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

The Calgary Flames have released a new “South Asian Celebration” logo as the team prepares to host its third annual themed game on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. According to a team announcement, the logo is part of ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate Calgary’s South Asian community during a dedicated game night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The initiative includes cultural elements and in-game programming designed to highlight South Asian heritage. The Flames have held the annual celebration event since 2024, aligning with broader National Hockey League efforts to promot

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14 and 15, according to a statement released Wednesday by the White House. The visit had originally been planned for later this month but was postponed due to rising tensions involving Iran and what officials described as a potential conflict situation. The White House did not provide further details on the security considerations behind the delay. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the trip is among the most anticipated international visits of Trump’s current term. She said the president will travel with First Lad

A joint investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Australian Federal Police has led to the seizure of 115 kilograms of methamphetamine and the arrest of three individuals in Canada and Australia. According to an RCMP news release, investigators identified two suspects allegedly involved in exporting drugs from Canada to Australia, prompting a cross-border probe led by the RCMP’s Federal Policing Pacific Region Drugs and Organized Crime section. Authorities later intercepted a shipment destined for Melbourne. In January 2026, RCMP investigators, with assistance from the Canad

The remaining recall petitions targeting members of Alberta’s governing United Conservative caucus have failed to meet the required threshold, according to Elections Alberta. In an update, the agency said petitions seeking to unseat Justice Minister Mickey Amery and United Conservative MLAs Justin Wright, Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk and Ron Wiebe did not gather enough verified signatures within the legislated time period. The outcome means all recall efforts launched since late last year against Premier Danielle Smith and members of her United Conservative Party caucus have either been withdra

Two people were killed and three others injured after debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Abu Dhabi amid ongoing regional tensions, according to authorities in the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the missile was launched from Iran and was destroyed mid-air by air defence systems. However, falling fragments struck areas in the UAE capital, resulting in civilian casualties. Authorities identified the two people killed as one Pakistani national and one Indian national. Three others injured include a UAE citizen, a Jordanian national and an Indian national, officials said. Ac