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White House details ‘extreme heat strategy’ amid blistering temperatures in U.S.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

WASHINGTON — Crippling heat waves are an annual fixture in the United States — but it’s not every day the White House announces a detailed strategy to confront them. So far, it’s been an extreme-weather summer across the continent: brutal heat, a barrage of tornadoes, flooding in the U.S. northeast and an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada.This weekend in the U.S. promises to be no different, with temperatures in California’s record-setting Death Valley predicted to reach a scorching 52 C. That’s why the Biden administration is introducing what it calls an “all-of-society response” to help manage a challenge it says is only getting worse. In Ottawa, the federal government is also getting ready with a strategy geared towards helping the most vulnerable, including older Canadians, Indigenous communities, inner-city residents and people who work outside.  The U.S. plan includes new research centres to help underserved communities prepare for fut...

Emergency visa applications for Ukrainians fleeing war to end Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada is expected to close applications for temporary emergency visas offered to Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression Saturday — but hasn’t announced whether it plans to offer long-term refuge.Canada launched the emergency visa after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year as millions of people fled the embattled country. The visa is available to an unlimited number of Ukrainians and allows them to work and study in Canada for three years while they figure out their next steps. Those who’ve come to Canada using the emergency visa aren’t given refugee status in Canada, and instead are considered temporary residents. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser extended the program in March as the war stretched into its second year. The extended application period ends July 15.More than 1.1 million people have applied and more 800,000 visas have been approved as of July 1, though only about 21 per cent of the visa holders have actually come to Canada.Ukrainians who ...

Aspartame a ‘possible’ carcinogen but evidence limited, WHO says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

TORONTO — The Canadian Cancer Society and Health Canada are reviewing the World Health Organization’s classification of aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic.”The WHO released findings on Thursday evening from two expert panels saying there is limited evidence that the artificial sweetener could be associated with liver cancer. But they also said that aspartame is still considered safe to consume at the current recommended daily limit. Health Canada and the WHO recommend the same daily limit of 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram of body weight.Dr. David Ma, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph, says a person weighing 70 kilograms would have to drink about 15 cans of diet pop a day to exceed that daily limit. The WHO is recommending further research on aspartame to determine more definitively whether or not it causes cancer. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2023.Canadian Press health coverage receives suppo...

Work resumes at British Columbia ports after 13-day strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

VANCOUVER — British Columbia port workers are back on the job after a tentative agreement was reached between the employers association and the workers union, ending a 13-day-old strike.A B.C. Maritime Employers Association spokesman says work at the Port of Vancouver began yesterday at 4:30 p.m. with 120 workers to be dispatched overnight, ramping up to 500 by 8 a.m. today.The association says it reached a four-year agreement with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada.The union, which represents 7,400 workers in the job action that began July 1, has not yet commented on the pact. The agreement is subject to ratification by members of both the union and the maritime employers, and no additional details on the deal have been released.Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said Thursday that the strike that had snarled trade worth billions was over and thanked both sides.But he and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a statement that the extent of the disru...

Black Restaurant Week aims to showcase diverse cuisines, uplift Black business owners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

TORONTO — It’s the authentic Jamaican jerk chicken, curry goat and oxtail dishes that restaurant owner Stacy Porter hopes will get you in the door of her Scarborough eatery.After some struggles coming out of the pandemic, she’s optimistic she can win over people’s support for years to come through the tastes of Caribbean cuisine. Porter’s restaurant, Stacy’s Island Flavor, is one of around 20 participating in the third edition of Black Restaurant Week in the Toronto area, which kicked off July 7 and runs through Sunday.The event aims to promote Black-owned culinary businesses and food professionals unable to afford costly marketing campaigns on their own through complimentary public relationsservices. It’s also meant to educate consumers on the abundance of cultural cuisines within their neighbourhoods and the disparities faced by racialized business owners.Porter said it can be challenging to promote the type of dishes she offers. Despite rave reviews ...

