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Kazakh President sets out his goals for peace and prosperity

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has marked the New Year with a wide-ranging interview with the Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper. He did not duck the toughest questions about his country’s progress since the tragic events that rocked Kazakhstan exactly two years ago, writes Political Editor Nick Powell. Dikhan Kamzabekuly interviews Pesident Kassym-Jomart TokayevAfter the upheaval caused by street protests that turned to violence at the start of 2022 and the major constitutional reforms of 2023, President Tokayev is looking forward to a period of sustained economic progress in a country rich in natural resources and with a pivotal role in trade between Asia and Europe. Speaking to newspaper executive Dikhan Kamzabekuly, the President said his government will act “scrupulously and systematically, steadily moving towards the set goals”, which include doubling Kazakhstan’s GDP by 2029.The President was challenged about that target, which would boost the national economy’s size t...

Bridge: Jan. 5, 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

Like many of us, Cy the Cynic is often unhappy with his partners.“They’re put there to test my anger-management skills,” Cy grumbles.“Clone yourself,” I advised. “You can be your own partner.”Even Cy should have admired his partner’s play in today’s deal. Against four hearts, West led the seven of diamonds, East took the K-A, and South played … the nine and queen! West would have led the seven from 7-3-2, and East thought that if he led the jack next, South would ruff, making dummy’s ten a winner. So East led a trump.LAST CLUBSouth drew trumps, took the A-K of clubs, ruffed dummy’s last club and cashed two more trumps. With three tricks left, he had the deuce of diamonds and two spades, and dummy had a diamond and the A-Q of spades. East had to save the jack of diamonds and K-10 of spades, and South end-played him with a diamond.South found a beautiful falsecard, but it wasn’t enough to earn a compliment f...

Word Game: Jan. 5, 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — REGALLY (REGALLY: REE-guh-lee: In a manner befitting a monarch.)Average mark 30 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 37 or more words in REGALLY? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — ATRIUMS amir arms astir atrium autism tram trim truism tsar rust mart mast mist must sari sitar smart smut stair star stir stria strum suitTo 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 “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Horoscopes Jan. 5, 2024: Bradley Cooper, use your imagination

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: January Jones, 46; Bradley Cooper, 49; Carrie Ann Inaba, 56; Diane Keaton, 78.Happy Birthday: Use your emotional energy wisely. Focus on clearing the way for what’s to come. Embrace and make the changes that will optimize how and where you live. Getting your life in order will require decisions that are difficult but necessary. Use your imagination, and you’ll come up with a plan that delivers the happiness you desire. Don’t hesitate when action will get you where you want to go. Your numbers are 8, 14, 23, 27, 31, 39, 44.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Communication is the critical component to getting things done. Listen, learn, ask questions and take charge of your future. Refuse to let anyone decide what’s next for you. Happiness begins with doing what’s right and best for you. Romance and personal gain are within reach. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Start making changes that promote opportunity. Connect with people with ...

Ask Amy: I’m the bride, and I don’t want any baby to change my wedding plan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

Dear Amy: Grrrrr. My long-time fiancé and I announced and started planning our wedding last spring. The ceremony is scheduled for this spring.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I couldn’t bring myself to do my boyfriend’s ‘favorite thing’ Advice | Ask Amy: My boyfriend says it’s over because of the surprise visitor Advice | Ask Amy: This is when I realized I had waited too long to leave my girlfriend Advice | Ask Amy: I worry about affording vacations if I move out of my parents’ house Advice | Ask Amy: My in-laws stopped speaking to me, and I don’t know what to do My fiancé’s sister is my matron of honor. She and I are great friends and are very close.She learned that she is pregnant and is expecting her first child. As nature would have it, her due date is two weeks after our wedding date.She is concerned that she might go into labor just before – or even during...

