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DIARY: Waiting to leave Sudan, a hotel became a sanctuary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — We were a diverse group of more than a dozen people, hunkered down in a small hotel in central Khartoum — a Sudanese family and the Sudanese hotel staff, a few British and French citizens, a Syrian family and a Lebanese man. In better times, the Lisamin Safari Hotel catered to small tour groups that came to see Sudan’s little-known attractions — the ancient pyramids of Merowe and the coral reefs of the Red Sea.Now, it was simply a five-story place of refuge. Fighting between Sudan’s two most powerful generals had reduced the capital to an urban battlefield. The city had never seen anything like it, as the army and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces blasted each other in the streets with automatic rifles, artillery and airstrikes. Each day, millions of Sudanese caught between them faced terrifying choices of how to survive: Stay hiding at home, where a bullet or a missile could blast through a wall, or make a run for it, risking the ...

8 people die in overnight fire in Czech city of Brno

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — Eight people have died in an overnight fire in the second largest city in the Czech Republic, police said Thursday.The fire broke out about two hours after midnight in Brno, located 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of Prague.Czech public television said those who died were likely homeless people in a shelter.The rescuers said they didn’t find any injured people. Police and firefighters are investigating the cause of the blaze. The Associated Press

Canada Revenue Agency, union reach tentative deal, ending strike of 35,000 workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

OTTAWA — The public-sector union representing Canada Revenue Agency employees has struck a tentative deal with the federal government, ending a strike of 35,000 workers just after the tax season wrapped up.The announcement of a prospective agreement comes after the government and Public Service Alliance of Canada came to separate deals that ended a strike of more than 120,000 other public servants.CRA employees represented by PSAC’s Union of Taxation Employees were still on strike two days after the federal tax-filing deadline.The union threatened earlier today that it would plan to send its members to disrupt a Liberal party convention in Ottawa on Thursday if the employer didn’t table a “fair” deal. The separate agreements that PSAC negotiated with the government included a 11.5 per cent wage increase over four years.Earlier in the negotiations, the tax employees’ union had been pushing for a 20.5 per cent increase over a three-year period.This report...

Canada Revenue Agency union, feds reach deal, ending strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

The public-sector union representing Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees has struck a tentative deal with the federal government, ending a strike of 35,000 workers just after the tax season wrapped up.The announcement of a prospective agreement comes after the government and Public Service Alliance of Canada came to separate deals that ended a strike of more than 120,000 other public servants. CRA employees represented by PSAC’s Union of Taxation Employees were still on strike two days after the federal tax-filing deadline.The union threatened earlier today that it would plan to send its members to disrupt a Liberal party convention in Ottawa on Thursday if the employer didn’t table a “fair” deal.The separate agreements that PSAC negotiated with the government included a 11.5 per cent wage increase over four years.Related articles: PSAC says tentative agreement reached with Treasury Board for 120,000 membersPublic service union says weeken...

CP NewsAlert: Canada Revenue Agency, union reach deal, ending strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

The public-sector union representing Canada Revenue Agency employees has struck a tentative deal with the federal government, ending a strike of 35,000 workers just after the tax season wrapped up.More coming.The Canadian Press

Kosovo and Serbia fail to agree on lowering tensions in north Kosovo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

Leaders of Kosovo and Serbia failed to agree on how to lower tensions in Serb-majority areas in north Kosovo, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday (2 May), warning that any further escalation could undermine the EU-backed deal on normalizing ties.In March, Pristina and Belgrade verbally agreed to implement a Western-backed plan aimed at improving ties but little progress has been seen since.Some 50,000 Serbs who live in north Kosovo still refuse to take part in Kosovo institutions including police, judiciary and municipal governments they had left last November. They boycotted local election organized by Kosovo authorities last month.Borrell said that in a meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, he had expressed "grave concern about the situation in the north Kosovo" following elections "with a very low turnout".He urged parties to compromise and warned that any further escalation could "undermine" the implementation of...

French unions plan 6 June protests against Macron and his pension decision

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

French trade unions announced on Tuesday (2 May) a new nationwide day of protests on 6 June against President Emmanuel Macron's decision to increase the retirement age by two years to 64.The reform, which Macron signed into law last month despite weeks of protests and strikes, has crystallised discontent against a president perceived by many in France as being aloof and indifferent to their daily hardships.With lawmakers poised to discuss on June 8 a draft bill proposed by the opposition Liot party to cancel the retirement age reform, the unions said in a joint statement that the day of industrial action on June 6 was meant to "allow all workers to make themselves heard by the MPs."Aware that the government is closely monitoring whether they can maintain a rare unified stance, the unions headlined their statement: "Still united, numerous and determined to get the (pension law's) withdrawal and social progress."The government wants to move on to other issues and has said it will send...

VIDEO: Man saves baby in runaway stroller headed for busy Hesperia street

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

A terrifying video captured the moment a runaway baby stroller nearly rolls into heavy traffic before being saved in Hesperia.Security video shows a woman unloading items from the backseat of her SUV parked outside of the A1 Hand Car Wash on Monday around 3:30 p.m. A stroller with a baby inside was placed outside near the vehicle.As she’s rummaging through the car, the stroller suddenly starts to roll backward. When the woman notices, she runs toward the stroller, but trips and falls down. She gets up again, only to fall down once more.Just as the stroller is moments away from hitting traffic, a good Samaritan suddenly dashes in from the side and grabs the stroller. He pushes the baby back up the driveway as another person helps the fallen woman stand up. When he reaches the woman, he gives her a hug.Security video captures the terrifying moment a baby stroller nearly rolls into oncoming traffic in Hesperia on May 1, 2023. (OnScene.TV)Security video captures the terrifying moment a ...

A’s blow late lead, lose 7-2 to Mariners in extras

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

By BEN ROSS | Associated PressOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning after AJ Pollock tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth, and the A’s lost to the Seattle Mariners 7-2 on Wednesday night.Oakland’s bullpen was charged with a blown save for the fourth consecutive game. The A’s fell to 0-4 when leading after seven innings and have lost their first 10 series for the first time in franchise history.The start was delayed 65 minutes by rain, contributing to a paltry crowd of 2,685 one night after the A’s drew 2,583.With two outs in the 10th, Suárez drove a fastball from Adam Oller (1-1) over the wall in right-center field to give the Mariners their first lead. Seattle then loaded the bases and J.P. Crawford added a two-run single to make it 7-2.Pollock homered off Zach Jackson with one out in the ninth to even it at 2, his second straight game with a tying home run in the late innings.The Mariners’ rally took a win away ...

Marseille, Lens in pivotal contest for Champions League spot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:50 GMT

Lens has been almost invincible at home this season. Marseille has been flourishing on the road.The two meet this weekend in the former coal mining town for a showdown likely to decide who ends up runner-up in the French league. And — who knows? — in light of leader PSG’ current troubles, the game in Lens could perhaps produce a credible last-minute challenger for the French title.With five rounds left to play, second-place Marseille has closed the gap to just five points after Lorient inflicted a sixth defeat of the season on PSG with a 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes last weekend.“The title? We are still hoping for it,” said Marseille defender Jonathan Clauss, who will be returning to his former club on Saturday. PSG travels to Troyes on Sunday without Lionel Messi, who has been suspended for taking a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission.Under the guidance of coach Igor Tudor, Marseille has been building its quest for a first French league title since 2010 away from ...