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Outgoing Norad commander says Canada, U.S. too slow to adapt to threats

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

OTTAWA — In a world of uncertainty, there is one critical mission the North American Aerospace Defence Command can count on every year: tracking Santa Claus. On Sunday, millions of people will log onto the specialized website and social media channels that depict the jolly old elf’s magical journey as he and his reindeer visit children around the world. More than 60 years after it began, the Santa tracker is a beloved holiday tradition and a powerful public-relations opportunity for the binational agency dedicated to defending North American airspace. Informing the public about Norad’s mission the rest of the year has been a priority for commander Gen. Glen VanHerck, and in that regard, the dramatic start to 2023 came with an unexpected opportunity.On Jan. 27, Norad learned that a high-altitude surveillance balloon from China was heading toward North America. It was detected entering Alaskan airspace the next day and tracked as it passed over Canada on Jan. 30 and 31.Nor...

Canada faces green Christmas as El Nino follows warm summer, head climatologist says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

Canada’s chief climatologist says if you don’t already have it, the song is only white Christmas you’re likely to get.David Phillips of Environment Canada says most of the country has been unusually dry and warm this year.That adds up to a green Yule, since the snow hasn’t had a chance to fall and when it does, it melts.Phillips says it’s the result of a strong El Nino pattern this fall coming after a spring and summer that was already unusually warm. He says Canadians are still likely to face some serious winter yet.But he says some parts of the country — especially the West — are likely to face serious drought and wildfire weather in the coming year unless some snow falls.   This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 21, 2023. The Canadian Press

Holiday travel angst lingers as airports, airlines gear up for holiday rush

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

MONTREAL — Michael Morrow is sitting poolside in Cancun, a Corona lager in hand, but with the faintest of knots in his stomach.“To have a trip cancelled due to the airline is painful, but to have it happen at Christmas — when that is the only possible time to have the trip — is much more painful,” he says, referring to a holiday excursion to Mexico last year that was cancelled due to crew constraints.This year, he’s slated to fly back to Thunder Bay, Ont., from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula on Dec. 25. He and his family have built in some buffer time for their holiday plans in case of delay. But his experience lingers in his mind, along with other tales of travel nightmares from 12 months ago, when thousands of passengers saw their flights delayed or cancelled largely due to poor weather.“I would always be nervous if I had something important,” he says.Though the forecast looks favourable, airports and airlines are gearing up for the prospect of travel snarls as the holidays appr...

‘Very different Christmas’ for those affected by B.C. wildfires this season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

British Columbia’s 2023 wildfires were a life-changing disaster for many, and their impact has echoed into the holiday season.The fire season was already breaking records by mid-August when forecasters warned that dry lightning and strong winds on the way were a recipe for catastrophe. Thousands were forced to leave in the southern Interior ahead of fast-moving wildfires. Fire officials described a ferocious fight to save homes, but hundreds were burned to their foundations in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions.From fire chiefs, to those who lost their homes, to Pumba the pig, here’s how some affected by the emergency are spending their holiday season: ___‘I DON’T THINK WE’VE EVER BEEN STRONGER’Paul Zydowicz is among 13 members of the Wilson’s Landing Fire Department who lost their homes when a wildfire tore through their small community on the shores of Okanagan Lake in August.The fire chief said the disaster “eclipsed” everything...

Daily horoscope for December 21, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST today (6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Aries into Taurus.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023:You are energetic and strong-willed; however, you are also secretive and private, especially about your feelings. You work hard to achieve your goals. In fact, this has been a year when you have worked very hard. In 2024, you will experience exciting changes and increased personal freedom.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★With the Moon in your sign dancing with your ruler Mars, you have lots of energy today to go after what you want. Talk to bosses, parents, teachers and authority figures about projects from the past that you want to resurrect. Perhaps you want approval or permission. Expect success today. Tonight: Check your possessions.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Behind-the-scenes projects, especially related to shared property, banking or inheritances, might come together today. This...

