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UN: 258 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2022

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

ROME (AP) — More than a quarter-billion people in 58 countries faced acute food insecurity last year due to conflicts, climate change, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, according to a report published Wednesday.The Global Report on Food Crises, an alliance of humanitarian organizations founded by the U.N. and European Union, said people faced starvation and death in seven of those countries: Somalia, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.The report found that that the number of people facing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food aid — 258 million — had increased for the fourth consecutive year, a “stinging indictment of humanity’s failure” to implement U.N. goals to end world hunger, said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.While the increase last year was due in part to more populations being analyzed, the report also found that the severity of the problem increased as well, “highlighting a concerning trend of a de...

‘It’s a spiritual thing:’ Long history between Gordon Lightfoot and Massey Hall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

TORONTO — It was a relationship that lasted a lifetime: Gordon Lightfoot got his start at Massey Hall as a teenager, and never stopped returning to the Toronto venue, no matter how successful he became.  Hundreds of famous musicians have played the stage in its long history, but none so often as Lightfoot. The folk legend and the concert hall fed off each other’s fame, sharing a sort of symbiosis that spanned more than half a century. “It’s a spiritual thing,” Lightfoot told The Canadian Press in 2018. “I have an affinity for Massey Hall that’s very strong.” When the concert hall closed down for major renovations that same year, his was the last performance. And when it reopened three years later, he was the one to usher in its new era with three consecutive shows.They would be his last at the venue before his death on Monday at age 84. The first of Lightfoot’s 170-odd performances on the Massey stage happened when he was just 13 years old, ...

French constitutional body rules on pension referendum call

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s top constitutional body is to rule Wednesday on a last-ditch effort by opposition lawmakers to thwart President Emmanuel Macron’s move to raise the retirement age to 64, through a possible referendum or new bill restoring the age to 62. The move has been prompted by opposition legislators who are seeking to launch a complex, lengthy process in hopes of rejecting Macron’s unpopular pension law that was enacted last month. The Constitutional Council’s role is to assess whether the opposition’s request meets the legal conditions for a potential referendum. If so, supporters would have nine months to collect signatures from at least 4.8 million, or 10%, of French voters.Macron’s government would then be able to choose between sending the opposition’s text to parliament for debate and eventually a vote, or waiting for six months to put the measure before voters in a referendum. The proposal would only go to a national referendum if it were not debated by lawma...

Stock market today: World shares mixed before Fed decision

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

European shares opened higher Wednesday following losses in Asia ahead of a decision on interest rates by the Federal Reserve. U.S. futures rose while oil prices were little changed. Markets in Japan and China were closed Wednesday for holidays. As worries over struggling banks and a slowing economy pile up, a political stalemate has left the U.S. edging ever closer to what would be a catastrophic default on government debt. President Joe Biden invited the top four congressional leaders to face-to-face talks at the White House next week to try to resolve the impasse over the debt. The Federal Reserve was expected to wrap up a two-day policy meeting later in the day by raising its key rate by a quarter percentage point to 5%-5.25% to try to finally tamp down inflation. In European trading, Germany’s DAX climbed 0.6% to 7,425.17 and the CAC 40 in Paris advanced 0.5% to 7,425.17. Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.5% to 7,813.37. The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones I...

Parliamentary Internship Programme in flux, as academics seek House involvement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

OTTAWA — A program that for five decades has had young Canadians shadow MPs from across the political spectrum is facing an uncertain future because the model that has kept it running grates against modern labour codes and tax laws.“The main goal for me is just to avoid any disruption to the intern experience,” said Paul Thomas, head of the Parliamentary Internship Programme.The internship brings 10 young professionals and recent university graduates onto Parliament Hill to shadow two MPs — one from the sitting government and the other in opposition — for 10 monthsThe interns help MPs with analysis and writing while also researching their own academic paper.The program started in 1970 after a motion from a backbench MP called for the government to create a non-partisan program for young Canadians to learn about the parliamentary process and the role of MPs.The House of Commons helps run the program with the Speaker as its patron. The Canadian Political Scienc...

