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For N.S. welfare recipients, budget freeze by Tories in inflationary times hurts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

HALIFAX — Sandra Page wonders how the Nova Scotia government expects her to remain healthy after its recent budget froze welfare payments despite more than a year of high inflation.“I sometimes go to ask for help out on the street — panhandling — which I shouldn’t have to do,” she said during a recent interview when asked how she manages to pay her monthly costs. The 59-year-old Halifax resident said a hand injury prevents her from working and that she relies on monthly income assistance of $950 — along with a special payment of about $220 to cover medical and dietary needs for a thyroid condition. But after rent is paid, there’s not enough to buy the healthy food her condition requires, she said.The Progressive Conservative government has emphasized fixing health care as its prime focus, and its March budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year kept welfare rates at 2021 levels. But cases like Page’s are raising criticisms that the government is too harsh on th...

Long days of gravediggers tell story of Ukraine’s war dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine (AP) — The graves are dug in the morning. Four plots, each two meters deep in the section of a cemetery in a central Ukrainian city devoted to the nation’s fallen soldiers.The day begins for Oleh Itsenko, 29, and Andrii Kuznetsov, 23, shortly after dawn, when the two diggers report for the grueling work. A day in their lives tells the story of Ukraine’s mounting war dead. They won’t be finished until sunset.With a tractor equipped with an earth auger they bore into the ground. Armed with shovels, they go about carving out perfect rectangles with precision, the final resting place for the country’s soldiers killed in fierce battles on Ukraine’s eastern front. There will be four funerals today in the main cemetery of Kryvyi Rih, an iron-mining city 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the capital, Kyiv. “It’s hard,” says Itsenko, a former metal worker. “But someone’s got to do it.”In Ukraine, even the business of death has become routine as funerals are held for soldier...

Daily horoscope for April 25, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, April 25, 2023:You are strong-minded, energetic and imposing. You dismiss small talk; you focus on the practical. This is the final year of a nine-year cycle for you, which means it’s time to let go of people and things that are holding you back. Do some internal and external housecleaning.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★You mean business, which is why this is an excellent day for productivity. Financial discussions are serious, especially about behind-the-scenes research and private matters. An older family member (probably female) has wise advice. Tonight: Family surprise.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Today you have an orderly state of mind and a strong sense of self-discipline. You will pay attention to detail, overlooking nothing. It’s an excellent day to make future plans or to study and learn something new. Listen to the advice of someone olde...

Two people die, 10 hurt in Madrid restaurant blaze

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

Two people were killed and 12 injured by a fire in a restaurant located in Madrid’s capital, the emergency services reported on Saturday (22 April).The fire started on Friday evening at Burro Canaglia Bar & Resto in central Salamanca.The mayor of Madrid, Luis Martinez Almeida, told reporters outside the building on Saturday that one of the victims was a restaurant worker and the other a client.El Pais reported that an eyewitness said the fire began after a server flambeed pizza, and the flames ignited the ceiling and walls.Emergency services reported that diners had difficulty escaping the fire, which started near the main exit.The police are investigating the cause of fire.

Miss Manners: The bride says no way should I be the best man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter is engaged to a great guy. She is head-over-heels for him, and the rest of us really like him, too. They are a great match.The issue is that while my daughter has many friends and a huge family on both my side and my wife’s, he has a relatively small family and not as many friends. He and I get along great, and he expressed interest in having me be his best man.I’ve only known him for a year or so, and although we are close, he’s not my “best friend” and vice versa. My daughter says “no way,” and so does my wife.I know I’m supposed to walk her down the aisle and be the Father of the Bride, and I really don’t want to be his best man. I’m just curious if there is any kind of wedding etiquette that frowns on the FOTB also being the best man.GENTLE READER: Why do you appeal to Miss Manners, when you have your daughter available? All she needs to say is, “Honey, that’s so sweet, and I&#...

