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‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers’ trial to hear testimony from final Ottawa resident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

OTTAWA — The trial for two “Freedom Convoy” organizers is set to wrap up hearing testimony from downtown Ottawa residents today.Paul Jorgenson began his evidence Monday in the criminal trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, who face charges related to their role in organizing the weeks-long protest against COVID-19 public health restrictions.He described his desperation to leave downtown Ottawa during the protest, even though his car was blocked in by trucks and other vehicles.So far, all five resident witnesses have described a scene of overwhelming noise from blaring truck horns and engines, and the persistent smell of diesel fumes during the protest. The Crown is expected to wrap up its questions for Jorgenson before he is cross-examined by the defence.As of Monday evening, Crown prosecutors were still weighing whether to call another witness who worked downtown last winter. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2023.The Canadian Press

Champagne says he wishes grocers were more ‘forthcoming’ on plans to stabilize prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

OTTAWA — Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says he wishes Canadian grocers would be more forthcoming with the public about their plans to stabilize prices.Earlier this month, Champagne announced that major Canadian grocers — Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco — submitted initial plans to the federal government for how they will stabilize prices in the face of high inflation.The Liberal government summoned the heads of the companies to meet in Ottawa last month, demanding that they present such a plan by Thanksgiving or face potential tax measures. At the announcement on Oct. 5, Champagne said that those plans included discounts, price freezes and price-matching campaigns. He didn’t divulge many details at the time, saying he wanted the grocers to compete with one another. But in an interview with The Canadian Press on Monday,  Champagne said he wishes the grocers were willing to be more open. “I wish they would be more forthcoming,” Champagne sai...

Statistics Canada to release September inflation reading this morning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is set to release its September inflation reading this morning. Progress on getting inflation down has stalled in recent months as underlying price pressures remain broad in the economy.Canada’s inflation rate accelerated for two consecutive months, reaching four per cent in August. RBC Economics says it expects the annual inflation rate edged down to 3.8 per cent last month and that it will continue falling moving forward. The commercial bank also expects food inflation, which has been a major concern for families, to continue trending downward. Today’s inflation report comes ahead of the Bank of Canada’s next interest rate announcement slated for Oct. 25. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2023.The Canadian Press

Wave of billion-dollar oilpatch deals a sign of bullish Canadian energy sector

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

CALGARY — A wave of high-profile mergers and acquisitions in the Canadian oilpatch is a sign of an industry that is flush with cash and increasingly confident in the short- and medium-term outlook for fossil fuels, experts say.Since the start of the year, there have been a number of billion-dollar-plus deals struck in the Canadian energy sector, includingCrescent Point Energy Corp.’s $1.7-billion purchase of Spartan Delta Corp.’s Montney oilfield assets, ConocoPhillips’ approximately $4-billion purchase of TotalEnergies’ Surmont oilsands project,and Suncor Energy Inc.’s $1.47-billion acquisition of Total’s stake in the Fort Hills oilsands mine.The latest headline-grabbing deal was announced Monday, whenTourmaline Oil Corp. — Canada’s largest natural gas producer — said it would purchase privately held Bonavista Energy Corp. for $1.45 billion.Strathcona Resources Ltd. also recently merged with Pipestone Energy Corp. in an all-stock deal, with...

Poland’s ruling conservatives lose majority in parliament to centrist coalition, final count shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Three opposition parties that vowed to restore democratic standards in Poland together won over 54% of the votes in the nation’s weekend parliamentary election, putting them in a position to take power, according to a complete ballot count reported Tuesday.The conservative Law and Justice party, which has governed the country for eight turbulent years, won slightly over 35% of the votes, making it the single party with the most votes. But the party and its leader Jarosław Kaczyński lost their majority in parliament and appeared to have no way to hold onto power.The official ballot announced by the National Electoral Commission aligns closely with an exit poll released after voting ended Sunday.Turnout was nearly 75%, a record that surpassed the 63% turnout of 1989, a vote that triggered the collapse of the oppressive Soviet-backed communist system. Law and Justice had been taking the country on an illiberal path, taking control of courts in a manner that ...

