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canadian-special-forces-operating-outside-kabul-airport-to-help-evacuees-officials
WorldAug 23, 2021

Canadian special forces operating outside Kabul airport to help evacuees: officials

Canadian officials say the military's special forces are operating outside the closed confines of Kabul's chaotic airport to get people on flights out of Afghanistan.The officials would not provide more details, citing the sensitivity of the security situation, but they said they are having success in getting more Afghans to safety.They said a Canadian C-17 Globemaster carried 436 people out of Kabul airport on Sunday night, including Canadian citizens and family members, as well as Afghan nationals accepted for resettlement by Canada and its allies — up from the 121 airlifted a day earlier.
WorldAug 17, 2021

Diplomats, troops and refugees arrive in Canada as flights resume from Afghanistan

Two more planes have arrived in Canada from Afghanistan carrying diplomats, special forces troops and refugees fleeing the Taliban.The flights come after order was restored at the Kabul airport after thousands of desperate Afghans rushed onto the tarmac on Sunday to escape the Taliban.The Department of National Defence says says one plane carrying diplomats and special forces troops landed in Ottawa.A second plane carrying former interpreters and their families arrived in Toronto -- the fifth such flight from Afghanistan since the government announced in July that it would rescue Afghans who h
biden-says-he-stands-squarely-behind-afghanistan-decision
WorldAug 16, 2021

Biden says he stands 'squarely behind' Afghanistan decision

President Joe Biden says he stands ``squarely behind'' his decision for the U.S. to leave Afghanistan. Speaking about the chaotic situation in Kabul, Biden says he faced a choice between sticking with an agreement to leave or sending thousands more U.S. troops to fight a ``third decade'' of war. Biden spoke Monday after the planned withdrawal of American forces turned deadly at Kabul's airport as thousands tried to flee following the Taliban's swift takeover of the country. He told Americans it would be wrong to use US troops to stand up to the Taliban when Afghan forces would not. Biden retu
toll-from-earthquake-in-haiti-rises-to-1-297
WorldAug 16, 2021

Toll from earthquake in Haiti rises to 1,297

Haitians are searching for survivors and the dead in collapsed buildings following the powerful earthquake over the weekend as hospitals overflow with patients. Thousands of people in the quake zone have slept outside, clutching small transistor radios tuned to the news. Officials have raised the death toll from Saturday's earthquake to at least 1,297. And the devastation could soon worsen. Tropical Depression Grace is predicted to reach Haiti on Monday night and it will bring the potential for heavy rain, flooding and landslides. The country's Civil Protection Agency says the magnitude 7.2 e
us-officials-say-7-killed-in-kabul-airport-evacuation-chaos
WorldAug 16, 2021

US officials say 7 killed in Kabul airport evacuation chaos

Senior U.S. military officials say the chaos at the Kabul airport this morning left seven people dead, including some who fell from a departing American military transport jet. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss ongoing operations. Afghans rushed onto the tarmac of the capital's airport on Monday as thousands tried to flee the country after the Taliban seized power with stunning speed. Some clung to the side of a U.S. military plane before takeoff, in a widely shared video that captured the sense of desperation as America's 20-yea
WorldAug 13, 2021

Taliban seized four more provincial capitals in Afghanistan

The Taliban have seized four more provincial capitals and completed their sweep of southern Afghanistan.The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of Afghanistan -- raising fears of a return to the brutal, repressive rule it imposed before when it all but eliminated women's rights and conducted public executions as it imposed strict Islamic law.The Associated Press is reporting Canadian special forces are being sent in to evacuate Canadian Embassy staff in Kabul.
WorldAug 11, 2021

Biden plans to host a virtual summit for democracy

U-S President Joe Biden plans to host a virtual summit for democracy in early December in a global stand against rising autocratic forces.Biden wants to assemble government, civil society and private sector leaders to discuss three key themes -- defending against authoritarianism, fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights.The announcement came not long after Afghan officials announced the Taliban had seized three more provincial capitals from the elected, American-backed government in Kabul.
new-york-governor-cuomo-resigns-over-sexual-harassment-allegations
WorldAug 10, 2021

