Latest news with #SergeiGrits
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
This Major City Just Went a Full Year Without a Single Traffic Death
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Finland's capital, Helsinki, has not had a recorded traffic death in the past 12 months, according to city and police authorities. Why It Matters Helsinki's newest stat is a rare feat for a major city. The municipality has about 690,000 residents, with roughly 1.3 million in the capital region. By comparison, Washington, D.C., which has a population of just over 700,000, has recorded 12 traffic deaths so far this year and 52 last year. The drop in traffic fatalities has come as the city has implemented various speed limits and bolstered public transit. What To Know The last recorded traffic death in Helsinki was in early July 2024. The city has recently undergone some safety and infrastructure changes, with more than half of the city's streets having speed limits of 30 kilometers per hour, which is just under 20 miles per hour, Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer with the city's Urban Environment Division, told Finland's national public broadcaster, Yle, in July. Traffic deaths are on the decline throughout the European Union (EU), a 3 percent decrease in 2024 than 2023. The EU has set a goal of zero road fatalities throughout the region by 2050, in an initiative called "Vision Zero." A tram is reflected in shop window in the center of Helsinki, Finland, Saturday, March 15, 2025. A tram is reflected in shop window in the center of Helsinki, Finland, Saturday, March 15, 2025. AP Photo/Sergei Grits Finland has been working to improve traffic safety and prevent fatalities over the past several years, which has also lowered the total number of accidents resulting in injuries. In addition to the lower speed limits, the city has spearheaded several initiatives, including investing and developing new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, which includes a web of cycling paths that connect throughout the city, boosting public transit with a new tram line and self-driving buses, and increased security cooperation. The city also has a rigorous ticketing system and traffic law enforcement. The country was awarded the 2024 Road Safety Performance Index prize by the European Transport Safety Council for its work to reduce road deaths and injuries. What People Are Saying Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer with the city's Urban Environment Division, told Yle in July: "A lot of factors contributed to this, but speed limits are one of the most important... "Public transport in Helsinki is excellent, which reduces car use, and with it, the number of serious accidents." Adam Tranter, Founder & CEO of Fusion Media, said in an X post on Thursday: "Not a single person died on Helsinki's roads in the last year. An impressive achievement which shows cities across the world that road traffic deaths are not inevitable." What Happens Next Several European countries are working to meet their goals for reducing traffic deaths.
Toronto Sun
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Ottawa silent on replacements as special ambassador positions open up
Published Jul 22, 2025 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 3 minute read Climate Change Ambassador Catherine Stewart speaks during a plenary session at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photo by Sergei Grits / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OTTAWA — The Carney government is not saying whether it will keep appointing ambassadors on themes championed by the Trudeau cabinet, now that terms are lapsing for Ottawa's envoys on climate and women in security. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But a prominent observer of the foreign service says it's likely Ottawa will fill these roles by autumn. Catherine Stewart, Canada's ambassador for climate change, left her post in March. Her term was set to expire at the end of this month. Also in March, and just days after Prime Minister Mark Carney took office, Jacqueline O'Neill's term as Canada's ambassador for women, peace and security ended on schedule. Both posts were created to advance Canadian values abroad. The federal government also announced in December the creation of an Arctic ambassadorship. The government has not said when that post might be filled. Canadian LGBTQ+ groups have called for years for Ottawa to appoint a special ambassador for LGBTQ+ rights, similar to the one France has and the U.S. had under the previous Biden administration. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Carney's office did not respond when asked if he would appoint an LGBTQ+ envoy, maintain the postings that have lapsed or appoint an Arctic ambassador. Questions on envoys come as the government asks Global Affairs Canada to find budget cuts of 7.5 per cent starting next spring — part of the government's efforts to meet defence spending targets. Global Affairs Canada said it's up to cabinet to decide whether Ottawa will appoint an envoy for women, peace and security, or WPS. Department spokeswoman Brittany Fletcher said that the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 'continues to be co-ordinated by Global Affairs Canada, and is supported by nine other federal partner departments and agencies.' WPS diplomacy recognizes the disproportionate impact of war on women and girls and promotes their leadership in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Canada has been a champion of WPS since the Stephen Harper's Conservative government. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canada appointed a WPS ambassador in 2019, using a strategic framework that noted Ottawa had 'developed a reputation for leadership' in the field while acknowledging that the concept had faced 'powerful backlash' abroad. 'Some long-standing champions of WPS are faltering in their support, and opponents are exploiting their disunity,' the framework noted. Katrina Leclerc, chair of the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada, said it's 'deeply concerning' that the ambassador's post has been vacant for four months. Leclerc told The Canadian Press it's important to have a point person to co-ordinate the work of civil society, government departments and international colleagues. 'While a policy or national action plan is important, without institutional leadership like the ambassador, implementation risks becoming fragmented or deprioritized,' she said in an email. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This is not merely a symbolic role — it provides the necessary structure and strategy to embed WPS priorities across Canada's diplomacy, development and defence portfolios.' She noted that Carney initially scrapped a ministerial role dedicated to gender equality before restoring it in response to public blowback. 'At a time when we're witnessing democratic backsliding, conflict and gender-based violence globally, Canada's absence of a WPS ambassador risks signalling a step back from its feminist commitments,' she wrote. Environment Canada said it's up to the cabinet to decide whether to appoint a new ambassador for climate change, on the advice of the foreign affairs and environment ministers. Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat and vice-president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said he expects the various appointments to be made this fall. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We don't have to make these appointments, really, until September,' he said. 'I wouldn't read anything into the fact that these positions have lapsed.' Robertson said Carney has a keen interest in foreign policy and is probably looking at people who would be good ambassadors, including people from outside the foreign service. Carney likely is looking for envoys with the political savvy to manage delicate relations with the U.S. while advancing Canada's distinct interests, Robertson said. 'He's probably got several lists in front of him and he's mulling them over,' he said. 'He moves quickly, but he also spends attention.' The federal government says it does intend to name a new special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism. Deborah Lyons retired from the role three months before the scheduled end of her term. Canadian Heritage department spokeswoman Ines Akue said that 'a new special envoy will be appointed in due course.' Canada Television Sunshine Girls Canada Toronto & GTA
