smg_world

Why some descendants of an ethnic minority in Greece still keep their identity secret

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Eugenia Natsoulidou, 67, introduces herself as a Greek citizen. She was born and still lives in Edessa, a city in northern Greece, but has worked all around the country in the hotel industry. Her best friend is Greek, and like many Greeks, she speaks impeccable English — in her case, due to living in Chicago … Read more

When desperate and terrified Ukrainians flee the war’s front, this is the city that helps them mourn and heal

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CHERNIVTSI, Ukraine—One day last March, Iryna Shabanova and 18 members of her family started running out of food. They were hiding near the burning Ukrainian city of Mariupol — which had been under Russian attack since the start of the war — and trying to survive the siege and the explosions they heard every few … Read more

Mother of ‘Jihadi Jack’ seeks redemption for her son

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The last nine years of Sally Lane’s life have been a cascade of crushing disappointments. In 2014, her son, Jack Letts, a British-born Muslim convert, traveled to the Middle East to study his faith. His quest led him astray, to Syria and Iraq, the lands controlled by the Islamic State terrorist group. Lane sent her … Read more

Bobi from Portugal is the world’s oldest dog ever

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Move over Spike, there’s a new old dog in town. Two weeks after Spike, the 23-year-old Chihuahua mix from Ohio was crowned the world’s oldest living dog by Guinness World Records, the organization announced Spike had been dethroned by an older pooch from Portugal. Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of livestock guardian … Read more

Canada’s plan to handle returnees from Islamic State must work

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They started disappearing a decade ago. Slowly and mysteriously, then in a growing wave, young Canadians left behind their homes and families to join fellow Muslims fighting in Syria and Iraq or to experience the radicalized utopia of an Islamic caliphate promised by the Islamic State terrorism group. Five or so years ago, psychologists such … Read more

Why Russia’s use of rape is believed extensive — but hard to prove

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Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence. IVANO-FRANKIVSK, Ukraine—Early in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, two Russian soldiers entered a home near Kyiv, raped a 22-year-old woman several times, sexually assaulted her husband and forced the couple to have intercourse in their presence, according to a United Nations report. One of the soldiers then forced … Read more

The burning truth behind gas stoves

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There’s nothing like cooking to get people’s backs up. Debates over whether rice should be rinsed before cooking, when the spice should be added to a crawfish boil, or if ribs should be boiled at all have broken down many a friendship. It’s no wonder, then, that gas stoves have sparked a full-blown culture war … Read more

Is New Zealand’s Ardern the only politician to admit being tired?

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The regular earthquakes in New Zealand earned the country its nickname as the “Shaky Isles,” but it was the resignation of its most internationally recognized prime minister in years that’s rumbling through the world’s political circles. Jacinda Ardern said, at age 42, she was stepping away from her leadership role because she simply doesn’t have … Read more

At Davos, Greta visit spotlights lack of climate action

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DAVOS, Switzerland — Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg on Thursday slammed corporate bigwigs meeting in Davos, Switzerland, for “fuelling the destruction of the planet” by investing in fossil fuels and prioritizing short-term profits over people affected by the climate crisis. Thunberg was joined by prominent young activists Vanessa Nakate, Helena Gualinga and Luisa Neubauer in … Read more

Postmedia announces layoff plans, move of 12 Alberta papers to digital-only

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Postmedia is moving 12 of its Alberta community newspapers to digital-only formats, laying off workers and looking to outsource printing operations. The moves were announced Wednesday in an internal memo to staff, following the release of the company’s quarterly results last week. Postmedia Network Canada Corp. posted a net loss in the quarter ending Nov. … Read more