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Robbins: ‘An island of sanity’ in Israel

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

What separates humans from other species, the late William F. Buckley, Jr. once told an interviewer, is “the ability to make distinctions.” Not every human has that ability, of course, and certain issues are so susceptible to distortion that even those with the ability to make distinctions don’t necessarily make them.Israel is one issue on which a combination of ingrained hatreds and an addiction to blurring facts encourages fictions. Sixteen straight weeks of massive pro-democracy demonstrations on Israeli streets have spotlighted the noxious coalition government that presently prevails, one dominated by some truly repugnant figures and led by a Prime Minister willing to sacrifice Israeli democracy to save his own skin.As usual, however, when it comes to Israel, distinctions are often disfavored. The scope and size of the protests are evidence of Israel’s essential character, evidence that is unwelcome for those determined to despise it. The same holds for its multicultural, plural...

WHO fires doctor after findings of sexual misconduct by him

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says it has fired one of its doctors who faced allegations, first reported by The Associated Press, that he had repeatedly engaged in sexual misconduct. The U.N. health agency had come under pressure from the United States and other countries to do more in the fight against sexual misconduct in the wake of the claims against the doctor, Fijian national Temo Waqanivalu.“Dr. Temo Waqanivalu has been dismissed from WHO following findings of sexual misconduct against him and corresponding disciplinary process,” said WHO spokeswoman Marcia Poole in a email to the AP early Tuesday. “Sexual misconduct of any kind by anyone working for WHO — be it as staff, consultant, partner — is unacceptable,” she added. In January, the AP reported that Waqanivalu had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Berlin conference in October and was flagged to senior WHO directors years ago for allegedly harassing another staffer. The earlier allegation didn...

UBS reaps $28B in new assets in 1Q; Credit Suisse deal looms

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss banking giant UBS said Tuesday it took in $28 billion of net new money for its wealth management business in the first quarter, with $7 billion of that coming in the days after the announcement of its government-backed takeover of ailing rival Credit Suisse.The Zurich-based bank, which is set to become Switzerland’s banking titan after the merger closes in coming months, said underlying pre-tax profit dropped 22 percent to $2.35 billion in the quarter compared to a year ago, while underlying revenues fell 8 percent.UBS said it had bought back $1.3 billion worth of its shares during the quarter, and reiterated that the share-buyback program has been temporarily suspended ahead of the closing of the 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.4 billion) takeover of Credit Suisse announced on March 19.“In the first quarter, we maintained positive momentum across the firm and attracted $28 billion of net new money in GWM (Global Wealth Management), of which $7 billion came in th...

In The News for April 25: Federal campaign officials testify on foreign interference

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of Tuesday, April 25, 2023 …What we are watching in Canada …Members of the Liberal and Conservative backrooms will step into the spotlight to testify today before a parliamentary committee that’s probing allegations of foreign election interference. The committee on procedure and House affairs is set to hear from Jeremy Broadhurst, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who served as the Liberals’ campaign director during the 2019 federal vote. Also set to appear is Azam Ishmael, the Liberals’ national director and the person who oversaw the party’s campaign during the most recent federal election in 2021. The Conservative Party’s national campaign manager in 2021, Fred DeLorey, is also set to appear along with Hamish Marshall, who held the same role in 2019.The committee rece...

1 killed, 10 wounded as Russian forces hit Ukrainian museum

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian missile hit a museum building in a Ukrainian city on Tuesday, killing one of its workers and injuring 10 other people, part of a relentless barrage that comes as Ukraine is readying its forces for an expected spring counteroffensive.The Russian military used S-300 air defense missiles to attack Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, hitting the museum of local history in the center of the city.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video from the site that shows the ruined building and emergency responders examining the damage.“The terrorist country is doing everything to destroy us completely,” Zelenskyy said. “Our history, our culture, our people. Killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods.”Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said that three people were hospitalized, seven received minor injuries and two others were believed to remain under the debris. Emergency responders were working to recover them.Kupiansk was captured by Russ...

