Section: US & Canada
Russian hackers suspected in blackout in Ukraine
U.S. Homeland Security and intelligence agencies are analyzing computer code from what appears to be one of the first known cyberattacks that resulted in an electrical power outage — this one in Ukraine. …read more Source: Pittsburgh...
Malaysia Airlines lifts baggage ban on Europe flights
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia Airlines said Wednesday it has lifted a ban on check-in baggage on flights to Paris and Amsterdam, after the move angered many passengers who slammed the airline on social media. The U-turn came less than 24 hours after the airline announced that passengers cannot check-in baggage for Tuesday and Wednesday...
Ukrainian immigrants to be celebrated throughout Saskatchewan in 2016
REGINA — The Saskatchewan government says 2016 will be marked as the Year of Ukrainians in the province. The declaration is to acknowledge the 125th anniversary of the first wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada and Saskatchewan. Premier Brad Wall says more than 13 per cent of provincial residents trace their ancestry back to Ukraine. He says...
Sensitivity key for Canadian foreign service, says religious freedom envoy
Canada’s ambassador for religious freedom says the explosive rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran highlights religion’s growing influence on global affairs — and a potential “blind spot” for Canadian diplomats. In an exclusive interview, Andrew Bennett said Canadian foreign service officers and other government officials need more...
Igor D. Sergun, Chief of Russian Military Intelligence, Dies at 58
General Sergun managed Russia’s military intelligence service, known as the G.R.U., which has been accused of playing a crucial role in the 2014 takeover of Crimea. …read more Source: The New York...
Putin’s Intimidation Effective in Georgia
For almost all Americans, “Georgia” is simply a state of the United States. For the athletically inclined, it is the home of baseball’s Atlanta Braves and the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons. For the more historically aware, Georgia was one of the 13 original U.S. colonies and, following the Revolutionary War, a “star” in...
Cold War Lessons Relevant Again in Georgia
The “Lonely Planet” travel guide is enthusiastic about the Republic of Georgia and its almost four million residents: “[It] is one of the most beautiful countries on earth… Equally special are its proud, high-spirited, cultured people.” Inhabiting the crossroads of western Asia and eastern Europe, Georgians have lived a complex and often painful...
Classified ad seeking to connect woman with father who doesn’t know she exists
CALGARY — A classified ad is seeking to connect a daughter with a father who doesn’t know she exists. “Is your name Gary?” the ad begins. “Were you in Regina, SK on business in 1969?” The ad is accompanied by a decades-old photo of a smiling, petite blond woman and an even blonder little girl with poker-straight...
Polish Defense Minister Wants to Almost Double Size of Army
Poland’s minister of defense says the country should increase its army to 150,000 soldiers, almost double its current size, Polish weekly military magazine Polska Zbrojna reported on Monday. Speaking about his assessment of the armed forces since stepping into the office late last year, Antoni Macierewicz said there needs to be a move to...
Experts: Cyber Attack in Ukraine a Doomsday Scenario
A destructive cyber attack on power companies in Ukraine last month was an unprecedented event that increases the threat to critical infrastructure around the world, experts say. Hundreds of thousands of homes lost power just before Christmas in western Ukraine after malicious code infected multiple utility companies. Radio Free Europe/Radio...
