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Sudan’s army chief travels to Qatar for talks with emir as conflict rages

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s army chief traveled to Qatar on Thursday for talks with the country’s emir, making his third international trip since fighting broke out between the military and a rival paramilitary force in April, Sudanese state media said.Sudan plunged into chaos almost five months ago when long-simmering tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, escalated into open warfare on April 15.Burhan planned to hold talks with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in the Qatari capital, Doha, according to the state-run SUNA news agency.In a video posted by the Sudanese army, Burhan was filmed leaving a plane in Doha and numerous Qatari officials greeting him on an airport tarmac.Acting Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq and Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim Mufadel, head of the General Intelligence Authority, accompanied him on the trip, SUNA said.The visit comes amid a flurry of similar dip...

Russian officials say five drones shot down, including one targeting capital

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

Five drones were shot down over three Russian regions overnight, with one targeting the capital, officials said Thursday. There were reports of no casualties. Meanwhile, Russia launched a fourth day of air attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Izmail, located on the Danube river. Oleh Kiper, regional Governor of Odesa, said infrastructure was damaged in the attack, including grain silos, and one person was injured. The attack came one day after a Russian missile struck a busy market in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk, killing 17 and wounding at least 32. The attack overshadowed a two-day visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, aimed at assessing Ukraine’s 3-month-old counteroffensive and signaling continued U.S. support for the fight. One drone targeted Moscow, but was shot down southeast of the city without causing any damage or injuries, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.Two more drones were shot down over the southern region of Rostov, which borders Ukraine, said ...

UK is rejoining the Horizon Europe science program, the latest sign of thawing relations with the EU

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain is rejoining the European Union’s science-sharing program Horizon Europe, the two sides announced Thursday, more than two years after membership became a casualty of Brexit.British scientists expressed relief at the decision, the latest sign of thawing relations between the EU and its former member.After months of negotiations, the British government said the country was becoming a “fully associated member” of the research collaboration body. U.K.-based scientists can bid for Horizon funding starting Thursday and will be able to lead Horizon-backed science projects starting in 2024. Britain is also rejoining Copernicus, the EU space program’s Earth observation component.“The EU and U.K. are key strategic partners and allies, and today’s agreement proves that point,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who signed off on the deal during a call with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday. “We will continue to be at the forefront of global sci...

In the news today: Trudeau in Singapore, trial of “Freedom Convoy” organizers resumes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 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…Trudeau visits Singapore to promote Canadian businesses, productsPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is continuing his tour of the Indo-Pacific region this week with a visit to Singapore to promote Canadian business and products.His two-day visit is expected to include meetings with business leaders in the region, as well as meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.Trudeau is in Asia this week to promote trade as well as Canadian energy and products, meeting with Indo-Pacific leaders and attending two summits.Trial to dive into ‘Freedom Convoy’ social mediaThe criminal trial of “Freedom Convoy” organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is expected to resume today with a deep dive into a mountain of social media evidence police amassed during the protest.Lich and Barber are facing charges related to their role in organizing the prote...

Australian police try to persuade an alleged gunman to surrender after a man was shot dead

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Police said they were trying to persuade an alleged a gunman to surrender after a man was shot dead Thursday in a Western Australia state wheatbelt town.The 25-year-old allegedly shot a man at a grain silo in Kellerberrin around 8:40 a.m. Thursday before fleeing the area, the Western Australia Police Force said in a statement.Police issued an active shooter alert soon after, warning members of the public to remain indoors as officers searched for the alleged shooter.He was believed to be on foot, armed and dressed in camouflage clothing north of Kellerberrin, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of the state capital, Perth.Police found him at a rural property several hours later.“We are attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution, however; the situation is still unfolding,” a police statement said.“Residents in the area are advised to remain alert,” police added.Annamaria Lucente, manager at Kellerberrin Hotel Motel, said the close-knit town of about 950 p...

