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Mélanie Joly is in Kenya to help inform Canada’s response to the crisis in Sudan

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is in Kenya for the next few days to help inform Canada’s response to the crisis in Sudan.She is set to meet with people evacuated from the East African country, including diplomatic staff who worked there until a shocking outbreak of violence earlier this month.Joly will also meet with humanitarian groups to get a sense of the needs of people in Sudan, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries.She also plans to meet with former Sudanese prime minister Abdalla Hamdok, the country’s only civilian leader in recent decades, who was deposed in a 2021 coup. Kenya has been a leading voice in trying to find a mediated solution to the conflict, and it hosts the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a group focused on peace and prosperity in East African countries.Joly’s office says she also hopes to learn more from Kenya as a major player on the continent.“Kenya has played a key leadership role throu...

Royal watchers preparing for a shorter, smaller coronation than one 70 years ago

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

Jamie Hill was four years old when his family walked over to a neighbour’s home in Kitchener, Ont., to watch Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. The now 73-year-old doesn’t remember much from the ceremony that would become a social and cultural phenomenon, but a constant reminder of the day hangs in his home in St. Agatha, Ont. Hill’s grandmother attended the coronation in person and bought a piece of tapestry that was created for the event. She later passed it down to Hill.The lifetime member of the Monarchist League of Canada recently added a commemorative coronation mug for King Charles III — bought during a recent trip to Scotland — to his memorabilia collection.Hill plans to sip coffee out of it on May 6 while the world watches the formal crowning of the King.“We’re having a few people over and we’ll have scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam,” Hill said in a phone interview from his home. When it comes to the day of, Hill...

Chilly, Wet and Windy Sunday in Chicago; Winter Weather for North Woods

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

For the next couple of days, we'll find ourselves stuck under the influence of a stacked Low, from the surface to the upper level.   Another trough in the jet stream keeps the Great Lakes and Midwest cool, to chilly.  As waves or energy wrap around the low they'll kick up more showers.  Widespread showers are very likely on Sunday with the possibility of some snowflakes mixing in during the morning.  Graupel will be possible in the afternoon.  Breezy west winds will gust up to 30-35 mph and keep wind chills in the upper 30s Sunday afternoon.  In other word it will be quite miserable.Wha is super-cooled water?Super-cooled water is liquid water at temperature below the nominal freezing point of pure water [~0°C (32°F) for atmospheric-relevant pressure]. This usually refers to cloud droplets, which often remain liquid for a long time at temperatures below 0°C (32°F). The actual freezing temperature of a supercooled cloud droplet depends on its size and composition and may be as low as ...

Dear Abby: The reason her fiance hid his phone was something she never guessed

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My daughter and her fiance are intelligent, successful professionals in their early 30s. Her fiance just informed her he was a sperm donor for a friend and his wife a few years ago, resulting in two biological children with one more on the way.He never mentioned this to my daughter before. She suspected that something wasn’t right because he would hide his phone (he keeps the children’s pictures on it), and she finally confronted him last week.He bonded with the children during the first year of their lives with frequent visits, then tapered off because the friends had become uncomfortable with his being around (the children both closely resemble him).Her fiance says he hasn’t seen the children since my daughter began dating him two years ago. He says he tried to put the situation behind him, but confessed that he misses them and didn’t realize he would feel this way at the time he donated.Neither he nor the children’s parents have legal docu...

Marlins aim to sweep 3-game series over the Cubs

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

Chicago Cubs (14-12, third in the NL Central) vs. Miami Marlins (15-13, third in the NL East)Miami; Sunday, 12:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Justin Steele (4-0, 1.19 ERA, .89 WHIP, 29 strikeouts); Marlins: Bryan Hoeing (0-1, 9.82 ERA, 2.18 WHIP, two strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -166, Marlins +141; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins and the Chicago Cubs play the last game of a three-game series. The Marlins can sweep the series with a victory.Miami has a 15-13 record overall and a 9-6 record in home games. The Marlins have a 12-6 record in games when they record at least eight hits.Chicago has a 6-4 record in road games and a 14-12 record overall. The Cubs have a 7-2 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams match up Sunday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Arraez leads the Marlins with a .442 batting average, and has five doubles, a triple, a home run, 14 walks and nine RBI. Jazz Chisholm is 11-for-41 with...

