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Hong Kong prosecutors allege democracy publisher Jimmy Lai urged protests, sanctions against China

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Prosecutors on Wednesday alleged that Hong Kong activist and publisher Jimmy Lai had encouraged the city’s residents to protest and urged the U.S. to take action against the “oppressive” Chinese authorities in Beijing.The 76-year-old media tycoon, who founded the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was arrested in 2020 during a crackdown on massive pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019. The central government in Beijing responded by imposing a sweeping national security law aimed at stamping down opposition. Lai has been in jail for over three years.Lai’s national security trial is being closely watched by foreign governments, business professionals and legal scholars. Many view it as a trial of the city’s freedoms and a test for judicial independence in the Asian financial hub.Lai has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiring to collude with foreign countries and another count of conspiring to publish seditious material. He smiled at famil...

CSU holds off New Mexico in Mountain West opener

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

FORT COLLINS — The first win of the Mountain West schedule for the Colorado State men’s basketball team didn’t come easy.Despite taking a 17-point lead in the second half, the Rams had to hold off a late run by New Mexico, but eventually came away with a 76-68 victory Tuesday night at Moby Arena.With the win, the No. 13 Rams improved to 13-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.“We know it is a new season,” CSU guard Isaiah Stevens said. “We have a lot of guys that it might be their first time stepping into this. We understand that the Mountain West is extremely deep this year. So being able to protect Moby, which is what we say all the time, especially to start conference play is huge.”Leading by three at halftime, the Rams wasted little time extending their lead in the second half.A 3-pointer by Patrick Cartier pushed the CSU lead to six at 36-30, but the Lobos were able to whittle the Rams’ lead to three at 41-38 with 15:56 left in the game and then again at 43-40 with 15:34 ...

Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: Council adds 1 person and 1 entity to EU sanctions list

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

The Council today introduced additional restrictive measures against one person and one entity responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.The new listings target the company PJSC Alrosa and its CEO Pavel Alekseevich Marinychev. PJSC Alrosa is the largest diamond-mining company in the world, owned by the Russian state and accounts for over 90% of all Russian diamond production, and the company constitutes an important part of an economic sector that is providing substantial revenue to the government of the Russian Federation.These designations complement the import ban of Russian diamonds included as part of the 12th package of economic and individual sanctions adopted on 18 December 2023 in view of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.The ban on Russian diamonds is part of a G7 effort to develop an internationally coordinated diamond ban that aims at depriving Russia of this importan...

P2P investments, bonds and deposits build an optimal portfolio in 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

According to Robocash platform estimates, in 2024, the optimal solution will be to keep two-thirds of the investment portfolio in fixed-income instruments.Robocash specialists analyzed 9 different investment assets to determine the optimal portfolio structure. The research examined 10 portfolio allocation models* and considered asset correlations.The Black-Litterman model portfolio promises the highest returns in 2024 but suggests allocating all funds in crypto. “Of course, this approach contradicts the idea of diversification and significantly increases the risks of investments”. - the specialists comment. In conditions of economic instability, the trend towards portfolio diversification remains relevant. “Konno-Yamazaki and HRP algorithm methods suggest that we allocate all 9 analyzed assets into one portfolio. This approach mitigates some risks, but it is definitely not the most efficient in terms of returns”.The most optimal option is the structure identified in the Pareto-...

Horoscopes Jan. 3, 2024: Danica McKellar, figure out what makes you happy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Eli Manning, 43; Danica McKellar, 49; Mel Gibson, 68; Victoria Principal, 74.Happy Birthday: Concentrate on personal changes that make your life easier. Peace of mind will be the byproduct of making your life and surroundings less cumbersome. The amount of free time you gain by decluttering your life will encourage you to fulfill your dreams and walk away from people and situations that bring you down. Figure out what makes you happy and do that. Romance and personal improvements are favored. Your numbers are 3, 10, 19, 28, 36, 41, 44.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Live and learn. Get involved in the conversation and prepare to make moves that help you outperform anyone who may challenge you mentally, physically or emotionally. Put forth your best effort, and you will reap the rewards. Romance and personal gain are favored. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Update your credentials, look at trends and apply for a position that helps you fulfill your dreams. I...

