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Oga’s Cantina will close for at least six weeks at Disneyland ahead of a major overhaul of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that will bring a younger proprietor to the hive of scum and villainy and new music to the alien cocktail bar’s soundtrack. Disneyland will close Oga’s Cantina from Tuesday, Jan. 20 through at least early March for an extended refurbishment with no reopening date yet announced. Sign up for our Park Life newsletter and find out what’s new and interesting every week at Southern California’s theme parks. Subscribe here. ALSO SEE: Disneyland brings Darth Vader, Han Solo and Princess Leia to Galaxy’s Edge The Oga’s Cantina refurbishment will last much longer than initially announced. The original 5-day closure has now been expanded to at least six weeks. Disneyland teams will perform standard maintenance during the closure of Oga’s and make some of the updates related to the upcoming expansion of the Star Wars timeline coming to Galaxy’s Edge on April 29. Patrons at Oga’s Cantina during opening day at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, May 31, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) Oga’s Cantina opened in 2019 along with the rest of Galaxy’s Edge as the first place in Disneyland to serve alcohol outside of the mysterious, private and exclusive Club 33 in New Orleans Square. Oga’s was designed to be reminiscent of the Mos Eisley cantina in the original 1977 “Star Wars” movie while still retaining its own unique character. ALSO SEE: Disneyland adds John Williams’ Star Wars score to Galaxy’s Edge Oga’s Cantina stopped offering reservations in August and transitioned to walk-up availability only as the popularity of the Star Wars bar waned after years of hard-to-get bookings. Patrons at Oga’s Cantina during opening day at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, May 31, 2019. . (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) Walt Disney Imagineering will expand the Star Wars timeline in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge starting on April 29 to include the original trilogy of movies. The storytelling shift will have a ripple effect throughout the Star Wars themed land — including Oga’s Cantina. The exterior of Oga’s Cantina at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) Oga Garra will still run the cantina, but the proprietor will now be relatively new to Black Spire Outpost in the expanded timeline and yet to take control of the Batuu underworld as the local crime boss, according to the revised backstory for the bar. The infectious Benny Goodman-esque “Cantina Band #1” by Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes heard in the original 1977 “Star Wars” movie will join the playlist inside Oga’s Cantina. An R-3X droid spins music at Oga’s Cantina at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) Fans have been clamoring for an animatronic version of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes to replace droid DJ R-3X — but don’t expect that to happen. Walt Disney Imagineering officials have said that the closure of the Rise of the Resistance attraction starting on Jan. 20 will be for an extended refurbishment. The attraction’s storyline will not be updated to reflect the upcoming Star Wars timeline expansion. Related Articles Disneyland dropped plans for 5 missions aboard Millennium Falcon ride, report says When will Disneyland add Star Wars prequel characters to Galaxy’s Edge? Disneyland adds John Williams’ Star Wars score to Galaxy’s Edge Disneyland brings Darth Vader, Han Solo and Princess Leia to Galaxy’s Edge Disney turned down Tomorrowland makeover proposed for Disneyland, report says

By STEPHANIE LIECHTENSTEIN, Associated Press VIENNA (AP) — In the wake of spiraling tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s violent crackdown on protests, analysts warn that the internal upheaval affecting the Iranian theocracy could carry nuclear proliferation risks. While in recent days President Donald Trump seemed to have backed away from a military strike on Iran, he called Saturday for an end to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s nearly 40-year reign in Iran. Trump’s comments came in response to Khamenei branding Trump a “criminal” for supporting protesters in Iran, and blamed demonstrators for causing thousands of deaths. Meanwhile, a U.S. aircraft carrier, which days earlier had been in the South China Sea, passed Singapore overnight to enter the Strait of Malacca — putting it on a route that could bring it to the Middle East. With those dangers, analysts warn Iran’s nuclear material could be at risk as well. Nuclear material could fall into the wrong hands David Albright, a former nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq and founder of the nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, said that in a scenario of internal chaos in Iran, the government could “lose the ability to protect its nuclear assets.” He said that Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile “would be the most worrisome,” adding that there is a possibility that someone could steal some of this material. There are historical precedents for such a scenario. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, highly enriched uranium and plutonium suitable for building nuclear bombs went missing due to eroded security and weakened protection of these assets. So far, Iran has maintained control of its sites, even after the U.S. bombed them in the 12-day war in June that Israel launched against the Islamic Republic. Iran maintains a stockpile of 972 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% purity — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog. The agency said in a report last November that it has not been able to verify the status and location of this highly enriched uranium stockpile since the war in June. The agency said in November that therefore it had lost “continuity of knowledge in relation to the previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran” at facilities affected by the war. A diplomat close to the IAEA confirmed Monday that the agency had still not received any information from Iran on the status or whereabouts of the highly enriched uranium stockpile. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity in line with diplomatic protocol. Albright said that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium would fit in around 18 to 20 cylinders that are designed for transport, weighing around 55 pounds each. “Two people can easily carry it,” he said of each container. Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Washington-based Arms Control Association, said that there is a risk that the stockpile “could be diverted either to a covert program or stolen by a faction of the government or the military that wanted to retain the option of weaponization.” She said that this risk increases as the Iranian government feels threatened or gets destabilized. Some of the nuclear material could get smuggled out of Iran or sold to non-state actors in the event of internal chaos or potential government collapse, Davenport said. “The risk is real but it is difficult to assess, given the unknowns regarding the status of the materials and the whereabouts,” she stressed. Related Articles Chile fights wildfires that killed 19 and left 1,500 homeless What to know about the train crash in Spain Fashion designer Valentino dies at home in Rome, aged 93 Prince Harry says Daily Mail scoops made him ‘paranoid beyond belief’ Inequality and unease are rising as elite Davos event opens with pro-business Trump set…

