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‘Ontarians simply cannot cope’: Ford calls on Bank of Canada to stop raising interest rates

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

Premier Doug Ford is calling on the Bank of Canada to stop raising interest rates ahead of its next decision expected to come down Wednesday.Ford echoed British Columbia Premier David Eby, who wrote a letter to BoC’s governor Tim Macklem last Thursday, urging him to think about the “human impact” of the hikes.In his letter sent on Sunday, Ford writes that “interest rate increases are hurting people,” and harming families and small businesses alike.He says the 10 interest hikes over the last 18 months have had a “devastating impact on people who are already struggling to get by.”RELATED: B.C. urges Bank of Canada to avoid ‘devastating’ interest rate hike in SeptemberThe last rate hike on July 12 brought the BoC’s key interest rate up by a quarter of a percentage point, to five per cent — the highest it’s been in more than two decades.The rate hikes are being used as an anti-inflation measure by the BoC, but Ford says it is having ...

Boil water advisory enters fourth day in two Montreal suburbs, lifted in Longueuil

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

MONTREAL — A boil water advisory affecting more than 60,000 residents of two Montreal suburbs is now in its fourth day, despite being lifted in the neighbouring community that supplies their drinking water. The cities of Boucherville, Que. and St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que., on Montreal’s south shore, say residents are still being asked to boil water for at least one minute before drinking it.The advisory has been in place since Friday, when E. coli bacteria was found in the water supply. Boucherville spokeswoman Julie Lavigne says test results received on Sunday showed no contamination it the city’s drinking water, but a second round of negative tests — the results of which are expected today — is required before the advisory can be lifted. She says all three communities get their drinking water from a plant in Longueuil, Que., but are responsible for testing in their own networks.She says her city wasn’t able to test its water or send samples to a lab as quickly a...

3 injured in stabbing in Moss Park neighbourhood

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

Three people were injured in a stabbing incident in the Moss Park neighbourhood on Monday afternoon.Toronto police were called to the area of Queen Street East and Ontario Street at 12:30 p.m. for reports of someone being “slashed” with a weapon.Police say there was an altercation between a group of people and one person has been arrested.One man was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The two other victims were treated on the scene with minor injuries.

UN experts urge forces of powerful Libyan commander to stop evicting residents, demolishing homes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — United Nations-commissioned experts on Monday called for forces of a powerful Libyan military commander to stop evicting residents and demolishing their homes in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.The experts said in a statement that the Libyan National Army, commanded by Khalifa Hifter, has since March removed more than 20,000 residents from their homes “at a very short notice.”They also said the destruction in the city center “is spreading in an alarmed manner,” with residents expelled and forced to give up their property or their ownership documents.The demolition is part of a development project in the city, according to local reports.“The intentional demolitions, including of historic neighborhoods, protected heritage sites and many residential units, have already caused irreparable harm to the urban architecture and living heritage of the city,” the experts said.A spokesman for Hifter’s forces didn’t respond to requests for comment.The experts said authorities in...

Member of Panama’s national soccer team shot and killed in Colon; 2nd in 6 years

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — A member of Panama’s national soccer team was killed when gunmen opened fire on a group of people gathered in the country’s violent port city of Colon. Authorities on Monday announced the arrest of one suspect.Defender Gilberto Hernández, 26, was the second member of the national team killed in Colon in the past six years.Hernández was with friends on Sunday along a street in central Colon when attackers in a taxi opened fire, according to police. Seven other people were wounded in the attack.Colon sits 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Panama City, where ships enter or exit the Caribbean Sea through the Panama Canal.Panama’s Colon province, with a population of about 300,000, recorded 102 homicides last year, nine fewer than the year before, according to government data. Authorities blame much of the violence on drug trafficking competition.In 2017, midfielder Amílcar Henríquez was shot to death in Colon province. He was a member of Panama’s national ...

