BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s annual inflation soared to 211.4% in 2023, the highest rate in 32 years, according to figures released Thursday by the government’s INDEC statistics agency.

The data reflects the strong impact of a , including a 50% devaluation of the nation’s currency, implemented by right-wing President Javier Milei in hopes of eventually bringing the country’s roaring inflation under control.

The annual inflation compared with about 9

NEW YORK (AP) — Judy Blume’s latest honor is a new prize named for a former first lady.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Center and the Fisher Center at Bard College announced Thursday that Blume is the first-ever recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award for Bravery in Literature. Blume, 85, is known for such novels for young people as “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” and “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.” She is also a longtime opponent of

will have three female conductors this summer, three years after the podium gender barrier was broken at the annual showcase of Richard Wagner’s operas.

The festival said Thursday that Simone Young will conduct “Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung)” following the cancellation of Phillipe Jordan. There will be three cycles of the four-opera work, from July 28 though Aug. 25.

“Other commitments have now unfortunately made it impossible for him to conduct the `Ring,’” the festival

At least 11 ServiceOntario locations in southern Ontario are being closed and replaced with kiosks inside some Staples Canada stores.

CityNews has learned among the locations closing are centres in Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, London, and Newmarket.

The government also confirmed that Staples Canada got a sole-sourced deal to open ServiceOntario locations inside some of its Ontario office supply stores. The deal was not put to tender so other companies were not able to openly bid for it.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson within the premier’s office said

SURREY, B.C. — Police agencies in British Columbia say the introduction of body cameras will improve transparency and lead to more timely resolution of complaints against officers.

The B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and representatives from several departments gathered at RCMP headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday to tout the introduction of the cameras, soon to be worn by thousands of officers in the province and across Canada.

The association formed a committee in 2021, which was mandated “to

SITKA, Alaska (AP) — Two people died and three others were rescued from the water after a boat overturned near the southeast Alaska city of Sitka this week, authorities said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it responded Tuesday after being notified by local police that a boat had overturned. The three survivors were on top of the overturned boat when a Coast Guard helicopter arrived, said Petty Officer Shannon Kearney.

A search ensued for two missing people who were later found dead in the boat cabin Wednesday after state

PARIS (AP) — The new government of French Prime Minister was announced Thursday with only one major change at the foreign ministry, while most high-profile Cabinet members remained unchanged.

The interior, finance, defense and justice ministers remain in place, according to the French presidency’s statement. The members of the government were agreed upon by the 34-year-old Attal, who is France’s youngest-ever premier, and President .

Stéphane Séjourné, 38, has

OTTAWA — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday she would not weigh in on the recent arrest of a Rebel News personality because politicians have no say in the operational decisions made by police.

David Menzies, a commentator for the online site, was arrested Monday by an RCMP officer providing security for Freeland while Menzies was trying to ask the minister questions outside an event in Richmond Hill, Ont.

A Rebel News video shows Menzies being told he was arrested for assault because he pushed into an officer. In the video, Menzies can

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing officials following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Raptors lost by a single point , 132-131, but the Lakers had a 36-13 edge in free throw opportunities.

After the game, Rajakovic made his displeasure with the officiating known, especially upset with the imbalance of calls in the fourth quarter when the Lakers held a 23-2 foul differential,