The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will temporarily suspend part of Minnesota’s Medicaid funding while federal officials investigate suspected fraud, Vice-President JD Vance said on Wednesday. Vance described the step as part of a broader effort by the administration to address what it calls “waste, fraud and abuse” in federally supported programs. The funding pause affects certain federal matching dollars that help the state deliver Medicaid services to eligible residents. Medicaid is the principal public health insurance program for low-income Americans. According to fede

The British Columbia government is calling on federal lawmakers to move quickly on proposed legislation aimed at preventing organized crime groups from exploiting Canada’s immigration system while involved in extortion and other serious offences. Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger has written to federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and to the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, urging the Senate to advance Bill C-12 without delay. The province says the proposed reforms would address legal gaps that have been used by some i

Iran and the United States are preparing to begin a third round of negotiations in Switzerland aimed at reviving discussions around Tehran’s nuclear program, even as tensions between the two countries continue to rise. Officials from both sides say they prefer a political and diplomatic resolution to the long running dispute. The talks are scheduled to begin in Geneva, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a meeting Wednesday with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi. Oman has previously played a mediating role between Washington and Tehran. Iranian officials described the m

A Court of King’s Bench judge has dismissed an application seeking a judicial review of an Edmonton police decision not to lay charges in the stabbing death of a 13 year old boy at a downtown transit station. Justice Wayne Renke ruled against the request to review the actions of the Edmonton Police Service as well as Crown prosecutors involved in the case. The application had been brought forward by the family of Eric Omeasoo, who died in February 2024 after being stabbed on the MacEwan light rail transit platform in central Edmonton. Police previously stated that while the teen’s death wa

Family members of an eight year old Alberta girl whose body was discovered in a hockey bag on the Samson Cree Nation are delivering emotional victim impact statements as a sentencing hearing continues in an Alberta court. Relatives of Nina Napope described the child as kind and loving, telling the court that her siblings continue to ask where she is and struggle to understand her absence. The statements are being presented as part of sentencing proceedings for Ashley Rattlesnake, who was previously charged in connection with the girl’s death. Court heard earlier that Nina had endured chronic

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has removed Giani Raghbir Singh from his position as Head Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib with immediate effect, following the expiry of a 72 hour notice issued to him earlier this week. The decision was announced by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami during a press conference in Amritsar. He said the action was taken after Giani Raghbir Singh did not provide satisfactory evidence to support allegations he had publicly raised against the Sikh governing body. According to the SGPC, the former Head Granthi had been asked to substantiate his claims wit

Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing today on a 10 day tour of the Indo Pacific region, beginning with his first official visit to India since taking office. He is expected to arrive in Mumbai on Thursday as part of efforts to rebuild diplomatic and trade ties between the two countries. Senior federal officials signalled ahead of the visit that Canada no longer views India as being involved in foreign interference or violent incidents within Canada. The shift is being described in Ottawa as a significant diplomatic reset following a period of strained relations between the two governments.

Federal ministers say Ottawa is prepared to consider new safeguards around artificial intelligence tools following questions about how OpenAI handled warning signs linked to a deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The issue has drawn national attention after reports revealed that the accused shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, had been removed from OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform months before the February 10 killings. According to reporting first published by The Wall Street Journal, the account was shut down over troubling posts that referenced violent scenarios, including gun use. Howe

Police across British Columbia are increasing enforcement this month as part of province-wide campaigns targeting distracted driving and seatbelt compliance. BC Highway Patrol says officers will be closely monitoring drivers who use electronic devices behind the wheel or fail to properly secure themselves and their passengers. The initiative coincides with Distracted Driving Month and the Occupant Restraint Campaign, both aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities on provincial roads. Inspector Brian Donaldson with BC Highway Patrol is urging motorists to eliminate distractions before s