ALSO: Trump's choice for CIA director once said US Muslims who don't reject terrorism are 'complicit' in it

DON'T MISS: Trump's new national security adviser is under fire for his views on Russia, his business ties to Turkey — and his tweets

US Trade Representative: Robert Lighthizer (pending Senate confirmation)

Obama administration counterparts: Ron Kirk, Michael Froman (present)

Duties: America's main trade negotiator, develop and recommend trade policy to the president, coordinate trade policy within the government

Reactions: Lighthizer lines up with Trump's stances on trade, particularly his harsh criticism of China, and even praised the businessman's trade policies in a 2011 op-ed in the Washington Times. Those who support free trade and disagree with Trump's views on the issue are therefore likely to disagree with Lighthizer, too. He does have experience serving in the executive branch, however — a characteristic many of Trump's Cabinet picks lack.



White House Press Secretary: Sean Spicer

Obama administration counterparts: Robert Gibbs, Jay Carney, Josh Earnest (present)

Duties: serve as the main spokesperson for the Trump administration, provide daily press briefings

Reactions: Spicer's appointment was largely expected because he stuck by Trump throughout the campaign as the communications director for the Republican National Committee.



Counselor to the President: Kellyanne Conway

Obama administration counterparts: Valerie Jarrett, Brian Deese, Shailagh Murray

Duties: continue to act as one of Trump's most trusted senior advisers

Reactions: Some call Conway the "Trump Whisperer" for her ability to manage the president-elect and articulate his appeal to the public. Many expected Conway to take a role in Trump's administration since she has been such a close confidante managing his campaign, though she herself said she resisted taking the job since it could interfere with raising her children.



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These are the gadgets I used a lot over my winter break

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.    

Nest Learning ThermostatThe holiday season has come and past. 

For many of us, that involved traveling, or spending an extended period of time outside of our normal routine. 

I spent a majority of the last 10 days at my mom's condo in Long Island, away from my usual gadgets. Instead of bringing all of my creature comforts with me, I decided to only pack the essentials. 

These gadgets are the ones I used and interacted with the most over my break. Some of these products are smart, but a couple of them aren't. My mom isn't sold on the smart-home quite yet, maybe that'll change in 2017.

DON'T MISS: I’ve written about a lot of great tech, but these are the gadgets I use every day

SEE ALSO: I've written about a bunch of great smart-home tech, but these are the gadgets I use every day — here's why

A high capacity flash drive

The cloud is a wonderful thing, and I rely on it heavily. But it's not very helpful when you're moving a lot of data back and forth between different people's computers.

Sharing photos with less tech-literate relatives, and grabbing old files from my old family computer was made way easier thanks to a flash drive. It's considered low tech these days, but it's still a quick and painless way to transfer large files.

SanDisk Ultra 256GB Flash Drive, $59.59, available at Amazon



A bluetooth audio receiver

I spent a lot of time in my car during my break, which means I listened to a lot of music. I need music when I drive, and my iPhone's lack of a headphone jack could have made things tricky. 

Luckily, I invested in one of these bluetooth receivers a few months ago. All I needed to do was plug my aux cable in, and connect it to my phone. My tunes were sent to the receiver wirelessly, and I could listen for as long as I like.

Mpow Bluetooth 4.1 Receiver, $18.99, available at Amazon



A smart thermostat

My mom is a heavy Nest user, so I found myself adjusting the temperature to my needs frequently. 

Thankfully, all that meant was twisting the Nest's circular dial to the left or right, depending on whether I wanted the condo to be warmer or cooler. You can make the Nest smarter by having it learn your usage patterns, but my mom disregards that feature and adjusts everything manually.

Nest Thermostat (3rd generation), $249.99, available at Amazon



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Megyn Kelly is now one of the highest-paid hosts on TV — here's where her salary ranks

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Megyn Kelly

After 12 years with Fox News, Megyn Kelly is moving on and up to host several shows at NBC.

In a broad multiyear deal with the broadcast network, Kelly will anchor an NBC News program on Sunday evening, host an hour-long daily daytime news talk show, and become a mainstay in special political news events.

The new gig means that Kelly will also raise her salary from the previously reported $10 million to $12 million range at Fox to likely between $15 million and $20 million at NBC, according to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

So where does that place Kelly's paycheck versus the salaries of other big TV hosts?

