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Students and community members in Kelowna joined the Pro-Palestine movement unfolding at universities across Canada and the U.S. and have set up an encampment at the UBC Okanagan campus in May 2024. The group in Kelowna called UBCO 4 Palestine, gathered at 5 a.m. on May 13 in the UBCO Courtyard and set up tents, tables and signs. The group is calling on the University of British Columbia to divest from Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Palestinians and to publicly condemn the ongoing violence. The protests began after Israel’s response to an attack on civilians by a terrorist organization called Hamas on Oct 7. The assault by Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians in Israel and took more as captives. In response, Israel’s military has killed over 34,500 Palestinians living in Gaza. Members of UBCO 4 Palestine requested to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions from the public, the university and law enforcement. The group includes students, members of the public, and people from diverse backgrounds including people of Jewish heritage, Palestinian descent, immigrants, international students and Indigenous people. On UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon issued an saying “We hope for a ceasefire and a lasting peaceful resolution in the Middle East.” He furthered the statement by explaining that to remain respectful of the broad range of opinions held by students and faculty of the university, the academic institution must remain neutral. Bacon also said that the UBC Endowment Fund does not directly own any stocks in the companies identified by However, he said a small percentage of university funds managed by external investment managers have been invested in companies that were named as being “complicit in Israel’s numerous violations of Palestinian human right,” by the People’s University for Gaza. After 46 days of protest, the encampment at UBC Okanagan concluded.

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Assad exit puts US at perilous crossroads in Syria

27 Things To Make Kids Forget It’s Way Too Cold To Go OutsideFor more than a decade, the United States has sought to keep out of Syria's political debacle, seeing no viable partner. Islamist rebels' toppling of strongman Bashar al-Assad has forced a change of tune -- and a debate over just what US interests are. Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in little more than a month, on the eve of Assad's fall called Syria "a mess" and stated in his plain-speaking style that the United States should not be involved. Joe Biden's administration, after putting Syria on the backburner in a turbulent region, has offered a tacit rebuttal by stating that clear US interests are at stake -- including preventing Syria from fragmenting and avoiding a resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group. Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump's and Biden's statements could be combined and "together they make a kind of decent policy." The United States needs to address real concerns about the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda but "as far as getting involved in arranging the politics of Syria, I think that no good can come from it," Cook said. Since the presidency of Barack Obama, the United States has walked a fine line on Syria that critics often derided as a non-policy. The United States questioned the legitimacy of Assad, demanding accountability for brutality in one of the 21st century's deadliest wars, but stopped short of prioritizing his departure due to suspicions about the main rebels. The Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has now led Assad's ouster, traces its roots to Syria's Al-Qaeda branch and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States. Since Obama's time, the United States instead has allied itself in Syria with a smaller fighting force of the Kurdish minority -- over strenuous objections of neighboring Turkey, which backs HTS -- with a narrow mission to counter the Islamic State group. Some 900 US troops remain in Syria. Assad fell in a lighting surprise offensive as his protector Russia is bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine and after Israel's military heavily degraded Assad's other key supporters -- Iran and Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Robert Ford, the last US ambassador to Syria, helped spearhead the terrorist designation of HTS in 2012 but said that the group since then has not attacked US or Western targets and has instead fought Al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces. Ford also pointed with hope to post-victory statements by rebel chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, including welcoming international monitoring of any chemical weapons that are discovered. "Can you imagine Osama bin Laden saying that?" said Ford, now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. "I'm not saying 'trust Jolani.' He's obviously authoritarian. He's obviously an Islamist who doesn't believe that Christians have an equal right to power as Muslims. But I sure as hell want to test him on some of these things," Ford said. He said that the United States should encourage HTS, as well as other Syrian actors, to reach out and reassure the country's diverse communities including Christians, Kurds and Alawites -- the sect of the secular-oriented Assad. Beyond that, Washington should take a back-seat and let Syrians sort out their future, he said. "We should learn from the experience in Iraq that trying to impose exiles on a population traumatized by a brutal dictatorship and war is not a recipe for success," Ford said. Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday offered US recognition to a future government that is "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian." Trump in his first term, at the urging of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, abruptly said he would pull troops out of Syria. He backtracked after intense criticism at home and appeals from French President Emmanuel Macron, who pointed to the risk of Islamic State filling the vacuum. Trump has not indicated how he would change Syria policy this time. But he has shown no reluctance in the past to negotiate with foreign adversaries on the US blacklist, from Afghanistan's Taliban to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said there was no legal restriction on US contact with designated terrorists, although he indicated there was no direct dialogue with HTS. Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Syria could face "devastating economic and humanitarian consequences" unless the United States reconsiders the terrorist designation of HTS, which impedes aid groups. "That said," she said, "if there isn't sort of an established framework for negotiations and good behavior now, before that designation is lifted, that could potentially also be a major mistake down the line for Syria's future."PITTSBURGH — The yard lines weren’t the only things lost in the early winter squall that swept off Lake Erie and turned Huntington Bank Stadium into a snow globe Thursday night. The “good vibes only” mindset that carried the Pittsburgh Steelers through two-plus months of solid if not always spectacular football disappeared in a 24-19 loss to last-place Cleveland . Over three eventful hours, all the ingredients of a classic “trap game” the Steelers (8-3) were hoping to avoid created a recipe with an all-too-familiar aftertaste of regret and missed opportunities,. A bit of immaturity from wide receiver George Pickens, who got into an MMA-style exchange with an opposing defensive back ... again. A pinch of frustration from normally stoic defensive tackle Cam Heyward, who vented afterward about being held on a decisive snap. An ounce — OK, several ounces — of confusion from a coaching staff that couldn’t seem to decide whether to accept a late Browns penalty and then compounded it by taking a valuable timeout immediately afterward when the defense couldn’t get lined up right. A dash of curious game planning, one that included inserting backup quarterback Justin Fields in high-leverage situations, most notably on third-and-6 with less than 5 minutes to go with the game still in the balance. The gambit that worked beautifully in an emotional victory over Baltimore last Sunday was a decidedly more mixed bag this time around. Add it all up and the result was Pittsburgh’s fifth loss in its last seven trips to Cleveland, squandering a chance to move closer to its first AFC North title in four years. “We have a lot of football left,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “We have a lot of opportunities to respond in the highest way, (the) highest level. I think everything that we want is still in front of us.” Yet a team that’s been one of the league’s bigger surprises failed to avoid a misstep and provided a reminder that for all the good things it has done of late, the Steelers remain a work in progress. “It is very deflating,” outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. “We need to close out games and we were not able to do that tonight. It sucks that we could not hold on, but a loss is a loss.” WHAT’S WORKING Wilson’s moonball. Even amid the snowflakes and quick deteriorating conditions, Wilson was unafraid to let the ball fly. Wilson averaged a healthy 12.9 yards per completion, including deep shots to Pickens, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III, the last a 23-yard flip to the end zone that Austin cradled to give the Steelers a late lead. If there’s one thing that Wilson has shown during his first five starts, it’s the situation — be it the score, the down, the time left on the clock or the weather — is immaterial. He will throw it where he wants when he wants, regardless of the circumstance. WHAT NEEDS HELP The final numbers for the offense — namely 368 yards and 35 minutes of possession — were good. The eye test, however, was another matter. The line had trouble protecting Wilson, giving up four sacks, and generating push when it mattered. Take out a 30-yard sprint by Fields and Pittsburgh averaged less than 3 yards per carry on the ground. The Steelers had the ball with under 5 minutes to go knowing two or three first downs would win in it. So middling runs and one ill-advised pass down the sideline by Fields later, Pittsburgh punted and momentum swung one last time. STOCK UP Outside linebacker Nick Herbig shows a more than passable T.J. Watt impression when healthy. Herbig’s strip-sack of Jameis Winston midway through the fourth quarter set up Austin’s go-ahead touchdown. Herbig now had 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles despite missing four games with a hamstring injury. STOCK DOWN Pickens displays anger issues, particularly when things don’t go his way. The third-year wideout had his third very public, strikingly violent outburst in two months when he got into it with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome III after a last-gasp Hail Mary fell incomplete. The NFL fined Pickens more than $10,000 after he grabbed Dallas defensive back Jourdan Lewis by the facemask at the end of a loss in October. Two weeks ago Pickens and Washington’s Mike Sainristil exchanged punches following an interception. The volatile Pickens is by far Pittsburgh’s best playmaker. Yet with the stakes likely raised in the coming weeks, he needs to keep his emotions in check if he wants to make sure he stays on the field. INJURIES Pittsburgh could have starting outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) back when they visit Cincinnati Dec. 1. Highsmith has missed the last two games and five overall this season. KEY NUMBER 0-8 — head coach Mike Tomlin’s career record on the road in Thursday night games against AFC North opponents. NEXT STEPS Rest up and prepare for a finishing stretch that starts with a visit to the underperforming but still dangerous Bengals. Pittsburgh swept the season series from Cincinnati last year.

