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A boycott call and security concerns mar Iraq’s first provincial elections in a decade

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Baghdad’s streets were nearly empty on Monday, the main day of polling in the country’s first provincial elections in a decade, which are boycotted by an influential political bloc and marred by scattered violence and allegations of irregularities. The vote to select new provincial council members, who in turn will appoint governors, is widely seen as a bellwether for the parliamentary election due to take place in 2025.Initial voting on Saturday, which was restricted to military and security personnel and displaced people living in camps, showed a relatively high turnout of about 67%, but turnout in Monday’s vote among the general population was widely expected to be low.Muqtada al-Sadr, a powerful Shiite cleric and political leader who officially resigned from politics in 2022 during a lengthy deadlock over Cabinet formation, had called on his supporters to boycott the provincial elections, saying that their participation would reinforce the dominance of a corrupt p...

Suspect sought after man stabbed in neck multiple times in Leslieville

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

Police are looking for a suspect wanted in connection with a stabbing in the city’s east end last week.Emergency crews were called to the area of Greenwood Avenue and Gerrard Street East around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 14 for reports of an assault.Investigators say two men got into an argument when one man stabbed the other man multiple times. Paramedics told CityNews the man was stabbed in the neck several times and rushed to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Police have released photos of a suspect and are asking for the public’s help identifying him. The man is described as 18 to 22 years old, five foot seven inches tall with a slim build. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket, black balaclava, red hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes.Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.

Russian opposition leader Navalny fails to appear in court as allies search for him in prison system

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

Allies of the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said they were searching for him for a 13th day after he failed to appear in court Monday.Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Navalny had multiple hearings scheduled, some of which were suspended after the politician who is President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe could not be located to participate in person or by video link. The whereabouts of Navalny, 47, have been unknown since his lawyers lost touch with him after Dec. 6. They believe he is deliberately being hidden after Putin announced his candidacy in Russia’s March presidential election, which the longtime leader is almost certain to win. “Alexei is Putin’s main opponent even though his name won’t be on the ballot,” Yarmysh told The Associated Press. “They will do everything they can to isolate him.” Navalny’s team has launched a campaign to encourage Russians to boycott the election or vote for another c...

Several feared dead or injured as a massive fuel depot explosion rocks Guinea’s capital

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — An explosion and inferno at Guinea’s main fuel depot in the capital of Conakry left several people dead or injured, authorities and local media reported Monday, as emergency services battled to put out the fire.The fire broke out at the Guinean Petroleum Company depot shortly after a massive explosion past midnight Sunday, Guinea’s presidency said in a statement. The area in the heart of the Kaloum administrative district is home to most government offices.It was not immediately clear what caused the fire at the depot that supplies most of the fuel in Guinea, raising fears of a major supply disruption.Officials have not confirmed any casualty figures though local media reported dozens of people were hurt, most of them hospitalized with serious injuries. At least four dead were confirmed at the Ignace Deen hospital, Conakry-based Le Courrier de Conakry news platform reported.Communications Minister Aminata Kaba said that damage was significant. The fire r...

Relief for drivers as downtown construction work pauses for winter break

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

Some relief for drivers dealing with road closures and detours throughout the downtown core.After three weeks of lane restrictions, the City says construction work on the southbound lanes of University Avenue will pause for a winter break at the end of the day on Dec. 18. Work is expected to resume in early February.While restrictions on southbound vehicular traffic will be lifted, upgrade work on the protected cycling track continues and cyclists are encouraged to use alternate routes on Beverly, Elizabeth or Bay Streets.Ontario Line work continues on the northbound side of University Avenue with just two northbound lanes open from Queen Street West to Armoury Street until at least 2026.Regular traffic has also resumed on Bloor Street West from Spadina Avenue and Avenue Road as part of the planned winter shutdown. One lane of vehicular traffic and a protected cycle track will remain open in each direction until infrastructure work resumes again next spring.Traffic is also moving ag...

