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US asks Congo and Rwanda to de-escalate tensions as fighting near their border displaces millions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Rwanda and Congo to de-escalate tensions and withdraw troops from their border following increased fighting that has displaced nearly 7 million people.Blinken spoke separately by phone with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame about the “volatile situation and worsening humanitarian crisis along the border,” the State Department said.Its statement said Blinken advocated for a diplomatic solution to the tensions.Fighting between M23 rebels and militias loyal to the Congolese army has intensified in the eastern Congo provinces of Ituri, North and South Kivu and Tanganyika. The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels who have taken control over swathes of territory in eastern Congo. U.N. experts have said they had strong evidence that Rwanda’s army was fighting alongside the rebel group. Rwanda has rejected the accusations and instead ac...

Ballard Power Systems reports Q3 loss, revenue up nearly 30% from year ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

VANCOUVER — Ballard Power Systems Inc. reported a larger loss in its latest quarter compared with a year ago despite a nearly 30 per cent rise in revenue.The fuel cell company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says it lost US$62.5 million or 21 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a loss of US$42.9 million or 14 cents per share a year earlier.Total fuel cell products and services revenue amounted to US$27.6 million, up from $21.3 million in the same quarter last year.Ballard says heavy duty mobility revenue was up 67 per cent at US$21.1 million, helped by higher rail and marine revenue, partially offset by lower bus and truck revenue.The company’s stationary segment fell five per cent to US$2.9 million as lower sales in North America were partially offset by higher revenue in Europe.Emerging and other markets revenue fell 37 per cent to US$3.6 million due to lower shipments to Europe.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 20...

Man in life-threatening condition after being struck by vehicle in Etobicoke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after being struck by a vehicle in Etobicoke on Tuesday morning.Emergency crews were called to the area of Kipling Avenue and Ronson Drive, just north of Highway 401, around 6:20 a.m. after getting reports that a pedestrian was struck.Paramedics confirm a man in his 30s was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.Police say the driver involved in the crash initially left the scene but has since returned.The intersection of Kipling and Ronson is closed for the investigation.

Nelly Furtado announced as host of 2024 Juno Awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

Nelly Furtado’s pop music comeback continues with the singer stepping up to host the 2024 Juno Awards.Organizers have named the “I’m Like a Bird” hitmaker MC of next year’s celebration of Canadian music, set to take place in Halifax.It will be the second time Furtado oversees the televised bash, following her stint at the 2007 Junos in Saskatoon where she won five awards including album of the year and artist of the year.The Victoria native is in the midst of a return to the spotlight after several years of laying low. Recently, she appeared as a vocalist on “Eat Your Man,” a club track by Dom Dolla, and in the upbeat pop single “Keep Going Up,” with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.The Junos also announced that hip-hop pioneer Maestro Fresh Wes is set to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, becoming the first rapper to receive the career achievement honour.Calgary sisters Tegan and Sara will receive the humanitarian award from actor Elliot Page for their work as advocat...

Will B.C.’s short-term rental crackdown really work?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, regulating short-term rentals like AirBnB as a way to ease the housing crisis isn’t a new idea — it’s been tried in plenty of cities in North America and beyond. But British Columbia’s new legislation goes much further than most, and though it was just announced two weeks ago, a glance at apartments on sale in Victoria and Vancouver show that it’s having an impact already.Ryan Hook is a journalist who reported on this for Ricochet. “What is the simplest way to put some houses on the market and hopefully get them to a cost where first-time home buyers can buy them? And in my opinion, this was just one way to do that.”So, what’s in the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act that makes it a step beyond other North American efforts. Has it gone too far, or not far enough? And if it works, could it become a model for other provinces to follow?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.Yo...

