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World shares up after First Republic aid spurs Wall St rally

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Markets advanced Friday in Europe and Asia, tracking a rally on Wall Street after a group of big banks offered a lifeline to First Republic Bank, the latest U.S. lender in the spotlight for troubles in the banking industry. Shares rose in Paris, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong but edged lower in Mumbai. U.S. futures edged higher, while oil prices gained. The S&P 500 jumped 1.8% Thursday, erasing earlier losses following reports that First Republic Bank could get help or sell itself to another bank. Markets have gyrated this week on concerns over the toll on banks from the fastest set of interest rate hikes in decades. The turmoil flared with last week’s collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the second largest bank failure in U.S. history.“The market remains cautious; traders do not want to get overexcited, especially with investors still focusing on what can go wrong instead of what could go right,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a report. Germany’s DA...

Mozambicans march to honor protest rapper after his death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Mozambicans are planning marches across the country to honor Azagaia, a popular protest rapper and fierce government critic, who died last week.Memorial marches are planned in every major city on Saturday for the musician who died after an epileptic seizure at the age of 38. The nationwide demonstrations follow Azagaia’s funeral procession on Wednesday, in which thousands marched through the streets of Maputo, the capital, chanting protest slogans such as “resistance” and “power to the people.”Riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd as it tried to carry Azagaia’s coffin past Ponta Vermelha, the official residence of the president.Such mass demonstrations critical of President Filipe Nyusi’s government are rare in Mozambique.“Azagaia was a hero of the people. More of a hero than the president, that is why we are taking him to the president’s house,” said Walter, a demonstrator who refused to give his last name for his safety. Speaking before th...

Montenegro presidential vote seen as test of future policies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Montenegro is preparing to hold a presidential election this weekend, a vote taking place amid a political stalemate that has stalled the small NATO member’s bid to join the European Union and questions about whether the Balkan country will align more closely with Serbia and Russia.Analysts predict Sunday’s election will not produce a clear winner and that pro-Western incumbent Milo Djukanovic, 61, will face one of several challengers in a runoff two weeks later.Djukanovic and his Democratic Party of Socialists led Montenegro to independence from Serbia in 2006, and defied Russia to join NATO in 2017. An alliance dominated by parties seeking closer ties with Serbia and Russia ousted DPS from power in 2020.The presidency is largely ceremonial in Montenegro but the election result holds political weight because of the country’s political turmoil and the war in Ukraine. It is also crucial for the political future of Djukanovic, the longest...

Canadians mourn the deaths of two Edmonton police officers : In The News for Mar. 17

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of Mar. 17 …What we are watching in Canada …People in Edmonton and across Canada are paying tribute to two city police officers who were fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call.Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were gunned down early Thursday morning after entering an apartment building. A police source says the shooter was a 16-year-old boy who also shot and wounded his own mother.He was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.On Thursday night, landmarks in Edmonton including the High Level Bridge, City Hall, Muttart Conservatory, Commonwealth Stadium and Walterdale Bridge were lit in blue to honour the two officers.Flags at the Alberta legislature, government buildings and police detachments were lowered to half-mast.Online fundraisers have started for the familie...

Internal documents show what RCMP considered ‘lessons learned’ from ‘Freedom Convoy’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

OTTAWA — After policing the “Freedom Convoy,” the RCMP came away with lessons learned, newly released documents show — including the need to better prepare for the potential targeting of emergency phone lines.Briefing notes obtained by The Canadian Press under access-to-information laws also point to security pressures to protect leaders in Ottawa and detail the challenges that arose from the fact the protests had no clear leadership.The force compiled the documents before six top RCMP officials, including Commissioner Brenda Lucki, were interviewed by lawyers with the Public Order Emergency Commission last September. In early 2022, Lucki was among the officials Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet looked to as they grappled with how to respond to protests staged near Parliament Hill in Ottawa and at several U.S. border crossings.To clear the protesters, who were demonstrating against Trudeau’s government and COVID-19 public health measures, Ott...

