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b-c-urges-federal-government-to-increase-provincial-nominee-program-quotas
BCApr 14, 2025

B.C. Urges Federal Government to Increase Provincial Nominee Program Quotas

The British Columbia government is calling on the federal government to raise its 2025 allocation under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), citing urgent workforce needs. The province reports that it met its 2024 target of 8,000 workers and is now requesting an increase to 11,000 nominees for 2025. However, Ottawa has reduced B.C.’s allocation to just 4,000, a move the province says is undermining its ability to meet labour market demands. The B.C. government argues that a higher quota would enable the province to process the majority of pending applications and accept approximately 1,100
canadian-prime-ministerial-candidates-to-face-off-in-bilingual-debates-on-april-16-and-17
CanadaApr 14, 2025

Canadian Prime Ministerial Candidates to Face Off in Bilingual Debates on April 16 and 17

Candidates in the race to become the next Prime Minister of Canada including Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre, and Jagmeet Singh will participate in national debates in both French and English on April 16 and 17. Key topics have been outlined for each debate. The French-language debate will primarily focus on the cost of living, energy and climate, trade disputes, identity and sovereignty, immigration, and foreign affairs. Meanwhile, the English-language debate will cover affordability and the cost of living, energy and climate, public safety and security, as well as tariffs and threats to Canada
jathedar-giani-harpreet-singh-criticizes-sukhbir-singh-badals-re-election-as-akali-dal-president
IndiaApr 14, 2025

Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh Criticizes Sukhbir Singh Badal's Re-election as Akali Dal President

Former Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, has strongly criticized the re-election of Sukhbir Singh Badal as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal. In a sharp social media post, he referred to Badal not as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, but as the leader of the "Shiromani Bhagaura Dal", using the term Bhagaura (deserter) to question his legitimacy. Giani Harpreet Singh also alleged that the election process was undemocratic. He pointed out that the delegates who voted for the president were initially selected by the president himself, calling it a circular and
murder-convicts-will-spend-life-in-prison-says-pierre-poilievre
CanadaApr 14, 2025

Murder Convicts Will Spend Life in Prison, Says Pierre Poilievre

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has declared that individuals convicted of murder will face life in prison with no chance of release. He emphasized that perpetrators of mass murder will be denied bail and, in his words, "Multiple-murderers should only come out in a box." Poilievre stated that he plans to introduce legislation in Parliament that would empower judges to hand down life sentences for multiple murder convictions, all while respecting the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The announcement came during Poilievre’s visit to Montreal this morning and reflects his co
canadian-parliamentary-elections-record-number-of-indian-and-punjabi-origin-candidates-in-the-fray
CanadaApr 14, 2025

Canadian Parliamentary Elections: Record Number of Indian and Punjabi-Origin Candidates in the Fray

A record number of candidates of Indian and Punjabi origin are contesting in the ongoing Canadian parliamentary elections, reflecting the growing political influence of the South Asian community. This time, candidates from this background are contesting in around 65 constituencies across the country. In the 2021 elections, 45 Punjabi-origin candidates stood for election, with 17 securing seats in the House of Commons. In 2019, 47 contested, and 22 were elected. The current elections feature Punjabi candidates not only from major parties such as the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, and the Ne
sukhbir-singh-badal-re-elected-as-shiromani-akali-dal-president
IndiaApr 14, 2025

Sukhbir Singh Badal Re-elected as Shiromani Akali Dal President

Sukhbir Singh Badal has been re-elected as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. In his victory speech, Badal alleged that a conspiracy had been orchestrated over the past six months to weaken the Akali Dal and eliminate the leadership of the Panth. He claimed that this conspiracy began after the Shiromani Akali Dal parted ways with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Badal further asserted that unlike other political parties, which he said have no real concern for Punjab, only the Shiromani Akali Dal is capable of leading the state toward progress. Speaking at a rally in Ta
bank-of-canada-set-to-announce-interest-rate-decision-amid-economic-uncertainty
CanadaApr 14, 2025

Bank of Canada Set to Announce Interest Rate Decision Amid Economic Uncertainty

Canada's central bank is set to announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday. The Bank of Canada's meeting comes at a time when the federal election and economic uncertainty exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump's shifting tariff policies, have made it difficult to forecast the economic outlook. Financial markets and analysts remain divided on the likely outcome. Some expect the bank to cut interest rates by another 0.25 percentage points on April 16, which would bring its key policy rate down to 2.5%. However, others believe that after seven consecutive rate cuts, the Bank of Canada
partap-singh-bajwa-faces-backlash-over-bomb-statement
IndiaApr 14, 2025

