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Carney, Zelenskyy talk as world leaders prepare for Trump-Putin summit on Ukraine war

Carney, Zelenskyy talk as world leaders prepare for Trump-Putin summit on Ukraine war

OTTAWA – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney by phone today ahead of the U.S.-Russia summit on the ongoing war.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are preparing to meet in person in Alaska on Friday.
The Ukrainian leader has not been invited to attend the summit and says he is instead co-ordinating a possible meeting with allies.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy says he and Carney agreed that no decisions about Ukraine's future and security can be made without Ukraine's participation.
He also says he and the Canadian prime minister agreed that Russia is trying to buy time by joining the summit and is not serious about ending the war.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited Zelenskyy, Trump and a number of European leaders to meetings on Wednesday.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
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Australia to formally recognize Palestine amid growing global support
Australia to formally recognize Palestine amid growing global support

Canada News.Net

time5 minutes ago

  • Canada News.Net

Australia to formally recognize Palestine amid growing global support

CANBERRA, Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on August 11 that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state, aligning the country with recent moves by France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He said the decision will be officially declared during the United Nations General Assembly in September. Albanese's remarks come after weeks of internal pressure from Cabinet colleagues and growing public calls for recognition, amid mounting criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. He described the humanitarian crisis in the enclave as "catastrophic" and condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's newly announced plans for a large-scale offensive there. According to Albanese, Australia's recognition is conditional on commitments made by the Palestinian Authority (PA). These include excluding Hamas from any future Palestinian government, demilitarizing Gaza, and holding democratic elections. "A two-state solution remains humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering, and starvation in Gaza," he said. The decision drew a sharp response from Netanyahu, who over the weekend criticized Australia and several European nations for moving toward recognition. "To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole … this canard is disappointing and I think it's actually shameful," the Israeli leader said. Australia has designated Hamas a terrorist organization and continues to demand the release of Israeli hostages taken during the group's October 7, 2023, attacks. Albanese reiterated this stance on Monday, noting that he had discussed the matter directly with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week. Abbas, whose administration governs parts of the occupied West Bank, supports a two-state solution and coordinates on security with Israel. He has agreed to the conditions outlined by Australia and other Western governments that are considering recognition. Globally, nearly 150 of the 193 UN member states already recognize Palestinian statehood, most having done so decades ago. The United States and several other Western powers have withheld recognition, arguing that it should be part of a final negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. While Israel rejects such recognition outright, supporters see it as a step toward reviving long-stalled peace talks. Under the two-state framework, a Palestinian state would be established alongside Israel, encompassing most or all of the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem—territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War. Albanese dismissed suggestions that Australia's move is merely symbolic, noting that he has consulted closely with the leaders of Britain, France, New Zealand, and Japan, and has held a "long discussion" with Netanyahu earlier this month. In neighboring New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his government is still deliberating on recognition and expects to decide by September.

Minister Olszewski announces support for agriculture sector in Saskatchewan Français
Minister Olszewski announces support for agriculture sector in Saskatchewan Français

Cision Canada

timean hour ago

  • Cision Canada

Minister Olszewski announces support for agriculture sector in Saskatchewan Français

