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Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes surprise visit to Ukraine

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Kyiv on Saturday for a surprise visit to show Canada’s solidarity with Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to push back against Russia more than a year after the invasion began.Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland joined him on the trip, which began with Trudeau laying a wreath at a memorial wall at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery to honour Ukrainians who have died while defending their homeland.Some media outlets, including The Canadian Press, were made aware of the trip ahead of time on the condition that it not be reported until it was made public, for security reasons.Earlier this week, a hydroelectric dam on the Dnieper River ruptured, flooding a large part of the front line in southern Ukraine and worsening the humanitarian situation — including the need for drinking water — in an area that was already undergoing shelling.It remains unclear how the dam collapse happened. Kyiv has accused Russia of blowing...

Last reactor shut down at Ukraine’s largest nuclear plant as fighting, flooding continues

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency says it has put the last operating reactor at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant into a “cold shutdown” — a safety precaution amid catastrophic flooding from the collapse of a nearby dam as Russia’s war on Ukraine drags on through its 16th month.Russian forces continued pummeling the country with missiles and drones overnight, with Ukrainian officials reporting at least four deaths and damage to a military airfield.Five out of six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, are already in a state of cold shutdown, in which all control rods are inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure.Energoatom, the Ukrainian nuclear agency, said in a statement late Friday that there was “no direct threat” to the Zaporizhzhia plant due to the breach of the Kakhovka dam further down the Dnieper River, which has forced thousands of peopl...

Bridge: June 10, 2023

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.You’re declarer at today’s 3NT. West leads a spade, East plays the ten and your queen wins. You count six top tricks: two spades, two hearts, a club and a diamond. You can win three more — nine in all — if a minor-suit finesse wins. Which finesse should you try first? One is just as likely to work as the other.The lead is in your hand, so say you finesse in diamonds as a matter of convenience. East takes the king and returns a spade. You take your ace, go to dummy and let the jack of clubs ride. But West wins — unlucky! — and runs his spades.THREATSince West’s spades are a threat, you should force out his possible entry early, before the spades are set up. Lead a heart to dummy at Trick Two and return the jack of clubs.If West wins and leads another spade, you win and finesse in diamonds. That finesse loses, but as you hope, East has no more spades. You will ...

Ask Amy: Stranded bicyclist has an opinion on the coldest generation

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

Dear Readers: A recent query from “Perplexed in Suburbia” asked why people under the age of 50 don’t return friendly “hellos.”I posited that this might be a regional issue but also asked readers if my generation has raised a generation of “rude-niks.”The responses flowed in, and I am sharing a representative sample.While every theory suggested is valid, I think it’s vital to understand that we never really know what others are going through, which is a great reason to be friendly, regardless of the reaction.Dear Amy: One Sunday I was riding my bike far out on a bike path, towing my toddler behind me, when I got a flat tire.I started walking us toward the car, tight to the far side of a wide path.There was a definite age graduation in the (all-male) bikers who passed us. Forty- and 50-year-olds stopped and made sure we were OK.Thirtysomethings asked if I was OK as they zoomed past.Twentysomethings were visibly and verbally annoyed at us for existing.– Home SafeDear Home Safe: When/if...

Harriette Cole: I’m afraid her fashion choice is dangerous

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have an older friend who is trying too hard to stay young. I have noticed that she wears stilettos when she goes out to events. That could be fine, except I have seen her hobbling around, nearly falling down on more than one occasion.I think she is holding on to visions of her youth, and it is unsafe.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Was committing to this Midwestern university a mistake? Advice | Harriette Cole: How could I have kept this dorm situation from escalating? Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I cut my parents off because they can’t shut up about my life? Advice | Harriette Cole: This clumsy woman wrecks my house and acts like it’s a joke Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m afraid this exciting job will make me faint frequently This woman is well into her 80s. She still looks fly, but I think she needs to rethink some of her choices so that she can remain heal...