EU’s agricultural labour productivity down by 7% in 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

According to the first preliminary data for 2023 from the economic accounts for agriculture (EAA), the index of agricultural labour productivity in the EU is estimated to have decreased year-on-year by 6.6%, after growth between 2019 and 2022. This downturn was underpinned by a 7.9% decrease in the real value of the income generated by units engaged in agricultural production activities (factor income) and a further reduction (-1.4%) in the volume of agricultural labour (as measured by annual work units, representing full-time labour equivalents). This information comes from data on agriculture published by Eurostat today.Most EU countries (19) registered lower agricultural labour productivity in 2023 (as measured by the index of the real income of factors in agriculture per annual work unit). The steepest rates of decline were for Estonia (-57.9%), Sweden (-31.7%), Ireland (-30.3%), Lithuania (-30.2%) and Bulgaria (-28.6%). Nevertheless, there were higher levels in 7 EU countr...

Harriette Cole: The 3 lists and one calendar you need for your 2024 life strategy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: This year, I made a conscious decision to prioritize my professional life, and it has seen significant growth. However, this focus has come at the expense of my personal life.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: There’s only so much I can do for this Plain Jane Advice | Harriette Cole: I don’t want to offend my friend but I can’t stay in this house Advice | Harriette Cole: An audience makes my roommate more irritating Advice | Harriette Cole: He’s finally single, but his ex brainwashed him. How can I get through? Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I tell this nice girl I sent the text by mistake? I’m finding it challenging to balance both aspects, as the majority of my time and energy goes into work-related commitments.How can I maintain a healthy equilibrium without losing momentum in my career or neglecting my personal relationships?— Seeking Balance...

Miss Manners: I had an awkward exchange with the friends I discarded

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My wife and I have a wide circle of friends and an active social life. The vast majority of our friends are very considerate guests and hosts.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I try to make draft dodgers feel bad. Is this wrong of me? Advice | Miss Manners: People are noticing my watch and it’s making me uncomfortable Advice | Miss Manners: Snow shoveling has created an awkward situation with my neighbors Advice | Miss Manners: Our houseguests canceled abruptly and implied we were running a frat party Advice | Miss Manners: If you’re the best man at this wedding, brace for embarrassment But we have one group of friends with a very relaxed approach to socializing. These friends will give noncommittal responses to invitations, accept invitations but cancel at the last minute, or arrive alone and state that their spouse could not make it.In our book, these were not friend...

Things to do in the DC area: New Year’s Eve parties, holiday concerts … and more!

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

An event hosted by Harder Better Faster Stronger. (Photo courtesy of Muhammad Usman)(Muhammad Usman/Harder Better Faster Stronger) An event hosted by Harder Better Faster Stronger. (Photo courtesy of Muhammad Usman)(Muhammad Usman/Harder Better Faster Stronger) There’s so much to do in the D.C. area in the coming days, and WTOP has you covered with our weekly roundup of area events worth anticipating.Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D.C. area.If you’re in search of New Year’s Eve parties, take a chance on the Howard Theatre’s event, Dancing Queen: ABBA Glitter Disco NYE Extravaganza. Starting at 9 p.m., this event features some of the best 70s and 80s anthems, from A...

South Korean court orders Japanese firms to compensate more wartime Korean workers for forced labor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:06:25 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s top court ordered two Japanese companies to financially compensate more of their wartime Korean workers for forced labor, as it sided Thursday with its contentious 2018 verdicts on the firms that caused a huge setback in relations between the Asian neighbors.But observers said that Thursday’s ruling won’t likely hurt bilateral ties much since Seoul and Tokyo, now governed by different leaders, are pushing hard to bolster their partnerships in the face of shared challenges like North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats and China’s increasing assertiveness.The Supreme Court ruled that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries must provide between 100 million and 150 million won ($76,700 and $115,000) in compensation to each of four plaintiffs — all bereaved families of its former employees who were forced to work for the company during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The court also said Nippon Steel Corp. must give 100 million won (about $...