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Russian schemes for instability in the Caucasus: Georgia and Karabakh

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and partly due to a decreased interest in the West, Russia has managed to become a regional superpower, exerting its influence over the other post-Soviet countries, writes James Wilson.Russian attempts to cling to “past glory” has involved making other republics bend to its will and interests. Some tried to oppose it. Prime examples are Georgia, which Russia invaded in 2008, and Ukraine, chunks of which Russia occupied in 2014 before invading again in 2022. With Georgia’s mass protests in Tbilisi making today’s headlines across the world, over a controversial bill that the Georgian government it is trying to pass, Russia has once again reverted to its strategy of destabilisation and issuing official threats.The proposed bill, named “Transparency of Foreign Funding”, would require non-governmental organisations in Georgia to register as "agents of foreign influence" if the funds they receive from abroad amount to more than 20% of the...

Omar Harfouch in Italian parliament: 'I fight for my daughter and the children of Lebanon, the Lebanese Republic needs liberal reforms

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

The Chamber of Deputies has held a conference of Lebanese politician Omar Harfouch, hosted by Hon. Roberto Bagnasco and organized by the Milton Friedman Institute, on the situation in Lebanon and the need for reform of the country's political and constitutional system."We, as the Friedman Institute, particularly wanted to promote this conference in order to highlight what is happening in a country very close to us, especially since we share the same sea and many issues that come from the Middle East and pass through Lebanon, and then come to Italy, as we have also seen recently with respect to immigration. At last a political figure is proposing a liberal state, so much so that he wants to reform it institutionally in a radical way" – said the conference’s moderator and Executive Director of the Milton Friedman Institute Alessandro Bertoldi."Lebanon needs a non-denominational elective system that guarantees greater representativeness and freedom for Lebanese citizens. We need to com...

The Future of Bitcoin, CBDCs, NFTs, and GameFi: Insights from OKX's product marketing manager

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

CoinReporter interviewed Matthew Osofisan, OKX's Product Marketing Manager, on the Future of Bitcoin, CBDCs, NFTs, and GameFi and Why to Be Cautious About Regulations."What do you think is the long-term outlook for Bitcoin, and do you think Bitcoin can become a global reserve currency?I think it's a great question. You're in the right place, asking the right people. I fundamentally believe in the technology that supports Bitcoin as a store of reserve. We're starting to see a lot more adoption across the world, and as you think about where the next wave of Bitcoin adoption will come from, it will start to come from larger governments, it will start to come from more and more central banks. And I do believe that over time we will see Bitcoin becoming a sort of certified store of value overall. So the potential in the future is almost limitless, and that's why we believe in the technology that supports it and believes in the future for Bitcoin as well.Do you think regulation can stifle...

Exposing Magomed Gadzhiev: A Russian oligarch who supports the war in Ukraine and evades sanctions

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

In light of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, there has been a significant increase in global attention towards the activities of Russian oligarchs who have been providing financial support to the war effort. One such oligarch who has been the subject of recent investigative journalism is Magomed Gadzhiev.Despite being the target of multiple sanctions by Western countries for his alleged role in supporting the war in Ukraine, Gadzhiev has managed to continue his luxurious lifestyle, with properties in both France and Miami. The question now arises, are the EU and the US prepared to overlook the actions of Russian oligarchs like Gadzhiev, who not only support the ongoing conflict but also evade the sanctions placed upon them?It is crucial to consider the larger implications of such actions, as they could potentially harm diplomatic relations between nations and raise questions about the effectiveness of global sanctions in preventing illicit financial activities. Addit...

Word Game: March 12, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — AUTHENTIC (AUTHENTIC: aw-THEN-tik: Based on fact.)Average mark 58 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 72 or more words in AUTHENTIC?TODAY’S WORD — AUTHENTIC ache acne acute aitch ante anti antic attic attune aunt auntie unit unite untie tacit tact taint taunt taut teach teat tech tent tenth than thane that then theta thin thine tine tinea tint titan tithe tuna tune tunic hate haunt heat hint hunt each enact etch ethic ethnic etui neat nice niche inch intact itch cane cant cent chai chain chant chat cheat chin china chine chit chute cite cute cutieTo 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 ...