In October, Variety released estimated numbers for the salaries of a range of TV actors and personalities. The estimates are based on surveys of actors, executives, attorneys, agents, and other representatives.

Here's how Kelly's likely salary ranks among those of other superstar TV hosts:

SEE ALSO: Here's how much the highest-paid stars on TV actually make

DON'T MISS: The 10 best TV shows of 2016, ranked

17. Anderson Cooper: $9 million to $11 million

Cooper has been hosting his CNN show "Anderson Cooper 360" since 2003.



16. George Stephanopoulos: $10 million

The "Good Morning America" host renewed his contract with ABC in 2014. According to TV Guide, Stephanopoulos signed a five-year deal.



15. Chelsea Handler: $10 million

It pays to move to Netflix. The former E! host reportedly signed a $10 million deal with Netflix consisting of several comedy specials and a talk show for the streaming service. Handler previously made between $8 million and $12 million for her E! show.



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8 US colleges that are just as selective as the Ivy League — or more

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stanford student

Ivy League schools have begun to release early-admission numbers for the class of 2021. They're considerably higher than the regular-decision admissions numbers that will come in the spring.

Though the Ivies are notoriously tough to get into — their regular-admission acceptance rates range from 5.2% to 13.96%— you might be surprised to learn that other schools have even lower acceptance rates.

Below, find eight US schools that are even more selective than some of the Ivies, according to statistics provided on the class of 2020* admission rates from school websites or admissions offices directly.

*US Military Academy and US Naval Academy figures are based on figures from the class of 2019.

SEE ALSO: Ivy League admission letters just went out — here are the acceptance rates for the class of 2020

To start, here's the ranking of Ivy League schools by the selectivity of their 2020 class, the most recent regular-decision data available:

8. Cornell University — 13.96%

7. Dartmouth College — 10.52%

6. University of Pennsylvania — 9.41%

5. Brown University — 9.01%

4. Princeton University — 6.46%

3. Yale University — 6.27%

2. Columbia University — 6.04%

1. Harvard University — 5.2%

Now, take a look at some schools that are just as selective but not always as recognized:



College of the Ozarks — 13%

This Christian college in Missouri has a lower acceptance rate than Cornell, the Ivy with the highest acceptance rate, and requires students to show financial need for admission. Students work 15 hours a week on campus and get free tuition in return.



Claremont McKenna College — 10.8%

Located in Southern California, Claremont is a small liberal-arts college and was rankedthird in the nation for happiest students by The Princeton Review. Its acceptance rate is lower than Cornell's.



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Amazon, IBM, and 8 other big companies hiring for high-paying jobs like crazy right now

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IBM Watson Office 14

"New year, new job" is a popular saying for a reason.

About one-fifth (22%) of the 3,411 employees recently surveyed by CareerBuilder said their top resolution for this year is to leave their current job and find a new one.

If you're one of these people, you may want to check out openings at H&R Block, Amazon, or Deloitte. 

Those three companies are doing some of the heaviest hiring right now for jobs that pay more than $50,000 a year, according Indeed.

The job search engine compiled a list of big US companies currently trying to fill the most full-time jobs that pay over $50,000. The salary data is a combination of company and user input.

Here are the ten big-name companies with the largest number of job openings right now for high-paying jobs:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best places to work in 2017, according to employees

DON'T MISS: 21 signs it's time to quit your job

10. Oracle

Job openings (for positions paying over $50,000 a year):1,153

Oracle is a California-based tech company that offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications, platform services, and engineered systems.



9. Leidos

Job openings (for positions paying over $50,000 a year): 1,181

The Reston, Virginia-based defense company provides scientific, engineering, systems integration, and technical services and employs about 33,000 people.



8. IBM

Job openings (for positions paying over $50,000 a year): 1,221

International Business Machines Corporation is based in Armonk, New York, and was founded in 1911. 



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11 weird beauty trends that will be big this year

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makeup_artist

The INSIDER Summary

• Wet hair, pastel lips, and highlighted skin are the big beauty trends experts are betting on this year.
• Nourishing products for skin and nails are also predicted to be big this year.


