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France finally warms up to the Dutch in economic security push

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

France and the Netherlands suddenly have a lot in common as Europe’s economic security trumps older frictions ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Amsterdam and The Hague this week. Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte plan to announce several pacts to work together on semiconductors, quantum computing and nuclear energy as well as a so-called “pact for innovation and sustainable growth” endorsed by business organizations from both countries. But the Elysée also sees the trip as showing it’s on the same page as the Dutch on championing European industry and being aware of security risks, including export controls of sensitive technology to China.“Our vision of things has become less of a caricature. It’s not about The Hague being very open [trade-wise] and frugal and Paris being essentially solitary and protectionist. Things are more complex than that,” said an Elysée official who was not authorized to be identified when speak...

Swiss lawmakers pick apart Credit Suisse woes ahead of deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland’s parliament is opening a special session Tuesday to scrutinize the state-imposed takeover of Swiss bank Credit Suisse by rival UBS — and possibly considering strengthening the legal arsenal to better gird against financial blowups.The debate could run up to three days, with expectations that lawmakers will voice — and need to iron out — disagreements over the 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.25 billion) fusion of the country’s top two banks, a thunderclap for a country that prides itself on finesse and acumen in finance. Swiss authorities stepped in as shares of Credit Suisse and other banks plunged last month after the failure of two U.S. banks sparked concerns about other potentially shaky institutions in the global financial system. Credit Suisse is among 30 financial institutions known as globally systemically important banks, and authorities worried about the fallout if it were to fail.Lawmakers were expected to raise concerns about thousands of expect...

Ukrainian PM to meet with Trudeau today : In The News for April 11

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 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 April 11 …What we are watching in Canada …Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to meet his Ukrainian counterpart in Toronto this morning.Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is expected to thank Canada for its support of his country, while also pressing for more help in the form of weapons and money.Canada has contributed billions of dollars in economic and military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022.That includes a $2.4-billion loan announced in last month’s federal budget, as well as tanks, armoured vehicles and ammunition.Shmyhal’s visit comes as reports suggest the Ukrainian military is preparing a spring offensive aimed at pushing Russian forces from the east of the country.The visit also coincides with the apparent leak of secret U.S. documents on social me...

UK junior doctors begin 4-day strike, seeking hefty pay hike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Tens of thousands of doctors walked off the job across England on Tuesday, kicking off a four-day strike billed as the most disruptive in the history of the U.K.’s public health service.The walkout by junior doctors, who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care in the National Health Service, is due to last until 7 a.m. on Saturday.Junior doctors — those in the first years of their careers — make up almost half of all NHS doctors. Health service bosses say as many as 350,000 scheduled operations and appointments will be canceled during the walkout. Senior doctors and other medics have had to be drafted in to cover for emergency services, critical care and maternity services.Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, said the walkout “is going to be the most disruptive period of strike action that we’ve seen this winter, probably the most disruptive period of action in NHS history.”The British Medical Association, the doctors’ trade union, is seeking a 35% pay...

Ukrainian prime minister expected to appeal for more aid during visit to Canada today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to meet his Ukrainian counterpart in Toronto this morning.Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is expected to thank Canada for its support of his country, while also pressing for more help in the form of weapons and money.Canada has contributed billions of dollars in economic and military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022.That includes a $2.4-billion loan announced in last month’s federal budget, as well as tanks, armoured vehicles and ammunition.Shmyhal’s visit comes as reports suggest the Ukrainian military is preparing a spring offensive aimed at pushing Russian forces from the east of the country.The visit also coincides with the apparent leak of secret U.S. documents on social media detailing Ukrainian and Russian military capabilities and losses in war.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.The Canadian Press

Two Canadian women released from Syrian camp set to appear in Brampton, Ont., court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Two Canadian women who were arrested after returning to Canada from a prison camp in northeastern Syria last week are expected to appear in a Brampton, Ont., court today.The RCMP says the two women are scheduled to appear for a bail hearing while the Mounties seek a terrorism peace bond against them under the Criminal Code.They were among four Canadian women and 10 children who landed in Montreal last week after being held for years at the al-Roj prison camp in northeastern Syria.The detainees in the camps are mostly women and children who were rounded up after the fall of the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in 2019.About 10,000 of them are foreign nationals from more than 60 countries outside Syria and Iraq, and the Kurds have asked those countries to repatriate their citizens.Some are relatives of suspected ISIL fighters, but they have never been brought before a court.Another woman who was among the group Canada repatriated from Syria was released ...

Muslim groups promise to monitor Quebec ban on school prayer spaces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

MONTREAL — Muslim groups are speaking out against the Quebec government’s intention to ban prayer spaces in public schools, saying they will monitor how the Education Department enforces its new rules.In response to reports that at least two Montreal-area schools had reserved spaces for Muslim students to pray, Education Minister Bernard Drainville promised last week to prohibit schools from doing so. The minister, however, said he wouldn’t ban prayer altogether; students who wanted to pray should do so “discreetly” and “silently,” he told reporters.The National Council of Canadian Muslims said Monday it would keep tabs on how the government enforced the ban on prayer spaces, adding that it would “take action” if the rights of students were violated.“We haven’t actually seen how that is going to tangibly impact people,” Stephen Brown, chief executive officer of the council, said in an interview. “So (if) these d...

As St. Paul police plan to buy drones, public comment opens on policy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

After a man was fatally shot outside a St. Paul Target last week, police officers and K-9s searched on the ground, while law enforcement launched a drone to assist in the search for a suspect.A camera on the drone gave police a birds-eye view of the area and a thermal imaging camera allowed them to look for anyone hiding.St. Paul doesn’t have drones yet, so they asked for assistance of the Ramsey County sheriff’s office, which put up one of their drones. A suspect wasn’t found in Thursday’s case, but police say it’s an example of the kind of emergency situation for which St. Paul would use its own drones.The public can hear about the St. Paul Police Department’s plan to purchase drones  — and provide feedback about proposed policy — at meetings this week and next and an upcoming city council meeting. Allowing the opportunity for public comment is required before a law enforcement agency purchases a drone under state law, which the Amer...

Daily horoscope for April 11, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT today (3:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, April 11, 2023:You care passionately about justice and causes that are important to you. You are optimistic, energetic and always helpful. This year it’s time to focus on creating solid foundations for yourself. Keep things simple. It’s time to be grounded and levelheaded.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★This is a marvelous day for your sign. You feel upbeat, warmhearted and ready to include everyone in your plans. Your confidence is strong, and you feel happy. Indeed, others will admire your positive energy and want to be in your presence. Tonight: Get advice.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Today you’re in touch with your spiritual feelings or your inner world in a positive, uplifting way. Something might inspire you. Because Mercury is in your sign, you will want to ...

Hamburg police warn of possible toxins due to fire; 140 evacuated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:34 GMT

Hamburg's fire and police departments warned residents about possible toxic substances in the air following fires that broke out at several storage facilities early Sunday morning (9 April).A spokesperson for the police stated that 140 people were evacuated and that it was not possible to know how dangerous the situation was.A spokesperson for the fire department stated that they had decreased the threat level slightly, even though the fire was still burning at noon, but that people should stay indoors with their windows shut.According to authorities, the fire started in Rothenburgsort at 4 a.m., just a few kilometers southeast of central Hamburg. The smoke cloud was moving towards the city centre.Numerous emergency personnel, including fire and police officers, were on the scene to help. A thick cloud of smoke rose upwards.According to the police spokesperson, the sky had darkened due to the smoke.