China: coronavirus deaths rise to 563

The Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a legal notice to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging defamation over remarks linking the party to recent explosions in Jalandhar and Amritsar. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said the notice accuses the chief minister of making allegations without evidence and seeks action related to criminal defamation, spreading false information, and attempting to incite public unrest. The development follows comments made by Mann a day earlier, in which he alleged that such incidents were being used as political tactics ahead of elections in Punja

India has rejected allegations by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that linked New Delhi to foreign interference activities in Canada, calling the claims “baseless.” Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and described India as a responsible democracy that respects international law and the sovereignty of other nations. Jaiswal said concerns related to such matters should be addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than through public statements or political d

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is considering new measures aimed at speeding up approvals for federally regulated natural resource and major infrastructure projects, including pipelines. According to reports, an announcement could come later this week. The proposed changes would introduce a “one project – one review” approach for major projects and set a maximum two-year timeline for federal approval decisions. The move would represent a significant shift in the regulatory framework governing large-scale natural resource developments. According to reports, the federal governme

Vancouver police are investigating a fatal stabbing near East Hastings and Columbia streets that has been classified as the city’s fourth homicide of 2026. Police said officers were called to the area at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday after a witness reported an assault. A 49-year-old man was found injured at the scene and later died in hospital, according to a Vancouver Police Department statement. Investigators said a man and a woman were arrested following the incident, but no charges had been announced as of Wednesday afternoon. Police have not released further details about the circumstances

A new Leger poll suggests a majority of Canadians support banning children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots, amid growing concerns about their impact on teenagers. According to the survey, nearly 70 per cent of respondents backed restrictions on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and AI chatbots. The findings come as public debate intensifies over online safety, youth mental health and the influence of AI-driven content on minors. Concerns have increased following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., after reports linked the suspe