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Sudan armed raids, bureaucracy hampering life-saving aid, doctor says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

OTTAWA — As Canada crafts its response to the crisis in Sudan, a doctor trying to co-ordinate basic medical services after the country’s rapid descent into chaos says bandits and bureaucracy are hampering life-saving aid and leaving children to die.“The people of Sudan are not getting as much care as they could, because our warehouses are being looted and we don’t have safe access to them,” said Javid Abdelmoneim, a Doctors Without Borders emergency-room physician.In a recent call from Sudan’s Gedaref state, near the border with Ethiopia, Abdelmoneim said the crisis is unlike ones he’s seen in Syria, Ukraine or Ethiopia, not just because of random violence, but also because of bureaucratic hurdles.In mid-April, a longstanding feud between the country’s military and its paramilitary force broke out into a turf war in the capital of Khartoum and led to violence across the country of 46 million people.That caused Canada and other western countr...

Air quality statements in place for Nova Scotia as wildfires burn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

Air quality statements have been issued by Environment Canada for Nova Scotia as wildfires continue burning in the province.One advisory targets Shelburne County, near Barrington Lake in southwestern Nova Scotia, where the largest of the wildfires is burning.The blaze covered almost 180 square kilometres as of late Wednesday, making it one of the largest wildfires ever recorded in the province.Although tiny in comparison, a new, out-of-control wildfire was reported Wednesday near Lake Road in the Municipality of the District of Shelburne.Another air quality statement was issued for Upper Tantallon and Hammonds Plains, just outside Halifax, as an out-of-control wildfire there was estimated at just over eight square kilometres in size. Cooler temperatures and rain aren’t expected until late Friday or into the weekend.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2023.The Canadian Press

Trudeau government proclaims annual day against gun violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government is proclaiming a National Day Against Gun Violence, to be held annually on the first Friday of June.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and representatives of the Toronto Raptors basketball team are set to discuss the plans today at an event in Toronto.The government says the goal of the national day is to raise awareness and foster a national discussion about the causes and effects of gun violence.It comes as the Senate reviews a government bill that would cement restrictions on handguns, increase penalties for firearm trafficking, try to curb homemade ghost guns and ban assault-style firearms.The Conservatives opposed the bill in the House of Commons, saying it penalizes law-abiding firearm owners instead of tackling gun crime.The government has also earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars for community programming aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, and deterring youth from taking up a life of crime.This rep...

Bill 96: Quebec public servants now required to make ‘exemplary’ use of French

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s language law reform is continuing to draw criticism and legal challenges from the province’s English community as more of its provisions come into effect Thursday, exactly a year after it received royal assent.While many elements of the law, commonly known as Bill 96, took effect shortly after it was passed, others were delayed. Those include restrictions on communications with the provincial government in languages other than French, French-language requirements for certain contracts and a requirement that small businesses tell the government how many of their employees don’t speak French.The Quebec government has described the law as a moderate response to what it says is the declining use of French in the province, particularly in Montreal. Quebec Premier François Legault has repeatedly said that French will always be under threat in North America and he wants to avoid Quebec becoming like Louisiana, where few people speak French despite the ...

Daily horoscope for June 1, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Scorpio.Happy Birthday for Thursday, June 1, 2023:You are practical, attentive and give serious thought to what interests you. You’re also witty, chatty and casual. This year is full of exciting change and increased personal freedom. Learn to be more flexible. Let go of whatever has been holding you back. Seek out new opportunities! Trust your intuition.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★This is a productive day. Your communication skills are strong. Issues at home are harmonious. Meanwhile, you feel creative, competitive and ready to tackle anything. (Keep in mind that you’re letting go of people, places and possessions in the coming year.) Tonight: Get information.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★You will be successful in improving your domestic scene in some way. This requires your attention, because recently, increased chaos and activity at home have been a demand on your time and ene...

