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Reclusive Taliban leader releases end-of-Ramadan message

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The reclusive top leader of the Taliban released a message Tuesday lauding the changes in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover and the measures they imposed after seizing the country following two decades of war.The statement from Hibatullah Akhundzada was made public ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday later this week that marks the end of the fasting Muslim month of Ramadan. Akhundzada, an Islamic scholar, rarely appears in public or leaves the Taliban heartland in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province. He surrounds himself with other religious scholars and allies who oppose education and work for women.In recent months, Akhundzada appears to have taken a stronger hand in directing domestic policy, banning girls’ education after the sixth grade and barring Afghan women from public life and work, especially for non-governmental organizations and the United Nations.The message was distributed in five languages: Arabic, Dari, English, Pashto and Urdu. T...

Italy captures brown bear that fatally mauled runner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

ROME (AP) — Authorities in northern Italy have captured a bear that fatally mauled a runner and became the focus of a battle over what to do with Italy’s growing brown bear population.Officials in Trento announced Tuesday that the bear, identified as Jj4, had been captured overnight.Andrea Papi, 26, was killed while out on a mountain training run between April 5-6. The Trento provincial authorities ordered the bear killed, but an animal rights group appealed to an administrative court, which suspended the order on April 11.Jj4 is the same Alpine brown bear that injured a father and son out walking in the region in 2020. Then too, provincial authorities ordered her killed but a court blocked the move.She was born to two bears brought to Italy from Slovenia two decades ago as part of a European program to repopulate the brown bear population that had been dwindling but has now rebounded and is increasingly having encounters with the human population.Papi’s family had said they didn’t ...

Putin rallies his troops with 2nd Ukraine visit in 2 months

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday visited command posts of the Kremlin’s forces fighting in Ukraine in an apparent effort to rally his troops as the war approaches its 14th month and Kyiv readies a possible counteroffensive with Western-supplied weapons.A video released by the Kremlin and broadcast by Russian state television showed Putin arriving by helicopter at the command post for Russian forces in the southern Kherson region and afterward flying to the headquarters of the Russian National Guard of the eastern Luhansk region Dressed in a dark suit, and in an apparent demonstration of authority, Putin appeared to chair the meetings with his military top brass. It was his second trip in two months to the Russian-occupied territories in the neighboring country.The locations of the military headquarters in the Kherson and Luhansk regions weren’t disclosed, so it wasn’t possible to assess how close they are to the front line.Russia’s war in Ukraine has ...

In The News for April 18, 2023: Did you miss out on the new federal benefits?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 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 Tuesday, April 18, 2023 …What we are watching in Canada …A new report finds that hundreds of thousands of Canadians may have missed out on the new federal dental and housing benefits created last year. The analysis by senior economist David Macdonald at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives assesses the take-up of both benefits, as well as how much the federal government has actually spent on the measures. Macdonald finds only 44 per cent of people who were likely eligible for the top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit actually received it, while just over half have received the Canada Dental Benefit. That means the federal government spent less than it previously allocated for the measures. Macdonald says the federal government could have eased the requirements for applying, or at the very least, better infor...

J-Hope becomes 2nd BTS member to join South Korean army

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — J-Hope, a member of K-pop sensation BTS, entered a South Korean boot camp Tuesday to start his 18-month compulsory military service, becoming the group’s second member to join the country’s army.There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group’s management agency announced in October that all seven members would fulfill their duties. In December, Jin, 30 and the oldest member of BTS, became the band’s first member to enter the army after revoking his request to delay his conscription.South Korean TV footage Tuesday afternoon showed what they called a black minivan likely carrying J-Hope moving into the boot camp in Wonju, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) east of Seoul. Hybe Corp., the parent company of BTS’ management agency Big Hit Music, later confirmed the 29-year-old singer entered the camp.Dozens of fans showed up near the base after arriving via ren...

