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balwant-singh-rajoana-death-row-convict-urges-swift-decision-on-mercy-plea
IndiaOct 24, 2025

Balwant Singh Rajoana: Death row convict urges swift decision on mercy plea

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict on death row for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, was brought to the Government Dental College for treatment and wants his case decided. While he was being taken to the hospital amidst tight security, Rajoana said that he has spent nearly 30 years in prison, with 18 years on death row. The mercy petition has also been pending for over 14 years. "Even the Supreme Court has been asking the government for over five years to decide the matter. I want there to be no further delay and for the matter to be decided," said Rajoana. A plea
recall-petition-approved-against-alberta-education-minister-demetrios-nicolaides
AlbertaOct 24, 2025

Recall petition approved against Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides

Alberta’s chief electoral officer has approved a recall petition targeting Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, marking the first use of the province’s recall legislation since it was introduced in 2021. The petition, submitted by Calgary resident Jennifer Yeremiy, accuses Nicolaides of failing to effectively manage Alberta’s public education system amid concerns about classroom overcrowding and staffing shortages. Yeremiy’s application argues that these issues make Nicolaides “unfit” to continue serving as both minister and representative for Calgary-Bow. Nicolaides responded
trump-halts-trade-talks-with-canada-over-ontarios-anti-tariff-ads
WorldOct 24, 2025

Trump halts trade talks with Canada over Ontario’s anti-tariff ads

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is ending trade negotiations with Canada, citing anger over an Ontario-funded television campaign opposing his tariff policies. The announcement, made on social media Thursday, declared that “all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated” due to what he called “egregious behavior.” The decision follows a high-profile advertising campaign paid for by the Ontario government, reportedly costing about $75 million. The ads, broadcast across major U.S. networks, feature archival audio and video of former president Ronald Reagan warning against t
prime-minister-carney-embarks-on-first-asia-trip-to-strengthen-trade-and-regional-ties
CanadaOct 24, 2025

Prime Minister Carney embarks on first Asia trip to strengthen trade and regional ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing today on his first official visit to Asia since taking office, launching a nine-day trip aimed at deepening Canada’s economic and diplomatic relationships across the Indo-Pacific. The visit includes stops at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in South Korea. The trip comes amid renewed geopolitical tension in the region, with countries balancing ties between the United States and China. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend both summits, drawing sig
driver-in-hospital-after-car-strikes-light-pole-on-alderbridge-way-in-richmond
BCOct 24, 2025

Driver in hospital after car strikes light pole on Alderbridge Way in Richmond

Richmond RCMP are investigating a serious single-vehicle crash that sent one person to hospital Thursday morning. Police say a light blue Honda Fit was travelling west on Alderbridge Way around 7:30 a.m. when it collided with a light pole in the 7800 block. The driver was taken to hospital in critical but stable condition. Investigators from the Richmond RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team remain on scene, with assistance from the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service. Officers have closed Alderbridge Way between No. 3 Road and Minoru Boulevard while th
former-correctional-officer-from-abbotsford-charged-in-coquitlam-rcmp-breach-of-trust-investigation
BCOct 24, 2025

Former Correctional Officer from Abbotsford Charged in Coquitlam RCMP Breach of Trust Investigation

Coquitlam RCMP say a former B.C. correctional officer has been charged with two counts of breach of trust following an investigation that began more than two years ago. Police began the investigation in September 2022 after receiving information related to alleged misconduct involving an employee at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam. The B.C. Prosecution Service has since approved two charges against Abbotsford resident Ramandeep Rai (née Bassi). According to RCMP, the first alleged offence occurred between July 14 and September 29, 2022, and the second between September 11 a
quebec-plans-new-law-to-ban-religious-symbols-in-daycare-centres
CanadaOct 23, 2025