Oftentimes you only find out about huge beauty trends when they're already trending, but I wanted to share some foresight from the experts, to help you stay ahead of the curve. Here makeup artists and beauty experts share 2017 trends that will be massive, so you won't get left behind the trendsetters in the new year.

There have been some pretty weird and wonderful beauty trends in 2016, from rainbow highlighter to overlining lipsà la Kylie Jenner. It's definitely been a memorable year for beauty! But what does the future have in stall for us? I spoke to a bunch of makeup artists and beauty experts to find out.

60s Inspired Eyes

Susan Posnick, makeup artist and founder of Susan Posnick Cosmetics, tells Bustle over email that next year, eyes will be, "all a bit ‘60s, yet with a modern flair." She elaborates, "Pastel colors on the eyes. A wash of eyeshadow color on the lid in pale green, blue, pink, coral. Thin liner into the lash line or on the rim inside the bottom lashes, lots of mascara and/or false lashes with more of a long/short combination." Sounds pretty outta' sight!



Less contouring & more highlighting

Posnick says that there'll be less contouring and more highlighting (strobing) in 2017. "Highlighting opens and brightens the face and is much easier to do than contouring," she says.



Colorful smokey eyes

Beauty and lifestyle expert Jeanette Zinno tells Bustle over email, "Colorful smokey eyes will be trending in 2017. Forget the classic black and gold smokey eyes, try a twist on the basic smokey eye in purple or blue to make your eyes pop."

"Smokey eyes, but using shades of deep green — tourmaline, moss, jasper, evergreen — rather than black, makes for a more interesting smokey eye and it emphasizes the eye color as well," explains Posnick.



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NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where each team stands going into the playoffs

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Aaron Rodgers

The NFL playoffs are here! 

After 17 weeks, 12 teams have emerged for a postseason that looks intriguing on a number of levels. Can anyone in the AFC stop the Patriots? Will the Cowboys' dynamic rookie duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott continue to shine in elimination games? The Packers have won six straight and the Steelers have won seven — will they keep rolling through the Wild Card Weekend? 

This weekend, the Saturday games feel like an appetizer for Sunday. Raiders-Texans and Lions-Seahawks should both be fun, but Sunday's slate of Dolphins-Steelers and Giants-Packers should be even better.

Here are our rankings entering the playoffs. 

Enjoy the games!

12. Oakland Raiders

2016 record: 12-4

Seed: 5th in AFC

Opponent: at Houston Texans

One thing to know: With both Derek Carr and backup Matt McGloin sidelined with injuries, rookie quarterback Connor Cook will make his first NFL start — on the road, in the playoffs. 



11. Houston Texans

2016 record: 9-7

Seed: 6th in AFC

Opponent: vs. Oakland Raiders

One thing to know: The Texans are starting Brock Osweiler over Tom Savage against the Raiders. This could be the game for Osweiler to salvage his career with the Texans.



10. Detroit Lions

2016 record: 9-7

Seed: 2nd in NFC North, 6th in NFC

Opponent: at Seattle Seahawks

One thing to know: The Lions are limping into the playoffs after losing their final three games of the season. And none of their nine wins this season came against teams currently in the playoffs.



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The 13 best secret islands on Earth

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gozomaltaHollywood scouts were on to something when they skipped over Mykonos and chose a secret island in Greece as the location for "Mamma Mia." The movie was a $600-million hit, in part because it fueled peoples’ fantasies of escaping to a secluded island (and yes, those catchy ABBA tunes didn’t hurt).

Surprisingly, that picture-perfect movie location, Skopelos, has stayed under the radar. When you hop off the ferry, you’ll be wowed by the view of the shimmering Aegean Sea, the island’s tile-roofed tavernas, and a decided lack of travelers.

There are still gems like Skopelos hidden all around the globe, if you know where to look. T+L editors have done the hunting for you to uncover secret islands where you can truly unwind.

Whatever your daydream, you’ll find a destination to match by checking out our slideshow of secret islands around the world.

