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Toronto’s homeless residents and frontline workers brace for bitter winter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

TORONTO — In warmer weather, Jamie Lee Pauk is usually on the move searching for food or a job. But as winter closes in, she’s mostly staying close to a downtown Toronto encampment squeezed into a churchyard lot off the sidewalk of a busy downtown street.“With this cold specifically, I’ve been quite still. I can’t even function,” says Pauk, wearing in an overcoat and multiple sweaters as temperatures hovered around 0 C. “Some days it’s unbearable and then other days, you just hunker down.”Pauk was the last remaining resident of a homeless encampment outside St.-Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church as of last week. Most of it was cleared by City of Toronto crews over a day in late November as temperatures dipped below freezing.Despite trespass notices and threats of arrest, Pauk refuses to budge. She says leaving the encampment would mean leaving friends, community and nearby supports she’s depended on since July 2022. At St.-Ste...

Daily horoscope for December 16, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Aquarius.Happy Birthday for Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023:You have a wonderful imagination. However, you are also grounded and logical. You are intelligent and sharp-witted. This year has been a time of recognition of your achievements. In 2024, you will finish a nine-year cycle by letting go of people, places and possessions that might have held you back.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Avoid arguments about politics, religion and philosophical ideas. It’s easy to get carried away with your thoughts. Don’t waste your breath. Meanwhile, a friend might surprise you by taking a certain stance. You also might meet a real character today. Tonight: Healthy skepticism.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Parents and bosses (as well as the police) might surprise you today. This could be because you are confused about something concerning shared property, taxes, debt, inheritances or something related to th...

Harriette Cole: He’s finally single, but his ex brainwashed him. How can I get through?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am very close to someone I used to have a thing with years ago. We started as good friends, became something more, then went back to being close friends.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: How do I tell this nice girl I sent the text by mistake? Advice | Harriette Cole: How far should I go with my Christmas to remember? Advice | Harriette Cole: He hasn’t told his therapist about this big problem Advice | Harriette Cole: My mom’s rule kept me stuck at home for the holiday break Advice | Harriette Cole: I can see myself skipping class a lot this winter We give each other advice on relationships and everything, but at the same time, I always thought that we could become serious. Now we’re in completely different places in our lives, and he recently got out of a serious relationship and needs a friend.I want to be as helpful as I can, but his ex brainwashed him in man...

Miss Manners: Our houseguests canceled suddenly and implied we were running a frat party

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We’re at a bit of a loss regarding beach house invitation etiquette.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: If you’re the best man at this wedding, brace for embarrassment Advice | Miss Manners: I’m irritated by drivers who leave their car at the pump Advice | Miss Manners: I’m offended that they think my husband knows best Advice | Miss Manners: Do they think that as doctors they have some special aura? Advice | Miss Manners: I’m taking the high road when it comes to the fruitcake We purchased an eight-bedroom second home with the idea of hosting family, friends and acquaintances throughout the season. We provide 5 p.m. cocktails and casual dinners for anyone wishing to join.Our idea has been “the more, the merrier” — many of these people have met previously and get along, plus we truly enjoy seeing everyone together. Most guests seem to ...

Rain, Wind and Severe Storm Risk Ahead this Weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

It sure has been quite the weather week across South Florida as conditions began to turn wet and windy on Wednesday and this unsettled weather pattern will continue into our weekend.Over the weekend, however, our main weather maker is a developing area of low pressure over the south-central Gulf of Mexico, set to track across central and northern Florida today.This weather feature is going to lead to another wet and windy day with widespread rain likely all across South Florida this Saturday, especially as the day progresses. There still be some gaps in the rain coverage here and there, but it definitely will be more wet than dry for the start of our weekend.There is the risk for isolated flooding through tonight due to the potential for heavy rain, with a widespread 2-5 inches of rain in the forecast. A Flood Watch remains in effect for all of South Florida, including the Florida Keys.Along with the rain will be a continuation of the strong winds with 50 mph gusts possible near the...

