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Here’s what observers are watching for in Monday’s four federal byelections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

OTTAWA — Four new MPs are set to be elected to the House of Commons Monday in a handful of byelections that political watchers say could expose rifts within the Conservative party and bring a new Liberal cabinet hopeful into the fold.The Liberals are expected to hold onto seats in Winnipeg and Montreal, said Philippe J. Fournier, the polling analyst behind the 338Canada polling aggregator website.The Tories, meanwhile, are poised to hang on in rural Ontario and Manitoba seats, he said — but their margins of victory in both ridings could be insightful for those looking to read the political tea leaves. The closest thing to a nail-biter will likely occur in Oxford, a mostly rural riding in southern Ontario that has been a Conservative stronghold for nearly 20 years.Party infighting has led to “the nastiest campaign that we’ve ever seen in our riding,” said Dave MacKenzie, who announced he was stepping down from the seat in December. “It’s divided our part...

‘A bit of help’: Canadian Red Cross funding medical clinics for displaced in Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

KORSUN-SHEVCHENKIVSKYI — Medical intern Alina Manko sits at a desk and speaks with a woman as other patients wait for their turn.Wearing a red vest and cap, Manko is part of a group staffing mobile units funded by the Canadian Red Cross that provide health care in central Ukraine for thousands of citizens displaced by the war with Russia.“It is part of my job to help people if they are broken,” Manko says in halting English from the makeshift clinic inside a community centre in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, two hours south of Kyiv.The clinic moves every few days to another community and sets up in different buildings.It’s always busy, Manko adds. Most patients seeking help are elderly or young children.“It’s a very important job for us and our team help these old people every day. We are trying to help with their problems, to provide medicine.”Dozens of boxes of clothing and medical supplies are stacked in rows in the entrance to the clinic.Three retire...

Premier, RCMP and health official to hold news conference about Manitoba bus crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson will speak with reporters today about last week’s bus crash that killed 15 people and left 10 others seriously injured.The news conference will take place at RCMP D Division headquarters in Winnipeg at noon local time, and Stefanson will be joined by Supt. Rob Lasson, officer in charge of major crime services with Manitoba RCMP.Lanette Siragusa, CEO of Shared Health, the co-ordinator of many of the province’s health services, will also be present.A minibus was carrying a group of seniors from Dauphin, Man., and surrounding area to a casino last Thursday when it went into the path of an oncoming semi-trailer truck near the town of Carberry, some 190 kilometres away.Shared Health said in a statement Sunday that six of the 10 injured remain in critical condition.No names of those who died have officially been released.RCMP continue to investigate the crash. Mounties have said the truck was travelling east on the Trans-Canada Hig...

MPs call for reform of Canada’s extradition system to avoid ‘further injustices’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

OTTAWA — The Liberal government should undertake a “comprehensive reform” of Canada’s extradition law as soon as possible to prevent “further injustices” due to shortcomings, a House of Commons committee recommends.In addition to calling for an overhaul of the Extradition Act, a report from the justice and human rights committee urges the government to make administrative changes to the process for sending people to face prosecution and incarceration abroad.During hearings earlier this year, MPs heard about cases “cited as evidence of real harms resulting from flaws in our existing legislation and process and as examples of injustices that will likely continue to occur in the absence of reform,” the committee’s recent report says.Dalhousie University law professor Rob Currie, one of the longtime critics of the extradition system who appeared before the committee, welcomed the committee’s findings. “They really heard us,R...

Daily horoscope for June 19, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Monday, June 19, 2023:You are courageous, outgoing and passionate. You don’t hesitate to speak your mind, which is why you know how to inspire and uplift others. Expect exciting changes and increased personal freedom this year. Learn to be more flexible. Seek out new opportunities and be ready to act fast.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★Your home routine might be interrupted today. Perhaps a small appliance will break down or someone unexpected will suddenly appear at your door. Or you might learn about surprising family news. Whatever the case, be smart and prepared. Get dressed and have some food and drink on hand. Tonight: Relax.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★This is an upbeat, energetic day! However, because you’re a bit impulsive today, it’s also a mildly accident-prone day. Therefore, pay attention to everything you say and do. Meanwhile, you might h...

