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Use Gulf trade deal to challenge human rights abuses, MPs urge UK

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

LONDON — Britain should use a coveted post-Brexit trade deal with a six-country bloc of Gulf nations to challenge “substantial and persistent human rights abuses,” a cross-party group of MPs urged Wednesday.In a new report, the Commons international trade committee flagged “extreme concern” about human rights in the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).British ministers are in talks with the bloc about a potential trade deal, as the U.K. seeks new partners in the wake of Brexit. But human rights fears in GCC countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have been highly publicized in recent years. Homosexuality is illegal in five of the six countries in the GCC and there are widespread concerns about the exploitation of workers across the bloc.The UAE’s trade minister told POLITICO in March that the U.K. should not expect trade deals with the bloc if it tries to tal...

When told of Kishida attack, safety chief kept eating eel

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s public safety chief has come under fire for his remark that he enjoyed eel rice so much that he kept eating after his agency informed him of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s narrow escape from a pipe bomb attack two weeks ago.Koichi Tani, chair of the National Public Safety Commission for Kishida’s Cabinet, told a governing party gathering Tuesday that he had the local delicacy in front of him for lunch when the phone rang. “I was told that we can eat delicious unagi (eel) rice bowl there, and I was really looking forward to it,” Tani told party lawmakers. “Just as I was going to dig into it, I got a call from the National Police Agency saying something was thrown at the prime minister in Wakayama,” Tani said. “But I fully savored and finished … my unadon (eel rice bowl),” he said, beaming. Tani was in the Shimanto area in the southwestern prefecture of Kochi during the attack — about 250 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Wakayama, ...

Germany: Van carrying 29 Syrians flees, hits police car

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A van carrying 29 people from Syria collided with a police car after its driver tried to evade a check by officers near Germany’s border with Poland, police said Wednesday. No one was hurt. The van was stopped near Goerlitz on Tuesday evening. Before officers could check the vehicle, the driver suddenly accelerated and drove off, German news agency dpa reported.After a chase, the van collided with a patrol car in Markersdorf, a few kilometers (miles) away. Federal police said no medical treatment was needed for the men, women and children from Syria. The 50-year-old driver is under investigation on suspicion of smuggling foreigners into Germany and dangerous interference with traffic. Police did not immediately give information on his identity.___Follow AP’s coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migrationThe Associated Press

German company sells heat pump business to US firm Carrier

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s Viessmann Group is selling its business with heat pumps, viewed as a key technology in making heating more climate-friendly, to Florida-based Carrier Global Corp. as part of a 12 billion-euro ($13.2 billion) deal. The sale of Viessmann’s “climate solutions” business, which includes heat pumps and which both companies announced late Tuesday, comes as Germany is putting into place plans to phase out gas and oil heating systems as a way to curb global warming. Heat pumps are seen as important to weaning Germans off those systems. German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is leading those plans, said the Viessmann deal showed that the market for heat pumps “is so attractive that it is drawing investment.” He said in a statement that the government would examine the deal. “It is important that the advantages of our energy policy and profits that are made with it continue to benefit Germany as a location,” he said. “We will pay attention to this.”Senior...

In The News for April 26 : Sentencing in hit-and-run death of Calgary police officer

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 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 26 …What we are watching in Canada …A sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin today for a youth found guilty of manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of a Calgary police officer.Sgt. Andrew Harnett died in hospital on Dec. 31, 2020, after being dragged by a fleeing SUV and falling into the path of an oncoming car. The driver, who cannot be identified because he was 17 at the time, testified during his trial that he was frightened when Harnett and another officer approached the vehicle during a traffic stop and he saw Harnett put his hand on his gun. The youth’s lawyer said his client was guilty of manslaughter, but not first-degree murder, and the judge agreed.The Crown has indicated it will be seeking an adult sentence for the now 20-year-old. The three-day hearing is to include several victim impact...

