Auditoriums went dark and many productions were paused indefinitely or cancelled during the pandemic. A mostly regular school year has changed that. Staff and students eager to get on stage have returned in numbers rivalling pre-pandemic times.  After the pandemic cancelled performances, rights companies say licenses are returning to pre-COVID …

Jim Anderson gathers pollen samples from the roof of the building where he works in London’s SoHo neighbourhood. It’s a labour of love for the aerobiologist who’s been gathering samples since the late 1960s.  The data is sent to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Almost every day, …

LIGHT MOMENT. Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong shares a light moment with Philippine Coast Guard commandant Admiral Artemio Abu, who thanked Canberra for all its assistance – from vessel acquisition to maritime domain awareness capability development programs.  Australia on Thursday disclosed a package of new maritime cooperation initiatives for the …

Commits support to PBBM, Romualdez; disavows ‘early politicking’ THROWBACK PHOTO. File photo shows President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. flanked by then Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Speaker Martin Romualdez during the APEC Summit in Thailand in November 2022.Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo doused speculations that there was more to her replacement …

Canada, the U.S. and the rest of Group of Seven allies planned to unveil new sanctions and export controls against individuals and companies supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.  The subject of war is expected to dominate summit. Canada, the U.S. and the rest of Group of Seven allies planned …

WestJet and its pilots’ union say they have reached a last-minute deal, averting a strike ahead of the May long weekend.  111 Friday flights had already been cancelled in preparation for a possible strike. WestJet and its pilots’ union say they have reached a last-minute deal, averting a strike ahead …

The Ukrainian military and Russia’s Wagner private army both reported further Russian retreats on the outskirts of Bakhmut on Thursday, as Kyiv pressed on with its biggest advance for six months ahead of a planned counteroffensive.  Kyiv presses on with biggest advance in months ahead of planned counteroffensive. The Ukrainian …

In the election campaign’s lone debate, neither leader appeared to get rattled, for all the scorn the rivals tried to heap on each other about their pasts.  Neither leader appeared rattled in the debate. Do zingers zing if nobody’s zung? The party leaders stood a few feet away from each …

Neil Hetherington sees it in the growing lineups at the Daily Bread Food Bank.  The organization’s CEO says Toronto’s struggle with affordability has to be on the radar of the city’s mayoral candidates. It’s the reason why Daily Bread hosted the first major debate of the byelection campaign earlier this …

COME TOGETHER Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during an interview with foreign media members on April 20, 2023 in Tokyo. Leaders of seven of the world’s most powerful democracies will gather this weekend for the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima to strongly condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine while …