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China warns against ‘excessive and arbitrary’ enforcement of COVID measures after protests

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China warns against ‘excessive and arbitrary’ enforcement of COVID measures after protests

Epidemic control workers wear PPE to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as they stand guard outside a community in lockdown on November 29, 2022 in Beijing, China.Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Beijing has acknowledged public unhappiness with China’s tough COVID policies, days after anti-lockdown protests in cities across the country. However, speaking at a press conference in … Read more

Anti-lockdown protests break out in cities across China after deadly fire linked to COVID-19 restrictions

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Anti-lockdown protests break out in cities across China after deadly fire linked to COVID-19 restrictions

Police officers confront a man as they block Wulumuqi street, named for Urumqi in Mandarin, in Shanghai on Nov. 27, 2022.HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images People took to the streets in cities across China on Saturday to protest against the country’s stringent “COVID zero” policies, in the largest and most sustained show of defiance to Beijing’s rules … Read more

No lights, no heat, no WiFi: Ukraine remains resilient despite hardships inflicted by Russia

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No lights, no heat, no WiFi: Ukraine remains resilient despite hardships inflicted by Russia

A police officer works traffic control in Kyiv on Nov. 24 as most of the Ukrainian capital remains in a blackout.Photography by Anton Skyba/The Globe and Mail The waitress smiled apologetically as she discussed the breakfast offerings at Idealist, a popular café in one of Kyiv’s most affluent neighborhoods. The power was on, so they … Read more

For Chinese fans, the World Cup can be a painful reminder of their team’s absence — and China’s continuing COVID-19 controls

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For Chinese fans, the World Cup can be a painful reminder of their team’s absence — and China’s continuing COVID-19 controls

People walk by the giant model of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match ball amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai, China, Nov. 23, 2022.ALY SONG/Reuters Walking out onto the pitch at Doha’s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday, Ma Ning became only the second Chinese national to officiate a World Cup match. The first time … Read more

World’s longest-ruling dictator to extend his 43 years in power

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World’s longest-ruling dictator to extend his 43 years in power

Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang speaks after casting his ballot during the country’s elections on Nov. 20, 2022.SAMUEL OBIANG/AFP/Getty Images The world’s longest-ruling dictator, boosted by vast oil wealth and strong US support, is expected to extend his 43 years in power in Equatorial Guinea this week when official results are announced in the latest … Read more

‘Deeply marred’: COP27 reaches deal for rich countries to pay for developing world’s climate disasters, but little else

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‘Deeply marred’: COP27 reaches deal for rich countries to pay for developing world’s climate disasters, but little else

Ministers deliver statements during the closing plenary at the COP27 early on Sunday.MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/Reuters The UN’s climate conference in Egypt limped over the finish line Sunday morning with a commitment to launch a fund to compensate poor countries suffering from catastrophic climate-change events. The breakthrough spared the COP27 event from total collapse. Agreeing … Read more

Fans arriving for Qatar World Cup find searing heat, heavy security and a last-minute booze ban

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Fans arriving for Qatar World Cup find searing heat, heavy security and a last-minute booze ban

A fan of Mexico walks outside the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha on Nov. 19, 2022 ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images Twenty-four hours ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, fans are pouring in to the tiny Persian Gulf state of Qatar, though human-rights concerns and questions over … Read more

FIFA President Gianni Infantino scolds World Cup critics in extraordinary diatribe

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino scolds World Cup critics in extraordinary diatribe

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at a press conference Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Abbie Parr/The Associated Press Gianni Infantino said he feels gay. That he feels like a woman. That he feels like a migrant worker. He lectured Europeans for criticizing Qatar’s human rights record and defended the host country’s last-minute decision to … Read more

Soccer-mad Germans turning their backs on World Cup

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Soccer-mad Germans turning their backs on World Cup

Normally when the World Cup comes around, Germans proudly fly their country’s flag and enthusiastically back their team. Not this time. Anyone walking around Berlin this week will struggle to notice any signs of World Cup fervor. There are no flags, no signs, no public viewing events – no indication that the soccer-mad country’s bid … Read more

Deena Hinshaw replaced as Alberta’s chief medical officer after Premier criticized province’s COVID response

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Deena Hinshaw replaced as Alberta’s chief medical officer after Premier criticized province’s COVID response

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, updates media on the COVID-19 situation in Edmonton, Friday, March 20, 2020. Hinshaw is apologizing for causing “confusion, fear or anger” after communicating the province’s plan to eliminate remaining public health measures in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason FransonJASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press Premier Danielle Smith is … Read more