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death-toll-climbs-to-15-after-deadly-shopping-plaza-fire-in-karachi
WorldJan 19, 2026

Death toll climbs to 15 after deadly shopping plaza fire in Karachi

Rescue crews in Pakistan’s largest city recovered additional bodies from the ruins of a multi storey shopping plaza in Karachi, raising the confirmed death toll from a major fire to at least 15 as dozens of people remain unaccounted for. Officials warned the number of fatalities could still increase as search operations continue inside the damaged building. Firefighters brought the blaze at Gul Plaza under control late Sunday, nearly a full day after it first erupted, allowing emergency teams to enter areas that had been inaccessible because of intense heat and smoke. Provincial authorities
headline-carney-travels-to-davos-to-promote-canada-at-world-economic-forum
CanadaJan 19, 2026

Carney travels to Davos to promote Canada at World Economic Forum

Prime Minister Mark Carney is travelling to Switzerland today to take part in the World Economic Forum in Davos, where global political and business leaders are gathering amid heightened economic uncertainty. The Prime Minister is expected to use the annual forum to promote Canada as a destination for investment, while holding meetings with heads of government, major financial institutions and multinational corporations. The Liberal government has positioned the trip as part of a broader effort to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience at a time of global market volatility. University of Br
inflation-edges-up-to-2-4-per-cent-in-december-as-earlier-tax-break-skews-comparison
CanadaJan 19, 2026

Inflation edges up to 2.4 per cent in December as earlier tax break skews comparison

Canada’s inflation rate rose slightly at the end of last year, with consumer prices increasing at an annual pace of 2.4 per cent in December, according to new data from Statistics Canada. That marked an uptick from 2.2 per cent in November. The national statistics agency said the increase was partly driven by comparison effects linked to a temporary federal tax holiday that had been in place a year earlier. Prices that were held down during that period have since returned to more typical levels, pushing the year-over-year inflation figure higher. Economists often point to these base-year eff
pq-leader-calls-for-renewed-sovereignty-debate-following-legault-resignation
CanadaJan 16, 2026

PQ leader calls for renewed sovereignty debate following Legault resignation

The leader of the Parti Québécois says Premier François Legault’s decision to step down has reopened the question of Quebec sovereignty and created an opportunity to reset the province’s political direction. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Legault’s tenure demonstrates the limits of seeking greater autonomy within Canada, arguing that Quebec has failed to achieve meaningful gains in key areas such as immigration control and health care after more than seven years under Coalition Avenir Québec rule. Legault founded the CAQ on the idea of moving beyond the long-standing divide between fe
AlbertaJan 16, 2026

Crown seeks 16-year prison term for Calgary man convicted of ISIS involvement

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to impose a 16-year prison sentence on a Calgary man convicted of participating in the activities of the Islamic State group after travelling to Syria more than a decade ago. Jamal Borhot, now 35, was found guilty in December of three counts related to involvement with a listed terrorist organization. The court heard Borhot travelled to Syria in 2013 and knowingly assisted ISIS while the group was carrying out widespread violence across the region. During sentencing submissions, the Crown said Borhot was not a passive supporter. Prosecutors told the court
four-prominent-punjab-leaders-join-bjp-ahead-of-2027-assembly-elections
IndiaJan 16, 2026

Four prominent Punjab leaders join BJP ahead of 2027 Assembly elections

Political activity in Punjab has intensified as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 state Assembly elections. In this context, the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken another step to strengthen its organisational base in the state. On Friday, former Congress Member of Parliament Jagmeet Brar formally joined the BJP in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini. He was joined by Omkar Sidhu, former officer on special duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Charanjit Brar, and Jagmeet Brar’s brother Ripjeet Singh Brar. BJP leaders
south-korean-court-sentences-former-president-yoon-suk-yeol-to-five-years-in-prison
WorldJan 16, 2026

South Korean court sentences former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison

A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison in connection with criminal charges linked to his controversial declaration of martial law in late 2024. The ruling, delivered Friday by the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first verdict among eight separate criminal trials Yoon is facing related to the decree and other alleged misconduct. The court convicted Yoon on charges including defying authorities during attempts to detain him and fabricating official documents. Prosecutors had argued that Yoon obstructed law enforcement and abused presiden
BCJan 16, 2026