Israel mistakenly kills 3 Israeli hostages in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

The Israeli army admitted it mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages on Friday who were being held by the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip.The three victims were shot dead by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during fighting in the Shejaiya neighborhood, after soldiers wrongly identified them as a threat, the IDF said in a statement. The three young Israeli men ― Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer El-Talalqa ― were among the 240 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, according to media reports. The bodies of the three victims, all in their 20s, were later transferred back to Israel where they were identified.The incident sparked protests in Tel Aviv where hundreds of people gathered in front of Israel’s ministry of defense headquarters to demand the government secure the release of more than 130 hostages that are still believed to be held in Gaza by Hamas.The Israeli army apologized for the incident. “The IDF expresses deep sorrow regarding this disaster and shares in the g...

Celtics’ Oshae Brissett shines in long-awaited opportunity behind support from Joe Mazzulla

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

Joe Mazzulla often likes to remind Oshae Brissett why the Celtics signed him in the first place this summer.On Feb. 21, 2022, Brissett killed the Celtics. A member of the Pacers in his third season in the league, Brissett torched the C’s for 27 points, including six 3-pointers. Mazzulla reminds him of that performance to stress how good he is, that he’s been a productive player in the NBA.“All the time,” Brissett confirmed, smiling. “Just being confident in myself.”Mazzulla may have found those words of affirmation more necessary recently. Because of how talented the Celtics are, and without a lot of minutes to spare, Brissett – as good as he may be – found himself on the outside looking in at the rotation. For three weeks, Brissett didn’t play. He missed seven consecutive games.But circumstances changed on Friday. The Celtics were missing four players – Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Dalano Banton – and Mazzulla needed to dive deep into his bench. Brissett’s time, ...

Voter apathy and concerns about violence mark Iraqi’s first provincial elections in a decade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqis began voting for the first time in a decade Saturday to select new provincial council members, who in turn will appoint governors, with the outcome seen as a bellwether for the parliamentary elections due to take place in 2025.Saturday’s vote was restricted to military and security personnel and internally displaced people living in camps, with the main polling set to take place on Monday. Results are expected to be announced Tuesday.Concerns were raised about a low voter turnout and potential violence spreading in the long-awaited polls taking place in the country’s 18 provinces. The powerful Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr — who officially resigned from politics in 2022 amid a lengthy deadlock over cabinet formation — has called on his supporters to boycott the provincial elections, saying that their participation would reinforce the dominance of a corrupt political class.A widespread boycott would “reduce the legitimacy of the elections in...

Kuwait’s ruling emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, dies at age 86

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Kuwait’s ruling emir, the 86-year-old Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, died Saturday. Kuwait state television broke into programming with Quranic verses just before a somber official made the announcement. “With great sadness and sorrow, we — the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the friendly peoples of the world — mourn the late His Highness the emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who passed away to his Lord today,” Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Sabah, the minister of his emiri court, read the brief statement. Authorities gave no cause of death.Kuwait’s deputy ruler and his half-brother, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, now 83, is believed to be the world’s oldest crown prince. He is in line to take over as Kuwait’s ruler.In late November, Sheikh Nawaf was rushed to hospital for an unspecified illness. In the time since, the tiny, oil-rich nation had been waiting for news about his health. State-run news previou...

Bridge: Dec. 16, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:18:56 GMT

“It was a Christmas miracle,” Unlucky Louie told me. “Actually, it was a double miracle. When I took the tree lights out of the box I stored them in last year, they weren’t all tangled up. And not only that, they still work!”Louie’s providence didn’t last in today’s deal. After he and North bid to a 28-point slam, West led the queen of diamonds. Louie took dummy’s ace, drew trumps, cashed the A-K of clubs, ruffed a club, went to the king of hearts and ruffed a club. Then the last club was good, but dummy had no more entries. Louie lost a diamond and a heart.CLUB RUFFSLouie makes six spades if he untangles his entries. After winning the first trick, he must start the clubs immediately: ace, king, club ruff. He leads a trump to dummy’s ace and ruffs a club. Then Louie can draw trumps and go to the king of hearts to take the good club for his 12th trick.“I’m hoping for another miracle,” Louie said to me. “Maybe for once, my family won’t get into some kind of argument all day on Christm...