Thousands of Canadians missed out on federal housing and dental benefits: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

OTTAWA — A new report says hundreds of thousands of Canadians may have missed out on government money intended to help with the rising cost of living because the housing and dental benefits rolled out last year have had “atrocious” take-up. The analysis by David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, assesses both benefits, as well as how much the federal government has actually spent on the measures. He compares the federal government’s estimates in the fall economic statement with updated figures provided on its website at the end of March. Macdonald finds only 44 per cent of those who would have likely been eligible for the one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit actually received it, while just over half have received the Canada Dental Benefit. “These are pretty atrociously low take-up rates. We should be learning lessons from this (so) the next time around we have much higher take-up rates,” Macdonald said...

Inquest to hear officers’ testimony in 2015 police-involved death of B.C. man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

BURNABY, B.C. — Vancouver police officers involved in a fatal beating of a man almost eight years ago are expected to testify this week at a coroner’s inquest into the death.Myles Gray, who was 33, died in August 2015, shortly after a beating by seven officers, leaving him with a broken eye socket, a crushed voice box, a ruptured testicle and other injuries.The inquest began Monday in Burnaby, B.C., with testimony from six of the more than 40 witnesses expected to appear over 10 days. Officers from the Vancouver Police Department are expected to testify staring today and continuing into next week.   Melissa Gray, Myles Gray’s sister, told reporters at the start of the inquest that the officers stole her brother’s life and that they don’t deserve to continue their jobs in policing.A coroner’s jury can’t make findings of legal responsibility, but can make recommendations to prevent future deaths under similar circumstances.Gray’s mother, Margi...

Premier calls for silent reflection to mark anniversary of Nova Scotia mass shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is asking people to pause for a moment of silence today at noon and again on Wednesday to remember the 22 people killed three years ago during the worst mass shooting in Canadian history.Houston issued a statement saying the impact of the tragedy in northern and central Nova Scotia on April 18-19, 2020, is still being felt.Flags at the provincial legislature and all provincial government buildings will fly at half-mast from today at sunrise until sunset on Wednesday.As well, the premier is encouraging all citizens, businesses and community organizations that fly flags to lower them to half-mast during that time.Last month, a public inquiry released a 3,000-page final report that highlighted a litany of mistakes made by the Mounties during their response to the shootings, and it called on Ottawa to rethink the RCMP’s central role in policing.The inquiry heard that the killer was disguised as a Mountie and driving a replica RCMP cruiser ...

Ontario tells court of ‘unwarranted incursion’ into cabinet in mandate letters case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

OTTAWA — The Ontario government is telling the country’s top court the disclosure of ministerial mandate letters would reveal the substance of deliberations of the premier and his cabinet — breaching a key tenet of Westminster-style government.In a written brief filed with the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario attorney general says cabinet confidentiality, candour and solidarity are fundamental to a system where responsible ministers collectively decide government policy.The court is set to hear oral arguments today concerning Ontario’s attempt to block the release of 23 letters Premier Doug Ford wrote to cabinet ministers shortly after his Progressive Conservative government took office five years ago.The cabinet office refused the CBC’s freedom-of-information request for the letters, citing a cabinet privilege exemption in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.The CBC appealed to the Ontario information and privacy commissioner, who ordered ...

Daily horoscope for April 18, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Aries.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, April 18, 2023:You are passionate, determined and romantic — colorful attributes that make you interesting to others. In fact, others see you as heroic. This year is slower-paced. It’s time to rejuvenate yourself. Focus on relationships and finding people and situations that will bring you happiness.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★This is a mixed day for you. In one way, it’s a fortunate day, because you’re powerful, determined and convincing. Nevertheless, disputes with a family member or frustrations with something going on at home might be in the picture. (Patience is the antidote to anger.) Tonight: You’re in charge.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★There’s a lot going on behind the scenes right now (that your boss or a parent doesn’t know about). Some of you might be involved in a secret flirtation or love affair. Later...