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UN body debates proposed regulations amid pressure to allow deep-sea mining

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Members of a U.N. body charged with protecting deep international waters met Tuesday to negotiate details of a proposed regulatory framework amid pressure to allow companies and countries to mine minerals from the ocean bed.The nearly two-week meeting of the International Seabed Authority began Monday in Jamaica but was soon interrupted by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the island and forced organizers to cancel activities for the day. The quake prompted delegates from at least six countries to leave Jamaica, including Panama, Switzerland and New Zealand, all of which support a moratorium on deep-sea mining.The meeting resumed Tuesday after scientists and environmental groups praised the United Kingdom for joining nearly two dozen other countries calling for a ban or moratorium on deep-sea mining.“We’re hoping it creates a sense of positive peer pressure for states sitting on the fence,” said Jessica Battle with the nonprofit World Wide Fund For ...

Canada joins U.S., U.K. on sanctions targeting arms sales to Myanmar military junta

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada is joining the United States and the United Kingdom in sanctioning dozens of people and entities linked to Myanmar’s military regime.The new sanctions target 39 people and 22 entities that Ottawa accuses of helping the military junta since it overthrew civilian rule in February 2021.The Myanmar military has been accused in recent months of conducting deadly airstrikes against civilians, such as at an April gathering of an opposition movement and in early October at a displaced-persons camp.Ottawa says peer countries are trying to end the sale and transfer of arms to the military regime, which stands accused of mass arsons, razing villages, arbitrary detentions and torture.The Monday announcement also expands Canadian prohibitions on the export, sale and shipment of aviation fuel to the regime that governs Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma.Ottawa says the new sanctions are meant to complement regional efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nati...

Travellers vent as WestJet announces baggage, seat selection fee hikes in November

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

Making flying even more expensive right before the busy holiday travel season is a sure way to tick off travellers.WestJet found that out on Tuesday, when it announced new increases to existing bag and seat selection fees that will come into effect on November 7.The airline says first, second and excess bags paid via an airport agent will cost flyers an additional $10.“This $10 only applies to tickets purchased on or after November 7, 2023,” WestJet said in a release.“Any guests with tickets purchased on November 6, 2023, or prior can self-identify with an agent to avoid the additional $10. This additional amount will not apply to guests with bookings that are inhibited from self-serve check-in.”WestJet added that guests with Econo or EconoFlex fares “will now pay a fee for seat selection during check-in if they choose a Preferred or Emergency Exit row seat.”“Preferred seats provide additional legroom and are located at the front of the econ...

Nevada’s Republican governor criticizes the state GOP holding a caucus despite a separate primary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo ripped his state party’s plan to hold a caucus despite a primary election occurring two days prior, a split that some state GOP officials warn could confuse voters in a key early nomination state.Speaking on the “Nevada Newsmakers” podcast episode, which aired Tuesday, Lombardo echoed widespread concerns about the parallel election processes, mainly that it would cause confusion and prove arduous for Republican voters in the western swing state. He specifically criticized a rule adopted by the state party that bars any candidate who runs in the presidential primary from participating in the caucus. “I think that’s unacceptable for the voters and the understanding of how things should be done,” Lombardo said.The other main concern among many Republicans — including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — is that the caucus rules would tilt the nominating process in Trump’s favor. Chairman Michael McDonald, who was a fake elector f...

Accused serial killer’s jury views video footage of shootings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Jurors in the trial of a suspected serial killer accused in the deaths of six people in Delaware and Pennsylvania were shown video surveillance footage Tuesday of two fatal shootings.During the prosecution’s opening statement about the alleged 2021 crime spree, they also played video surveillance footage of a third shooting that resulted in attempted murder charges against Keith Gibson, 41.Gibson is charged with murder in the killings of Elsmere cellphone store clerk Leslie Ruiz-Basilio, 28, and Wilmington drug dealer Ronald Wright, 42, during separate robberies. He is also charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Wilmington store clerk Belal Almansoori.The Philadelphia district attorney, meanwhile, has approved murder charges against Gibson for the killings of his mother and a Philadelphia doughnut shop manager, as well as the deaths of two men found shot in the head inside a store in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood in January 2021. Authoritie...