DC United’s Jeahze arrested in Sweden, suspected of assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — D.C. United defender Mohanad Jeahze is in custody in Sweden on suspicion of two counts of assault, Swedish prosecutors said.Jeahze, who was born in Sweden and plays for Iraq’s national team, has been suspended by Major League Soccer pending an investigation by the league and Swedish authorities.Jeahze, 26, was arrested on Saturday after the second of the alleged assaults, both of which took place in Stockholm, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said. He was on approved leave from D.C. United at the time of his arrest.The first alleged assault happened in December.No charges have been brought against Jeahze.There was a detention hearing on Monday in Stockholm’s district court, which ruled that Jeahze can be detained until May 8. By that time a charge must be brought to the court, or the case will be dropped.“D.C. United will remain in close contact with Major League Soccer, the MLS Players Association, and Swedish authorities during the investigation,” the MLS...

Md. substitute teacher facing charges of sexually abusing middle school students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

A long-term substitute teacher is facing dozens of charges after sexually abusing middle school students he taught in Charles County, Maryland, deputies say.Malcolm Fluellyn, 26, of Bryans Road, was a sub at General Smallwood Middle School in Charles Count during the 2022-2023 school year. Fluellyn was removed from the school in February after school administrators were alerted to inappropriate sexual contact between the sub and students.The Charles County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that after launching an investigation into the sexual abuse, detectives discovered numerous other instances of disturbing behavior. They said Fluellyn had inappropriate physical contact with students at the school, as well as inappropriate contact via social media and text messages.He’s facing 32 charges in all, including six counts of sexual abuse of a minor, eight counts of sexual solicitation of a minor, 12 counts of displaying obscene matter to a minor and six counts of fourth-d...

Hadley Gamble, presentadora de CNBC, acusó al CEO de NBCUniversal Jeff Shell de acoso sexual, según su abogado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

Hadley Gamble, presentadora de CNBC y corresponsal internacional, acusó al exdirector ejecutivo de NBCUniversal, Jeff Shell, de acoso sexual y discriminación de sexo en una denuncia presentada ante la compañía de medios de comunicación, según informó el lunes su abogado a NBC News.Comcast, la empresa matriz de NBCUniversal, anunció el domingo que Shell dejaba el cargo “de inmediato” tras una investigación de un asesor jurídico externo por “conducta inapropiada”. NBC News y CNBC son ambas unidades de NBCUniversal. Jeff Shell, director ejecutivo de NBCUniversal, deja el cargo tras una “relación inapropiada” La corporación no especificó de qué manera Shell había violado la política de la empresa. En un comunicado separado, Shell dijo que había tenido una “relación inapropiada con una mujer en la empresa”.Para más información, visita NBCNews.com Source

La OMS está observando la subvariante XBB.1,16, llamada “Arcturus” en redes sociales, como una variante de interés

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

(CNN) — La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) elevó el sublinaje de la variante de coronavirus ómicron XBB.1,16 de rápido crecimiento como una nueva variante de interés, y dice que está superando a la variante XBB.1,5 anteriormente dominante en muchas regiones.XBB.1,16 es descendiente de la variante XBB recombinante, que es una combinación de dos sublinajes BA.2. En las redes sociales, la variante ha sido apodada Arcturus, como la estrella más brillante del hemisferio norte celeste. Actualmente, es la variante dominante en la India, donde está causando una ola de enfermedades en su mayoría leves. Pero se ha visto en otros 32 países, incluido Estados Unidos.Esta rama está muy relacionada con la variante XBB.1,5. Tiene dos cambios genéticos que son diferentes, incluido uno en su proteína espiga, dijo Francois Balloux, director del Instituto de Genética de la UCL, en el University College London, en un comunicado. Balloux dijo que espera que le vaya bien en países que no tuvi...

Giants look to keep home win streak going, host the Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (9-14, fourth in the NL Central) vs. San Francisco Giants (9-13, fourth in the NL West)San Francisco; Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Jake Woodford (1-2, 6.05 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 12 strikeouts); Giants: Sean Manaea (0-1, 6.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 16 strikeouts)BOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants will try to keep a three-game home win streak going when they play the St. Louis Cardinals.San Francisco is 9-13 overall and 5-6 at home. The Giants have gone 4-12 in games when they have allowed at least one home run.St. Louis has a 9-14 record overall and a 4-6 record on the road. The Cardinals have a 6-2 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.The teams play Tuesday for the second time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Thairo Estrada has four doubles and four home runs for the Giants. Mike Yastrzemski is 12-for-41 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games.Nolan Gorman has six home runs, 11 walks and 22 RBI while hitting .310 for the Car...