Investments in manufacturing, agri-food, research and development, and value-added ag will boost innovation and expand the agriculture sector SASKATOON, SK, Aug. 12, 2025 /CNW/ - Saskatchewan is a world leader in agricultural production and innovation. To advance the Government of Canada's commitment to building a stronger, more resilient one Canadian economy, PrairiesCan is investing to help Saskatchewan to capitalize on those strengths. Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced over $4.2 million to support Saskatchewan's leading role in Canada's agriculture sector. These investments will enable advanced breeding capabilities for crops and livestock, expand local grain bin manufacturing, increase food processing opportunities, and promote value-added agriculture: The Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan (GIFS) to develop a genomic selection-based accelerated breeding program, through over $1.6 million in federal support. Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. is receiving funding of $2.1 million to install novel automation equipment for new grain bin manufacturing. The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) is receiving an investment of $420,000 to purchase equipment and renovate to increase co-packing capabilities and incubation space. Ag-West Bio Inc. will leverage funding of $20,000 to deliver the Agri-Value Forum in 2025 and 2026, an event to promote value-added agriculture in Saskatchewan. Quotes "In today's global landscape, food security and economic stability are top of mind — and Saskatchewan's agri-food sector is ready to lead. With deep expertise and a drive to innovate, producers and processors are driving economic growth and creating good jobs here at home while also strengthening Canada's position on the world stage. Our government's investments in the agri-food sector through PrairiesCan are helping grow one strong Canadian economy that works for Saskatchewan." –The Honourable Eleanor Olszewksi, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada "Saskatchewan farmers and agri-businesses know how to turn potential into results, and these investments in local innovation will help our producers grow more, process more, and sell more — right here at home and around the world." –The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development) and Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River "PrairiesCan's latest investment builds on its earlier investment into GIFS, strengthening our outcomes-driven, team-based model. By integrating cutting-edge platforms - high-throughput genotyping, engineering biology and data analytics - we deliver real-world impact through market-facing programs like our FCC Accelerated Breeding Program and Biomanufacturing. Our unique model—unmatched in Canada and uncommon globally—closes a critical innovation gap, reducing risk and accelerating the path from discovery to market for partners." –Dr. Steven R. Webb, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Global Institute for Food Security. "The Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan is committed to providing innovative solutions to feed the world's growing population. By building a robust accelerated breeding program, we aim to further enhance the inroads we've made in this growing field. These enhancements would not be possible without the continued support of PrairiesCan, and we thank them for their support and dedication to advancing and elevating the positive impact for Canada's agri-food sector." –Baljit Singh, Vice President Research, University of Saskatchewan "Moving our business from importing and retailing grain bins to manufacturing our own product in Watson, Saskatchewan is an extremely capital-intensive venture. PrairiesCan is crucial to businesses like ours that must make massive capital cost investments to create Canadian products and jobs." –Rebecca Paszt and Tom Dooley, Co-owners, Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. Quick facts Saskatchewan accounts for almost 40% of the country's total farm area and a value-added ag sector that has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Investments announced today are expected to create over 30 new jobs, $7 million in export revenue, and $51 million in new commercialization revenue growth. Backgrounder PrairiesCan is investing $4,201,298 for four projects in Saskatchewan through the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program and the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program. Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program – $2,100,000 The BSP program supports high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up, and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of two years. PrairiesCan announced an investment for one project under BSP: Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. - $2,100,000 Venlaw is installing novel automation equipment for manufacturing new grain bins in Watson, Saskatchewan. PrairiesCan funding will help Venlaw purchase equipment for the manufacturing scale-up of a roof roll forming and sidewall line, material handling equipment for finished goods preparation, a finished goods cold storage building and costs around export market development. This investment will reduce imports of manufactured products and replace them with Canadian-made products that utilize Canadian steel and local supply chains. Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program - $2,101,298 The RIE program helps create, grow, and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems. Through RIE, targeted investments in not-for-profit organizations assist businesses in priority sectors to innovate, grow, and compete globally. PrairiesCan announced investments for three projects under RIE: Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan (GIFS) - $1,661,298 GIFS is developing a genomic selection-based accelerated breeding program that will extend advanced breeding capabilities to companies and breeding organizations, bringing higher-yielding and higher-quality livestock, pulses, and other crops to market quicker. This investment builds on previous support to GIFS, including $2.5 million in 2022 which helped build Canada's only biomanufacturing facility advancing sustainable agriculture and innovative food ingredients. Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) - $420,000 The Food Centre will purchase equipment and renovate their space to increase co-packing capabilities and incubation space for the value-added agriculture sector in the Prairies. PrairiesCan has proudly supported the Food Centre as they have grown over the years to expand food processing in Saskatchewan, including an investment of $1 million in 2023 to enhance their co-packing capacity for agri-food clients. Ag-West Bio Inc. - $20,000 Ag-West Bio is receiving support to deliver the Agri-Value Forum in 2025 and 2026, an event including a conference, workshops, and tours to promote value-added agriculture in Saskatchewan. The Agri-Value Forum has been supported by PrairiesCan since 2021 and attracts more than 200 attendees each year from across the province and Canada. Recently the Forum has added an additional half day of learning workshops to assist small and medium sized enterprises addressing specific current challenges, such as cybersecurity, workforce training, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Associated links Global Institute for Food Security Venlaw Manufacturing Ltd. Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. Ag-West Bio Inc. Stay connected Follow PrairiesCan on X and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378 TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada

