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mike-johnson-elected-as-us-house-speaker
EnglishOct 25, 2023

Mike Johnson elected as US House Speaker

Republican congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana has been elected House speaker.Republicans eagerly gave Johnson the gavel on Wednesday by a vote of 220-209, with a few absence.Johnson picked up an important nod of support ahead of the vote from Donald Trump.Johnson was the fourth candidate Republicans nominated to replace Kevin McCarthy.The Republican majority has been without a speaker for three weeks and is desperate to end the chaos and get back to work.Ahead of voting Johnson said he felt ``very good.''Far-right members refused to accept a more traditional speaker.Moderate conservatives d
arrest-warrant-issued-against-punjabi-youth-who-fled-in-jeep-from-police-in-brampton
CanadaOct 25, 2023

Arrest warrant issued against Punjabi youth who fled in jeep from police in Brampton

Peel police have issued an arrest warrant for a young man who fled police in Brampton in a Jeep and wanted for reckless driving and endangering pedestrians.According to a press release issued by Peel Police, around 10:30 p.m. on October 21, police received several complaints of a vehicle being driven erratically in the College Plaza parking lot in Brampton.When the police reached the spot, they found the driver of a black Wrangler Jeep driving dangerously and recklessly, after which he was stopped by the police and after a brief interaction with the police, he fled the scene.The jeep sped dang
french-language-university-heads-criticize-tuition-hike-for-non-quebec-students
CanadaOct 25, 2023

French-language university heads criticize tuition hike for non-Quebec students

A group of French-language university heads in Quebec is coming to the defence of English schools who say a planned tuition hike for out-of-province students could devastate their finances. The leaders of the Universite de Montreal, Universite Laval, Universite de Sherbrooke, Polytechnique Montreal and HEC Montreal criticize the plan in an open letter published in La Presse today.They denounce ``any measure that would put the very existence of a university at risk.''They also criticize what they describe as characterizations of non-Quebec students as ``cash cows'' and threats to the French lan
death-of-punjabs-famous-police-cat-gurmeet-singh-pinky
IndiaOct 25, 2023

Death of Punjab's famous police 'cat' Gurmeet Singh Pinky

Punjab Police CAT Gurmeet Singh Pinky died of cardiac arrest in a private hospital.Gurmeet Singh Pinky, popularly known as Pinky Cat, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Avtar Singh Gola in Ludhiana in 2001.Pinky contracted dengue due to which his platelets were reduced.He was admitted to a private hospital.Pinky was in the limelight after Jagtar Singh Hawara was arrested twice.He also won the Police Gallantry Medal but was embroiled in controversy after the murder of Avtar Singh Gola.Pinky's last rites will be performed after his daughter returns from abroad.Gurmeet Singh was
air-canada-apologizes-to-u-k-mp-over-airport-screening-rodriguez
CanadaOct 25, 2023

Air Canada apologizes to U.K. MP over airport screening: Rodriguez

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez says Air Canada was right to apologize to a British MP who alleges he was subjected to Islamophobic screening by the airline and Canadian border officials on a recent diplomatic trip to Canada.Mohammad Yasin was pulled aside for questioning at London’s Heathrow Airport while other lawmakers he was travelling with were allowed through, and was stopped again at airports in Montreal and Toronto.Yasin's fellow Labour MP rose in the British House this week to say that Yasin was stopped "because his name is Mohammad," and that the incident was "racist and Islamop
food-banks-canada-report-paints-dire-picture-of-canada-wide-affordability-crisis
CanadaOct 25, 2023

Food Banks Canada report paints dire picture of Canada-wide affordability crisis

There are many heartbreaking tales behind the record number of Canadians using food banks as they struggle with high inflation and mounting housing costs, says a Vancouver food bank executive."We see parents who are skipping meals so that their children can eat. We see people who haven't eaten in days. We see seniors who haven't had produce in months," said Cynthia Boulter, chief operating officer with Greater Vancouver Food Banks.More and more people are accessing its services each year, and with greater frequency than in the past, Boulter said, as low wages and high rents squeeze people betw
india-resuming-visa-services-at-high-commission-consulates-in-canada
CanadaOct 25, 2023

