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Italian government softens shock 40 percent bank tax 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

The Italian government has backtracked from plans to levy a one-off 40 percent windfall tax on banks after the news caught markets by surprise and shares plummeted. In a statement released late Tuesday, the finance ministry said a cap of 0.1 percent of banks’ total assets would be applied for the tax, announced 24 hours previously, in order to “safeguard financial stability.” While no limit had been specified during the original announcement on Monday, the follow-up was widely perceived as a watering down of the proposal that had caused bank shares to sharply drop. The SX7E index, a key measure of eurozone banks, recovered slightly on what Italian media described as the evening’s “clarification.” When the Italian government announced the plan ministers said the profits reaped by banks from rising interest rates had not been passed onto people hit by the cost-of-living crisis. It said the proceeds of the tax would be used to fund tax cuts and mortgage relief. Mark...

All-Star Félix Bautista blows 3-run lead in 9th as Orioles fall to Astros, 7-6, after Kyle Tucker’s grand slam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

One swing of Kyle Tucker’s bat turned what would have been one of the Orioles’ best wins of the season into one of their worst losses.Félix Bautista entered his office Tuesday evening with a three-run lead — an advantage almost insurmountable against a pitcher having the type of season Baltimore’s closer is. But the 6-foot-8 right-hander allowed three of the first four Houston Astros batters to reach, bringing up Tucker with the bases loaded. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, the two-time All-Star turned on a center-cut 100.4 mph fastball and deposited it into the right field bleachers.The grand slam was enough for Astros closer Ryan Pressly, who slammed the door in the ninth, as Houston won, 7-6, and ended Baltimore’s four-game winning streak. Pressly retired Jordan Westburg, Adam Frazier and Ryan O’Hearn in order to end the game.“Honestly, I just think it wasn’t my day,” Bautista said through team interpreter Brandon Quino...

Russian officials say 2 drones approaching Moscow were shot down overnight, blame Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian air defenses shot down two drones aimed at Moscow overnight, officials said Wednesday, in what they described as Ukraine’s latest attempt to strike the Russian capital in an apparent campaign to unnerve Muscovites and take the war to Russia.The drones were intercepted on their approach to Moscow and there were no casualties, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The Russian Defense Ministry described it as a “terrorist attack.”One of the drones came down in the Domodedovo region south of Moscow and the other fell near the Minsk highway, west of the city, according to Sobyanin. Domodedovo airport is one of Moscow’s busiest.It was not clear where the drones were launched from, and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. Ukraine usually neither confirms nor denies such attacks.Flights were halted at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport on July 30 and Aug. 1, when drones smashed into the Moscow City business district after being jammed by air defenses in two separate...

French authorities say 11 are missing after fire in holiday home for people with disabilities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French authorities say 11 adults are missing after a fire broke out early on Wednesday in a holiday home for people with disabilities in eastern France while 17 others have been evacuated.Interior minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted that “early this morning, a fire broke out in a facility for disabled people” in the small town of Wintzenheim, close to the border with Germany. “Despite the rapid and courageous intervention of the fire department … several casualties are reported,” he said. Rescue operations were still ongoing. The local administration of the Haut-Rhin region said the fire broke out at 6:30 a.m. in private accommodation in Wintzenheim. Seventeen people were evacuated, including 1 person sent to hospital in a “relative emergency.” Eleven people from the group of adults, who usually live in the city of Nancy, in eastern France, are still missing, the statement said.“The building was being used … for their vacation,” the statement ...

In the news today: Details of B.C. port strike deal, missing fishermen in N.B.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Terms of new contract that resolved British Columbia port dispute are releasedThe four-year agreement that brought an end to labour uncertainty on B.C.’s busy portlands includes pay raises, retirement bonuses and a maintenance work deal.The terms of the new contract are being shared by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, highlighting how the two sides finally got to together following months-long dispute, which included a disruptive 13-day strike.One of the sticking points that was finally resolved was a commitment by employers to train workers to perform maintenance on new equipment — instead of contracting third parties. Searchers find overturned boat, two fishermen last seen leaving N.B. harbour missingThe search for two missing fishermen in northeastern New Brunswick is getting some airborne backing.A Cormorant helicopter has joined the effor...

