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Canadians across country expected to celebrate New Year’s Day with polar bear swim

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

Hundreds of Canadians are planning to put the old year on ice by ushering 2024 in with a polar bear swim, though perhaps in smaller numbers than in New Years Days past.The tradition of swimming in lakes, oceans and other bodies of water made chilly by January’s Canadian temperatures dates back more than a century.New Year’s Day polar plunges have been taking place in Vancouver since at least 1920, and other British Columbia cities like Delta, Sydney and Kelowna are all planning to host events today.Most events, such as one scheduled in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, Ont., are intended to raise funds for charitable causes.Similar swims are on tap in locations including Toronto, Saint John, N.B., and Charlottetown.But polar dips were among the many events cancelled over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many long-standing swims have yet to resume after the hiatus.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2024.The Canadian Press

Ashes of Vancouver Star Trek fan set to go to space alongside famous stars

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

VANCOUVER — Gloria Knowlan never dreamt of boldly going where no one had gone before and was content to leave the journey to the “Star Trek” actors she came to love, but 12 years after her death, her family has ensured the final frontier will be her ultimate resting place.It seemed a fitting tribute for the Vancouver mother of eight, whose love of Trek prompted her to collect replica starships and deck out her Christmas tree each year with a homemade alien spacecraft known as the Borg cube, complete with working lights.A small quantity of Knowlan’s ashes will be among approximately 250 capsules of human remains, DNA samples and other memorials set to be launched into space later this month aboard a rocket. Launch organizers are hoping it will wind up approximately 330 million kilometres from Earth, roughly passed the orbit of Mars.The flight will see Knowlan, who was 86 at the time of her death, joining some of her favourite stars. The rocket is also set to carry r...

Here are the changes to CPP deductions starting in 2024

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

TORONTO — Middle-income earners will start seeing a larger portion of their paycheques going toward Canada Pension Plan contributions as of Monday.A broader pension revamp began in 2019 as both the Quebec Pension Plan and CPP began phasing in enhanced benefits intended to provide more financial support for Canadians after they retire. So far, individual contributions — and the employer’s matching portion — have primarily ticked upward.The trade-off is that Canadians will eventually receive higher payouts once they start collecting their pensions. But as of 2024, the CPP includes a new, second earnings ceiling. For those who make more than a given amount, additional payroll deductions now apply. “The primary objective of these changes is to strengthen benefits and enhance overall financial stability for prospective retirees,” said Alim Dhanji, senior wealth adviser at Assante Financial Management Ltd. in Vancouver.Previously, everyone earning over the base amount (c...

Chinese factory activity slows in December in a 3rd straight month of contraction

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A survey of factory managers in China shows manufacturing contracted in December in the latest sign the world’s second-largest economy remains sluggish. The official purchasing managers index, or PMI, fell to 49 last month in what officials said was evidence of weak demand, the National Bureau of Statistics reported on Sunday. It was the third straight month of contraction. The PMI is on a scale up to 100 where 50 marks the cutoff between expansion and contraction. The index has fallen in eight of the past nine months, with an increase only in September. In November, the index was at 49.4, down from 49.5 the month before. Despite unexpectedly prolonged weakness after the pandemic, China’s economy grew at a 5.2% pace in the first three quarters of the year and showed signs of improvement in November, with factory output and retail sales rising.In recent months, the government has raised spending on construction of ports and other infrastructure, cut interest rates and ...

Daily horoscope for January 1, 2024

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Virgo.Happy Birthday for Monday, Jan. 1, 2024:You’re energetic and like to plan for future goals. You are intense and passionate when working for what you want. This year is about new beginnings, adventures, major changes and new opportunities! Prepare for a leadership role. Freedom and independence will be important to you.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★Today you’re high-viz, which means people notice you. Meanwhile, you might have the slight guilts because you have a to-do list but you just can’t get to it. Not yet. You want to deflect, dodge or do something else. (Have another coffee.) Tonight: Interruptions at work. Guard your pet.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★This is a laid-back day, and you want to relax. You intend to do exactly what you want. (Of course, this might be easier said than done.) Actually, because the Moon is in your fellow Earth sign today, you might pull th...

Miss Manners: Which fork should I use on rude people?

