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Mobile and resilient, the US military is placing a new emphasis on ground troops for Pacific defense

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — As Chinese missile testing in the waters around Taiwan grew increasingly aggressive in 1996, the U.S. sailed two aircraft carrier groups to the island that Beijing claims as its own, and China was forced to back down. It employed a similar response to Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel a month ago, dispatching two carrier groups to the eastern Mediterranean in a rapid and massive show of force meant to deter other countries or Iran-backed proxy groups such as Hezbollah from joining the fight.But what is still viable in the Mideast is increasingly less practical with China, which in 1996 had no carriers of its own and little means to threaten the American ships, but now has the world’s largest navy, including three aircraft carriers, and a coastline bristling with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles. Instead, ongoing exercises in Hawaii, which conclude Friday, highlight part of a new American approach to Pacific defense and deterrence, with a focus on small groups...

Study looks back centuries to peer into the future for polar bears

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

New research suggests that ancient polar bear populations shrank as sea ice dwindled, adding weight to concerns about the predator’s future as climate change melts the Arctic. “The population size seems to have decreased at a time when temperatures went up and sea ice went down,” said Paul Szpak, a professor at Trent University and a co-author of a newly published paper that looks at bear populations and habitats over thousands of years. Szpak and 19 colleagues from 11 institutions brought together three strands of inquiry to reach their conclusions — genetic analysis of old bear skulls from a Danish archive, habitat modelling based on long-ago climate and study of distinctive elements in those bones that reveal diet.  The polar bear genome has been completely mapped, allowing scientists to measure the genetic diversity of any one group of bears. More diversity suggests more bears.“How different the bears are from one another on a genetic level can be a marke...

Supreme Court to decide whether to hear Ontario election advertising case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada is set to indicate today whether it will hear an appeal of a ruling that struck down third-party election advertising rules in Ontario.The law in question added more onerous restrictions to the amounts that third parties, such as unions and special interest groups, are allowed to spend in the lead up to an election, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario found it unconstitutional.Before 2021, third parties were allowed to spend up to $600,000 on advertising in the six months before an election call, but that year the government stretched that restricted spending period to one year, while not increasing the amount.The Progressive Conservative government argued the extended restriction was necessary to protect elections from outside influence, but critics said it amounted to the government trying to silence criticism ahead of the 2022 provincial election.The law was found unconstitutional on free speech grounds, so the government reintroduced the prov...

Tickets for Taylor Swift’s Vancouver shows go on sale to winners of presale lottery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

VANCOUVER — The wait to buy tickets for Taylor Swift’s 2024 concert dates in Vancouver is finally over, with online sales scheduled to start this morning. But only the lucky fans who won a lottery to receive presale codes yesterday will get a chance to purchase up to four tickets for the shows at BC Place on Dec. 6, 7 and 8 next year.Ticketmaster’s website says the start of sales for the three dates will be staggered today at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Pacific time, but access is only being granted via a link and code that has been sent to presale lottery winners.Some Swifties tried to “manifest” victory in the presale code lottery by reciting mantras to their idol and burning candles, in what has become a social media phenomenon among fans.Such tactics didn’t work for Langley, B.C., teenagers Candace and Chloe Harding, whose mom Shae Harding says they were sad to be told they had been wait-listed again, after unsuccessful attempts to secure tickets to ...

Supports for Gaza Strip evacuees to be determined based on need, minister says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the immigration status and supports available for evacuees who escape from Gaza Strip will have to be determined based on individual circumstances once people make their way to Canada.The federal government has been working to secure the safe passage of more than 400 people with connections to Canada as part of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Egypt that are being mediated by Qatar.The slow trickle of people allowed through the highly controlled Rafah border crossing has so far included 75 people on Canada’s list of anticipated evacuees, and they are only allowed to remain in Egypt for 72 hours.The list includes Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as eligible family members who don’t have immigration status in Canada.Global Affairs Canada says it is also aware of reports that four Canadian citizens got out with the help of a third party. Miller says family members without Canadian citizenship or permane...

