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G20 agreement reflects sharp differences over Ukraine and the rising clout of the Global South

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Group of 20 top world economies added the African Union as a member at their annual summit Saturday, and host India was able to get the disparate group to sign off on a final statement, but only after softening language on the contentious issue of Russia’s war in Ukraine. In the months leading up to the leaders’ summit in New Delhi, India had been unable to find agreement on the wording about Ukraine, with Russia and China objecting even to language that they had agreed to last year at the G20 summit in Bali. The final statement, released a day before the formal close of the summit, highlighted the “human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine,” but did not mention Russia’s invasion. It cited the U.N. charter, saying “all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. The use or threat of use o...

Filmmaker Jen Markowitz on building trust with queer teens in doc ‘Summer Qamp’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

TORONTO — With their documentary “Summer Qamp,” Jen Markowitz puts on screen something that’s far less radical than it seems: queer and transgender teens just being teens.The lovingly rendered portrait of chaotic queer joy and gender euphoria, which premiered Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival and screens again on Sunday, was made possible by the relationship Markowitz built with their subjects.“It really came a little bit at a time, but then once they trusted me, it was like a watershed of openness on camera,” Markowitz said ahead of the festival. The film immerses itself in the lives of a group of teens as they arrive at Camp fYrefly, a summer camp in Alberta for LGBTQ+ youth. For the first time, they are surrounded by people who share their identity and the connection affords them a level of gleeful freedom that can be hard to come by for young people pushed to the social margins.It took months of interviews before camp started for M...

N.S. park officers kill coyote that chased bike, search for another that bit rider

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

INGONISH, N.S. — Parks Canada says it has killed a coyote that was chasing a cyclist on Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail, while conservation officers keep searching for another coyote that bit a different bike rider’s arm.Erich Muntz, a resource conservation manager with the agency, said in an interview Saturday that the chasing behaviour in the latest incident was considered dangerous enough to warrant shooting the animal.He says the incident occurred on Friday on MacKenzie Mountain in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, when the coyote was seen chasing motorcyclists and then a biker on the steep road about 200 kilometres west of Sydney, N.S.Meanwhile, as of Saturday, conservation officers hadn’t yet located the adult coyote that attacked and bit a cyclist in the Green Cove, N.S., area, about 50 kilometres east of MacKenzie Mountain, on Wednesday.Muntz says conservation officers had been aware of the coyote killed Friday for several weeks, as it previously exhibited a f...

Emotions run high for Virginia as the Cavaliers honor slain teammates ahead of first home game

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Virginia played its first home football game in 10 months on Saturday and went in hoping to create a high point in what remains a long, emotional journey that started in a horrific way.Tributes and dedications for three players slain in a shooting last November began Friday with a tree planting and the placement of a plaque to honor the three, as well as another player and a female student who were wounded. The victims were also honored before the Saturday game with James Madison.The tragedy took the lives of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry and caused the cancellation of Virginia’s final two games last year. Instead, there were three funerals to attend, as well as vigils and a moving memorial service. Authorities just this week upgraded the murder charges against the former teammate accused in the attack.More than two hours before kickoff Saturday, cheering fans lined the path the team walks to get to the locker room. Many later donned th...

Hundreds of Pride activists march in Serbia despite hate messages sent by far-right officials

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Hundreds of Pride activists gathered in the Serbian capital Saturday amid a heavy police presence and anti-gay messages sent by the country’s conservative leadership and far-right groups.Last year, the LGBTQ+ event was marred by skirmishes between the police and anti-Pride groups who believe the event goes against traditional Serbian Christian Orthodox values and should be banned.The participants of the march on Saturday held banners reading “We Are Not Even Close” — referring to the current status of the gay population is Serbia — as well as “Marriage” and “Queer Liberation not Rainbow Capitalism.”A heavy police presence of officers in riot gear blocked off central Belgrade. In a rally against the march, about 50 anti-gay protesters and Orthodox priests held religious icons in front of a downtown church as the Pride event participants passed by.A group of anti-gay activists held a banner on the main downtown street that said, “I don’t want a gay parade in Be...

