Israeli and Hamas officials have launched indirect talks in Egypt on a potential ceasefire in Gaza. They are discussing the U.S.-drafted peace plan to end the war on the eve of its second anniversary. The negotiations focus on a ceasefire's first stage. That includes the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to join. Many uncertainties remain about the plan including the disarmament of Hamas and the future governance of Gaza. Israel continues with airstr

France's new prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, has resigned just a day after naming his government and less than a month in office. The French presidency announced Monday that President Emmanuel Macron accepted his resignation. Lecornu's choice of ministers faced criticism across the political spectrum. His decision to bring back former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the defense ministry was particularly controversial. Other key positions were largely unchanged from the previous Cabinet with Bruno Retailleau as interior minister, Jean-Noel Barrot as foreign minister and Gerald D

Some 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers Association are poised to begin a strike today. The labour action, if it goes ahead, will impact more than 700,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools. Most school boards _ including those in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge _ have sent notices telling families that barring an 11th-hour deal, classes would be paused beginning Monday. Both sides appeared far apart late last week but the union said Friday they had resumed ``exploratory conversations.'' Teachers rejected the government's latest offer

A major police operation was carried out in the area of ​​Kilmore Crescent, near 152nd Street and 60th Avenue, in Surrey today. During this time, a large number of police officers approached a house in the area and multiple people were arrested. The police are yet to release any official information in the case, but some residents of the neighborhood told the Connect FM team that at least 3 people were arrested. Connect FM spoke to Sergeant Tige Pollock, Media Relations Officer for Surrey Police Service, for more information on the matter. He said “a police team is still at the property

Canada will host foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations next month for two days of high-level discussions on global security and economic resilience. The meetings, scheduled for November 11 and 12, will take place in Ontario’s Niagara Region. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will chair the session, welcoming her counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and representatives of the European Union. The gathering follows a ministerial meeting held in Quebec earlier this year and the G7 leaders’ summit in Alberta in June. Global Affai

Emergency responders in Victoria, B.C., had to rush into action to support a woman giving birth on Wharf Street, along the city's busy waterfront area. Victoria police say an officer and St. John Ambulance members were working at a local event on Sept. 20 when a passerby notified them of a woman in labour. Police say the officer and other responders found the woman who was in active labour and helped support her along with other members of the public. The newborn was delivered before paramedics could arrive. Police say the baby appeared healthy while being cared for by emergency responders, al

Striking public service workers in British Columbia have expanded pickets at provincial liquor and cannabis stores again, adding 20 more locations to the list. The B.C. General Employees’ Union says the escalation also includes job action by front-line staff at several ministry offices. It says more than 17,000 public service workers are now taking job action across the province, which is half the 34,000 workers represented by the union. Union president Paul Finch says in a statement that every day the government delays, pressure on public services will grow, and it will continue to step up

Kap's Cafe, which was the target of two shootings in Surrey, has reopened again. The cafe was closed for about 10 days after the first shooting on July 10. Kapil Sharma had initially shared a post about the cafe's reopening, but within weeks of reopening in July, the cafe was again the target of a shooting in early August. The cafe reopened again on October 1, the Connect FM team reached the cafe on Thursday (Oct. 2nd) and tried to get comments from the cafe manager. The manager denied any comment on camera and said that the management had refused to provide any official information. At aroun

Schools across Alberta are preparing to close their doors while the province readies a home curriculum for students ahead of Monday's provincewide teachers strike. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the province has already put online a curriculum that parents can use to teach their children should the 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers' Association make good on their promise to walk out. Nicolaides says it's not fair that students would be forced to bear the brunt of the walkout, which would affect more than 700,000 students across public, separate and francophone sch