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French Police Arrest Two in $100 Million Louvre Jewel Heist

                                                     T he Louvre Museum French authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with last week’s audacious jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where thieves made off with crown jewels valued at more than $100 million. According to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the arrests took place on Saturday evening. One suspect was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he attempted to board a flight out of the country, while the second was apprehended later that night in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb north of Paris. The daring robbery occurred on October 19, when thieves used a crane to smash an upstairs window of the world’s most-visited museum before escaping on motorbikes. The stolen collection included priceless Napoleonic-era jewels, sparking outrage and raising questions...

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Liberals and NDP Push GST Holiday Bill Through House of Commons


The House of Commons has passed legislation that will remove the federal sales tax for two months from a range of items, including children's toys, books, restaurant meals, and takeout, as well as beer and wine.

As expected, the NDP helped the minority Liberals push the exemption through Thursday night. The Conservatives voted against the bill, calling the measure a "temporary two-month tax trick," as did the Bloc Québécois. The bill, which the Liberals and NDP agreed to fast-track through the usual procedural steps, now goes to the Senate. Once passed, the legislation will provide a GST rebate beginning Dec. 14 and lasting until Feb. 15, 2025.

The Liberals originally pitched the tax holiday along with a plan to send $250 cheques to the 18.7 million people in Canada who worked in 2023 and earned $150,000 or less. However, some Canadians have raised concerns about being excluded from the millions who would receive those cheques. The NDP threatened to withhold support for the entire package if the government didn't split the promises into two pieces of legislation. The Liberals did not include the cheques measure in the bill the House of Commons passed Thursday night. It is unclear when they might present that legislation.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a media statement on Wednesday that his party will support the cheque measure later if the Liberals expand it to include more Canadians, "including seniors, people with disabilities and injured workers". Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has billed the tax holiday as an affordability measure aimed at alleviating cost-of-living pressures. Some economists have cautioned that the measure could have inflationary consequences later this spring.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the government should instead adopt his policy suggestions by scrapping the carbon tax and removing the GST from new homes sold for under $1 million. "My tax cuts are not just about lowering costs. They're about sparking more production," he said.



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