Estonia will allow Taiwan to establish a nondiplomatic representative office in a policy revision

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Estonia will allow Taiwan to establish a nondiplomatic representative office in a policy revision HELSINKI (AP) — Estonia will allow Taiwan to open a nondiplomatic representative office of Taipei in the Baltic country to boost economic and cultural ties with the self-governing island but pledged to stick with the “One China” policy in political relations.The government of Estonia, a member of the European Union and NATO, revised its approach to Taiwan at a Cabinet meeting on Nov. 2 while discussing the country’s China policy, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told local media outlets on Friday.China claims Taiwan, an island about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off its east coast, as its territory. Beijing considers Taiwan as a rebel province to be brought under its control by force if necessary.“Just like many other countries of the European Union, Estonia is also ready to accept the establishment of a nondiplomatic economic or cultural representation of Taipei in order to promote the respective relations,” Tsahkna said in remarks first published by Estonia’s foreign ministry on Nov. ...

Craig Robinson joins WGN Weekend Morning News

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Craig Robinson joins WGN Weekend Morning News Craig Robinson from 'The Office' joins WGN Weekend Morning News to share more on his show in Chicago.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Weekend Break: 51st Street + Modernism Show

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Weekend Break: 51st Street + Modernism Show Join WGN Weekend Morning News at the 51st Antiques + Modernism showLove the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

The busiest days to fly during the winter holidays

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

The busiest days to fly during the winter holidays (NerdWallet) - Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn’t necessarily hold true.In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which tracks the number of passengers screened daily. The two days after Christmas also see heavy travel. And since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, that might mean an abnormally busy Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.To avoid crowds and save money, consider skipping the busy days and book your flights on one of the slower ones. Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst days to fly during the winter holidays, and how you can strategize to avoid crowds and save money.The busiest days to fly around ThanksgivingThe Sunday after Thanksgiving is brutal for airport crowds. Last year, about 83% more people flew on the Sunday after Thanksgiving than on Thanksgiving...

Brandywine, more sue State of Texas for backing out of leases

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Brandywine, more sue State of Texas for backing out of leases The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.AUSTIN (ABJ) — Brandywine Realty Trust has filed a lawsuit against a major former tenant: the State of Texas. And it's not the only landlord to do so.Philadelphia-based Brandywine’s (NYSE: BDN) lawsuit, filed Oct. 27 in Travis County, alleged the Texas Health and Human Services Commission broke a contract with the real estate developer earlier this year by prematurely terminating a lease at Brandywine’s growing Uptown ATX development that promises to expand the bounds of Austin's second downtown beyond The Domain.HHSC backed out of the lease due to a provision that allows state entities to do so “due to the non-availability of money,” but the lawsuit goes on to allege that the agency did indeed have funds specifically available to pay rent.Read the full story online at the Austin Business Journal.

Albany man pleads guilty to prohibited firearm possession

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Albany man pleads guilty to prohibited firearm possession ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man has pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Charles Williams, 34, now faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of post-release supervision. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On November 18, 2021, U.S. Marshals tracked Williams to a hotel to arrest him for a kidnapping incident. Upon searching his room, the Marshals located a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, which Williams is prohibited from possessing due to a previous felony conviction for first-degree assault.Williams was convicted by a jury of second-degree kidnapping earlier this year, and he additionally pled guilty to a second-degree assault in Rensselaer County back in October. His sentencing for the firearm possession is scheduled for March 4, 2024.

Rockies Journal: Rangers’ Jon Gray gets World Series ring, slays his demons

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Rockies Journal: Rangers’ Jon Gray gets World Series ring, slays his demons Todd Helton, Jeff Francis, Troy Tulowitzki, Kyle Freeland, Brendan Rodgers. First-round draft choices all. None of them have a World Series ring.But Jon Gray does.The Rockies’ top pick in 2013, selected No. 3 overall, just behind Kris Bryant, just won his with Texas.And the “Gray Wolf” wasn’t just a sideshow in the Rangers’ five-game victory over the Diamondbacks. In Game 3 on Monday night, Gray dominated the D-backs after entering in the fourth inning in emergency relief of injured starter Max Scherzer. Gray delivered three shutout innings, surrendering just one hit as the Rangers maintained a 3-0 lead en route to a 3-1 win at Chase Field.Of Gray’s 30 pitches thrown, 25 were strikes. Gray’s dominant fastball/slider combination induced five swing-and-misses and only three of the 10 batters he faced saw more than four pitches.But when Gray took the mound I have to admit I was holding my breath.He is one of the nicest, most likable, most genui...

Switched onto Luka Doncic, Michael Porter Jr. sustains defensive trend: “Teams aren’t going to be able to isolate him”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Switched onto Luka Doncic, Michael Porter Jr. sustains defensive trend: “Teams aren’t going to be able to isolate him” The old cliché about defending champions evolving from hunters to the hunted has meaning that’s two-fold in the case of Michael Porter Jr.As opponents attempt to identify any potential weak spots they can exploit on Denver’s championship roster, Porter’s checkered history as a defender might stand out. The Nuggets generally switch one through four in their starting unit, so it’s easy enough for teams to hunt a one-on-one matchup against Porter for their top scorer. Then play iso-ball.The problem is, Porter isn’t playing like someone who should be hunted at the defensive end.One of the smoothest 3-point shooters in the NBA is shooting 18 for 68 at his speciality since the start of the NBA Finals in June — that’s 26.5% over an 11-game stretch — but the story of his 2023-24 season so far is the same as his Finals arc.“He bought into playing defense, to trying, and realizing that if he doesn’t, he’s not going to be in there at the end of t...

Oakland: Two men wounded in separate shootings, one shot in the face

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Oakland: Two men wounded in separate shootings, one shot in the face OAKLAND — A man was in grave condition Saturday morning after being shot in the face in the Diamond District, authorities said.Police said another man was shot twice in the leg Friday night — less than two hours earlier — inside an East Oakland neighborhood market, but was in stable condition.In the Diamond District shooting, police are still trying to identify the man who was found outside around 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the 2600 block of Champion Street. He was located after police responded to reports of gunfire in the area.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Police release video of fatal September shooting at Toyota service center in Albany Crime and Public Safety | East Palo Alto: Three teenagers arrested after suspected shooting; five guns seized Crime and Public Safety | One dead following Halloween shooting in East Bay Crime and Public Safety | Customer shot coming out of East Oakland liquor store ...

Animal Rights Activist Convicted of Felony for Rescuing Sick Chickens

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Animal Rights Activist Convicted of Felony for Rescuing Sick Chickens Lawyer, animal rights activist, and Direct Action Everywhere founder Wayne Hsiung speaks with an officer from the Sonoma County, California, Sheriff’s Office during an action at Reichardt Duck Farm in June 2019.Photo: Courtesy Direct Action EverywhereAnimal rights activist and lawyer Wayne Hsiung was found guilty of felony conspiracy and two misdemeanor charges on Thursday for rescuing ailing animals from factory farms in Sonoma County, California.Hsiung and fellow activists with the animal liberation group he founded, Direct Action Everywhere, or DxE, have for years engaged in the public removal of sick and injured animals from farming facilities — a tactic known as “open rescue,” since they are publicized. The rescues regularly lead to criminal charges, which for the most part have been dropped or led to acquittals in court. Hsiung’s conviction marks the first time an open rescue case has ended with an activist’s incarceration: He faces up to three years in prison.“I could be goi...