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Russia fires 30 cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets; Ukraine says 29 were shot down

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia fired 30 cruise missiles against different parts of Ukraine early Thursday in the latest nighttime test of Ukrainian air defenses, which shot down 29 of them, officials said.One person died and two were wounded by a Russian missile that got through and struck an industrial building in the southern region of Odesa, according to Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the region’s military administration.Loud explosions were heard in Kyiv as the Kremlin’s forces targeted the capital for the ninth time this month in a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.Debris fell on two Kyiv districts, starting a fire at a garage complex. There was no immediate word about any victims, Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv Military Administration, said in a Telegram post.Ukraine also shot down two Russian exploding drones and two reconnaissance drones, according to authoriti...

In The News for May 18 : WestJet begins flight cancellations ahead of strike deadline

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 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 May 18 …What we are watching in Canada …Talks between WestJet and the pilots’ union continue amid the countdown toward a Friday strike deadline, with the airline saying it has started to cancel flights ahead of the anticipated work stoppage.Some 1,800 pilots at the carrier and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to walk off the job as of 3 a.m. eastern daylight time after the Air Line Pilots Association issued a strike notice Monday.The federal labour minister and the government’s head mediator as well as WestJet’s CEO and the pilots’ union leaders have all descended on a hotel near Toronto’s Pearson airport to work toward a deal.WestJet issued a statement early Thursday saying it has begun cancelling flights in preparation for the job action. The statement reads that the WestJet Group is...

WestJet cancellations announced ‘in anticipation of’ strike

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

The WestJet Group says it has “started taking down its network” and cancelled a number of flights in preparation for strike action by WestJet and Swoop pilots.The company says taking these steps ensures it “can avoid abandoning aircraft in remote locations without support,” as well as creates “the proactive communication with guests and crew to minimize the potential for being stranded.”The WestJet Group goes on to say that it is “parking the majority of its 737 and 787” aircraft in what it sees as a “measured, phased, and safe approach,” adding some of its flights — WestJet Encore, WestJet Link, and a select number of 737s — will continue operating.“We are extremely disheartened to find ourselves in a place where we have to activate our contingency plan and subsequent takedown of our network as a result of the strike notice served by (the Air Line Pilots Association) ALPA and their inability to accept a reasona...

Have you forgotten a fortune? B.C. team wants to return millions to rightful owners

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

VANCOUVER — In an era inundated with scams involving mysterious princes or easy fortunes — if you just hand over a few bucks in advance — you’re probably right to be wary of anyone offering free money.But Sherry MacLennan and Lindsey Moore really might have some cash for you, British Columbians. Maybe even millions.The pair are part of a team of six running BC Unclaimed, recently rebranded from the BC Unclaimed Property Society. Over the last 20 years, the organization has operated under a government mandate to reunite British Columbians with funds abandoned or forgotten in old bank accounts, with government departments or in the form of unclaimed court payments.One of the challenges they face is skepticism that what they offer is real.While the average payout is usually a few hundred dollars, later this month the society expects to finish the paperwork and hand over a record $1.98 million that the claimant did not previously know they owned.“Every year we advertise, try...

Poilievre’s ‘jail, not bail’ idea may not pass constitutional muster, experts say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said this week that if he became prime minister, his government would pass legislation to deny repeat violent offenders access to bail — and while the proposal speaks to Canadians’ deepening concerns about crime, experts suggest it would likely be unconstitutional.“A repeat violent offender, newly arrested for another serious violent offence, will have to serve their entire period in jail,” Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday.“Not bail, and not early parole. That’s common sense.”The Opposition leader’s comments came in response to the federal government announcing its own plans to reform Canada’s bail laws by bringing in measures making it more difficult for some repeat violent offenders to get released on bail. The Liberals introduced the proposed changes in response to mounting pressure from provinces, police associations and victims’ rights groups to strengthen the ...

