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1-dead-and-6-missing-after-luxury-superyacht-sinks-in-storm-off-sicily
CanadaAug 19, 2024

1 dead and 6 missing after luxury superyacht sinks in storm off Sicily

A luxury superyacht carrying foreign tourists capsized and sank off Sicily in bad weather early Monday. One body was found, six people remain missing and 15 people were rescued, authorities said. The ship had overturned around 5 a.m. off the port of Porticello, where it was apparently anchored. It had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, including British, American and Canadian nationalities, the Italian coast guard said. Local media said a sudden fierce storm, including tornados over water known as waterspouts, had battered the area overnight but skies were clear and seas calm by Monday mor
days-before-school-year-begins-more-than-5-700-teaching-positions-unfilled-in-quebec
CanadaAug 16, 2024

Days before school year begins, more than 5,700 teaching positions unfilled in Quebec

Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville says there are still 5,704 teaching positions to be filled in the province's schools, weeks before the new school year begins. But Drainville says that number represents 2,800 fewer vacancies compared with this time last year. He says the school system faces a serious challenge to find enough teachers because there are about 20,000 more students enrolled than there were last year. Of the 5,704 unfilled teaching spots, 1,406 are for permanent, full-time positions, and the rest are contract jobs. Drainville says the improvement over last year is due i
geyser-in-montreal-after-major-water-main-break-floods-streets-and-homes
CanadaAug 16, 2024

'Geyser' in Montreal after major water main break floods streets and homes

A break in a major underground water main near Montreal's Jacques Cartier Bridge sent water gushing down streets and inside homes on Friday morning, forcing the evacuation of nearby buildings. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said many residents east of downtown woke up around 6 a.m. to firefighters urging them to vacate their homes because of flooding risks from the "geyser" that erupted at the corner of René-Lévesque Boulevard and de Lorimier Avenue. Images broadcast by media showed water gushing from the intersection in the densely populated neighbourhood near the bridge, and witnesses said
cbsa-to-use-facial-recognition-app-for-people-facing-deportation-documents
CanadaAug 16, 2024

CBSA to use facial recognition app for people facing deportation: documents

The Canada Border Services Agency plans to implement an app that uses facial recognition technology to keep track of people who have been ordered to be deported from the country. The mobile reporting app would use biometrics to confirm a person's identity and record their location data when they use the app to check in. Documents obtained through access-to-information indicate that the CBSA has proposed such an app as far back as 2021. A spokesperson confirmed that an app called ReportIn will be launched this fall. Experts are flagging numerous concerns, questioning the validity of user consen
manitoba-government-follows-other-provinces-in-restricting-cellphone-use-in-schools
CanadaAug 15, 2024

Manitoba government follows other provinces in restricting cellphone use in schools

The Manitoba government is following other provinces in restricting the use of cellphones in classrooms beginning this school year. There is to be a ban for students in kindergarten to Grade 8, while those in high school will be restricted from using their devices during class time but are free to use them during breaks and lunch. The province says exemptions are to be made for medical or accessibility reasons. The bans are designed to reduce distractions and help students focus in class. Some Manitoba school divisions already had their own bans in place. Saskatchewan announced its decision la
canada-must-respond-to-mpox-crisis-in-africa-to-prevent-spread-here-experts-say
CanadaAug 14, 2024

Canada must respond to mpox crisis in Africa to prevent spread here, experts say

The World Health Organization has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern and experts say it's critical for Canada to respond. The WHO declaration comes as mpox formerly known as monkeypox has spread between several African countries and there are concerns it could spread further. McGill University global health researcher Dr. Madhukar Pai says the current risk to Canadians is low, but it's important to provide funding and resources to help African nations get the outbreak under control. He says it's the way to prevent the virus from travelling and becoming a bigger th
trade-minister-criticizes-higher-u-s-softwood-lumber-duties-as-unfair-unwarranted
CanadaAug 14, 2024

Trade minister criticizes higher U.S. softwood lumber duties as unfair, unwarranted

