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Canada Shuts Ports to Russian Ships Over Ukraine Invasion, Wants War Crimes Probe

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TORONTO, March 1 (Reuters) – Canada ratcheted up pressure on Russia on Tuesday for its invasion of Ukraine by shutting ports to Russian-owned ships and saying that holdings of all Russian oligarchs and companies in the country are under review.

Canada has announced a slew of measures to isolate Russia, including imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, closing Canadian airspace to Russian planes, banning oil imports and forbidding Canadian financial institutions from dealing with the Russian central bank, acting in tandem with other Western countries. read more

Ottawa expanded its crude oil import ban to include refined petroleum products and “other petroleum products from Russia,” the country’s natural resources minister tweeted on Tuesday night.

Earlier, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said that while the number of Russian ships entering Canadian waters and ports is “small,” there will still be an impact, especially with other countries doing the same.

Russia represents less than 2% of Port of Montreal’s annual containerized volumes, and the ban will have little commercial impact, a port spokesperson said.

Port of Vancouver, Canada’s busiest, said the number of Russian-flagged vessels calling there is minimal. In the past, those have traded in crude oil, canola oil and copper concentrates, a spokesperson said.

Canada is tracking three Russian-flagged vessels off the East Coast, one of which is a cargo vessel, a government official told Reuters.

Canada is also scrutinizing holdings of all Russian oligarchs and Russian companies in the country, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters on Tuesday. “We are reviewing them and everything is on the table,” she added.

Canada is sending 1,600 bulletproof vests and almost 400,000 meal rations to Ukraine.

Canada imported C$2.14 billion ($1.68 billion) worth of goods from Russia in 2021, Statistics Canada data showed, with metals and minerals among the most valuable categories. It imported C$289 million worth of Russian energy products last year, according to the agency.

($1 = 1.2738 Canadian dollars)

Reporting by Alexander Schummer in Toronto; Additional reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Julie Gordon and Steve Scherer in Ottawa and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg Writing by Denny Thomas; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Grant McCool and Sandra Maler
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Canada to refer ICC to probe alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine

Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly delivers a speech during a session of the UN Human Rights Council, following the Russian invasion in Ukraine, in Geneva, Switzerland February 28, 2022. Fabrice Coffrini/Pool via REUTERS

GENEVA, March 1 (Reuters) – Canada has decided to refer the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russian forces in Ukraine, its government said on Tuesday.

The office of the ICC prosecutor on Monday said it will seek court approval to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine, just days after Russia’s invasion of its neighbour. read more

“We are working with other ICC member states to take this significant action as a result of numerous allegations of the commission of serious international crimes in Ukraine by Russian forces,” Canada’s foreign minister Melanie Joly, said in a statement.

“The ICC has our full support and confidence. We call on Russia to cooperate with the court.”

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation”.

The referral by a member state will fast-track an investigation by allowing the prosecutor to skip having to seek court approval, and according to a diplomatic source will shave months off the process of starting an investigation.

Joly earlier spoke to reporters in Geneva after taking part in a walk-out of a virtual speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the U.N. Human Rights Council, and had said that the country would petition the ICC against Russia. read more

Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Anthony Deutsch and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Jon Boyle and Kenneth Maxwell

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Mexico Won’t Impose Economic Sanctions on Russia

MEXICO CITY, March 1 (Reuters) – Mexico will not impose any economic sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday.

He also criticized what he called censorship of Russian state-sponsored media by social media companies.

“We are not going to take any sort of economic reprisal because we want to have good relations with all the governments in the world,” Lopez Obrador told a news conference.

Lopez Obrador’s position stands in contrast to the broad international sanctions imposed on Russia for President Vladimir Putin’s actions.

Russia has built strong links to various governments in Latin America, especially authoritarian administrations in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, but its ties with Mexico are seen to be limited due to the strong U.S.-Mexico relations.

The Mexican and U.S. economies are deeply intertwined. But leftist leader Lopez Obrador has at times had testy relations with the United States and has criticized U.S. foreign policy.