Super fog blankets New Orleans again, as damp fires and smoke close interstate after deadly crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Dense smoke reminiscent of last month’s “super fog” that rolled into Louisiana has led to a deadly accident that shut down Interstate 10 in the New Orleans area early Tuesday, police said.The thoroughfare was closed due to smoke, fog and accidents involving multiple vehicles, New Orleans police said in a statement Tuesday morning.“Multiple people were injured and transported to the hospital,” the agency said after the accident around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.Smoke from fires near New Orleans is getting trapped under a very shallow layer of the atmosphere along Interstate 10 in eastern Orleans Parish, the National Weather Service said in a memo early Tuesday. As a result, motorists could see a quarter-mile or less, the weather service said.The weather service issued a dense smoke advisory. The thick smoke also reduced visibility along Interstate 55 in Louisiana, the weather service said.Few details were available about the motorist who died Tuesday. Police said it w...

Statistics Canada reports $2B merchandise trade surplus for September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade surplus more than doubled in September as higher oil prices helped boost energy exports.The agency says Canada’s trade surplus for the month amounted to $2 billion compared with a revised surplus of $949 million for August. Total exports rose 2.7 per cent to $67.0 billion in September. The increase came as exports of energy products gained 10.6 per cent at $16.9 billion, boosted by a 13.7 per cent increase in crude oil exports that was largely due to higher prices.On the flip side, total imports increased one per cent to $65.0 billion.Imports of motor vehicles and parts rose 5.8 per cent in September to $12.9 billion, while imports of industrial machinery, equipment and parts fell 3.6 per cent to $7.5 billion.In volume terms, exports gained 0.4 per cent and imports rose 1.7 per cent.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bangladesh raises monthly minimum wage for garment workers to $113 following weeks of protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Authorities in Bangladesh announced a new salary structure on Tuesday for protesting garment factory workers with a 56% increase in the monthly minimum wage to $113 from the previous $75, a decision rejected by some workers’ groups as too small. State Minister for Labor and Employment Monnujan Sufian announced the decision after a meeting of a government-formed wage board made up of representatives of factory owners and workers. She said the new pay structure will take effect Dec. 1. Critics say the influential factory owners should do more for the workers.The decision came after weeks of violent protests by workers demanding a $208 monthly minimum wage. Workers have demonstrated in the streets, attacked factories, fought with police and burned vehicles.The protests began after the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association offered to increase the monthly minimum wage by 25% to $90.The last increase in the minimum wage was announced in ...

A top aide to the commander of Ukraine’s military is killed by a grenade given as a birthday gift

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A top aide to the commander of Ukraine’s military was killed by a grenade given to him as a birthday gift and not in a targeted attack, the interior minister said.Maj. Hennadii Chastiakov died in the tragic accident Monday that badly injured his 13-year-old son, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.A colleague presented six new grenades as a gift to Chastiakov, who was a top aide and close friend to Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, for his 39th birthday, Klymenko said.Chastiakov was showing off the grenades to his family at home when his son took one and began twisting the ring.“The serviceman then took the grenade from the child and pulled the ring, leading to a tragic explosion,” Klymenko said.Police are investigating the incident in the village of Chaiky in the Kyiv region.The officer’s death was the second fatal tragedy in less than a week for Ukraine’s military.A Ukrainian brigade holding a ceremony in Zaporizhzhia to honor troops on Fr...

Portuguese prime minister resigns after being caught up in corruption probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:17 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa said Tuesday he is resigning after being involved in a widespread corruption probe.Costa said in a nationally televised address that “in these circumstances, obviously, I have presented my resignation to the president of the republic.”THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese police have arrested the chief of staff of Prime Minister António Costa while raiding several public buildings and other properties as part of a widespread corruption probe, the prosecutor’s office said Tuesday.The Supreme Court, prosecutors said, is also examining the suspects’ “use of the prime minister’s name and his involvement to unlock” the practices being probed.An investigative judge issued arrest warrants for Vítor Escária, Costa’s chief of staff, the mayor of Sines, and three other people because they represented a flight risk and to protect evidence, the prosecutor’s o...