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China and Southeast Asia nations vow to conclude a nonaggression pact faster as sea crises escalate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Chinese and Southeast Asian diplomats renewed a vow to finalize a nonaggression pact for the South China Sea in three years, two regional diplomats said Thursday. The pledge came during a meeting last week in Beijing, where they expressed alarm over recent confrontations in the disputed waters. The Philippines has protested what it says are increasingly dangerous and provocative maneuvers by China’s coast guard and navy ships in recent months. On Oct. 22, two Chinese ships blocked and separately collided with two Philippine vessels near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.Following the collisions, the United States renewed a warning that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, a longtime treaty ally, if Filipino forces come under an armed attack anywhere in the contested waters. The Philippine government summoned a Chinese diplomat in Manila for a strongly worded protest.Association of Southeast Asian Nations diplomats separately expr...

Local state of emergency in Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., as two water pumps fail

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

HARRISON HOT SPRINGS, B.C. — A state of local emergency has been declared in the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, east of Vancouver, as two of three pumps at the community’s water treatment plant have failed. A statement from Mayor Ed Wood says the availability of water for drinking and firefighting could be at risk.He says the water treatment plant is operating normally on a single pump and a backup external pump has been rented, in case the third one fails.The two broken pumps have been sent for repairs and Wood says one is expected to be returned within days.In the meantime, he says the reservoir is at full capacity, so water supplies are not threatened, and plans to handle the situation are being developed with the Emergency Management Ministry, neighbouring communities and other partners.Officials in Harrison Hot Springs have not said what might have caused the two pumps to fail.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2023.The Canadian Press

Cross-examination of Peter Nygard to continue at his sex assault trial

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard is expected to continue testifying Thursday under cross-examination at his sexual assault trial in Toronto.The 82-year-old founder of a now-defunct women’s clothing company has pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in alleged incidents ranging from the 1980s to mid-2000s.Multiple complainants in the trial have alleged they were taken to Nygard’s Toronto headquarters under pretences ranging from tours to job interviews, with encounters ending in a top-floor bedroom suite where they allege they were sexually assaulted.Nygard denied those allegations as he testified in his own defence last week, and said he has never done the things the five complainants have accused him of. Related: Complainant in Peter Nygard trial testifies about aftermath of alleged Toronto rape Crown suggests inconsistencies in Peter Nygard’s statements during cross examination ...

Canada’s health spending growth ‘modest,’ remains below pre-pandemic levels: CIHI

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

Growth in Canada’s health spending increased slightly but has remained below pre-pandemic levels and is expected to reach $344 billion in 2023, new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information says.That’s about $8,740 per person, CIHI’s national health expenditure trends report said Thursday.The institute’s health-care spending data includes money spent by the public sector, private sector and money paid by individuals.The projected total for 2023 is a rise of about $9 billion from last year, but still well under the year-over-year growth seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.Between 2015 and 2019, health-care spending increased by an average of 4.3 per cent per year. The pandemic drove a sharp 13.2 per cent rise in 2020, followed by a 7.8 per cent increase in 2021.But in 2022, the annual growth in health spending decreased to 1.5 per cent — and has risen by a “modest” 2.8 per cent in 2023, said Christopher Kuchciak, manager of health expen...

Key Swiss rail tunnel damaged by derailment won’t fully reopen until next September

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland’s national rail operator said Thursday the world’s longest rail tunnel won’t be fully reopened to train traffic until next September, again pushing back the target date for repairs of damage caused by a cargo train derailment.The Swiss federal railway operator, known by its German-language acronym SBB, said the damage from the Aug. 10 derailment in the Gotthard tunnel, Switzerland’s main north-south rail thoroughfare, is “much more significant than first imagined.”“The rail tracks need to be entirely replaced over 7 kilometers (4.2 miles). The work will take much more time than anticipated,” SBB said. The cost of the repairs is expected to be 100 million to 130 million Swiss francs (about $110 million to $140 million).Limited passenger and cargo train traffic through the tunnel is continuing. Previously, SBB said repair work would continue through the end of this year. No one was injured in the derailment, but the damage was considerable. Large swaths...

