OTTAWA —
The government announced Friday it secured 500 seats on a U.S. plane, which has already extracted individuals fleeing the turmoil in Afghanistan.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino made the announcement a day after Canada said its military evacuation mission had ceased, with the last Canadian plane having left the Kabul airport tarmac Thursday.
“Even though our military have now concluded the evacuation, we are continuing to work tirelessly with our allies and our partners in the region to pursue every option to get the people we need to get out of Afghanistan,” he said while providing an update on Canada’s efforts to support Afghan and Canadian nationals who remain in the country.
“Yesterday we secured approximately 500 seats on an American airlift and they are now safely out of Kabul.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau later clarified that the evacuated individuals were both Canadian and Afghan nationals, and said that Canada had previously reserved space on planes for those requested by allies.
“It really has been a group effort to do this. At this point, in the operations that are in place at the moment in Kabul airport, the effort right now is to wrap things up and to bring out those who are still there — primarily marines and British soldiers,” he said Friday taking questions from reporters.
Mendicino added that the government will continue to push the U.S. to evacuate more.
Officials said yesterday that Canada has evacuated approximately 3,700 individuals to date, which includes 2,000 Afghans. Compared to other NATO countries, Canada sits behind Germany and Italy regarding the total number of refugees withdrawn by a member state.
Canada’s special immigration pathway remains open to Afghan nationals, and their families, who assisted the Canadian military during their mission in Afghanistan.
Mendicino said visas will remain valid among those who haven’t yet fled and that the government continues to process “applications around the clock.”
He also noted that the government will waive application fees for: Afghans with a valid confirmation of permanent residence who are outside of Canada, but who can’t get a passport or travel document; Afghans already in Canada who are seeking an extension or restoration of their temporary residence status; and Canadian citizens, permanent residents and families in Afghanistan who are in a third country en route to Canada.
Asked what advice they’re giving to people who remain trapped, Garneau said because they’re in the “final transition” of phase one of the operation, they’re asking that individuals “stay in place” at the moment to see how the situation unfolds, but if they can make it to a “third country” diplomats may be able to help.
He also said negotiations are underway with the Taliban, which seized control of the country after the U.S. began withdrawing troops, about resuming regular flights out of the Kabul airport so that those who want to leave still can in the coming months.
Garneau said negotiations are underway with the Taliban, which seized control of the country after the U.S. began withdrawing troops, about resuming regular flights out of the Kabul airport so that those who want to leave still can in the coming months.
“We don’t know whether that will happen or when it will happen but the argument is being presented that it’s in the advantage of the country to have an open airport because it’s a landlocked country,” he said.
David Sproul, Canada’s envoy to Afghanistan, is in Doha, Qatar to engage with allies and regional partners on the ground while representing Canada’s point of view in talks, Garneau noted.
Meanwhile, International Development Minister Karina Gould laid out steps being made by the government to meet humanitarian needs locally.
“We have very experienced humanitarian partners who will remain on the ground to help deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance, naturally their current focus is on ensuring the safety and security of their own employees as they continue to carry out this important work,” she said.
Gould said upholding women’s rights across Afghanistan – a key pillar of the 20-year mission there – is a top concern for the government.
“We are deeply, deeply disturbed and concerned by the fact the Taliban is back in control in Afghanistan and what that means for women. We have been very clear that women’s rights is a red line for us and it’s something that I’ve spoke to all our G7 counterparts on,” she said.
On Thursday, Global Affairs Canada issued a press release stating that Canada would send $50 million to help groups, including the World Food Programme and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, deliver support to Afghans in need.
Each minister reflected on the suicide attack at the Kabul airport on Thursday that killed more than 100 Afghans and 13 U.S. military personnel.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — New Zealand won the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time, beating South Africa by 32 runs on Sunday after a standout performance from Amelia Kerr with bat and ball.
South Africa’s chase was held to 126-9 in 20 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in reply to New Zealand’s 158-5 in the final of the 18-day tournament.
South Africa was also seeking to become a first-time champion.
After South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl, Kerr top scored for New Zealand with a 38-ball 43. Brooke Halliday hit 38 runs in 28 deliveries and opener Suzie Bates scored 32 in 31. Nonkululeko Mlaba took 2-31 in four overs for South Africa.
South Africa made a strong start to its chase, reaching 51-1 in 6.5 overs but never really threatened afterward, reaching the halfway stage of its innings at 64-3.
Wolvaardt top scored for South Africa with a 27-ball 33.
Kerr took 3-24 in her four overs, including Wolvaardt’s wicket.
This was South Africa’s second straight final appearance in the tournament. Losing to Australia by 19 runs, it had finished runners-up in its home tournament in 2023, its best result in the tournament.
New Zealand, meanwhile, reached the tournament final for the first time since 2010. In the first two editions – 2009 and 2010 – it had lost to England by six wickets in London, and to Australia by three runs in Barbados.
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday canceled his trip to Russia for a BRICS summit after an accident at home that left him with a cut in the neck, his office said.
The 78-year-old leader was scheduled to attend a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies in the city of Kazan from Tuesday to Thursday this week.
Hospital Sirio Libanês in Sao Paulo said in a statement that the leftist leader was instructed not to take long distance trips, but can keep his other activities. Doctors Roberto Kalil and Ana Heleno Germoglio said they will regularly check on Lula’s recovery.
Brazil’s presidency said in a separate statement that Lula will take part in the summit by videoconference and will continue his work in capital Brasilia this week. It did not disclose details about what caused the president’s injury.