Braves face the Mets with 1-0 series lead

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

Atlanta Braves (18-9, first in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (15-12, second in the NL East)New York; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (3-0, 1.80 ERA, .83 WHIP, 49 strikeouts); Mets: Tylor Megill (3-1, 3.96 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 19 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -176, Mets +149; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves take a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the New York Mets.New York has a 15-12 record overall and a 5-5 record at home. The Mets rank 10th in the NL with 27 total home runs, averaging 1.0 per game.Atlanta has an 18-9 record overall and an 11-2 record in road games. The Braves rank fourth in the majors with 41 total home runs, averaging 1.5 per game.Sunday’s game is the second meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Nimmo has a .330 batting average to lead the Mets, and has six doubles and two home runs. Jeff McNeil is 13-for-34 with a home run and three RBI over the...

Dodgers aim to sweep series against the Cardinals

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (10-17, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (14-13, second in the NL West)Los Angeles; Sunday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Jake Woodford (1-2, 5.47 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 16 strikeouts); Dodgers: Noah Syndergaard (0-3, 6.58 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 21 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -145, Cardinals +124; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals square off in the final game of a three-game series. The Dodgers will sweep the series with a win.Los Angeles is 14-13 overall and 8-6 in home games. The Dodgers have gone 11-3 in games when they record eight or more hits.St. Louis is 10-17 overall and 5-10 in road games. The Cardinals have a 6-3 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Sunday’s game is the third time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Max Muncy has 11 home runs, 23 walks and 22 RBI while hitting .250 for the Dodgers. James Outman is 10-for-38 with three d...

Rockies aim to break skid in game against the Diamondbacks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (16-12, first in the NL West) vs. Colorado Rockies (8-20, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Sunday, 3:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson (1-1, 5.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 17 strikeouts); Rockies: Austin Gomber (1-4, 9.28 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 15 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Diamondbacks -125, Rockies +105; over/under is 12 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies enter a matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks as losers of three straight games.Colorado is 8-20 overall and 3-9 in home games. The Rockies are 6-3 in games when they scored at least five runs.Arizona is 16-12 overall and 8-6 on the road. The Diamondbacks have the eighth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .425.Sunday’s game is the third time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Charlie Blackmon has six doubles and two home runs for the Rockies. Ryan McMahon is 12-for-39 with five doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.Christian Walker has six doubles, fo...

Pirates bring road win streak into matchup with the Nationals

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (20-8, first in the NL Central) vs. Washington Nationals (9-17, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Johan Oviedo (2-1, 3.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 29 strikeouts); Nationals: Josiah Gray (1-4, 2.93 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 25 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Pirates -142, Nationals +121; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates hit the road against the Washington Nationals looking to extend a five-game road winning streak.Washington is 9-17 overall and 2-11 in home games. The Nationals have a 5-12 record in games when they have allowed at least one home run.Pittsburgh has a 20-8 record overall and an 11-4 record in road games. The Pirates have the second-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .346.The teams play Sunday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jeimer Candelario has five doubles and four home runs for the Nationals. C.J. Abrams is 8-for-34 with a double and two home runs over the last 10...

Estrada leads Giants against the Padres after 4-hit game

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:27:49 GMT

San Francisco Giants (11-15, fourth in the NL West) vs. San Diego Padres (14-14, third in the NL West)Mexico City; Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Alex Cobb (1-1, 1.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 26 strikeouts); Padres: Yu Darvish (1-2, 3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 25 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -147, Giants +126; over/under is 20 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants play the San Diego Padres after Thairo Estrada’s four-hit game on Saturday.San Diego has a 14-14 record overall and a 6-8 record at home. The Padres have gone 10-2 in games when they scored five or more runs.San Francisco is 11-15 overall and 4-8 in road games. The Giants have a 5-1 record in games when they did not give up a home run.The teams meet Sunday for the second time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Xander Bogaerts is third on the Padres with 10 extra base hits (four doubles and six home runs). Manny Machado is 9-for-39 with two doubles, three home runs and four RBI over the last 10 ga...