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: You must receive a lot of the same, or similar, questions. I’m just wondering: What are the most-asked ones?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I’m hearing more vulgar talk from women. Have the rules changed? Advice | Miss Manners: What can I do when people refuse to hear my needs? Advice | Miss Manners: She’s playing the victim, but it was her rudeness that set me off Advice | Miss Manners: A teen went missing at the mall and it ruined our evening Advice | Miss Manners: Why would they put a sign like this in their home’s bathroom? GENTLE READER: Well, they are not, as may be supposed, about which fork to use. That is a question posed only by people wanting to declare that manners are trivial. Such people tend to be consistent in not having any.Miss Manners finds that people rarely ask about the correct thing for them to do. Rather, they want to know how to h...

KRON4 New Years Live: Watch SF Bay Area NYE fireworks show

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Ring in 2024 with the Bay Area’s only live and local New Year’s countdown show. Hosted by Grant Lodes and Justine Waldman, KRON4’s New Years Live starts Sunday at 11:30 p.m. on KRON4 and streaming on KRON4.com. This year’s show features the stunning fireworks over the San Francisco Bay and performances from ‘Dear San Francisco’ at Club Fugazi and magician Andrew Evans from The Magic Patio. There is also a special musical performance from 98 Degrees.  KRON4's New Year's Day Forecast The Magic Patio For more information about The Magic Patio, visit their website where you can also purchase tickets to see a show.'Dear San Francisco' For more about "Dear San Francisco" at Club Fugazi, visit their website. Click here to purchase tickets. We have special guests to count you down to the new year. (Hint: They are two players from your San Francisco 49ers). Watch on KRON4 or kron4.com or stream on the KRON app.

Un terremoto de magnitud 7,5 sacude el oeste de Japón y genera alerta de tsunami

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

(CNN) —  Un terremoto de magnitud 7,5 sacudió el oeste de Japón este lunes por la tarde, lo que provocó una alerta de tsunami, según el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos y la Agencia Meteorológica de Japón.El terremoto, que tuvo una profundidad de 10 kilómetros, se produjo a las 4:10 pm hora local a unos 42 kilómetros al noreste de Anamizu en la prefectura de Ishikawa, según el USGS. Ya hay más de 32.500 hogares en la prefectura japonesa de Ishikawa sin electricidad, según Hokuriku Electric Power.La Agencia Meteorológica de Japón emitió una alerta de tsunami en las regiones costeras del oeste de Japón.El poderoso terremoto fue seguido por una serie de fuertes réplicas  Al menos se reportaron 9 réplicas más pequeñas en la zona. según el USGS.Una de ellas, de magnitud 6,2 a una profundidad de 10 kilómetros se produjo a las 4:18 pm hora local, a unos 4 kilómetros  al suroeste de Anamizu.También se informó de una réplica de magnitud 5,2 a 58 kilómetros (unas 36 millas) al nores...

Okani and the UIC Flames visit conference foe Murray State

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

UIC Flames (7-6, 0-2 MVC) at Murray State Racers (4-9, 1-1 MVC)Murray, Kentucky; Tuesday, 8 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Toby Okani and the UIC Flames take on Jacobi Wood and the Murray State Racers in MVC play Tuesday.The Racers are 4-3 on their home court. Murray State has a 0-1 record in one-possession games.The Flames are 0-2 in conference games. UIC is 0-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.Murray State makes 42.8% of its shots from the field this season, which is 4.9 percentage points higher than UIC has allowed to its opponents (37.9%). UIC averages 8.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 7.5 per game Murray State allows.The Racers and Flames meet Tuesday for the first time in MVC play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Wood is averaging 12.4 points and 4.3 assists for the Racers. Rob Perry is averaging 14 points over the past 10 games for Murray State.Isaiah Rivera is averaging 15.1 points for the Flames. Okani is averaging 11.0 points over the ...

Hampton visits Drexel following Moore’s 34-point game

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:24 GMT

Hampton Pirates (4-8) at Drexel Dragons (7-6)Philadelphia; Monday, 12 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Dragons -14.5; over/under is 140BOTTOM LINE: Drexel hosts the Hampton Pirates after Justin Moore scored 34 points in Drexel’s 104-86 loss to the Bryant Bulldogs.The Dragons are 4-1 on their home court. Drexel is third in the CAA with 11.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Amari Williams averaging 3.2.The Pirates are 0-4 on the road. Hampton is third in the CAA scoring 80.4 points per game and is shooting 46.1%.Drexel makes 44.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.8 percentage points higher than Hampton has allowed to its opponents (41.8%). Hampton has shot at a 46.1% rate from the field this season, 6.3 percentage points higher than the 39.8% shooting opponents of Drexel have averaged.The Dragons and Pirates square off Monday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Moore is averaging 12.8 points and 1.5 steals for the Dragons. Will...