#Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston

[news-buzz]

Nova Scotia votes 2024: Premier Tim Houston calls snap election for Nov. 26 News Buzz

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston fired the opening salvos of a snap election he called Sunday, saying he needs a strong mandate in order to help the province “stand up” to the federal government. Voters in the Maritime province will go to the polls on Nov. 26. That’s several months ahead of the province’s fixed election date of July 15, 2025 which Houston himself had previously set. “Nova Scotia…

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives won a second consecutive majority government in Tuesday’s election. Premier Tim Houston made a series of campaign promises related to housing, health care and affordability.

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Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[masgwi]

Nova Scotia premier apologizes to people with disabilities for 'historic, systemic discrimination' | CBC News

[beardedmrbean]

A slow-moving frontal boundary that triggered flooding in Massachusetts on Friday produced scenes of destruction in southeast Canada, with authorities reporting at least four people still missing Saturday due to floodwaters.

The West Hants Regional Municipality, about an hour’s drive northwest of Halifax, appeared to be one of the hardest hit areas, with authorities still searching for at least two children and two men following the flash flooding.

Mayor Abraham Zebian said the two children were separated from three other occupants when their vehicle became submerged. In a separate incident, two men were also unaccounted for after floodwaters overtook their vehicle.

“I know it is in our nature to spring into action and help, but sadly now is not the time,” Tim Houston, Nova Scotia’s premier, said during a Saturday news conference. “The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is asking people in the area to not leave their homes in an effort to help search for the missing. This is because the ongoing conditions are dangerous.”

A state of emergency has been declared, and federal resources have been devoted to operations.

The aftermath of the historic flooding in Nova Scotia erodes part of a roadway. Mayor Abraham Zebian-West Hants Regional Municipality

Preliminary data from the country’s national weather service showed at least 10 inches of rain falling over the province of Nova Scotia during a 24-hour period.

“We got three months’ worth of rain in less than 24 hours,” Houston said. “It came fast, and it came furious.”

Local officials reported several streams and rivers quickly overflowed their banks, leading to washouts of roadways and hazardous driving conditions.

“To the people of Nova Scotia, who are dealing with serious flooding: We’re here for you,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement. “Through [the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax], we’re providing resources to help with evacuations – and we stand ready to provide any additional federal resources needed. Please stay safe, everyone.”

Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, of the Lunenburg municipality, called the event a “storm of a lifetime” and said first responders were going door to door, helping residents reach higher ground.

[atasteforsuicidal]

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is asking for urgent help as wildfires continue to burn out of control in his province.

In a news conference Wednesday, Houston said he has reached out to Ottawa and other provinces for all available assistance.

“The list of asks is significant, we know that. But we’ve made the ask,” Houston said.

“It’s time to pitch in with whatever you have… Nova Scotia needs the help right now.”

In a letter to the prime minister, Houston said nearly 20,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and tens of thousands of hectares of land is on fire.

“With only dry weather conditions in the forecast for the remainder of the week, Nova Scotia is a province in crisis,” reads the letter.

Nova Scotia has already received supplies and assistance from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Houston says the province has asked for the Coast Guard to be deployed to Shelburne County. Additionally, 17 firefighters from New York and New Hampshire will start work on Saturday and the 20-member Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) firefighting crew that was assisting with the Northwest Territories wildfires will return late Wednesday night and begin work in Nova Scotia Thursday.

“The province is doing everything within its power to combat the fires and to meet the needs of our people. All emergency services are activated and being used to fight and contain the fires to the extent that is possible with human intervention,” wrote Houston.

Houston said the road to recovery will be a long one.

“As you can appreciate, we need help urgently and would most certainly appreciate coordination across federal departments. Given the scope and breadth of Nova Scotians' needs, I wanted to put all requests in writing and in one place so that they could be addressed directly by you,” reads the letter to the prime minister.

Houston has formally requested the following assistance from the federal government:

military firefighters when the fire reaches the sustained attack stage

ignition specialist personnel and ignition equipment

firefighting foam

assistance in securing a base camp that can house 250 firefighters, as well as an incident command post infrastructure to support all on the ground.