WASHINGTON — A lead organization monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel’s “near-total blockade,” after the United States asked for its retraction, U.S. officials told the Associated Press. The move came after the U.S. ambassador to Israel publicly criticized the report. The rare public dispute drew accusations from prominent aid and human-rights figures that the work of the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System Network, meant to reflect the data-driven analysis of unbiased international experts, has been tainted by politics. A declaration of famine would be a great embarrassment for Israel, which has insisted that its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the militant group Hamas and not against its civilian population. U.S. Ambassador Jacob Lew this week called the warning by the internationally recognized group inaccurate and “irresponsible.” Lew and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza. Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of U.S. political interference in the world’s monitoring system for famines. The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined to comment. Officials at the warning network did not respond to questions. “We work day and night with the U.N. and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs — which are great — and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible,” Lew said Tuesday. USAID confirmed to the AP that it had asked the famine-monitoring organization to withdraw its stepped-up warning issued in a report dated Monday. The report did not appear among the top updates on the group’s website Thursday, but the link to it remained active. The dispute points in part to the difficulty of assessing the extent of starvation in largely isolated northern Gaza. Thousands in recent weeks have fled an intensified Israeli military crackdown that aid groups say has allowed delivery of only a dozen trucks of food and water since roughly October. The warning network said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. The warning network was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and is still funded by it. But it is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. Its findings help guide decisions on aid by the U.S. and other governments and agencies around the world. A spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Oren Marmorstein, welcomed the U.S. ambassador’s public challenge of the famine warning. “FEWS NET - Stop spreading these lies!” Marmorstein posted on X . In challenging the findings publicly, the U.S. ambassador “leveraged his political power to undermine the work of this expert agency,” said Scott Paul, a senior manager at Oxfam America, a humanitarian nonprofit. Paul stressed that he was not weighing in on the accuracy of the data or methodology of the report. “The whole point of creating FEWS is to have a group of experts make assessments about imminent famine that are untainted by political considerations,” said Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and now a visiting professor in international affairs at Princeton University. “It sure looks like USAID is allowing political considerations — the Biden administration’s worry about funding Israel’s starvation strategy — to interfere.” Israel says it has been operating in recent months against Hamas militants still active in northern Gaza. It says the vast majority of the area’s residents have fled and relocated to Gaza City, where most aid destined for the north is delivered. But some critics, including a former defense minister, have accused Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza’s far north, near the Israeli border. North Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its war with Hamas militants. Global famine monitors and United Nations and U.S. officials have warned repeatedly of the imminent risk of malnutrition and deaths from starvation reaching famine levels. International officials say Israel in the summer increased the amount of aid it was allowing into Gaza, under U.S. pressure. The U.S. and U.N. have said Gaza’s people as a whole need between 350 and 500 trucks a day of food and other vital needs. But the U.N. and aid groups say Israel recently has again blocked almost all aid to that part of Gaza. Cindy McCain, the American head of the U.N. World Food Program, called this month for political pressure to get food flowing to Palestinians there. Israel says that it places no restrictions on aid entering Gaza and that hundreds of truckloads of goods are piled up at the teorritory’s crossings, and accused international aid agencies of failing to deliver the supplies. The U.N. and other aid groups say Israeli restrictions, ongoing combat, looting and insufficient