‘You have to have a strategy’: Fans ready to snatch up Taylor Swift Toronto tickets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

One Taylor Swift fan says that if she is not able to secure a ticket to any of the superstar’s tour dates in Toronto, she’ll stand outside the venue all six nights anyway. “I’m totally OK with standing outside of the stadium with every single other Swifty and tailgating for all six shows,” said 27-year-old Jayde Fleming, who lives in Barrie, Ont. “I’m gonna get an Airbnb for myself to make sure that I’m in Toronto all six days.”In the meantime, her ticket-scoring strategy involves careful co-ordination with her own group of Swifties, who will each attempt to purchase tickets for different dates to ensure everyone gets to see at least one show. Such is the devotion of Taylor Swift’s fervent Canadian fans who say they’re “preparing for war” as tickets for six shows at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in November 2024 — the only Canadian stop on her Eras Tour — go on sale.Those looking to score tickets right away must have ...

‘It came back to life.’ Trees scarred by vandals recovering in historic Halifax park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

HALIFAX — In the heart of downtown Halifax sits a small but beloved park known for its elaborate flower beds and stately trees. For more than 150 years, the Halifax Public Gardens have provided a quiet refuge for visitors and a pristine backdrop for countless weddings and graduations.Just over a year ago, however, the park was left badly scarred after vandals scaled its wrought iron fences in the middle of the night. They used an axe to hack away at more than two dozen trees, some of them more than 200 years old.“You would think that a place that gives people so much joy and relaxation, that nobody would want to harm the gardens,” Judith Cabrita, chairperson of the non-profit Friends of the Public Gardens, said in an interview this week. “To have the trees being attacked was like a personal attack for many people.”Sean Street, a horticulture supervisor with the Halifax Regional Municipality, said the initial prognosis for the damaged trees looked grim. In all...

Canadians divided over retailers’ anti-theft measures, poll finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

Less than half of Canadians believe retail stores are implementing the right amount of security measures to prevent shoplifting but the majority say they would feel safe working in one, a new Leger poll found.The survey on retail security indicated that a wide majority of people support retailers implementing measures to prevent theft such as installing security cameras or electronic anti-theft alarms attached to items, hiring security guards or locking certain products in display cases.But respondents were split on whether they would support measures such as store employees checking receipts when customers exit or eliminating self-checkout machines. Support dipped to 17 per cent for requiring customers to scan their IDs to make a purchase.The survey was completed online by more than 1,500 Canadians at least 18 years old between Aug. 4-6 and results were weighted according to age, gender, mother tongue, region, education and presence of children in the household.When it comes to ret...

Daily horoscope for August 9, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid spending money or making big decisions from 6:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. EDT today (3:30 a.m. to 6:15 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Taurus into Gemini.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023:You are determined. You have a natural sense of authority, and you work hard to achieve your ambitions. This year involves a theme of service for you. Therefore, take care of yourself so you are able to help others. Family and friends will turn to you for guidance and comfort. Be ready.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Today is a mixed bag. You might feel confident at work or perhaps in matters related to your health. However, for some reason, something going on behind the scenes or in the back of your mind makes you hesitant and discouraged. What is it? Tonight: Conversations.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★This is a playful day, which is why you want to attend fun outings, sports events, enjoyable activities with kids and social occasions. Nevertheless, someone older or in a p...

EU had almost 360,000 professional firefighters in 2022

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:58 GMT

Southern Europe has again been ravaged by wildfires and scorching temperatures, bringing firefighters into the spotlight. In 2022, there were 359,780 professional firefighters in the EU, representing 0.2% of total EU employment. Compared with 2021, there was a decrease in the total number of firefighters of 2,800 people.Among EU countries for which reliable data are available, Greece, Estonia, and Cyprus registered the highest share of firefighters in their national employment, with shares of above 0.4%, while the Netherlands and France had the lowest shares at around 0.1%. Source dataset:  Labour Force Survey extraction  At EU level, in 2022, most of the firefighters were between 30 and 49 years old, with the age groups 40 - 44 years (65 730 people) and 35 - 39 years (59 810 people) having the highest numbers. There were also 45 280 firefighters between 15 and 29 years old, and 91 570 were 50 years and over.More informationThematic section on employment and unemployment (Labou...