5,000 lengths of 1 ½ inch 100 ft. length quick connect coupling hose

Nomex or equivalent wildland firefighting clothing

12 4X4 trucks

four helicopters (intermediate or above) certified to drop water

50 per cent cost share on modular housing for those who have lost homes due to the fires

commitment of advanced payment through the Disaster Financial Assistance Agreement administered by Public Safety Canada.

commitment to match any Red Cross donations

commitment to collaboration between the Nova Scotia Office of the Superintendent of Insurance and Federal Office of the Superintendent of Financial Intuitions to ensure any Nova Scotian impacted by the fires has timely access to decisions by their insurance company, and an expedited pathway to address situations where individuals are denied coverage

access to any under utilized military housing for displaced individuals while rebuilding takes place

a commitment of skilled trades people from military, federal agencies, and departments – via special secondments to the private sector through CANS. Additionally, a commitment under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program that the situation in Nova Scotia will be classified as a natural disaster under the Exceptional and Unforeseen Events - Provincial Agreements (R204{c} - T13) allowing employers to by-pass a Labour Market Impact Assessments if there is a provincial letter of support for certain trades (eg. constructions, trades and other labourers)

mobile resources to supplement and complement those already deployed

support for critical infrastructure for telecommunications.

a Temporary Leave Benefit that would provide wage replacement and/or funding to support for buying necessities such as food and clothing. The funding will be advertised through social media and disbursed through Labour, Skills and Immigration’s Nova Scotia Works Centres

support to restart agriculture businesses that were in evacuation areas

for tourism operators (and other businesses/employers impacted by the fires), ACOA could play an active role by funding and streamlining distribution of funds for the eventual rebuilding and pivoting of businesses to recover as quickly as possible

“You know your resources best and know what can help in a situation like this. Given the seriousness, any other resources at the disposal of the federal government that we haven’t mentioned but could help, please send. We ask for your common sense and support,” wrote Houston.

Earlier Wednesday, leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party Zach Churchill issued a statement saying “Nova Scotia has yet to make a formal request to Ottawa for additional resources.”

“The province needs to pull all available levers to ensure Nova Scotians are kept safe and we receive more help to contain this escalating situation. That must include calling on the federal government to help,” Churchill said.

During Wednesday’s news conference, Houston said it was “absolutely not true” that Nova Scotia was refusing offers of help.

“Those that spread the rumours that Nova Scotia hadn’t asked for help — these are ongoing discussions… Officials have had ongoing conversations with counterparts,” Houston said, referring to municipal, provincial and federal governments.

Houston added the rumours are “not helpful when we’re in a crisis like this.”

[warningsine]

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Officials in Canada's Atlantic Coast province of Nova Scotia said Saturday a wildfire that forced thousands of residents from their homes over the past week is now largely contained because of rain.

David Steeves, a technician of forest resources with Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, said the fire in the Halifax area is about 85% contained, sits at 9.5 square kilometer (about 4 square miles) and is unlikely to grow due to a combination of firefighting efforts and long-awaited rain.

The news was also good across the province, where Premier Tim Houston said the total number of active wildfires declined from 10 in the morning to five by mid-afternoon.

"If you step outside you will see something beautiful: rain, and hopefully lots of it," he told an afternoon briefing.

The only fire that remains out of control is one in Shelburne County in the southwestern corner of the province which remains "scary," Houston said.

The blaze that broke out Sunday in the Halifax area raced through a number of subdivisions, consuming about 200 structures — including 151 homes — and forcing the evacuation of more than 16,000 people.

Meanwhile, at the provincial wildfire center in Shubenacadie, north of Halifax, about 20 Canadian Armed Forces soldiers stood in the pouring rain outside a light armored vehicle.

Lt. Col. Michael Blanchette said the initial contingent from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick had arrived on a "fact-finding mission" to see what military support was needed in the effort to combat the fires.

In Shelburne County, meanwhile, 6,700 people — about half the municipality's population — remained out of their homes as the blaze that forced their evacuation continued to burn out of control.

The Barrington Lake wildfire, which started Saturday, reached 230 square kilometers (93 square miles) — the largest recorded wildfire in the province's history. It has consumed at least 50 homes and cottages.

