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China welcomes Arab and Muslim foreign ministers for talks on ending the war in Gaza

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s top diplomat welcomed four Arab foreign ministers and the Indonesian one to Beijing on Monday, saying his country would work with “our brothers and sisters” in the Arab and Islamic world to try to end the war in Gaza as soon as possible.The ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Indonesia chose to start a tour of world capitals in Beijing, a testament to both China’s growing geopolitical influence and its longstanding support for the Palestinians. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the foreign diplomats that their decision to start in Beijing shows their high level of trust in his nation.“China is a good friend and brother of Arab and Islamic countries,” Wang said in opening remarks at a state guest house before their talks began. “We have always firmly safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of Arab (and) Islamic countries and have always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people.”China...

In the news today: Canadians still waiting to leave the Gaza Strip

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…No word on Canadians cleared to leave Gaza StripCanadians with loved ones trapped in the embattled Gaza Strip are still waiting to learn whether the 135 people cleared to leave the territory on Sunday were able to make the journey.A daily list from Gaza’s General Authority for Crossings and Borders, which contains the names of foreign passport holders cleared to cross into Egypt via the Rafah land crossing, expanded to include 135 people with ties to Canada on Sunday.But Global Affairs Canada did not provide any details on Sunday as to how many of those people were able to leave the war-torn enclave.Questions swirl ahead of federal fiscal updateQuestions are swirling on Parliament Hill ahead of a fiscal update that’s widely expected to focus on addressing Canada’s housing crisis and cost-of-living concerns. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland i...

Economists expect inflation slowed again in October as high interest rates take hold

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

OTTAWA — Forecasters anticipate Canada’s inflation rate took another dip in October as gasoline prices fell from the previous month and grocery prices rise more slowly. Statistics Canada is set to release its consumer price index report tomorrow, coinciding with the federal government’s fall economic statement. BMO expects the annual rate to come in at 3.2 per cent for October, while RBC is forecasting the rate fell to 3.1 per cent.Canada’s inflation rate came in at 3.8 per cent in September. A further slowdown would be welcome news for the Bank of Canada as it looks for evidence of a sustained slowdown in consumer price growth.The central bank opted to hold its key interest rate steady at five per cent at its last two decision meetings, largely due to recent weak economic data. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2022. The Canadian Press

CRA claws back $458 million in pandemic-era wage subsidies after partial audit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canada Revenue Agency has denied or adjusted $458 million in funds disbursed to employers through a pandemic-era wage subsidy program as a result of a partially completed auditing process.The agency is releasing a report Monday that offers detailed findings of its audits of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Program. The bulk of the findings cover the period ending March 31, but the report also offers more up-to-date figures as of Sept. 29.The CEWS program subsidized businesses’ staff wages by 75 per cent in hopes of encouraging companies to hold on to their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, as governments enacted shutdowns. Overall, the program disbursed about $100 billion in wage subsidies.A report from auditor general Karen Hogan last year warned that thousands of businesses that received wage subsidies may not have been eligible for the program, after finding their GST and HST filings didn’t show a sufficient drop in revenue to qualify.Monday’...

No word on status of 135 Canadians cleared to leave Gaza Strip over weekend

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadians with loved ones trapped in the embattled Gaza Strip are still waiting to learn whether the 135 people cleared to leave the territory on Sunday were able to make the journey.A daily list from Gaza’s General Authority for Crossings and Borders, which contains the names of foreign passport holders cleared to cross into Egypt via the Rafah land crossing, expanded to include 135 people with ties to Canada on Sunday.But Global Affairs Canada did not provide any details on Sunday as to how many of those people were able to leave the war-torn enclave.The agency’s last update, provided on Friday, said 376 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives have been able to leave the Palestinian territory through the Rafah crossing. The latest list provided by Gaza’s border authorities did not contain any Canadians.The current conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis in brutal surprise attacks, taking another 240 peo...

Questions swirl as Liberals prepare to table fall fiscal update

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

OTTAWA — Questions are swirling on Parliament Hill ahead of a fiscal update that’s widely expected to focus on addressing Canada’s housing crisis and cost-of-living concerns. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to table the fall economic statement on Tuesday, and she has already signalled that both issues will be front and centre. On housing, Freeland has previously indicated the government is looking at making more public land available and trying to address the strain short-term rentals are putting on supply. But she’s remained relatively tight-lipped on other specifics expected in the update, and has indicated the government “won’t be able to do everything” due to limited funds. Opposition leaders have already shared their wish lists for the coming update, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre calling on the Liberals to scrap carbon pricing, balance the budget and tie access to federal dollars to municipal housing results. NDP Leader ...

Daily horoscope for November 20, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST today (2:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces.Happy Birthday for Monday, Nov. 20, 2023:You are forceful, dynamic and energetic, but also modest. You like luxurious comforts. This is a year to rest for you; it’s your chance to rejuvenate. You will also focus on business and personal close relationships and partnerships. Concentrate on your needs and what brings you happiness.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Today you might want to hide. Something might happen that makes you feel unloved, a bit lonely or cut off from others. This is just a fleeting moment in your reality. Relax. Meanwhile, you might have excellent ideas about dealing with shared property, taxes, debt and inheritances. Tonight: Happy solitude.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★You might feel discouraged by something that a friend or someone older says to you today. If not a friend, this person could b...

Commission welcomes political agreement on protecting the environment through criminal law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

The European Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law. As proposed by the Commission in December 2021, the new directive will improve the effectiveness of criminal law enforcement and help achieve European Green Deal objectives by fighting against the most serious environmental offences which can have devastating effects on both the environment and human health.  Once the new directive has entered into force, member states will have to include in their criminal laws greater precision on the definition of environmental offence categories, as well as effective dissuasive sanctions for offenders. The new legal framework will help to ensure that serious environmental offences do not go unpunished. This will deter pollution and environmental degradation and contribute to preserving our nature for future generations.  More information is in the press release.  

Harriette Cole: I’m on the road to burnout and I can’t see a solution

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a very busy couple of weeks coming up. I have my last round of midterms, Thanksgiving break, finals, moving back home, Christmas, visiting family, then New Year’s.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I felt like a loser so I quit my job after a week. Now things are even worse. Advice | Harriette Cole: My mom is putting up a huge fight about my college decision, but it’s my life Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m a college student now, so I can’t relate to my family Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m arguing more and more, and I need a strategy Advice | Harriette Cole: How can I break the hold of wine and binge-watching? I am looking forward to getting to see family and friends and going back home for a while, but I started thinking about how much work and travel I am going to be doing until January, and it completely stressed me out.I do not want to cut anythi...

Miss Manners: We had to give up our season tickets because of the hooters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When did it become common for people to obnoxiously hoot and holler to show their appreciation for the performance of an artist on stage?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Unless her house is on fire, I find the host’s behavior reprehensible Advice | Miss Manners: So now moms expect their own gifts at kids’ birthday parties? Advice | Miss Manners: Why I would never get rid of this useless item I keep tripping over Advice | Miss Manners: Was my gift to her tacky? Or was her response tacky? Advice | Miss Manners: Her husband got whiny, and suddenly I was on the hook for $100 I always applaud after a musical number and at the end of the production, and join in the standing ovation for a spectacular performance. I don’t expect silence; shouts of “bravo!” are to be expected.But my husband and I had to give up our long-held season tickets to see traveling Br...