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health-care-union-calls-for-alberta-government-to-halt-plan-to-limit-free-vaccines
AlbertaJun 17, 2025

Health-care union calls for Alberta government to halt plan to limit free vaccines

A union representing 30,000 health-care workers in Alberta is calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse course and provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all front-line workers and any other Albertan who wants the shot. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says that is the best way to protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep the health-care system strong. Smith says the aim of the new policy, announced last week, is to prevent wastage, recover costs, and protect those who need it the most by giving them the COVID shot for free. However, most Albertans
weekend-rain-cooler-conditions-allow-crews-to-make-progress-on-b-c-wildfires
BCJun 16, 2025

Weekend rain, cooler conditions allow crews to make progress on B.C. wildfires

Firefighters are marking success in opposite corners of British Columbia after favourable weather this weekend allowed crews to rein in two prominent fires that have triggered evacuation orders and alerts. The BC Wildfire Service says crews remain on the scene in Squamish, B.C., to extinguish hot spots from the Dryden Creek fire, which was declared to be no longer out of control on Saturday. The District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre along with Squamish Fire Rescue have rescinded most evacuation alerts, though one remains in effect for properties on Dryden Road east. The wildfire ser
poilievre-to-face-leadership-review-in-january
CanadaJun 16, 2025

Poilievre to face leadership review in January

Canada's main opposition leader Pierre Poilievre is facing a leadership challenge. Conservative party members are set to vote in January to decide whether he should remain party leader. The party's National Council reportedly decided to hold a leadership review vote at a meeting on Saturday, to be held in Calgary. Some Conservative party members have reportedly suggested a vote in March, but Poilievre wanted it to happen sooner. No date has been set for the vote, but the party aims to hold it in the last week of January. Poilievre was elected Conservative Party leader in September 2022. He
man-presumed-drowned-after-disappearing-in-metro-vancouver-lake
BCJun 16, 2025

Man presumed drowned after disappearing in Metro Vancouver lake

Police in West Vancouver say a 29-year-old man is presumed to have drowned after going missing while swimming across a lake in Cypress Provincial Park. They say BC Emergency Health Services and North Shore Rescue reported the man missing to the department around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Police say the man, who was from Burnaby, was swimming across Cabin Lake with his fiancée when he "began to struggle." They say several witnesses saw the man in distress and his companion trying to help him before the man slipped beneath the surface and disappeared. A news release from the department says North Shore
single-vehicle-collision-passenger-unaccounted-for
CanadaJun 16, 2025

Single vehicle collision; passenger unaccounted for

Squamish RCMP is investigating following a single vehicle collision into the river in the early morning hours of Saturday, which has left one person unaccounted for. On June 14, 2025, at 2:30 a.m., first responders attended a single-vehicle collision into the Squamish River involving four occupants. One individual remains unaccounted for and is not believed to have made it out of the vehicle. Search and Rescue teams have conducted both aerial and ground searches along the water and shoreline, but the vehicle and missing occupant have not yet been located. The river in this area is exceptiona
peel-police-seize-millions-from-criminal-network-tied-to-towing
CanadaJun 16, 2025

Peel police seize millions from criminal network tied to towing

Ontario’s Peel Police have dismantled an organized criminal network involved in extortion and other crimes in a joint operation with local and provincial law enforcement agencies. The operation resulted in the arrest of 18 people, including several Punjabi youth. They face nearly 100 charges, including extortion, links to a criminal organization and tow truck-related crimes. Police say Project Outsource was launched in July 2024 against a criminal organization that was behind the extortion and related violent incidents. Police said that as of June 10, 2025, a 37-year-old woman from King C
canada-may-sign-a-defence-procurement-agreement-with-the-european-union-for-the-military-this-month
CanadaJun 16, 2025

Canada may sign a defence procurement agreement with the European Union for the military this month

Canada may sign a defence procurement agreement with the European Union for the military this month. Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to sign the agreement during his visit to Brussels. Carney will travel to Brussels on June 23 for the Canada-EU summit, where he will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. The two European leaders hinted at a defence deal with Canada while en route to the G7 meeting in Alberta today. Von der Leyen said that Canada will sign an agreement with the European Union for a Security and Defen
iran-allows-foreign-nationals-to-leave-the-country-amid-ongoing-war-with-israel
WorldJun 16, 2025

