CanadaOct 10, 2024
Trudeau applauds Thailand for legalizing gay marriage during meeting at ASEAN summit
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Thailand’s new prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on her country’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage, calling it a remarkable step forward for human rights in Asia.
Trudeau made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with Shinawatra while attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos. He said Thailand’s progress stands out “at a time when rights are backsliding around the world,” describing Shinawatra’s leadership on marriage equality as “exceptional.”
Thailand’s landmark marriage e
CanadaOct 10, 2024
Quebec government tables legislation to limit number of international students
The Quebec government has introduced new legislation that would give it the authority to cap the number of international students studying in the province, part of a broader effort to reduce the rapidly growing number of non-permanent residents.
Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge said the number of foreign students in Quebec reached 120,000 last year, up sharply from 50,000 in 2014. Over the past two years, the province’s total non-permanent resident population has doubled - from about 300,000 to 600,000 - prompting the government to take what it calls “necessary corrective action
CanadaOct 10, 2024
Alberta UCP welcomes MLA who compared transgender kids to feces back into caucus
An Alberta MLA who was expelled from the United Conservative Party caucus last year for comparing transgender children to feces has been reinstated after issuing a public apology and pledging to support inclusivity.
Lacombe–Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson said she has grown “personally and professionally” since being removed from caucus 17 months ago. “Now, I am eager to apply what I have learned to benefit everyone who calls this province home,” Johnson said in a statement released Friday.
Johnson was removed from the UCP in 2023 after a 2022 recording surfaced in which she compared tra
BCOct 10, 2024
Advance voting begins for the British Columbia provincial election on Oct. 19
British Columbians eager to cast their ballots early can begin voting today at hundreds of advance polling locations across the province, as the 2025 provincial election heads into its final phase.
Elections BC says 343 advance voting places will operate during two periods — from today through October 13, and again on October 15 and 16. However, not all sites will be open every day. Voting hours are set from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and eligible voters can find their nearest location using the “where-to-vote” card mailed to them or through the Elections BC website.
The election is shaping up to
IndiaOct 10, 2024
CM Maan expressed grief over the death of industrialist Ratan Tata
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of veteran industrialist Ratan Tata, describing him as a visionary leader whose legacy transformed India’s industrial landscape.
In a condolence message shared on social media platform X, Mann said Ratan Tata’s “hard work, commitment, dedicated spirit and simplicity will continue to inspire young generations to achieve excellence in their chosen fields.”
The Chief Minister said Tata’s death marks the end of an era in Indian industry and that his absence has left a void that will be difficult to fill.
CanadaOct 10, 2024
Joly, Mendicino to appear at foreign interference inquiry today
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and former public safety minister Marco Mendicino are set to appear today before the federal commission of inquiry examining foreign interference in Canada’s democratic and institutional affairs.
The latest phase of the inquiry is focusing on how well federal agencies detect, assess, and respond to attempts by foreign actors to influence Canadian politics, policy, and society. Officials from Global Affairs Canada, Joly’s department, testified late last week about the challenges of monitoring and countering international interference efforts.
Commissio
IndiaOct 10, 2024
Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh paid tribute to Ratan Tata
Punjabi singer and global performer Diljit Dosanjh stopped his live concert in Germany to pay tribute to industrialist Ratan Tata, who passed away in Mumbai earlier this week at the age of 86.
Addressing the crowd, Dosanjh said Ratan Tata was a man of humility and integrity. “From everything I read about him, he never spoke ill of anyone. If we can learn anything from Ratan Tata ji, it is to work hard, think well, and be useful to someone,” the singer told the audience.
Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Sons and one of India’s most respected business leaders, died Wednesday night a
CanadaOct 10, 2024
Hospital system apologizes after Brampton Sikh man's beard shaved
The William Osler Health System in Brampton has issued a public apology after hospital staff shaved the beard of an 85-year-old Sikh man without his consent, an act that violated his religious beliefs.
In a joint statement released Wednesday, Dr. Frank Martino, president and CEO of the William Osler Health System, and board chair Pardeep Singh Gill admitted the hospital “failed to uphold religious and cultural care practices.” They said the incident, which occurred in August, was done without medical necessity.
“We take full responsibility for this incident and have extended our deepest
AlbertaOct 09, 2024
Alberta announces tentative deal with resident doctors
Alberta’s Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says the province has reached a tentative four-year agreement with resident physicians, offering gradual wage increases over the term of the deal.
The agreement, announced Thursday, includes proposed salary hikes of three per cent in each of the first two years and two per cent in each of the final two years. The deal still requires ratification by members of the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA).
The development comes as the provincial government faces mounting labour pressures in the health-care system. Negotiations
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