It happened here (20)

The Saskatchewan doctors' strike of 1962 was a pivotal 23-day labor action aimed at halting the implementation of universal medical insurance in the province. The origins of Medicare can be traced back to a significant speech made by Premier Tommy Douglas in Birch Hills in 1959. This speech, delivered during a by-election campaign, was where Douglas first announced the groundbreaking Medicare plan. The idea quickly became the central issue of the 1960 provincial election, which Douglas's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) government won.Despite strong opposition from the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Bill was passed in late 1961. After Douglas stepped down to lead the newly formed federal New Democratic Party, his successor, Woodrow Lloyd, faced enormous pressure to abandon the plan. When the Medicare program officially took effect on July 1, 1962, approximately 90% of Saskatchewan's doctors went on strike, closing their offices in protest.The government responded by bringing in doctors from outside the province to maintain healthcare services. The strike ended on July 23, 1962, with the 'Saskatoon Agreement,' which allowed doctors to opt out of Medicare, increased fee payments, and gave them more representation on the Medical Care Insurance Commission. The failure of the strike ensured the continuation of Medicare, and the Saskatchewan model was adopted nationwide within a decade. Although the strike contributed to the defeat of Lloyd's government in the 1964 provincial election, the program became so popular that even the opposing Saskatchewan Liberal Party promised to expand it.

Birch Hills is a town in Saskatchewan, Canada, situated southeast of Prince Albert and near the Muskoday First Nation reserve. To the west lies the village of St. Louis, while Kinistino is to the east. Although surrounded by Birch Hills Rural Municipality No. 460, the town is not part of it. The town derives its name from the surrounding hills, once densely forested with birch trees. These trees were historically significant for crafting birch bark canoes during the 18th-century fur trade era. The landscape around Birch Hills belongs to the aspen parkland biome. Birch Hills was settled predominantly by Norwegian, British, and Anglo-Metis communities. It became a village in 1907 and was designated a town in 1960. Unlike many agriculturally based towns, Birch Hills continues to grow, partly due to its role as a satellite community of Prince Albert. According to the 2021 Census by Statistics Canada, Birch Hills had a population of 1,066, an increase of 3.2% from its 2016 population of 1,033. The town covers a land area of 2.39 km² (0.92 sq mi), resulting in a population density of 446.0/km² (1,155.2/sq mi).Notable individuals from Birch Hills include Earl Thomson, who won a gold medal for Canada in the 110 meters hurdles at the 1920 Olympics; Marshall Johnston, an NHL player, scout, coach, and general manager, who currently serves as the Director of Professional Scouting for the Carolina Hurricanes; and John Richard Parish Taylor, a politician.

On February 7th, 2023 at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a banquet with military officials in which he praised them for maintaining the 'strongest army in the world' despite external difficulties. On the occasion he was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae and his wife Ri Sol-ju. Pictures of the event provided by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) are available in the article.

The Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel run by the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts overlooking the Persian Gulf in the West Bay area of Doha, Qatar. Located approximately two miles northwest of the port area, it reportedly covers an area of around 10,000 square metres. The hotel reportedly cost around $100 million to build, and although built by an American company, it was subsidized by the Qatari government. Established in 1979, it is noted for its distinct pyramid shape and is part of the conference facility for the Organization of Arab States. The Sheraton Doha has been described as having 'a world of Arabian luxury and magical ambience'. The hotel itself has a very important function as a conference centre in Doha and regularly hosts events including international scientific seminars and meetings. The First Conference for Expatriate Arab Scientists, QFIRST took place at the hotel in 2007 and it has hosted meetings of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The hotel reportedly has one auditorium which holds over 1000 people. The hotel has 371 rooms, 9 restaurants, and 26 conference rooms. In 2020, it was host to the Doha peace conference that negotiated the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

In this modest apartment situated in the small town of Campobello di Mazara in the west part of Sicily, the 60 year old Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro had lived at least the last 6 months before being arrested in Palermo on January 16th, 2023. Viagra pills, condoms, expensive shoes, restaurant receipts, and designer clothes were some of the items found in the house.

The private health facility La Maddalena located in Via San Lorenzo, 312/D Palermo, is the location where on January 16th, 2023 the mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, one of the world’s most-wanted criminals who had spent 30 years on the run, has been arrested. At approximately 8.30am Matteo Messina Denaro entered La Maddalena clinic with a sheet of paper in his hand containing the negative result of a Covid test. When the police broke into the building to arrest him, 'U Siccu' (the skinny one), allegedly tried to flee but, on realising he was surrounded, did not put up any resistance.

The Yanggakdo International Hotel is the largest operating hotel in North Korea, pending the completion of the Ryugyong Hotel, and the country's seventh- or eighth-tallest building. The hotel is located on Yanggak Island in the River Taedong, two kilometres (1.2 mi) to the south-east of the centre of Pyongyang, the nation's capital. It rises to an overall height of 170 metres (560 ft) and has a slowly revolving restaurant on the 47th floor. This hotel is North Korea's first luxury hotel. The structure was built between 1986 and 1992 by France's Campenon Bernard Construction Company and opened in 1996.

At this location, a gentle hill outside the old walls of Daegu, Protestant Chrstianity was established and grew to become a major part of religious life in Korea. In 1899, three inspired American Presbyterian missionaries, Dr. James E. Adams, Dr. Woodbridge O. Johnson and Rev. M. Bruen met at this site and blessed the site proclaiming 'the land we are standing on was provided by the Lord', and further, gazing below at the walled city of Daegu, proclaimed it as the 'Jerusalem where the Tower of David stands.' A church and mission office as well as a medical clinic, where western medicine was first practiced in this region, were established at this location. The clinic was the predecessor to the present Dong San Medical Center. As foretold by the missionaries, this site became central to expanding the Christian church and ministries in Daegu and beyond.

The soldiers of the Korean Empire resisted the forced dissolution of the army by the Japanese Empire in 1907 here. Following King Gojong's forced abdication, the Japanese Empire forced the breakup of the army on August 1, 1907. In resistance, Park Seung Hwan, the commander of the First Battalion of the First Regiment, committed suicide and the soldiers armed themselves and dashed into the streets. The soldiers of the First Battalion of the Second Regiment responded in kind and waged battle against the Japanese army in the streets. Positioning machine guns on the ramparts of Sungnyemun, the Japanese army fired on the soldiers indiscriminately, but the soldiers resolutely fought back. However, they could not overcome their inferiority of arms and their barracks were occupied by the Japanese army. The defeated soldiers scattered in all directions and joined the righteous armies of volunteer soldiers, strengthening their force in arms.

Gonnyeonghap Hall was the residence of Queen Myeongseong, built alongside the king's residence, Geoncheonggung Residence. This is also the place where she was assassinated by the Japanese on October 8th, 1895 (the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign). Dr. Annie Ellers Bunker, an American who served the royal family of Joseon (Joseon Dynasty) for seven years as a medical doctor, described the queen as a kind, gentle, and beautiful woman. As Japan invaded Manchuria after having won the First Sino-Japanese War in February 1895, the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty advocated stronger ties between Korea and Russia in an attempt to block Japanese influence in the country. However, this caused a group of Japanese assassins to raid the queen's residence and slaughter her on October 8th in 1895. They burned her body and buried the remains at the foot of Noksan Hill, east of Geoncheonggung Residence. Later, a state funeral was granted after the remains were collected and placed in Gyeongungung Palace (present day Deoksugung Palace).