New York Governor Cuomo resigns over sexual harassment allegations

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued to defend himself from what he said were ``unfair'' and ``untruthful'' sexual harassment allegations, even as he announced he would resign from office. But the 63 year old Democrat said he realized he would lose his fight to remain in power and would step aside out of his love for the state and its people. Cuomo made the resignation announcement Tuesday in a speech to the public. He said ``wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing. And I cannot be the cause of that.'' White House press secretary Jen Psaki says U
otoole-warns-canadians-not-safe-in-china-after-court-upholds-death-sentence
WorldAug 10, 2021

O'Toole warns Canadians not safe in China after court upholds death sentence

Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is accusing Beijing of using the death penalty for political purposes after a Chinese court upheld a Canadian's death sentence. O'Toole is also reopening the door to a Canadian boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in China, warning the Chinese government's recent actions show Canadians are not safe in the country.O'Toole was commenting after the Higher People's Court of Liaoning Province rejected Canadian Robert Schellenberg's appeal after his sentence in a drug case was increased to the death penalty in 2019.That coincided with the Chinese government

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vancouver-police-seek-witnesses-after-suspicious-death-in-downtown-eastside
BCMar 25, 2026

Vancouver police seek witnesses after suspicious death in Downtown Eastside

The Vancouver Police Department says its homicide unit is investigating a suspicious death in the city’s Downtown Eastside and is asking witnesses to come forward. According to a Vancouver Police Department news release, paramedics with BC Emergency Health Services responded to a call at about 7:40 a.m. on March 20 in the south lane of the 100-block of East Hastings Street for a man in medical distress. Despite life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said paramedics notified officers after observing injuries considered suspicious. The case has since been taken o
b-c-police-watchdog-launches-systemic-probe-into-handling-of-sexual-misconduct-cases
BCMar 25, 2026

B.C. police watchdog launches systemic probe into handling of sexual misconduct cases

British Columbia’s police watchdog has launched a provincewide review into how municipal departments handle sexual misconduct allegations involving officers, citing concerns about recurring patterns and oversight. Prabhu Rajan, head of the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, said the investigation will examine internal processes used when departments investigate their own members. He said sexual misconduct in policing workplaces can undermine operational effectiveness and public trust. According to a statement from the commissioner’s office, the probe is the first “systemic inve
taxpayers-group-urges-b-c-to-suspend-fuel-tax-amid-high-gas-prices
BCMar 25, 2026

Taxpayers group urges B.C. to suspend fuel tax amid high gas prices

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Government of British Columbia to suspend its provincial motor fuels tax, arguing the move would reduce costs for drivers as gasoline prices remain elevated. In a statement, the group said drivers in regions including Metro Vancouver and the Capital Regional District are paying more than $2 per litre for fuel, while prices in other parts of the province are մոտ $1.80 per litre. “B.C. drivers pay the highest gas prices in the country because of the highest gas taxes from the province and regional districts,” said Carson Binda. He added
WorldMar 25, 2026

South Africa arrests 12 senior police officers in corruption probe tied to service contract

South African anti-corruption investigators have arrested 12 senior police officers on allegations of corruption and fraud, according to a statement released Wednesday by the National Prosecuting Authority’s investigative directorate. The officers appeared in court in Pretoria following their arrests. Authorities allege the case is linked to a contract involving the provision of health and wellbeing services to police personnel. A 13th individual, identified as a company director connected to the contract, was also taken into custody, the agency said. According to the prosecuting authority,
three-arrested-in-abbotsford-drug-trafficking-investigation-police-seize-cocaine-and-cash
BCMar 25, 2026

Three arrested in Abbotsford drug trafficking investigation; police seize cocaine and cash

Three people in their twenties were arrested Monday night in Abbotsford in connection with a suspected drug trafficking investigation, according to a police release. The Abbotsford Police Department said patrol officers responded shortly after 9 p.m. and located two men and one woman near the area of Gillis Avenue and McCallum Road. Police allege the individuals, who do not reside in Abbotsford, had come into the community to sell drugs. Officers seized approximately 73 grams of suspected cocaine and more than $4,500 in cash during the arrest. A 2014 Honda Civic was also seized as offence-rela