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After record year, unreliable weather pushes maple syrup production to five-year low

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

OTTAWA — New figures from Statistics Canada show maple syrup production hit a five-year low in Canada this year, a trend the agency blames on severe storms and changing temperatures.The numbers show Canadian maple producers harvested 47.4 million litres of syrup in 2023, down 40.1 per cent from 79.1 million litres the year before.Production in 2022 was the highest recorded since the agency began tracking maple syrup statistics in 1924.Production from Quebec, the country’s top supplier, was down by 41 per cent to 42.7 million litres, mostly due to an ice storm in late spring that resulted in lower yields.New Brunswick’s maple production dropped by 35 per cent and Ontario by 15 per cent, yielding a combined 4.7 million litres between themStatistics Canada says the drops were partly driven by cold temperatures in Ontario and bad weather in New Brunswick.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2023.The Canadian Press

Trudeau seeks ‘sustainable ceasefire’ in Gaza alongside Australia, New Zealand PMs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Israel and Hamas must work toward “a sustainable ceasefire,” starting with another pause in hostilities.The comment comes in a joint statement with Trudeau’s Australian and New Zealand counterparts, hours ahead of a United Nations vote on whether to call for a ceasefire in the Middle East.The statement calls for Hamas to release the hostages from its “heinous” Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and notes the group is responsible for sexual violence and “using Palestinian civilians as human shields.”The leaders are also calling for “safe and unimpeded humanitarian access” to the Gaza Strip and for Israel to stop its siege of the territory.The statement says Hamas cannot be allowed to govern Gaza, while adding that Israel cannot reoccupy the territory nor displace Palestinians.The leaders also want another multi-day truce like one last month that allowed the flow of humanitarian aid and the release...

Epic wins its antitrust lawsuit against the Play Store. What does this verdict mean for Google?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google lost an antitrust lawsuit over barriers to its Android app store, as a federal court jury has decided that the company’s payments system was anticompetitive and damaged smartphone consumers and software developers.It’s a blow to a major pillar of Google’s technology empire. But it’s a win for Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game that brought the lawsuit — and, analysts say, for the broader game developer community.Below are some questions and answers about what the verdict means.DIDN’T APPLE WIN A SIMILAR CASE? Indeed, Apple prevailed in a similar case that Epic brought against the iPhone app store. But that 2021 trial was decided by a federal judge in a ruling that is currently under appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court.The nine-person jury in the Play Store case apparently saw things through a different lens, even though Google technically allows Android apps to be downloaded from different stores — an option that Apple...

Puma says decision to end collaboration with Israel national soccer team was made in 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany (AP) — German sportswear giant Puma says its decision to end its collaboration with Israel’s national soccer team next year was made in 2022 — before the current Israel-Hamas war started.“The decision is based solely on business reasons,” Puma communications chief Kerstin Neuber said Tuesday.Puma, which has faced calls for consumer boycotts over its contract with the Israeli soccer association, said the decision was made at the end of 2022 when the company decided to implement its “fewer-bigger-better strategy” and apply it to its marketing campaigns.Changes were made after a review of the company’s roster of national teams based on commercial factors and participation in major international tournaments, Neuber said.“While two newly signed national teams — including a new statement team — will be announced later this year and in 2024, the contracts of some federations such as Serbia and Israel will expire in 2024,” Neuber said. “These decisions were tak...

Oscar winner’s latest film draws on real-life experience working in fishing industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

TORONTO — Brian Helgeland’s latest film isn’t an autobiography, but strip theBoston crime syndicate and drug runners from its gritty portrait of a fishing crew, and it’s pretty close to being one. “Finestkind,” which Helgeland wrote and directed, is set against the backdrop of the commercial fishing industry in Massachusetts, where his own dad and grandfather worked as fishermen.When it came to creating an authentic environment to set the crime thriller in, Helgeland didn’t have too far to go. “I was the technical adviser,” he said duringan interview at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, when the 126-minute feature made its world premiere. “I didn’t have to let someone handle some gear on the boat. I didn’t have to turn to somebody and say, ‘Was that right?’ I just knew myself if it was or wasn’t, and I could then go over to them and say ‘No, not like this — like this.&...

