TORONTO – Canada’s largest airliner is immediately implementing a policy change to ensure two people are in the cockpit at all times in the wake of news that a co-pilot of the Germanwings jet barricaded himself in the cockpit and intentionally rammed the plane full speed into the French Alps. …
Read More »Budget carrier flydubai posts profit of $68M for 2014, revenue of $1.2B
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The United Arab Emirates’ budget carrier flydubai, in its fifth year of operation, has turned a profit of $68 million out of total revenue of $1.2 billion last year. The company’s earnings report released Wednesday shows flydubai’s profits were around 12 percent higher than in …
Read More »Floods kill at least 42 people in Tanzania, as authorities warn of more heavy rains
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania – Tanzanian authorities say floods from a heavy 30-minute storm killed at least 42 people in an area close to Lake Victoria in Kahama district. Tanzania’s Meteorological Agency said Thursday rains from the storm left 900 people homeless and destroyed 160 houses in the deluge Tuesday night. Government …
Read More »France, desperately seeking jobs and growth, debates bill to free up labor rules
PARIS – France’s Parliament has started debating a bill promoted by the Socialist government aimed at freeing up the country’s labor rules and regulations, in order to boost hiring. Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron told the National Assembly on Monday that the bill will inject “more vitality, more justice and more …
Read More »Wife of imprisoned Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes says husband can't take flogging
OTTAWA, Ontario – The wife of an imprisoned Saudi blogger, sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes on that he insulted Islam, says her husband can’t endure another flogging. Raif Badawi’s wife Ensaf Haidar, now a refugee living in Quebec, went Parliament Hill on Thursday and joined lawmakers …
Read More »Greece misses 2014 budget deficit targets, adding pressure to bailout talks
ATHENS, Greece – Official figures show that Greece fell well short of its budget deficit reduction targets last year, a development that’s likely to add pressure on the Greek government during tortuous talks with bailout creditors. The country’s statistical authority says Wednesday that the 2014 deficit was 3.5 percent of …
Read More »Iraqi officials say bombings, mortar fire kill 14 people around the capital, Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Authorities in Iraq say bombings and mortar fire targeting public places have killed 14 people around the capital, Baghdad. Police officials say the deadliest attack happened Sunday night when a car bomb exploded on a commercial street in downtown Baghdad, killing six people and wounding 13. Earlier, a …
Read More »Northern Mexico farmworkers reach agreement for better wages, working conditions
MEXICO CITY – Mexican farmworkers fighting low wages and poor working conditions in the border state of Baja California have reached an agreement with the government and their employer. The Mexican interior ministry says daily wages will go from 100 to 200 pesos ($13 a day). Workers will be added …
Read More »UN chief warns that Yemen crisis could open corridor for jihadists through Somalia
UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in a new report that the crisis in Yemen could open a corridor for jihadist movements through Somalia, which is located just across the Gulf of Aden. Ban said in a report to the U.N. Security Council circulated Monday that security in Somalia …
Read More »Israel defense minister says several thousand Hamas fighters remain in Gaza
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant estimated Tuesday that the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas still has several thousand fighters left in the Gaza Strip after beginning the war with between 15,000 to 18,000. Gallant, speaking during a visit to troops inside Gaza, also said it would be a mistake to think …
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