Toronto International Film Festival kicks off amid actors and writers strike

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today under the shadow of dual strikes by Hollywood writers and actors but festival CEO Cameron Bailey is touting a strong lineup and ticket sales.Tonight’s opening night film is Hayao Miyazaki’s animated feature “The Boy and the Heron,” which centres on a boy who loses his mother during the Second World War and embarks on a journey into a magical world.Among the celebs expected this year are Sean Penn, Willem Dafoe, Spike Lee, Lil Nas X, Nicolas Cage, Nickelback and Patricia Arquette.However, expectations for star-filled premieres and parties remain low as members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Writers Guild of America continue a work stoppage that extends to publicity events.Despite the labour unrest, Bailey says ticket sales have been “as strong as ever.”Unions for Hollywood writers and actors are each seeking improved compensation and job protecti...

‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers’ trial to delve into social media from protest

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

OTTAWA — The criminal trial of “Freedom Convoy” organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is expected to resume today with a deep dive into a mountain of social media evidence police amassed during the protest.Lich and Barber are facing charges related to their role in organizing the protest against COVID-19 health restrictions last year that blockaded city streets for weeks with big-rig trucks and encampments.The Crown is expected to call Ottawa police Sgt. Joanne Pillotte, who collected social media videos throughout the weeks of protest from organizers, demonstrators and local residents. The court also expects to hear more testimony from Const. Isabelle Syr, who served as a liaison between police and protesters during the Freedom Convoy.She told the court Wednesday she was overwhelmed by the volume of information that was coming into their office about the convoy before it arrived, but they were still taken by surprise about how many protesters arrived and how long they...

Beginning of blue wave or just a summer fling? Conservatives meet amid polling boost

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

OTTAWA — For Emily Brown, it feels pretty good to be Conservative. “It’s quite a time to be a part of this, honestly.”Buoyed by successive polls showing the federal party’s message on the cost of living and housing resonating among a wider, and younger, swath of Canadians, Brown will be among the thousands at the Conservative convention starting today in Quebec City.“Everybody is feeling hope and excitement. Even with (people) outside of those who would be traditional Conservative voters,” said the former candidate, who ran in the Toronto-area riding of Burlington in the 2021 general election.But as summer turns to fall, one question hanging over the Conservatives’ fortunes is whether the embrace Canadians have given the party over the last few months is the start of a long-term relationship, or just an infatuation. Generally, summer polling should be regarded with some degree of caution, given many Canadians’ minds are elsewhere, says...

Private donation helps attract teachers to rural B.C. with $10,000 cash welcome gifts

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

A rural school district in the British Columbia Interior has filled a shortfall of teachers with help from an anonymous benefactor who donated $200,000 to welcome new educators.At a time when schools across the province are struggling with staff recruitment and retention, the Gold Trail School District offered $10,000 incentives to attract new teachers, and $15,000 for those who agreed to move to the small town of Lytton which was devastated by fire two years ago.Superintendent Teresa Downs says all 18 vacancies this year have been filled by the district, which manages eight small schools ranging in size from three to 350 pupils, with a total enrollment of 1,100. Thirteen new teachers qualified for the extra cash, and unused funds could go to future hires, Downs said.Last year there was a shortfall of about 22 teaching staff, representing about 20 per cent of staff. “So, we were unable to have any of our non-enrolling positions like teacher-counsellor or inclusion specialist f...

Commissioner Várhelyi visits Ankara to discuss cooperation with Türkiye

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:30:24 GMT

On 6-7 September 2023, the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi will travel to Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation with Türkiye. This is the first official visit paid by an EU representative to the country following the Presidential elections in May this year.The Commissioner will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan; the Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat; the Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş; the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, and the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir. The visit follows the conclusions of European Council last June, in which EU Leaders invited the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the European Commission to submit a report to the European Council on the state of play of EU-Türkiye relations,building on the instruments and options identif...