Britain's Rishi Sunak to ask businesses to back Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will ask entrepreneurs and businesses to step up investment in Ukraine at a conference next week to help it rebuild after Russia's invasion.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make a virtual appearance at the two-day event which starts in London on Wednesday (21 June), organizers said."Ukraine's bravery on the battlefield must be matched by the vision of the private sector to help the country rebuild and recover," Sunak will say, according to the text of his speech released by his office on Saturday."A financially stronger, technologically advanced Ukraine will bolster its ability to drive Russia back behind its borders," Sunak will tell dignitaries and company bosses at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, according to the statement.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also due to speak, as is European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen.Britain and other Western allies have given the Kyiv government billions of dollars of assistan...

Miss Manners: My party guest criticized my hosting to my face

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I recently gave a jazz and dinner party in our NYC apartment. His five-piece band performed a concert, then we served a buffet dinner for people to serve themselves and then return to their chairs and tables.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Should I announce my tipping intentions upfront? Advice | Miss Manners: I was hurt that her caffeine fix was more important than my child’s party Advice | Miss Manners: A neighbor was inexcusably rude to our new acquaintance Advice | Miss Manners: Am I wrong to reply sarcastically to their terse texts? Advice | Miss Manners: The way this man sits bothers me no end After dinner, an older guest (a friend of 50 years) dressed me down in front of another guest (a younger friend of 25 years) about my working too hard when I had “all those women” there to help me.I had two women whose main duty was to pick up dishes ...

Dear Abby: Our friendship ended badly. Should I discard his things that I still have?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have a dilemma. A decadeslong friendship ended last year after an unfortunate, painful event. I have items he loaned me.What do I do with them, as we are no longer in contact? Should I ship them to his house? Donate them to charity? Neither seems like a good idea.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I’ve reached my limit with this woman’s unprovoked attacks Advice | Dear Abby: His mother turns my husband into a bratty child Advice | Dear Abby: I try to help my boyfriend meet people, but he’s resistant Advice | Dear Abby: My husband’s only response is screaming or a death stare Advice | Dear Abby: He gets mad if I say his driving scares me I’m not angry, but I can no longer let this person be any part of my life. What is the right thing to do?AT A LOSS IN THE MIDWESTDEAR AT A LOSS: The right thing to do would be to send the items to his house. They are not yours t...

Jill On Money: The bear market is dead, long live the bull!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

There is something arbitrary and comforting about the anointment of bull and bear markets.Focusing on a snapshot in time, where a 20 percent increase or decrease in market indexes occurs, can’t possibly tell us the whole story about the economy and its impact on consumers.Related ArticlesBusiness | 5 places to travel without a passport this summer Business | AI could prevent hiring bias — unless it makes it worse Business | With no Fed rate increase, will savings rates grow? Business | As Fed pauses rate hikes, mortgage rates could stabilize Business | How to pick a socially responsible bank But like the churn of the ocean before a storm — and the subsequent tranquility after the worst is over, there is a good lesson for investors: Those who do not panic amid the clouds of confusion are often rewarded with sunnier skies.Recent Bulls and Bears (data from Yardeni Research):The longest bull market on record...

Smithsonian Solstice Saturday returns to celebrate long summer days all night long

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:37 GMT

At museums up and down the National Mall you’ll find parties, performances and late-night exhibitions to celebrate Smithsonian Solstice Saturday.The festivities will start at 1 p.m. Saturday and continue until midnight on June 24, with the American Indian, Asian Art, African, Air and Space, Natural History museums and the Arts and Industries Building hosting outdoor and indoor events.First, Joe Tohonnie Jr. will be leading the Apache Crown Dancers (White Mountain Apache), from Whiteriver, Arizona, in a song and dance to celebrate the summer solstice. Performances at the American Indian Museum will be held throughout the day, with the first starting at 1 p.m. and the last at 6 p.m. The performances will be livestreamed, and museums remain open until 8 p.m.The National Museum of Asian Art and the National Museum of African Art will be keeping their galleries open late and hosting musical performances in the Haupt Garden from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Exhibition tours will take place thr...