By KATIE WORKMAN, Associated Press You have to become a little crafty at this time of year about getting vegetables onto the table in ways that still feel interesting. In many places, the cold has settled in, farmers’ market offerings have thinned out, and we’re left with the hardiest of fruits and vegetables. Root vegetables are the stars now, but they do benefit from a bit of inspiration when figuring out how to use them. Enter soup. Even the most stoic vegetables can be coaxed into something soft, sweet and yielding. In this Creamy Rutabaga, Parsnip and Cheddar Soup, they’re simmered until ready to be puréed into a smooth potage that warms the soul and happily anchors a meal. A recipe for a creamy rutabaga, parsnip and cheddar soup is displayed in New York on Aug. 31, 2018. (Cheyenne M. Cohen via AP) This is the kind of soup you can’t stop spooning up, full of earthy flavor from rutabagas and parsnips — the kind of vegetables that linger in the produce drawer, quietly daring us to figure out their fate. But if you ignore them long enough… well, then the rutabaga wins. Not this time. And yes, I see you too, parsnips. The color of the cheddar cheese — white, yellow or deep orange — will affect the hue of the soup. There’s no right or wrong, just something to keep in mind. The parsley is optional, and the sour cream adds a lovely creaminess, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker. This soup is forgiving, flexible and very much on your side. If you have an immersion blender you can puree the soup right in the pot, which saves time, skips having to pull out the blender or food processor, and eliminates the need to transfer hot contents back and forth. This could certainly be a first course, but it’s substantial and comforting enough to be the main event, especially when paired with a crisp green salad. Rutabagas 101 First, some tips on choosing, storing and cooking the rutabagas: Pick rutabagas that feel heavy for their size with firm, smooth skin. Medium-size rutabagas tend to be sweeter and less woody. A food-grade waxy coating is normal, often added to rutabagas to extend their shelf life. Just peel it off before cooking. Store unpeeled, unwashed rutabagas in the refrigerator crisper. They’ll keep well for several weeks. If greens are attached, remove them before storing. And prepping rutabagas: Trim the ends, then peel with a sharp knife or sturdy vegetable peeler. Cut into evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate. Rutabagas take a bit longer than potatoes to cook, but they soften beautifully. Creamy Rutabaga, Parsnip and Cheddar Soup Serves 6 A recipe for a creamy rutabaga, parsnip and cheddar soup is displayed in New York on Aug. 31, 2018. (Cheyenne M. Cohen via AP) Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup chopped onion 2 stalks celery, sliced 2 large rutabagas, peeled and diced 2 parsnips, peeled and sliced 5 cups less-sodium chicken or vegetable broth 1 tablespoon pureed chipotles in adobo 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup sour cream To serve (optional): Chopped parsley Sour cream or crème fraiche Directions 1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and the celery and sauté for about 4 minutes, until tender. Add the rutabagas and parsnips and stir, then pour in the broth, raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, for about 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender. 2. Use an immersion blender to puree the vegetables right in the pot, or carefully transfer the vegetables and some of the liquid in batches to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Return the soup to the pot, if needed, and over low heat stir in the chipotles in adobo and sprinkle in the cheese slowly, stirring as you do, until the cheese is melted. Add the sour cream and heat until heated through. Serve hot, with chopped parsley and a bloop of sour cream or crème fraiche if desired. Katie Workman writes regularly about food for The…

By NICOLE WINFIELD and GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO ROME (AP) — Three U.S. Catholic cardinals urged the Trump administration on Monday to use a moral compass in pursuing its foreign policy, saying U.S. military action in Venezuela, threats of acquiring Greenland and cuts in foreign aid risk bringing vast suffering instead of promoting peace. Related Articles Bruce Springsteen dedicates song to Renee Good and says ICE should ‘get the f— out of Minneapolis’ RFK Jr.’s MAHA movement has picked up steam in statehouses. Here’s what to expect in 2026 Vance and Rubio set to attend Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Italy. Trump isn’t on the list ICE Boston arrests former professional baseball player on fentanyl trafficking charges Hawaii’s strict gun law faces Supreme Court scrutiny in landmark case In a joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington’s foreign policy was mired in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.” “Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy,” McElroy told The Associated Press. “I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world.” The statement was unusual and marked the second time in as many months that members of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy have asserted their voice against a Trump administration many believe isn’t upholding the basic tenets of human dignity. In November, the entire U.S. conference of Catholic bishops condemned the administration’s mass deportation of migrants and “vilification” of them in the public discourse. The three cardinals, who are prominent figures in the more progressive wing of the U.S. church, took as a starting point a major foreign policy address that Pope Leo XIV delivered Jan. 9 to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. The speech, delivered almost entirely in English, amounted to Leo’s most substantial critique of U.S. foreign policy. History’s first U.S.-born pope denounced how nations were using force to assert their dominion worldwide, “completely undermining” peace and the post-World War II international legal order. Leo didn’t name individual countries, but his speech came against the backdrop of the then-recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela to remove Nicolás Maduro from power, U.S. threats to take Greenland as well as Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Cardinals question the use of force The three cardinals cited Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine in their statement — saying they “raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace” — as well as the cuts to foreign aid that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration initiated last year. “Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” they warned. “We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy,” they wrote. “We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance.” Tobin described the moral compass the cardinals wish the U.S. would use globally. “It can’t be that my prosperity is predicated on inhuman treatment of others,” he told the AP. “The real argument isn’t just my right or individual rights, but what is the common good.” Cardinals expand on their statement in interviews with AP In interviews, Cupich and McElroy said the signatories were inspired to issue a statement after hearing from several fellow cardinals during a Jan. 7-8 meeting at the Vatican. These other cardinals expressed alarm about the U.S. action in Venezuela, its cuts in foreign aid and…