German Chancellor Scholz tests positive for COVID, visit by new Slovak leader canceled

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, and the government said a visit by Slovakia’s new prime minister had to be canceled as a result.Scholz wrote on social media platform X that “with few symptoms, I am counting on a mild case.” Spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said the chancellor was in his office and communicating by phone and videoconference but would not perform any public duties on Monday and Tuesday.Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was scheduled to meet Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday, and the visit had to be canceled, Hebestreit said.It is not yet clear whether Scholz will be able to lead a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday in person, he added.Scholz, who is 65, received a COVID-19 booster shot this year, Hebestreit said.The Associated Press

Live updates | Israel’s allies step up calls for a halt to the assault on Gaza

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

After France, the U.K. and Germany joined global calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Tel Aviv Monday, and is also expected to press Israel to wind down its offensive in Gaza. The 10-week-old war has killed over 18,700 Palestinians and transformed much of the north of Gaza into a moonscape. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s population have fled their homes.More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel says 116 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking about 240 hostages. Currently: — In Israel’s killing of three hostages, some see the same excessive force directed at Palestinians.— Israel finds a large tunnel adjacent to the Gaza border, raising questions about prewar intelli...

Intense storm causes floods, power outages as it moves up East Coast

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (AP) — An intense late-year storm barreled up the East Coast on Sunday with heavy rains and strong winds that shattered rainfall records, forced water rescues from flooded streets and washed out holiday celebrations.Authorities rescued dozens of motorists stranded by floodwaters in South Carolina's waterfront community of Georgetown, Georgetown County spokesperson Jackie Broach said. More than 9 inches (22.9 centimeters) of rain fell in the area situated between Charleston and Myrtle Beach since late Saturday.“It’s not just the areas that we normally see flooding, that are flood-prone,” Broach said. “It’s areas that we’re not really expecting to have flooding issues...It’s like a tropical storm, it just happens to be in December.” A stormy day for Connecticut with heavy rain, gusty winds & tidal flooding The tide in Charleston Harbor hit its fourth highest level on record and was “well above the highest tide for a non-tropical system,” according to t...

Ask Amy: Readers should put “A Book on Every Bed”

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

Dear Readers: For the past 14 years, I have devoted one December column entirely to the idea of giving books to children on Christmas morning (or whatever wintertime holiday you celebrate).I was first inspired by a sweet story I read about historian David McCullough’s childhood, where he and his three brothers would wake up on Christmas morning to a wrapped book, left by Santa on the foot of their beds.I communicated with Mr. McCullough, and from his home in Massachusetts he confirmed the story and generously gave me permission to use his childhood tradition to encourage families to start their holiday by unwrapping a book — and reading together.That’s the origin story of “A Book on Every Bed,” and in the years I’ve published this appeal (to give books to children, and to start your holiday by reading together), it has grown into a literacy campaign. Schools, libraries, bookstores, churches and community centers have picked up this idea and are helping families to bring books ...

Editorial: Xcel says the new headquarters in RiNo will save money, but it still stings for ratepayers

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:26:40 GMT

Xcel’s big move to a fancy new building in the hot River North Arts District raised a few eyebrows on The Denver Post’s editorial board – ratepayers will be picking up the tab for rent in the building as it is one of the power company’s operating expenses.The new 220,000-square-foot building was described by its builder and owner in a quote put out by Xcel as “the next evolution of workplace that combines a creative and hospitality-driven customer experience with state-of-the-art amenities.”We met the claim that the move will save the company $2.5 million a year in operation costs with a healthy dose of skepticism.To Xcel’s credit, when we expressed our concern, the company’s president spent an hour with us discussing not only the decision to move the headquarters from its current location in Lower Downtown to RiNo but the company’s $15 billion plan to increase renewable energy, build transmission lines, and update Denver’s transmission infrastructure.Xcel president Robert Kenney ex...