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German inflation hits 40-year high

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German inflation hits 40-year high

Berlin, Germany- German inflation has accelerated to a 40-year high of 8.8 percent in the year to August 2022.

Energy prices have risen by 35.6 percent and food prices by 16.6 percent. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, rose to 3.1 percent, up from 2.8 percent in July.

Joachim Nagel, head of German’s Central Bank, warned recently that inflation in the country was this year likely to rise at double-digit levels for the first time since 1951 and predicted prices would rise by at least six percent next year.

German inflation continued to rise despite government action, including lower duty on fuel and energy bills and a subsidized €9 (US$9.02) monthly train ticket. Many of the measures will expire in September, making it likely that inflation will jump even higher.

Meanwhile, Belgium’s Statbel statistics agency has revealed that the country’s inflation jumped to 9.94 percent in August, just short of the 1976 record of 9.96 percent.

“Energy inflation is now running at 49.81 percent, compared to 49.11 percent last month and 55.99 percent in June. Electricity is now 57.2 percent more expensive than a year ago. Natural gas is 106.9 percent more expensive than in August last year. The price of domestic heating oil, calculated based on a smoothed 12-month moving average, has increased by 52.6 percent in one year. Motor fuels are 21.0 percent more expensive than last year,” the agency stated.

Food prices in the country also surged 9.71 percent, but they make up only 1.92 percent of the overall inflation.

Apart from energy, prices on bread and cereals, confectionery, meat, alcohol, personal care products and hotel services have grown the most.

The fallout from Russia’s military operations in Ukraine has sent wholesale gas and electricity prices surging to record levels in Europe in recent weeks and pushed up the cost of fertilizer and other agricultural commodities such as wheat.

Some European Central Bank (ECB) rate-setters worry that the inflationary shock caused by the disruption of the Ukraine war has been accentuated by the demand shock following the reopening of European economies as COVID-19 restrictions were ended earlier this year.

Recent business surveys indicate that supply bottlenecks have been easing for companies for several months, and many are reporting rising inventories of unsold products due to falling orders.

The German inflation figures combined with a jump in Belgian inflation to a 46-year-high of 9.9 percent in August reinforced expectations that overall eurozone price growth is likely to hit a record of at least 9 percent when the data is released on Wednesday.

 

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RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

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EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

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RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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