Iran allows foreign nationals to leave the country amid ongoing war with Israel

Amid the ongoing war with Israel, Iran has allowed foreign nationals to leave the country. According to sources, India has spoken to the Armenian ambassador in Iran to evacuate its students. The students will be evacuated from the Armenian border by buses. There are about 10,000 Indians in Iran, including 1,500 students. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has said that in the current situation, although the country's airports are closed, the land borders are open. According to information, Indian students from various cities of Iran will reach the Armenian border, from where they will be taken t
sikander-singh-maluka-rejoins-akali-dal
IndiaJun 16, 2025

Sikander Singh Maluka rejoins Akali Dal

Former Punjab cabinet minister Sikander Singh Maluka has rejoined the Shiromani Akali Dal. He has returned to the party exactly a year after being removed from the post of the head of the disciplinary committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal. President Sukhbir Singh Badal made him join the party. It is worth noting that his daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur Sidhu, a former IAS officer, had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Bathinda as a BJP candidate against Harsimrat Kaur Badal last year but had to face defeat. However, when asked if other members of his family are also expected to join the

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ottawa-approves-gradual-increase-in-direct-passenger-cargo-flights-with-china
CanadaApr 20, 2026

Ottawa approves gradual increase in direct passenger, cargo flights with China

The federal government says it will allow a gradual increase in direct air travel between Canada and China, expanding both passenger and cargo flight capacity after years of reduced service. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the change will permit Canadian and Chinese airlines to increase direct passenger flights and operate up to 20 cargo flights per week, with reciprocal access to destinations in both countries. The announcement follows outreach by Prime Minister Mark Carney during a visit to Beijing in January. According to a federal statement, the adjustment is intended to support t
alberta-government-meets-grocers-on-food-prices-as-affordability-concerns-grow
AlbertaApr 20, 2026

Alberta government meets grocers on food prices as affordability concerns grow

The Alberta government says it is meeting with major grocery retailers as part of an effort to address rising food costs, according to a statement from Service Alberta. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said food prices have increased across Canada and globally, and the province is engaging with grocery operators to explore ways to reduce costs for Albertans. The statement did not outline specific measures under consideration or a timeline for potential changes. Premier Danielle Smith also addressed the issue during her provincewide radio show on Saturday, saying many residents are frustrate
canadian-armed-forces-exceed-recruitment-targets-for-second-straight-year-defence-minister-says
CanadaApr 20, 2026

Canadian Armed Forces exceed recruitment targets for second straight year, defence minister says

Canada’s military has surpassed its annual recruitment targets for a second consecutive year, according to Defence Minister David McGuinty, signalling renewed interest among younger Canadians in joining the armed forces. McGuinty said more than 7,300 people enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces over the past year. According to the Department of National Defence, the recruitment goal for 2025–26 was 6,957 new members, which has now been exceeded. The previous year also saw higher-than-expected intake, with 6,706 recruits joining against a target of 6,496. The federal government attributes t
IndiaApr 20, 2026

Bus crash in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 21, dozens injured

At least 21 people were killed and about 45 others injured after a passenger bus veered off a mountainous highway and plunged down a steep slope in Indian-administered Kashmir on Monday, according to local authorities. Civil administrator Prem Singh said the 42-seat bus was carrying more than 60 passengers from Ramnagar to Udhampur when it collided with an auto-rickshaw at a sharp curve. The impact caused the bus to lose control and fall approximately 30 metres onto a lower road. Officials said 19 people died at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries after being transported to
7-4-magnitude-earthquake-off-northern-japan-prompts-tsunami-alert
WorldApr 20, 2026

7.4-magnitude earthquake off northern Japan prompts tsunami alert

A powerful offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck near Japan’s northern coast on Monday afternoon, prompting a tsunami alert for parts of the region. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at approximately 4:53 p.m. local time off the Sanriku coast, at a depth of about 10 kilometres beneath the seabed. Authorities issued a tsunami alert shortly after the tremor, warning of potentially hazardous sea-level changes along affected coastal areas. Public broadcaster NHK reported that waves of up to three metres could reach parts of the northeastern