OTTAWA -- The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on Canadians' mental health, but the impact was worse for people with mental health difficulties, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

Compared with individuals with no mental health difficulties, those with low-to-moderate and severe mental health difficulties were more likely to experience negative impacts due to the pandemic, such as emotional distress, difficulties meeting financial obligations or essential needs, loss of job or income, loneliness or isolation, and physical health problems, the national statistical agency said, quoting a survey result. (Canada-COVID)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Officials and Asian communities in San Francisco, in the western U.S. state of California, addressed the surging hate crimes against the AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) in the city during a town hall meeting earlier this week, NBC Bay Area News reported.

At the meeting held at the Chinatown Community Center on Tuesday, many women told their stories of being attacked on the streets. Amy Li said she was recently attacked on the bus. "I have reported this case to the police, but so far there have been no updates and no follow-up every single day. My son and I live in fear." (US-Hate Crimes)

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BUENOS AIRES -- Argentine President Alberto Fernandez on Thursday unveiled the country's National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation 2030, an initiative that will target poverty eradication and food sovereignty.

Argentina has "everything" it needs to reach the "scientific and technological development we want," said Fernandez during a ceremony at the Bicentennial Museum of the Casa Rosada, according to a press release from the presidency. (Argentina-Science)

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VIENNA -- Five people, including two children, died on Thursday as storms battered parts of Austria, local media reported.

Two girls, aged four and eight, were killed by falling trees in the Carinthia state and a dozen people were injured, Austrian broadcaster ORF reported. (Austria-Storm-Accident)

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BRUSSELS -- A high-level meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo's head of government Albin Kurti in Brussels on Thursday failed to result in a compromise over tensions in northern Kosovo.

"There is no compromise today, but the talks will continue," said European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after the meeting, which he convened. (Serbia-Kosovo)