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Bill 96: Quebec public servants now required to make ‘exemplary’ use of French

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s language law reform is continuing to draw criticism and legal challenges from the province’s English community as more of its provisions come into effect Thursday, exactly a year after it received royal assent.While many elements of the law, commonly known as Bill 96, took effect shortly after it was passed, others were delayed. Those include restrictions on communications with the provincial government in languages other than French, French-language requirements for certain contracts and a requirement that small businesses tell the government how many of their employees don’t speak French.The Quebec government has described the law as a moderate response to what it says is the declining use of French in the province, particularly in Montreal. Quebec Premier François Legault has repeatedly said that French will always be under threat in North America and he wants to avoid Quebec becoming like Louisiana, where few people speak French despite the ...

Daily horoscope for June 1, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Scorpio.Happy Birthday for Thursday, June 1, 2023:You are practical, attentive and give serious thought to what interests you. You’re also witty, chatty and casual. This year is full of exciting change and increased personal freedom. Learn to be more flexible. Let go of whatever has been holding you back. Seek out new opportunities! Trust your intuition.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★This is a productive day. Your communication skills are strong. Issues at home are harmonious. Meanwhile, you feel creative, competitive and ready to tackle anything. (Keep in mind that you’re letting go of people, places and possessions in the coming year.) Tonight: Get information.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★You will be successful in improving your domestic scene in some way. This requires your attention, because recently, increased chaos and activity at home have been a demand on your time and ene...

Russia accuses Washington of encouraging Ukraine in its attacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

Washington is encouraging Kyiv by publicly ignoring the drone attack that struck several districts of Moscow on Tuesday (30 May), Russia's envoy to the United States said on Wednesday (31 May), after President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for the strikes.The White House said it did not support attacks inside of Russia and that it was still gathering information on the incident, which Putin called an attempt to scare and provoke Moscow."What are these attempts to hide behind the phrase that they are 'gathering information'?" Anatoly Antonov, the ambassador, said in remarks published on the Telegram messaging channel."This is an encouragement for Ukrainian terrorists."Putin on Tuesday cast the assault, which brought the 15-month war in Ukraine to the heart of Russia, as a terrorist act. Ukraine also accuses Russia of terrorism for its bombing of Ukrainian civilians, allegations Moscow denies.A Ukrainian presidential aide denied Kyiv was directly involved in the drone attack on Moscow...

Miss Manners: How am I supposed to plan a shower with all these gay friends?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is a shower planner to do? It is impossible to generate a manageable guest list anymore, given the climate of gender neutrality.My gay girlfriends want to bring their partners; my transgender friends do, too. And my gay nephew wants to be invited along with his husband. Am I supposed to give all the invited guests a plus-one?I’m all for coed parties and showers, but they require twice as many seats and there are twice as many mouths to feed, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the shower.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: We are stung that the ‘cool’ neighbors didn’t clue us in Advice | Miss Manners: Her sheepish greeting always makes me feel awkward Advice | Miss Manners: Must I order sheep’s brains if I don’t want to share my food? Advice | Miss Manners: My former co-workers made snide comments about my presence Advice | Miss Manners: I’...

Dear Abby: My husband is upset that I find his new look mortifying

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married 33 years. A year ago, my husband started wearing girls’ frilly socks and pink nail polish — the pinker, the better. He thinks it is great.When we go out, he has to show off his nails to everyone. It’s beyond embarrassing.I hate going anywhere with him now, and he’s mad at me for it. Advice?— MORTIFIED IN TEXASRelated ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I have news about my co-worker that his girlfriend should know Advice | Dear Abby: What the bridesmaid told me sent my wedding stress off the charts Advice | Dear Abby: I walked into the bedroom and I can’t forget what I saw Advice | Dear Abby: My friends’ comments about my wedding are hurting my feelings Advice | Dear Abby: The team is shunning me because I stood up for my wife DEAR MORTIFIED: Some performers in the music business wear nail polish, and no one thinks twice about it. (The ...