Acusan a una mujer de Tennessee de intentar contratar a un sicario para matar a la esposa de un hombre que conoció en Internet

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

(CNN) — Una mujer de Tennessee fue acusada tras presuntamente intentar contratar a un asesino a sueldo para matar a la esposa de un hombre que conoció en un sitio de citas.Melody Sasser, de 47 años y residente en Knoxville, Tennessee, fue detenida el mes pasado por supuestamente intentar organizar el asesinato. El 7 de junio fue acusada de “uso de medios de comercio interestatal en la comisión de un asesinato por encargo”, según un comunicado de prensa de la Fiscalía del Distrito Este de Tennessee.Según los documentos judiciales, Sasser se enfadó cuando se enteró de que un hombre al que había conocido en un sitio web de citas se había prometido, y más tarde intentó asesinar a su nueva esposa utilizando un mercado en línea.Los investigadores de Alabama tuvieron conocimiento por primera vez de la presunta trama de asesinato a sueldo el 27 de abril, tras recibir información de una agencia de seguridad extranjera, según una denuncia penal presentada ante el Tribunal de...

Giants play the Cubs after Pederson’s 4-hit game

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

Chicago Cubs (27-36, fourth in the NL Central) vs. San Francisco Giants (32-31, third in the NL West)San Francisco; Saturday, 7:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (0-0); Giants: TBDFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -118, Cubs -101; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants play the Chicago Cubs after Joc Pederson had four hits against the Cubs on Friday.San Francisco has a 17-16 record in home games and a 32-31 record overall. Giants hitters have a collective .323 on-base percentage, the eighth-ranked percentage in the NL.Chicago has a 27-36 record overall and a 12-20 record in road games. The Cubs are ninth in the NL with 70 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.Saturday’s game is the second time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Conforto ranks fifth on the Giants with 15 extra base hits (three doubles and 12 home runs). Blake Sabol is 8-for-34 with two home runs and five RBI over the past 10 games.Nico Hoerner has a .28...

Rockies take home losing streak into matchup against the Padres

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

San Diego Padres (30-33, fourth in the NL West) vs. Colorado Rockies (26-39, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Saturday, 3:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Ryan Weathers (1-4, 5.35 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 23 strikeouts); Rockies: Kyle Freeland (4-7, 4.06 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 44 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -134, Rockies +115; over/under is 12 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies are looking to break their four-game home losing streak with a victory against the San Diego Padres.Colorado is 15-18 in home games and 26-39 overall. The Rockies have the eighth-best team batting average in MLB play at .259.San Diego has a 30-33 record overall and a 15-15 record on the road. The Padres are 23-6 in games when they record at least eight hits.The teams meet Saturday for the sixth time this season. The Padres are ahead 3-2 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Charlie Blackmon has 14 doubles, two triples and five home runs for the Rockies. Nolan Jones is 13-for-36 with three doubles and t...

Nationals enter matchup with the Braves on losing streak

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

Washington Nationals (25-37, fifth in the NL East) vs. Atlanta Braves (39-24, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (3-4, 3.66 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 80 strikeouts); Braves: Jared Shuster (2-2, 4.99 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 21 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -185, Nationals +157; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals look to stop their five-game losing streak with a win against the Atlanta Braves.Atlanta has a 19-14 record in home games and a 39-24 record overall. Braves pitchers have a collective 3.74 ERA, which ranks sixth in the majors.Washington has a 13-16 record in road games and a 25-37 record overall. The Nationals are 17-7 in games when they scored at least five runs.The teams meet Saturday for the fifth time this season. The Braves are up 3-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Ronald Acuna Jr. has 18 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs and 34 RBI for the Braves. Ozzie Albies is 10-for-37 with a ...

Cardinals bring 1-0 series lead over Reds into game 2

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:44:58 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (29-35, third in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (27-37, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Saturday, 2:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Andrew Abbott (1-0, .00 ERA, .83 WHIP, six strikeouts); Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (4-2, 3.74 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 60 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -169, Reds +144; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals face the Cincinnati Reds with a 1-0 series lead.St. Louis has a 13-16 record at home and a 27-37 record overall. Cardinals pitchers have a collective 4.19 ERA, which ranks seventh in the NL.Cincinnati is 29-35 overall and 12-17 on the road. The Reds have the fifth-best team on-base percentage in the majors at .332.The matchup Saturday is the sixth meeting between these teams this season. The Cardinals hold a 3-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Nolan Gorman has 10 doubles and 15 home runs for the Cardinals. Nolan Arenado is 13-for-36 with four doubles and three home runs o...