Daily horoscope for July 14, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Gemini.Happy Birthday for Friday, July 14, 2023:You are intelligent, magnetic and have a seductive personality. People respond to you. You know how to convince and persuade others. This year is the first year of a nine-year cycle for you, which is exciting. Stay flexible, courageous and ready to explore. Open any door!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★After some brief tension this morning, today flows very smoothly. Take a short trip if possible. Reach out to others. You will enjoy socializing with siblings, relatives and daily contacts because you have lots of mental energy and you want to talk to people. Tonight: Yada, yada, yada.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★This morning you might feel financially pinched or concerned about cash flow. But later today, you have moneymaking ideas, and you feel enthusiastic about how to earn money or perhaps even spend it. You’re in the groove! You might eve...

Mangystau region sees resurgence of rare Persian leopards 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

The personnel of the Kyzylsay Regional Nature Park received reliable evidence of the return of the leopard to the Kazakhstan ecosystem in April. It became apparent that effective monitoring and protection of these rare and magnificent felines requires the combined efforts of various organizations.In 2018, trail cameras successfully recorded the presence of a young male leopard, who was later given the name Tau Sheri. Unfortunately, his remains were found in 2021, though the reason for his death is unknown. Nevertheless, the documented existence of leopards in the area enabled specialists to collect essential evidence, leading to the official recognition of the Persian leopard’s inclusion in Kazakhstan’s Red Book of Endangered Species. This recognition was endorsed by the government in 2021.In May this year, Kazakhstan launched an international transboundary project to study and protect big cats. It is being implemented in Kazakhstan by the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Cent...

Miss Manners: Was I wrong not to let him have the parking space?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What’s the proper etiquette if you’ve accidentally pulled into a parking space someone else was waiting for — without realizing they were waiting for it, and honestly without having been reasonably able to see that they were, because they were past it, facing the opposite direction, without a blinker on? And what if they then get out of their car when you do, saying that you stole their spot?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Their insinuating comments are getting on my nerves Advice | Miss Manners: I’m fed up with being told I’m using offensive words Advice | Miss Manners: I drove three days, then she said there was no room for me Advice | Miss Manners: She’s supposed to be a friend, but she drops innuendo about my marriage Advice | Miss Manners: Is it tacky to bring pastries when I turn in my son’s school application? I wouldn’t hav...

Unlocking Your Cosmic Destiny: The Power of Personalized Star Maps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

Sponsored ContentIf you’ve ever researched zodiac signs, chances are you either believe in the power of the stars to determine your personality, destiny, and place in the world; or you think it’s all a load of Taurus crap.Although relentless internet bullying may have led you to believe otherwise, these two perspectives can actually peacefully coexist. Unless you’re a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist, the one undeniable truth about this subject is that the stars are always above us—or around us in every direction, if you want to get a little more scientifically accurate.They watch over us—they bear witness to how we as individual people and as entire societies grow and evolve over time. Their eternal presence has helped us navigate the planet we inhabit; they’ve lit up the sky since way before the dawn of electricity or even fire.We look up to them for inspiration, solace, and in deeply human curiosity. Whether or not you believe in their ability to affect the outcomes of our decisio...

Dear Abby: She makes Christmas a nightmare with her bizarre demands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:54 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have a sister-in-law, “Helen,” who has appointed herself as the final word on all family events. No other relative has any input into when, where, what, etc., regarding any family celebration. If it’s not her way, it’s the highway.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: If my wife calls me schlubby, can I point out she’s fat? Advice | Dear Abby: My wife says I’m too sensitive about her lovers Advice | Dear Abby: What can I do about my husband’s embarrassing sneeze? Advice | Dear Abby: My ex-wife says these kids are my grandchildren. I’m not so sure. Advice | Dear Abby: My brother has cut all ties, and I don’t even know what I did The biggest problem with Helen is she schedules everything on the date that fits her calendar without regard for anyone else’s. An example: We once celebrated Christmas in February because that worked best for ...