Abbotsford hotel death under investigation by IHIT

Abbotsford police have turned over an investigation into a death at a local hotel to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Police say officers were called to a report of suspicious circumstances at a hotel along Marshall Road near Clearbrook Road. When patrol members arrived, they located a deceased person inside one of the hotel rooms. Investigators believe the incident was isolated to that room and say there is no ongoing risk to the public. Police have also stated there is no connection between this case and recent extortion related incidents reported elsewhere in the Fraser Valley. O
carney-raises-greenland-and-arctic-sovereignty-in-meeting-with-chinas-xi
CanadaJan 16, 2026

Carney raises Greenland and Arctic sovereignty in meeting with China’s Xi

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he discussed Greenland’s future and broader Arctic sovereignty issues during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, amid ongoing international attention on the strategic importance of the Arctic region. Carney told reporters the conversation included concerns about recent statements by the U.S. president regarding Greenland, emphasizing Canada’s view that decisions about the territory’s future should rest with the people of Greenland themselves. He said he found “significant alignment” with Xi on the principle of respecting sovereignty

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AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

Airdrie youth hockey team honours junior players killed in Alberta highway crash

A youth hockey team from Airdrie is paying tribute to three junior players who died in a highway collision in southern Alberta by wearing and sharing memorial stickers during an upcoming tournament. The under-13 AA Airdrie Lightning team will place the stickers on their helmets and hand them out to opposing teams while competing in Regina this week. The stickers feature the jersey numbers of the players and the logo of the Southern Alberta Mustangs, the junior team the victims played for. The initiative was organized by a Lightning parent who ordered close to 100 stickers with the goal of keep
deadly-mosque-blast-in-islamabad-kills-at-least-31-during-friday-prayers
WorldFeb 06, 2026

Deadly mosque blast in Islamabad kills at least 31 during Friday prayers

A powerful explosion tore through a mosque in Pakistan’s capital during Friday prayers, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 160 others, according to local authorities. The blast occurred inside a Shia mosque in the Taralai area of Islamabad, a residential district on the city’s outskirts. Worshippers were gathered for weekly prayers when the explosion went off, causing widespread panic and structural damage inside the mosque. Emergency services rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, where authorities declared medical emergencies to handle the influx of casualties. Police and
AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

TSB urges caution on helicopter training flights after fatal crash near Red Deer

A federal safety investigation into a deadly helicopter crash in central Alberta is advising pilots to carefully weigh the risks of practising emergency manoeuvres while carrying passengers. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says the July 2025 crash involved a privately operated Bell Textron 206L-4 LongRanger that made a hard landing west of Red Deer during a training flight. The pilot and one passenger were on board when the aircraft went down. According to the report released Thursday, the pilot was practising autorotation, an emergency procedure used when a helicopter loses engine p
alberta-francophone-groups-urge-ottawa-to-keep-supreme-court-bilingualism-out-of-political-debate
AlbertaFeb 05, 2026

Alberta francophone groups urge Ottawa to keep Supreme Court bilingualism out of political debate

Two Alberta-based francophone organizations are pushing back against calls to loosen bilingualism requirements for Supreme Court of Canada judges, warning that language rights should not become a political bargaining tool. The Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta and the Alberta chapter of the French Canadian Association say bilingualism at the country’s highest court is essential to ensure francophones can fully access the justice system in one of Canada’s two official languages. They argue the requirement reflects constitutional principles rather than regiona
two-charged-after-bear-spray-assault-during-east-vancouver-retail-robbery-attempt
BCFeb 05, 2026

Two charged after bear spray assault during East Vancouver retail robbery attempt

Two men are facing criminal charges after Vancouver Police say a loss prevention officer was assaulted during an attempted retail theft in East Vancouver earlier this week. Police were called shortly before 8:40 a.m. on February 2 to a store near Glen Drive and Terminal Avenue, where officers say two suspects used bear spray on an employee while trying to flee on foot with unpaid merchandise. The victim did not require hospital treatment, according to police. An extensive search of the surrounding area followed, involving patrol officers, a police drone, and a canine unit. The suspects were lo