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Cyprus calls on the EU to rethink Syrian safe zones for eventually repatriating Syrian migrants

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus has formally called on the European Union to re-evaluate which areas of Syria can be declared safe and free from armed conflict so that Syrian migrants can eventually be repatriated there, the Cypriot Interior Ministry said Friday.Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou was the sole official to raise the issue during July’s informal gathering of his EU counterparts in Spain. No other EU nation has taken a formal position on safe zone re-evaluation, the Interior Ministry told The Associated Press.Cyprus is fronting the re-evaluation bid because it says its proximity to the region has now made it a prime destination for Syrian migrants.Ethnically divided Cyprus, with a population of nearly a million in the southern, internationally recognized part where migrants seek asylum, says migrants now comprise 6% of its population – much higher than the average in other EU member countries.War-torn Syria has for the past 12 years has been designated as an unsafe co...

Sudan’s military leader warns the war in his country could spread beyond its borders

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The war in Sudan could spread beyond the northeast African country’s borders if it is not stopped, Sudan’s army chief told the United Nations General Assembly, while urging world leaders to designate the rival paramilitary force as a terrorist group.“The nature of this war is now a threat to regional and international peace and security. … This is like the spark of war, a war that will spill over to other countries in the region,” Sudan’s Army Chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan told world leaders late Thursday.Sudan plunged into conflict in April when long-simmering tensions escalated between the military, led by Gen. Burhan, and the rival Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Both had joined forces in 2021 to seize power in a coup that cast aside Sudan’s pro-democracy forces.The conflict has killed at least 5,000 people and wounded 12,000 others, according to Volker Perthes, the U.N. envoy in the country, who announced his res...

A peace forum in Ethiopia is postponed as deadly clashes continue in the country’s Amhara region

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A prominent peace forum in Ethiopia has been postponed as clashes between the federal government and fighters from a major ethnic group continue to destabilize the region.The Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa said in a statement Thursday that the annual gathering of African leaders, set for October, has been pushed back to April 2024 “due to unforeseen circumstances.”The forum takes place in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, which has experienced months of clashes as the federal government tries to disarm local fighters who had been its allies in a recent two-year conflict in the neighboring Tigray region.The Tana forum describes itself as a platform for “African-led solutions to the continent’s most pressing security challenges.” In recent years, some of those challenges have occurred in the forum’s backyard as the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed struggles to contain ethnic groups that defy efforts to centralize power.There are frequent reports from ...

King Charles goes to Bordeaux to visit urban forest and sustainable winery

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

BORDEAUX, France (AP) — After pageantry and politics in Paris, Britain’s King Charles III heads south Friday to Bordeaux to focus on a more personal passion: the environment.Charles will meet emergency workers and communities affected by wildfires in the Bordeaux region last year, and visit an experimental forest designed to monitor the impact of climate on urban woodlands.The king and Queen Camilla are also scheduled to visit a vineyard known for its sustainable approach to wine making, in a region where wine exports are a pillar of the economy. Severe drought last year forced Bordeaux’s earliest-ever harvest, and it has long been working to adapt to climate change.Friday’s events mark the third and last day of a state visit aimed at shoring up the alliance between Britain and France. Charles’ warm words toward France have been met with a standing ovation in the Senate and even cheers of “Long Live the King!”After flying in to Bordeaux from Paris, the king and queen wil...

In the news today: Ukrainian president set to address Parliament

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set to address Parliament FridayUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Ottawa for his first official visit since Russia launched a full-scale invasion last year. Zelenskyy arrived late last night and is set to address Parliament today. He and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are also planning to sign an agreement to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. Zelenskyy is expected to ask for more help with the war against Russia. Canada has already contributed more than 4.9-billion dollars in financial aide and another 1.8-billion in military support for Ukraine. —Here’s what else we’re watching …Mayor’s chief of staff testifies at convoy trialThe chief of staff for former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson is expected to continue his testimony in the trial of two “Freedom Convoy”...

