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Spiking violence strains sectarian ties in Iraqi province

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

MUQDADIYAH, Iraq (AP) — Hussein Maytham and his family were driving past the palm tree grove near their home after a quiet evening shopping for toys for his younger cousins when their car hit a bomb planted on the moon-lit road.“I only remember the explosion,” Maytham, 16, said weakly from his hospital bed, his pale arms speckled brown by shrapnel. The attack took place earlier this month in the Shiite-majority village of Hazanieh. The force of the blast hurled the teenager out of the vehicle, but his family – his parents, an aunt and three cousins – perished in the fiery carnage. Residents say gunmen hidden nearby in irrigation canals opened fire, killing two others.This is the latest in a series of attacks witnessed over the last month in the central Iraqi province of Diyala, located north and east of Baghdad. Security officials say at least 19 civilians have been killed by unidentified assailants, including in two targeted attacks.The violence is pitting communities against...

Germany, EU reach agreement in combustion engine row

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany and the European Union announced Saturday that they have reached an agreement in their dispute over the future of cars with combustion engines, allowing the registration of new vehicles with such engines even after 2035 provided they use climate-neutral fuel only.EU Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans tweeted that “we have found an agreement with Germany on the future use of e-fuels in cars.”German Transport Minister Volker Wissing tweeted that the way had been cleared for vehicles with internal combustion engines that only use climate-neutral fuels to be newly registered even after 2035.“We secure opportunities for Europe by preserving important options for climate-neutral and affordable mobility,” Wissing wrote.An initial proposal by European Union member countries on new carbon dioxide emission standards for cars had been postponed amid opposition from Germany. The EU had wanted to ban the sale of all new cars with combustion engines from 2035. ...

Punishment of First World War soldiers for sexual orientation detailed in new study

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

OTTAWA — Frederick Lea Hardy died fighting for Canada at Vimy Ridge in the First World War. Shortly before being killed in action, the teenager spent time in prison doing hard labour as a military punishment for his sexuality.Hardy was one of at least 19 members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force involved in consensual relationships who were arrested and tried for what was then known as gross indecency.The painful, often bleak, stories of these men were uncovered by Sarah Worthman while doing research at Veterans Affairs Canada. Her findings have just been published under the auspices of the LGBT Purge Fund, a non-profit organization established through a class-action settlement.The settlement with Ottawa was a key element of a sweeping federal apology delivered in November 2017 for decades of discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.When Worthman’s Veterans Affairs contract ended in May 2022, she wasn’t finished delving int...

Security adviser warned PM of public concerns on foreign agent registry: memo

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

OTTAWA — A newly released memo shows the prime minister’s national security adviser warned him to expect some pushback from planned public consultations about a foreign agent registry, given that countries have used such registries as tools of control.In her memo last August, Jody Thomas told Justin Trudeau the discussions “may elicit a range of reactions” — from applause to reservations.“Concerns may be further amplified since some foreign governments, like Russia, have used ‘foreign agent registries’ to silence activists and shut down organizations critical of government,” Thomas said.However, she said, national security experts, Canada’s allies and diaspora groups targeted by hostile states “will likely welcome these measures.”The Canadian Press obtained the memo, marked Secret/Canadian Eyes Only, through the Access to Information Act. Portions of the document, including cabinet confidences and information about internal...

Ask Amy: Readers respond with helpful advice

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

Dear Amy: “Looking for Grief Etiquette” wrote to you about her grief after experiencing a miscarriage.As a retired obstetrician, I have had considerable experience with this. One point I discussed with patients early in pregnancy was the fact that pregnancy loss is much more common than most people realize.I suggested that they carefully consider whom they tell about their pregnancy until after the first trimester, when pregnancy loss is much less common, thus avoiding the problem of telling many people the bad news.I also found advice I was given 15 years ago, when my wife died, very helpful.The insight was that people who asked, “What can I do?” of a grieving person really are asking because they don’t know how to be helpful.My answer, at that difficult time, was: “Invite me to dinner.”I think it was win-win.This helped me, and I think they were glad to do something that I appreciated. This woman who had miscarried had her answer: “Send me some flower...

