Should we get back to this? The four fixes that could rescue downtown
The Toronto Star
23-05-16 09:00
Toronto's Financial District has struggled to recover from COVID-19 at the rate of other North American cities and workers have been slower to return to the office due to long commuting times and high housing costs. With ongoing concerns that occupancy could be stalling at less than half of pre-pandemic levels and the city feeling battered by a housing crisis and public transit challenges, experts have suggested that diversifying the city's heart with more affordable housing in the core, alongside space for arts groups, non-profits, daycares and research facilities, could help animate underused office buildings. Such proposals would require big shifts in the thinking of both the city and businesses that operate there, raising the possibilities of free lunched to lure workers back downtown with more sustainable and commercially viable office spaces, daycare provisions alongside weight training facilities and sustainable infrastructure that can futher entice workforces back into the city.
Seven members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at the University of Wyoming have filed a lawsuit against their college after a trans woman was granted permission to move into their sorority house. The seven members of the sorority have called on a judge to declare the membership of 21-year-old Artemis Langford void and to award unspecified damages. The women claimed that Langford has been visibly aroused in their company, and some of the sorority members felt “uncomfortable” and “in constant fear” in the house when she was present.
The CSIS Economics Program and Interpret: China project recently held a panel discussion on Chinese views of the effectiveness of economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and its allies in response to the Ukraine crisis. The panel discussed what strategies and approaches Beijing might develop to counter or circumvent similar US-led action in the future. The discussion was based on recently translated primary source documents and included experts from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The G7, despite being labelled "outdated" by US President Donald Trump in 2017, has become a forum for dealing with the Ukrainian crisis and imposing sanctions against Russia, a new sense of purpose for the group amid a deteriorating world order. The UK and Japan have now made the case for rallying the group to support a “rules-based international order” that will provide more stability in the war-torn regions of Asia and Africa while also countering China's economic influence. While Trump refused to sign the communiqué from the last G7 summit in Canada, President Biden has confirmed that the US will "remain committed to multilateralism" and will want to work together with Japan. During a meeting in Tokyo at the end of March, foreign ministers for each country issued a harsh critique of China’s human rights behaviour, a diplomatic move made by Japan to seize on the shift in attitude of the US and the UK towards China in order to foster renewed support among the democratic nations of the world. The Japanese prime minister, Kishida Fumio, has invited India to the G7 summit in the hope of building bridges with the developing world.
A documentary entitled 'Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90' celebrates 12-time Grammy winner Willie Nelson's recent 90th birthday concerts in Los Angeles, which included performances by the likes of Keith Richards, Neil Young, George Strait and Snoop Dogg. The film will be shown in limited cinemas in the US in mid-June and features material from two Hollywood Bowl concerts in April. Alongside the celebrations for his 90th birthday, Nelson is also set to release a book about his songwriting called Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs at the end of October.
Experts foresee more unseasonal B.C. heat waves as May hot spell shatters records
CBC
23-05-16 13:00
An ongoing heat wave in western Canada that set nearly 40 daily temperature records should serve as a warning of future out-of-season hot spells, according to climatologists. The unseasonable weather, which has sent temperatures soaring up to 15C higher than usual, broke 30 records in British Columbia and peaked at 35.9C in Lytton, while in Alberta, Sunday’s temperature spike broke daily highs in places including Edmonton and Hinton. The heat has worsened wildfires and flooding, and experts warn that future temperature spikes could lead to longer, more expansive wildfire seasons, with devastating consequences for ecosystems and water supplies.
Loneliness can cause damage to people's physical and mental health equivalent to smoking, excessive drinking, physical inactivity and obesity, according to research. Loneliness exceeds social isolation, an objective measure of an individual's social contact, and unlike social isolation, it is a self-reported, subjective feeling of inadequacy of social relationships. It often follows a U-shaped pattern throughout life: high during teenage years and again during old age. There is likely to be a growing epidemic as the population ages. Health risks linked to severe loneliness include an increased chance of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cancer. Counteracting loneliness can also enhance people's mental and physical well-being. Campaign to End Loneliness advises people to interact with like-minded individuals, help others by volunteering and avoid fulfilling relationships via social media.
Sarah Hughes, the gold medal-winning figure skater at the 2002 Winter Olympics, has filed to run for Congress in New York's 4th Congressional District as a Democrat, as she seeks to unseat Long Island Republican Anthony Esposito. Hughes will make a formal campaign announcement in the next few weeks. Hughes, who later earned an undergraduate degree from Yale and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, lives in Manhattan and is looking for a home within the district, which covers southern and central Nassau County.
The University of Cambridge ranks fourth and the University of Oxford fifth in the Centre for World University (CWU) Rankings, with Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Stanford in the top three spots. In total, 93 UK universities feature in the rankings, but nearly 60% of UK institutions have slipped down the list. While universities in China have risen in the rankings by 96%, several UK universities have fallen back, including options from the Russell Group of leading UK universities.
UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, urges Britain to become less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour and claimed that shortages can be filled with domestic workers. The home secretary is among the right-wing Conservative MPs urging Rishi Sunak to drive down net migration after it soared to a record of more than 500,000 in the year to June. However, industries such as agriculture, food processing and logistics, as well as gaps in the National Health Service are still experiencing staff shortages. More than 70,000 temporary worker visas were granted in 2022, and over half of those were for seasonal workers including jobs in agriculture and poultry farming. However, despite the rise, several sectors are still reporting staff shortages that are driving up wages in attempts to recruit and maintain staff, and increasing costs to consumers.
