Category: World

Police in Victoria say a man has died after climbing the railing of a bridge and losing his balance.

Victoria police say they received multiple calls early Saturday morning reporting an “intoxicated” man had climbed the Johnson Street Bridge and fallen into the frigid water below.

The bridge spans a narrow tidal inlet next to the city’s Inner Harbour, connecting the western edge of the city with its downtown core.

Police say several people tried to direct the man to swim to safety and officers who arrived within two minutes tried to help him, but were unsuccessful.

The Victoria Police Department says it does not have marine response capability and a Canadian Coast Guard boat was dispatched and recovered the man’s body.

The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating.

“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this difficult time,” police said in a statement.

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Source:: Vancouver Sun

KATOWICE, Poland — After two weeks of bruising negotiations, officials from almost 200 countries agreed Saturday on universal, transparent rules that will govern efforts to cut emissions and curb global warming. Fierce disagreements on two other climate issues were kicked down the road for a year to help bridge a chasm of opinions on the best solutions.

The deal agreed upon at U.N. climate talks in Poland enables countries to put into action the principles in the 2015 Paris climate accord.

But to the frustration of environmental activists and some countries who were urging more ambitious climate goals, negotiators delayed decisions on two key issues until next year in an effort to get a deal on them.

“Through this package, you have made a thousand little steps forward together,” said Michal Kurtyka, a senior Polish official chairing the talks.

He said while each individual country would likely find some parts of the agreement it didn’t like, efforts had been made to balance the interests of all parties.

“We will all have to give in order to gain,” he said. “We will all have to be courageous to look into the future and make yet another step for the sake of humanity.”

The talks in Poland took place against a backdrop of growing concern among scientists that global warming on Earth is proceeding faster than governments are responding to it. Last month, a study found that global warming will worsen disasters such as the deadly California wildfires and the powerful hurricanes that have hit the United States this year.

And a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, concluded that while it’s possible to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial times, this would require a dramatic overhaul of the global economy, …read more

Source:: Deseret News – U.S. & World News

WASHINGTON — Saturday is the last day to sign up for health insurance next year under the Affordable Care Act in most of the country.

For 2019, premiums are stable, more plans are available, and millions of uninsured people can still get financial help. But so far sign-ups have been lagging when compared to last year.

Consumers can enroll online at HealthCare.gov or by reaching the federal call center at 1-800-318-2596.

People can also sign up through approved community organizations, online insurance sellers, and insurance companies.

The deadline is 12 a.m. Pacific time in states served by the HealthCare.gov website. A few states that run their own enrollment campaigns may have later deadlines. Consumer advocates say interested customers should check carefully and avoid procrastination.

Coverage takes effect Jan. 1.

The health care law still faces legal challenges, A conservative federal judge in Texas ruled the Affordable Care Act “invalid” Friday on the eve of the sign-up deadline for next year. But with appeals certain, even the Trump White House said the law will remain in place for now.

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Source:: Deseret News – U.S. & World News

Setting a beautiful table for occasions like Christmas is best achieved through layering, says Diana Spina, senior director of product management for Loblaw brands.

“Start with what you currently have at home, and then add in a few new on-trend pieces that will update your look,” Spina says. “This approach ensures that holiday entertaining doesn’t need to break the bank.”

White dinner plates, she says, can be placed on top of gold charger plates, and then “pretty side plates”, like Real Canadian Superstore’s First Snowfall collection, can be added to make the table visually interesting.

“To achieve an elevated look, you can drape blankets over the two chairs at each end of table,” Spina says. “This makes the table seem more formal, yet cosy.”

Vancouver interior designer Trish Knight says when she’s setting a table for Christmas she starts with a floor-length tablecloth, often in white (and if you’re on a budget you can even use a white sheet) and then layer another piece of fabric, such as another tablecloth, on top. You can also run a piece of fabric, like velvet, down the centre of the table, she says.

“I really like linens that have a bit of sparkle to them,” Knight says.

With place settings, says Knight, you can have fun with textures and colours, perhaps using woven placemats, and then start layering your plates on top of that.

“If you’re going to have a couple of different types of drinks, put all those glasses out,” she says. “Have your champagne flute and your water glass and your wine glass. All of that catches the light, so the table looks really nice and full.”

Whatever floral arrangements or greenery is chosen to run down the centre of the table should be kept quite low, says Knight, so “you can actually see each other.” Winding your …read more

Source:: Vancouver Sun