Friday, February 27

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Canadian Chamber of Commerce warns of protectionism ahead of U.S. election – National
Politics

Canadian Chamber of Commerce warns of protectionism ahead of U.S. election – National

A new report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is sending a stark warning ahead of the U.S. presidential election, saying protectionist policies like Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs could damage economies on both sides of the border. The report authored by Trevor Tombe, an economics professor at the University of Calgary, said while most Canadians recognize the importance of trade with the U.S., Americans don’t have the same understanding about how intricately the two countries are connected particularly at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.Canadian officials and business groups have been meeting with Democratic and Republican counterparts across the U.S., making sure Canada is prepared for any outcome of the November election.Both presidential candidates have campaigned on protection...
The Office actor Jenna Fischer now ‘cancer free’ after surgery and chemotherapy
World News

The Office actor Jenna Fischer now ‘cancer free’ after surgery and chemotherapy

Photo: Instagram, msjennafischer The Office star Jenna Fischer has revealed that she has been undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment for stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer. In a post on Instagram, Fischer said she was now "cancer free", after a diagnosis in December last year. The 50-year-old, best known for her role as Pam Beesly in the US version of the hit sitcom, had a tumour removed from her left breast in January this year. "Triple positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer but it is also highly responsive to treatment," she shared on social media. "In January, I had a lumpectomy to remove the tumour. Luckily my cancer was caught early and it hadn't spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body, however because of the aggressiv...
Ripple launches crypto storage services for banks in bid to diversify
Business

Ripple launches crypto storage services for banks in bid to diversify

Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images U.S. blockchain startup Ripple made a major foray into crypto custody on Thursday, launching new services aimed at helping banks and financial technology firms to store digital assets on behalf of clients.The San Francisco-based company told CNBC it is debuting a slew of features to enable its banking and fintech clientele to keep and maintain digital tokens — as part of a broader push into custody, a nascent business for Ripple under its recently formed Ripple Custody division.These features include pre-configured operational and policy settings, integration with Ripple's XRP Ledger blockchain platform, monitoring of anti-money laundering risks to maintain compliance, and a new user interface that's easier to use and engage.The move will help Rippl...
As 1K Canadians leave Lebanon, thousands more still eligible, officials say – National
Politics

As 1K Canadians leave Lebanon, thousands more still eligible, officials say – National

As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, more than a thousand Canadians have left Lebanon over the past nine days through commercial flights, with more seats available this week. Since Sept. 29, a total of 1,162 people, including Canadians, permanent residents and immediate family members, have flown out of Lebanon, Global Affairs Canada said in an update on Monday evening.The federal government began co-ordinating commercially assisted departures for Canadians looking to get out of Lebanon at the end of last month amid an intensifying conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. 3:36 Feds commit another $15M in humanitarian aid to Lebanon ...
Kiwi pilot in fatal helicopter crash was drunk, but motivation still unclear after report
World News

Kiwi pilot in fatal helicopter crash was drunk, but motivation still unclear after report

An investigation into a Queensland helicopter crash that killed a Kiwi pilot in August has found he was intoxicated, broke aviation rules and appeared to be trying to evade being detected. But officials are none the wiser as to why he did it. Blake Wilson, 23, died after taking a helicopter from his employer's hangar in Cairns and flying into a no-fly zone over the city before crashing into the roof of the DoubleTree hotel. His employer, Nautilus Aviation, said he had been celebrating his promotion with workmates on Sunday night, before he took the helicopter in the early hours of Monday morning. Wilson, 23, held a New Zealand commercial helicopter licence, but was not authorised to fly in Australia. He was the only person killed in the accident. A report by the Australian Transport Safety...
Amazon Just Walk Out rival shutters after failing to secure funding
Business

Amazon Just Walk Out rival shutters after failing to secure funding

Grabango's mobile appGrabangoGrabango, a venture-backed startup that was vying to take on Amazon in cashierless checkout technology, is shutting down after it was unable to raise enough money to stay afloat."Although the company established itself as a leader in checkout-free technology, it was not able to secure the funding it needed to continue providing service to its clients," a spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC on Wednesday. "The company would like to thank its employees, investors, and clients for all their hard work and dedication."Food tech publication The Spoon reported earlier on Grabango's closure.Launched in 2016, Grabango was developing checkout-free technology that uses computer vision and machine learning to track and tally up items as shoppers grab them from store sh...
Poilievre says Israel hit on Iran nuclear sites would be ‘gift’ to humanity – National
Politics

Poilievre says Israel hit on Iran nuclear sites would be ‘gift’ to humanity – National

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Tuesday doubled down on his call for Israel to pre-emptively strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying such an act would be “a gift by the Jewish state to humanity.” Poilievre first voiced his support Monday at a commemoration event in Ottawa marking the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel. The ensuing conflict in the Middle East reached a new crescendo last week, when Iran — which supports Hamas and other proxy militant groups fighting Israel — fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, which has vowed retaliation.U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders have warned against striking Iran’s nuclear facilities over fears of further escalating the conflict into an all-out war between two of the region’s most ...
Met Gala 2025: When is it, who is hosting and where can I watch it?
World News

Met Gala 2025: When is it, who is hosting and where can I watch it?

Composition image of various Met Gala 2024 attendees, from top left, clockwise, Zendaya, Rita Ora and Taika Waititi, Gigi Hadid and Nicki Minaj. Photo: AFP / Angela Weiss, Marleen Moise/Getty Images/AFP The theme and hosts for one of the biggest fashion events, Met Gala, have been revealed by Vogue. The Met Gala, traditionally held on the first Monday in May every year, is a fundraising benefit with an exclusive dinner for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Bringing in the biggest names in entertainment, fashion, and sports, next year's event on 5 May is being labelled as "history making" by media outlets as the all-Black male co-chairs and theme inspired by the style of Black men are unveiled. Louis Vuitton is the lead sponsor for the exhibit and Met Gala, with additional...
Jim Cramer criticizes DOJ’s stance on Google and possible breakup
Business

Jim Cramer criticizes DOJ’s stance on Google and possible breakup

CNBC's Jim Cramer on Wednesday disagreed with the Department of Justice's move to consider a possible breakup of Google, asserting that the company benefits consumers, businesses and the U.S."Google's an aggressive company. It has big reach, got a lot of power, operates in many markets. But I defy you to find any regular people in this country who think of Google as a bad actor," he said. "Google search is the most incredible bargain in the world, and the same goes for YouTube."The government filed a landmark case accusing Google of violating anti-monopoly laws in 2020, and in August a U.S. judge ruled that it had an illegal monopoly on search and text advertising. The DOJ on Tuesday made recommendations for Google's search business and revealed it was considering a breakup of the company ...
House of Commons remains ‘paralyzed’ as Conservatives push privilege debate  – National
Politics

House of Commons remains ‘paralyzed’ as Conservatives push privilege debate  – National

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lamented the House of Commons remains “paralyzed” Tuesday as his party extends a debate about turning government documents over to the RCMP. Poilievre was referring to the delay in the government producing seven years’ worth of records related to the Sustainable Development Technologies Canada (SDTC) organization within 30 days.The now-defunct organization, which was federally funded but at arm’s length from government, was found earlier this year to have broken conflict of interest rules and made “significant lapses” in managing public funds by the Auditor General of Canada. The Conservatives have taken to calling it a “green slush fund.”If you’re already feeling lost, don’t worry. It’s a natural reaction to the political posturing that typically comes...