Xinhua
09 May 2025

Canada's second-largest airline suspends nine U.S. routes: mediaCanada's second-largest airline, WestJet, is pausing nine routes between the United States and Canada as demand dampens for travel between the two countries, local media reported Thursday.According to CBC News, flights from Canadian cities to U.S. cities of Austin, Los Angeles and Chicago are among those impacted."WestJet continuously evaluates and adjusts its schedule to meet demand, and we remain committed to reviewing opportunities for direct service on these routes in the future," a spokesperson was quoted as saying.WestJet announced in April that it would add new domestic routes within Canada and make it easier to connect with flights to Europe.The changes came as fewer Canadians travel south amid trade-related tensions, and as U.S. President Donald Trump continues using annexationist rhetoric toward Canada, which he has repeatedly said should be the 51st state of the United States, said the report.Denmark summons U.S. envoy over reported American espionage targeting GreenlandDenmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the acting U.S. ambassador for a meeting on Thursday over media reports suggesting an escalation of American intelligence operations in Greenland.The meeting with U.S. Acting Ambassador to Denmark Jennifer Hall Godfrey was held in Copenhagen and included a representative from Greenland's government."The focus of the meeting was the article in the Wall Street Journal: U.S. Orders Intelligence Agencies to Step Up Spying on Greenland," the ministry said in a statement.The report, published on Tuesday, said that U.S. intelligence agencies have been directed to identify individuals in Greenland and Denmark who align with American strategic interests concerning the Arctic island, citing unnamed sources.Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stressed that Denmark had expressed its concerns clearly to the United States (U.S.)."The purpose of the meeting was to make the Kingdom's position completely clear. It is our impression that the acting ambassador took that seriously," Rasmussen told the media after the meeting. He added, however, that the meeting did not verify the article's claims.Zelensky, Trump discuss peace efforts in phone callUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine."We discussed the need for continued efforts to achieve peace, including concrete steps that could be taken," Zelensky wrote in a post on a social media platform X.He said he informed Trump that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire "starting even today" and is awaiting Russia's response to the proposal.Ukraine also remains open for talks in any format if Russia demonstrates "the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a full unconditional ceasefire," Zelensky added.According to him, Trump expressed his readiness to help achieve peace and voiced support for a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.UN chief "gravely concerned" about recent drone attacks in Port SudanUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is gravely concerned that recent drone attacks in Port Sudan, the main entry point for humanitarian aid into Sudan, threaten to increase humanitarian needs and further complicate aid operations in the country, a UN spokesperson said Thursday."The secretary-general warns that this major escalation could lead to large-scale civilian casualties and further destruction of critical infrastructure," said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the UN chief, at a daily briefing.He said Guterres is alarmed at the expansion of the conflict into an area that has served as a place of refuge for large numbers of people displaced from the capital, Khartoum, and other areas.Since January, increased attacks across the country on power stations and other critical infrastructure have disrupted civilians' access to electricity, healthcare, clean water and food.UN, AU urge warring parties in South Sudan to embrace dialogueThe African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), and peace monitors in South Sudan on Thursday called on the country's leaders to cease hostilities and urgently resume dialogue to advance the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.The AU Mission in South Sudan, the UN Mission in South Sudan, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an East African bloc, and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, which monitors peace implementation, expressed concern about the rapid deterioration of the political and security situation across South Sudan."Ongoing air and ground attacks are leading to an alarming loss of life, property and civilian displacement, even as ethnically polarizing rhetoric and hate speech are rising. The targeting of humanitarian facilities is also unacceptable and must stop," they said in a joint statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.The organizations said these escalations are fast eroding the confidence of communities and peace partners in the sincerity of the promise made by the parties not to return this country to war, and urged the leadership to recommit to a transparent, consensus-driven, and collaborative approach for lasting peace.