Canada's international trade minister is criticizing the U.S. Department of Commerce for nearly doubling duties on softwood lumber, saying the move is unfair and unwarranted. Minister Mary Ng says the U.S. has significantly increased duties on softwood lumber from Canada, from 8.05 per cent to 14.54 per cent. It's the latest salvo in a bilateral back-and-forth that Ottawa has described as a drag on efforts to improve the cost and supply of housing. Ng says the increase will harm consumers and producers on both sides of the border and called for a lasting resolution to this long-standing disput
quebec-to-authorize-early-requests-for-maid-wont-wait-for-ottawa-to-change-law
CanadaAug 14, 2024

Quebec to authorize early requests for MAID, won't wait for Ottawa to change law

Quebec says that starting this fall it will authorize early requests for medical assistance in dying from certain patients before their condition renders them incapable of giving consent. The province has been calling on the federal government to modify the Criminal Code to allow people to make such requests, but Quebec says it won't wait any longer. Quebec adopted a law in June 2023 permitting people with serious and incurable illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, to ask for MAID while they have the capacity to provide consent, with the procedure being carried out after their condition has
immigration-minister-looking-into-revoking-terror-suspects-citizenship
CanadaAug 14, 2024

Immigration minister looking into revoking terror suspect's citizenship

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he plans to look into whether the man accused of plotting a terror attack in Toronto should have his Canadian citizenship revoked. Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and his son Mostafa Eldidi, 26, were arrested in Richmond Hill, Ont., and face nine terrorism charges including conspiracy to commit murder on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. When the RCMP announced the charges on July 31 they said the two men were "in the advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto." The elder Eldidi, who is a Canadian citizen, is also ch

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AlbertaDec 02, 2025

Alberta launches single police review body aimed at improving transparency

Alberta has consolidated its police oversight system under a new Police Review Commission, a move the provincial government says will simplify how the public files concerns about police conduct. Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis announced the start of operations on Monday, saying the province wanted a clearer and more consistent process for handling complaints. The new commission replaces a mix of police service units and external agencies that previously managed different parts of the disciplinary process. The province says the centralized model is intended to reduce confusion for residents a
imran-khans-sister-reports-meeting-at-adiala-jail-as-rumours-over-former-pms-health-intensify
WorldDec 02, 2025

Imran Khan’s Sister Reports Meeting at Adiala Jail as Rumours Over Former PM’s Health Intensify

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan received a rare family visit at Adiala Jail today, following weeks of speculation over his condition. His sister Uzma Khanum met him for about 30 minutes and later said he appeared physically stable, while alleging that he has been subjected to psychological pressure during custody. The visit came after supporters of the party continued to voice concern about Khan’s isolation and lack of access to family. Uzma said the former prime minister has been kept confined to his cell for most of the day with limited communication,
farm-groups-plan-statewide-railway-blockade-in-punjab-on-december-5
IndiaDec 02, 2025

Farm Groups Plan Statewide Railway Blockade in Punjab on December 5

Farmer unions in Punjab say they will stage a statewide railway blockade on December 5 to highlight what they describe as unresolved demands related to minimum support price legislation and other pending issues. The action has been announced by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha, which has been leading several recent mobilizations in the state. Union representative Sarwan Singh Pandher said the protest will be symbolic and peaceful, adding that its purpose is to draw the attention of both the central and Punjab governments to long-standing commitments farmers believe remain unaddressed. He not
police-identify-victim-in-surreys-sixth-homicide-of-2025
BCDec 02, 2025

Police identify victim in Surrey’s sixth homicide of 2025

Investigators with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team have released the name of the man fatally shot in Surrey late Friday night, hoping the disclosure will generate new leads in the case. Police identified the victim as 26-year-old Jaskaran Birring of Chilliwack, noting he had previous police contacts and was believed to have ties to the drug trade. Officers were called to a residential area shortly before midnight, where they found Birring suffering from critical injuries. Despite emergency medical efforts at the scene, police say he did not survive. IHIT says early evidence indicate
AlbertaDec 02, 2025

Petition urging Alberta to stay in Canada reaches required signature threshold

A provincewide petition asserting that Alberta should remain within Canada has met the legal threshold and has been formally validated by Elections Alberta. The petition, launched by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, gathered more than 400,000 verified signatures, surpassing the minimum needed to trigger a legislative review. Under provincial law, the successful verification sends the matter to an all-party committee of the Alberta legislature, which will determine whether a provincewide referendum on national unity should move ahead. The process is part of Alberta’s citizen-initiative