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Ghosts of war haunt G7 as leaders face up to Chinese menace

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan — As the leaders of the Group of Seven gather for their annual summit in Japan this week, three world-changing conflicts — past, present and potential — will converge. The atomic bomb that ended World War II destroyed much of the city of Hiroshima, where the leaders will meet. Today, Russia’s war in Ukraine is costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars as it drags on. And then there’s the risk of another horrifying catastrophe to come, as China threatens Taiwan. And it’s over China where the alliance may come unstuck. For hawks like the U.S. and Japan, the summit beginning Friday offers a timely opportunity to make the case to Europe’s leaders directly that it’s time to get off the fence when it comes to confronting China. “This G7 Summit will be an appropriate venue to also discuss security issues and our security cooperation not only in Europe, but also in the Indo-Pacific region,” Noriyuki Shikata, cabinet secretary at the Japanese pri...

Trudeau arrives in Japan for G7 summit amid geopolitical tensions with China, Russia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has landed in Hiroshima, Japan for the G7 Leaders’ Summit, where he’s expected to push for increased co-operation on global and economic security to guard against geopolitical instability and the threat of climate change.All eyes will be on how G7 countries, however, choose to address the threat of China specifically.Leaders of G7 countries – Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan – meet annually to collaborate on shared goals. This year’s summit will focus on seven main agenda items, including geopolitical and global security issues, economic resilience and climate change and energy.Prior to the summit, Trudeau concluded his first official visit to South Korea on Thursday where the two countries reached agreements on the supply chain of critical minerals — used for electric vehicles — and youth mobility.Canada is hoping to expand its alliances beyond its traditional western partners by seeking...

Russia fires 30 cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets; Ukraine says 29 were shot down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia fired 30 cruise missiles against different parts of Ukraine early Thursday in the latest nighttime test of Ukrainian air defenses, which shot down 29 of them, officials said.One person died and two were wounded by a Russian missile that got through and struck an industrial building in the southern region of Odesa, according to Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the region’s military administration.Loud explosions were heard in Kyiv as the Kremlin’s forces targeted the capital for the ninth time this month in a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.Debris fell on two Kyiv districts, starting a fire at a garage complex. There was no immediate word about any victims, Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv Military Administration, said in a Telegram post.Ukraine also shot down two Russian exploding drones and two reconnaissance drones, according to authoriti...

In The News for May 18 : WestJet begins flight cancellations ahead of strike deadline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 18 …What we are watching in Canada …Talks between WestJet and the pilots’ union continue amid the countdown toward a Friday strike deadline, with the airline saying it has started to cancel flights ahead of the anticipated work stoppage.Some 1,800 pilots at the carrier and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to walk off the job as of 3 a.m. eastern daylight time after the Air Line Pilots Association issued a strike notice Monday.The federal labour minister and the government’s head mediator as well as WestJet’s CEO and the pilots’ union leaders have all descended on a hotel near Toronto’s Pearson airport to work toward a deal.WestJet issued a statement early Thursday saying it has begun cancelling flights in preparation for the job action. The statement reads that the WestJet Group is...

WestJet cancellations announced ‘in anticipation of’ strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

The WestJet Group says it has “started taking down its network” and cancelled a number of flights in preparation for strike action by WestJet and Swoop pilots.The company says taking these steps ensures it “can avoid abandoning aircraft in remote locations without support,” as well as creates “the proactive communication with guests and crew to minimize the potential for being stranded.”The WestJet Group goes on to say that it is “parking the majority of its 737 and 787” aircraft in what it sees as a “measured, phased, and safe approach,” adding some of its flights — WestJet Encore, WestJet Link, and a select number of 737s — will continue operating.“We are extremely disheartened to find ourselves in a place where we have to activate our contingency plan and subsequent takedown of our network as a result of the strike notice served by (the Air Line Pilots Association) ALPA and their inability to accept a reasona...