Vietnam: Con Dao

Phu Quoc might be hailed as the next Phuket, but those looking to get far off the grid head to this undiscovered archipelago just 110 miles off Vietnam’s southeastern coast. A 45-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City brings you to Con Son, the largest (and only inhabited) member of the 16-island chain. Here, sheer granite cliffs border deserted beaches and crystal-blue water—imagine a tropical Amalfi Coast without the crowds. Up until now, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a decent place to stay, but the arrival of the Six Senses Con Dao(Dat Doc Beach; 84-64/383-1222; sixsenses.com; villas from $685) has brought a welcome dose of luxury to the island. Standing along a stretch of golden sand are 50 airy villas (some with private pools) that look out onto the South China Sea. Food is a highlight here. In classic Six Senses style, the hotel’s Vietnamese restaurant is set up to resemble a market; there are separate stalls “hawking” noodles and rolls, while made-to-order dishes are cooked outside in charcoal-fueled woks. You may be tempted to never leave the resort, but the 20-square-mile island is well worth exploring. Hire a private guide from the hotel, who will bring you via motorbike to the area’s most remote spots, including a 19th-century hilltop lighthouse and the spectacular Dam Tre Bay lagoon.

T+L Tip: Take a boat trip to Bay Canh Island to view endangered hawksbill turtles during nesting season (May through September), arranged by the hotel. —Jennifer Chen

 



Indonesia: Gili Trawangan

Searching for the Bali of, say, 1970? Head to Gili Trawangan, a tiny island near Lombok dotted with countless waterside cafés. No motorized traffic is allowed here—the best way to get around is to rent a bicycle or use your own two feet. The daily agenda involves nothing more than fishing, diving, or kicking back with a cold beer at Scallywag(South Beach; 62-370/645-301; lunch for two $30). On the southern coast, Hotel Vila Ombak(hotelombak.com; doubles from $150) has 115 airy oceanfront rooms.

T+L Tip: Hop the ferry to Mount Rinjani(lombokmarine.com; tours from $225), an active volcano on Lombok. —Hui Fang



Portugal: Pico

When Columbus made his expedition in 1492, Pico was considered a last outpost before you, well, fell off the earth—and it remains virtually unknown. It’s a shame, what with wines unlike anywhere else, and footpaths that weave through beautifully eerie landscapes of lava. In the middle of a Unesco-designated vineyard is the Pocinhobay(Pocinho-Monte; 351/292-629-135; pocinhobay.com; doubles from $238), where six basalt bungalows take in views of the Atlantic.

T+L Tip: For dinner, head to Ancoradouro(Areia Larga; 351/292-623-490; dinner for two $45) to sample regional specialties such as polvo guisado (stewed octopus). —Christine Ciarmello



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Migrants document their trek to safety by taking selfies along the way

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Syria refugee

As of September, an estimated 11 million Syrians had fled their homes since the war started in March 2011. They escaped to neighboring countries like Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon, as well as to Europe. 

As migrants made the trek from their war-torn homes to new and unfamiliar places, many of them used messaging apps like WhatsApp, Viber, and Line in order to communicate with their families. One used a smartphone to convince the Greek Coast Guard to rescue a boat full of people, as we reported on our podcast, Codebreaker, produced with Marketplace. Others use Google Maps to track their locations.

This is the first refugee crisis that has been digitally documented. And migrants are adding to that in one critical way – they're taking selfies at different points throughout their journeys to memorialize their path to safety.

"We want memories from the bad trip we had," Mehar Ahmed Aloussi, 30, from Damascus, told TIME. "When I go and settle down in another country, I want to remember my way."

The season finale of season 2 of Codebreaker has more stories of how technology is affecting migrants:

SEE ALSO: Children have suffered the brunt of Syria's bloody civil war

Alvand, 18, from Kobani, Syria takes a selfie with his friends as they walk along a railway track after crossing into Hungary from the border with Serbia near the village of Roszke.



Syrian refugees take "selfies" moments after arriving on an overcrowded dinghy at a beach on the Greek island of Kos, after crossing a part of the Aegean sea from Turkey.



Syrian refugees take selfies moments after arriving on a dinghy on the Greek island of Lesbos, September 14, 2015. Of the record total of 432,761 refugees and migrants who made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe as of September 2015, an estimated 309,000 people had arrived by sea in Greece, the International Organization for Migration said.



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17 innovative features in Fiat Chrysler's new electric minivan concept

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portal.JPG

Fiat Chrysler unveiled a new minivan concept designed specifically for millennials at the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday.

The vehicle, shown at FCA's very first CES press conference, is meant to appeal to tech-savvy millennials looking to start a family.

