Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to testify today at an inquiry into foreign meddling in Canada's last two elections. The inquiry has already heard that China and other state actors attempted to interfere, but there has been little evidence so far to indicate whether they were successful. Trudeau has maintained over the last year that foreign interference had no meaningful impact on Canada's free and fair elections, which echoes what senior government officials have told Parliament. Several members of Trudeau's cabinet are also slated to testify, including government House leader Kari

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Rajya Sabha Member Sanjay Singh could not meet AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail today. The Tihar Jail administration denied their visit permission citing security reasons. Only yesterday, the administration had fixed the time for CM Bhagwant Mann and Sanjay Singh to meet Kejriwal and both the leaders were to meet Arvind Kejriwal in the jail at 1 pm today. Now Tihar Jail will inform about the new time.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today...BoC expected to hold policy rate at 5% today The Bank of Canada is set to announce its interest rate decision this morning. It's widely expected to maintain its key interest rate at five per cent, but economists will be watching for any hints about the timing of upcoming rate cuts. Forecasters expect the central bank to begin lowering its key rate in June as the economy continues to slow and inflation trends lower. High interest rates have slowed demand in the economy as co

Aam Aadmi Party candidates for Lok Sabha seats to be announced on April 16: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Aam Aadmi Party candidates for Jalandhar and Ludhiana Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be announced on April 16. This information was given by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In Jalandhar, the Aam Aadmi Party had given the ticket to Sushil Rinku, the sitting MP, but he left the AAP and joined the BJP. Aam Aadmi Party is yet to announce candidates from Gurdaspur and Ferozepur seats. On the other hand, this time BJP has made Sanjay Tandon its candidate while not giving the ticket to Kira

The Punjab government will not further pursue the case against Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in the 9-year-old drug trafficking case. The state government gave this information during an important hearing in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The Supreme Court has given 4 weeks time to the Punjab government to file a written reply in this matter. It is to be noted that the Jalalabad police arrested Khaira on 28 September 2023 from his house in Chandigarh in a 9-year-old drug trafficking case. After three months, he got bail.

The British Columbia government is granting a one-time $430 benefit to the roughly 20,000 seniors in its support program for elderly low-income renters. B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says eligible seniors don't need to apply for the payment, which will be sent out this month. Kahlon says the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program, known as SAFER, will also expand eligibility for its benefits to seniors with annual incomes up to $37,240, compared to the previous $33,000 limit. Other changes will include the possible annual review and amendment of rent ceilings, which are used to determine

British Columbia is rolling out another round of COVID-19 vaccination boosters, with invitations starting to go out Monday. Ministry of Health says people who haven't received a booster against the XBB. 1.5 Omicron variant of COVID-19 will be among those offered the free shot. Others who will be invited include adults aged 65 and older, Indigenous adults 55 and over, residents of long-term care homes and assisted-living facilities, and anyone older than six months who is "clinically extremely vulnerable." The ministry says in a statement that although the spring program is focused on those mos

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal's health suddenly deteriorated on Tuesday, due to which Bikram Singh Majithia took over the command of the 'Punjab Bachao Yatra' to be taken out in Payal and Sahnewal assembly constituencies of Ludhiana. According to information received from a senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Badal suffered from diarrhea, due to which the doctors advised him to rest.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has ruled out raising taxes on the middle class in the upcoming federal budget but will not do the same for the notion of new or higher taxes on the wealthy or corporations. Freeland was asked by reporters in a news conference today about the prospect of new taxes on corporate Canada or others who are not part of the middle class. She didn't answer the question. Instead she emphasized the "urgent" need to invest in things that are important to Canadians, such as housing and artificial intelligence. Freeland says the government will make those investments in a