security by Israeli troops make it impossible to deliver aid effectively. Lew, the U.S. ambassador, said the famine warning was based on “outdated and inaccurate” data. He pointed to uncertainty over how many of the 65,000 to 75,000 people remaining in northern Gaza had fled in recent weeks, saying that skewed the findings. The warning network said in its report that its famine assessment holds even if as few as 10,000 people remain. USAID in its statement to AP said it had reviewed the report before it became public, and noted “discrepancies” in population estimates and some other data. The U.S. agency said it had asked the famine warning group to address those uncertainties and be clear in its final report to reflect how those uncertainties affected its predictions of famine. “This was relayed before Ambassador Lew’s statement,” USAID said in a statement. “FEWS NET did not resolve any of these concerns and published in spite of these technical comments and a request for substantive engagement before publication. As such, USAID asked to retract the report.” Roth criticized the U.S. challenge of the report, given the gravity of the crisis there. “This quibbling over the number of people desperate for food seems a politicized diversion from the fact that the Israeli government is blocking virtually all food from getting in,” he said, adding that “the Biden administration seems to be closing its eyes to that reality, but putting its head in the sand won’t feed anyone.” The U.S., Israel’s main backer, provided a record amount of military support in the first year of the war. At the same time, the Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more access to aid deliveries in Gaza overall, and warned that failing to do so could trigger U.S. restrictions on military support. The administration recently said Israel was making improvements and declined to carry out its threat of restrictions. Military support for Israel’s war in Gaza is politically charged in the U.S., with Republicans and some Democrats staunchly opposed to any effort to limit U.S. support over the suffering of Palestinian civilians trapped in the conflict. The Biden administration’s reluctance to do more to press Israel for improved treatment of civilians undercut support for Democrats in last month’s elections. Knickmeyer writes for the Associated Press. Sam Mednick and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Cowboys visit at Philadelphia ended in a brawl with multiple ejectionsPep Guardiola: If I can’t reverse Manchester City slide then I have to goEleven million dollars in federal funds have been announced for northern women’s organizations. The funds are spread across 16 different women’s organizations from Goose Valley, NL, to Prince George. The announcement was made in Whitehorse on Sunday, Dec. 8 by Marci Ien, the federal minister of women and gender equality and youth. Two Prince George organizations are among the organizations to benefit from the funding. The Positive Living North: No Kheyoh T’sih’en T’sehena Society will receive $425,500 through the Women’s Economic and Leadership Opportunities Fund, while the Princ George and District Elizabeth Fry Society will receive $480,880 through the Women's Capacity Fund. More than $5 million of the funds will go to Toronto-based Canadian Women's Foundation for programming focused on gender equality in the North. Ien was joined by Yukoners Élodie Bernard of Francophone organization Les EssentiElles and Liz Peredun of Yukon Women in Trades and Technology (YWITT). The organizations received $584,070 and $599,096, respectively. Peredun, the executive director of YWITT, said the funding was “a testament to endorsing the belief of what we see as a future in gender equality in the trades and technology sectors in particular.” She said that the organization focuses on supporting women and gender-diverse people working in trades, technology, mining and construction. Peredun said many men had joined to cause to support their coworkers as allies. As for Les EssentiElles, the funding they have received will go towards researching the specific issues Francophone women in the North face in economic prosperity and accessing leadership, according to Ien. Ien said the federal gender equality ministry was not receiving applications for funding from Northern women’s organizations. “There was a huge gap. We weren't seeing people apply. So we came to the people and so basically visited the organizations. We were able to see who was doing what, and then they all applied,” said Ien. Ien said most of the time organizations are too busy to apply for federal funding opportunities, often having to focus on the work at hand. She also said that the department used a grading criteria to decide which organizations received