The Committee Serves to Promote Competition and Protect Consumer Rights

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

A large-scale work aimed at creating a compact and professional public administration system is ongoing in Uzbekistan. In this process, special attention is paid to ensuring the timely and effective implementation of administrative reforms, organizing the activities of the republic’s executive authorities based on updated requirements and principles - writes Farrukh KaraboevThe Presidential Decree “On measures to implement administrative reforms of the new Uzbekistan” from December 21, 2022, became the logical continuation of work in this direction. In accordance with the Decree, as part of the first phase of reforms, a proposal was adopted for the formation of a unified system of executive bodies of the republic from January 1, 2023.According to the established principle, state bodies in the form of a committee were divided into two categories, i.e. those that coordinate and regulate the activities of the sector within the relevant field and organize the collegial management work i...

Are all oligarchs the same?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

An exhaustive new study welcomes western sanctions against Russia’s “aggression” in Ukraine but calls for a “constructive critique” of their current effectiveness. The legal study, authored by two experienced, Berlin-based lawyers, states that sanctions, or “restrictive measures”, are to be welcomed as they are an “important” and “effective” tool.Sanctions “send a clear signal of disapproval” to the Russian regime over its invasion of Ukraine, it adds.But the authors say there is still “room for improvement” and call for a “constructive” review of current sanctions so as to make them “more effective”.The study findings of the report and current sanctions against Russia were debated at a day-long Brussels conference, attended by about 170 legal experts and political scientists in person and via livestream, on 23 March. It was organised by NAIMA Strategic Legal Services.The report was authored by Dr Anna Oehmichen, founder and lawyer at Oehmichen International, a Berlin-based law comp...

Word Game: March 25, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — JAMBOREES (JAMBOREES: jam-buh-REEZ: Large, festive gatherings.)Average mark 32 wordsTime limit 45 minutesCan you find 48 or more words in JAMBOREES? The list will be published Monday.YESTERDAY’S WORD — STEALTH sale salt sate seal seat shale slat slate stale stat state steal stet tale taste teal teat test that theta east lase lash last late latest lath lathe latte leash least lest hale halt haste hate heal heatTo 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 allowed.Contact Word Game creator...

Bridge: March 25, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.New players often attribute magical powers to experts. I have had beginners ask me whether I can tell what everybody has right after the cards are dealt. An experienced declarer can visualize the defenders’ hands, based on the bidding and play; nothing about it is magic.Today’s South reaches four hearts after West has tossed in a passed-hand overcall of two diamonds. West cashes the K-Q of diamonds, then leads the ace. South ruffs, draws trumps and takes the top spades. How should declarer proceed to attack the clubs?NINE POINTSDeclarer cashes the ace and leads the four. West plays the three and ten. South knows that West, who didn’t open the bidding, has shown nine points in diamonds, so he won’t hold the king of clubs. South plays low from dummy and makes his game when East must play the king.“Card reading” is within the grasp of any player. Most of the inference...

Horoscopes March 25, 2023: Elton John, make your mark

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jenny Slate, 41; Laz Alonso, 49; Sarah Jessica Parker, 58; Elton John, 76.Jenny Slate (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Happy Birthday: Refuse to let anger consume you when reason and practical action are required. Striving to help and make a difference will pay off. Don’t take unnecessary risks or limit what you can do by trying to cut corners. Use your intelligence and connections to reach your goal and make your mark. Your numbers are 4, 12, 22, 25, 33, 37, 46.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Leave nothing undone; completion is the key to success. False claims will lead you astray. Verify information before you invest your time or money. Make a point not to overload your plate; you’re better off doing one thing well than many incompletely. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t count on anything or anyone but yourself and your attributes. Stay focused on what’s important to you, and don’t stop until you are satisfied ...