• Reuters

    Israel intensifies strikes on Gaza's Rafah ahead of threatened invasion

    Israel stepped up airstrikes on Rafah overnight, killing at least six Palestinians, medics said on Thursday, after saying it would evacuate civilians from the Gaza border city and storm it despite allies' warnings this could cause mass casualties. In the seventh month of a devastating air and ground war against the Gaza Strip's ruling Islamist group Hamas, Israeli forces also resumed bombarding northern and central areas of the enclave, as well as east of Khan Younis in the south. Israeli warplanes had hammered the north for a second day on Wednesday, shattering weeks of comparative calm there, and Israel said it was moving forward with plans for an all-out assault on Hamas holdouts in Rafah, on the southern border with Egypt.

  • CBC

    Speed limit rising on another section of 401 in Chatham-Kent

    Another stretch of Highway 401 in southwestern Ontario will be getting a new speed limit. The provincial government announced Wednesday that the 110 km/h zone from Windsor to Tilbury is getting extended by seven kilometres.The area is one of 10 sections on 400-series highways that will see speed limits go up by 10 km/h. Highway 403 from Woodstock to Brantford is also on the list.The provincial government started raising 401 speed limits in some areas about five years ago through pilot projects,

  • Reuters

    Altria tops first quarter sales on higher pricing, robust demand for smokeless alternatives

    Like other tobacco giants, Altria has been revamping its portfolio of products to keep up with consumers switching from traditional tobacco products to vapes or other alternatives and as inflation-hit smokers switched to cheaper brands. The company's net revenue came in at $5.58 billion in the first quarter, topping analyst expectations of $4.71 billion, while profit on an adjusted basis came in line with expectations. Last year, Altria launched a lower-priced version of its flagship Marlboro brand and finalized its acquisition of e-cigarette startup NJOY Holdings, expanding its portfolio to include pod-based vapes.