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WorldAug 12, 2022

Author Salman Rushdie attacked on stage in New York State

Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked Friday as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin punching or stabbing Rushdie as he was being introduced. The author was taken or fell to the floor, and the man was restrained. Rushdie’s book “The Satanic Verses” has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it to be blasphemous. A year later, Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edi
AlbertaAug 12, 2022

Deadline day to register as UCP member to vote for new leader

It's deadline day to buy a ten-dollar Alberta United Conservative membership to vote for the next party leader and premier. The party will then go through the memberships to confirm information and expects to have the final tally on how many have been sold in about two weeks or so. Seven candidates are on the ballot seeking to replace Premier Jason Kenney in the party's top job. The next key date in the race is the second debate, slated for August 30th in Edmonton. Kenney announced in May he was quitting after receiving a lukewarm 51 per cent support in a party leadership review.
WorldAug 12, 2022

Man who tried to breach FBI office killed after standoff

The Ohio Highway State Patrol says an armed man who tried to breach the FBI's Cincinnati office was shot and killed by police after he fled the scene and engaged in an hourslong standoff. A law enforcement official said federal investigators are examining whether the man, identified as 42-year-old Ricky Shiffer, may have had ties to far-right extremist groups, including the Proud Boys. The official said Shiffer is believed to have been in Washington in the days leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and may have been present at the Capitol on the day of the attack. The official could no
vpd-investigates-after-woman-found-with-gunshot-wounds-in-downtown-eastside
BCAug 11, 2022

VPD investigates after woman found with gunshot wounds in Downtown Eastside

Vancouver Police are investigating after a woman was found with gunshot wounds in the Downtown Eastside early Thursday morning. Officers discovered the injured 39-year-old near Main Street and East Cordova just before 1 a.m., after she approached a passerby and asked for help. When officers arrived, they found the victim badly injured. VPD provided immediate first aid to the woman, who was taken to hospital and is now receiving treatment for serious injuries. Investigators believe the shooting likely occurred in the Downtown Eastside, but have been unable to obtain further details from the vic
remains-of-new-hazelton-missing-woman-found
BCAug 11, 2022

Remains of New Hazelton missing woman found

The remains of Cynthia Martin who was reported missing on December 24, 2018 were found on May 1, 2022. Since then, the investigation continued to positively identify the remains and confirm the identity of Cynthia.At this time, the investigation remains active an ongoing into Cynthia Martin’s death. The BC Coroners Service has been notified, and is also investigating.
AlbertaAug 11, 2022

Gymnastics coach from Lethbridge, Alta., faces additional sexual assault charges

A gymnastics coach from southern Alberta who was charged with sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl at his gym is facing additional charges involving three more girls. Jamie Ellacott, who is 33, was charged last month with sexual assault and sexual interference after an investigation by the Lethbridge Police Service violent crimes unit. Investigators say three other girls, who are 10, 12 and 14, were also sexually assaulted at the Lethbridge Gymnastics Academy in May 2022. Police say Ellacott has been arrested and charged with three additional counts of sexual assault and sexual interferen
WorldAug 11, 2022

Armed man approaches FBI office, exchanges gunfire with cops

An armed man approached the visitor screening area at the FBI's Cincinnati office, fled when confronted by agents and later exchanged gunfire with police, authorities said Thursday. After fleeing the FBI office, the man was chased onto Interstate 71, which was then closed in both directions. The man, wearing body armor, exchanged gunfire with police, according to the Clinton County Emergency Management Agency. The episode came a day after the FBI director warned against threats circulating online against agents and the Justice Department in the wake of the agency’s search of former President
WorldAug 11, 2022

U. S. Gas prices dip just below $4 for the first time in 5 months

U.S. gas prices have dipped under $4 a gallon for the first time in more than five months. AAA says the national average is $3.99 for a gallon of regular. That's down 15 cents in just the last week, and 68 cents in the last month. Gasoline peaked at around $5.02 a gallon on June 14. Motorists in California and Hawaii are still paying above $5, and other states in the West are paying close to that. The cheapest gas is in Texas and several other states in the South and Midwest. The decline reflects falling prices for crude oil, which have dipped close to $90 a barrel from over $120 a barrel i
IndiaAug 11, 2022

India logs 16,299 new COVID cases in last 24 hours

India logged 16,299 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours with a case positivity rate of 4.58 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday. The country had reported 16,047 fresh infections yesterday with a case positivity rate was 4.94 per cent. With this, the active caseload in the country stands at 1,25,076 which was 1,28,261 yesterday. According to the Ministry, 19,431 COVID patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. The total number of recoveries in the country so far reached 4,35,55,041. The recovery rate currently is 98.53 per cent. As many

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police-seek-witnesses-after-child-assaulted-at-khalsa-day-event-in-surrey
BCMay 01, 2026

Police seek witnesses after child assaulted at Khalsa Day event in Surrey

Surrey Police Service says it is investigating an alleged assault involving a child during Khalsa Day celebrations on April 19 in Surrey. According to a police news release, frontline officers responded around 5 p.m. to a report of an assault outside a gurdwara in the 12800 block of 85 Avenue. Investigators say an eight-year-old boy was inside a carnival attraction called “Kreepy Kastle,” set up in the parking lot for the event, when he was allegedly assaulted by two adult men. Police say the child was able to escape and alert family members. He suffered injuries to his neck and was treate
WorldMay 01, 2026

Five killed in small plane crash near Austin, Texas, county official says

Five people are dead after a small plane crashed near Wimberley, Texas, on Thursday night, according to a local official. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said in a Facebook post that the aircraft went down in the area, located about 40 miles southwest of Austin. All five individuals on board were killed, he said. Details about the aircraft, the identities of those on board, and the cause of the crash were not immediately released. It is not clear which agencies are leading the investigation. Authorities have not provided additional information on conditions at the time of the crash or whether
IndiaMay 01, 2026

Punjab Assembly passes confidence motion with 88 AAP MLAs voting in favour

The Punjab Legislative Assembly passed a confidence motion tabled by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special session called by the state government, according to proceedings reported from the House. The motion was introduced to demonstrate the government’s majority. A total of 88 legislators from the Aam Aadmi Party voted in favour, while four MLAs were absent at the time of voting. Ahead of the session, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa questioned the need for a confidence motion, stating that the ruling party already holds a large majority in the Assembly. He said the move
AlbertaMay 01, 2026

Alberta privacy commissioner urges legal reform after alleged voter list breach

Alberta’s privacy commissioner is calling for changes to provincial law following allegations that a separatist group accessed and published the province’s official voter list. Elections Alberta says it is investigating a group known as the Centurion Project after an app linked to the group allegedly made public the names and addresses of nearly three million voters. According to the agency, official voter lists are only distributed to elected officials, registered political parties and authorized party representatives. The app was removed following a court order earlier this week. Electio
CanadaMay 01, 2026

Canada reduces refugee health coverage, introduces co-payments for prescriptions and supplementary care

Cuts to federally funded health coverage for refugees and asylum claimants took effect Friday, introducing new out-of-pocket costs for medications and certain health services. According to federal program changes to the Interim Federal Health Program, refugees will now be required to pay $4 per prescription and cover 30 per cent of the cost for supplementary health products and services. These include mental health counselling, dental care, vision care, medical devices and mobility aids such as wheelchairs. Until now, the program provided full health coverage for eligible refugees until they q