Sudbury, Ont. paramedics fell short of response time targets last year
CBC
23-05-16 16:28
Paramedics in Sudbury, Ontario failed to meet their response time targets for their most acute calls last year,however, paramedics in Sudbury are set to receive two new ambulances starting from 1 July in an attempt to meet their response targets.The city’s Health Sciences North hospital was described as "too small" by Joseph Nicholls, the city's chief of fire and paramedic services who stated that this was the reason for bed shortages in the hospital's emergency department.
The skeletons of two men killed during an earthquake have been found in the ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii. Excavation techniques have helped archaeologists learn more about "violent, powerful seismic events that were happening at the time of the eruption", said director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel. It is thought that the area was undergoing reconstruction work at the time of eruption in AD 79, following the earthquake.
Located 15 miles southeast of Naples, Pompeii was home to about 13,000 people when it was destroyed by volcanic ash, pumice pebbles and dust, which caused an eruption similar to several atomic bombs. The Culture Ministry estimates that “at least 15-20% of the population” was killed. The area had remained undiscovered until the 16th century, but has since gained the attention of archaeologists intent on halting years of neglect and decay.
The Pompeii site saw a boost in archaeology efforts, thanks to a recently-concluded €105m EU-funded project to support the conservation and archaeological research. The Italian Culture Minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, said “do(ing) more excavations” is necessary to fully understand an “immense treasure”.
The 80th anniversary of the RAF's raid on German dams during the Second World War will be commemorated in a variety of ways, including a flyover by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from the RAF Museum in north London over the Lincolnshire airfields where the 19 Lancasters departed from, and a series of tours at the Duxford arm of the Imperial War Museum. The Petwood Hotel in Lincolnshire, which was formerly the Officers' Mess of the RAF's 617 Squadron, will also be a place of pilgrimage for those wanting to remember the team that took part in the raid. A life-sized steel sculpture of a Lancaster bomber, similar to the Angel Of The North, is also planned for installation at Hill Holt Wood in Lincolnshire.Devotion to the Second World War and its veterans is particularly strong in Lincolnshire, which was home to many RAF airbases during the conflict. The international Bomber Command Centre, near Lincoln, serves as a tribute to those lost on bombing missions, but the closure of RAF Scampton this year has caused some disquiet among locals who fear that the base's history will be erased. The site housed Gibson's office - complete with pipe, ashtray and model of his beloved dog - until it was closed. The dog's remains, which are buried on the base, may have to be moved, sparking local controversy.
Former Apple engineer Weibao Wang has been charged with stealing information on self-driving car technology. The US Department of Justice alleges he took thousands of files while working on the project, in addition to working for a US subsidiary of a Chinese vehicle-maker that was developing autonomous driving vehicles. Officers found large quantities of documents taken from Apple when they searched his California home in 2018. If found guilty, Wang faces up to 10 years in prison for each of six counts filed against him. The charges are the result of a new task force focused preventing foreign governments from stealing US technology.
Cuba has announced measures to ease restrictions on citizens living abroad, including extending the validity of passports from six to 10 years and cutting more than half the costs associated with renewing travel documents off-island. The measures, which take effect on 1 July, also eliminate a requirement that Cubans pay a fee for maintaining active status. The government's move is aimed at "strengthening ties with the Cuban community abroad". More than 300,000 Cubans arrived at the US border last year, representing a record-breaking exodus amid an economic crisis, which has put increasing stress on the country's already fragile economy.
Brazil's Finance Ministry is exploring new initiatives to increase tax revenue, including a review of income tax deductions and exemptions, according to anonymous sources. The potential measures are hoped to improve Brazil's fiscal stability, which has been threatened by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's aim to direct more money towards social projects. The potential initiatives would include taxing company profits and dividends and changing the tax laws on some investment funds. The government estimates that due to exemptions, it is set to lose BRL51.1 billion ($10.2 billion) and BRL31.3 billion from deductions in its 2024 budget bill.
Experts have cast doubt on the effectiveness of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons following Monday night’s missile attack on Kyiv, in which Ukrainian authorities claimed to have neutralised 100% of the projectiles fired. According to the Ministry of Defence in London, Russia launched a total of 27 missile and drone systems, including Kinzhal ballistic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, and Iranian-supplied Shahed drones. Some of these are “dual capable”, meaning they can either be used conventionally or in nuclear form. The claim raises the prospect of a future conflict in which Russia is unable to deploy its nuclear weapons against NATO forces.
Turkey's foreign ministry has criticised the head of an international observation mission who said in his report 29 June that "the election administration’s work was lacking in transparency, as well as the overwhelming bias of the public media and the limitations to freedom of speech". Ambassador Jan Petersen, head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) election observation mission, was further criticised for his claims of "political analysis and biased comments." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected in the vote.
Indonesia's slowing birth rates will result in the country losing its position as the world's fourth-most populous nation by 2045, according to the Ministry of National Planning. A survey conducted by the ministry found population growth in Indonesia will fall to 0.4% by 2045, down from 1.17% last year. The news reflects a global trend whereby birth rates tend to decrease as incomes and living standards improve. Meanwhile, China lost its place as the world's most populated country to India after its own population reportedly fell for the first time in six decades last year.
The Japanese government is looking to encourage foreign entrepreneurs to come to the country and start businesses by relaxing rules for startup visas. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is considering letting private companies help with screening processes, with plans to revise the rules possibly as early as the summer. The visas are targeted at foreigners who intend to start a business in Japan within a year of arriving.
