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Xi tells Zelenskyy: China won’t add ‘fuel to the fire’ in Ukraine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

BRUSSELS — Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday reassured President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Beijing would not add “fuel to the fire” of the war in Ukraine and insisted the time was ripe to “resolve the crisis politically.” While Xi’s remarks — as reported by the state’s Xinhua news agency — made no specific reference to international fears that China could send arms to Russia’s invading forces in Ukraine, his words will be read as a signal that Beijing won’t give direct military assistance to Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Xi was making his first call to Zelenskyy more than 400 days into the Russian war against Ukraine, and he suggested that Kyiv should pursue “political resolution” through dialogue — presumably with Russia — to bring peace to Europe.For months, Xi had resisted pressure from the West — and pleas from Zelenskyy — for the two of them to have a direct chat. Instead, he held multiple meetings with the diplomatically isolated Putin...

France plans power grab to block porn websites

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

France is coming for porn websites again.The French government wants to give new powers to its media regulator to block adult websites that don’t comply with age verification requirements, according to a report in NextInpact, confirmed by POLITICO.Under the draft new rules, laid out in a tech bill to be presented next week, the regulator for audiovisual and digital communication, Arcom, would no longer need judicial approval to force telecoms operators and search engines to block access to Pornhub or YouPorn in the country, a French government official confirmed. For almost three years, Paris and the porn industry have squabbled over how to verify porn users’ age. In 2020, France was one of the first countries to force adult websites to block online access to minors, but the measure has had limited success. Porn companies including Pornhub have defended themselves before French courts, arguing the text cannot be implemented technically and puts privacy at risk. The porn ...

Big Pharma meets its match as EU refuses to budge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

The European Union is set for a showdown with the pharma industry.Brussels held firm on a planned overhaul of its pharmaceutical rules on Wednesday, confirming a punishing new measure that will cut into the sector’s bottom line. The proposed rules would remove two years of data protection from all new medicines launched in the European Union, allowing unbranded rivals to enter the market more quickly. Since details of this measure were first revealed in a leaked draft published by POLITICO in January, pharma companies have been up in arms about this threat to their earnings. Politicians and activists feared that a recent last minute delay was a sign that the industry had successfully lobbied to water down the package. But while the final version contains some sweeteners for industry, the overall shape of the package — which consists of one regulation and one directive — has stayed the same.Access above allThe reform puts forward a mix of carrots and sticks to try and ...

UK’s Rishi Sunak lines up £1 billion chips strategy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak is preparing to pledge just £1 billion to the U.K.’s fledgling microchip industry as American and European governments shore up their supply chains with massive subsidy packages worth tens of billions of dollars. Four figures with direct knowledge of the process say the total government funding is expected to be worth £1 billion. One person said the deal was done, but two others insisted this figure could yet change in the next few weeks.The prime minister is hoping to unveil the long-awaited semiconductor strategy, which had been due last fall, at next month’s meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders in Japan.One figure with direct knowledge of the discussions said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology were “working towards” a figure of around £1 billion, although cautioned this could still be revised in the weeks ahead. A second figure directly involved in talks said the billion mark was “along the r...

Zoning Change Could Upend Nantucket Rental Market

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

Proposed short-term rental regulations set for a vote at Nantucket Town Meeting in May could slash the majority of the island’s supply of immediately available rental units, according to a study that opponents of the measure solicited. The UMass Donahue Institute examined the proposed zoning bylaw known as Article 60, which will come up for consideration at Town Meeting on May 6, and found it would carry major impacts on the market for rentals in the popular vacation destination. The measure would require short-term rental properties in residential districts to provide “long-term residential use more than short-term rental use,” unless they are owner-occupied, defined as an owner residing in the property at least six months every year. Researchers with the Donahue Institute concluded that only 114 of the 2,293 short-term rentals registered on the island are owner-occupied, and that units “unambiguously compliant” with the proposal “are largely lim...