Late on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he spoke with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard by phone, “reiterating the worldwide call for the withdrawal of Russia’s troops from Ukraine,” he said in a tweet.

Ebrard in a separate tweet said he shared Mexico’s perspective on Ukraine during the call, which he described as friendly. Ebrard last week condemned the invasion and demanded Russia end its military operations in Ukraine, marking a tougher stance than Lopez Obrador’s call for dialogue. read more

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation.”

Lopez Obrador’s comments on Tuesday morning came in response to a question about the interest in Mexico of Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil (LKOH.MM) and Russian airline Aeroflot (AFLT.MM).

Lukoil said on Friday it has completed its acquisition of a 50% operator interest in an offshore oil project in Mexico, part of its drive to expand its global reach. read more

The Mexican president also criticized what he characterized as the censorship of Russian state media.

“I don’t agree with the fact that media from Russia or any country is censored,” Lopez Obrador said.

Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google barred Russia’s state-owned media outlet RT and other channels from receiving money for ads on their websites, apps and YouTube videos, similar to a move by Facebook after the invasion of Ukraine. read more

Reporting by Anthony Esposito, Ana Isabel Martinez and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Will Dunham, Drazen Jorgic, Angus MacSwan and Kenneth Maxwell

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Newly Elected Honduras Government to Ban Open-Pit Mining

The new government of Honduras has announced that it will ban open-pit mining in the Central American nation.

The government, which was sworn in last month, also said that it would cancel environmental permits for mining operations across the country.

It is not yet clear if the cancellation will apply only to new projects or also to those already operating.

For decades, indigenous groups have complained of legal and illegal mining in their ancestral lands.

Honduras mines gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc but on Monday the Ministry of Mining described “extractive exploitation” as “harmful to the state of Honduras”.

It argued that mining threatened natural resources and public health as well as limiting access to water.

The ministry statement also declared “the entire Honduran territory an area free of open-pit mining” and said that it would proceed with “the revision, suspension and cancellation of environmental, licences and concessions”.

It also announced that areas of high ecological value would be preserved.

Honduras is not the first country in Central America to place limits on mining. In 2002, Costa Rica banned all new open-pit mining projects and El Salvador banned mining for metals in 2017.

Environmental and indigenous activists in Honduras have for decades been warning of the damage caused to nature and communities by large-scale mining.

President Xiomara Castro included a promise to limit mining in her election manifesto.

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Nevis HPU to Observe World Obesity Day with Road Relay

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS  — World Obesity Day will be observed worldwide on Thursday, March 04, and in Nevis, the Health Promotion Unit (HPU) in the Ministry of Health plans to mark the occasion with a road relay in Charlestown dubbed “A Fun Run in the Sun” on March 03, 2022. 

Ms. Shevanee Nisbett, Senior Health Educator at the unit, says the event which will be held under the international theme “Everybody needs to act” and the local sub theme “Passing the baton of good health” is about urging persons to get moving.

“This relay is geared towards encouraging the general public to exercise and get active, and this is one of the ways that we can control and prevent obesity which is one of the risk factors for [non-communicable diseases] NCDs, which is a big problem in health here on the island,” she said.

The road relay is the second of its kind. The first was staged in 2021 in which the Information Technology (IT) Department emerged winners.

The relay will commence 2 p.m. in the vicinity of Best Buy Supermarket. Ms. Nisbett provided details for the route from the beginning to the end.

There are five legs to the relay. The first leg of the relay is from Best Buy Supermarket to the Charlestown Police Station. The second leg is from the Charlestown Police Station to the Theodore L. Hobson Court Building. The third leg is  from the court house to the Iron Shed which would be going on to the pier, and the fourth leg will be from the Iron Shed going along the Samuel Hunkins Drive to the intersection of Main Street and Crosses Alley. The fifth leg is along Main Street ending at the bust of The Right Excellent Dr. Sir Simeon Daniel.

The senior health educator also spoke of the preparations and the team’s mood leading up to the road race.