China is attempting to persuade both sides of the Ukraine conflict to resume negotiations, casting itself as a neutral and helpful global leader. This move comes as China becomes increasingly pessimistic it can prevent the deteriorating US-China relations. While Beijing wishes to preserve its relationship with Russia, it fears that its position viewed as pro-Russia will poison its reputation in Europe, further harming its security environment. As a result, China has attempted to be neutral and offer its good offices to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
The Ukrainian conflict presents complicated challenges for China, potentially strengthening US alliances in Europe and beyond. As a result, Beijing has begun to offer its good offices to resolve the crisis, articulating a vision for global security and becoming more involved diplomatically. China aims to position itself as neutral and limit its support for Russia, even as it prioritizes its partnership with its closest strategic partner.
Recent remarks by the Chinese ambassador to France that the status of Crimea depends on how the problem is perceived provoked widespread condemnation, and 80 European lawmakers urged the French government to expel the ambassador. The Chinese government tried to downplay the situation, stating that the ambassador was only expressing his personal views. China is likely to do just enough to cast itself as a helpful and responsible global leader but not enough to be held accountable for achieving an end to the Ukraine conflict on terms that would be fair and acceptable to both sides.
Indonesia's population growth will slow to 0.4% by 2045, according to the Ministry of National Planning, meaning the country will lose its status as the fourth-most populous nation. By 2045, it is estimated that Indonesia will be home to 324 million people, placing it behind Nigeria and Pakistan in the demographic ranking. The proportion of Indonesians aged over 65 years old is estimated to rise to 14.6% in 2045 from 6.2% in 2020.
Landlords have criticised new legislation proposed by the UK government, which is expected to trigger thousands of further sales of properties. The Renters' Reform Bill will scrap section 21 – an eviction clause – which allows landlords to remove tenants who damage property or refuse to pay rent. Scrapping section 21 will force landlords to rely on small claims courts to regain control of their assets, but extensive delays in such courts have led to criticism the legislation is failing to take the strain the current pandemic has put these courts under into consideration. Such concerns have triggered a backlash from Conservative MPs and some landlords.
Russia orders arrest of prominent producer, director who criticized Ukraine war
The Toronto Star
23-05-17 09:05
A Moscow court has issued arrest warrants for theatre director Ivan Vyrypaev and film producer Alexander Rodnyansky over allegations of "spreading false information" about the Russian army. Rodnyansky, who is of Ukrainian origin, is a vocal critic of the Kremlin and has previously been declared a "foreign agent" by Russia's Justice Ministry. Both Rodnyansky and Vyrypaev are overseas, and Russian officers only plan to put them into custody once they are arrested or extradited. Since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Russian state has criminalised any opposition to the war.
A Chinese comedy group has been fined 14.7 million yuan ($2.1m) after one of its performers used a joke about military conduct that included President Xi Jinping's slogan "fight to win, forge an exemplary conduct." Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media and comedian Li Haoshi accepted the penalty and terminated his contract. The offending remark, which described the behaviour of House's dogs, was made during a stand-up performance in Beijing, and was disliked by authorities who said that the troupe had "humiliated the people's army". On Tuesday, Beijing authorities seized 1.32 million yuan of what they deemed illegal income and levied an additional 13.35 million yuan fine on the company, with the company's activities in the Chinese capital suspended indefinitely.
Deputy energy minister in the German economy ministry, Patrick Graichen, is leaving his post after a scandal involving nepotism emerged. Graichen had helped his best man get a job as the head of the German Energy Agency, leading to scrutiny of his relationship with Economy Minister Robert Habeck. Since then, irregularities in tender processes have been discovered at the economy ministry, leading to Graichen's departure.
Finnish embassy bank accounts frozen in Russia, foreign ministry says
Reuters
23-05-17 08:32
Finnish embassies in Moscow and St. Petersburg have seen their bank accounts frozen, according to the Finnish foreign ministry, which declined to comment further. Russia's central bank has not released a statement regarding the matter.
Turkey summons German envoy over detention of Turkish journalists
Reuters
23-05-17 13:43
Turkey has summoned the German ambassador to Ankara to protest the arrest of two journalists. The pair, both from a pro-government Turkish newspaper, were arrested by German police on suspicion of dangerous dissemination of personal data. The Turkish Foreign Ministry claims the journalists’ reporting on the network of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen had prompted a complaint by one of its members, and demanded their immediate release. Turkish authorities say the Gulen network was responsible for a 2016 coup attempt, and label it a terrorist organisation.
Labour bosses at Thyssenkrupp have asked Berlin to help fund an environmental project with €2 billion ($2.2 billion). They warned that reducing subsidies further could have devastating consequences for the project. There needs to be a committed decision to avoid companies stopping investments or shifting in other directions.
China is carrying out a massive campaign to tighten Beijing's grip over rural governance, starting with national-level training sessions for tens of thousands of village party chiefs. The sessions were hosted by the ruling Communist Party's top personnel department and the Central Party School; it is unusual for this school to focus on lower-level officials. Keeping rural managers in line is seen as an essential part of President Xi Jinping's long-term plan to revitalise rural areas following a massive poverty alleviation campaign. Before, the village heads were usually trained in the provincial or municipal party schools; now, Beijing is providing direct guidance.
