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Canada’s health spending growth ‘modest,’ remains below pre-pandemic levels: CIHI

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

Growth in Canada’s health spending increased slightly but has remained below pre-pandemic levels and is expected to reach $344 billion in 2023, new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information says.That’s about $8,740 per person, CIHI’s national health expenditure trends report said Thursday.The institute’s health-care spending data includes money spent by the public sector, private sector and money paid by individuals.The projected total for 2023 is a rise of about $9 billion from last year, but still well under the year-over-year growth seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.Between 2015 and 2019, health-care spending increased by an average of 4.3 per cent per year. The pandemic drove a sharp 13.2 per cent rise in 2020, followed by a 7.8 per cent increase in 2021.But in 2022, the annual growth in health spending decreased to 1.5 per cent — and has risen by a “modest” 2.8 per cent in 2023, said Christopher Kuchciak, manager of health expen...

Key Swiss rail tunnel damaged by derailment won’t fully reopen until next September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland’s national rail operator said Thursday the world’s longest rail tunnel won’t be fully reopened to train traffic until next September, again pushing back the target date for repairs of damage caused by a cargo train derailment.The Swiss federal railway operator, known by its German-language acronym SBB, said the damage from the Aug. 10 derailment in the Gotthard tunnel, Switzerland’s main north-south rail thoroughfare, is “much more significant than first imagined.”“The rail tracks need to be entirely replaced over 7 kilometers (4.2 miles). The work will take much more time than anticipated,” SBB said. The cost of the repairs is expected to be 100 million to 130 million Swiss francs (about $110 million to $140 million).Limited passenger and cargo train traffic through the tunnel is continuing. Previously, SBB said repair work would continue through the end of this year. No one was injured in the derailment, but the damage was considerable. Large swaths...

King Charles III observes a drill In Kenya by the African country’s British-trained marine unit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — King Charles III observed a drill by an elite unit of British-trained Kenya Marines in the coastal city of Mombasa on Thursday, the third day of his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch. Earlier in the visit, Charles cited the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed against Kenyans as they sought independence though he didn’t explicitly apologize for Britain’s actions in its former colony as many Kenyans wanted. Charles, who holds the rank of Captain General of the Royal Marines, and Queen Camilla visited the Mtongwe Naval Base in the city of Mombasa, where the British monarch inspected an honor guard and together with Kenya’s President William Ruto attended a military ceremony Thursday. They watched as Kenya Marines demonstrated a covert beach landing, after which the royal couple met the marines and their families.Kenya and the United Kingdom have a long-standing defense cooperation and in May this year, they partnered to cr...

Nikki Haley wants to be the GOP’s Trump alternative. Ron DeSantis and others are trying to stop her

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — At a recent closed-door meeting of roughly 60 millionaires and billionaires, one of the Republican Party’s most influential donors stood in the well of Dallas’ historic Old Parkland debate chamber and praised Nikki Haley’s presidential candidacy. But Paul Singer deliberately stopped short of endorsing the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor. The New York hedge fund executive instead spoke highly of Haley’s Republican rivals as well, naming Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. He even praised aspects of Donald Trump’s presidency, despite Singer’s strong preference — like that of others in the room — to move past the former president.The moment, described by two people who were inside the meeting last month and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations, captures the conundrum facing the many Republican leaders eager to coalesce behind a clear Trump alternative. While DeS...

Members of far-right groups and counter-demonstrators clash in Greece

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities say 14 people were due to appear in court Thursday following their arrests during extensive clashes between members of far-right groups and participants in a counter-demonstration.Supporters of the extreme right group Golden Dawn defied a blanket police ban on demonstrations in greater Athens late Wednesday and clashed with protesters from a rival rally led by left-wing organizations that also defied the order. The violence around the center of Athens spilled into a train and onto a platform of the city’s subway system. Police initially detained 60 people but later released most of them. The 14 who were arrested face charges of committing public disturbance offenses. A minister for public order said Thursday that an investigation had been launched into allegations of police brutality after an amateur video posted online appeared to show members of a motorcycle police unit repeatedly punching a detained protester on the ground.The far-right pro...

Canadian Natural president Tim McKay to retire, company raises dividend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

CALGARY — Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. announced the retirement of president Tim McKay next year as it raised its quarterly dividend and reported a third-quarter profit of $2.34 billion, down from $2.81 billion a year ago.Canadian Natural says McKay will assume the role of vice-chairman on Feb. 28, 2024, when Scott Stauth, currently chief operating officer of oilsands, will be promoted to president. As vice-chairman, McKay is expected to help with the management transition until his retirement in the summer.The announcement came as company said it will now pay a quarterly dividend of $1 per share, up from 90 cents.Canadian Natural reported its profit amounted to $2.13 per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $2.49 per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue for the quarter totalled $9.90 billion, down from $10.46 billion in the same quarter last year.On an adjusted basis, the company says it earned $2.59 per diluted share in its most recent quarter, down from $3.0...

Vigil held for Hamas hostages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- Hundreds of people gathered at the Anche Emit Synagogue Wednesday night to pray for Israeli lives lost in the Hamas attack on Israel and plea for action to rescue the more than 200 people taken hostage by the militant group. Families whose loved ones are currently being held hostage by Hamas travelled to Chicago to share their stories.At the same time, push for leaders across the world to assist in the safe release of those hostages. Since the attack Israel Defense Forces have conducted air and ground strikes on Gaza with the intent of taking out Hamas, killing more than 8,000 Palestinian civilians in the bombings, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Search underway for missing 5-year-old from Portage Park Of the people who spoke, Seam Samo Segal's cousin Rimon Kirsht who was taken with her husband from the couple's home. Sandy Feldman's brother and sister were kidnapped -- and have not been heard from in more than three weeks. "We don't know where they are they ...

Cher to star in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Cher is obviously a superstar but even a superstar can be the opening act when it comes to Santa.Organizers of this year's Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade have nabbed the Oscar-, Emmy- and Grammy Award-winner for their 97th annual event. Cher will make her appearance just before the parade's end, signaled by the arrival of Santa’s sleigh, parade organizers said.This year’s parade will feature 16 giant character balloons, 26 floats, 32 novelty and heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 700 clowns and eight performance groups.It's a busy time for Cher, who is preparing to release a 25th-anniversary edition of her Grammy-winning album “Believe” and just dropped her first new album in five years, “Christmas.” 50th annual Village Halloween Parade held in New York City For the first time in its long history, the holiday tradition will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET, half an hour earlier than previous years, kicked off by multi-instrumentalist and Grammy-winner Jon Bati...

Gov. Abbott travels to Israel amid ongoing war with Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News Today's top morning headlines for Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott arrived Thursday morning in Israel, where his office shared he went to "reaffirm Texas’ enduring and unwavering support of the State of Israel" during its ongoing war with Hamas. The governor's office released a photo showing Abbott along with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister. The two Republican leaders made the trip together, which they said was done in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest. Diplomacy to pause fighting and ease siege intensifies as Israeli ground troops advance on Gaza City In a statement Thursday, Abbott wrote, "There is a deep, enduring bond between Texas and Israel, with the blessings of freedom and burdens of vigilance embedded in the histories of both our people. Unfortunately, never has freedom in Israel b...

Pedestrian hit, killed near Powell Lane and I-35 Service Road

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A person has died after being hit by a vehicle near the intersection of Powell Lane and North I-35 Service Road Southbound. Austin-Travis County EMS pronounced the adult patient dead on the scene. Drivers should expect traffic delays in the area or choose alternate routes.