Government to compensate torture victims nine years after inquiry findings

The Canadian Press has independently confirmed a Toronto Star report that the government will settle lawsuits filed by the men over the federal role in their ordeals. In October 2008, an inquiry led by former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci found Canadian officials contributed to the torture of Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin by sharing information with foreign agencies.

LETTERS: Tracking our political leadership

Hooray! Another big step taken toward the rail-relocation goal. Thanks to Todd Stone, B.C.’s transportation and infrastructure minister, for his letter of support to Marc Garneau, federal minister of transportation, for the next step of moving the railway line off our beautiful beaches on this peninsula.

North Korea ‘will reject Kim Jong Nam post-mortem results’

North Korea will “categorically reject” the results of a post-mortem on Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of the country’s ruler, its ambassador in Malaysia said. North Korea will “categorically reject” the results of a post-mortem on Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of the country’s ruler, its ambassador in Malaysia said.

Germany’s Die Welt: Turkey has detained our correspondent

The July 21, 2016 photo shows Deniz Yuecel, correspondent in Turkey for the German daily newspaper ‘Welt’, photographed during the ZDF TV’chat show ‘Maybrit Illner’ in Berlin, Germany. German newspaper ‘Die Welt’ said Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 that its correspondent in Turkey has been taken into police custody in connection with his reporting on a hacker attack on the email account of Turkey’s energy minister..

Just Shoot Me

The problem was deadly serious: In 1943, U.S. bombers in Europe were being shot down at an alarming rate. But one attempted solution provides a smile some 67 years later: an unloved American fighter stripped of its guns, painted clown-orange, and sheathed with armor that made it fly like an anvil, so that aerial gunnery students in B-17s and B-24s could shoot at it.

Fire service issues kitchen warning after busy night

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is repeating warnings about cooking fire safety after several incidents in West Sussex yesterday evening. The service is raising awareness of kitchen safety this month as more fires and fire injuries are caused in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home.

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A 57-year-old is being treated in the Nicosia General Hospital Intensive Care Unit for severe respiratory problems after attempting to extinguish a fire that had broken out at a church in Pera Chorio. Doctors have described his condition as critical.

Celebrating Creation and Community will take place in Cheddleton this Spring

The ‘Celebrating Creation and Community’ will take place at St Andrew’s Church in Ostlers Lane in Cheddleton, near Leek on Saturday, March 11. The free-to-enter event, which will run from 1.30pm until 4pm, will include a variety of stalls and activities as well as local information displays. Animal Magic Mini Zoo will also make a special appearance to give visitors an opportunity to meet some exotic animals.

AM First Warn Local Weather 02/17/17

Most North Koreans have little idea about the outside world beyond what Kim Jong Un’s oppressive regime feeds them. Mike Dubke, founder of conservative firm Crossroads Media, has been selected as head of White House communications, a White House official has confirmed to NBC News.

No ID on lost lambs located in Dervock field

PSNI Ballymoney explained on a Facebook posting: “There is no identification on these lambs which are Texel crossbred and are approximately 70kgs live weight. “If you have lost any lambs over the last few months, please contact Constable McMullan or McCaughan at Ballycastle Neighbourhood Police Team.”

Q&A: Politico Mark Leno on his beloved adopted city

Each week we ask a San Franciscan 10 questions to get a unique perspective on the city. Q. Are you definitely, 100 percent, for sure running for Mayor of San Francisco? ML : I am 100 percent sure that I will be running for Mayor of San Francisco in 2019 – as sure as I am that Hillary won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, that 3-5 million fraudulent votes were not cast and that this new president is a dangerous liar.

10 things to know Friday

A day after a suicide bombing by the Islamic State group killed 80 worshippers, the attack raised questions about Islamabad’s ability to rein in militant groups. Yet historians are hard-pressed to find anything that approaches what seems to be the president’s intention to escalate bad relations with the news media.

Ways to gauge Canada’s commitment to NATO beyond just spending: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is demonstrating its commitment to NATO in ways that go beyond simple military spending. Trudeau acknowledges the spending target agreed to by the members of the global military alliance – two per cent of GDP – but describes Canada and Germany as two of NATO’s principal actors, which do much of the “heavy lifting.”

Trudeau, Merkel differ on answering Trump call for more NATO defence spending

The pro-trade show of solidarity that Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are likely to make in Berlin later today will mask differences in how to deal with Donald Trump’s call for NATO members to boost military spending. Trump has called the 28-country alliance obsolete and Defence Secretary James Mattis told his fellow defence ministers in Brussels this week that while the U.S. still holds NATO in high regard, it expects its allies to start spending more on defence or the Trump administration will “moderate its commitment.”

