Busy morning? Here are five stories that will help you catch up on what's going on in the world right now.
Housing affordability declines in Toronto and Vancouver, improves in Alberta
A report by RBC Economics says housing affordability continued to decline in Toronto and Vancouver, while conditions for homebuyers improved in Alberta during the first quarter of the year as lower oil prices caused the real estate market to soften, The Canadian Press reports.
RBC says mortgage rate cuts improved the affordability of homes in many Canadian housing markets where prices didn’t accelerate too rapidly.
That offset rapid price growth in Toronto and Vancouver, leaving national affordability levels relatively flat.
Senator hires lawyer amid allegations of a relationship with 16-year-old girl
A senator facing published allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl that ended earlier this year has hired a lawyer. The Canadian Press reports.
Meredith quit the Conservative caucus last week after
the Toronto Star reported that a woman said she had a
sexual relationship with him that began shortly after she
turned 16.
EU extends economic sanctions against Russia
European Union foreign ministers extended economic sanctions on Russia until Jan. 31, keeping up pressure on Moscow to help resolve the Ukraine conflict, Reuters reports.
The ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a six-month extension of the sanctions, which were “introduced in response to Russia’s destabilizing role in eastern Ukraine,” an EU statement said.
Maradona to run for FIFA presidency
Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona has decided to stand as a candidate for the FIFA presidency to replace Sepp Blatter, Reuters reports.
Maradona, 54, has long been a trenchant critic of Blatter and last month said he was “enjoying” the corruption scandal that led the Swiss to announce he would stand down at an extraordinary congress of soccer’s world governing body.
Indonesian court rejects final appeal of French national facing execution
An Indonesian court on Monday denied the final appeal of a French national who faces execution for drug offences, setting the stage for diplomatic retaliation by France after executions of other foreigners strained relations with Australia and Brazil, The Associated Press reports.
His case has drawn national attention in France, which vigorously opposes the death penalty. Muslim majority Indonesia takes a hardline stance against drug crimes and resumed executions in 2013.