“It’s going to be exciting because we have eight participating teams and everybody is excited. They are all teasing each other, and so it’s going to be exciting…

The eight participating teams are Nevis Postal Services; Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC); Charlestown and Gingerland Secondary schools combined team of staff members; Inland Revenue Department; Alexandra Hospital; Ministry of Agriculture; Four Seasons Resort, Nevis; and Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (Nevis Division).

“We are all excited to see who’s going to be the winner because we have a few athletes, we have a few non athletes and then we have persons who just want to participate for a good cause,” she said.

Ms. Nisbett thanked the event sponsors and expressed gratitude to them for making the event a reality.  They are major sponsor Taiwan ICDF, Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs, Bulls’ Gym, Catch It Restaurant and Grill, 5 Trees Bar and Lounge, Kaiso Bar and Lounge, Runway Grill, Oasis Bar and Lounge, Tropical Boost Smoothies, God’s Creation, and LBW Bakery Deli and Bar.

She also encouraged the public to be a part of the event.

“You can come and cheer on and encourage persons who you’d like to see win or even persons in your department, and you could go anywhere along the stretch of Charlestown where the relay will be taking place.

“It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be quick. Last year, it was really quick, and we would also like to big up our winners for last year which would be the IT Department. IT is not taking part this year because they want to be retired winners, and so we want to see who’s going to win this year,” Ms. Nisbett said.

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Tweed Heads community rally in tinnies to help flood victims

A group of locals in tinnies have become a saving grace for New South Wales flood victims by delivering food and vital supplies in their boats and on jet skis to communities in Tweed Heads.

In the Tweed community of Tumbulgum, which has a population of 1200, all but 12 people have evacuated, with the remaining seeking shelter from the floodwaters.

Owner Lee sought shelter above his now destroyed cafe and gift shop with his family, trapped with no power and no phones since Monday night.

LIVE UPDATES: Flood rescues continue as rain bomb approaches Sydney

"You've got no idea the ferocity of the water, how it was flowing," he said.

"This is our restaurant and our livelihood. We've been through this before and we will get through it again."

Dozens in tinnies and on jet skis came together on the Tweed River to help vulnerable residents cut off from food, water and medical supplies.

READ MORE: Kyiv bracing for Russian assault after deadly missile strike

Supporting their efforts was surfing legend Mick Fanning.

"It's one of those things where nature just kicked out ass pretty much," Mr Fanning said.

"Yeah it's been some very confronting scenes."

The rowing club in the devastated community of Murwillumbah serves as the drop off point for volunteers.

Several people have dropped off supplies like bottled water, food, nappies, medication, cleaning products and beer in full cars to assist their neighbours.

Loads are being shipped to those in need or transported to nearby evacuation centres.

"Everyone's lending a hand and everyone's trying to help as much as they can," Mr Fanning said.

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US Births Decline, 140m Americans Had Covid, Aussie PM Tests Pos, World Covid Stats

Pandemic likely related to birth rate decline

 

© Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to a drop in birth rates at the beginning of 2021, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday.

Compared to the same time period in 2020, the first six months of 2021 saw births decline by 2 percent overall, largely due to a 9 percent drop observed in January. In this period, the number of births declined in 19 states and Washington, D.C., while increasing in four states.

The birth rates last year: From January to June 2021, the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) recorded 1.75 million births, compared to 1.78 million births in the same period of 2020.

The NCHS noted that while birth rates also declined about 2 percent in both the first and last six months of the calendar year from 2015 to 2019, the sharp drop observed in January 2021 followed by a moderate drop in February was unusual compared with recent trends.

“This difference between patterns seen for the first 6 months of 2021 and earlier years suggests that the magnitude of the downward trend seen in the second half of 2020 and January of 2021 may have begun to wane and declines in the number of births may be returning to prepandemic levels,” said the agency.

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140M Americans have had coronavirus: CDC

 

© AP.

About 140 million Americans have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus through the end of January, according to an estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The percentage of individuals who have antibodies to COVID-19, known as seroprevalence, is 43.3 percent for the total U.S. population, the CDC study found, much higher than regularly cited infection rates.