The US Department of Justice said Kamen had lived in Athens, Georgia

Professor Henry Kamen, a renowned expert on Spanish history, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the offence dating back to 2014. According to court documents, the widely published author, who currently lives in Barcelona, possessed pornographic images of children under 12. The US Department of Justice said in a statement: “A federal grand jury indicted Henry Kamen for possession of child pornography.

Acting president pledges to nurture 100 global venture firms by 2020

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Friday pledged to nurture 100 global venture firms by 2020 as part of the government’s efforts to promote startups, create jobs and revitalize the economy. To achieve this goal, the government plans to provide “strategic, tailored” assistance, including legal counseling, to help venture firms prepare for their entry into foreign markets or expand their presence abroad.

Hotel Shilla shares shine amid rumors of Samsung heiress’ rise

Shares of a luxury hotel led by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s younger sister were on the rise amid rumors that she might fill the group’s leadership vacuum. Shares in Hotel Shilla, led by Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, soared Friday as market watchers speculated the 46-year-old female tycoon may succeed her brother in managing South Korea’s most powerful conglomerate.

Hanjin Shipping ends 40 years of sailing

A court in South Korea has declared the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping, after two weeks of appeals that ended Friday, bringing to a close 40 years of the company’s history as a leading shipping line and leaving challenges for the industry. The demise of the company — once the largest shipping company here and the world’s seventh biggest — began in 2008 in the midst of the financial crisis.

300m to make train company more reliable

The Transport Secretary confirmed that A 300 million will improve resilience across the network and will contribute towards improving the reliability of areas known to cause delays. Mr Dowden said: “This is important progress in my ongoing campaign to bring about a better service for passengers between Radlett and Elstree & Borehamwood and London.

China closes live poultry markets amid deadly flu outbreak

In this Oct. 9, 2016 photo, a butcher carries slaughtered chickens in a poultry market in Fuyang in central China’s Anhui province. Chinese state media reported Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 that the National Health and Family Planning Commission is ordering the closure of live poultry markets in China’s south-central regions as it grapples with the worst outbreak of bird flu in years.

Wailing, anger at Sufi shrine in Pakistan after bomber kills 77

Men comfort each other as they attend the funeral of a relative who was killed in a suicide blast at the tomb of Sufi saint Syed Usman Marwandi, also known as the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine, in Sehwan Sharif, Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, February 17, 2017. Policemen gather outside the tomb of Sufi saint Syed Usman Marwandi, also known as the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine, after Thursday’s suicide blast in Sehwan Sharif, Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, February 17, 2017.

CPP: NPA did not attack relief convoy

The Communist Party of the Philippines has denied the New People’s Army was responsible for the attack on a relief convoy in Surigao del Norte on Wednesday. In a statement Friday, the CPP labeled as dubious the reports coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines that the NPA ambushed the ABS-CBN relief mission in Barangay Linanggonan, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.

Samsung Chief Jay Y. Lee Arrested Over Alleged Role In Corruption Scandal

Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee was arrested early on Friday over his alleged role in a corruption scandal rocking the highest levels of power in South Korea, dealing a fresh blow to the world’s biggest maker of smartphones and memory chips. The 48-year-old Lee, scion of the country’s richest family, was taken into custody at the Seoul Detention Centre after waiting there overnight for the decision.

Microsoft set to create 600 jobs in Dublin

The jobs are the latest boost to the economy following the announcement this week that US recruitment services firm Indeed is adding 500 jobs at its European base in Dublin. Microsoft’s announcement today will also be welcomed after last week’s devastating blow to staff at HP Inc’s Leixlip plant in Co Kildare, where 500 jobs are to go.

Find your new career at today’s Oxford Times Jobs Fair

The firm is just one of many companies offering exciting new job and training opportunities across a wide variety of industries at the fair, which runs from 10am at Oxford Town Hall in St Aldates. The team of staff from Paterson, which was established in 1972, said the jobs fair was a great opportunity to recruit prospective employees for their clients.

Pakistani forces kill, arrest dozens after IS shrine bombing

Pakistani forces killed and arrested dozens of suspects in sweeping raids overnight and into Friday, a day after a massive suicide bombing by the Islamic State group killed 75 worshippers at a famed Sufi shrine in the country’s south. The terror attack – Pakistan ‘s deadliest in years – stunned the nation and raised questions about the authorities’ ability to rein in militant groups despite several military offensives targeting militant hideouts.