Negotiations between Israel and Hamas hit a last-minute snag on Wednesday, delaying the expected announcement of a ceasefire agreement to pause the devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip. Israel accused Hamas of trying to make changes to already agreed upon arrangements along Gaza’s border with Egypt and said it strongly rejected the move. Hamas called the claims “nonsense.” The finger-pointing forced Qatar, which has been mediating weeks of painstaking negotiations, to delay an expected announcement of a deal. The sides have been working on a phased agreement that would include the

Patrick Weiler, Liberal MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea-to-Sky, has announced his support for Mark Carney as Canada’s next prime minister. Weiler emphasized the need for a leader focused on the economy, budget deficit, and citizens’ rights. After consulting hundreds of constituents, Weiler stated that Mark Carney’s name stood out. He highlighted Carney’s leadership during the 2008-09 financial crisis as Bank of Canada governor and his role in navigating the UK through Brexit as Bank of England governor. Citing Carney’s experience and abilities, Weiler affirmed his decision

A report reveals that about 50,000 international students in Canada, including 20,000 from India, did not attend college despite holding study permits. This data was collected from colleges and universities and shared with the Immigration Department in March and April 2024. Last year, the Canadian government mandated institutions to report data on international students to the IRCC to identify fraudulent students and suspicious schools. Universities and colleges must now report twice annually to confirm how many international students are actively attending classes as required by their permit

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to implement tariffs and create a new federal agency called the External Revenue Service. This agency will handle the collection of tariffs, duties, and revenues from foreign sources. The agency is being established to address issues such as trade imbalances, illegal immigration, and drug trafficking. It is expected to put pressure on countries like Canada, Mexico, and China. Trump also plans to increase tariffs on products from multiple nations, including China, and may soon announce further hikes on goods imported from other

A wildfire in Los Angeles has claimed 25 lives, with about 30 people still missing. Authorities have arrested 50 individuals in the affected areas on charges including robbery, flying drones in fire zones, and curfew violations. The fire has been largely contained, except in Palisades and Eaton. However, the National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura on Wednesday due to the risk of strong winds. While the winds are not expected to be as severe as last week, officials remain on alert. Over 12,000 buildings have been destroyed, and the fire has bu

Public Safety Minister David McGuinty says Ottawa has added 60 new drones at the Canada-U.S. border and will deploy two new helicopters this week as it moves to ratchet up security. McGuinty trotted out the details of new measures as the federal government seeks to prove it's serious about beefing up border security with just five days left before Donald Trump's inauguration. The Liberal government pledged $1.3 billion in border upgrades after president-elect Trump threatened steep tariffs unless Canada and Mexico clamp down on the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. The border concerns howeve

Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa, who fought for Sikh prisoners, dies at 91Sikh activist Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa, known for his commitment to seek captive Sikh prisoners, passed away at the age of 91. Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa began his hunger strike on January 16, 2015, at the age of 82, seeking justice for Sikh prisoners who remained incarcerated despite having served their sentences.He was a resident of Hassanpur village on Ferozepur road in Ludhiana. His hunger strike lasted until January 14, 2023, making his movement one of the longest and most significant non-violent protests in Punjab’s history.

The next Liberal leader will need to turn their attention quickly to ensuring the party is ready for an early election once the short leadership race ends in March. Multiple Liberal cabinet ministers and MPs have said they will not seek re-election over the past year, and the governing Liberals are trailing the Conservatives in nominating candidates. The Liberals say they have 129 candidates nominated out of 343 federal ridings, while the Conservatives say they have close to 221 and the New Democrats say they have 93. University of Toronto political science professor Randy Besco says the next

Vancouver-born actor Joshua Jackson’s house was reduced to ashes in a Los Angeles fire. His home was destroyed in the Palisades fire, one of the four largest fires that broke out last week. So far, more than 20 people have died, and over 12,000 homes have been destroyed by the fire. Vancouver-born actress Cobie Smulders also lost her home in the blaze. Many prominent celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, have lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires. Firefighters are still struggling to control the flames, with the fires burning in Eaton and Palisades being described a