The Punjab cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved convening a one-day special session of the Vidhan Sabha on May 1, according to a state government announcement. The session will coincide with International Workers' Day and is expected to focus on issues affecting the working class. The government plans to discuss concerns linked to changes in employment programs, including the replacement of the Centre’s MGNREGA with what it describes as the “Ji Ram Ji Scheme,” as outlined in the cabinet decision. According to the announcement, representatives of labour unions from a

At least five people were killed and seven others injured in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry said that during a ceasefire period in place since October, a total of 823 people have been killed and 2,308 injured. It added that since Israel began military operations in Gaza in October 2023, the cumulative death toll has reached 72,599, with 172,411 people reported injured. The figures have not been independently verified. Israeli authorities have not immediately commented on the latest reported casualties. In

A man is dead and another was taken to hospital with minor injuries after a shooting in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood on Tuesday evening, according to police. Surrey Police Service Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said the incident occurred at 7p.m. in the 6800-block of 148 Street. Officers responding to reports of shots fired found two victims inside a vehicle parked in a residential driveway. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. According to police, CCTV footage shows a silver car attempting to reverse out

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says efforts to maintain a ceasefire in the Middle East are continuing, crediting Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement with helping keep the truce in place. According to statements attributed to Sharif, Pakistan is working to ensure the ceasefire holds and that peace initiatives do not lose momentum. He said there would be no relaxation in efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation. Officials familiar with the discussions indicate that Pakistan is again attempting to bring United States and Iran back to the negotiating table. Reports suggest a new roun

The Bank of Canada kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent on Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive decision to hold rates, according to its latest monetary policy report. The central bank also maintained its deposit rate at 2.20 per cent. Governor Tiff Macklem said ongoing conflict in the Middle East and evolving U.S. trade policies are reshaping global trade patterns and adding uncertainty to the economic outlook. According to the bank’s report, the Iran-related tensions have reduced growth prospects in oil-importing countries while contributing to higher inflation

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled the federal government’s 2026 spring mini-budget in the House of Commons, outlining measures aimed at strengthening the national economy and addressing labour shortages in key sectors. According to the government’s budget statement, a new initiative branded “Team Canada Strong” will focus on expanding the skilled trades workforce. The plan sets a target of training 100,000 new skilled trades workers by the 2030–31 fiscal year to help meet demand in housing construction, infrastructure projects and major resource developm

The Israeli military has ordered residents in more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately, citing safety concerns during an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. According to a statement posted on the social media platform X by Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee, civilians in the affected areas were urged to leave without delay. The military said the warning was issued for public safety, alleging that Hezbollah had violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The evacuation order comes despite the ceasefire remaining formally in effect. Isra

British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma says federal plans to set a minimum age for social media use should explicitly include artificial intelligence chatbots, arguing the rules would be ineffective if such platforms are excluded. In a letter to the federal government, Sharma said tools such as ChatGPT should fall within any regulatory framework aimed at protecting children online. According to her office, the letter cites recent incidents, including a shooting in Tumbler Ridge, and references cases where AI tools were reportedly linked to harmful online behaviour. Sharma said AI system

An evacuation alert has been issued for the community of Draper in northern Alberta after rising river levels linked to a large ice jam raised concerns about possible flooding. According to a notice from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, approximately 140 residents of the unincorporated community have been advised to prepare to leave on short notice. Draper is located along the southern bank of the Clearwater River, about 12 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray. Officials say a roughly 20-kilometre-long ice jam on the Athabasca River has contributed to a rapid increase in water level