A Red Deer, Alta., man has been sentenced to 17 years in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty in a child exploitation sting tied to a planned trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. According to U.S. court documents, James Hjelmeland, 31, pleaded guilty in November to attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material. The case stems from an undercover operation involving a Florida law enforcement officer. Court records state Hjelmeland began communicating online with a detective who was posing as the parent of a 12-year-old girl. The officer, acting in

Nepal’s youngest prime minister was sworn in Friday following a decisive election victory earlier this month and months after a youth-led uprising that led to the fall of the previous government. Balendra Shah, 35, took the oath of office after being appointed by President Ram Chandra Paudel. According to official election results, Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party secured nearly two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives in the March 5 vote. The election followed political upheaval in September, when protests led largely by young people forced the resignation of the former gove

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh seeking parole to attend the ongoing Parliament budget session. The decision means Singh will remain in custody and will not be able to participate in the current sitting. Singh, who is detained under the National Security Act, argued before the court that he is an elected representative and that his absence from Parliament would infringe on the democratic rights of his constituents. According to submissions made in court, the Punjab government and security agencies opposed the plea, citing conc

New Democrats from across Canada are meeting in Winnipeg this weekend for a federal convention that will culminate in the selection of a new party leader. According to party organizers, voting in the six-month leadership race is scheduled to close Saturday, with the results to be announced Sunday morning. The candidates include union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, filmmaker Avi Lewis, Alberta MP Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail. The leadership vote follows the party’s poorest federal election result on record last year. The incoming leader is expected to oversee

Alberta’s government says it will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to establish a provincewide code of conduct governing municipal councils, along with third-party oversight for ethics complaints. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said the proposed changes are intended to prevent misuse of local rules and improve public trust in elected officials. According to the minister, the legislation would bring in independent investigators to review complaints and would require public disclosure of municipal officials’ salaries. The move follows a 2025 decision by Premier Danielle Smi

The Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel despite rising crude oil prices in international markets, according to a statement from the petroleum ministry. Excise duty on petrol has been cut from ₹13 per litre to ₹3 per litre, while the duty on diesel has been reduced from ₹10 per litre to zero, the ministry said. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the decision was taken to help stabilize fuel prices for consumers. According to the minister, the move is aimed at maintaining affordability and ensuring continued supply across the country. Puri said several

Prince George RCMP say their investigation into a suspicious death following a house fire in September 2024 is ongoing, and officers are asking the public to help identify a person of interest. Police said they are continuing to gather witness accounts from the night of the incident. “Police continue to seek witnesses to the events of that evening, in order to help bring closure to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer with Prince George RCMP, in a statement. According to an RCMP news release, officers responded to a house fire on Sept.

The Conservative Party of British Columbia says Richmond Centre MLA Hon Chan has been removed from its caucus after the party was made aware he is facing what it described as “serious criminal charges.” In a statement, interim leader Trevor Halford said the party takes “any allegations of domestic violence” seriously, but did not provide details about the nature of the charges or when they were laid. No court documents or police statements were immediately cited in the party’s release, and the allegations have not been independently verified. The party did not say whether Chan will c

At least 28 civilians were killed in two separate drone attacks in Sudan on Wednesday, according to local authorities, as fighting continues in the country’s ongoing civil war that began in 2023. In North Darfur, an attack struck a market in the city of Saraf Omra, killing 22 people and injuring 17 others. Officials said the drone targeted an oil tanker, triggering a fire that spread through a large section of the market. A second strike occurred on a highway in North Kordofan, where a drone hit a truck carrying civilians. Six people were killed and 10 others were injured in that incident, a