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Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It’s much more than just baseball

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — He’d paid about $80 for his ticket. He wore a Japan cap above a blue Los Angeles Angels jersey. And as he enthused about the sensation that is Shohei Ohtani, baseball fan Hotaru Shiromizo was talking about far more than sports.Shiromizu, 23, was part of the quilt of thousands of colorfully dressed fans outside the Tokyo Dome on Thursday afternoon. They paced, they camped out, and they discussed their hopes of seeing Ohtani pitch — and hit — against China in Japan’s opening game in the World Baseball Classic.“He’s a legendary player, but he’s more than just a good player,” Shiromizu said, using his translator app to help clarify a few thoughts in English. “His aspirations — his achievements — have had a positive influence on all Japanese people.” He added: “All the kids want to be like Ohtani.”These days, Japanese culture and politics feel more tenuous than a few decades ago. The economy is stagnant. The birthrate is among the world’s ...

More mental health resilience during COVID-19 than previously thought, study suggests

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

A new study suggests the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic took a relatively limited toll on global mental health. Canadian researchers reviewed 137 studies from around the world that measured people’s overall mental health, as well as depression and anxiety levels, before the pandemic and then again during 2020. They were surprised to find that there was minimal overall change at a population level. Senior author Dr. Brett Thombs, a researcher at McGill University, says coverage of the pandemic has mostly focused on snapshots of people whose mental health has deteriorated and people have generalized that to the overall population.He says the study, published in the BMJ, formerly known as the British Medical Journal, shows that many people — including some with existing mental health disorders — have been resilient during a time of crisis.But it also shows groups of people who appear to have struggled more than others, including women. This report by The Canadian Press ...

Hong Kong security police arrest wife of prominent activist

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong national security police on Thursday arrested the wife of a prominent activist who was among the leaders of a group that organized annual vigils commemorating China’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, two people close to her said. Officers arrested Elizabeth Tang, the wife of Lee Cheuk-yan, outside Stanley Prison but it was still unclear for what reason, said the people, who declined to be identified for fear of government retribution.The move was seen as part of a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy camp following massive anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists have been jailed or silenced under a sweeping National Security Law imposed by Beijing.Tang was a labor activist with the now-defunct Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, the city’s largest pro-democracy trade organization. Her husband Lee is a former leader of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which voted to disband i...

Ontario cities, police forces ban TikTok on devices while others consider the move

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

TORONTO — Cities and police services across Ontario say they are following the federal government’s lead in banning TikTok from work and government-owned devices, while others consider such bans, as privacy watchdogs assess the video-sharing platform for threats.The City of Toronto says it has not decided whether to restrict the application on city-issued mobile devices but is actively monitoring for cybersecurity risks. A spokesperson for Hamilton said the city located on the western tip of Lake Ontario has kept its official TikTok account but removed the application from about 40 city-owned devices.“The official account is not active and that account cannot be accessed by any city device … pending the investigation by the federal privacy office along with provincial privacy officers,” said Matthew Grant, a spokesperson for Hamilton. “When the leader of the nation says they have concerns, well, we’re happy to listen,” he added.The federal g...

Housing groups call for state of emergency for Indigenous people in N.W.T.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Two national housing groups are calling on the Northwest Territories to declare a state of emergency for housing Indigenous people, particularly women and girls. The National Indigenous Housing Network and Women’s National Housing and Homeless Network say Housing N.W.T., the territory’s housing agency, is failing northern Indigenous people. “We’re literally in a housing state of emergency,” housing advocate Lisa Thurber said on behalf of the groups.She said she can’t move clients into hotels in Yellowknife because there are no rooms available. “These tenants are literally in tears,” she said. “The biggest complaint is: ‘I’m cold.’ We live in the Northwest Territories for Pete’s sake and most of the winter is cold. So what are we doing about that?”Thurber, who recently formed a territorial tenants’ association, said housing issues in the N.W.T. have been well documented.Richard Edj...

