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india-resuming-visa-services-at-high-commission-consulates-in-canada
CanadaOct 25, 2023

India resuming visa services at high commission, consulates in Canada

India's high commission in Canada says the country's officials will resume processing some types of visa applications in Ottawa and at consulates in Toronto and Vancouver.The decision comes a month after New Delhi suspended the services in Canada and for Canadian citizens worldwide.The high commission says it is resuming business, medical and conference visas, as well as entry for people with family ties in India, but did not include information about other types of visas.The Canadian Press confirmed the authenticity of social-media posts about the decision, and has sought information about wh
bank-of-canada-holds-key-interest-rate-at-5-for-second-time
CanadaOct 25, 2023

Bank of Canada holds key interest rate at 5% for second time

The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate steady at five per cent today, noting there are clearer signs of the economy cooling and inflation easing.However, it warns that it is prepared to increase rates further if necessary.The central bank says it's still concerned that price growth is easing too slowly and that the inflation rate has been volatile in recent months.Forecasters widely expected the rate hold as economic data suggests high interest rates are already causing an economic pullback.New economic projections released by the central bank suggest economic growth will continue to be
federal-court-approves-23b-first-nations-child-welfare-settlement
CanadaOct 24, 2023

Federal Court approves $23B First Nations child-welfare settlement

Federal Court verbally approved $23B First Nations child-welfare settlement.The funding will help offset chronic underfunding of on-reserve child-welfare services by the federal government to more than 300,000 First Nations children and their families.The Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society first filed this complaint with Human Rights in 2007.In September 2019, the Canada Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the federal government did not adequately fund Child and Family Services, which inadvertently and negligently discriminated against First Nations ch
six-hospitals-closed-due-to-lack-of-fuel-in-gaza
CanadaOct 24, 2023

Six hospitals closed due to lack of fuel in Gaza

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has entered its 19th day.World Health Organization has said that 6 hospitals in Gaza had to be closed due to lack of fuel.Of these, 1,000 people are on dialysis, while 130 are premature children.If the condition does not improve, the patients may die in the ICU.So far, a total of 54 trucks have reached Gaza with relief materials.The problem is that none of them had fuel, but water has been sent along with medicines and food items.Another 250 trucks will arrive this week, but it is not clear whether petrol and diesel will be sent in them.Ministry of Heal
grocers-called-back-to-parliament-to-testify-about-plans-to-stabilize-prices
CanadaOct 24, 2023

Grocers called back to Parliament to testify about plans to stabilize prices

A House of Commons committee is asking the heads of Canada's major grocery chains to explain their plans to stabilize food prices.The committee passed an NDP motion on Thursday to invite the grocery executives, and summon them if necessary, to testify about the measures their companies are taking to address food inflation.This comes after Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced the companies have presented plans to the government to tackle rising prices, which he says include discounts, price freezes and price-matching campaigns.However, most grocers have not confirmed details
macklem-warned-premiers-about-dangers-of-putting-bocs-independence-at-risk
CanadaOct 24, 2023

Macklem warned premiers about dangers of putting BoC's independence at risk

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem warned premiers who publicly asked the central bank to not raise interest rates last month that their requests could undermine the institution's independence.The premiers of Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador wrote to Macklem ahead of the Bank of Canada's Sept. 6 rate decision, outlining concerns about the effects of higher rates on their residents and asking the central bank not to raise its key rate further.In a Sept. 13 letter, Macklem warned that instructions or requests from elected officials could give the impression that the Bank
hamas-is-a-threat-to-the-world-it-must-be-eliminated-bill-blair
CanadaOct 24, 2023

Hamas is a threat to the world, it must be eliminated: Bill Blair

Defence Minister Bill Blair says Hamas is a terrorist organization that is a threat to the whole world and must be "eliminated." Blair also says he has no expectation that Hamas would respect international law, including any agreement on a ceasefire. His comments are the furthest any Canadian minister has gone in explaining why Canada does not support calls for a ceasefire. The defence minister also appeared unwilling to back more recent calls for a "humanitarian pause," but says there are talks underway to get more aid into the Gaza Strip. More than one million Palestinians have been displace
five-people-including-shooter-dead-after-shootings-in-ontarios-sault-ste-marie
CanadaOct 24, 2023

