The US has confirmed its first serious human case of bird flu in a patient from Louisiana. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated that the Louisiana patient was hospitalized after testing positive for bird flu on December 13. Meanwhile, California has declared a state of emergency to address the growing outbreak. The CDC also confirmed that this is the first serious human case of H5N1 bird flu in the US. However, a total of 61 human cases of bird flu have been reported in the US since April. The virus has spread to 16 states, primarily affecting poultry, since it was first detected i

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing significant backlash within his own party. The number of Liberal MPs publicly calling for his resignation has risen to 16, with the first MP to do so in June now urging his colleagues to join him. Wayne Long, the Liberal MP for New Brunswick, sent a letter to fellow MPs on Wednesday morning, which he also posted on his Facebook page. In the letter, Long stated that Chrystia Freeland’s sudden resignation is not only embarrassing for the party, but also reflects poorly on the Prime Minister’s Office, which he holds responsible. He further called on his

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will shuffle his cabinet on Friday morning.A government source confirms the prime minister will attend a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall. This comes at the end of a tumultuous week that saw him lose his finance minister and face a new swell of pressure within his caucus for him to resign.

Alberta's opposition New Democratic Party has won the provincial byelection in Lethbridge-West, holding onto a riding it has held since 2015. According to the unofficial vote count late Wednesday night, the Elections Alberta website reports that NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro secured 7,239 votes with all 57 polls reporting. The United Conservative Party's John Middleton-Hope trailed him by 1,150 ballots. The Alberta Party's Layton Veverka finished the race a distant third with only 233 votes. Early vote results showed 18 per cent of the riding's 37,000 eligible voters had cast adv

A French court on Thursday declared the ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot guilty of aggravated rapes and all other charges against him. The verdict for 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot was read by the lead judge of the court in Avignon, Roger Arata. He hasn't yet delivered the sentence, which can be up to 20 years imprisonment. A panel of five judges in France is delivering verdicts on Thursday for more than four dozen mencharged with aggravated rapeand sexual assault on Gisèle Pelicot in a historic case that has profoundly shaken the country over the past several months. Among the men on trial is

Several British Columbia media reports say one of two Central Saanich Police officers charged with sexual assaulting a woman they met on duty has died by suicide. The Times Colonist cites four sources saying 43-year-old Sgt. Matthew Ball has died, while other outlets cite police sources saying Ball died by suicide. Mounties say in a news release they are investigating the discovery of a body in a forested area of Shawnigan Lake, which is about 40 kilometres northwest of Victoria. RCMP say they are looking into whether any criminality was involved and the coroner's service is also investigating

Canada Post to start accepting commercial mail as it ramps up post-strike operations Canada Post is set to start accepting commercial letters and parcels as it works to get back to normal operations following a month-long strike. The postal service has warned Canadians should expect delays into the new year as it works through a backlog of mail, after workers went back on the job Tuesday. Canada Post said mail is being processed on a first-in, first-out basis, and it will start accepting new international mail on Dec. 23. More than 55,000 employees were ordered back to work by the Canada Ind

Former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur has called for strict action against current SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami over alleged derogatory remarks made against her. She stated that Dhami has disrespected the SGPC's position and should not go unpunished. The Punjab State Women's Commission summoned Bibi Jagir Kaur today to present her side of the matter. Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill mentioned that necessary action will be taken after obtaining legal advice. Bibi Jagir Kaur emphasized that it is the Women's Commission's responsibility to take legal action in this matter and has for

Premier David Eby's government is facing sharp criticism from the opposition for increasing this year’s record budget deficit by $429 million. BC Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar highlighted the province's growing economic challenges, pointing to the $9.4-billion deficit estimate as evidence of deepening debt. Milobar argued that the fiscal update reflects a slowing economy, declining tax revenues from resources and businesses, and escalating costs of major projects such as Vancouver’s Broadway SkyTrain. He suggested that if voters had been aware of the province's worsening finan