India resuming visa services at high commission, consulates in Canada

India's high commission in Canada says the country's officials will resume processing some types of visa applications in Ottawa and at consulates in Toronto and Vancouver.The decision comes a month after New Delhi suspended the services in Canada and for Canadian citizens worldwide.The high commission says it is resuming business, medical and conference visas, as well as entry for people with family ties in India, but did not include information about other types of visas.The Canadian Press confirmed the authenticity of social-media posts about the decision, and has sought information about wh
bank-of-canada-holds-key-interest-rate-at-5-for-second-time
CanadaOct 25, 2023

Bank of Canada holds key interest rate at 5% for second time

The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate steady at five per cent today, noting there are clearer signs of the economy cooling and inflation easing.However, it warns that it is prepared to increase rates further if necessary.The central bank says it's still concerned that price growth is easing too slowly and that the inflation rate has been volatile in recent months.Forecasters widely expected the rate hold as economic data suggests high interest rates are already causing an economic pullback.New economic projections released by the central bank suggest economic growth will continue to be
federal-court-approves-23b-first-nations-child-welfare-settlement
CanadaOct 24, 2023

Federal Court approves $23B First Nations child-welfare settlement

Federal Court verbally approved $23B First Nations child-welfare settlement.The funding will help offset chronic underfunding of on-reserve child-welfare services by the federal government to more than 300,000 First Nations children and their families.The Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society first filed this complaint with Human Rights in 2007.In September 2019, the Canada Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the federal government did not adequately fund Child and Family Services, which inadvertently and negligently discriminated against First Nations ch

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psac-announces-strike-vote-for-120-000-federal-workers
CanadaOct 21, 2026

PSAC Announces Strike Vote for 120,000 Federal Workers

Canada’s largest federal public service union has announced a nationwide strike vote after contract negotiations with the government stalled. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents approximately 120,000 workers, including wildfire firefighters, passport officers, fisheries officers, federal teachers, librarians and administrative staff. The strike vote will run from November 16, 2026, to January 22, 2027. The union and the Treasury Board have been in a dispute over a new collective agreement for the past 18 months. PSAC alleges that the federal government has repeatedly dela
IndiaOct 21, 2026

CBI Takes Over Jhota Murder Probe, Post-Mortem Decision Still Pending

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun investigating the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab. The central agency has registered an FIR in Chandigarh in connection with the case. CBI officials met Jhota’s family and recorded their statements. The team also collected evidence from the shop of the accused, Ashwani Kumar, and other locations linked to the case. The agency is reportedly trying to persuade the family to agree to a post-mortem examination. The CBI has assured them that a medical board of doctors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Educatio
carney-says-federal-government-wont-back-down-on-immigration-targets
CanadaOct 21, 2026

Carney Says Federal Government Won’t Back Down on Immigration Targets

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has assured that the federal government will maintain sustainable immigration levels and will not back away from its targets. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday morning, Carney said his government is consulting provincial governments on bringing immigration to appropriate levels and distributing newcomers more effectively across the country based on economic needs. His remarks came after Alberta’s referendum, in which approximately 53 per cent of voters supported giving the province greater control over immigration policies to reduce the number o
canada-interest-rate-hike-looms-putting-more-pressure-on-homebuyers
CanadaOct 21, 2026

Canada Interest Rate Hike Looms, Putting More Pressure on Homebuyers

Canada’s real estate market could face renewed pressure if the Bank of Canada raises interest rates, with mortgage and lending experts warning that higher borrowing costs could discourage homebuyers and push house prices lower. The central bank has not raised interest rates since July 2023. While it is expected to keep its benchmark rate unchanged for an eighth consecutive decision, many economists and traders believe rate hikes could be on the horizon as policymakers seek to contain inflation. The Bank of Canada’s policy rate has remained at 2.25% since a 0.25-percentage-point cut in Octo
BCOct 21, 2026

Former Surrey Massage Therapist to Be Sentenced November 12 in 12 Sexual Assault Cases

A former Surrey massage therapist is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12 after being found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault. Following a 35-day trial at the B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster, Justice Lance Bernard found Leonard Krekic guilty in 12 separate cases. The incidents occurred between December 30, 1994, and April 25, 2017, at a clinic in Surrey and the surrounding area. In December 2022, the College of Massage Therapists banned Krekic from practising for 25 years and imposed a fine of more than $105,000. Under Canadian law, sexual assault convictions can carry a maximum