The data for the study was collected from late December to late January and relied on tests of nearly 72,000 samples.

Prevalence across age groups: The percentage of those with antibodies to the virus was lower in older age groups, with children having a seroprevalence of about 58 percent compared to 23 percent for those over the age of 65, the study found.

The CDC estimated the seroprevalence by collecting about 1,750 blood tests at 52 sites roughly every four weeks. Specimens for the study were collected from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

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Australian leader tests positive for COVID-19

 

© Getty Images

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Tonight I tested positive to COVID-19,” Morrison wrote in a Twitter thread Tuesday. “I am experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week.”

“I had tested myself daily since Sunday, including this morning, with all tests returning a negative result.”

Morrison shared that his wife and children have tested negative for the virus but will have to quarantine for a week due to them being close contacts.

Morrison also said he plans to continue his work on his prime minister duties in quarantine, focusing on his government’s response to Russia’s Ukraine invasion and devastating floods on Australia’s east coast.

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WORLD COVID STATS

Coronavirus Cases:

439,116,596

Deaths:

5,985,611

Recovered:

371,646,304
Highlighted in green
= all cases have recovered from the infection
Highlighted in grey
= all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases)

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Latest News

March 2 (GMT)

Updates

  • 97,455 new cases and 784 new deaths in Russia [source]
  • 61,843 new cases and 227 new deaths in Japan [source]
  • 13,115 new cases and 382 new deaths in Mexico [source]

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Puerto Rico: Caribbean Travel Marketplace to be Held October 3-5

MIAMI– Caribbean tourism stakeholders are abuzz at the announcement by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) that its bedrock Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM), which brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products, will be hosted by Puerto Rico between October 3 and 5 this year.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant pent-up desire for fellowship with regional colleagues and business connections from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and elsewhere,” said Nicola Madden-Greig, President of CHTA.

“Over the past two years, there have been numerous changes across our destinations, which have added new products and services. Many hotels and attractions have undergone major renovations so this will be the time to find out in great detail all that the Caribbean now has to offer in one setting,” she added.

“The need to cement current partnerships and create new ones is critical,” she continued, as she saluted the team at Discover Puerto Rico for taking the bold step to partner with CHTA this year and deliver “the most diverse, exciting and meaningful Caribbean Travel Marketplace that will set the stage for the re-imagining of Caribbean tourism.”

“We are honored to be chosen as the host destination for Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2022 and excited to welcome its members alongside suppliers, buyers and travel advisors from around the world,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. “It is an incredible opportunity to showcase all that our island has to offer, as we look to an exciting future for our industry, including the most technologically advanced convention center in the Caribbean, the groundbreaking Distrito T-Mobile entertainment complex and the vibrancy of our culture paired alongside the magical natural wonders only found here.”

An added incentive for participation is the fact that CHTA, which represents Caribbean tourism’s private sector interests, will be marking its 60th anniversary, which Madden-Greig expects will make it one of the association’s most memorable in-person gatherings.

“Marketplace will provide traditional and new buyers – from across all segments and representing varied specialties – with a distinct opportunity to explore the wide range of offerings of CHTA’s 33 member destinations as they connect with numerous Caribbean travel suppliers,” stated Vanessa Ledesma, acting CEO and Director General of CHTA.

“There is also the added allure of Puerto Rico as host. The Territory, like much of the rest of the region, has truly reinvigorated its product and many buyers from around the world will want to come and see for themselves the hotel and resort upgrades, the wide range of meeting facilities, the vibrant culinary and entertainment scene as well as exceptional attractions,” said Ledesma.

Caribbean Travel Marketplace 40 will build on last year’s virtual edition, which enabled the trade association to generate strong global awareness about the region.

CHTA believes the region is well-poised to experience a sustained robust recovery from the pandemic. While 2022 bookings have been encouraging to date, maintaining and growing business into 2023 and beyond will require hard work and strong partnerships, the likes of which will be forged during CTM, a major catalyst for growing Caribbean tourism.

 

 

 

 

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