Scroll down for a detailed breakdown of the brand new minivan concept, called the Portal:

SEE ALSO: Ford just said it will release an electric SUV in 2020 — here are 8 others on the way

The Portal is geared toward millennials looking to "hang up the hoverboard and have babies," FCA engineer Ashley Edgar said at the CES event. It has two rows of seats in the back and has seating for up to six passengers.



FCA said it studied millennials for "more than 20 years, using ethnographic research" and said it was important for the minivan to feature upgradeable tech and autonomous capabilities to appeal to that generation. The minivan also had to be affordable and environmentally responsible as part of that effort.



A 100 kWh battery pack sits at the bottom of the car and offers a range of more than 250 miles on a single charge, FCA said.



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How the 'rich kids of London' spent their Christmas holidays

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Rolex rich kids of London

The Rich Kids of London Instagram account, which showcases the opulent lives of some of the city's wealthiest young residents, came under fire recently after footage emerged of a hooded teenager apparently setting fire to a Mercedes G-Wagen, valued at an estimated £87,000.

With the caption "we were bored so we burned G-Wagen for a laugh," it was easily one of the most extravagant — and reckless — stunts ever shared on the account, which now has more than 300,000 followers.

Rich Kids of London accepts photo submissions from "the wealthiest kids from around London" over Facebook, Snapchat (its user name is "richkidslondon"), and email, according to its Facebook page. The posts show lives of excess and luxury, which is never more clear than when the rich kids are on holiday– or celebrating.

We took a look into how London's most spoiled youngsters spent the festive season this year. From elaborately decorated homes in Knightsbridge to Christmas morning in the Bahamas, see some of their most over-the-top Christmas Instagram posts below.

There's nothing like spending some family time at home for the holidays, which is where some of London's rich kids headed for Christmas.

Instagram Embed:
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However, the season began much earlier, with customary Christmas shopping at Harrods.

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Bentleys and Rolls Royces were on the Christmas wish lists of London's richest this year.

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I tried cryotherapy, the crazy treatment that plunges you to -90C and makes your body think it's dying

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11cryo rob price cryotherapyLONDON — One of the hottest trends in therapy right now is tricking your body into thinking it's dying.

I'm talking about cryotherapy — a procedure that involves standing in a chamber of up to -90 degrees Celsius for a couple of minutes (because any longer would literally kill you).

It produces a fight-or flight response in the body, and a huge rush of endorphins. The unconventional treatment is beloved by athletes and celebrities alike.

I wanted to see what the fuss is about, so I paid a visit to a London clinic to try it for myself. 

For my cryotherapy session, I visited 111Cryo in Knightsbridge, London. It's inside high-end department store Harvey Nichols.

Full disclosure: 111Cryo provided Business Insider with the session free-of-charge. A single session would normally cost £95. 



It bears more than a passing resemblance to Mr. Freeze's lair.



-90 C would be bad enough in a heavy overcoat and thermals. But you do cryotherapy almost naked, with only some thin fabric protecting you.



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38 thrilling day trips that are just a quick train ride from London

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bexhill on sea

London is cold, grey and unpredictable in the winter. Luckily, it's easy to get out of the city for the day, thanks to its fantastic transport links.

Whether you're looking for a day trip to the beach or a cultural experience, there's plenty to see in the UK within a short commute of the city.

We've listed 39 day trips that are worth taking, ranked by how long it takes to get to each destination by train, from the longest to the shortest journey.

From mountain biking in Essex to Anglo Saxon burial grounds in Suffolk, here are our top 30 trips:

38. Cardiff might be on the other side of Great Britain, but it takes less than three hours to reach. Cardiff's Norman Castle Keep is a popular attraction.

Where to leave from: Paddington station

Duration of journey: Two hours, 40 minutes

Cost of return ticket: From £40

For more information, click here.



37. The Shambles in York is a pretty 15th-century alley lined with shops, but the city has plenty of museums too, making it an ideal trip for a rainy day.

Where to leave from: King's Cross station

Duration of joinery: Two hours, 20 minutes

Cost of return trip: From £56

For more information, click here.



36. Music fans will love Liverpool, where the Beatles first formed. The Albert Dock is also stunning.

Where to leave from: Euston station

Duration of journey: Two hours, 27 minutes

Cost of return trip: From £42

For more information, click here.



