Minnesota trial set for Florida man in human smuggling case

B.C. Premier David Eby and the federal government have committed 500,000 dollars each to support people affected by a rising number of extortion cases in the province. The announcement followed a roundtable meeting in Surrey on Friday, where officials discussed ongoing threats that have targeted residents and business owners in several communities. The meeting brought together Premier Eby, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, along with senior law enforcement representatives. Participants reviewed current investigations and explored ways to improve

Punjab has scheduled elections for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti bodies for December 14, introducing several procedural changes aimed at improving participation and oversight. The State Election Commission confirmed that ballots will be cast using paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines, marking a shift from recent local elections. Half of all seats will be reserved for women, a measure officials say is intended to strengthen representation and broaden community involvement in local governance. Vote counting is set for December 17. For the first time, each district will have a

Provincial conservation officers have captured two additional grizzly bears on British Columbia’s central coast as the search continues for the animal responsible for last week’s attack on a group of schoolchildren and their teachers near Bella Coola. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the bears are being held for assessment while forensic evidence from the attack site undergoes analysis. The incident left three students and a teacher with serious injuries during a field trip involving about 20 participants. Authorities believe a grizzly sow and two cubs may have been involved, and

Alberta is now forecasting a $6.4-billion deficit for the current fiscal year as softer oil prices and ongoing trade uncertainty continue to weigh on the province’s finances. The updated number represents only a modest improvement from the $6.5-billion shortfall estimated in the summer fiscal outlook. The new projection marks a significant reversal from last year’s $8.3-billion surplus, underscoring how quickly Alberta’s resource-driven revenues can shift. According to the province, non-renewable resource income has fallen by roughly 30 per cent compared with last year, a decline driven

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to New Delhi on December 4 and 5 for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to India since the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict in 2022. The visit will take place at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will coincide with the 23rd India–Russia annual summit. Indian officials say the leaders are preparing to review defence and energy cooperation, areas that have remained active despite Western pressure on countries to reduce ties with Moscow. India has continued purchasing discounted Russian crude and is movi