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Take hard line on Canada’s digital tax, online laws, tech associations urge Biden

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

WASHINGTON — A high-tech industry coalition in the United States is urging President Joe Biden to take a hard line against Canada’s approach to digital services. The group says the proposed digital services tax unfairly targets U.S. companies and is offside with international efforts to establish a global standard. In a letter to Biden, they also complain about two controversial federal bills: the Online Streaming Act, known as Bill C-11, and the Online News Act, or Bill C-18.They warn C-11, which is meant to protect Canadian content providers, could backfire and ultimately increase costs to consumers. And they fear the Online News Act, which would compensate Canadian news organizations and broadcasters, could violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Biden is meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later this week as part of his first visit to Canada since taking over the White House in 2021. “We are concerned that Canada is pursuing a number of problematic proposals and ...

Canadian home sales expected to pick up in spring but inventory still lags

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

TORONTO — With two kids under the age of six living in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom household, Jacquelin Forsey and her husband have long known it would only be a matter of time before their family outgrew their beloved home.Long hours in the small space while Forsey was pregnant and toiling away from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a visit to a neighbour who was selling their “beautiful” place that was “the perfect size,” convinced the couple to start their new home hunt recently.“If there was any way to make this place bigger, we would never leave,” said Forsey, a PhD student, of the home her family owns in the Leslieville area of Toronto.“We love it. We love the neighbourhood, we love our house, but we just can’t all be in this tiny house forever.”The couple has spent recent months scouring listings and put in at least one failed bid, but Forsey has her fingers crossed that their fortunes will change this spring a...

Canada’s stockpile of ventilators up from 500 to 27,000 after push to procure them

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

Canada’s race to procure ventilators for COVID-19 patients in the early days of the pandemic had researchers, scientists, industry and a notable astrophysicist working “night and day”to design machines that could be quickly manufactured domestically.Various efforts included a Montreal-based competition that drew global competitors and a group of scientists and engineers involving Queen’s University professor emeritus Art McDonald, co-winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in physics.McDonald said Cristiano Galbiati, a colleague and physics professor at Princeton University and an institute in Italy, contacted him from Milan during lockdowns in early 2020 to say the technology they had developed to detect dark matter could be adapted to produce a low-cost ventilator.At the time, some countries were scrambling to get more ventilators, which pump oxygen through a tube in the windpipe and into the lungs of patients to help them breathe.There were also fears about doctors...

Don’t assume U.S. minds are made up about Safe Third Country treaty: Canada’s envoy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s administration is not dismissing out of hand the idea of renegotiating the bilateral 2004 treaty that governs the flow of asylum seekers across its northern border, says Canada’s ambassador to the U.S.Kirsten Hillman, in Ottawa to prepare for Biden’s impending arrival on Thursday, said the administration understands how the Safe Third Country Agreement impacts the flow of migrants across the Canada-U.S. border.Since those migrants are travelling in both directions, taking steps to discourage would-be refugees from slipping over the border undetected would be in the interest of both countries, she acknowledged. “I think it does benefit both countries, and I actually think they do recognize that,” Hillman said in an interview. “I would say there’s actually a lot of goodwill on the U.S. side to listen to us about this challenge that we’re facing.”The agreement, signed in 2002 and implemented in 200...

Ukraine, IMF agree on $15.6 billion loan package

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund have agreed on a $15.6 billion loan package aimed at shoring up government finances severely strained by Russia’s invasion and at leveraging even more support by reassuring allies that Ukraine is pursuing strong economic policies.Ukraine’s finance ministry said Wednesday that the program will “help to mobilize financing from Ukraine’s international partners, as well as to maintain macrofinancial stability and ensure the path to post-war reconstruction after Ukrainian victory in the war against the aggressor.”The loan program will run for four years, with the first 12 to 18 months focusing on helping Ukraine close its massive budget deficit and alleviating pressure to finance spending through printing money at the central bank, the IMF said in a statement Tuesday.The remainder of the program will focus on supporting Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership and post-war reconstruction. The IMF deal is...

Daily horoscope for March 22, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Aries.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, March 22, 2023:You are imaginative and hardworking. You’re also frank, direct and clear-sighted about what you hope to achieve. This year is full of exciting changes and chances to expand your personal freedom. Be open to new opportunities. Let go of whatever is holding you back. Expect to travel.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★Today the Moon is in your sign lined up with lucky Jupiter, which makes you feel happy and generous to others. You feel courageous and confident! It’s good to know that today you will get what you give, especially in terms of kindness, friendship and nurturing support. Tonight: Be straightforward.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Your idealism is aroused today, which will make you have a greater concern for the deeper aspects of life. Some of you will experience metaphysical or spiritual insights or some kind of an epiphany. Y...

Wagner chief tells Russia's Shoigu of coming Ukrainian attack

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian mercenary chief, told Sergei Shoigu in a Monday (20 March) letter that the Ukrainian army was planning an offensive to cut off Wagner forces from the main Russian contingent in eastern Ukraine.The letter was published by his press agency. Prigozhin stated that the "large-scale attack" was being planned for late March or early April.He said that he asked for all the necessary measures to ensure the Wagner private military company is not cut off from the main Russian army forces, which would have negative consequences for the special-military operation.This was the first time Prigozhin published correspondence with the defense minister, whom he has often criticised for his conduct during the war.This unusual move had two possible goals: to misunderstand Ukraine commanders and to blame Shoigu, not Prigozhin if the purported Ukrainian maneuver was successful.Prigozhin stated that he had provided details about the Ukrainian plan as well as his own counter-propo...

Presale Codes for Bryson Tiller Back and I’m Better Tour

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

So give me all of you in exchange for me… Just give me all of you in exchange for me, FOR ME! … *oh ahem* … sorry, didn’t see you there. OK, well if you’re here, you’re just as excited as we are to hear that Bryson Tiller is about to go on tour. The sultry crooner is hitting 25 cities this summer in a tour dubbed “Back and I’m Better.” The tour launches May 4 at the House of Blues San Diego and wraps June 12 in Seattle, WA, including a night at the Wiltern here in Los Angeles on June 8 — see below for all dates. Passwords and presale codes for the Bryson Tiller Back and I’m Better Tour tickets are as follows:Presale codes for Bryson Tiller Back and I’m Better TourPresale tickets for the Bryson Tiller Back and I’m Better Tour are go on sale today and we’ve been told the following presale codes and passwords may work. Details are subject to change, and vary by event date:Citi card presale code or password: 412800 (you will need a C...

Miss Manners: Should I call people to explain my daughter’s wedding?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter moved to Europe several years ago and met a wonderful man, to whom she is now engaged. Her father and I are delighted.They are likely to marry near their home in Europe so that their friends and his family can easily attend. Of course, we will, too.The rest of our family and friends live in the U.S. I think destination weddings are an imposition, and we’re happy to host a reception near our home. However, several people have already told us they’re eager to attend a wedding in Europe.How do I sort this? I can’t envision sending a wedding invitation with check boxes indicating “preferred destination.” Should I call/email/text guests beforehand to explain the situation? That seems weird.GENTLE READER: A wedding near the bridal couple’s home is not a destination wedding, but Miss Manners takes your point that the travel may be difficult or impossible for some.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I’m t...

The Manhattan Transfer brings 50th anniversary farewell tour to Strathmore in North Bethesda

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:03:20 GMT

Hear our full conversation on my podcast “Beyond the Fame.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews The Manhattan Transfer at Strathmore (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); The Manhattan Transfer is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a final farewell world tour.The 10-time Grammy winners will perform at the Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday.“We’ll be performing with the great DIVA ...