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20 of the most popular shows on British TV in 2016

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Bake Off

LONDON — Given the furore over "The Great British Bake Off" moving from the BBC to Channel 4, you'd be forgiven for thinking that much of the UK's TV diet consists of cake.

Well, in some respects you'd be right. "Bake Off" and its sister show, "Bake Off Creme de le Creme," both feature in Business Insider's list of the most popular programmes on British television last year. But it's not all baking.

2016 was a year when drama was on top form, with shows like the brilliant "Line of Duty" making their case and US imports, including "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones," having record-breaking seasons.

Meanwhile, in a gloomy 12 months for some, feelgood entertainment shows such as "Strictly Come Dancing" and "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" had a strong year. Read on for the top shows of 2016.

Methodology: Our data is provided by TV ratings supplier overnights.tv. The company crunches information from Barb, the industry body tasked with collecting audience information.

The viewing figure for each show represents the highest-rated episode of the series. We have stripped out sports, like the Olympics, and live events, including the New Year's Eve fireworks, from the list.

British TV is dominated by BBC1 and ITV, meaning a traditional top 20 would consist of programmes almost exclusively from these two channels. To address this, we have carved our list up into three sections: Pay-TV and specialist channels; smaller terrestrial channels; and the big boys — BBC1 and ITV. This will shine a light on smaller channels that are home to hit shows that would otherwise get lost in a shortlist.



20. "Love Island," ITV2: 1.8 million viewers. The second season of the dating show, hosted by Caroline Flack, proved to be a big hit for ITV's youth channel.



19. "Westworld," Sky Atlantic: 1.8 million viewers. HBO's sci-fi cowboy drama was Sky Atlantic's second biggest show of the year.



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We now know how Wall Street banks stack up in dealmaking, and it isn't even close (JPM, GS)

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Jamie Dimon

The results are in, and really, it isn't even that close. 

JPMorgan finished 2016 in a dominant position when it comes to Wall Street dealmaking revenues, according to figures from Dealogic.

The US bank earned the most in fees in global investment banking, US investment banking, and investment banking in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

It also finished the year top of the table for debt capital markets revenues, equity capital markets revenues and syndicated loans revenues, according to figures from Dealogic. 

It made more money that its rivals in 7 of the 11 product areas, and in eight of the 10 most important sectors. 

Only Goldman Sachs offered much resistance. The US investment bank ranked top for mergers and acquisitions revenues, and generated the most fees from clients in the industrials and consumer and retail industries. 

Though they're based on estimates, these tables are the broadest possible and a closely-watched indicator of who is up and who is down. Here's how the banks stacked up this time around.

SEE ALSO: Goldman Sachs is crushing the competition in a marquee business

JPMorgan earned $5.9 billion in deal fees in 2016, more than $1 billion more than Goldman Sachs



JPMorgan ranked top in just about every single product except for securitisation and covered bonds, IPOs, and mergers and acquisitions



It also ranked top in eight of the top 10 industry groups, ranking second in the remaining two



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Nutrition experts got together and ranked the best diets of 2017 — here are the top 12

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GettyImages 454940855

If you're trying to make a healthy eating start to 2017, keep in mind that not all diets are created equal.

Often, the ones that garner the most attention aren't even among the best.

For its annual list, US News & World Report ranked 38 eating plans, considering different criteria including how easy the diet is to follow, its effects on weight loss (both short and long term), how nutritional and safe the diet is, and how well it helps prevent diabetes and heart disease.

The ranking drew on the expertise of a panel of dietitians and nutritionists, but didn't account for any costs associated with the diet plans, or how exercise fit into the programs. 

Here's what diets ranked above the rest to make the top 10.

SEE ALSO: The definitive, scientific answers to 20 health questions everyone has

DON'T MISS: Not all leafy greens are created equal — here's the definitive ranking of the best ones for you

But first, the worst-performing diets.

Of the 38 plans US News & World Report looked at, a few numbers weren't up to snuff.

The Whole30 diet, in particular, was the lowest ranked diet overall for the second year in a row. The Dukan and Paleo diets were also toward the bottom of the list, which US News attributed to the diets being too restrictive. The diets didn't have the same staying power long-term as others that ranked higher. 

