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Ontario patient ombudsman sees 33% surge in complaints

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

Ontario’s patient ombudsman says his office has seen a 33 per cent increase in complaints, and noted a “troubling” trend in problems accessing primary care.Craig Thompson, the province’s patient ombudsman, released his office’s annual report Wednesday with its findings.His office received 4,388 complaints over the 2022-23 year, 3,235 of those coming through its call centre and the remainder via written complaints. Hospitals, including the four main pediatric hospitals, became overrun last fall and winter with influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, patients.The ombudsman’s data provides “insight as to what is working and, more importantly, what is not,” Thompson noted.“What is notable, and troubling, is the significant growth in non-jurisdictional complaints that are mostly related to primary care and echo some all-too-familiar themes: people are having trouble accessing primary care, have limited options for...

German publisher to stop selling Putin books by reporter who allegedly accepted money from Russians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A German publishing house said Wednesday it would stop selling books about Russian President Vladimir Putin by an award-winning journalist following media reports that he allegedly received at least 600,000 euros ($651,000) in offshore payments linked to Russian sources.Publisher Hoffmann und Campe said in a statement it would no longer sell two non-fiction books about Putin by German journalist Hubert Seipel following reports by German magazine Der Spiegel and public German Television ZDF, saying it was not previously aware of the allegations. The reports on Tuesday claimed that Seipel accepted money indirectly linked to a sanctioned Russian oligarch to report Putin in a favorable light in the published books.German public Television NDR, which had produced a documentary with Seipel in 2012 about Putin and aired his interviews with the Russian president in the past, also said it was considering legal action against the reporter.The allegations, which were also publish...

Crews battling house fire in Cabbagetown that has spread to neighbouring homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

Firefighters are battling a three-alarm fire at a home in Toronto’s Cabbagetown neighbourhood that has spread to adjacent buildings.Emergency crews were called to a house on River Street, just north of Gerrard Street East, around 6:05 a.m. on Wednesday.Toronto Fire tells CityNews crews encountered the house fully engulfed in flames with heavy smoke coming from the second floor. The fire eventually spread to neighbouring homes.Officials say four residents needed to be evacuated from the affected buildings. No injuries have been reported.There is no word what caused the fire.River Street is closed from Bayview Avenue to Gerrard for the investigation.Crews battle a house fire on River Street in downtown Toronto on Nov. 15, 2023. Photo: Elaine Shields

Conservative Muslims in Indonesia protest Coldplay concert over the band’s LGBTQ+ support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — More than 200 conservative Muslims marched in Indonesia’s capital on Wednesday, calling for the cancellation of a Coldplay concert that night over the British band’s support for the LGBTQ+ community.The protesters, marching about 1 kilometer (half a mile) away from the concert venue in Jakarta where the band was set to perform, held a large banner that read: “Reject, cancel and disband Coldplay concerts.” It described the band as an LGBTQ+ “propagandist,” saying its stance damages “faith and morals.”The same protest group also staged demonstrations last week at several locations in Jakarta, including the British Embassy.Indonesia is secular and has a long history of religious tolerance, but a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.Coldplay is renowned for interlacing its values with its shows, such as the band’s push for environmental sustainability. Lead singer Chris Martin has been known to wear rainbow colors and wave ga...

New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy announces run for US Senate seat in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy on Wednesday launched a bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in next year’s contest.Her candidacy, announced Wednesday, puts her in the running to become the first woman elected to the Senate from New Jersey. The Democratic primary already features Rep. Andy Kim and could include Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, who has lost significant party support amid federal bribery charges but has not ruled out a run in 2024. “We need a senator who will work every single day to lower the cost of living, protect abortion rights, end the gun violence epidemic, and defend our democracy,” she said in a roughly four-minute-long video posted online. Murphy, 58, is a constant at events alongside her husband, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, and has taken on maternal and infant health and the environment as her top issues during her time as first lady — issues she highlighted in her announcement.A Virginia native, and University ...

Loblaw reports $621M Q3 profit, up from $556M a year ago, revenue up 5%

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Loblaw Cos. Ltd. reported its third-quarter profit and revenue rose compared with a year ago.The parent company of Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart reported a profit available to common shareholders of $621 million or $1.95 per diluted share for the 16-week period ended Oct. 7.The result compared with a profit of $556 million or $1.69 per diluted share in the same quarter a year earlier.Revenue for the quarter totalled $18.27 billion, up from $17.39 billion in the same quarter last year.The increase came as food retail same-stores sales rose 4.5 per cent and drug retail same-store sales gained 4.6 per cent, helped by front store same-store sales growth of 1.8 per cent and pharmacy same-store sales growth of 7.4 per cent.On an adjusted basis, Loblaw says it earned $2.26 per diluted share, up from an adjusted profit of $2.01 per diluted share a year earlier.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:L)The Canadian P...

Want to buy now, pay later this holiday season? Ask yourself these 5 questions first

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

Shoppers gearing up for the 2023 holiday season won’t have to look hard for a convenient way to pay for all those presents.“ Buy now, pay later,” a type of payment plan that divides the total cost of your purchase into smaller installments, is offered at most major retailers, including Walmart, Target and Amazon. It’s expected to fuel $17 billion in online holiday spending this year – up almost 17% from 2022 – according to forecast data from Adobe Analytics, an analytics and measurement tool from software company Adobe.The short application, immediate approval decision and no hard credit check can make buy now, pay later seem like a no-brainer financing option, but experts say it’s risky. Ask yourself these five questions before opting in.1. DOES THIS PLAN CHARGE INTEREST?While most shoppers will encounter zero-interest pay-in-four plans — which divide the cost of your purchase into four equal installments with the first due at checkout, and the remaining three due every two weeks —...

Greta Thunberg denies public order offense after she was arrested at a London protest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Climate activist Greta Thunberg on Wednesday denied a public order offense after she was arrested last month at a demonstration against a major oil and gas industry conference in London. The 20-year-old Swedish environmental campaigner was among more than two dozen people charged after protesters sought to block access to the luxury InterContinental Hotel in central London during last month’s Energy Intelligence Forum, attended by some of the industry’s top executives. Thunberg was charged with breaching a section of the Public Order Act that allows police to impose limits on public assemblies. She and four other Fossil Free London protesters pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Thunberg confirmed her details in court, but her address in Stockholm was not read out due to concerns over alleged threats she has received.The protesters were granted unconditional bail ahead of a trial in London scheduled for February 2024. The court...

3.6 magnitude earthquake reported in north central Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

STANDARD, Illinois —  An earthquake struck north central Illinois early Wednesday morning. The 3.6 magnitude quake was centered about a mile southeast of Standard, Illinois — which is southwest of La Salle, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.A WGN News viewer in Spring Valley said his entire house shook around 4:45 a.m.So far, there are no reports of any damage.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Man charged in attack that critically injured woman on Michigan Avenue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:04 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been charged in the attack that critically injured a woman on Michigan Avenue.Bruce Diamond, 52, is facing one felony count of aggravated battery/great bodily harm.Police said he was arrested Monday after being identified as the offender who, moments earlier, threw a large object at a woman in the 600 block of North Michigan Avenue.The woman was struck in the head and transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Woman in critical condition after being attacked on Michigan Avenue Diamond was quickly placed into custody, according to police.He is scheduled to attend a detention hearing Wednesday.