Word Game: Jan. 3, 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — CHERISHES (CHERISHES: CHER-ish-ez: Holds dear; feels affection for.)Average mark 23 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 28 or more words in CHERISHES? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — MUTINOUS mint minus miso mist moist most mount must unit unto tonus inmost into omit onus oust smut snit snout stun suit sumoTo 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 Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Bridge: Jan. 3, 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

“Most of your columns deal with play techniques,” a reader writes. “What about things like focus, table presence and partnership empathy?”Point taken. Here’s a piece of non-technical advice: Never give up on a deal.At four hearts, South won the first diamond with the king and led a trump. West won and led another diamond, and South took the ace and tried a spade to his queen. West won and cashed a diamond, and East got his ace of trumps. Down one.South must win the first diamond in dummy and finesse in spades; he may get a fast discard for his diamond loser. He wins West’s diamond return and leads the A-J of spades.FIFTH SPADEWest ruffs low, but South can’t give up. He overruffs in dummy, comes to the ace of clubs and ruffs a spade. He ruffs a club and leads his good fifth spade.West can’t gain by ruffing with his king. If he discards, dummy unloads the losing diamond. East ruffs low, but when South gets back in, he leads a trump and t...

Ask Amy: My boyfriend says it’s over because of the surprise visitor

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ve been with my boyfriend for five years. He has been totally estranged from his mother the whole time I’ve known him, and I’d never met her.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: This is when I realized I had waited too long to leave my girlfriend Advice | Ask Amy: I worry about affording vacations if I move out of my parents’ house Advice | Ask Amy: My in-laws stopped speaking to me, and I don’t know what to do Advice | Ask Amy: I think I might have to cancel my birthday party because of our neighbors Advice | Ask Amy: She insulted my kids, and our relationship exploded Well, his mother started messaging with me on Facebook, and she really wants to get back into his life. She wants to apologize for the mistakes she has made.I invited her over to our house without telling my boyfriend. He blew up when he saw her and now says that he wants to break up with me.I was just trying to...

How Lucas Giolito could be just what the Red Sox starting rotation needs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

If the Red Sox had one fatal flaw last year, it was their starting rotation’s inability to pitch deep into games. Those short outings didn’t just put the club in a hole any given day, they also put a strain on the bullpen that eventually proved too much to bear.Getting more length from their starters was a top priority for the Red Sox, and by signing Lucas Giolito they’ve taken a big step forward.Giolito, who has reportedly signed a two-year, $38.5 million deal with an opt-out after the first year, is the first significant outside addition to the Red Sox rotation. With the club’s subsequent trade of oft-injured Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves, the Red Sox have effectively swapped out their least durable pitcher for one of baseball’s most.Since his first full season in the big leagues in 2018, Giolito has consistently ranked among MLB’s most prolific starters, ranking sixth in games started (167) and seventh in innings pitched (947) over that stre...

Nearly half of Ontario hospital workers ‘dread going into work’: poll

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:52 GMT

Nearly half of hospital workers in Ontario say they worry about going to work — with a similar number weighing whether to leave their jobs altogether.The numbers come from a new Nanos survey which suggests 41 per cent of the province’s hospital staff say they “dread going into work.”CUPE, the union representing some healthcare workers in Ontario, say the data points to a hospital staffing crisis that could only get worse if the Ford government doesn’t step in.“(The poll) supplements recent research by CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE) warning of an acute staffing crisis in the hospital sector, which is contributing to unprecedented ER closures, delayed treatments, and poorer quality of patient care,” reads a release from the union.The recent survey polled more than 750 hospital workers from across the province.CUPE leaders are set to discuss the results of the survey and offer recommendations to the government in a ...