Spain has barred U.S. military aircraft from using its airspace and bases in connection with ongoing operations involving Iran, according to a statement by the country’s defence ministry. Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Spain will not allow its territory or infrastructure to be used for military actions linked to Iran. The restriction applies to U.S. military flights, while commercial and emergency aircraft are exempt. The decision means U.S. aircraft will need to reroute operations that would typically pass through Spanish-controlled airspace or rely on Spanish military facilities. P

Air Canada says chief executive officer Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of this year, according to a company statement. The announcement follows criticism earlier this month over a video message Rousseau delivered after a deadly plane crash in New York that killed two Air Canada Express pilots. The four-minute condolence video, posted online, included only limited French, using the words “bonjour” and “merci.” Prime Minister Mark Carney said the decision to release the message primarily in English showed a “lack of judgment and lack of compassion,” high

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she welcomes a range of views within her United Conservative Party caucus after one of her MLAs publicly supported a petition calling for a referendum on provincial separation. Speaking on her provincewide radio show Saturday, Smith said her government remains committed to a “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” despite comments from Jason Stephan, the MLA for Red Deer-South and her parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs. Stephan wrote in an opinion piece published Friday that he supports a citizen-led petition to trigger a referendum o

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is scheduled to visit China from April 1 to April 4, according to a federal government itinerary, marking a continued effort by Ottawa to re-engage with Beijing on economic issues. The visit follows a recent trip by Prime Minister Mark Carney to Beijing, where discussions focused on easing strained relations between the two countries. Champagne is expected to meet with Chinese finance and banking officials during his stay, although details of specific agreements or outcomes have not been publicly confirmed. According to government offici

A 47-year-old man has been charged following an alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver, according to a Vancouver Police Department release. Police said officers were called at approximately 7:20 p.m. on March 25 to Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Pender streets after a woman reported she had been groped by a stranger. Witnesses also told police the same suspect had allegedly assaulted other people in the area prior to officers arriving. The suspect was located at the scene and arrested without incident, police said. Derek Jason Sangris, 47, has been charged with one count of sexual

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been released from hospital in Brasília and will continue serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest, following a ruling by the country’s top court. According to a decision by the Supreme Federal Court earlier this week, Bolsonaro was granted permission to serve his sentence at home due to declining health. The court said the arrangement is subject to review within 90 days. Bolsonaro was discharged Friday morning from DF Star hospital in the capital. He then travelled to his residence in the Jardim Botânico neighbourhood, where he lives wit

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a fresh cross-examination in a defamation case filed by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia against Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, reviving proceedings in a matter dating back to 2016. According to court proceedings, the High Court allowed a petition filed by Sanjay Singh and directed that the case be revisited for cross-examination. The defamation complaint was originally filed by Majithia in a Ludhiana court in January 2016. The case relates to allegations made during a political rally in Moga, where Singh is accused of referring t

The Abbotsford Police Department says a 46-year-old man with a history of violent sexual offences is scheduled to be released into the community later this month under strict conditions. According to an Abbotsford Police Department news release, Stephen Bradley Ewing is set to be released from William Head Institution on March 30 and is expected to reside in the Abbotsford area. Police say Ewing has prior convictions from 2021 and 2023, including sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, and overcoming resistance by choking. The release also states that at least one offence involved

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