King Charles III observes a drill In Kenya by the African country’s British-trained marine unit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — King Charles III observed a drill by an elite unit of British-trained Kenya Marines in the coastal city of Mombasa on Thursday, the third day of his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch. Earlier in the visit, Charles cited the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed against Kenyans as they sought independence though he didn’t explicitly apologize for Britain’s actions in its former colony as many Kenyans wanted. Charles, who holds the rank of Captain General of the Royal Marines, and Queen Camilla visited the Mtongwe Naval Base in the city of Mombasa, where the British monarch inspected an honor guard and together with Kenya’s President William Ruto attended a military ceremony Thursday. They watched as Kenya Marines demonstrated a covert beach landing, after which the royal couple met the marines and their families.Kenya and the United Kingdom have a long-standing defense cooperation and in May this year, they partnered to cr...

Nikki Haley wants to be the GOP’s Trump alternative. Ron DeSantis and others are trying to stop her

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — At a recent closed-door meeting of roughly 60 millionaires and billionaires, one of the Republican Party’s most influential donors stood in the well of Dallas’ historic Old Parkland debate chamber and praised Nikki Haley’s presidential candidacy. But Paul Singer deliberately stopped short of endorsing the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor. The New York hedge fund executive instead spoke highly of Haley’s Republican rivals as well, naming Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. He even praised aspects of Donald Trump’s presidency, despite Singer’s strong preference — like that of others in the room — to move past the former president.The moment, described by two people who were inside the meeting last month and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations, captures the conundrum facing the many Republican leaders eager to coalesce behind a clear Trump alternative. While DeS...

Members of far-right groups and counter-demonstrators clash in Greece

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities say 14 people were due to appear in court Thursday following their arrests during extensive clashes between members of far-right groups and participants in a counter-demonstration.Supporters of the extreme right group Golden Dawn defied a blanket police ban on demonstrations in greater Athens late Wednesday and clashed with protesters from a rival rally led by left-wing organizations that also defied the order. The violence around the center of Athens spilled into a train and onto a platform of the city’s subway system. Police initially detained 60 people but later released most of them. The 14 who were arrested face charges of committing public disturbance offenses. A minister for public order said Thursday that an investigation had been launched into allegations of police brutality after an amateur video posted online appeared to show members of a motorcycle police unit repeatedly punching a detained protester on the ground.The far-right pro...

Canadian Natural president Tim McKay to retire, company raises dividend

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

CALGARY — Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. announced the retirement of president Tim McKay next year as it raised its quarterly dividend and reported a third-quarter profit of $2.34 billion, down from $2.81 billion a year ago.Canadian Natural says McKay will assume the role of vice-chairman on Feb. 28, 2024, when Scott Stauth, currently chief operating officer of oilsands, will be promoted to president. As vice-chairman, McKay is expected to help with the management transition until his retirement in the summer.The announcement came as company said it will now pay a quarterly dividend of $1 per share, up from 90 cents.Canadian Natural reported its profit amounted to $2.13 per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $2.49 per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue for the quarter totalled $9.90 billion, down from $10.46 billion in the same quarter last year.On an adjusted basis, the company says it earned $2.59 per diluted share in its most recent quarter, down from $3.0...

Vigil held for Hamas hostages

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:55 GMT

CHICAGO -- Hundreds of people gathered at the Anche Emit Synagogue Wednesday night to pray for Israeli lives lost in the Hamas attack on Israel and plea for action to rescue the more than 200 people taken hostage by the militant group. Families whose loved ones are currently being held hostage by Hamas travelled to Chicago to share their stories.At the same time, push for leaders across the world to assist in the safe release of those hostages. Since the attack Israel Defense Forces have conducted air and ground strikes on Gaza with the intent of taking out Hamas, killing more than 8,000 Palestinian civilians in the bombings, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Search underway for missing 5-year-old from Portage Park Of the people who spoke, Seam Samo Segal's cousin Rimon Kirsht who was taken with her husband from the couple's home. Sandy Feldman's brother and sister were kidnapped -- and have not been heard from in more than three weeks. "We don't know where they are they ...