The 10 most expensive homes that reported sold in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton the week of Dec. 25

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

A house in Danville that sold for $2 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton in the last week.In total, 10 real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.4 million. The average price per square foot was $732.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Dec. 25 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.3 million, detached house in the 7500 block of Bonfield CourtThe property in the 7500 block of Bonfield Court in Dublin has new owners. The price was $1,250,000. The house was built in 1962 and has a living area of 1,396 square feet. The price per square foot is $895. The house features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.Bonfield Court9. $1.3 million, condominium in the 2000 block of Watermill RoadA sale has been finalized for the condominium in the 2000 block of Watermill Road in San Ramon. The price was $1,260,0...

Harriette Cole: How should I address this awkward situation with my friends?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I often find myself feeling like a third wheel when hanging out with two close friends. This sensation can be quite uncomfortable, and I worry about it affecting our friendship.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I tried to avert this friend drama, and it had the opposite effect Advice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend lied about work to get time to himself. How do I deal with that? Advice | Harriette Cole: I was shocked to learn what my son does at school Advice | Harriette Cole: Find the right life story to make your new year better Advice | Harriette Cole: I hurt my leg and have to stay home, and I can’t stand it How can I deal with this feeling without making my friends uncomfortable or negatively impacting the dynamic of our friendship? I want to address this situation in a way that preserves our bond and ensures everyone feels at ease during our time together.— Third W...

Federal Judges Have Shown Leniency in Nearly All Jan. 6 Cases

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

Federal judges handling the criminal cases of hundreds of people charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol have overwhelmingly issued sentences far more lenient than Justice Department prosecutors sought, an analysis by The Intercept reveals.In 82 percent of the 719 January 6-related cases that have been resolved, and in which the defendants have either pleaded guilty or been convicted, judges have issued lighter sentences than federal prosecutors requested, the analysis of Justice Department data through December 4, 2023, shows. They imposed the same sentences sought by prosecutors in just 95 cases and harsher sentences in only 37. Illustration: Daniel Zender for The InterceptNearly every one of the 24 federal judges handling the massive docket of January 6 cases has shown leniency toward the defendants, regardless of whether the judges were appointed by Democratic or Republican presidents, the data shows. Perhaps the most surprising finding ...

Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius freed on parole after serving nearly 9 years for girlfriend’s murder

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on parole early Friday morning and was believed to be at his uncle’s mansion after authorities secretly moved the world-famous double-amputee athlete who killed his girlfriend at an undisclosed time to avoid the glare of news crews waiting outside the jail.South Africa’s Department of Corrections announced in a two-sentence statement at around 8:30 a.m. that Pistorius had been released and was “now at home.” It gave no more details other than to confirm Pistorius’ new status as “a parolee.”Pistorius, 37, served nearly nine years of his murder sentence of 13 years and five months for the fatal shooting of model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. He became eligible for early release from prison having served at least half his sentence and was approved for parole in November.Department of Corrections spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told The Associated Press that Pist...

Libre tras matar a su novia: el deportista Oscar Pistorius sale de la cárcel luego de 9 años

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:53:31 GMT

PRETORIA, Sudáfrica — El deportista sudafricano Oscar Pistorius salió de prisión bajo libertad condicional y se encuentra en su casa, informó el Departamento de Prisiones de Sudáfrica el viernes.Las autoridades no ofrecieron más detalles acerca de la liberación de Pistorius. El anuncio se produjo alrededor de las 08:30 a.m., lo que indicaba que los funcionarios penitenciarios dejaron libre a primera hora al famoso corredor olímpico y paralímpico, que tiene las dos piernas amputadas, del Centro Correccional Atteridgeville, en la capital sudafricana, Pretoria.Pistorius ha cumplido casi nueve de los 13 años y cinco meses de condena que recibió tras asesinar a su novia, Reeva Steenkamp, en el día de San Valentín de 2013. Su libertad condicional se aprobó en noviembre. El exatleta olímpico Oscar Pistorius podría recibir la libertad condicional Niegan la libertad condicional a Pistorius, el atleta con doble amputación que asesinó a su novia ...