Restrictions on abortion are leading to “delays and worsening and dangerous health outcomes for patients,” according to a large-scale report from the University of California San Francisco. The study, which addressed the impact of the US Supreme Court’s decision to allow abortion bans in certain states, examined 50 cases from over a dozen recently banned regions. It found that conditions such as preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes were often left untreated, while opportunities to treat for inevitable pregnancy loss and patients requiring care for fetal anomalies were also limited.
Bryan Kohberger, a murder suspect accused of killing four US university students, has reportedly received more than two dozen letters from fans while awaiting trial. A former criminology student at Washington State University, he is charged with the fatal stabbings of Kyalee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The suspect has not entered a plea, although an unnamed employee at the Latah County Jail, where Kohberger is being held, told The Messenger that he said he was keen to clear his name when asked via public defender.
Alberta's NDP has pledged to increase the corporate income tax rate to 11% from 8% with the aim of balancing budgets and increasing spending, including building more schools, hiring more teachers and introducing a number of tax credits. The NDP has projected a $1.2 billion surplus for the year if oil and gas prices remain steady, although these assumptions do rely heavily on this being the case. The current rate of 8% was introduced under former premier Jason Kenney. The NDP thinks a hike is justified because claims that the cut in the corporate tax rate launched a job boom have not materialized.
A resident and a volunteer police officer in Los Angeles had to be taken to the hospital after hundreds of bees swarmed a neighbourhood in Encino on June 14. An adult man suffered multiple bee stings in the attack while the volunteer became trapped in his car and was swarmed. Police believe the insects originated from a hive connected to a house.
Guardian Caps, a soft-shell helmet cover, among CFL's new player-safety initiatives
CBC
23-05-16 20:31
The Canadian Football League (CFL) has mandated the use of Guardian Cap soft-shell helmet coverings for the sport's 2019 season for all offensive and defensive linemen, running backs and linebackers, to reduce the impact of a hit by at least 10% for individual players and at least 20% when worn by both participants. The protective gear will be worn throughout the regular season during padded practice sessions. Clubs will also have collapsible medical-release tents on their bench during games; team personnel all need to be certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association; and medical meetings have been enhanced.
Researchers from China may have found the first ever specific antidote for the world’s deadliest mushroom, the Death Cap, which causes around 90% of mushroom fatalities each year. The scientists discovered that a fluorescent medical dye called indocyanine green, which was created in the 1950s, reduces the poisonous effects of the mushroom on human cells and animals. While the antidote has not yet been tested on humans, it is hoped it could save many lives if it is as effective in humans as it has been in mice. Death Caps are most common in the UK between the months of August and November.
North Korea shows Kim Jong Un examining a military spy satellite that may be launched soon
The Toronto Star
23-05-17 02:05
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited the country's aerospace agency to support plans for the forthcoming military spy satellite launch. There has been no indication of the launch time, however, analysts suggest it may happen within weeks. It would use long-range missile technology that has been prohibited by past United Nations Security Council laws. Although previous missile and rocket tests have revealed the country's ability to deliver a satellite into space, there is doubt as to whether the satellite in question will be adequate for fulfilling reconnaissance requirements. South Korean analysts suggest the satellite produced by the state appears too small and poorly manufactured to support high-resolution images. Nevertheless, acquiring a spy satellite would be important for Kim's efforts to reinforce the country's defence as "US imperialists and (South) Korean puppet villains escalate their confrontational moves" against North Korea; its enemies are now boosting their nuclear deterrence strategies to deal with the threat from North Korea.
US President Joe Biden is expected to emphasise unity and Washington's dedication to the Asia-Pacific during his planned trip for the G7 Summit in Japan whilst navigating a delicate balance between countering China's economic coercion and avoiding further division among US allies. Biden also seeks to build a "little Nato" in Asia to contain Russia and China. While the G7 is expected to outline proposals on countering China's "economic coercion", it is important to not inflame nationalistic tendencies or put smaller countries in a difficult position where they become the target of coercive activities. The trick, according to experts, is to build more robust trade agreements, maritime security measures, and reinforcing supply chains rather than setting up divisions. China carried out 73 incidents of economic coercion aimed at 19 countries between 2020 and 2022, including trade sanctions, investment restrictions, tourism bans and popular boycotts.
Man fired by text after disclosing hepatitis C diagnosis wins $65k in human rights case
CBC
23-05-17 01:03
A construction worker who was fired from his new job after informing his employer about his hepatitis C diagnosis has won a human rights case in British Columbia. The tribunal found in favour of the worker, who has been awarded more than CAD65,000 ($50,000) in damages. The ruling criticised the "culture of toxic masculinity" at the man's former employer.
UK businesses could benefit from hiring overseas workers as labour shortages continue to impact industries such as agriculture and hospitality, according to British Chambers of Commerce Director-General Shevaun Haviland. The government should adopt a “shortage occupation list” to secure the necessary labour, she suggested. Social care, fruit picking and meat processing also face labour shortages and the National Farmers' Union has called for a rolling five-year worker scheme to address the absence of seasonal workers on British farms.