Ex-UN head Ban Ki-moon urges army to end Myanmar violence

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged Myanmar’s ruling military to take the initiative in finding a way out of the country’s violent political crisis, including releasing political detainees, after a surprise meeting with the army leader who seized power two years ago.Ban met Monday in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw with the leader of the military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, and other top officials. His mission was made on behalf of a group of elder statesmen that engages in peacemaking and human rights initiatives around the world.Ban is the deputy chair of the group, which calls itself The Elders.A statement released Tuesday by the group quoted Ban saying “I came to Myanmar to urge the military to adopt an immediate cessation of violence, and start constructive dialogue among all parties concerned.” He described his talks as “exploratory.”“With patient determination, I believe a way forward can be found out of the current crisi...

Liberal, Conservative campaign operatives to testify on foreign election meddling

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

OTTAWA — Members of the Liberal and Conservative backrooms will step into the spotlight to testify today before a parliamentary committee that’s probing allegations of foreign election interference. The committee on procedure and House affairs is set to hear from Jeremy Broadhurst, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who served as the Liberals’ campaign director during the 2019 federal vote. Also set to appear is Azam Ishmael, the Liberals’ national director and the person who oversaw the party’s campaign during the most recent federal election in 2021. The Conservative party’s national campaign manager in 2021, Fred DeLorey, is also set to appear along with Hamish Marshall, who held the same role in 2019.The committee recently heard from Trudeau’s longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, who repeatedly told MPs that national security provisions prevented her from divulging details about briefings on interference.  Concerns about Chin...

‘Missing in action’: gun-control groups chide NDP over noncommital stance on bill

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal New Democrats are coming under pressure from gun-control advocates to support the Liberals in enacting a permanent ban on assault-style firearms.In a pair of open letters, various groups pushing for stronger restrictions on guns urge the NDP to come out decisively in favour of enshrining a definition of firearms that belong solely on the battlefield.In response, NDP public safety critic Peter Julian says the party will always be a willing partner when working to keep people safe from gun violence.Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is set to appear later today at the House of Commons public safety committee, where MPs are studying gun-control legislation introduced almost a year ago.The appearance comes two months after the Liberals withdrew a late November amendment to the bill that would have spelled out in law the various models covered by the assault-style gun ban.The Liberals billed the definition as an evergreen measure that would cement in legislation ...

Mental-health services come too late, experts say, after uptick in violence

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

VANCOUVER — Recent cases of violence across Canada demonstrate a clear need to treat mental illness early instead of waiting until a serious crime happens, says an executive with the Canadian Mental Health Association.Jonny Morris, the CEO of the B.C. division of the association, said the emphasis now is on people having to reach a particular point in their illness before receiving treatment.“We want to be able to intervene early and actually prevent crisis – including a crisis where violence is present – from ever happening in the first place.” His comments come after apparent random violence in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta, including stabbing deaths. Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld told a news conference following two transit attacks in the city this month that police leaders across Canada have cited an increase in calls related to mental health.He said there has been a recent focus on treating the calls as public-health issues rather than criminal justice matters, but ...

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visiting B.C’s Lower Mainland

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:47:12 GMT

VANCOUVER — Germany’s president is visiting the Lower Mainland today on the third day of his four-day trip to Canada.Frank-Walter Steinmeier is slated to take a tour of the Burnaby fuel cell company Cellcentric before going to Vancouver for a roundtable discussion with German and Canadian business representatives. He will later be greeted by Premier David Eby, will tour Vancouver Harbour by boat and visit the University of B.C.’s Smart Hydrogen Energy District – a soon-to-open hydrogen fuelling station. Steinmeier was in Ottawa on Monday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a German plane airlifted 58 Canadians out of Sudan as a conflict escalated in the country’s capital.At a reception in Ottawa, Steinmeier said growing global autocratic rule is putting inclusion and the rule of law at risk, and democracies must secure and protect those values against attack. Steinmeier will travel north to Yellowknife and Tuktoyaktuk on Wednesday for events, including meetings ...