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Foreign policy of Brazil’s Lula takes shape, irking the West

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s new President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has so far shown little concern about defying consensus in the West on foreign policy — even when it comes to dealing with authoritarian governments.In recent weeks, Lula’s Brazil sent a delegation to Venezuela, refused to sign a UN resolution condemning Nicaragua’s human rights abuses, allowed Iranian warships to dock in Rio de Janeiro and flatly refused to send weapons to Ukraine, at war with Russia.These decisions have raised eyebrows in the U.S. and Europe, but experts said Lula is reactivating Brazil’s decades-old principle of non-alignment to carve out a policy that best safeguards its interests in an increasingly multi-polar world.Brazil’s foreign policy is based on its 1988 constitution, which establishes non-intervention, self-determination, international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of conflicts as guiding principles.That involves “talking to all states at all times without making moral...

Senior Iranian official visits UAE on heels of Saudi deal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A senior Iranian official visited the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, just days after Tehran agreed to restore diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia in a Chinese-brokered deal that raised hopes of a broader rapprochement across Middle East.Ali Shamkhani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said his visit was a “meaningful beginning for the two countries to enter a new stage of political, economic and security relations,” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. It said he was accompanied by the head of Iran’s central bank and other senior officials.He met with the president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and other senior officials to discuss “opportunities for enhancing cooperation between the two countries,” the UAE’s official WAM news agency reported. Sunni Arab rulers in the Persian Gulf have viewed Iran with suspicion since the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled a U.S.-allied monarc...

Two Edmonton police officers killed while responding to a call

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

Edmonton police say two patrol officers have been killed while responding to a call.The force did not immediately release any details about what happened.Police chief Dale McFee and other dignitaries are to make brief formal statements later today. Police say further details will be released once they’re confirmed. In response to the deaths, the Edmonton Police Commission cancelled a public meeting that had been planned for today.Police services in Calgary, Vancouver the Greater Toronto Area and Halifax are among those expressing their condolences on Twitter. “This is a tragic loss and one that is shared among law enforcement including our team. We are here to offer our support to (Edmonton police) as well during a devastating time,” deputy Calgary police chief Chad Tawfik wrote on Twitter.“Condolences to the entire service, families, and friends.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 16, 2023. The Canadian Press

Some Canadian employers offer egg freezing as part of expanded fertility benefits

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

Tonya Johnson, 39, is single, happy and freezing her eggs to buy a little more time before she starts a family. The procedure is costly — as much as $15,000 for one egg freezing cycle with medication — putting it out of reach for many. But Johnson works for one of a growing number of companies in Canada offering egg freezing as an employee health benefit. “I spent the bulk of my 30s focused on my career, but I’d like to have a family one day. It just hasn’t happened yet for me,” said Johnson, the communications lead for Canada and Latin America at Snap Inc., the company behind social media app Snapchat. “Egg freezing provides a real sense of freedom for me and a feeling of control over my fertility journey.”Fertility preservation, or the freezing of eggs or sperm, is being offered by some employers as part of an expanded suite of fertility and family planning benefits. Experts say the additional health coverage gives some companies an advantage in...

Some employer benefits cover egg freezing. Here’s a breakdown of the costs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

Fertility preservation, or the freezing of eggs or sperm, is being offered by some employers as part of an expanded suite of fertility and family planning benefits. Here’s a breakdown on the cost of the procedure:Initial assessment and fertility testing: Covered under provincial health care in some provinces, but otherwise can cost several hundred dollars. Egg freezing cycle: $8,600Medication: $4,000 to $8,000 or more, depending on the protocolStorage: $50 per month, generally starting six months to a year after procedureAdministrative fee for transferring egg samples: $400Sources: Evolve Egg Freezing, Trio Fertility, Atlantic Assisted Reproductive TherapiesThis report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2023. The Canadian Press

Yellen tells Congress US banking system ‘remains sound’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A week after the second-largest bank collapse in U.S. history, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday that the nation’s banking system “remains sound” and Americans “can feel confident” about their deposits.Yellen is the first Biden administration official to face lawmakers over the decision to protect uninsured money at two failed regional banks, a move that some Republicans have criticized as a bank “bailout.” “The government took decisive and forceful actions to strengthen public confidence” in the U.S. banking system, Yellen said in testimony before the committee. “I can reassure the members of the Committee that our banking system remains sound, and that Americans can feel confident that their deposits will be there when they need them.”In less than a week, Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, California, failed after depositors rushed to withdraw money amid anxiety over the bank’s health. Then, re...

Macron shuns parliament to enact French retirement bill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron shunned parliament and opted to push through a highly unpopular bill that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by triggering a special constitutional power on Thursday.The risky move is expected to trigger a quick no-confidence motion in Macron’s government. The decision was made just a few minutes before the vote was scheduled, because the government had no guarantee that the bill would command a majority at the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament.The bill is the flagship legislation of Macron’s second term. The unpopular plan has prompted major strikes and protests across the country since January.As lawmakers gathered in the National Assembly Thursday to vote on the bill, the leftist members of the parliament broke into the Marseillaise, the French national anthem, preventing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to speak and prompting the speaker to suspend the session. The atmosphere was tense outside of the...

Prosecutor: Black man smothered to death at mental hospital

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

DINWIDDIE, Va. (AP) — Security camera footage from a state mental hospital shows a Black Virginia man who was handcuffed and shackled being pinned down by the deputies who are now facing second-degree murder charges in his death, a prosecutor said in court. Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill said during the seven deputies’ first court hearing Wednesday that Irvo Otieno was smothered to death, local news outlets reported.The officers had no justification for putting Otieno, who was being checked in, on the floor, Baskervill said. The prosecutor said Otieno did not appear combative and was sitting in a chair before being pulled to the floor by the officers, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. It was a “demonstration of power that was unlawful,” the prosecutor said, according to the newspaper. Otieno, a 28-year-old from Henrico County, had a history of mental health struggles and was experiencing mental distress at the time of his initial encounter w...

In Rome, church and state agree to Pantheon entrance fee

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

ROME (AP) — Tourists in Rome checking out the Pantheon, Italy’s most-visited cultural site, will soon be charged a 5-euro ($5.28) entrance fee under an agreement signed Thursday by Italian culture and church officials.Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said the move was a matter of “good sense.” The introduction of an entrance fee comes five years after a previous government shelved plans to start charging visitors 2 euros.Proceeds will be split, with the culture ministry receiving 70% and the Rome diocese 30%, officials said.The monumental domed structure, originally an ancient temple, last year attracted 60,803 visitors, topping the Colosseum’s 38,360. The Pantheon was transformed into a church in 609, called the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs, and Mass is regularly celebrated there.Under the new plan, visitors under 25 years of age will be charged 2 euros. Entrance will be free to Rome residents, minors, people attending Mass and personnel of the basilica, amo...

European Union official praises Serbia’s migration moves

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The European Union’s top security official on Thursday praised Serbia’s handling of migration through the country, which lies at the heart of the Balkan route into Europe and borders several EU member nations. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson also thanked Serbia, a candidate country for EU membership, for moving to align the country’s visa policies with those of the EU. Johansson visited Serbia’s border with Hungary and planned to meet with top government officials. “My visit here today is to show the European Union’s commitment to strengthen our partnership with Serbia, to support Serbia,” she said. A day earlier, Serbian authorities rounded up nearly 700 migrants in various regions in the country and moved them to reception centers. Photos released by police showed abandoned makeshift tents and people standing in groups.Authorities carried out several such raids in the past months, saying the aim was to combat people s...