CSIS warns ‘smart city’ technology can open door to attacks, foreign interference

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections.A newly released report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service urges policy-makers and the technology industry to consider steps that can be taken to address and ease the emerging security threat before “smart city” platforms are widely adopted.Such systems feature electronically linked devices that gather, analyze, store and transmit information through centralized platforms. In turn, municipalities can use artificial intelligence to efficiently control operations and services, allowing them to change traffic lights at the optimal time, manage energy use or track the location of publicly rented bicycles. “One of the primary security concerns relating to smart cities is the fact that they necessitate the sel...

UPDATE: Lotto Texas jackpot now at $53 million

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Lotto Texas jackpot for the March 11 drawing is an estimated annuitized $53 million as of Thursday morning, according to the Texas Lottery website. The estimated cash value of the jackpot is now $31.4 million. The winning numbers were 3-7-9-16-29-36.Wednesday's drawing for Lotto Texas was an estimated annuitized $51.5 million, according to a Wednesday news release from the Texas Lottery Commission.Lotto Texas sits only behind the estimated annuitized Mega Millions jackpot, which is worth $203 million for the drawing Friday, March 10, according to the release. Dripping Springs resident wins $1M in Texas Lottery Wednesday's drawing was the 74th in the current Lotto Texas jackpot run since it started an estimated annuitized $5 million for the Sept. 19, 2022 drawing, the release said. There were six Lotto Texas jackpot winners in 2022, the release said. The game's most recent jackpot winner was a Katy resident who claimed the prize of $19 million on Sept. 17, 2022...

Daily horoscope for March 9, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Libra.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, March 9, 2023:You are a passionate romantic who loves to explore! Others admire you because you are upbeat and enthusiastic about life. You get things done because you are focused and determined. This year is the beginning of a new nine-year cycle for you. Open any door!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★It’s time to start to downsize and get rid of what you no longer need or use. Go through cupboards, closets, storage areas and the garage, and recycle, sell or turf what is only taking up space and is actually a burden to you. Just do it. (You’re good at this.) Tonight: Patience.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★This is a popular time for you, especially when dealing with groups and organizations. However, even though you might feel that everyone wants a piece of you, be aware that this is your year to stand up for yourself. You can cooperate with others, ...

International Women’s Day 2023: EPP wants a Europe that truly empowers women

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

On Wednesday 8 March at 12:45, the EPP Group gathered on the Konstantinos Karamanlis passerelle between the Spaak and Spinelli buildings on the third floor of the European Parliament to celebrate International Women’s Day."Even if the European Union leads in the global quest for gender equality and advancing the role of women in society, we are not there yet," regrets the EPP Group’s Dolors Montserrat MEP. Montserrat calls for building a Europe that truly empowers women."I demand that Member States promote rigorous laws that protect women and not the other way around, as happened in Spain with a law from the Socialist government that has already led to more than 720 reductions in sentences for sexual offenders", she stated, adding that the fight for equality requires the involvement of all institutions, national and European. "There can be no step back in the protection of women."At this public event, the EPP Group will announce a Declaration, proposing measures for more gender equa...

Miss Manners: Why would I banish a family member just because he’s a dog?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: There is a debate among a local group about a dog owner’s responsibilities when hosting an event in their home.One faction says, “My dogs are part of my family, so they’re going to be interacting with guests.” Another faction says, “As host, your responsibility is to your guests first, so your dog should be in a kennel or outside.”My own thought is that our dogs are part of the family, but that we have a responsibility to train them in at least basic manners (such as “sit,” “down,” “stay” and “drop it”). Also, if I invite someone who hasn’t been to my home previously, it is my responsibility to tell them about the dogs so that they can decline if they have allergies or are otherwise uncomfortable with dogs.I believe I understand my responsibilities as a dog owner, but I’m not sure of them as a host.GENTLE READER: It seems to Miss Manners as if you have that reversed: na...