Md. transportation secretary doesn’t have ‘a lot of faith’ in expected 2026 completion of Purple Line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

After a two-year pause when the original contractor backed out, work is resuming on building the 16.2 mile long Purple Line light-rail project.With a new contractor in place, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said his agency is putting the pressure on new builders, Maryland Transit Solutions, to complete the line. However, he said he doesn’t “have a lot of faith” that an October 2026 completion is possible.“It has a ways to go. I’m not going to sugarcoat it for people; it’s just a reality,” Wiedefeld said.The east-west line that will eventually connect New Carrollton and Bethesda, Maryland, was originally expected to be completed in March 2022; but the first contractor backed out of the project in 2020.Currently, Wiedefeld said inspections are underway after work was essentially stopped halfway through the project. The state hasn’t received word of any major issues with what has been looked at so far, but time-consuming hurdles still rema...

“Están equivocados”: McCarthy responde a sus críticos sobre el techo de la deuda mientras enfrenta las críticas negativas de los republicanos de línea dura

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

(CNN) — En febrero, el líder de la mayoría del Senado, Chuck Schumer, hizo una predicción audaz sobre el Partido Republicano y el techo de la deuda: “No creemos que tengan un plan que pueda aprobarse con los votos republicanos en la Cámara”, dijo.Más tarde insistió en que la Casa Blanca no negociaría con el presidente de la Cámara, Kevin McCarthy, un aumento del techo de la deuda y que, en última instancia, el Congreso levantaría el límite de endeudamiento sin ninguna condición.“Limpio, limpio, limpio”, le dijo a CNN en abril, refiriéndose al impulso para una resolución de techo de deuda limpia.Pero McCarthy finalmente aprobó un proyecto de ley en abril basado únicamente en los votos del Partido Republicano. Luego obligó al presidente Joe Biden a negociar una suspensión del límite de la deuda con recortes de gastos. Y este miércoles por la noche, la Cámara aprobó el acuerdo McCarthy-Biden con una votación de 314-177, incluso ganando el respaldo de más de la mayoría de los repu...

United looking to stop treble-chasing City in first all-Manchester FA Cup final

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

The roars grew louder inside Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag addressed Manchester United fans from the middle of the field, reminding them of the role they have in protecting the club’s greatest ever achievement.There was one game to go this season, the United manager told the baying crowd, and his players standing right in front of him were ready to give their all to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.“We count on you as well,” he said, pointing to the supporters, who by now were punching the air in defiance. “They will give everything when you are at our backs, and I’m sure we’ve a really good chance to take the cup back to Old Trafford.”As rallying cries go, it was pretty much pitch perfect from Ten Hag, who knows exactly what’s at stake on Saturday in a local derby with widespread repercussions.For United, this is about much more than capturing a second trophy of the season — after the English League Cup in February that ended the club’s six-year titl...

‘Chuck & Eva’ pays tribute to Chuck Brown, Eva Cassidy with DC, Baltimore concerts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'Chuck & Eva' (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Few artists are bigger D.C.-area music legends than the late Chuck Brown and Eva Cassidy, with Brown dubbed “The Godfather of Go-Go” in D.C. and Cassidy the pride of Prince George’s County, Maryland for her jazz chops.This month, the area performing arts group INseries Opera performs “Chuck & Ev...

Mets try to keep home win streak going, host the Phillies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:00 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (25-30, fourth in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (29-27, third in the NL East)New York; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Taijuan Walker (4-2, 5.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 43 strikeouts); Mets: Max Scherzer (4-2, 3.54 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 39 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -173, Phillies +147; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets, on a seven-game home winning streak, host the Philadelphia Phillies.New York has a 14-9 record at home and a 29-27 record overall. The Mets rank eighth in the NL with 64 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.Philadelphia has a 25-30 record overall and an 11-20 record in road games. Phillies hitters have a collective .411 slugging percentage to rank seventh in the NL.The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Nimmo leads the Mets with a .294 batting average, and has 10 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 27 walks and 21 RBI. Francisco Alvarez...