Quebec plans new law to ban religious symbols in daycare centres

The Quebec government is moving to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols in the province’s daycare centres, expanding its existing secularism policies in early childhood settings. Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said there is broad public agreement that Quebec’s commitment to secular values should be reinforced. The decision follows recommendations made earlier this year by a provincial advisory committee that studied ways to strengthen secularism laws. Quebec’s current legislation already restricts public employees in positions of authority, including teachers, police off
alberta-government-plans-back-to-work-legislation-as-teachers-strike-enters-third-week
AlbertaOct 23, 2025

Alberta government plans back-to-work legislation as teachers’ strike enters third week

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday if no deal is reached to end the provincewide teachers’ strike. Smith said the walkout, now in its third week, has caused “intolerable hardship” for students and families, adding that the government cannot allow the disruption to continue. The strike has shut down classrooms for about 51,000 teachers and 750,000 students in public, separate, and francophone schools across the province. While formal negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the province are not currently
superintendent-peri-mainwaring-appointed-new-head-of-north-vancouver-rcmp
BCOct 23, 2025

Superintendent Peri Mainwaring appointed new head of North Vancouver RCMP

The North Vancouver RCMP has a new Officer-in-Charge. Superintendent Peri Mainwaring has been appointed to lead the detachment, bringing more than three decades of policing experience with the RCMP. Mainwaring began her career in Saskatchewan and has served in municipal, provincial and federal roles across the country. Before her latest promotion, she was the Community Programs Officer with the Burnaby RCMP, where she helped strengthen community safety initiatives and led work on mental health and crisis intervention. Her connection to North Vancouver is longstanding — Mainwaring previously

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fifteen-people-accused-in-b-c-extortion-cases-file-refugee-claims-cbsa-confirms
CanadaDec 12, 2025

Fifteen people accused in B.C. extortion cases file refugee claims, CBSA confirms

Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from u
worksafebc-issues-more-than-1-3-million-dollars-in-penalties-after-fatal-crane-incident-at-oakridge-park
BCDec 12, 2025

WorkSafeBC issues more than 1.3 million dollars in penalties after fatal crane incident at Oakridge Park

WorkSafeBC has levied more than 1.3 million dollars in fines against EllisDon Corporation and Newway Concrete Forming following a series of crane-related safety violations, including the February 2024 incident at Vancouver’s Oakridge Park development that killed construction worker Yuridia Flores. The penalties stem from multiple investigations involving highrise projects in Vancouver and Victoria. Flores died when a large concrete form mould – measuring nearly 10 metres by six metres – fell 26 storeys after accelerating out of the side of the building while being moved between floors. E
alberta-ends-fall-sitting-after-sweeping-use-of-notwithstanding-clause-draws-scrutiny
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Alberta ends fall sitting after sweeping use of notwithstanding clause draws scrutiny

Alberta’s fall legislative session closed this week with Premier Danielle Smith’s government advancing two major bills that relied heavily on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, a move that has renewed debate over the limits of provincial authority and the protection of individual rights. The clause was applied four times in the sitting, shielding the legislation from certain court challenges for up to five years. The government first invoked the clause when it passed a law ordering more than 51 thousand public school teachers back to work following a three-week provincewide strike. Th
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Advocacy groups shift legal strategy in bid to challenge Alberta’s gender care law

Two national advocacy organizations say they are pivoting their legal strategy as they continue efforts to challenge Alberta’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. Egale Canada and the Calgary-based Skipping Stone Foundation launched a constitutional challenge last year after the province passed legislation prohibiting doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to people under 16, and from performing gender-affirming top surgery on anyone under 18. The groups say the path through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become significantly more difficult since th
IndiaDec 12, 2025

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Authorities in Amritsar ordered an immediate shutdown of several private schools after administrators reported receiving an email threatening bomb attacks on campus. The message, sent to multiple institutions early Tuesday, triggered evacuations and a large-scale police deployment. Local officials said at least 15 well-known private schools were identified in the threat. Police teams, including the bomb squad and fire services, secured school grounds while investigators worked to verify the credibility of the email. The Deputy Commissioner directed schools to release students for the day as a