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balwant-singh-rajoana-death-row-convict-urges-swift-decision-on-mercy-plea
IndiaOct 24, 2025

Balwant Singh Rajoana: Death row convict urges swift decision on mercy plea

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict on death row for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, was brought to the Government Dental College for treatment and wants his case decided. While he was being taken to the hospital amidst tight security, Rajoana said that he has spent nearly 30 years in prison, with 18 years on death row. The mercy petition has also been pending for over 14 years. "Even the Supreme Court has been asking the government for over five years to decide the matter. I want there to be no further delay and for the matter to be decided," said Rajoana. A plea
recall-petition-approved-against-alberta-education-minister-demetrios-nicolaides
AlbertaOct 24, 2025

Recall petition approved against Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides

Alberta’s chief electoral officer has approved a recall petition targeting Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, marking the first use of the province’s recall legislation since it was introduced in 2021. The petition, submitted by Calgary resident Jennifer Yeremiy, accuses Nicolaides of failing to effectively manage Alberta’s public education system amid concerns about classroom overcrowding and staffing shortages. Yeremiy’s application argues that these issues make Nicolaides “unfit” to continue serving as both minister and representative for Calgary-Bow. Nicolaides responded
trump-halts-trade-talks-with-canada-over-ontarios-anti-tariff-ads
WorldOct 24, 2025

Trump halts trade talks with Canada over Ontario’s anti-tariff ads

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is ending trade negotiations with Canada, citing anger over an Ontario-funded television campaign opposing his tariff policies. The announcement, made on social media Thursday, declared that “all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated” due to what he called “egregious behavior.” The decision follows a high-profile advertising campaign paid for by the Ontario government, reportedly costing about $75 million. The ads, broadcast across major U.S. networks, feature archival audio and video of former president Ronald Reagan warning against t
prime-minister-carney-embarks-on-first-asia-trip-to-strengthen-trade-and-regional-ties
CanadaOct 24, 2025

Prime Minister Carney embarks on first Asia trip to strengthen trade and regional ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing today on his first official visit to Asia since taking office, launching a nine-day trip aimed at deepening Canada’s economic and diplomatic relationships across the Indo-Pacific. The visit includes stops at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in South Korea. The trip comes amid renewed geopolitical tension in the region, with countries balancing ties between the United States and China. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend both summits, drawing sig
driver-in-hospital-after-car-strikes-light-pole-on-alderbridge-way-in-richmond
BCOct 24, 2025

Driver in hospital after car strikes light pole on Alderbridge Way in Richmond

Richmond RCMP are investigating a serious single-vehicle crash that sent one person to hospital Thursday morning. Police say a light blue Honda Fit was travelling west on Alderbridge Way around 7:30 a.m. when it collided with a light pole in the 7800 block. The driver was taken to hospital in critical but stable condition. Investigators from the Richmond RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team remain on scene, with assistance from the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service. Officers have closed Alderbridge Way between No. 3 Road and Minoru Boulevard while th
former-correctional-officer-from-abbotsford-charged-in-coquitlam-rcmp-breach-of-trust-investigation
BCOct 24, 2025

Former Correctional Officer from Abbotsford Charged in Coquitlam RCMP Breach of Trust Investigation

Coquitlam RCMP say a former B.C. correctional officer has been charged with two counts of breach of trust following an investigation that began more than two years ago. Police began the investigation in September 2022 after receiving information related to alleged misconduct involving an employee at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam. The B.C. Prosecution Service has since approved two charges against Abbotsford resident Ramandeep Rai (née Bassi). According to RCMP, the first alleged offence occurred between July 14 and September 29, 2022, and the second between September 11 a
quebec-plans-new-law-to-ban-religious-symbols-in-daycare-centres
CanadaOct 23, 2025

Quebec plans new law to ban religious symbols in daycare centres

The Quebec government is moving to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols in the province’s daycare centres, expanding its existing secularism policies in early childhood settings. Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said there is broad public agreement that Quebec’s commitment to secular values should be reinforced. The decision follows recommendations made earlier this year by a provincial advisory committee that studied ways to strengthen secularism laws. Quebec’s current legislation already restricts public employees in positions of authority, including teachers, police off
alberta-government-plans-back-to-work-legislation-as-teachers-strike-enters-third-week
AlbertaOct 23, 2025