Dave Rockwood, a spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources, said there was "cautious optimism" that there would be no further growth and that firefighters could use more direct tactics to contain it. Two other fires considered out of control as of Saturday morning were classified as "held" later in the day, he said.

Houston confirmed that schools in Shelburne County would be closed Monday and Tuesday.

[bbnewsin125]

1.#BreakingAlert

In a unique opportunity for students overseas, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will answer prerecorded questions from U.S. military-connected students this week, as part of a series of live educational downlinks.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trendingnews #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com 

2.#BreakingAlert

The latest Eurogroup meeting, held today, focused on a range of economic and fiscal issues facing the euro area, with key discussions on the region's economic resilience, the implementation of the revised economic governance framework, and the upcoming budgetary plans for 2025.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trendingnews #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com

3.#BreakingAlert

On this International Anti-Corruption Day, the U.S. Department of State reaffirms its commitment to combating corruption, a force that undermines democratic governance, erodes public trust, and hinders development.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trendingnews #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com 

4.#BreakingAlert

 During the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit, the Biden-Harris administration launched a comprehensive 10-year National Plan on Native Language Revitalization.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trendingnews #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com 

5.#BreakingAlert

An international enforcement operation today resulted in the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers linked to the Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants  many of whom were Guatemalan nationals  crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over 100 more.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trendingnews #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com 

6.#BreakingAlert

 National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan delivered remarks at the 5th Anniversary Conference of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), marking the institution's continued success in global development.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trendingnews #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com 

7.#BreakingAlert

At the Council on Foreign Relations ,  USAID Administrator Samantha Power highlighted the critical role of economic resilience and economic statecraft in U.S. foreign policy, stressing the importance of expanding the United States’ toolkit to support global economic stability and reduce dependency on foreign aid. 

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trendingnews #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com 

8.#BreakingAlert

United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai announced  that the first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade will officially enter into force tomorrow. 

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trend www.bbnewsin.com 

9.#BreakingAlert

 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met  with Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia to congratulate him on his recent election victory and to discuss a range of shared priorities.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trend www.bbnewsin.com 

10.#BreakingAlert

The European Union has issued a statement following the historic fall of the Assad regime in Syria, marking a significant turning point in the Syrian conflict. 

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11.#BreakingAlert

 Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maria Malmer Stenergard launched the government’s groundbreaking strategy on cyber and digital issues within foreign and security policy. 

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trend www.bbnewsin.com 

12.#BreakingAlert

In the wake of a devastating arson attack on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, alongside local Member of Parliament Josh Burns, visited the site today to show solidarity with the Jewish community.

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13#BreakingAlert

 Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III addressed the press aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73) in Yokosuka, Japan, during his fourth official visit to Japan and his 13th to the Indo-Pacific region

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14.#BreakingAlert

President Donald J. Trump today announced two major appointments designed to bolster his administration’s mission to protect the American people from government overreach and safeguard civil liberties.

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15.#BreakingAlert

Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a critical hearing titled "How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy."

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16.#BreakingAlert

Ghana has officially declared John Mahama as the President-elect following the results of the country’s highly anticipated presidential election. In a historic milestone, Mahama’s running mate, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has been elected as Ghana's first female Vice President.

 #breakingnews #news #international #bbn #bbnewsinternational #corp #bulletinews #dailynews  #worldnews #trend www.bbnewsin.com

[news-buzz]

N.S. premier tones down rhetoric toward Ottawa News Buzz

On the heels of a resounding election victory one month ago, Nova Scotia’s premier is adopting a more measured tone when it comes to assessing his province’s relationship with the federal government. Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives were returned to power Nov. 26, capturing 43 of the legislature’s 55 seats after a campaign during which he attacked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal…

[allthecanadianpolitics]

After one week of battling a historic wildfire that destroyed about 200 buildings and caused thousands to evacuate in the Halifax area, officials say the blaze in Tantallon is now 100 per cent contained.

Nova Scotia announced in a release on Sunday that the wildfire isn’t entirely extinguished but is currently under control and no longer expected to spread.

In a press briefing on Sunday afternoon, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced that weather conditions have led to a lifting of a province-wide ban on activity and travel in the woods, which will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. The burn ban remains in effect.

