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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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gst-relief-on-new-homes-could-save-1st-time-buyers-up-to-240-on-mortgages-report
CanadaJun 09, 2025

GST relief on new homes could save 1st-time buyers up to $240 on mortgages: report

A new analysis says first-time Canadian homebuyers could save up to $240 on their monthly mortgage payments through the federal government's proposal to waive the sales tax on new builds. Desjardins Economics says in a new report that the impact on housing affordability will be "particularly strong" for buyers in Canada's more expensive markets, like Toronto and Vancouver. The Liberal government has tabled legislation to eliminate the GST portion from new home sales of up to $1 million for first-time buyers, which works out to as much as $50,000 off the cost of a new build or substantially ren
hot-spell-persists-in-southern-b-c-after-breaking-century-old-records
BCJun 09, 2025

Hot spell persists in southern B.C. after breaking century-old records

An early season hot spell that has brought temperatures approaching 40 Celsius to parts of southern British Columbia, breaking more than a dozen daily heat records, won't be lifting until at least tomorrow. Lytton saw temperatures peak at 39.3 C on Sunday, making it the hottest spot in the country and breaking a daily record set two years ago. Also among the 15 daily records set Sunday were temperatures of 31.7 C in Nanaimo and 32.3 C in Pitt Meadows, both breaking high marks set in 1903. Environment Canada says the "early season heat event" will last into the week in Howe Sound, Whistler, Pem
six-infants-born-with-congenital-measles-in-ontario-from-unvaccinated-mothers
CanadaJun 09, 2025

Six infants born with congenital measles in Ontario from unvaccinated mothers

Ontario's chief medical officer of health says six infants have been born with congenital measles since an outbreak began last fall, adding they were infected in the womb through mothers who were not vaccinated. Dr. Kieran Moore says these infants recovered, but their infections could have been prevented if their mothers had been vaccinated and protected from contracting measles. Congenital measles can result in severe complications, including inflammation of the brain and death. On Thursday, Moore announced an infant born prematurely and infected with measles died in southwestern Ontario. He
WorldJun 09, 2025

Small plane crashes into ocean off San Diego with 6 people aboard

Authorities are investigating after a small plane crashed into the ocean 5 miles (8 kilometers) off the coast near San Diego with six people aboard. U.S. Coast Guard officials said a debris field was discovered near Point Loma Sunday afternoon and began searching for the wreckage in an area where the water is about 200 feet (61 meters) deep. The Federal Aviation Administration said the twin-engine Cessna 414 crashed around 12:30 p.m. Sunday not long after it took off. Flight tracking website, Flightaware.com, showed that the plane was bound for Phoenix. The National Transportation Safety Board
mexicos-president-says-she-will-attend-g7-summit-in-alberta
CanadaJun 09, 2025

Mexico's president says she will attend G7 summit in Alberta

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she will attend the G7 summit next week in Alberta and is working to set up a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.