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Civil society team heading to Syria, but Ottawa won’t support repatriation efforts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government has rebuffed an offer from a civil society delegation to travel to northeastern Syria on Ottawa’s behalf to repatriate detained Canadians.Instead, a scaled-down group, including Sen. Kim Pate, intends to head to the region in late August to gather information about Canadians held in squalid camps and prisons.The delegation is also to include Alex Neve, former secretary general of Amnesty International Canada, and Scott Heatherington, a former Canadian diplomat.Participants plan to discuss details of the initiative at a news conference in Ottawa this morning.Late last month, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned a judge’s declaration that four Canadian men being held in Syrian camps are entitled to Ottawa’s help to return home.The May ruling set aside a January decision by Federal Court Justice Henry Brown, who directed Ottawa to request repatriation of the men as soon as reasonably possible and provide them with passports or emergen...

NDP expected to win B.C. byelections in safe ridings, but eyes on second place

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

VICTORIA — The NDP is expected to hold onto two British Columbia ridings where byelections will be held Saturday after the resignations of senior government figures, but the parties that take second place could provide hints about the next general election.The sprawling Victoria area constituency of Langford-Juan de Fuca and urban Vancouver-Mount Pleasant riding are both considered solid NDP territory, having been held by former New Democrat premier John Horgan and cabinet minister Melanie Mark respectively.Prof. Hamish Telford of the University of the Fraser Valley said both are likely safe for the New Democrats but the byelections should also provide the government and B.C.’s opposition parties with a report card ahead of a general election scheduled for next fall.Langford-Juan de Fuca had been held by Horgan since 2005, and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant had been represented by Mark since 2016. “I think we would expect the NDP to win these, but in these two ridings the Gree...

Daily horoscope for June 22, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions after 12:45 p.m. EDT today (9:45 a.m. PDT) and for the rest of the day. The Moon is in Leo.Happy Birthday for Thursday, June 22, 2023:You are romantic, affectionate and sensitive. You have a great appreciation for beauty along with high ideals. You also have high expectations in your relationships. This year you will get recognition for your past efforts. Expect a promotion, an award, kudos — some kind of acknowledgement. Bravo!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Parents must be vigilant today, because this is an accident-prone day for their kids. Meanwhile, social plans might suddenly change. They might be canceled or delayed. Perhaps a different meeting place. Or you might receive an unexpected invitation. Avoid sports accidents. Tonight: Socialize.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Your home routine will change today. A small appliance might break down or a little breakage could occur. Surprise company might knock at your door. Perhaps a fam...

Ukraine says 'biggest blow' in offensive is yet to come

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the "biggest blow" in Kyiv's military campaign is yet to come, but admitted the operation is difficult as Russia throws all it can to stop the offensive."The ongoing operation has several objectives, and the military is fulfilling these tasks," Maliar said on the Telegram messaging app. "They are moving as they should have been moving. And the biggest blow is yet to come."After months of acquiring Western weaponry, training and preparations, Ukraine began the first stage of its counteroffensive two weeks ago to reclaim the nearly fifth of its land now occupied by Russia."The enemy will not easily give up their positions, and we must prepare ourselves for a tough duel," Maliar said. "In fact, that is what is happening right now,"The Ukrainian military, which had maintained strict silence about the campaign for more than a week, has since claimed small victories, saying on Monday that it has liberated several small settlements since....

Miss Manners: Our dinner guests said everything was fine. Obviously, it was not.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My wife and I are vaccinated, boosted and get flu shots annually. We know COVID is still lurking and we are not reckless, but we have resumed many of our pre-pandemic activities. We don’t wear masks, but respect those who do. If we are not feeling well, we stay in and stay away from others.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: What I failed to teach my 5-year-old has become a problem Advice | Miss Manners: Why do they text me these boring pictures? Advice | Miss Manners: My party guest criticized my hosting to my face Advice | Miss Manners: Should I announce my tipping intentions upfront? Advice | Miss Manners: I was hurt that her caffeine fix was more important than my child’s party We invited another couple to our house for dinner. We had not seen them since before the pandemic began, and in the ensuing time, the husband had had a serious medical issue (unrelated to COVI...

Dear Abby: My wife demands compensation for housework and sex

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I met my wife in college. We have been married for 40 years and have two adult sons. My wife had a brief affair early in our marriage, but we have long since moved on from that.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: Should I tell her she crossed a line with her behavior toward my husband? Advice | Dear Abby: Must I consent to her odd hygiene requirements? Advice | Dear Abby: Our friendship ended badly. Should I discard his things that I still have? Advice | Dear Abby: I’ve reached my limit with this woman’s unprovoked attacks Advice | Dear Abby: His mother turns my husband into a bratty child However, increasingly over the last 15 years, my wife (career homemaker, her choice) has been aggressively making demands in exchange for anything she does for me — i.e., if I don’t buy her something, she won’t cook dinner, do laundry or have sex.I buy her things all the time, a...

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich appears in Moscow court to appeal extended detention on spying charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich appears in Moscow court to appeal extended detention on spying charges.Source

Building collapses, gas blasts, mine cave-ins and more. Deadly accidents are commonplace in China

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — At least 31 people were killed and seven injured when cooking gas exploded at a restaurant in Yinchuan in northwestern China. It was the latest in China’s long history of deadly industrial accidents, which occur regularly despite government pledges to clamp down on lax standards, poor oversight and corruption frequently blamed for the collapse of buildings, mine cave-ins, explosions and other disasters. Here is a look at some of the worst in recent years.2023:— Open-pit mine collapses in February in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region, burying dozens under rubble and killing 53. The company running the mine was fined the previous year for multiple safety violations.— A massive explosion at a chemical plant in northeastern China killed at least 13 people in January. Some 35 other people were injured in the blast in the outskirts of the city of Panjin east of the capital, Beijing.2022:— A fire caused by welding sparks that ignited cotton cloth...

Al menos 3 muertos en Texas tras las fuertes tormentas que provocaron tornados y granizo del tamaño de pelotas de tenis en el centro y oeste de EE.UU.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

(CNN) — Al menos tres personas murieron en un pueblo del noroeste de Texas tras el paso de un tornado este miércoles, informó un funcionario, en medio de las tormentas que azotaron partes del oeste y centro de EE.UU. y que provocaron al menos 11 informes de tornados en cuatro estados.Un tornado azotó este miércoles por la noche Matador, una localidad de unos cientos de habitantes situada a unos 280 kilómetros al noroeste de Dallas, Texas, según informó la oficina del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional en Lubbock.El alcalde de Matador, Pat Smith, declaró que se habían producido tres muertes. El número de víctimas incluye a una anciana que murió en su casa, dijo a CNN la alcaldesa pro tempore Dvonna Grundy; no se dispuso de inmediato de detalles sobre cuántos heridos hubo.El tornado destruyó la casa de Grundy —dejándola sin ropa ni medicinas— y dispersó o mató gran parte del ganado que tenía en su propiedad, dijo.“Ha desaparecido por completo”, dijo Grundy de su casa, a...

Virginia Gov. Youngkin’s PAC looks to general election with unified GOP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is seen in October 2022.(TNS/Virginian Pilot) Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is seen in October 2022.(TNS/Virginian Pilot) All 10 candidates backed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin dominated their primary races last night in the Virginia primary election, showing what the Republican party hopes will be a unified GOP front as the commonwealth heads toward the closely-watched state contests in November.Some of the seats where Youngkin’s endorsement weighed most heavily will be crucial to determining which party will control the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. Both parties nationally look toward Virginia’s off-year elections as a bellwether for the next year’s elections, wit...