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[newsakd]

[ad_1] This story is part of an ongoing CBC Nova Scotia series examining how the province is managing its record-setting population boom after decades of limited growth.Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is fond of using the phrase "more, faster" when discussing health care in the province, but the tagline could just as easily be applied to his goal for growing the population.After crawling at a snail's pace for years, the number of Nova Scotians topped the one million mark for the first time in December 2021 on the strength of years of expanded immigration efforts and a global pandemic that made the province a desirable place to be for people in other parts of Canada.By that point, Houston had already announced the goal of hitting two million people by 2060. And while it might have seemed audacious to some people, the premier had something even bigger in mind when he first kicked around the idea."I actually had in my mind that probably three million Nova Scotians was best, but I said, 'What's really achievable,' and we kind of settled on two million," he said during a recent interview.Mathematically, early signs suggest it could be achievable.Nova Scotia's population increased by 9,450 people from Jan. 1 to April 1 of this year. Year over year from April 1, 2022, to April 1, 2023, the population jumped by almost 40,000 people, a nearly four per cent increase. Only Alberta and P.E.I. experienced more growth during the same time period.For Houston, these numbers are a welcome shift from years where the province's population stalled and the talk was about people leaving for opportunities elsewhere."We've been through a period of decline, where the major discussions were about closing schools, where the talk in the Tim Hortons was the businesses that were closing and the opportunities that were disappearing in communities."Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says population growth comes with challenges, but those challenges can be overcome and the province will benefit in the long term. (CBC)By his own admission, doubling the population is "a lofty goal," but it's one Houston said is necessary to sustain the province's future at a time when deaths still outpace births."We need more people. Our demographics are not great. So doubling the population, for me, is about right-sizing our demographics. It's about making the province younger."But even if such growth can be sustained, there are questions about whether it makes sense.Nova Scotia's health-care system is stretched to the max now, with 152,000 people — 15 per cent of the population — on the registry for people without a family practice. The list has grown by almost 50,000 people in the last year alone.Meanwhile, the province is facing a housing and affordability crisis the likes of which no one here can remember. Vacancy rates in Halifax hover around one per cent and rents have increased by 9.3 per cent in the last year, the highest spike in the country for residential rental costs.'I accept the challenges of growth'Houston is undeterred by these challenges, believing they can be overcome. The current growth is not unsustainable, he said."The reason I say that is we need people. Growth is not without its challenges, but I think as a government — as premier — I accept the challenges of growth."The solution to access problems in the health-care system and the shortage of housing is to train and attract more health-care professionals and tradespeople, Houston has said. But if a sudden influx of health-care workers or carpenters were to arrive on Nova Scotia's doorstep tomorrow, where would they live?The premier points to a modular housing program his government announced for communities that need health-care workers but have no place to immediately house them. Such a program could also be used for tradespeople, he said.That program, announced in January, has yet to get any modular homes in place. Housing Minister John Lohr told reporters last week that the hope was to have some in place by the end of the summer and that work, led by the Nova Scotia Housing Trust, continues."We knew that it would take time to find land, take time to get the permitting done, take time to get water and sewer hookup," he said. "All those things take time."Ready to work with municipalitiesLohr said he's expecting an update on the program "in the coming weeks."Houston said having a bold goal for population growth is as much about getting people to think about how the province could look if the population were to double, and what it would mean for the economy, school and health-care systems and the opportunities it could create.Accommodating such growth requires partnerships with municipalities and the premier said his government is prepared to do what's necessary to help. That could mean providing funding to help service land, the way they will for a recently announced long-term care project in Dartmouth.If municipalities are experiencing growth-related challenges, the premier said they should know they have a partner in his government."I think municipalities have the same goals that we have, maybe a little different challenges because of the different levels of government, but I think the goals are the same," he said."They have a willing partner in the province and if there's a way to get something done, we'll definitely get it done." [ad_2] Source link

[newstfionline]

Monday, July 24, 2023

Nova Scotia floods cause ‘unimaginable’ damage; four people missing (Reuters) The heaviest rain to hit the Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia in more than 50 years triggered floods causing “unimaginable” damage, and four people are missing, including two children, officials said on Saturday. The storm, which started on Friday, dumped more than 25 cm (10 inches) on some parts in just 24 hours—the same amount that usually lands in three months. The resulting floods washed away roads, weakened bridges and swamped buildings. “We have a scary, significant situation,” said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, adding that at least seven bridges would have to be replaced or rebuilt. “The property damage to homes ... is pretty unimaginable,” he told a news conference.