Partap Singh Bajwa Faces Backlash Over Bomb Statement

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, is facing legal trouble over his controversial statement about bombs during a news channel interview. The State Cyber Crime Police in Mohali has registered an FIR against Bajwa and summoned him for questioning. During the interview with a private TV channel, Bajwa claimed, citing unnamed sources, that 50 grenades had entered Punjab, with 18 allegedly detonated and 32 still undiscovered. The teaser of this interview, aired before the full show on Sunday, sparked political turmoil in the state. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dir
mehul-choksi-arrested-in-belgium-on-indias-extradition-request
WorldApr 14, 2025

Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium on India’s Extradition Request

Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium following an extradition request by Indian investigative agencies. Choksi is a key suspect in the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, alongside his nephew, Nirav Modi. Indian authorities have initiated the process to extradite Choksi from Belgium. However, Choksi has sought bail in court, citing ill health and claiming he was in Belgium for medical treatment. According to reports, Choksi was allegedly attempting to flee Belgium to Switzerland before his arrest. Meanwhile, his nephew Nirav Modi, also implica

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CanadaSep 14, 2026

European Parliament Opens Ottawa Office as Canada-EU Ties Deepen

Canada and the European Union are set to deepen their diplomatic ties, with the European Parliament announcing the opening of a dedicated office in Ottawa ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Europe. The move comes as Carney’s government seeks to strengthen trade and defence partnerships with the EU while reducing Canada’s reliance on the United States. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Monday that Europe and Canada share common views on several issues, including the rules-based international order. She said the new presence in Ottawa would help turn that partn
surrey-police-service-issues-warning-about-a-high-risk-offender
BCSep 14, 2026

Surrey Police Service issues warning about a high-risk offender

Surrey Police Service has issued a warning about a high-risk offender who has been released in Surrey. Police say 26-year-old Skyler Wayne Pelletier has a history of violent and sexual offences involving members of the public, including women. According to SPS, Pelletier is an Indigenous man who is 6-foot-2, heavy-set, with short black hair and brown eyes. He has been released under strict court-ordered conditions, including no contact with victims or their families and a prohibition from entering within two blocks of the 2500-block of Woodland Drive in Vancouver. He must also follow a curfew
b-c-conservative-mla-donegal-wilson-announces-decision-to-join-milobars-new-party
BCSep 14, 2026

B.C. Conservative MLA Donegal Wilson announces decision to join Milobar’s new party

B.C. Conservative MLA Donegal Wilson has announced that she is joining Peter Milobar’s new political party, becoming the seventh MLA in the newly formed group. Wilson, who represents Boundary-Similkameen, said in a statement that she left the B.C. Conservatives because of disagreements with party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s policies. She said Milobar’s new party aims to provide British Columbians with a strong alternative to the B.C. NDP. With Wilson’s move, the new party will now become the third-largest group in the B.C. legislature. The governing NDP currently holds 47 seats, while
home-sales-in-b-c-decline-4-7-in-august
BCSep 14, 2026

Home Sales in B.C. Decline 4.7% in August

Home sales in British Columbia declined in August compared with the same month last year, according to the B.C. Real Estate Association. The association said 5,653 residential units were sold across the province last month, down 4.7 per cent from August 2025 and 25.4 per cent below the 10-year average for the month. B.C. Real Estate Association chief economist Brendon Ogmundson said the housing market continues to show signs of a gradual recovery. However, he noted that new tariffs and a recent rise in long-term interest rates remain risks for the housing market. The report said the average ho
russia-welcomes-trump-appeal-for-ukraine-to-halt-attacks-on-fuel-facilities
WorldSep 14, 2026

Russia welcomes Trump appeal for Ukraine to halt attacks on fuel facilities

Russia on Monday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for Ukraine to stop targeting Russian diesel production and fuel infrastructure. Trump on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to target Russia’s diesel facilities, saying the attacks were contributing to fuel shortages and causing wider harm. Ukraine has carried out long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in recent months. The strikes have affected fuel production, with shortages of gasoline and other fuels reported in parts of Russia. Ukraine has said its attacks