Kingsolver, O’Farrell among Women’s Prize fiction finalists

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) — An Appalachian update on Charles Dickens and a tale told by a dolphin are among the six finalists announced Wednesday for the prestigious Women’s Prize for Fiction. American writer Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead,” a reworking of “David Copperfield” set in modern-day Virginia, and U.K. novelist Laline Paull’s deep-sea drama “Pod” are among the contenders for the 30,000 pound ($37,000) award.Kingsolver previously won the Women’s Prize in 2010 for “The Lacuna.” Britain’s Maggie O’Farrell, who won in 2020 for “Hamnet,” is a finalist again for Italian Renaissance tale “The Marriage Portrait.”The finalists also include three debut novels: “Trespasses,” a love story by Irish writer Louise Kennedy that is set during Northern Ireland’s years of violence; “Fire Rush,” a dub reggae-drenched coming-of-age tale by Britain’s Jacqueline Crooks; and Sarajevo-set war saga “Black Butterflies” by Britain’s Priscilla Morris.Broadcast journalist Louise Minchin, who is chairin...

Silicon Valley company raises $250M for hydrogen technology

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

In what could prove a milestone for an industry that hopes to help address climate change, the Silicon Valley company Ohmium announced Wednesday it has raised $250 million to increase production of machines that can make clean hydrogen and displace fossil fuels.Some climate experts say burning hydrogen can substitute for burning coal, oil or gas, for example in making steel or cement — without contributing to climate change. That’s been largely theoretical, but real world examples are now growing.Just four or five years ago, a company working on clean hydrogen from water would not have been able to raise several hundred million dollars, said Daryl Wilson, executive director of the Hydrogen Council. But now there’s rapid growth and demand for it, and a broader recognition that it’s key to addressing climate change, he said.Mark Viehman, a hydrogen and clean fuels expert at the consulting firm Capgemini, called $250 million a “very impressive” fundraise, and said its own recent ...

Teck separation shareholder vote results to be made public Wednesday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

VANCOUVER — The results of a key vote by shareholders of Teck Resources Ltd., which is facing a hostile takeover attempt by Swiss commodities trader Glencore, will be made public Wednesday.It’s a critical moment for the Vancouver-based mining company, which has been working to secure support for its plan to split the company’s metals and steelmaking coal businesses into two separate companies.Glencore is urging shareholders to reject the company’s proposal in favour of its offer to acquire the company, and has said it cannot pursue its own bid if Teck’s plan to separate its businesses goes ahead.But while a shareholder vote against Teck’s proposal Wednesday could pave the way for negotiations with Glencore, that doesn’t mean a merger with the Swiss company would be a slam-dunk.The unsolicited pursuit of what is Canada’s largest diversified mining company by an international giant has triggered sentiments of economic nationalism, and B.C. Pre...

German president ending visit to Canada in Northwest Territories

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Germany’s president is to arrive in the Northwest Territories today to begin the final leg of his four-day official visit to Canada. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is to be welcomed at the Yellowknife airport by territorial commissioner Margaret Thom and Mayor Rebecca Alty. He is set to join Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at Joint Task Force North headquarters for a tour and briefing with senior officials.They will then head north to the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk where they are to meet with Indigenous leaders and members of the community. While in Tuktoyaktuk, they plan to visit the shore of the Arctic Ocean to learn about the effects of climate change and view homes that were relocated due to coastal erosion.They are also scheduled to attend a presentation on the Smart Ice Project which combines traditional knowledge with modern technology to monitor ice, as well as dog sledding and ice fishing demonstrations. They will end their time in Tuktoyaktuk by attending a community event at...

‘Where’s the accountability?’ Deadline looms for mass shooting inquiry recommendation

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:08:00 GMT

HALIFAX — In the coming days, the federal and Nova Scotia governments will face the first deadline for action recommended by the inquiry that investigated the worst mass shooting in Canadian history.The Mass Casualty Commission, which tabled its final report last month, has called on the two levels of government to deal with the “unmet need for mental health, grief and bereavement supports” in northern and central Nova Scotia, where 22 people were shot dead on April 18-19, 2020.It remains unclear what, if anything, will happen when the deadline arrives on Monday, but one thing is certain: Serena Lewis will be watching.The registered social worker was the province’s grief and bereavement coordinator in northern Nova Scotia three years ago when a gunman disguised as a Mountie went on a 13-hour rampage through the largely rural area.“I’ve dedicated my career to (dealing with) grief, but it’s very difficult with something of this magnitude,” Lew...