European Union to require U.S. travelers with passports to fill out visa application (CBS News) New requirements are on the horizon for travelers with a U.S. passport looking to get to Europe. The European Union continues to plan the rollout of new travel document requirements through its European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). It would require travelers with U.S. passports to fill out an online visa application before being granted entry into the EU. "It won't be complicated, it's just an annoyance," said CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg. "Most Americans, in fact, all Americans, are not used to doing this to go to Europe so there's going to be lots of surprises at boarding gates with people being denied boarding over the first couple of weeks, if this goes into effect." Greenberg was quick to point out this new system is not a done deal. Currently slated to roll out in January of 2024, the idea has been delayed before and is expected to be delayed again. "Because if they institute it, there is nothing to stop the Americans from instituting a visa charge for them to come into the United States," said Greenberg. "It doesn't prove anything other than more paperwork and more revenue that goes nowhere."

Venezuela’s Oil Industry Is Broken. Now It’s Breaking the Environment. (NYT) Each morning, José Aguilera inspects the leaves of his banana and coffee plants on his farm in eastern Venezuela and calculates how much he can harvest—almost nothing. Explosive gas flares from nearby oil wells spew an oily, flammable residue on the plants. The leaves burn, dry up and wither. Venezuela’s oil industry, which helped transform the country’s fortunes, has been decimated by mismanagement and several years of U.S. sanctions imposed on the country’s authoritarian government, leaving behind a ravaged economy and a devastated environment. Mr. Aguilera lives in El Tejero, a town nearly 300 miles east of Caracas, the capital, in an oil-rich region known for towns that never see the darkness of night. Gas flares from oil wells light up at all hours with a roaring thunder, their vibrations causing the walls of rickety houses to crack. Many residents complain of having respiratory diseases like asthma, which scientists say can be aggravated by emissions from gas flares. Rain brings down an oily film that corrodes car engines, turns white clothes dark and stains notebooks that children carry to school.

Spain at risk of political gridlock after conservative win falls short of toppling PM Sánchez (AP) Spain appears headed for political gridlock after Sunday’s inconclusive national elections left parties on both the right and left without a clear path toward forging a new government. The conservative Popular Party won the elections, but it fell short of its hopes of scoring a much bigger victory and forcing the removal of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Instead, the party led by candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo performed below the expectations of most campaign polls. Even though Sánchez’s Socialists finished second, they and their allied parties celebrated the outcome as a victory since their combined forces gained slightly more seats than the PP and the far-right. The bloc that could likely support Sánchez totaled 172 seats; the right bloc behind Feijóo, 170. The closer-than-expected outcome was likely to produce weeks of political jockeying and uncertainty over the country’s future leadership.

Italy hit by tennis-ball-size hailstones after heatwave, officials say (Washington Post) Parts of northern Italy were pummeled by giant hailstones larger than tennis balls this week, according to local officials, while one town’s streets were overtaken by an icy river—just days after the country experienced a scorching heat wave that broke temperature records in Rome. Videos shared on social media and local media showed large chunks of ice floating through the streets of Seregno, a town close to Milan, on Friday, while a mini tornado was seen in Milan. Firefighters in Milan said they had been responding to building damage and fallen trees in the aftermath of the storm, local media reported. Earlier in the week, videos also showed loud lightning storms in Mantua in the Lombardy region of Italy, as giant hailstones beat the ground. Extreme winds and hailstorms also gripped Veneto, injuring about 110 people, according to the regional governor, Luca Zaia. Although seemingly incongruous, this is a common occurrence with hail inherently a summertime phenomenon. It forms high above the earth in thunderclouds where the temperature is always below freezing, even during July.

