Canada rally protests oil-line expansion
BURNABY, British Columbia — Thousands of demonstrators marched Saturday to speak out against a pipeline expansion project that would nearly triple the flow of oil from Canada’s tar sands to the Pacific Coast.
Indigenous leaders led the march in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby after telling the crowd that the day’s event was a celebration of unity, but they should be prepared in the future to “cross the line” with potential arrests.
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion by the Canadian division of Texas-based Kinder Morgan would dramatically increase the number of oil tankers traveling the shared waters between Canada and Washington state. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved the project in late 2016, saying it was in Canada’s best interest.
Opponents say increasing the flow of oil sent by pipeline and boosting the number of ships to transport it would increase the risks of oil spills and potential effects to fish, orcas and other wildlife.
Supporters say the expansion of the pipeline, which has operated since 1953, will give Canada access to new global markets, provide jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefits and can be done responsibly.
15 police, soldiers die in Afghan battle
KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan official says at least 15 security forces members have been killed in an attack by Taliban fighters in western Farah province.
Fared Bakhtawar, head of the provincial council, said Saturday that seven army commandos and eight police were killed in the Bala Buluk district.
Bakhtawar said three other security personnel are missing and more than 30 insurgents were killed in the battle.
Gen. Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, confirmed the attack but said four soldiers were killed and two wounded.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujhaid claimed responsibility for the attack.
10 terror convicts in Egypt given death
CAIRO — An Egyptian court has sentenced 10 people to death and five others to life in prison for forming a “terrorist cell” to plot attacks on security forces and other institutions.
The state-run Middle East News Agency says the defendants are affiliated with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group and are accused of aiming to assault security personnel and state institutions, target Egypt’s Christian minority and disrupt public order.
Saturday’s verdict comes after consultation with the grand mufti, Egypt’s top religious authority, over preliminary death sentences handed to the defendants earlier. The consultation is a formality followed by courts in the cases of capital punishment.
The Middle East News Agency said three of the 15 defendants were sentenced in absentia. Life sentences in Egypt equate to 25 years. All of the sentences are subject to appeal.
Romanian retains his ruling-party power
BUCHAREST, Romania — The chairman of Romania’s ruling party, facing criticism of his leadership, consolidated his grip on power Saturday after an ally was promoted to a key position.
Social Democracy Party Chairman Liviu Dragnea, who’s been party leader since 2015, initially planned to seek a vote of support at the party conference, but gave up the idea after some members claimed he had arbitrarily changed the rules.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, a Dragnea ally, was appointed deputy leader after two other candidates running for the post withdrew to protest the way the conference was run.
Dragnea can’t be Romania’s prime minister because of a 2016 conviction for vote rigging.
He vowed to press on with a government-led overhaul of the judicial system that critics say would make it harder to punish high-level corruption.
“Romania’s sovereignty is more precious than any fight for power, than any local interest and that’s why we’ll protect it through explicit laws, debated and voted in Parliament,” Dragnea said.
A Section on 03/11/2018