Chris Perkins: Top 10 players that make sense as Dolphins’ second-round pick

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

For the second consecutive year, the Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. But that doesn’t mean they can’t acquire a quality player with their first two picks, which are in the second and third rounds.Here’s a glance, in no particular order, at 10 players who could be available and make an impact for the Dolphins in the second round when they make their selection, No. 51, on Friday night.Steve Avila, G-C, TCUThis would be a selection for skill and attitude as Avila (6-3, 332) is heavy-handed, aggressive and a skilled pass blocker. He made 15 starts at left guard last season, but also has 17 starts at center in his career. Avila’s long arms should benefit him on the interior. With the Dolphins, he’d likely challenge Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones to start at left guard as a rookie.Jamhyr Gibbs, RB, AlabamaGibbs, a Georgia Tech transfer, led Alabama in all-purpose yards (1,624) while rushing for 926 yards and averaging 6.1 yard...

Healey’s pick for new MassDems chair clinches victory without opposition

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

The state’s Democratic party demonstrated a cohesiveness that Massachusetts conservatives could only dream of Tuesday evening when they elected a new chair to steer liberal efforts for the next two years without vocal opposition.Former lieutenant governor nominee Steve Kerrigan, the CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, was the lone candidate running to succeed outgoing party chairman Gus Bickford, who leaves his position atop the MassDems after 6-years of successfully expanding liberal control of the legislature, securing the governorship and maintaining every constitutional office.“I inherit a strong foundation thanks to Gus Bickford’s terrific leadership,” Kerrigan said in a statement after his victory. “My goal is to make the Massachusetts Democratic Party the gold standard for state parties across the country. We will do that by harnessing the tremendous energy at our grassroots, by representing all our people and being accessible to all,...

Cold temperatures still holding on: Toronto under a frost advisory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

Don’t put away your winter clothes just yet, and have your umbrella handy for Wednesday and later this week.Environment Canada has issued a frost advisory for Toronto as temperatures are expected to fall to near or just below the freezing mark Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning.Some areas near the lake may remain above the freezing mark.The national weather agency warns to cover up plants especially in frost-prone areas.“Frost advisories are issued when temperatures are expected to reach the freezing mark during the growing season, leading the potential damage and destruction to plants and crops,” the advisory states.CityNews 680 meteorologist Jill Taylor says there is a chance of showers in the GTA on Wednesday during the day.The overnight temperature will hover near 1 C in the GTA, but it will give way to mainly sunny conditions on Thursday with a high near 12 C.Enjoy the sunshine while you can because rain and gusty winds will make their way into re...

China tries to act as mediator in Russia’s war with Ukraine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that Beijing will send an envoy to Ukraine to discuss a possible “political settlement” to Russia’s war with the country.Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led to them restoring diplomatic relations after a seven-year break.Xi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call that a Chinese envoy would visit Ukraine and “other countries” to discuss a possible political settlement, according to a government statement reported by state TV.It made no mention of Russia or last year’s invasion of Ukraine. It also gave no indication of whether the Chinese envoy might visit Moscow.The Xi-Zelenskyy phone call was long anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to be a mediator in the war.WHY DOES THIS MATTER?China is the only major government th...

Beavis and Butt-Head return as wonderfully moronic as ever

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:10:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The 1990s are making a comeback, with scrunchies acceptable again, “Night Court” back on TV and fanny packs and flannel all the rage. But it’s not the ’90s until two of the most idiotic teenagers return, sniggering along the way.That’s right, Beavis and Butt-Head — forever un-matured — are on the streaming platform Paramount+ these days, still mocking culture and saying things like, “That cloud looks like a butt.”“It is almost fun sometimes to just go to that lazy part of your brain where you’re just blurting out whatever stupid thought comes out,” says Mike Judge, who created the duo and voices them.A second season of “Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head” kicked off this month with our heroes at school-mandated meditation class, an alternative to detention. “This sucks,” says Butt Head, the dark-haired one in braces and an AC/DC T-shirt. “Now try to empty your mind of all thoughts,” says the teacher. It is surprisingly easy. There’s also a visi...