Horoscopes March 12, 2023: Jaimie Alexander, don’t be afraid to speak up

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jaimie Alexander, 39; Aaron Eckhart, 55; Courtney B. Vance, 63; Liza Minnelli, 77.Liza Minnelli (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) Happy Birthday: You are in a better position than anticipated. Mixing and mingling will help you take advantage of what’s heading your way. Don’t be afraid to speak up, share your intentions and make demands if necessary. Adjust how you handle money, and do your best to eliminate emotional spending. Don’t buy favors or try to impress others. Your numbers are 9, 14, 21, 23, 34, 46, 48.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Work quietly toward your goal. Whether personal, financial or physical, adjustments are in the works. Preparation will make a difference and contribute to your success. Reward yourself by doing something you enjoy with someone you love. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Mix things up and see what happens. The excitement that comes with a change of plans will refresh your memory and encourage you to rec...

Bridge: March 12, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

Let’s apply the “Law of Total Tricks” to today’s deal. The Law (which is really a statistical oddity, not a law) states that the total number of trumps both sides have in their best trump suit equals the total number of tricks available. Today, North-South have nine spades and East-West have 10 hearts, so 19 tricks should be won at heart and spade contracts. Thus saith the Law.Let’s see. If West were allowed to play at four hearts, he would make it easily, losing a trump to North’s king and two clubs when a finesse for the queen failed.When the deal actually arose, South came in with four spades. Most players would have done the same with so much potential playing strength. West, who held three aces and figured he might get at least one diamond ruff, doubled. East, having described his hand — long hearts but weak in high cards — passed trustingly.West led the ace of diamonds and shifted to a club. Dummy played low, and East won and ret...

Ask Amy: My kids are being used as cannon fodder in adults’ battle

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

Dear Amy: I have been divorced for 10 years, after my ex-wife had an affair. She married the man she had the affair with.We share custody of our two daughters, ages 17 and 11. My ex and I have only communicated via text messaging for the last five years, and it is infrequent and only about the children.Recently I found out through my children that their mother is getting divorced from her current husband.My youngest came downstairs crying and displayed a text from her mother’s soon-to-be-ex, which didn’t only throw mom under the bus, but completely napalmed her.He told the children and my ex’s mother via text message that she has been having an affair with a co-worker and that she has done it before (with him). Now the kids are super-mad at their mother.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: She blew up at me in the restaurant, and I can’t get past it Advice | Ask Amy: Is it petty of me to feel like I’m being used? Advice | Ask...

His Conviction Relied on Debunked Bite-Mark Science. Why Is He Still Locked Up?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

On a rainy morning in early February, Chad McCrory rose to speak at the headquarters of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles in Montgomery. Wearing a dark suit, a paisley tie, and a white visitor sticker over his breast pocket, he unfolded a piece of yellow notebook paper and placed it on the podium. A small digital timer sat in front of him, set for two minutes. This was all the time he had to explain to the board why, nearly four decades after his mother was murdered, Chad wanted her supposed killer — his 64-year-old father, Charles — to come home.“Julie Bonds McCrory was my mother,” Chad said. “She was taken from me from a very early age. I’m 40 years old now.” Chad had no memory of the murder or his father’s 1985 trial. The crime had traumatized the tight-knit community of Andalusia, where Chad still lives, turning neighbors against Charles McCrory as soon as he became a suspect. But as long as Chad could remember, his father had insisted he was innocent — and most of his fa...

2 foreign tourists die in Kenya nature reserve crash

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:35:29 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Two foreign tourists, German and Swiss nationals, have died after the vehicle they were traveling in veered off the road and overturned in Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve, police said Sunday.The crash happened after the vehicle car got stuck in the mud and veered off the road on Saturday, police said.One other tourist was injured and two others, a German and a Swiss national, escaped unhurt. They were part of a tour group, but it wasn’t immediately clear who was driving the vehicle.The injured tourist was airlifted to a hospital in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Maasai Mara Chief Warden Stephen ole Mining said.Police spokesperson Resila Onyango said the crash was under investigation.Maasai Mara national reserve is a popular tourist destination and features the annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania.Climate change effects are being felt in the expansive wildlife reserve with little vegetation because of five failed consecutive rainy sea...