Five people, including shooter, dead after shootings in Ontario's Sault Ste. Marie

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service says officers first discovered the body of a 41-year-old around 10:20 p.m. Monday after someone called to report a break-and-enter at a home.They say the shooter appeared to have fled and about 10 minutes later, police received another call for someone with a weapon at a home about three kilometres north from the previous residence.Police say they found three children aged six, seven and twelve dead in that second home and a 45-year-old who was injured with a gunshot wound.They say officers also found the 44-year-old shooter, who appeared to have died after
spamouflage-campaign-targeting-trudeau-mps-linked-to-china-global-affairs-canada
CanadaOct 23, 2023

'Spamouflage' campaign targeting Trudeau, MPs linked to China: Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada says there's a social media campaign connected to the People's Republic of China is targeting dozens of MPs with spam.The department says a bot network known as "Spamouflage" began spreading propaganda and disinformation messages across Facebook and X in early August.Global Affairs says the bot network left thousands of comments in English and French on the accounts of MPs claiming a critic of the Chinese Communist Party in Canada accused the various MPs of criminal and ethical violations.It says the messages appeared across the political spectrum, even appearing on the a

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eby-slams-b-c-conservatives-warns-their-promises-could-leave-5b-budget-hole
BCOct 16, 2026

Eby Slams B.C. Conservatives, Warns Their Promises Could Leave $5B Budget Hole

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has launched a sharp attack on the B.C. Conservative Party during an election rally in Coquitlam, as the provincial election campaign enters its final stretch. Eby accused B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson of making promises that could create a massive $5 billion hole in the provincial budget, claiming the party has no clear roadmap to cover the shortfall. According to Eby, the consequences of the Conservatives’ proposals would be particularly damaging to the province’s education and health-care sectors. Outlining his own party’s plans, Eby said his govern
canada-updates-express-entry-rules-for-pr-offering-more-points-for-high-wage-jobs
CanadaOct 16, 2026

Canada Updates Express Entry Rules for PR, Offering More Points for High-Wage Jobs

Canada has introduced changes to its Express Entry system for permanent residency (PR), giving additional points to candidates with Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage sectors such as engineering. According to an announcement made by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab on Friday, candidates with Canadian work experience or qualifying high-wage job offers will receive additional points under the updated system. The government will define a high-wage job as one that pays at least 1.3 times the national median wage. Candidates with higher-paying job offers will be eligible for
BCOct 16, 2026

Punjabi Candidates Set for Electoral Contests in Surrey’s B.C. Ridings

An interesting contest is expected between the BC Conservatives and the BC NDP in several Surrey ridings ahead of British Columbia’s October 24 provincial election. Both major parties have fielded prominent candidates from the Punjabi community. In Surrey-Fleetwood, former minister Jagrup Brar is running for the BC NDP against BC Conservative candidate Gary Purewal. In Surrey-Serpentine River, Conservative candidate Jessie Sahota will face BC NDP candidate Sikander Kang, a physiotherapist by profession. In Surrey-Newton, BC NDP candidate Jessie Sunner is contesting against Conservative candi
WorldOct 16, 2026

Russian Drone Attacks Kill Three in Ukraine, Disrupt Power Supply to 370,000 People

Russian drone attacks in Ukraine early Friday killed around three people and injured several others. Two shopping centres were also targeted, while strikes on the energy grid disrupted electricity supplies to approximately 370,000 people in the country’s northwestern region. Two people were killed and 12 others injured in attacks on three districts of Kharkiv, according to local reports. In the Volyn region, near the Polish border, a drone strike on a food-processing factory killed one person and injured eight others. Authorities began restoration work on the damaged power infrastructure, an
CanadaOct 16, 2026

U.S.-Made Vehicles Lose 20% Market Share in Canada in First Half of 2026

The market share of U.S.-made vehicles in Canada fell by 20% in the first half of 2026, following Canada's imposition of 25% retaliatory tariffs on American cars and trucks in response to tariffs introduced by Washington. As a result, major automakers, including Volvo, Tesla, Subaru and Mazda, have stopped supplying certain U.S.-built models to Canada or shifted some production to other countries to avoid Canadian tariffs. Vehicles manufactured in Mexico, Japan and South Korea can enter Canada without these tariffs. Meanwhile, Canadian-made vehicles have also suffered from the trade war, with