Learn more about what experts think of the Whole30 diet here



No. 10 (TIE) Vegetarian diet

Vegetarian diets cleared the top 10 in the 2017 ranking, up from #13 in 2016. The diet is simple: no meat allowed. Ideally, the meat will be replaced with more vegetables which could help you feel more full. 

More on what US News & World Report experts thought of this diet here



No. 10 (TIE) Ornish diet

Developed by Dr. Dean Ornish, this diet looks at food on a "spectrum," with some things being more healthy than others (essentially the less processed the better). The diet emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and some fat if it contains omega 3 fatty acids

The diet was also ranked one of the highest for heart disease. 

More on what US News & World Report experts thought of this diet here



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The 15 best places in Europe to detox from the holidays

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YogaRosa Retreat Ibiza

Many people end the holidays feeling lethargic, heavy, and, frankly, a little bit burnt out.

But getting out of an early January rut doesn't have to involve strict diets and workout plans. Instead of locking yourself to an unrealistic resolution, why not take a detoxing and relaxing holiday that you'll actually enjoy?

Europe is full of wellness and fitness retreats, active holiday options, and rejuvenating spas, that are sure to bring you back to your pre-Christmas self.

We've tapped into personal experience and combed through rankings and reviews from Conde Nast Traveler, The Telegraph, The Independent, Wellbeing Escapes, and The Healthy Holiday Company to pull together a list of the best places to go to detox from the holidays.

From an all-vegan yoga retreat with animals in the woods of Ibiza, to a juice fasting detox in Portugal or a surfing holiday on the Morrocan coast, see our pick of the best places to stay in Europe for the refresh your body needs below, ranked by average price per night from cheapest to most expensive.

Middle Piccadilly, Dorset — from £132.50 a night.

The Live Smart Live Clean retreat at the rural holistic rural Middle Piccadilly spa in Dorset allows you to pinpoint any health or other issues you'd like to address this year.

For four, seven, 10, or 14 nights, you'll get accommodation, juices, raw food, and vegetarian meals, as well as massage, mud body wraps and other treatments. From £1,855 per person for 14 nights.



Oceano, Tenerife — from £137 per night.

The team at Oceano on the stunning north side of Tenerife believe the intestine is the "foundation for good health" and their Detox programme, based on F. X. Mayr Medicine, aims to get you back to a state of relaxation and balance. This is done through light food, assorted treatments, and training to get your metabolism going again. From £1,205 for a 14 day detox programme.



Amchara Malta Retreat — from £142 a night.

The Amchara Malta Retreat claims to be "for anyone who wishes to change their physical health, emotional well-being and lifestyle that drives these in a positive, sustainable way."

Book a visit and you'll enjoy a personalised nutrition plan, conditioning exercise classes, spa facilities, health screenings, optional treatments, educational talks, organic juices, yoga, meditation, and aqua aerobics in the summer — not to mention the stunning location, with the Azure Window only a 15-minute walk away. From £994 for seven nights in a shared room.



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The fascinating life of Google founder and Alphabet CEO Larry Page (GOOG, GOOGL)

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Larry Page

Larry Page is one of the most powerful people in the world.

The quirky, soft-spoken computer scientist cofounded Google and now runs its parent company, Alphabet. 

So how did he get to where he is today? Here's his story.

Jillian D'Onfro contributed to an earlier version of this story. 

SEE ALSO: The incredible rise of Google's Sundar Pichai, one of the most powerful CEOs in the world

DON'T MISS: The crazy, eccentric, successful life of Google cofounder Sergey Brin

Gloria and Carl Page had their second son, Lawrence, on March 26, 1973. They both taught computer science at Michigan State University and filled their home with computers and tech magazines that enthralled a young Larry.



They enrolled him in a Montessori school. Such programs are known to foster independence and creativity, and Page now credits "that training of not following rules and orders, and being self-motivated and questioning what's going on in the world" as influencing his later attitudes and work.

Source: YouTube



At 12, Page read a biography about the brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla, who died in debt and obscurity. The ending made him cry, and inspired Page to not only want to build world-changing technologies, but to have the business sense to know how to spread them. "I figured that inventing things wasn't any good," he has said. "You really had to get them out into the world and have people use them to have any effect."

Source: Business Insider, Achievement.org



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