Smoky conditions remain in much of Alberta with continued heat, dryness expected

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

Special air quality statements from Environment Canada continue to cover most of Alberta as smoky air blankets much of the province.The number of wildfire evacuees in Alberta has dropped after residents of the town of Drayton Valley, about 145 kilometres southwest of Edmonton, were recently allowed to return home.However, roughly 12,000 people remain forced from their homes.Indigenous Services Canada says wildfires in Alberta are threatening nine First Nations communities, while nine others are identified to be “on watch” for threat of wildfire. Of the 92 active wildfires in the province as of Wednesday evening, 26 were listed as out of control.There are more than 2,500 people fighting the wildfires in Alberta, including support from across Canada, the Armed Forces and the United States.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

Both sides in Canada-U.S. pipeline debate clash today over cross-border Line 5

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

WASHINGTON — North America’s existential debate about the virtues and dangers of oil and gas pipelines faces a critical test today in Wisconsin. That’s where a district court judge will hear arguments about whether or not to shut down Line 5, a critical cross-border energy conduit between Canada and the U.S.The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa says spring flooding has rendered the risk of a breach on its northern Wisconsin territory too great to ignore. Alberta-based Enbridge Inc., the pipeline’s owner, says the band is overstating the risk and preventing the company from taking protective measures. Today’s hearing will include lawyers from the state of Michigan, which has been trying in its own courts to shut down Line 5 since 2019. It’s unclear how long the hearings will last or how quickly district court Judge William Conley will rule on the band’s request for an order to shut the pipeline down. The band, which argues that Enbridge&...

WestJet says it is activating contingency plan in preparation for work stoppage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

MONTREAL — Talks between WestJet and the pilots’ union continue amid the countdown toward a Friday strike deadline, with the airline saying it has started to cancel flights ahead of the anticipated work stoppage.Some 1,800 pilots at the carrier and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to walk off the job as of 3 a.m. eastern daylight time after the Air Line Pilots Association issued a strike notice Monday.The federal labour minister and the government’s head mediator as well as WestJet’s CEO and the pilots’ union leaders have all descended on a hotel near Toronto’s Pearson airport to work toward a deal.WestJet issued a statement early Thursday saying it has begun cancelling flights in preparation for the job action. The statement reads that the WestJet Group is parking the majority of its 737 and 787 fleet in a “measured, phased and safe approach,” given that a tentative agreement has not yet been reached. The airline says WestJet Encore, WestJet...

Thousands to pay tribute to OPP officer killed on the job in Bourget shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Police officers, dignitaries, family and friends will pay tribute to Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Eric Mueller Thursday at the 10th funeral for a police officer killed on the job in Canada in the last eight months.Last week, Mueller and two other officers were shot after they approached a house at 2 a.m. in the small town of Bourget, outside of Ottawa, after neighbours complained about the sound of gunshots.Mueller died later that day in an Ottawa hospital, while the other two officers survived with injuries. One of them remains in serious but stable condition. The OPP expects thousands of people to line highway overpasses to pay their respects as Mueller’s body is transported from a funeral home in the nearby community of Rockland to the West End of Ottawa, where he will be celebrated and mourned at a ceremony in the Canadian Tire Centre. OPP officers and other police service members plan to march from a nearby detachment to the arena to honour the funeral processi...

Russians could be disguising cash to evade Canadian sanctions, federal agency warns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s financial intelligence agency is warning that Russians subject to economic sanctions due to Moscow’s attack on Ukraine could try to evade them using shell companies, cryptocurrency and real-estate transactions.The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre also says in a new special bulletin that those seeking to launder the proceeds of crime and corruption might try to hide assets by transferring ownership to family members or close associates.The federal centre, known as Fintrac, tries to detect money laundering by sifting through a steady stream of transaction data from banks, insurance companies, securities dealers, money service businesses, real estate brokers, casinos and others.Fintrac then discloses intelligence to police and security partners for use in their investigations. Canada has sanctioned hundreds of Russian individuals and organizations over Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prohibiting financial dealings linked to Canad...