‘Freedom Convoy’ trial resumes with questions for mayor’s chief of staff

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

OTTAWA — The chief of staff for former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson is expected to continue his testimony in the trial of two “Freedom Convoy” protest organizers today before the court takes a two-week break.Serge Arpin was involved in the mayor’s deal with convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber to move trucks off of residential streets last year. Arpin and the mayor hoped the deal would result in some 400 trucks moving out of residential neighbourhoods and onto the street along Parliament Hill as the protest went on for weeks. Lich and Barber are on trial for alleged mischief and counselling others to commit mischief, intimidation and other offences during the protest.Friday was initially expected to be the final day for the Crown to present its case against them, but legal arguments and other delays have put the court well behind schedule, and Arpin is only the fourth of 22 Crown witnesses expected to testify.The court is looking for more dates to finish the C...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set to address Parliament Friday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

OTTAWA — The last time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Canada, he was a relatively unknown leader fresh off an election win, focused on his showcasing his country’s efforts to make democratic reform and integrate with Europe.Much has changed since July 2019.Zelenskyy arrived in Ottawa late Thursday an instantly recognizable wartime leader in his signature olive green, focused on his country’s survival.“He’s become a hero to a great many people, certainly to me,” Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador the United Nations, told reporters Thursday in New York.“He’s a man of great dedication and great personal courage.”Rae noted Canada’s significant contributions to the war effort so far — taking in thousands of Ukrainians who are fleeing the war, along with providing more than $1.8 billion in military aid, equipment and supplies. Still, Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are expected to talk about what more Canada can do to h...

Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir free a key Muslim cleric after years of house arrest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian authorities released a key Muslim cleric after four years of house arrest and allowed him to lead Friday prayers in Srinagar, the main city of Indian-controlled Kashmir, according to mosque authorities. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been spearheading protests against Indian rule in the disputed region. He was detained ahead of India revoking Kashmir’s special status in 2019 and throwing the Himalayan territory into political uncertainty. The 2019 decision stripped the region of statehood, its separate constitution and inherited protections on land and jobs.“Senior police officials visited the residence of Mirwaiz on Thursday to inform him that the authorities have decided to release him from house detention and allow him to go to Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers,” the mosque management committee said in a statement.Kashmiri separatist leaders, many of them either under house arrest or in police detention, have vowed to continue their struggle and refuse ...

European solar PV manufacturers oppose forced labour in a new position paper

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

Through a newly released position paper, the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) has taken a clear position against forced labour in the solar PV supply chain. ESMC strongly condemns forced labour in all forms and commits to work actively against it.The position paper consists of recommendations to policymakers and a ten-step due diligence program on how manufacturers in the solar PV supply chain should work to discover and eliminate suspected exposure to forced labour in their supply chains.“Forced labour is a violation of basic human rights and should not be accepted under any circumstance. Therefore, I am very happy and proud of our strong stance against forced labour”, says Carsten Rohr, Chief Commercial Officer at NorSun, co-chair of ESMC and member of the ESMC working group on forced labour and a socially sustainable supply chain.“The EU must adopt robust legislation as soon as possible to prohibit the sale of products made with forced labour. However, we, within the s...

Miss Manners: If I’m in the aisle seat, do I have any say over the window blind?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:37:50 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I fly, I choose the aisle seat because I don’t want to feel “hemmed in,” as I do in the window and middle seats. But inevitably, the person in the window seat in my row puts the shade down so they can sleep. This makes me feel a little claustrophobic.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: She claimed she was just kidding. How do I make her see it wasn’t funny? Advice | Miss Manners: My friend claims not to have heard these insulting comments Advice | Miss Manners: We’d go to the wedding but we’re obviously on the bride’s B-list Advice | Miss Manners: I unintentionally insulted a stranger in the store Advice | Miss Manners: I was berated by the mothers of the rude sing-along girls I have learned to grin and bear it, but it is annoying and feels rude. The window occupant never asks if it is OK with the rest of us in the row to close the shad...