Tourists flee Greek island Rhodes wildfire, thousands evacuated (AP) Some 19,000 people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires burned for a sixth day on three fronts, Greek authorities said on Sunday. The Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection said it was “the largest evacuation from a wildfire in the country.” Local police said 16,000 people were evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels. Six people were briefly treated at a hospital for respiratory problems. Fire Brigade spokesman Yannis Artopios said that as of early Sunday afternoon, 266 firefighters and 49 engines were operating on the ground, together with hundreds of volunteers. Ten firefighting planes, including two from France, two from Turkey and one from Croatia, are operating in the area, as well as eight helicopters.

At least one killed, 19 injured after missiles rain down on Odessa (Washington Post) At least one civilian was killed and 19 were injured in the port city of Odessa after a barrage of Russian attacks destroyed a historic cathedral and damaged residential buildings, Ukrainian officials said before dawn on Sunday. Another person was killed amid Russian shelling in Kherson, Ukrainian armed forces said Sunday, and the eastern half of the country was warned to remain alert for potential attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called the Crimean Bridge a target that must be “neutralized,” ratcheting up tensions after Kyiv launched an assault on the structure last week. The attack on the bridge killed two people and temporarily shut down its roadway, which links the peninsula to mainland Russia.

U.S. in no hurry to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles (Washington Post) The Biden administration is holding firm, for now at least, on its refusal to send long-range Army missiles to Ukraine despite mounting pressure from U.S. lawmakers and pleas from the government in Kyiv, according to U.S. officials. Disappointment at the slow pace of Ukraine’s counteroffensive against entrenched Russian forces and a newly equivocal tone by President Biden have led to widespread speculation that the missiles will soon follow the path taken by other U.S. weapons systems that were first denied but ultimately approved during the 17 months of the war. The Pentagon believes that Kyiv has other, more urgent needs than ATACMS, and worries that sending enough to Ukraine to make a difference on the battlefield would severely undercut U.S. readiness for other possible conflicts. Ukraine has said that the ATACMS, with a range of 190 miles, is essential for destroying command posts and logistics areas far behind Russian front lines.

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka may allow Indian rupee to be used in local transactions (AP) Sri Lanka is considering the possibility of allowing the use of the Indian rupee for local transactions, as the island nation struggles to build its depleted foreign reserves and to emerge from last year’s unprecedented economic crisis. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said Saturday the move to allow the use of its giant neighbor’s currency would enable “tourists and other people from India to directly use Indian rupees here” without going through the hassle of multiple currency conversions. Sri Lanka imports plenty of items from India—its largest trading partner—including food, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, automobiles, fertilizers and chemicals. Trade between the two nations stood at $5.45 billion in 2021, according to official figures.

Taiwan’s ‘Doomsday Drills’ (Daily Beast) Across Taiwan, residents are preparing for attack. From Monday through Thursday this week, Taiwan will be running a defense exercise simulating a Chinese air attack, preparing civilians for what to do if China invades. And from Monday through Friday, Taiwan will be running a live-fire exercise to test Taiwan’s combat readiness to respond to a Chinese invasion, according to the Ministry of National Defense. Civilians will be required to shelter in place when the defense drill is underway, according to CNA. In some locales, drivers out on the streets will be asked to stop their cars and evacuate them, as will passengers on public transportation, bringing cities to a near standstill, according to Taipei’s Department of Transportation. The entire drill is aimed at reducing casualties in the case of an attack from China, which has been growing increasingly aggressive towards Taiwan. Over the last few weeks, China has sent a record number of warships to waters surrounding Taiwan. According to American officials, the current U.S. government assessment is that Chinese President Xi Jinping is working to be prepared for conflict in either 2025 or 2027.

Israel’s Netanyahu recovers from a heart procedure while his judicial overhaul plan moves forward (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was recovering in a hospital on Sunday after an emergency heart procedure while opposition to his government’s contentious judicial overhaul plan reached a fever pitch and unrest gripped the country. Netanyahu’s doctors said on Sunday the heart pacemaker implantation went smoothly and that Netanyahu, 73, felt fine. According to his office, he was expected to be discharged later in the day. But tensions were surging as lawmakers began a marathon debate over the first major piece of the overhaul, ahead of a vote in parliament enshrining it into law on Monday. Mass protests were set to continue. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Israel on Saturday night, while thousands marched into Jerusalem and camped out near the Knesset, or parliament, ahead of Monday’s vote.