Country singer Dallas Smith winks at Trump's annexation threats with 51-date tour

timean hour ago

Country singer Dallas Smith winks at Trump's annexation threats with 51-date tour

Country singer Dallas Smith isn't looking to stir the political pot, but he admits it's no coincidence that his upcoming Canadian concert tour is booked for 51 dates. In a wink to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of making Canada the 51st state, the British Columbia-born country singer and frontman of rock band Default says he's investing in his homeland with an acoustic tour that rolls through 51 communities starting this fall. We were close to that number and then we said let's just make that happen, he said with a laugh in a recent interview. It was important for me to come, especially at this time, [with] a lot of Canadian pride. I want to get out there, really go hard, and visit all these places that I haven't been and see the country. The Dallas Smith & His Band (Unplugged) tour will focus on places he's never toured before and is mostly booked in small theatre venues of several hundred to a thousand seats. Enlarge image (new window) Dallas Smith poses on the red carpet at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Photo: The Canadian Press / Jeff McIntosh He starts in Fort St. John, B.C., on Oct. 3 and continues to less-travelled communities such as Kitimat, B.C., Enoch, M.B. and Wingham, Ont. By the time it's over, Smith will have wound through nine of the 10 provinces — skipping Newfoundland and Labrador and the territories — reaching his final stop in Belleville, Ont., on Dec. 14. Sporting a red-brimmed maple leaf baseball cap emblazoned with Canada, Smith explained the reasons behind making Canada his main focus for the rest of the year. There is a lot going on in the U.S. that goes against my upbringing and what I think is right, he said in a video chat from Nashville, where he was meeting with his management. So why not double down and spend the time in a place that I really want to enjoy and be around my people? 'Nooks and crannies' of Canada Few Canadian musicians take on the challenge of playing so many small markets. Life on the road can be mighty expensive once accounting for all the people required to carry a tour. With his band Default, Smith is more familiar with big venues, music festivals and major events, such as the Calgary Stampede, where he's roared through hits like Wasting My Time and Deny . LISTEN | Smith talks about switching to country (new window) He intends to revisit some of those older songs on this tour with stripped-back versions, while sharing stories of his upbringing, music career and newer solo tracks, including How Do You Miss Me and Drop . The concept is inspired by the MTV Unplugged sessions of the 1990s made famous by Nirvana and Alice In Chains. Smith said he's been throwing around the idea of exploring the nooks and crannies of Canada since before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the plan never took shape. More recently, alongside his management team, he mapped out a budget to make it happen, shedding the lavish perks and complex lighting rigs for something more modest — a single bus, trailer, full band and most of his regular crew. Together they'll work on a tight schedule that, at times, sees them booked for six consecutive nights in six different cities before they have a break. To make it happen, their stage setup will be minimal. We're gonna dial back and allow the beauty of these venues to kind of lead the way and be the backdrop, he added. Smith's approach might seem counter to the music industry trend of making shows bigger and more social media friendly — think towering digital screens and gimmicky celebrity appearances. But he said he's often rejected those pressures, and with this tour, he focused on making tickets affordable, within the $60 to $100 range, without impacting the live performance. I did not want to sacrifice how these songs would be played, Smith said. I love the guys in my band; they're like brothers to me. Playing these songs together, and paying them a full wage where they feel valued ... and balancing that with ticket price, it's a little tricky, but we landed in a good spot where everybody feels really happy.

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