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French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Algeria to strengthen bilateral relations

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French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Algeria to strengthen bilateral relations

Algiers, France- On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Algeria for a three-day visit to straighten bilateral relations.

Accompanied by seven Ministers, Macron arrived at the Houari Boumediene Airport in the capital Algiers, where he was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Macron is also accompanied by a delegation of about 90 people, including telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel, French Olympic boxer Sarah Ourahmoune, and novelist Kamel Daoud. The delegation’s varied composition points to a focus on soft power to heal tensions and renew a complex relationship often bristling with emotion yet underpinned by strong economic ties and the presence of a large Algerian diaspora in France.

The French leader, on his second visit to Algeria since he took power in 2017, has chosen to direct this visit towards the future, focusing on start-ups, innovation, youth, and new sectors.

In addition, Macron and Tebboune will discuss the situation in Mali as well as Russia, Algeria’s top arms supplier, and also France’s latest efforts to fill a vast shortfall in gas supplies to Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tensions erupted last year after Macron accused the Algerian government of exploiting the memory of the colonial period and rewriting of history based not on facts but on discourse that depended on hatred of France resulting in Algeria recalling its Ambassador in protest for three months.

Immigration has also been a sore point. France in October slashed the number of visas given to Algerians, Tunisians and Moroccans in response to what Paris saw as their refusal to take back illegal migrants. Since March, Algeria has issued temporary papers for about 300 of its citizens to allow them to be deported from France, up from only 17 last year and 91 in 2020.

“The French side may want to put some more positivity back in the relationship, but in my experience, Algeria only responds when forced by the power dynamics,” said Xavier Driencourt, who served as France’s Ambassador to Algeria from 2008 to 2012 and 2017 to 2020.

Macron has prioritized repairing the historical wounds between France and Algeria since he was elected in 2017. He described colonialism as a crime against humanity but stopped short of apologizing for France’s 130 years in Algeria. He became the first French leader to acknowledge publicly the State’s role in torture during the war that preceded Algerian independence in 1962.

 

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End of Manitoba legislature session includes replacement-worker ban, machete rules

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WINNIPEG – Manitoba politicians are expected to pass several bills into law before the likely end of legislature session this evening.

The NDP government, with a solid majority of seats, is getting its omnibus budget bill through.

It enacts tax changes outlined in the spring budget, but also includes unrelated items, such as a ban on replacement workers during labour disputes.

The bill would also make it easier for workers to unionize, and would boost rebates for political campaign expenses.

Another bill expected to pass this evening would place new restrictions on the sale of machetes, in an attempt to crack down on crime.

Among the bills that are not expected to pass this session is one making it harder for landlords to raise rents above the inflation rate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Father charged with second-degree murder in infant’s death: police

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A Richmond Hill, Ont., man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his seven-week-old infant earlier this year.

York Regional Police say they were contacted by the York Children’s Aid Society about a child who had been taken to a hospital in Toronto on Jan. 15.

They say the baby had “significant injuries” that could not be explained by the parents.

The infant died three days later.

Police say the baby’s father, 30, was charged with second-degree murder on Oct. 23.

Anyone with more information on the case is urged to contact investigators.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Ontario fast-tracking several bills with little or no debate

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TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.

The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.

It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.

The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.

That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.

Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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