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WorldJul 14, 2022

Iranian gets life in prison in Sweden for 1980s crimes

An Iranian citizen was Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment by a Swedish court after being convicted of committing grave war crimes and murder during the final phase of the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. The Stockholm District Court that said Hamid Noury took part in severe atrocities in July-August 1988 while working as an assistant to the deputy prosecutor at the Gohardasht prison outside the Iranian city of Karaj. A life sentence in Sweden generally means a minimum of 20 to 25 years in prison, but it could be extended. If he is eventually released, Noury will be expelled from Sweden. Noury
WorldJul 13, 2022

UK rail workers to strike again July 27 over pay dispute

British rail workers will go on strike on July 27 over an ongoing pay dispute, a month after the country's most disruptive railway strike in three decades paralyzed train networks across the U.K. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers said Wednesday its members will walk out for 24 hours, threatening travel chaos during the busy summer holidays. Union leaders said they have rejected a new pay rise offer from Network Rail to resolve the dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions. The union staged three strikes last month that saw 40,000 workers walk off their jobs, crip
WorldJul 12, 2022

Singapore reports 5,979 new COVID-19 cases

Singapore reported 5,979 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total tally to 1,540,788. Of the new cases, 5,743 were local transmissions and 236 were imported cases. Among the local cases, 508 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 5,235 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health. A total of 679 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with 15 cases in intensive care units. Five deaths were reported due to COVID-19 infection, pushing the death toll to 1,437, the ministry said.
covid-pandemic-is-nowhere-near-over-who-chief
WorldJul 12, 2022

COVID pandemic is nowhere near over: WHO chief

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday warned the world that fresh waves of COVID-19 cases show that the pandemic is "nowhere near over." In a media briefing on COVID-19, the WHO chief said, "I am concerned that cases of COVID-19 continue to rise - putting further pressure on stretched health systems and health workers - and deaths are unacceptably high." He urged governments to regularly review and adjust their COVID19 response plans based on the current epidemiology and also the potential for new variants to appear. The Emergency Committee on COVID-1
WorldJul 12, 2022

Russia confirms first monkeypox case

Russia has confirmed the first case of monkeypox in a young man who recently returned from Europe, the country's consumer rights watchdog told reporters on Tuesday. "The first case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Russia. The disease was detected in a young man who returned from a trip to Europe and came to a medical facility with a rash that is common [for this disease]," Russia's rights watchdog Rospotrebnazor was quoted as saying by Sputnik. Rospotrebnadzor clarified that the patient has mild symptoms and is isolated. In the last week of June, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the
indian-origin-ex-minister-may-replace-boris-johnson-to-become-next-uk-prime-minister
WorldJul 08, 2022

Indian origin ex-minister may replace Boris Johnson to become next UK Prime Minister

After Boris Johnson stepped down as Prime Minister of Britain, former minister Rishi Sunak has put forward his contendership to become the next Prime Minister of Britain. "I'm standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister," he tweeted, adding that it is about time to rebuild the economy and reunite the country. In a further statement, he said, "Someone has to grip the moment and make the right decisions. That's why I am standing to be the next leader of the conservative party and your Prime Minister." I want to lead this country in the right direction, he add
man-who-shot-at-former-japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-identified
WorldJul 08, 2022

Man who shot at former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe identified

Japanese Police have identified the suspect arrested for shooting former prime minister Shinzo Abe on Friday as Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old resident of Nara City, according to local media. Earlier today Abe, 67, was rushed to hospital after he collapsed at 11.30 am (local time) during a campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Nara ahead of Sunday's elections for Japan's upper house of Parliament. Local media reported that police has detained the assailant and retrieved a gun from the scene. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the "barbaric" attack on former PM Shinzo Ab
one-scandal-too-many-british-pm-boris-johnson-resigns
WorldJul 07, 2022

One scandal too many: British PM Boris Johnson resigns

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given into demands for his resignation. Fifty members of his government had left their positions citing Johnson's integrity as the reason for their departure. Speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street, Johnson expressed his gratitude and offered assurances that government will keep working as usual. Johnson said a timetable for choosing a new prime minister will be announced next week.
WorldJul 07, 2022

Sri Lanka's central bank raises key rates to curb inflation

Sri Lanka's Central Bank has raised its key interest rates to 14.50% and 15.50% to try to contain inflation that has added to the country's economic woes. Sri Lankans have suffered months of acute shortages of essentials such as food, fuel, cooking gas and medicines. The central bank said it had raised its Standing Deposit Facility Rate and the Standing Lending Facility Rate that it charges commercial banks by 100 basis points each to 14.50% and 15.50%, respectively.

Just In

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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CanadaOct 23, 2025

PM Modi invites Canadian PM to New Delhi

India has invited Prime Minister Mark Carney to New Delhi early in the new year for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This could pave the way for a new economic relationship and a free trade agreement between the two countries. India's High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Kumar Patnaik said that a sincere effort is being made by the two leaders to improve diplomatic relations and increase trade and investment opportunities amid the tariff war with the US. Patnaik said that if the two countries negotiate a far-reaching agreement, annual trade between Canada and India could cross $50-billio
interior-health-testing-virtual-emergency-care-to-support-rural-hospitals
BCOct 23, 2025

Interior Health testing virtual emergency care to support rural hospitals

Interior Health is planning a pilot project that would use virtual emergency care to help keep small hospitals in British Columbia’s Interior open during staffing shortages. The proposal would link hospitals in Clearwater, Nakusp, Lillooet, and Princeton, allowing physicians to share responsibilities through a combination of on-site and remote support. Interior Health says the four facilities face similar challenges, with low overnight patient volumes but frequent service interruptions due to limited staffing. The health authority says it is consulting with local doctors and staff to determi