Terrified of the Taliban, families of Canada’s Afghan advisers plead for help

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

OTTAWA — The threats started with phone calls in 2011 to her home in Kandahar.The mother of six had no idea her Canadian brother was working so close by, just 10 or 15 kilometres away, until the Taliban told her.“Your brother is working for foreigners and your life is at risk because your brother works with foreigners,” she recalls the insurgents telling her in that first frightening phone call.Her 25-year-old brother, who was given the code name “Sam” by the Canadian military, was in Afghanistan in secret to help Canadian troops navigate the unfamiliar cultural landscape and give advice to the commanders on the ground.The Canadian Press has agreed not to use Sam’s real name or reveal his sister’s identity because of the threat she still faces from the Taliban.The phone calls continued every four or five days for years. Sometimes the woman’s husband, a police officer, would pick up the phone.Then one day in 2013, her husband was shot dead ou...

As Canada stays mum, which Commonwealth countries will put the King on their money?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

OTTAWA — Countries around the world whose currencies pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II now have a new monarch — and a decision to make about whether the King has a place on their money.Since the queen’s death in September, Canada has stayed mum on whether or not it intends to put the King’s likeness on its coins and bills. But other members of the Commonwealth have moved more quickly towards enshrining his visage on their cash — or instead moving away from any kind of royal tribute. Unsurprisingly, the United Kingdom was the first country to move forward with new banknotes that will feature King Charles, unveiling the designs in December. The Bank of England says the new banknotes will come into circulation in mid-2024. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand also said after the queen’s death that it would be preparing to change out the image it uses on coins for one approved by the new King. It said the transition would take several years. Australia went in the o...

Quebec premier heads to Charlevoix region to visit town hit hard by flooding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

BAIE-SAINT-PAUL, Que. — Quebec Premier François Legault will visit a town in the province’s Charlevoix region hit hard in recent days by spring flooding.Legault is to visit Baie St-Paul today, about 95 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, where he will survey the damage and meet with local residents. Severe flooding this week washed away roads and cut off access to homes across the province.Two firefighters from St-Urbain, Que., also in the Charlevoix region, are unaccounted for after they were swept away in the water while trying to rescue two local residents.Other communities affected by flooding are in the Lanaudière and Laurentians regions, and in western Quebec.The Public Security Department has said a half-dozen communities across the province have declared states of emergency.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2023.The Canadian Press

Daily horoscope for May 3, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Libra.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, May 3, 2023:You are a compassionate, caring person with strong ethics and moral values. You are strong-willed, efficient and organized. This year is about service to others, especially family. Take care of yourself so you can be of use to others. Is it time for a makeover?ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★It’s important to know that you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others today. Don’t be impatient. Do not insist on getting your own way. Be generous and cooperative, and go along to get along (for your sake). This is the best way to have a good day. Tonight: Be cooperative.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★It’s easy to fall into disputes and arguments with work colleagues today. Or perhaps these arguments are with people who are dealing with your health or something to do with a pet. Whatever the case, why even go there? Don’t g...

Italy approves May Day labour package amid union criticism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:51 GMT

Italy's conservative government approved on Monday measures to increase job creation and worker pay. This was despite the hostile reaction of unions and opposition groups over welfare cuts that accompanied them and looser rules for short-term contracts.Giorgia Mello has made it easier for companies to offer contracts of 12 to 24 months. She also reduced the "citizen's wage" scheme to combat poverty, in order to encourage people with a good education to find work.Rome has also allocated around €3 billion, but only to those who earn less than €35,000 per year.Meloni, in a video message, said that tax cuts could amount to as much as 100 euros a month.Meloni, a former Italian Prime Minister who was elected partly on the promise to make Italy more friendly to business, said: "I am proud that the government chose to celebrate May 1, International Workers' Day (International Workers' Day), with facts rather than words."Rome has waived taxes on fringe benefits to employees with children up ...