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Protesters at UN COP28 climate summit demonstrate for imprisoned Emirati, Egyptian activists

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Protesters at the United Nations’ COP28 climate summit demonstrated Saturday for imprisoned human rights activists in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, the past and current host of the negotiations. Demonstrators carried signs bearing the image of Emirati activist Ahmed Mansoor and Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, part of incredibly restricted, but still-unprecedented protests being allowed to take place within the UAE from within the U.N.-administered Blue Zone for the summit. However, just before the demonstration organized by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, protesters had to fold over signs bearing the Emirati detainees’ names — even after they already had crossed out messages about them. The order came roughly 10 minutes before the protest was due to start from the U.N., which said it could not guarantee the security of the demonstration, said Joey Shea, a researcher at Human Rights Watch focused on...

Taiwan-Canada ties surge as supporters tout trade, politics and shared values

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

VANCOUVER — Somewhere at the confluence of politics, commerce and shared values driving a recent wave of Canadian fascination with Taiwan, there were the island’s “freedom pineapples.”In 2021, imports of the fruit enjoyed a spike in interest internationally when China banned them from its market.Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry urged “like-minded friends” around the world to stand up to China by buying “freedom pineapples,” and the phenomenon took off.At Kuohua Trading Co., a Taiwanese supermarket in Richmond, B.C., a member of the sales staff said on Friday that while they only imported a small number of pineapples during the campaign, they sold quickly and created word-of-mouth advertising on social media. “Word spreads quickly online,” she said. Overall Canadian trade with Taiwan is up sharply. There has also been a spate of visits by Canadian politicians, despite a lack of formal diplomatic relations. Canada-China ties might b...

The Great Grain Grab: Ukrainian companies are facing takeover attempts by US Hedge funds 'for their own long term gain'

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

Image credit: octave @depositphotos“War has always been a racket, and it is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, and, surely, the most vicious,” said Smedley Butler, once the most decorated US Marine in history before becoming an author and anti-war advocate. Before dying in 1940, Butler said that during his 33-year military career, he was primarily “a high-class muscle man for Big Business, Wall Street, and the bankers".The war in Ukraine seems to be taking a similar path. War profiteers have already made billions of dollars from death and misery in the country. A report reveals oil companies made nearly $220 billion in profits in 2022, “a windfall of Russia`s invasion of Ukraine”, as President Joe Biden recently critiqued.When the war ends, rebuilding Ukraine will represent a trillion-dollar opportunity for US and European construction companies, who are already planning how to get their hands on those profits.Opportunist hedge funds have also emerged as significant wa...

Harriette Cole: I can’t get my home organized. What am I doing wrong?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m eager to reorganize and declutter my living space. However, I have tried to do this in the past and have never been successful.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: This person’s remarks are affecting my confidence on the court Advice | Harriette Cole: I’d rather not get a new boyfriend if I can improve my current one Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m nervous about the impression I’ll make on my boyfriend’s family Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m in college, and I need my mom to stop with the panicky phone calls Advice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend’s Instagram posts make me worried that he did something wrong What practical steps or approaches can I take to efficiently reorganize, purge belongings and create a more serene environment without feeling overwhelmed by the process?— DeclutterDEAR DECLUTTER: I will first say that this is a we...

Miss Manners: Is it vindictive to cross these people off my cookie list?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For about a decade, my partner and I have made homemade packages of treats for about a dozen households at holiday time.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I wish the cleaning lady wouldn’t openly covet my belongings Advice | Miss Manners: The bride told everybody she’d be selling their gifts Advice | Miss Manners: This is way too much money for a co-worker gift. How can I get out of it? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I wrong to insist my husband should take a bite of everything at a party? Advice | Miss Manners: I was in tears after this stranger’s comment in the grocery store These have varied slightly over the years, but usually include nuts, candies and baked goods. Sometimes a cake, some brownies or cookies.This year, I used a different flour that included the salt and baking powder, saving some time on measuring ingredients. I am the first to admit that, though th...

Ukraine’s first lady: Without more aid the world ‘will simply let us die’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

Olena Zelenska has warned that without continued financial support from the West, Ukraine will be “left to die.” Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke to the BBC a day after Republican senators in the U.S. blocked a bill which would have provided more than $60 billion worth of support to Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s full-scale invasion.“If the world gets tired, they will simply let us die,” she said. “It hurts us greatly to see the signs that the passionate willingness to help may fade.”The White House has warned that U.S. funds for Ukraine could soon run out, with President Joe Biden adding that the failure to support Ukraine would be a “gift” for Russian President Vladimir Putin and that history would “judge harshly those who turned their back on freedom’s cause.” Those remarks were echoed by Britain’s new Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Thursday, who said that block...

Horoscopes Dec. 9, 2023: Dame Judi Dench, recognize the power of positive thought

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Felicity Huffman, 61; Donny Osmond, 66; Beau Bridges, 82; Dame Judi Dench, 89.Happy Birthday: Rely on sensibility to point you in the right direction this year. Save your energy and input to make a difference, not a disruption. Be the peacekeeper, and you’ll impact what happens around you. Gravitate toward constructive transformation. What you find will change how you use your energy, influence and knowledge to make the world a better place. Recognize the power of positive thought. Your numbers are 7, 19, 22, 29, 34, 36, 48.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Piece information together before you comment. Getting the whole truth and verifying facts will help you avoid trouble. Know who you are dealing with before you agree to something that can cost you financially. Put more emphasis on maintaining your well-being and reputation. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look around, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to engage in something entertaining,...

Bridge: Dec. 9, 2023

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

On Simple Saturday, I focus on basic technique and logical thinking.An actuary who plays at my club says that if at first you don’t succeed … try a few more times so your failure will be statistically significant.A common theme in dummy play is combining chances. If you have several chances for your contract, try them all. At today’s 3NT, declarer takes the ace of spades and counts seven top tricks: a spade, two hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. He needs two extra tricks in a minor suit.PERCENTAGEDeclarer could finesse in one minor or the other; with eight or fewer cards, to finesse for the queen is the correct percentage play. But his best approach is a combination shot.South should take the A-K of diamonds. He has eight diamonds but only seven clubs, so the queen of diamonds is more likely to fall. When no queen appears, South leads a club to dummy’s king and a club to his jack. He goes to the king of hearts and returns a club to his ten to make the game....

Word Game: Dec. 9, 2023

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — CHECKMATE (CHECKMATE: CHEK-mate: To arrest, thwart or counter.)Average mark 33 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 44 or more words in CHECKMATE? The list will be published Monday.YESTERDAY’S WORD — YEARNING yarn year yearn earing earn earning eying aery ager airy anger angry rage rain rainy rang range rangy rani regain reign rein ring nary near nearing nine inane inner gain gainer gayer gear gnar grain grainy granny gray grey grin gyreTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not all...

Ask Amy: My husband can’t see why these houseguests disturb me

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:27:44 GMT

Dear Amy: How can I politely say no when friends are passing through town or vacationing here and ask if they can spend a couple of nights with us?Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My neighbors want money because the leaves fall in their yard Advice | Ask Amy: My wife objects to my strategy for mellow shopping with our 3-year-olds Advice | Ask Amy: After this man’s behavior at my wedding, I want my best friend to dump him Advice | Ask Amy: Now I realize what stay-at-home spouses are complaining about Advice | Ask Amy: Now we’re feeling weird about our daughter’s favorite toy I have never said no to anyone and have always been gracious to anyone staying in our home, but I find I really don’t enjoy it. I have extreme stress and anxiety days before they arrive, and also while they are here.My husband doesn’t understand my tirades over this. He welcomes anyone who wants to stay with us.I ju...