92% of EU businesses use at least 1 ICT security measure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

Digital technologies are changing how people work and live and also how businesses conduct their activities or business models, but this brings additional challenges to our private lives and security in businesses. Businesses, for example, can implement a range of ICT security measures, practices and procedures to prevent incidents and to ensure the integrity, availability and confidentiality of their data and ICT systems.To ensure the security of ICT systems and data, 58% of businesses make their employees aware of their obligations in ICT-related issues and 37% of the businesses have documents on measures, practices or procedures on ICT security.In 2022, 92% of EU businesses used at least 1 ICT security measure to protect their ICT systems and data, and only 36% used 7 security measures. Most of the companies in the EU preferred to use strong password authentication (82% of EU businesses), data backup to a separate location or cloud (78%) and network access control (65%). Oct...

Brussels shooting UPDATE: Gunman shot after two Swedes killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

UPDATE: A gunman suspected of shooting two Swedish football fans in a terror attack in Brussels was shot in a cafe after some 12 hours on the run, Belgium’s interior ministry said on Tuesday.He was shot in the chest, before being arrested and taken to hospital. Two people have been shot dead in the Belgian capital Brussels on Monday evening, police have said.Belgium's prime minister later confirmed the victims were Swedish. Prosecutors say they are treating the shooting as terrorism.The Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier football match being played in the city has been abandoned, Uefa said.The gunman fled the scene and is still at large. Brussels has increased its terror threat to the highest level.A spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor said another person had been wounded in the attack."Go home and stay at home as long as the threat has not been eradicated," Eric van Duyse told Reuters, adding that the attacker claimed to be inspired by Islamic State.A video posted on ...

Miss Manners: This lady at church got stuck, and I accidentally laughed out loud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the best way to extricate oneself from the faux pas of an uncontrollable laugh, snort or giggle? My friends and I shared our examples of this experience — and we all had them.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: This well-off bride’s wedding shower has me baffled Advice | Miss Manners: I’m plagued by how I mishandled this neighborly interaction Advice | Miss Manners: One guest ignored my buffet and raided the refrigerator Advice | Miss Manners: What should I do when my co-workers glare at me? Advice | Miss Manners: What’s a polite way of saying ‘you weren’t our first pick’? Mine happened when I was in the choir of our very small church. The choir was in the chancel right next to the communion rail, and a lady knelt for communion, then couldn’t get back up. She was crawling with her rear end to the congregants before anyone reali...

Phillies lead Diamondbacks 1-0 ahead of NLCS Game 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78, second in the NL West during the regular season) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (90-72, second in the NL East during the regular season)Philadelphia; Tuesday, 8:07 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 187 strikeouts); Phillies: Aaron Nola (12-9, 4.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 202 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -163, Diamondbacks +139; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks play in Game 2 of the NLCS. The Phillies lead the series 1-0.Philadelphia is 49-32 in home games and 90-72 overall. The Phillies have gone 65-38 in games when they record eight or more hits.Arizona has an 84-78 record overall and a 41-40 record in road games. The Diamondbacks are 69-34 in games when they record eight or more hits.The matchup Tuesday is the ninth meeting between these teams this season. The Phillies hold a 5-3 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Trea Turner has ...

AP PHOTOS: Rugby World Cup quarterfinals showcase the joy and despair of dramatic knockout games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:21 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Rugby World Cup knockout games have no respect for reputations. Ireland and France, each highly ranked, highly rated and in seemingly top form, were surprisingly knocked out in the quarterfinals.Ireland was the top-ranked team in the world, rugby’s undisputed best and on a national-record winning run of 17 games before New Zealand sent it packing.Host France was No. 2, unbeaten at home for more than a year and had nearly 80,000 home fans in support at its Stade de France cauldron. The French are also out after defending champion South Africa pulled off a late surge in their last-eight matchup.Argentina beat Wales, while England was the only team to stay true to pre-match predictions by outlasting Fiji — even if Fiji produced quite the scare before ultimately bowing out.The line between joy and despair was four points in the Ireland-New Zeaand game. It was a single point between France and South Africa.The 38-year-old Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton still leaves in...