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Sri Lanka says it has reached an agreement with China’s EXIM Bank on debt, clearing IMF funding snag

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka says it has reached an agreement with the Exim Bank of China on key terms and principles for restructuring its debt, a key step toward unlocking a second instalment of a $2.9 billion package from International Monetary Fund aimed at rescuing the island nation from a dire economic crisis.The finance ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday that the agreement covers $4.2 billion in outstanding debt and is an important step toward Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.The statement said the deal provides the necessary fiscal space for Sri Lanka to implement its economic reform agenda. “The Sri Lankan authorities hope that this landmark achievement will provide an anchor to their ongoing engagement with the official creditor committee and commercial creditors, including the bondholders,” it said. Authorities hope this will anchor their debt restructuring program and facilitate approval of the next tranche of IMF financing of about US$334 million.An...

More Canadians support using notwithstanding clause in ‘parental rights’ debate: poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

OTTAWA — Nearly half of Canadians say they support their province using the notwithstanding clause to ensure that schools tell parents if their child wishes to use a different name or pronoun, a new poll suggests, and more people support that idea than oppose it. New data also suggest a majority of Canadians believe teachers should have to notify parents of such changes. Just under half said that should be the case even if a child tells their teacher they don’t feel safe informing their parents.Polling firm Leger recently asked Canadians a series of questions regarding the ongoing debate around “parental rights.”The phrase, which refers to parents’ desire to be involved in the decisions of their children and of schools, has gained increasing traction in Canada over the past year.Many people who use the term say they are concerned about lessons kids are learning on the topics of gender identity and sexual orientation. Those pushing the issue have also been cri...

Blustery, wet autumn storm to churn Lake Michigan and substantial rainfall totals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

The weekend is to find Chicago in a tight pressure gradient between the backside circulation of the eastbound storm and a broad area of Canadian high pressure.  The full-fetch (i.e. "full length of Lake Michigan") and t 30+ mph wind gusts expected to develop are to churn Lake Michigan as vigorously as in any previous situation this fall.  This could build waves that top 12 ft.—so this WON'T BE THE WEEKEND to plan Lake Michigan outings.  What's more, temps riding these winds into the area as they sweep across the still warm waters of Lake Michigan set the stage for some lake effect showers Sunday and Monday. Some less populated regions reach their peak in September, while the southernmost states peak in mid-November. New England, including Northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and northwestern Maine, attracts approximately ten million visitors annually to enjoy the autumn beauty, while parts of New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania experience peak foliage later in October.

2.88 million non-fatal work accidents in the EU in 2021

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

In 2021, nearly 2.88 million non-fatal work accidents in the EU resulted in workers being absent from work for four days or more, up by 6% compared with 2020 (+150 941 accidents). This increase is probably linked to the economic recovery that followed the 2020 general slowdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 3 347 work-related accidents in 2021 were fatal (0.1% of the total number of accidents), indicating a decrease of 11 cases compared with 2020.Information on work-related accidents is often analysed based on their severity, meaning the number of full calendar days the victim is unfit for work due to an accident at work.  In 2021, as in 2020, accidents that led to 7–13 days' absence from work were the most frequent type of accident, reaching a total of 761 988 (26% of the total). Accidents that resulted in 1–3 months of absence from work were the second-most frequent type in 2021 (543 076; 19% of the total number of accidents). The less severe types of accidents (4-6 d...

11 Best CBD Oils for Pain Relief, Anxiety & Sleep: Full-Spectrum & Broad- Spectrum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

Sponsored ContentAuthor: Jamila KhanJamila is an avid researcher of all things cannabis-related with a passion for creating content in several niches, particularly the cannabis-related niche. She has written over several hundred articles on all the latest trends in edibles, vaping, strains and related products.Welcome to our comprehensive guide on CBD oil, where we delve into the science behind this natural wonder, uncovering its potential benefits and uses.CBD oil might hold the key to whether you’re seeking relief from chronic pain or anxiety or simply looking to enhance your overall wellness.Overall, we can say that the best CBD oil is FOCL’s Full Spectrum CBD Drops product. But we can’t sum up this massive industry in just one item, so get ready to explore how this potent plant extract could revolutionize your health routine. 10 best CBD oil products, go!Best CBD Oils: FirstookFOCL Full Spectrum CBD Drops – Best overall“Good Vibes” Energy Tincture – Best low TH...

Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my dinner guest’s unseemly request?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have a friend I sometimes invite over for dinner. Invariably, when I offer him seconds, he’ll say “no thanks, but I’ll take it home.” The same thing happens if I offer him a beer or soda — “No thanks, but I’ll take it home.”Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I suspect this girl is not really my fiance’s niece. Should I demand the truth? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m afraid she’ll get us kicked out of the restaurant. Any advice? Advice | Dear Abby: All these years later, I freak out when I hear her name Advice | Dear Abby: My wife now ‘doesn’t remember’ our crucial conversation Advice | Dear Abby: What I said about his girlfriend got back to her It doesn’t feel right to me and I’m not sure how to express that I’m offering this now, not as a doggie bag. Or should I stop offering him seconds?He does...

Single family residence in Danville sells for $1.7 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

393 Squirrel Ridge Way – Google Street ViewA house located in the 300 block of Squirrel Ridge Way in Danville has new owners. The 1,941-square-foot property, built in 1997, was sold on Sept. 11, 2023. The $1,655,000 purchase price works out to $853 per square foot. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and three baths. Additionally, the house includes an attached two-car garage. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by a pool.Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include:On Antelope Ridge Way, Danville, in June 2023, a 2,402-square-foot home was sold for $1,930,000, a price per square foot of $803. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In October 2022, a 2,643-square-foot home on Sweetpea Court in Danville sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $795. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,624-square-foot home on the 100 block of Gerbera Street in Danville sold in July 2022, for $2,490,000, a price per square foot of...

San Jose: Motorcyclist killed in crash Wednesday night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

SAN JOSE – A motorcyclist was killed in a crash Wednesday night in San Jose, police said.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Woman killed, three injured in East Bay crash Monday night Crashes and Disasters | These Bay Area cities ranked the worst for drivers in the U.S. Crashes and Disasters | Man hit and killed by Amtrak train in Oakland is identified Crashes and Disasters | San Jose: Minivan rolls over in Highway 101 crash, killing Southern California man Crashes and Disasters | Caltrain hits, kills pedestrian near Skyway Drive in San Jose The solo-vehicle collision happened around 11:15 p.m. at the intersection of Camden Avenue and Canna Lane, the San Jose Police Department said in a social media post.An adult male motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.Additional details about the crash were not immediately available late Wednesday.The death marked the 41st traffic fatality of...

MLB playoffs 2023: Astros and Diamondbacks advance to LCS, Phillies one win away

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

For the seventh consecutive season, the Houston Astros have advanced to the AL Championship Series.The surprising Arizona Diamondbacks are in the NLCS for the first time in 16 years. One more win by the Philadelphia Phillies, and baseball’s final four would be set.José Abreu homered for the third time in two games, a two-run rocket in the fourth inning that launched the Astros to a 3-2 win that eliminated the strikeout-prone Minnesota Twins in Game 4 of their Division Series on Wednesday night.Houston will host in-state rival Texas in Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday, with three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander scheduled to pitch for the defending World Series champion Astros in his 36th career postseason start.“They know us, and we know them,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said, “and it’s going to be a heck of a series.”In Phoenix, Geraldo Perdomo hit the first of Arizona’s record-setting four solo homers in the third inning, and the Diamondbacks swept the 100-win Los An...

What to know on the sixth day of the latest Israel-Palestinian war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but the political leadership has not yet decided on one, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday as the latest Israel-Palestinian war rolled into a sixth day of fighting since Hamas launched its attack Saturday.Hamas said it’s seeking to end Palestinians’ suffering, which had become intolerable under unending Israeli military occupation and increasing settlements in the West Bank and a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza.People in Gaza spent the Wednesday night in darkness, surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighborhoods as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “crush and destroy” Hamas, with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic.Egypt has engaged with intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point. However, it pushed back against proposals to establish corrid...