Alberta government plans back-to-work legislation as teachers’ strike enters third week

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday if no deal is reached to end the provincewide teachers’ strike. Smith said the walkout, now in its third week, has caused “intolerable hardship” for students and families, adding that the government cannot allow the disruption to continue. The strike has shut down classrooms for about 51,000 teachers and 750,000 students in public, separate, and francophone schools across the province. While formal negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the province are not currently
superintendent-peri-mainwaring-appointed-new-head-of-north-vancouver-rcmp
BCOct 23, 2025

Superintendent Peri Mainwaring appointed new head of North Vancouver RCMP

The North Vancouver RCMP has a new Officer-in-Charge. Superintendent Peri Mainwaring has been appointed to lead the detachment, bringing more than three decades of policing experience with the RCMP. Mainwaring began her career in Saskatchewan and has served in municipal, provincial and federal roles across the country. Before her latest promotion, she was the Community Programs Officer with the Burnaby RCMP, where she helped strengthen community safety initiatives and led work on mental health and crisis intervention. Her connection to North Vancouver is longstanding — Mainwaring previously

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alberta-francophone-groups-urge-ottawa-to-keep-supreme-court-bilingualism-out-of-political-debate
AlbertaFeb 05, 2026

Alberta francophone groups urge Ottawa to keep Supreme Court bilingualism out of political debate

Two Alberta-based francophone organizations are pushing back against calls to loosen bilingualism requirements for Supreme Court of Canada judges, warning that language rights should not become a political bargaining tool. The Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta and the Alberta chapter of the French Canadian Association say bilingualism at the country’s highest court is essential to ensure francophones can fully access the justice system in one of Canada’s two official languages. They argue the requirement reflects constitutional principles rather than regiona
two-charged-after-bear-spray-assault-during-east-vancouver-retail-robbery-attempt
BCFeb 05, 2026

Two charged after bear spray assault during East Vancouver retail robbery attempt

Two men are facing criminal charges after Vancouver Police say a loss prevention officer was assaulted during an attempted retail theft in East Vancouver earlier this week. Police were called shortly before 8:40 a.m. on February 2 to a store near Glen Drive and Terminal Avenue, where officers say two suspects used bear spray on an employee while trying to flee on foot with unpaid merchandise. The victim did not require hospital treatment, according to police. An extensive search of the surrounding area followed, involving patrol officers, a police drone, and a canine unit. The suspects were lo
AlbertaFeb 05, 2026

Calgary man sentenced to 16 years for joining Islamic State

A Calgary man who travelled to the Middle East and joined the Islamic State terrorist organization has been sentenced to 16 years in prison, with parole eligibility only after serving at least half of the sentence. A judge handed down the sentence to Jamal Borhot following his conviction in December on three counts related to participating in the activities of a terrorist group. The court heard that Borhot left Canada in 2013 and travelled to Syria with a cousin, where he knowingly and willingly aligned himself with ISIS. Evidence presented at trial showed the 35-year-old took part in violent
abbotsford-man-now-faces-first-degree-murder-charge-in-hotel-homicide-investigation
BCFeb 05, 2026

Abbotsford man now faces first-degree murder charge in hotel homicide investigation

Homicide investigators in Abbotsford say a 26-year-old man is now charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 30-year-old woman whose body was discovered inside a local hotel last month. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Sondeep Singh Gill was initially charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was upgraded following additional investigative work and a review of the evidence. Gill also faces a separate charge of indignity to human remains. Police were first called to the hotel after patrol officers received reports of suspicious circumstances. Inves
sukhbir-badal-urges-punjab-police-to-stop-harassment-of-akali-workers
IndiaFeb 05, 2026

Sukhbir Badal urges Punjab Police to stop harassment of Akali workers

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday led the party’s core committee members to the Punjab Director General of Police office in Chandigarh, alleging harassment of Akali workers by the police. Badal said the action was linked to the investigation into the alleged disappearance of 328 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, claiming that party workers were being unfairly targeted in the case. He maintained that the Shiromani Akali Dal was seeking clarity from senior police officials on the basis of the ongoing actions. The Akali Dal leader said the party’s entire leadership