funding. “I would say the biggest part is that systemic part: Is this going to help women? Is this going to help them succeed? Is this going to succeed in a way, and I look at, you know, the trades part, where women haven't succeeded before, is it going to make new inroads? What is going to happen here? Is it viable?” According to Statistics Canada, the rate of intimate partner violence is highest in the North, with a rate of 1,073 victims per 100,000 people. In comparison, the rural south has a rate of 393 per 100,000 and the urban south has a rate of 299 per 100,000. The rate of intimate partner violence in the North has increased by 21 per cent since 2018. In the rural and urban south, rates have increased 17 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

Cong tries to play safe, desists from making list publicBangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt defended the city's new speed limit regulations, saying they would improve road safety and reduce fatalities following widespread criticism on social media. Mr Chardchart, accompanied by his deputies, advisers and Sitthiporn Somkidsan, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) Office of Transport and Traffic, on Thursday explained the rationale behind the city speed limits at City Hall. Bangkok, said the governor, was one of only 15 places worldwide that still permitted an 80 km/h speed limit, while other countries have adopted lower thresholds, including the Philippines, which imposes a city speed limit of 40 km/h. Studies on fatality risks from crash impacts indicated that the likelihood of death is 20% if the speed is 60 km/h, and the likelihood of death increases to 60% if the speed is 80 km/h. Despite a speed limit of 80 km/h, findings showed that most motorists in Bangkok typically drive at an average speed of 50 km/h. Mr Chadchart said the new limits aim to reduce road fatalities and improve safety, noting they could cut the fatality rate up to threefold. "Speeding is a major cause of deaths, as seen in the case of Dr Kratai. In future, technology like speed cameras will be used to enforce traffic laws, similar to practices in other countries," he said. He was referring to Dr Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, who was struck by a policeman riding a Ducati motorcycle at a crossing on Phaya Thai Road in Ratchathewi district on Jan 21, 2022. The accident caused a huge uproar as the policeman seemed oblivious to the crossing. The governor urged motorists to respect traffic rules or face consequences such as insurance claims being denied if they are found to be speeding. He added the speed limits may be further reduced in specific areas like schools and residential communities to minimise accidents and losses. Published in the Royal Gazette on Monday and taking immediate effect, the new maximum speed limit of 60 km/h is imposed on most roads in the capital, except major thoroughfares, and 50km/h near the Grand Palace. The exempt roads are: Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bang Na-Trat Road, Srinakarin Road, Phahon Yothin Road, Ram Intra Road, Ratchaphruek Road, Baromratchonnanee Road, Kanlapaphruek Road, Rom Klao Road, Suwinthawong Road, Chaengwattana Road, Rama III Road and Srinakarin-Rom Klao Road. On the following 10 roads close to the Grand Palace, the speed limit is now 50km/h, with an additional "no honking of horns" stipulation: Ratchadamnoen Nai Road, Na Phra That Road, Prachan Road, Na Phra Lan Road, Sanam Chai Road, Kalayana Maitri Road, Thai Wang Road, Maha Rat Road, Rachini Road and Setthakan Road. Mr Chadchart said the BMA also introduced other measures to improve road safety, including installing more street lights, upgrading more than 1,000 pedestrian crossings and addressing risks at 100 accident black spots. "These efforts have resulted in a 9% decrease in road accident fatalities in Bangkok, which shows that it is on the right track, and the speed limit initiative is another step towards reducing fatalities," he said. The new speed limits have received mixed reactions online, with some expressing approval tinged with sarcasm. Critics suggested installing speed limit signs, not just traffic cameras for fines, to remind motorists. Others argued that stricter enforcement of existing laws, such as those requiring seatbelts and penalising drunk driving, was also essential. Some sceptics questioned how the new speed limits could address accidents caused by reckless drivers, such as those who run red lights and put other people's lives at risk. Pol Maj Gen Thawat Wongsanga, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau in charge of traffic, said that all concerned parties agreed to the new speed limits as a necessary step to improving traffic discipline and enhancing road safety.