Russia accuses Washington of encouraging Ukraine in its attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

Washington is encouraging Kyiv by publicly ignoring the drone attack that struck several districts of Moscow on Tuesday (30 May), Russia's envoy to the United States said on Wednesday (31 May), after President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for the strikes.The White House said it did not support attacks inside of Russia and that it was still gathering information on the incident, which Putin called an attempt to scare and provoke Moscow."What are these attempts to hide behind the phrase that they are 'gathering information'?" Anatoly Antonov, the ambassador, said in remarks published on the Telegram messaging channel."This is an encouragement for Ukrainian terrorists."Putin on Tuesday cast the assault, which brought the 15-month war in Ukraine to the heart of Russia, as a terrorist act. Ukraine also accuses Russia of terrorism for its bombing of Ukrainian civilians, allegations Moscow denies.A Ukrainian presidential aide denied Kyiv was directly involved in the drone attack on Moscow...

Miss Manners: How am I supposed to plan a shower with all these gay friends?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is a shower planner to do? It is impossible to generate a manageable guest list anymore, given the climate of gender neutrality.My gay girlfriends want to bring their partners; my transgender friends do, too. And my gay nephew wants to be invited along with his husband. Am I supposed to give all the invited guests a plus-one?I’m all for coed parties and showers, but they require twice as many seats and there are twice as many mouths to feed, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the shower.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: We are stung that the ‘cool’ neighbors didn’t clue us in Advice | Miss Manners: Her sheepish greeting always makes me feel awkward Advice | Miss Manners: Must I order sheep’s brains if I don’t want to share my food? Advice | Miss Manners: My former co-workers made snide comments about my presence Advice | Miss Manners: I’...

Dear Abby: My husband is upset that I find his new look mortifying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married 33 years. A year ago, my husband started wearing girls’ frilly socks and pink nail polish — the pinker, the better. He thinks it is great.When we go out, he has to show off his nails to everyone. It’s beyond embarrassing.I hate going anywhere with him now, and he’s mad at me for it. Advice?— MORTIFIED IN TEXASRelated ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I have news about my co-worker that his girlfriend should know Advice | Dear Abby: What the bridesmaid told me sent my wedding stress off the charts Advice | Dear Abby: I walked into the bedroom and I can’t forget what I saw Advice | Dear Abby: My friends’ comments about my wedding are hurting my feelings Advice | Dear Abby: The team is shunning me because I stood up for my wife DEAR MORTIFIED: Some performers in the music business wear nail polish, and no one thinks twice about it. (The ...

Md. transportation secretary doesn’t have ‘a lot of faith’ in expected 2026 completion of Purple Line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

After a two-year pause when the original contractor backed out, work is resuming on building the 16.2 mile long Purple Line light-rail project.With a new contractor in place, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said his agency is putting the pressure on new builders, Maryland Transit Solutions, to complete the line. However, he said he doesn’t “have a lot of faith” that an October 2026 completion is possible.“It has a ways to go. I’m not going to sugarcoat it for people; it’s just a reality,” Wiedefeld said.The east-west line that will eventually connect New Carrollton and Bethesda, Maryland, was originally expected to be completed in March 2022; but the first contractor backed out of the project in 2020.Currently, Wiedefeld said inspections are underway after work was essentially stopped halfway through the project. The state hasn’t received word of any major issues with what has been looked at so far, but time-consuming hurdles still rema...

“Están equivocados”: McCarthy responde a sus críticos sobre el techo de la deuda mientras enfrenta las críticas negativas de los republicanos de línea dura

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:14 GMT

(CNN) — En febrero, el líder de la mayoría del Senado, Chuck Schumer, hizo una predicción audaz sobre el Partido Republicano y el techo de la deuda: “No creemos que tengan un plan que pueda aprobarse con los votos republicanos en la Cámara”, dijo.Más tarde insistió en que la Casa Blanca no negociaría con el presidente de la Cámara, Kevin McCarthy, un aumento del techo de la deuda y que, en última instancia, el Congreso levantaría el límite de endeudamiento sin ninguna condición.“Limpio, limpio, limpio”, le dijo a CNN en abril, refiriéndose al impulso para una resolución de techo de deuda limpia.Pero McCarthy finalmente aprobó un proyecto de ley en abril basado únicamente en los votos del Partido Republicano. Luego obligó al presidente Joe Biden a negociar una suspensión del límite de la deuda con recortes de gastos. Y este miércoles por la noche, la Cámara aprobó el acuerdo McCarthy-Biden con una votación de 314-177, incluso ganando el respaldo de más de la mayoría de los repu...