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Australians prepare for their first cyclone of the season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia: (AP) — Residents have begun evacuating and battening down homes and businesses as the first tropical cyclone of Australia’s season is forecast to cross the northeast coast on Wednesday, bringing destructive winds and flooding rain.Tropical Cyclone Jasper — category 2 on a 5-tier scale — was tracking west on Tuesday across the Pacific Ocean and was expected the cross the Queensland state coast near the tourist destination of Port Douglas, authorities said.Winds of up to 140 kph (87 mph) were expected as the cyclone approached, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles told reporters in Brisbane.“We are also expecting very heavy rainfall which will cause life-threatening flash flooding,” Miles said.Locals and tourists were moving to evacuation centers in Port Douglas and neighboring Cairns and Cooktown.The Associated Press

In the news today: Liberal support sinking as inflation and interest rates rise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 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…How inflation, interest rates, tanked the LiberalsExperts say the Liberals will have to find a way to sell Canadians on the economy again after inflation and interest rates took a big bite out of their popularity.The Trudeau government has been badly trailing the Conservatives as cost-of-living issues dominate federal politics. David Coletto, the CEO of Abacus Data, says the Conservatives started overtaking the Liberals in polls around the time of the Bank of Canada’s first interest rate hike in March 2022.That gap widened considerably this summer, leading to a double-digit lead for the Tories.Tyler Meredith, a former head of economic strategy and planning for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, says that’s because Canadians have begun renewing their mortgages at much higher interest rates. Trudeau: Canada’s digital tax not a Biden priorityCan...

It’s the economy, stupid: How high inflation and interest rates tanked the Liberals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau’s government has had to weather many storms over the last eight years.The SNC-Lavalin controversy. An old yearbook photo with the prime minister in blackface. Multiple ethics violations. The COVID-19 pandemic. But as the governing Liberals continue to slide in the polls, the slow-moving hurricane that may actually end up blowing them away appears to be the economy.For many, the pandemic has receded into little more than a bad memory. But the economic domino effect it touched off lingers on, wreaking electoral havoc on incumbent governments around the world.High inflation and interest rates have left people feeling worse off, even as the Canadian economy outperforms expectations in many ways. Polls suggest the governing party is badly trailing the Conservatives. Cost-of-living issues are dominating federal politics and a resurgent Tory party is placing the blame for the erosion of affordability squarely on Trudeau’s shoulders.When did things start ...

B.C. Conservatives awaken from decades in dormancy ahead of 2024 vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

VICTORIA — The first blip on the radar signalling a potentially new player in British Columbia politics occurred in the summer byelection to fill the seat vacated by former New Democrat premier John Horgan.Of course, the NDP easily held the Langford-Juan de Fuca riding Horgan had represented for 18 years. But in second place was B.C. Conservative candidate Mike Harris, a local real estate agent, small business operator and journeyman carpenter.The candidate for the Opposition BC United – formerly known as the B.C. Liberals – finished a distant fourth, ahead only of the Communist Party of B.C.’s candidate.It’s been a banner year for B.C.’s long dormant Conservatives, who achieved official party status with Leader John Rustad and Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman in the legislature, both of whom were elected as B.C. Liberals before switching parties.The Conservatives are now riding high in the polls – but can that translate into electoral success in 2024’s provincial election or...

U.S. president not making much fuss over Canada’s 3% tax on web giants, Trudeau says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s tax on Netflix and other foreign digital services companies may be a major irritant for the U.S. tech sector, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it doesn’t seem to be much concern to President Joe Biden.In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Trudeau said “not once” did Biden indicate that the digital services tax, which is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, was a significant worry for the White House. The prime minister said he was poised to defend the policy, which is widely opposed on Capitol Hill. David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, warned in October about the risk of a “big fight” over the three per cent levy.“I understand that Americans may not be very happy that we are going to do it, but we have promised to do it,” Trudeau said. He said he was prepared with “all sorts of responses” had Biden raised the upcoming tax.The measure is aimed at ensuring foreign tech giants that are gen...