People honouring two slain Edmonton police officers gunned down responding to a call

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

EDMONTON — People in Edmonton and across Canada are paying tribute to two city police officers who were fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call.Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were gunned down early Thursday morning after entering an apartment building. A police source says the shooter was a 16-year-old boy who also shot and wounded his own mother.He was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.On Thursday night, landmarks in Edmonton including the High Level Bridge, City Hall, Muttart Conservatory, Commonwealth Stadium and Walterdale Bridge were lit in blue to honour the two officers.Flags at the Alberta legislature, government buildings and police detachments were lowered to half-mast.Online fundraisers have started for the families of the officers by the Edmonton Police Association and the Alberta Paramedic Association. Ryan, 30, who has been described as a dedicated community member who loved his job, was married and his wife i...

Inflation is easing but Ottawa faces pressure to help those who have fallen behind

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s inflation rate likely took another dip last month, but with many Canadians still struggling with the cost of living, the federal government is facing pressure to deliver more help in the upcoming budget.Statistics Canada is set to release its February consumer price index report on Tuesday, giving its most up-to-date reading on inflation ahead of the federal government’s budget on March 28. Desjardins and RBC are both forecasting the inflation rate fell to 5.4 per cent last month, down from 5.9 per cent in January.But even as inflation eases, the federal government has signalled the budget will include affordability measures to help Canadians still challenged by the cost-of-living.Desjardins’ chief economist Jimmy Jean said all eyes are on Ottawa to balance affordability priorities with fiscal restraint.“One of the things we obviously are going to watch is what governments put forward to help with cost of living, all with the constraint that...

P.E.I. housing pinch major issue as parties campaign ahead of April 3 vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

CHARLOTTETOWN — A lack of affordable housing on Prince Edward Island has some questioning whether the province is running out of room for those who want to call it home, making dwindling real estate one of the major issues in the upcoming election.Party leaders campaigning ahead of the April 3 vote have promised to tackle the lack of housing if they form the next government.A December news release from Statistics Canada said P.E.I.’s rate of retaining immigrants five years after they arrive had jumped to 28 per cent in 2015 from 15.6 per cent in 2010, but it was still the worst among the provinces.The population began to ramp up in 2015 but there was a dip in housing construction just before that, said Jim Sentance, an economics professor at the University of Prince Edward Island.“New housing starts just dwindled down to a few hundred a year,” he said.A doctor coming into the province might not find it hard to find a house but someone in the lower- or middle-income...

Daily horoscope for March 17, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or major decisions from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT today (7 a.m. to 8 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Capricorn into Aquarius.Happy Birthday for Friday, March 17, 2023:You are charismatic, friendly and charming. People immediately like you. You are hardworking and have many interests. This year is the last year of a nine-year cycle for you, which means it’s time to take inventory of your life. Let go of people, places and things that have held you back.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★You might be in the right place, at the right time, talking to the right person to make money through art or something beautiful today. You are an artisan, and you enjoy the work of others. Moneymaking ideas that are practical and long-lasting might occur to you today. Tonight: Financial deals.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is an excellent day to sit down with someone older or more experienced to get their advice. It will please you to seek the counsel of others, e...

Commission publishes the General Report 2022: EU's solidarity in action at the time of geopolitical challenges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

On 15 March, the Commission published the 2022 edition of the EU General Report, in line with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The report presents the key activities of the EU in 2022, with a strong focus on EU's response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.In particular, the EU adopted more than 200 measures to help the Ukrainian state and people, and support the member states in dealing with consequences especially on Europe's economy and energy security. Around 4 million people fleeing the war received temporary protection in the member states. The EU adopted nine packages of harsh sanctions to curtail Russia's ability to wage war and mobilised close to €50 billion in support for Ukraine.The EU also acted decisively to phase out its dependency on Russian fossil fuels, support citizens facing high energy bills and accelerate the EU's clean-energy transition. Thanks to its REPowerEU plan, it progressively dive...