Authorities begin to remove plane after crash in Elk Grove Village

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

ELK GROVE VILLAGE Ill. — Authorities are investigating a plane crash in Ned Brown Preserve, popularly known as Busse Woods, in Elk Grove Village on Friday evening.According to the FAA, a twin-engine Beechcraft BE20 crashed in a wooded part of Busse Woods around 7:15 p.m. on Friday.Police say the smaller corporate plane crashed in the forest preserve and added that the pilot of the plane was able to walk away from the crash.On Saturday, the Cook County Forest Preserve said approval has been given to start removing the aircraft from the woods.Crews are working to have this done by Sunday. While crews are working, nearby trails will be closed.Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash or if anyone else was on board at the time.The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

7-year-old finds 2.95-carat diamond at Arkansas Crater of Diamonds park

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

MURFREESBORO, Ark. (KARK) – A young explorer made a nice discovery at an Arkansas park last Friday.Officials with Arkansas State Parks said 7-year-old Aspen Brown, of Paragould, dug out a 2.95-carat golden brown diamond from Crater of Diamonds State Park during a trip on Sept. 1.The diamond, at 2.95 carats, is the second-largest found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2023. (Arkansas State Parks)In a news release detailing the find, officials with the department said Brown was celebrating her birthday with her dad and grandmother at the park.“She got hot and wanted to sit down for a minute, so she walked over to some big rocks by the fence line," her father, Luther Brown, said. "Next thing I know, she was running to me, saying ‘Dad! Dad! I found one!’” Powerball: 5 wildly rare occurrences that are more common than winning the jackpot Brown's diamond was the second-largest discovered at the park this year, after a 3.29-carat diamond was found in March. But after inspection, a...

It's Opening Day! What to know about the Bears-Packers 2023 season opener

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

CHICAGO — After an offseason full of changes and the usual anticipation during training camp, the regular season opener has arrived for the 2023 edition of the Chicago Bears. This year, it begins with their biggest rival making their way to Soldier Field with a big change at a key position. Matt Eberflus' team welcomes in the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon, with the Bears kicking off their season at 3:25 p.m. at Soldier Field. It's the first time the teams have opened the season against each other since 2019 and is the start of a 17-game journey for both squads. Here's what to look for as the rivals meet on Sunday on the lakefront.(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)A rivalry renewedThis is the renewal of the oldest running rivalry in the National Football League, with the teams meeting for the 205th time in the regular season on Sunday.Lately, the Packers have had the advantage, winning the last eight meetings with the Bears, leading the overall regular season series 104-94-6.The Be...

How to avoid the text message scam putting your cash at risk

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

(NerdWallet) - The Federal Trade Commission recently revealed the most reported text message scam: bank impersonations.Reports of bank impersonations by text in 2022 jumped to 20 times the number reported in 2019. According to the FTC, consumers reported a loss of more than $330 million to text message scams in 2022. And cash that’s lost because of bank fraud or scams isn’t covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or National Credit Union Administration.Banks are a safe place to keep your money, but there are still a few basic but important precautions you can take to ensure you don’t fall for a bank-impersonation text scam. Here’s how to protect your money from text message scams impersonating your financial institution.» LEARN: How to stay safe from financial scamsDon't make money moves under pressureText message scammers will try to make you feel like action is required immediately — at the risk of losing your money. It may come as an urgent message warning you to call or c...

Matthew McConaughey takes photos, signs new book ‘Just Because’ for hundreds in Austin  

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:58:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Hundreds lined up early Saturday morning outside of Book People in Austin to receive a signed copy of Matthew McConaughey’s new picture book, “Just Because,” and snap a photo with the Austin legend. “Matthew is the minister of culture,” Julius Crowe, who stood in line for three hours Saturday morning. “I'm [from] Austin. He's a local person from Austin. We both went to the same university. And I've seen so many of his movies—I've read those books,” Crowe added. “He's kind of a role model.”  MORE: Matthew McConaughey to release book later this year “Just Because,” which is available for purchase, is McConaughey’s debut picture book. It follows his memoir, “Green Lights,” a New York Times No. 1 bestseller released in 2020. “[‘Just Because’ is] filled with [McConaughey’s ] trademark humor and wisdom, Academy Award–winning actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey has crafted a soulful and irreverent collection of life lessons that em...