Have you forgotten a fortune? B.C. team wants to return millions to rightful owners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

VANCOUVER — In an era inundated with scams involving mysterious princes or easy fortunes — if you just hand over a few bucks in advance — you’re probably right to be wary of anyone offering free money.But Sherry MacLennan and Lindsey Moore really might have some cash for you, British Columbians. Maybe even millions.The pair are part of a team of six running BC Unclaimed, recently rebranded from the BC Unclaimed Property Society. Over the last 20 years, the organization has operated under a government mandate to reunite British Columbians with funds abandoned or forgotten in old bank accounts, with government departments or in the form of unclaimed court payments.One of the challenges they face is skepticism that what they offer is real.While the average payout is usually a few hundred dollars, later this month the society expects to finish the paperwork and hand over a record $1.98 million that the claimant did not previously know they owned.“Every year we advertise, try...

Poilievre’s ‘jail, not bail’ idea may not pass constitutional muster, experts say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said this week that if he became prime minister, his government would pass legislation to deny repeat violent offenders access to bail — and while the proposal speaks to Canadians’ deepening concerns about crime, experts suggest it would likely be unconstitutional.“A repeat violent offender, newly arrested for another serious violent offence, will have to serve their entire period in jail,” Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday.“Not bail, and not early parole. That’s common sense.”The Opposition leader’s comments came in response to the federal government announcing its own plans to reform Canada’s bail laws by bringing in measures making it more difficult for some repeat violent offenders to get released on bail. The Liberals introduced the proposed changes in response to mounting pressure from provinces, police associations and victims’ rights groups to strengthen the ...

Smoky conditions remain in much of Alberta with continued heat, dryness expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

Special air quality statements from Environment Canada continue to cover most of Alberta as smoky air blankets much of the province.The number of wildfire evacuees in Alberta has dropped after residents of the town of Drayton Valley, about 145 kilometres southwest of Edmonton, were recently allowed to return home.However, roughly 12,000 people remain forced from their homes.Indigenous Services Canada says wildfires in Alberta are threatening nine First Nations communities, while nine others are identified to be “on watch” for threat of wildfire. Of the 92 active wildfires in the province as of Wednesday evening, 26 were listed as out of control.There are more than 2,500 people fighting the wildfires in Alberta, including support from across Canada, the Armed Forces and the United States.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

Both sides in Canada-U.S. pipeline debate clash today over cross-border Line 5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

WASHINGTON — North America’s existential debate about the virtues and dangers of oil and gas pipelines faces a critical test today in Wisconsin. That’s where a district court judge will hear arguments about whether or not to shut down Line 5, a critical cross-border energy conduit between Canada and the U.S.The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa says spring flooding has rendered the risk of a breach on its northern Wisconsin territory too great to ignore. Alberta-based Enbridge Inc., the pipeline’s owner, says the band is overstating the risk and preventing the company from taking protective measures. Today’s hearing will include lawyers from the state of Michigan, which has been trying in its own courts to shut down Line 5 since 2019. It’s unclear how long the hearings will last or how quickly district court Judge William Conley will rule on the band’s request for an order to shut the pipeline down. The band, which argues that Enbridge&...

WestJet says it is activating contingency plan in preparation for work stoppage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:34 GMT

MONTREAL — Talks between WestJet and the pilots’ union continue amid the countdown toward a Friday strike deadline, with the airline saying it has started to cancel flights ahead of the anticipated work stoppage.Some 1,800 pilots at the carrier and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to walk off the job as of 3 a.m. eastern daylight time after the Air Line Pilots Association issued a strike notice Monday.The federal labour minister and the government’s head mediator as well as WestJet’s CEO and the pilots’ union leaders have all descended on a hotel near Toronto’s Pearson airport to work toward a deal.WestJet issued a statement early Thursday saying it has begun cancelling flights in preparation for the job action. The statement reads that the WestJet Group is parking the majority of its 737 and 787 fleet in a “measured, phased and safe approach,” given that a tentative agreement has not yet been reached. The airline says WestJet Encore, WestJet...