[atlanticcanada]

Atlantic premiers play on false fear in call for fuel rules delay: environmentalist

An environmentalist in New Brunswick says Atlantic premiers are using scaremongering tactics in their call for Ottawa to delay rules requiring refineries to reduce carbon in diesel and gasoline they produce.

Louise Comeau, director of climate change and energy solutions at the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, said in an interview Friday a release from the East Coast leaders was based on doubtful assumptions that refineries will pass on costs related to the Clean Fuel Regulations this summer.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King issued a statement Thursday saying the rules would have a "detrimental and disproportionate impact" on the region.

They noted they are expected to come into effect at the same time as carbon charges also scheduled for July 1.

The regulations require producers or importers of gas and diesel to gradually reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels they sell, with the levels to fall 15 per cent below 2016 levels by 2030.

But Comeau said as of July 1 "there should be no price impact in fuel prices at all," but rather the refineries should be pursuing -- at their own expense -- ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their product.

She said the fossil fuel industry is making large profits and can afford to innovate over the next few years, and argues the premiers should instead be focused on working with Ottawa to reduce carbon fuel use across the region.

Comeau called the joint statement a case of the premiers "taking advantage of peoples' concerns and their day-to-day challenges with inflation."

"They continue to make people afraid. And we can't be making people afraid of actions that counter the worst effects of climate change," she said.

"It's unethical, from my point of view."

The statement of the premiers concerned about the timing of the new regulations came after they met with federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, who issued a statement rejecting the premiers' stance.

Guilbeault said refineries in the Atlantic region will face small, incremental costs by 2030, and can cover those through profit margins, adding "there is simply no reason that they need to push costs onto consumers on July 1."

Last week, a report by the parliamentary budget officer said the new fuel regulations, set to take full effect in 2030, would potentially cost lower-income Canadians more than wealthier citizens by the time they're fully implemented.

However, Yves Giroux has also said in interviews with The Canadian Press that "doing nothing" to mitigate climate change would also have costs.

Bora Plumptre, director of research at Electric Mobility Canada -- an advocacy group for electric transportation -- said in an interview that refineries that reduce their carbon intensity will earn carbon credits that can be traded and reduce their costs.

"The premiers really overstated the impact of this policy and certainly as of July 1 there's no reason to believe costs of fuel should go up because of this policy," he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/TI3UACj

[hardynwa]

Four declared missing after extreme rainfall hits Canada

Four people in Canada, including two children, have been reported missing in flooding caused by torrential rains in Nova Scotia, police have said. Officials say the heaviest rains to hit the Atlantic region in 50 years have triggered floods that have left thousands of homes without electricity. Three months of rain fell in just 24 hours in some areas. Residents have been urged not to join in searches for the missing due to the dangerous conditions. The two missing children were in a car that was submerged by flood waters, police reported. The three other people in the car managed to escape. A man and a young person are also missing after the vehicle they were in was also submerged. Two people were rescued from the vehicle. Roads have been washed away and bridges have been weakened in Nova Scotia, where a state of emergency has been announced in some areas. "We have a scary, significant situation," said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, adding that at least seven bridges would have to be replaced or rebuilt. "The property damage to homes … is pretty unimaginable," he told a news conference. He estimated that is could take several days for the waters to recede. More than 80,000 people were left without power at one point. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was very concerned about the floods and promised that the government "will be there" for the province. Environment Canada says torrential rain in the eastern area of the province could continue into Sunday. "People should not assume that everything is over. This is a very dynamic situation," Halifax Mayor Mike Savage told a press conference. He added that the city had been hit by "biblical proportions of rain". The flooding is the latest extreme weather event to hit northeast Canada - recent wildfires have burnt a record area, sending clouds of smoke south into the US. There has also been extreme flooding in the US this month. The body of a two-year-old girl found along a river in Pennsylvania is believed to be one of two missing children swept away by flash floods last weekend. Her nine-month-old brother is still missing. Scientists cannot say for certain that such extreme rainfall is caused by climate change, but the floods are consistent with the changes they expect in a warming world. This is because the warmer the earth becomes the more moisture the atmosphere can hold. This results in more droplets and heavier rainfall, sometimes in a shorter space of time and over a smaller area. Read the full article