News

Biden Makes Huge Gaff’s at 2022 Asean Summit Calls Cambodia Colombia

Published

2 years ago

2022-11-14

Biden Gaff's Calling Cambodia Colombia at Asean Summit

On Saturday, US President Joe Biden referred to Cambodia as Colombia, which is hosting an international summit led by Asean Southeast Asian leaders.

“Now that we’re back together here in Cambodia, I’m looking forward to making even stronger progress than we’ve already made, and I’d like to thank the Prime Minister of Colombia for his leadership as ASEAN chair and for hosting all of us,” Biden said during a meeting with his ASEAN counterparts in Phnom Penh.

He was referring to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who currently chairs the 10-member regional bloc.

On a whirlwind trip that includes stops at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, ASEAN in Phnom Penh, and the G20 summit in Indonesia, the president made a similar gaffe recently while speaking to reporters at the White House.

The US president, who turns 80 on November 20, announced this week that he will run for re-election in 2024, with a final decision expected early next year.

Republican critics have pointed to Biden’s occasional verbal stumbles and tendency to veer off script during live appearances as evidence that he is too old for the job. Supporters argue that the president overcame a childhood stutter and improvised in public speeches for decades.

Biden and Xi centre stage at G20

On Monday, Biden and leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies will convene on the Indonesian island of Bali for a post-pandemic reunion tempered by Sino-US rivalry and overshadowed by a superpower meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping.

With people around the world feeling the pinch of skyrocketing food and fuel prices, Ukraine embroiled in conflict, and the threat of nuclear war looming, G20 presidents and prime ministers will see what, if anything, they can agree on.

It is the largest gathering of leaders since the pandemic began. But this isn’t a happy reunion.

The rivalry between China and the United States has heightened sharply in the last three years, as Beijing has grown more powerful and assertive about replacing the US-led order that has prevailed since World War II.

The meeting between Biden and Xi on the fringes of the G20 on Monday has the air of the icy Cold War conclaves between American and Soviet leaders at Potsdam, Vienna, or Yalta that decided the fate of millions.

Biden has spoken of the meeting as establishing each country’s “red lines,” hoping that competition does not lead to confrontation and conflict.

According to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Biden will be “completely straightforward and direct” with Xi and expect the same in return.

Biden won’t meet Putin.

Officials say he will also pressure China to rein in ally North Korea after a record-breaking series of missile tests raised fears that Pyongyang will soon conduct its seventh nuclear test.

Xi may be unwilling to assist. He comes into the meeting on the heels of securing a historic third term in office, cementing him as China’s most powerful leader in generations.

Meanwhile, Biden has been buoyed by the news that his Democratic Party retained control of the US Senate after outperforming expectations in the midterm elections, even though his domestic politics remain volatile.

One notable absence from the table will be Russian President Vladimir Putin.

His botched nine-month invasion of Ukraine has made the trip to Bali both logistically and politically difficult.

With members of his inner circle publicly feuding and his once-ironclad domestic authority tarnished, Putin chose to send veteran foreign minister Sergei Lavrov instead.

Officially, neither the Ukrainian conflict nor Putin’s dark threats to use nuclear weapons are on the summit’s agenda.

While the ex-KGB man will not be present at the summit, his war will undoubtedly be on the menu.

Soaring energy and food prices have impacted both rich and poor G20 members, and the conflict directly influences both.

When the current agreement expires on November 19, there will certainly be pressure on Russia to extend a deal allowing Ukrainian grain and fertilizer shipments through the Black Sea.

At the very least, Biden and his allies want the G20 to make it clear to Putin that nuclear war is not an option.

Even that previously uncontroversial position is likely to be stymied by a combination of the Russian opposition and Chinese reluctance to break ranks with its ally in Moscow or hand Washington a victory.

Xi recently told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that a nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought.

Ryan Hass, a former China director at the US National Security Council, said Xi “will likely not be as magnanimous in his meeting with Biden.”

“He will not want to be seen as fulfilling a Biden request, whether on Ukraine, nuclear use, North Korea, or any other issue,” Hass told AFP.

Series of G20 ministerial meetings fail

The G20, a disparate and unwieldy grouping formed in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis, has always preferred to talk about finance and economics rather than security.

Moscow wants it to stay that way.

“We categorically reject the politicization of the G20,” the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday, hinting at what leaders might hear from Lavrov, who is known for his tough stance.

“We are convinced that the G20 is intended to address specifically socioeconomic issues.”

Host Indonesia, wary of favouring China or the United States, is skeptical that the leaders will be able to break the impasse.

In the run-up to the summit, a series of G20 ministerial meetings failed to agree on a final joint communique – a procedural-sounding tradition that can be important in driving cooperation.

On the eve of the summit, Indonesian government minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said, “Honestly, I think the global situation has never been this complex.”

“It’s fine if (G20) leaders don’t produce a communique at some point.”

Related Topics:asean biden g20 g20 summit g20 summit 2022

Up Next

3 Football Players Killed, 2 Injured at (UVA) University of Virginia

Don't Miss

Federal Judge Axes Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief Plan

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

12 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

12 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland

Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland

News

Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

13 hours ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)