Call for Putin to rein in pro-Kremlin rebels

BERLIN• German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday urged Mr Vladimir Putin, Russia's President, to use his influence to rein in pro-Kremlin rebels in eastern Ukraine, a day after she warned that a year-old peace deal was not being fully implemented.

Their conversation came a day after Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia of continuing to send troops and weapons across the border into the former Soviet country in violation of the ceasefire deal.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Historic agreement to conserve rainforest

VANCOUVER• British Columbia on Monday unveiled a historic agreement to protect a massive swath of rainforest along its coastline, having reached a deal that marries the interests of environmentalists and the logging industry. Under the pact, about 85 per cent of forest within the Great Bear Rainforest would be protected.

REUTERS