Monday, February 23

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ANALYSIS: Trudeau, in quick trip to Asia, to focus on trade, security – National
Politics

ANALYSIS: Trudeau, in quick trip to Asia, to focus on trade, security – National

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lands in Laos on Wednesday, he will have spent almost a full day in the air and yet, despite spending 24 hours to get to the Laotian capital of Vientiane, he won’t even spend 48 hours there. But senior government officials travelling with the PM this week say the time and treasure spent so that Trudeau can attend the annual summit of leaders from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an important part of a “strategic long-term bet” his government made several years ago to raise Canada’s profile in the region.It’s part of the country’s Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at boosting rules-based trade and enhancing the kind of multilateral security relationships that a middle power like Canada must have to survive and thrive.“Canada has to be build...
In pictures: Hurricane Milton brings flooding, tornadoes to Florida
World News

In pictures: Hurricane Milton brings flooding, tornadoes to Florida

Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP Hurricane Milton has crashed into the Florida coast, packing furious winds and triggering life-threatening storm surges across a region still reeling from another massive storm two weeks before. The weather front made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, in a densely populated area on the US state's western coast. People watch water-flooded streets after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Brandon, Florida. Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/ AFP Milton triggered tornadoes before its arrival, with unconfirmed reports of multiple fatalities after one twister struck a senior living community on Florida's east coast. A girl hugs her grandfather before he is taken to the hospital after getting injured by a reported tornado that hit his house in ...
Mental Health Day: Healthy work environment key to nurture, boost productivity
Health

Mental Health Day: Healthy work environment key to nurture, boost productivity

Long working hours, strict deadlines, high-performance expectations, and job insecurity are some of the major issues at the workplace that have recently claimed several ‘young’ lives in India. The need is to develop a healthy workplace that can address these and also help boost productivity, said experts on Wednesday a day ahead of World Mental Health Day.  World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10 to raise awareness and fight stigma related to mental health issues. The theme this year is ‘Mental Health at Work’. India has recently seen a spate of deaths due to overwhelming pressure and harassment by toxic bosses at the workplace. The latest case involves Bajaj Finance manager who died by suicide, due to workplace harassment. In his suicide note, the 42-year-old Tarun...
These cheap stocks are outperforming, and analysts still see upside
Business

These cheap stocks are outperforming, and analysts still see upside

Markets just keep rallying this year, with the S & P 500 up nearly 22% year-to-date and the Nasdaq jumping around 21%. In global stocks, the MSCI World index is around 16% higher. Many on Wall Street expect the trend to continue. Goldman Sachs , Morgan Stanley and others all see the S & P 500 around 6,000 by the end of the year, up from around 5,730 on Tuesday. Mary Ann Bartels, chief investment strategist at Sanctuary Wealth, said that while stocks are grappling with various worries, "liquidity is key and there is plenty of it now that the Fed has started to cut interest rates , and that means that markets can continue to grind higher." "October, which is historically a seasonally choppy and spooky month for markets, may bring some noticeable stock market turbulence, but the overa...
Canada adds $15M to Lebanon aid, will match up to $6M in donations – National
Politics

Canada adds $15M to Lebanon aid, will match up to $6M in donations – National

Canada is adding another $15 million to its humanitarian aid package for Lebanon after an escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah. International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says the new money will help Canadian and international aid groups provide food, water, emergency health care and other assistance in Lebanon, though the exact allocations are yet to be determined.“This conflict is taking a terrible toll on civilians in Lebanon and beyond,” Hussen said at a press conference. 2:00 Israeli military won’t back down from intense attacks on Gaza and Lebanon “As of today, Canada has committed...
Hurricane Milton: ‘There’s going to be loss of life’ – Florida reporter
World News

Hurricane Milton: ‘There’s going to be loss of life’ – Florida reporter

Photo: AFP / Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo A local journalist hunkered down in Florida's Tampa Bay said he's never seen anything like Hurricane Milton, and was "scared for the aftermath". Kirby Wilson, a reporter at Tampa Bay Times, had remained in the area and said he and his family were doing OK so far. It was going to be tough "for the foreseeable future," he said, "but we're hanging in". Many people in the area had not been ordered to evacuate. Tampa Bay Times reporter Kirby Wilson Photo: Tampa Bay Times / Supplied "A lot of it is perfectly safe from the kind of floodwater we're expecting... I know a lot of people have an image of Florida as a state that will one day be entirely submerged, but it does take a lot of water to overcome some of even the mild high points. "I decided ...
Tributes pour in from industry titans
Business

Tributes pour in from industry titans

Ratan Tata speaks during an interview.Pradeep Gaur | Mint | Getty Images Tributes from industry leaders, politicians and the public at large poured in for Ratan Tata, the former chairman of India's Tata Sons, who passed away on Wednesday, aged 86.India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X called Tata "a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being ... his contribution went far beyond the boardroom."Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai recalled his meeting with Tata where they discussed Google's self-driving car project."He leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing the modern business leadership in India," Pichai wrote on X.Tata, who is credited with taking his business house globa...
Trudeau’s national security adviser says there are no ‘traitors’ in Parliament – National
Politics

Trudeau’s national security adviser says there are no ‘traitors’ in Parliament – National

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national security advisor said she has not seen evidence that federal politicians are “traitors” through their dealings with foreign governments. Speaking at the Hogue commission into foreign interference Wednesday, Nathalie Drouin suggested a recent report by a cross-partisan national security committee gave the mistaken impression that some MPs were betraying their country.“The fact that (the report) focused on members of Parliament and thus gave the impression that some MPs might have been aware and might have acted in a way that is close to treason makes me very uncomfortable. Because that’s not what I see,” Drouin, a longtime public servant appointed Trudeau’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor in January, said.“I’ve seen inappropriate behaviour...
Watch: Judith Collins faces questions amid conflicting reports about Manawanui leak
World News

Watch: Judith Collins faces questions amid conflicting reports about Manawanui leak

Defence Minister Judith Collins has lashed out at what she calls "deeply misogynist" comments about the sinking of the HMS Manawanui and its captain, Commander Yvonne Gray. Collins said that Gray has been attacked online since the sinking of the ship off the coast of Samoa over the weekend. Collins said a "deeply concerning misogynist narrative reared its head before our people had even made it home to New Zealand." Collins said a Court of Inquiry has been already planned to examine the cause of the wreck. "The one thing that we already know did not cause it was the gender of the ship's captain, a woman with 30 years of naval experience who made the call to get her people to safety. "I'm appalled to see the comments online from these armchair admirals, people who will never have to make de...
Pfizer’s former CEO and CFO break from Starboard’s activist campaign
Business

Pfizer’s former CEO and CFO break from Starboard’s activist campaign

Ian Read, chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer, speaks as President Donald Trump, left, listens during an announcement on a new pharmaceutical glass packaging initiative in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., July 20, 2017. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesFormer Pfizer CEO Ian Read and ex-CFO Frank D'Amelio said Wednesday evening that they would step away from Starboard Value's campaign at the struggling pharmaceutical giant, just days after news of the activist's stake broke.Read and D'Amelio said they were "fully supportive" of Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in a joint statement made via an investment bank and confirmed to be authentic. The duo had been in contact with a number of directors shortly before news of Starboard's stake broke Sunday evening, ...