MUST-WATCH: Beat you to the bottom

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

A high school sex comedy starring one of 2023’s breakout stars has entered the MUST-WATCH this week! But could it race from the bottom to the top spot, or will that go to a live action anime adaptation? Perhaps it’ll go to the latest film starring Denzel? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!The Equalizer 3Where to watch: CinemasFirst up, it’s time for the return of one of Denzel’s deadliest characters!In the Equalizer 3, Robert McCall (played by Denzel Washington from Training Day) is now living in Sicily hope to live a quiet life. But this isn’t the series for living a quiet life. McCall finds himself tangled in a web involving the Sicilian mafia, and he’ll have to get up to his usual bag of tricks to keep the people around him safe. This film also stars Eugenio Mastrandrea (from From Scratch), David Denman (from the Office), and Dakota Fanning (from the First Lady).You can watch this film in cinemas now!One PieceWhere to watch: Netflix...

Covid variant not as contagious or immune evasive than feared

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

Medical Watch for September 4, 2023New research offers reassuring results on the latest Covid-19 variant.The new Covid variant nicknamed "Pirola" has more than 30 changes to its spike protein.It's been compared to the changes seen with the original omicron variant, which resulted in some of the highest infections and hospitalizations during the pandemic.Results from separate studies in China and Sweden are easing fears that Pirola could have similar outcomes. Their findings show that Pirola may be less contagious and less immune evasive than feared. That could change as the variant circulates more.Former White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci says he hopes people mask up as covid cases surge again.Fauci said in an interview with CNN, that he's worried Americans won't listen to masking recommendations even if it becomes necessary.Hospitalizations for Covid cases increased 19 percent across the country last week.Counterfeit pills & overdose deathsOverdose deaths reached record ...

'All I Want For Christmas Is You' streams suddenly skyrocket — thanks to Filipinos

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

(KRON) — The calendar just hit September, and we are still months away from Christmas. But there's already a large segment of people getting in the holiday mood by streaming one of the season's most recognizable tunes. Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" suddenly racked in over 300,000 streams on Spotify on the first day of the month.Thanks to Filipinos, says the singer herself. Trader Joe’s cashiers have a reputation for flirting. CEO says there’s a good reason The holiday hit received 316,000 Spotify streams on Sept. 1, according to a post by a Mariah Carey fan page reposted by the singer. However, a good amount of streams are coming from the Philippines. "Not yet!!! I'll allow it for my Filipino lambs though," Carey said Saturday in reference to the sudden uptick in streams to begin the month. "I don't make the rules!"According to Spotify Charts, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was streamed 112,040 times in the Philippines on Sept. 1 — the 82nd most-streamed song...

Ohio's 'offensive' national forest name may change

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) -- The Wayne National Forest in Ohio could soon have a new name.Members of the American Indian Tribes and the local community are requesting the U.S. Forest Service change the name of Wayne National Forest, located in southeastern Ohio. According to the Forest Service, the name comes from General Anthony Wayne. He is said to have led a "violent campaign" against the indigenous community in Ohio.The forest is expected to be renamed Buckeye National Forest."Our intention is to listen to Tribal Nations and community members, and take the actions needed to better serve them," said Forest Supervisor Lee Stewart. "The new name embraces the forest’s identity as Ohio’s only national forest and the welcoming, inclusive nature of the people of Ohio."Ohio National Forest and Koteewa National Forest are also under consideration as potential new names for the forest. The public is able to make a comment and share feedback through Tuesday, Sept. 5. If you would like to share y...

NHC tracking tropical wave with 70% chance of development

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center is tracking a tropical wave with a 70 percent chance of development in the Atlantic.The NHC said showers and thunderstorms continued to show signs of organization located several hundred miles southwest of Cape Verde on Monday.The system is expected to become a tropical depression in two or three days. Later this week, the system is likely to continue to strengthen as it moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph over the central and western portions of the tropical Atlantic. The system has a 70 percent chance of formation over the next two days and a 90 percent chance of formation over the next seven days.Most models show it strengthening into a hurricane as it moves toward the Caribbean islands in the 10- to 14-day timeline. If it were to be upgraded to a named storm, the next on the list for this year is Lee. Meteorologists are also tracking a tropical wave that is forecast to move off the African coast in a couple of d...