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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 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 16:11:42 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 16:11:42 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 16:11:42 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...

Harriette Cole: My husband won’t help with the baby, and I’m considering divorce

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am 35 years old and a first-time mom to a beautiful baby girl. I had her a few weeks ago and have never been more exhausted.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend’s teenage secret has made me really nervous Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I tell my friend I won’t support her custody request? Advice | Harriette Cole: My co-workers are being mean, but I can’t report the whole staff to HR Advice | Harriette Cole: My son is emulating a misogynist YouTuber, and it has upset our household Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I rein in my friend, the rookie rebel? My extended family and friends have helped a bit, but summer is busy, and many of them have been wrapped up in travel and their children’s activities. I appreciate their help and have been grateful for everything they have been able to give, whether a meal or some diapers.I am, however, disappointed ...

Miss Manners: I complimented this celebrity, and his reply was insulting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I attended a gathering where a foreign movie director was present. I knew that one of his films had won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film several years (decades) ago. I approached him and told him how much I enjoyed that particular work.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: My summer dresses make my boyfriend uncomfortable Advice | Miss Manners: My fiancee says she must have a diamond, despite my objection Advice | Miss Manners: Should we warn our guests about our house’s acoustic anomaly? Advice | Miss Manners: My co-worker said what I did was insulting, but I’ve never heard of this rule Advice | Miss Manners: We accidentally invited them to the wedding. How do we undo it? He responded, “Oh. That film hadn’t been mentioned all evening. I suppose it was inevitable, as it’s the one that everyone knows. I guess it’s good to have that mention un...

Dear Abby: I’m 20, he’s 46 and married, and my family isn’t being supportive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 20-year-old female in a situationship with a 46-year-old married man.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I feel bad about it, but I had to squash my husband’s dream Advice | Dear Abby: We’re nervous about telling our kids this family secret Advice | Dear Abby: The children’s impersonal fundraising requests annoy me Advice | Dear Abby: The bride’s dramatic cousins unleashed wedding backlash Advice | Dear Abby: This unpleasant couple is ruining my peace and quiet He tells me he’s going to leave his wife when his daughter graduates, which is in two months. He wants to move me to his state, but my family isn’t supportive, so I would like an outside opinion.CONTEMPLATING IN FLORIDADEAR CONTEMPLATING: How long have you and this 46-year-old man been romantically involved? I have concerns on several levels about what you are contemplating.First is the ag...

Real Madrid set to begin Spanish league without a world-class scorer as wait for Mbappé continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

MADRID (AP) — From Alfredo Di Stéfano to Hugo Sánchez to Raúl González. From Ronaldo to Cristiano Ronaldo to Karim Benzema.It seems there has always been a world-class scorer associated with Real Madrid throughout the club’s storied soccer history.It may not be the case this season, though, as Madrid is about to begin the campaign without a high-profile striker in its squad.Benzema, the team’s best player the last few seasons and last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, made the lucrative move to Saudi Arabian soccer and the Spanish powerhouse has yet to replace him with someone of the same prominence.With less than a week before the season kicks off, Madrid’s squad included only four forwards, with only one true striker among them. Madrid has tried to sign Kylian Mbappé but has been unable to reach a deal for the France star. It may have to wait until his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ends at the end of the season to be able to finally bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu.For now, M...

France coach sends a spoiler alert ahead of the Women’s World Cup quarterfinal against Australia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Spoiler alert. Hervé Renard’s French lineup knows what the atmosphere and the tension is like playing a Women’s World Cup quarterfinal on home soil, and is projecting that onto Australia’s Matildas.The French hosted the 2019 tournament and lost in the quarterfinals to the U.S. team, which went on to successfully defend its title.France is coming off a comprehensive 4-0 win over Morocco that set up a quarterfinal against the host team on Saturday in Brisbane, where almost 50,000 people will pack the stadium to continue a tournament that has already beaten France ’19 for ticket sales.Renard said record crowds have no doubt been inspiring the Australian team but he warned: “It can be hugely disappointing.”“And it was for France when they went out to the U.S. in the quarterfinals,” Renard said. “We’re hoping to put Australia through exactly what France went through when they were the host country.“We’ve come with great ambition. And when you come w...

‘We are clearly in a war zone’: DC Council member calls on National Guard to fight city violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

Standing not far from where three people were shot and killed in Anacostia on Saturday night, D.C. Ward 8 Council member Trayon White called for the deployment of the National Guard to help the District get a grip on the tide of killings that have taken place.White addressed a crowd gathered for the news conference on Good Hope Road in Southeast on Tuesday afternoon.“I know those who live here know that we are clearly in a war zone,” he declared. “I’m going to say it again: We are clearly in a war zone.”As he repeated the phrase, the crowd joined in on those last four words and chanted along with him: “In! A! War! Zone!”White was referencing the words of acting D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith, who said over the weekend that the District was not a war zone, despite the jump in deadly shootings.In the first six days of August, 16 people had been killed on D.C. streets. Since the start of the year, there have been more than 160 homicides.White said he had reached out to Mayor Muriel Bow...