Daily horoscope for December 12, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions after 10:30 p.m. PST tonight. The New Moon in Sagittarius is at 6:32 p.m. EST (3:32 p.m. PST).Happy Birthday for Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023:You are passionate, free-spirited and spontaneous. You love to travel. You want to do good. This has been a solid year of work for you. In 2024, expect exciting change. Stay flexible so that you can act fast. Expect to make new friends. Travel plans are likely!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★This is an excellent day to explore what further education or training you might get to improve your job and career. Likewise, what travel plans in the future might enrich your life or expand your world? Today’s New Moon is the perfect time to ponder these questions. Tonight: You’re idealistic.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Give some thought to your debt and the arrangements you have with others regarding shared property, shared responsibilities, inheritances and such. What can you do to improve this pictu...

"Victory" elections to be held in Azerbaijan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

A significant event occurred in Azerbaijan's sociopolitical life in 2003. On October 1st - writes Mazahir Afandiyev, Member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan."National Leader Heydar Aliyev announced his resignation from the presidential elections and urged our people to vote for Ilham Aliyev, the first deputy chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party. He believed that Ilham Aliyev and the New Azerbaijan Party would continue to do their best for the growth of Azerbaijan and the well-being of our people.October 15th, 20 years ago, went down in history as one of Azerbaijan's significant days. On this day, the Azerbaijani people voted for the continuation of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev's policy and the maintenance of the country's stability.President Ilham Aliyev, by his deeds, proved the National Leader's words, "I believe him as myself." President Ilham Aliyev created the foundations for a new age and era in Azerbaijan, leading the country toward strategic goals built on the...

No place for hate in Europe - Commission and High Representative launch call to action to unite against all forms of hatred

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

The Commission and the High Representative have adopted a Communication on “No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred”. It is a call for action to all Europeans to stand up against hatred and speak up for tolerance and respect.In recent weeks, we have seen scenes in Europe which we hoped we would never see again. Europe is experiencing an alarming increase in hate speech and hate crime and evidence shows that Jewish and Muslim communities are particularly affected.With today's Communication, the Commission and the High Representative are stepping up their efforts to fight hatred in all its forms, by reinforcing action across a variety of policies, including security, digital, education, culture and sport. This includes additional funding to protect places of worship and will be backed up by the designation of Envoys with an explicit mandate to maximise the potential of EU policies to combat hatred. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Europe is a pl...

Miss Manners: Do they think that as doctors they have some special aura?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a receptionist at a surgical center who checks in many patients each day.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I’m taking the high road when it comes to the fruitcake Advice | Miss Manners: Is it vindictive to cross these people off my cookie list because of what they said? Advice | Miss Manners: I wish the cleaning lady wouldn’t openly covet my belongings Advice | Miss Manners: The bride told everybody she’d be selling their gifts Advice | Miss Manners: This is way too much money for a co-worker gift. How can I get out of it? On occasion, the person I am checking in turns out to be a doctor, and often becomes offended that I do not address them as “Dr.” rather than by their name.There is not any indication of their profession on their driver’s licenses or insurance cards (I have checked!), and that is usually the only information I have about ...

All systems are go for Geminids Meteor shower this week — how to watch in DC region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:42 GMT

A bright and long 2020 Geminid. (Courtesy Greg Redfern) A bright and long 2020 Geminid. (Courtesy Greg Redfern) Last year, the Geminid Meteor shower was washed out by the bright moon. But conditions overnight Wednesday and early Thursday — the peak time — are primed for giving skywatchers a wonderful display for what’s expected to be the best-performing meteor shower of the year.The moon will not be a factor this year and better yet, we have clear skies forecast on Dec. 13-14. I say the best meteor shower of the year, because the Geminids have proven to reliably produce a large number of meteors per hour in a dark sky — upward of 100+ — and many of them are bright. Plus, the Geminids is the only major meteor...