Daily horoscope for November 9, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

Moon Alert: After 3:30 a.m. EST today (12:30 a.m. PST), there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Libra.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023:You’re a risk-taker. Your approach to life is physical. You’re intelligent, witty and enthusiastic. This year is the final year of a nine-year cycle, which means it’s time to take inventory and let go of people, places and things in the past that have held you back.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★This is a lovely day to schmooze with others. It’s also a wonderful day or evening for a sweet date. Keep in mind that the Moon is in Libra for two days, which puts it directly opposite your sign. This means you have to go more than halfway when dealing with people. Tonight: Cooperate.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Today you will attract someone to you who is strong and forthright. (Generally, those are euphemisms for “pushy.”) Perhaps this is why you will find yourself in a positio...

Commission consults member states on a proposal for a partial adjustment of the phase-out schedule of the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework in view of the upcoming winter heating period

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

The European Commission has sent to member states for consultation a draft proposal to partially adjust the phase-out schedule of the provisions of the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework aimed at providing a crisis response following Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the unprecedented increase in energy prices.Since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine and in the context of its direct and indirect effects on the EU economy, the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022, has enabled member states to provide timely, targeted and proportionate support to businesses in need. The Framework has allowed member states to act quickly and effectively to help companies affected by the significant economic uncertainties, disrupted trade flows and supply chains, and the exceptionally large and unexpected price increases, in particular of natural gas, electricity, numerous other input and raw materials, and primary goods. Those effects taken to...

Miss Manners: My neighbor is convinced I’m making this noise. How do I get him to drop it?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a neighbor in the apartment directly below mine who, during the 20 years I have lived here, has regularly complained about the various noises they hear from my apartment. Not once has X ever said anything to me that wasn’t a criticism about The Noise.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: My wife rebuked cinema patrons who walked in front of us. Who was rude? Advice | Miss Manners: The host seemed put out by the guests’ sober dress. Were they rude? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I have done something about this shopper’s bad behavior? Advice | Miss Manners: How do I keep my wife’s art off our walls without a blowup? Advice | Miss Manners: Three years after disappearing, she sent me a rude email Do I have a pet? Do I exercise? Is there some machinery I am running?No, to all of these. I am sure any noise isn’t from me: My apartment is fully carpeted, I...

Gaza faces imminent typhoid, cholera outbreak, health bodies warn

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

Health organizations are warning of an imminent public health crisis in the Gaza Strip, where disruptions to health and water systems are raising the risk of disease outbreaks.The International Rescue Committee (IRC) on Thursday warned of the inevitable spread of waterborne illnesses such as cholera and typhoid, caused by contaminated water sources and a lack of sanitation.Currently, 95 percent of the population in Gaza has no access to safe water, while 64 percent of primary health facilities have shut down, IRC warns, as Israel conducts a lethal bombing campaign. “The conditions are ripe for the spread of communicable and waterborne diseases — diseases that adversely affect children and lead to preventable deaths,” said Bob Kitchen, the IRC’s vice president of emergencies.The World Health Organizations (WHO) on Wednesday warned that lack of fuel has disrupted waste collection and caused desalination plants to shut down, leading to a significant increase in the spread of bact...

Boris Johnson brands Rishi Sunak a ‘stooge’ put in place by Dominic Cummings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

LONDON — Boris Johnson accused his successor Rishi Sunak of being a “stooge” installed at the behest of Johnson-adviser-turned nemesis Dominic Cummings.In his most direct criticism yet of the current U.K. prime minister, Johnson also said Sunak had left the governing Conservatives “drifting to defeat” with no clear strategy.The comments came in an interview with Nadine Dorries, a staunch Johnson ally who has just published a book on what she calls the “political assassination” of the ex-prime minister.Johnson was forced from office in 2022 after a series of scandals, with the resignation of Sunak — then-Johnson’s lead finance minister — dealing his administration a mortal blow.In his interview with Dorries, Johnson claimed his own former adviser Cummings had always wanted to get Sunak into the top job.“I heard that Cummings has said he started to plot to get rid of me in January 2020,” Johnson said. “The plot was always to get Ri...