| Greetings, QuickTake readers! In this edition: Taco Bell offers six figures, an ancient goliath goes extinct, countries point the finger at Iran.  How the Sussexes can cash in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are cutting financial ties with Buckingham Palace now that they plan to "step back" as senior royals and forge a "progressive new role" within Britain's royal family. In their surprise announcement, the couple said they plan to become "financially independent" once they're freed from the palace's restrictions against earning income. But how can the royals manage that? A promising route: the public-speaking circuit, from which the already independently wealthy pair could each command six figures per appearance, industry experts say. More: - Only 5% of the couple's income comes from the sovereign grant, they said, which covers the cost of their royal duties. The rest comes from Prince Charles's income from the Duchy of Cornwall estate.
- There is some precedent for royalty joining the speaking circuit. Both Queen Noor of Jordan and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, have been paid speakers for years.
$ignificant figures 330-231. Britain's House of Commons voted to pass U.K. PM Boris Johnson's Brexit bill, which now goes to the House of Lords, paving the way for a Jan. 31 EU departure. 72,000. How many people from New South Wales make up the world's biggest volunteer fire service that's been battling Australia's bushfires since September. $100,000. How much you could make at select Taco Bell restaurants in the U.S. while the chain tests ways to attract and retain workers amid stubbornly low unemployment. Highly quotable "Highly likely." U.S. officials said they're "confident" Iran accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jet in Tehran with a missile. Later, Canadian and U.K. officials concluded the same. "Probably soon." Nancy Pelosi said she's not "indefinitely" holding the impeachment articles and will hand them over to the Senate in the near future so a trial can begin. "I'm cancer-free." Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, 86, a four-time cancer survivor, entered 2020 with a clean bill of health after undergoing treatment for a pancreatic tumor. This is not normal "Irreparable loss." After surviving some 200 million years, the Chinese paddlefish, known for its silver scales and long snout, is officially extinct, likely killed off by overfishing and habitat loss sometime last decade.  The future is now Green thumb optional. This smart planter aims to take the guesswork out of caring for your houseplants by enabling them to "emote" when they need water, whether they're too hot or cold or don't have enough light.  What's good Twin win. Nigerian conjoined twins Mercy and Goodness Ede were successfully separated after a 13-hour surgery performed by 78 doctors—and they're now ready to go home after six weeks of recovery.  Now that you're caught up... Tell your friends to sign up to receive the QuickTake newsletter five days a week, and follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Before you go: In an Olympic first, athletes' beds at the 2020 Tokyo Games will be made of (very sturdy) cardboard that can hold up to 200 kgs (440 lbs). Thanks for reading!
-Andrew Mach | 
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