CTV News adds new early evening broadcast hosted by Sandie Rinaldo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

TORONTO — CTV is adding a national evening newscast to its weekday schedule.CTV News says Sandie Rinaldo will anchor an early edition of “CTV National News.”The 30-minute broadcast will air weekday evenings at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT, beginning Nov. 13. Omar Sachedina will continue to helm the network’s flagship late night broadcast at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The network says “CTV National News” is also providing segments to the early evening local newscasts on Saturdays and Sundays.News of the new show comes months after BCE Inc. cut 1,300 positions throughout the company, consolidating media operations and closing foreign news bureaus.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia’s government severed diplomatic relations with Israel on Tuesday while calling for an end to the Israeli military offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.“Bolivia decided to break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip,” Freddy Mamani, Bolivia’s deputy foreign minister, said at a news conference.The Andean nation of 12 million, which is led by leftist President Luis Arce, has long been critical of Israel and previously severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 over fighting involving Gaza. Diplomatic relations were reestablished in 2020.María Nela Prada, the minister of the presidency, called on Israel to “cease attacks in the Gaza Strip that have already resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and the forced displacement of Palestinians.”Earlier in the day, Arce held a meeting with Palestinian...

Auto strike settlements will raise costs for Detroit’s Big 3. Will they be able to raise prices?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — From generous pay and benefits to stronger job security, the United Auto Workers union won significant concessions in tentative settlements that have ended their strikes against Detroit’s three automakers.Now, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis are facing sharply higher labor costs, estimated by some analysts at exceeding $1 billion per year, per company. The automakers will try to absorb those cost increases through expense reductions and efficiencies while still aiming to post strong enough profits to please Wall Street.In addition, analysts say, the companies will likely try to offset their cost increases by raising vehicle prices for consumers. How much they’ll be able to do so, though, remains unclear. American auto buyers are already facing enormous price runups since the pandemic: The average new-car price has soared roughly 25% since the pandemic struck three years ago.Customers might assume that nonunion automakers, like Toyota, Tesla or Hyundai-Kia, w...

Alberta moves to strengthen legislation before proposed opioid class-action lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

EDMONTON — The Alberta government has introduced updated legislation that it says would help make sure anyone who contributed to the opioid addiction crisis is held responsible.Dan Williams, the minister of mental health and addiction, says the proposed changes aim to strengthen the province’s position in current class actions to recover opioid-related health-care costs and other damages.The legislation would make pharmaceutical consultants subject to potential legal action, clarify a definition of opioid products and amend a formula to calculate damages.Williams says the province would use any future damages to support those who are suffering from mental health challenges or for addiction recovery programs.In 2018, British Columbia filed a proposed class-action lawsuit on behalf of Ottawa, the provinces and territories against more than 40 opioid makers and distributors. It accuses them of downplaying the harmful effects of this group of painkillers, misrepresenting the risk ...

Cameron tries to energize growing GOP base in challenging Democratic incumbent in Kentucky

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — Looking to energize his party’s growing base, Republican Daniel Cameron picked apart Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s record Tuesday in Kentucky’s hotly contested gubernatorial campaign.Cameron took aim at the incumbent’s veto of transgender bills and handling of the pandemic while linking Beshear to the nation’s top Democrat in the White House.Campaigning in the heart of Republican territory, Cameron made a direct appeal to teachers, vowing to support an education system that stresses basics. He’s attempting to reclaim ground his party lost with teachers — whose voting clout helped vault Beshear into the governor’s office four years ago. Beshear says he has pursued an education-first agenda and is vowing to push for big pay raises for teachers and other public school personnel if he wins a second term.Beshear and Cameron, one-time law firm colleagues, are making closing arguments to voters ahead of Election Day next Tuesday...