Kenneth Law facing 14 charges of 2nd-degree murder in addition to previous charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — An Ontario man accused of sending lethal substances to people who later took their own lives has been charged with 14 counts of second-degree murder in addition to his previous 14 charges of counselling and aiding suicide, police said Tuesday.Police said all 28 charges against Kenneth Law relate to the same 14 alleged victims, who were between the ages of 16 and 36 and died in communities across Ontario, as far north as Thunder Bay and as far southwest as London, Ont. More than one victim was under the age of 18, they said.York Region police Insp. Simon James, the case manager for the multi-jurisdictional investigation, said that police had found evidence to support the new charges, but he would not elaborate further.“It’s a very ongoing investigation and it’s a continuous investigation. And I can say that evidence has come in that supports the charge of second degree murder,” he said at a news conference held in Mississauga, Ont.“I ...

Murdered girl’s dad brought gun to court, say Ibrahim Ali’s lawyers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

VANCOUVER — Lawyers for the man convicted of killing a 13-year-old girl in a British Columbia park say it was the victim’s father who allegedly brought a handgun into a Vancouver courtroom on the final day of the trial last week.Ibrahim Ali’s lawyer Ben Lynskey described the incident in a B.C. Supreme Court hearing and co-counsel Kevin McCullough says in an affidavit that Victoria Police told him the man brought the loaded Glock handgun with an “intention to kill” on Friday.An email from Vancouver Police to Ali’s lawyers says a “no contact undertaking” applies to the girl’s father with them as of Monday, and the man “must not enter” the vicinity of the Supreme Court in Vancouver.The email shared with The Canadian Press by the lawyers and described in court says if the father breaches the undertaking they should call 911 immediately.Lynskey told the hearing that the father had dialed into the proceedings, despite the no cont...

Nationwide recall issued for Aviator Sundried Tomato Halves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

(WAVY) — The Global Veg Corp, headquartered in New York, is issuing a recall for all lots and codes of its five pound packages of AVIATOR brand Sundried Tomato Halves.According to Global Veg Corp, the AVIATOR Sundried Tomato Halves, Lot#060923/1, may contain undeclared sulfites, which could lead to serious or life-threatening reactions for people who have a severe sensitivity. Uber offers holiday-themed party buses in some cities AVIATOR brand Sundried Tomato Halves (Courtesy of Aviator via USFDA)The recall has been distributed nationwide for the five-pound vacuum bags of sundried tomatoes. As of Dec. 8, no injuries or adverse reactions have been reported.A routine sampling of the product by state food inspectors found the sulfite-containing product was distributed in packages that did not reveal the presence of sulfites. How did two tickets sold at the same gas station win the Mega Millions jackpot? Customers who have the affected items should not eat them and return the produc...

There's a new iPhone update: What's in it, and who can get it?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — If you have an iPhone, you may have had a bit of déjà vu when you were warned of another iOS update Monday, just days after updating to iOS 17.1.2. There is, indeed, a new update available, iOS 17.2, and it's much different than iOS 17.1.2. In case you missed it, Apple urged all of its iOS users to update their devices to get "important security fixes." Why Apple is urging ‘all users’ to update their iOS This week's update includes much more than security updates. Here's what to know. What's in the new iOS update?This update, iOS 17.2, includes a number of new features. Among those is the highly-anticipated Journal app. As you may expect, Journal serves as a space to "write about the small moments and big events in your life so you can practice gratitude and improve your wellbeing," Apple explains. It will also offer suggestions to inspire your journaling, with prompts featuring photos from your camera roll or even questions about where you've been. That may even...

Trump unveils digital trading cards 'mugshot edition'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Donald Trump unveiled new digital trading cards Tuesday, calling them the “MugShot Edition.”“Due to the great Excitement and Success of my previous TRUMP DIGITAL TRADING CARDS, we’re doing it again - The MugShot Edition, available RIGHT NOW,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday. “Plus, buy 47 cards and get a piece of the suit I wore for the ‘Mugshot Photo,’ and also get an invite to a Gala Dinner with me at Mar-a-Lago! Don’t wait, they’ll go FAST (I believe!). I’m happy if you’re happy. Have fun. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” Special counsel planning to use Trump White House cellphone data in election interference case Trump had a mug shot photo taken of him after surrendering at the Fulton County, Georgia, jail in August. It was taken as part of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Wills’ case against him relating to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.The former president began selling the trading cards back in December of last ye...