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WorldMar 24, 2026

American academic released by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, officials say

Afghanistan’s Taliban government says it has released American academic Dennis Coyle, who had been held in the country since January 2025. According to a statement issued Tuesday by Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, Coyle was released in Kabul on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The ministry said the decision followed an appeal from Coyle’s family and came after the country’s Supreme Court determined that his time in custody was sufficient. Afghan authorities had previously detained Coyle on allegations of violating local laws, but did not publicly spe
WorldMar 24, 2026

Iran launches new missile strikes on Israel as cross-border attacks continue into day 25

Iran launched a series of missile strikes targeting Israel from Monday night into Tuesday, marking the 25th day of ongoing hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States. According to statements attributed to Israeli authorities, Iran carried out seven missile attacks during that period. Israeli officials did not immediately release independent verification of damage or casualties from the latest strikes. In response, Israel continued its counter-offensive operations. The Israeli Air Force said it struck more than 50 Iranian-linked targets overnight, including missile launch sites an
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WorldMar 24, 2026

Modi, Trump discuss Middle East tensions, stress importance of Hormuz shipping route

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the evolving security situation in the Middle East, according to a statement shared by the U.S. envoy in India. Sergio Gor said in a social media post that both leaders focused on regional stability and emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Ongoing tensions involving Iran have raised concerns about potential disruptions to the ro
WorldMar 20, 2026

Iran warns U.K. over potential use of military bases in U.S. operations

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned United Kingdom that it could be considered a party to any military action against Iran if it allows the United States to use British bases for such operations. According to statements attributed to Araghchi, he said any cooperation enabling U.S. strikes would be viewed by Tehran as direct involvement. He also accused the United States and Israel of violating international laws and principles in carrying out attacks against Iran. The claims have not been independently verified. Araghchi described the United Kingdom and some European countries
WorldMar 20, 2026

Premium petrol, industrial diesel prices rise in Delhi amid Middle East tensions

Premium petrol and bulk diesel prices have increased in New Delhi, with officials linking the change to rising global oil and gas costs amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. According to information from India’s Petroleum Ministry, the price of premium petrol rose by ₹2 per litre on Friday. The revised rate brings premium petrol in the capital to ₹101.89 per litre, up from ₹99.89. The price of diesel sold in bulk to industrial users has also seen a sharp increase of about ₹22 per litre. Industrial diesel is now priced at ₹109.59 per litre in Delhi, reflecting higher input costs
pentagon-submits-request-for-additional-200-billion-tied-to-iran-conflict-official-says
WorldMar 19, 2026

Pentagon submits request for additional $200 billion tied to Iran conflict, official says

The U.S. Department of Defense has submitted a request to the White House seeking an additional $200 billion in funding tied to the ongoing Iran conflict, according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations, said the request has not yet been formally transmitted to Congress for consideration. It remains unclear whether the White House will advance the proposal. According to the official, the funding request would come on top of supplemental defence spending approved last year as part
WorldMar 19, 2026

Saudi Arabia warns Iran after reported drone strike on Yanbu oil facility

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has issued a warning to Iran following reports of a drone strike targeting a major oil refining facility in Yanbu amid escalating regional tensions. According to regional media reports, the Samref oil refinery in Yanbu, a key Red Sea export hub, was hit in an aerial attack during ongoing hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The extent of damage and any disruptions to production have not been independently confirmed. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the kingdom has the capability to respond, cautioning Iran against test
WorldMar 18, 2026

Israel claims senior Iranian intelligence officials killed in overnight strikes

Israeli authorities say a series of overnight airstrikes on Iran targeted senior intelligence leadership and key energy infrastructure, as hostilities continue between Israel and Iran. According to a statement from Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, the strikes killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, along with several senior officials from the ministry. The claim has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not confirmed any casualties as of publication time. Israeli officials also said their aircraft struck gas infrastructure in southern Iran. The re
WorldMar 16, 2026

Lebanon says Israeli attacks have killed nearly 900 people since March 2

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the death toll from Israeli air and ground attacks since March 2 has risen to nearly 900 as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 886 people have been killed and 2,141 others injured during Israeli strikes across parts of Lebanon over the past two weeks. The ministry said the attacks have also affected the country’s health-care system. Medical teams responding to emergencies were among those hit during the strikes. At least 38 health workers have been killed and another 69 injured w

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BCNov 13, 2026

Boat Accident in B.C.’s Squamish Valley Leaves Several Feared Dead

Several people are feared dead following a boat accident in the flood-affected Squamish Valley area of British Columbia. According to B.C. Emergency Health Services, they received a report of the incident at around 2:48 p.m. Thursday near the 15900-block of Squamish Valley Road. Following the report, RCMP and search and rescue teams launched a search operation in the area. Police have not yet confirmed how many people were involved in the boat accident. Meanwhile, Jeremy Valeriote, the newly elected MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky, expressed his condolences to the families affected by the
alberta-has-the-lowest-fuel-prices-in-canada-claims-premier-danielle-smith
AlbertaNov 13, 2026

Alberta Has the Lowest Fuel Prices in Canada, Claims Premier Danielle Smith

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province has the lowest gasoline and fuel prices in the country. In a social media post, Smith said keeping costs down for Alberta families remains the government's top priority amid rising living costs. She highlighted several measures introduced by the provincial government to provide financial relief to residents. The government has suspended the provincial fuel tax, cutting it by 13 cents per litre until the end of the year. It has also introduced income tax reductions and provided energy rebates. Smith said every dollar saved at the gas pump goes ba
microsoft-outage-disrupts-teams-outlook-and-copilot-services-worldwide
WorldNov 13, 2026

Microsoft Outage Disrupts Teams, Outlook and Copilot Services Worldwide

A technical outage affecting several Microsoft digital services has disrupted users worldwide, with the issue continuing for at least 18 hours. Services including Microsoft Teams, Outlook and the artificial intelligence software Copilot have been affected. Microsoft said services are gradually being restored in affected regions, including Europe and North America. However, some users may still experience difficulties logging in or accessing services. The outage has also affected healthcare services, schools and businesses. In the United Kingdom, some schools have asked parents to contact them
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CanadaNov 13, 2026

Sharp Debate Erupts Between Lena Diab and Pierre Poilievre Over Immigration Plan

Canada’s Immigration Minister Lena Diab and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are clashing over the government’s new immigration plan. In a recently released video, Poilievre claimed that under the new plan, Canada would welcome approximately 200,000 more new permanent residents annually compared to the numbers under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government. Rejecting his claim, Diab said the 100,000 people being granted permanent residency are not newcomers arriving from abroad. Instead, they are already living and working in Canada and are not taking anything away f
CanadaNov 13, 2026

Canada Raises Luxury Tax Threshold to $150,000 for Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles

Buying fully electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles in Canada could become more affordable after the federal government raised the luxury tax price threshold for these vehicles from $100,000 to $150,000. According to an announcement by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, the change came into effect on Friday. This means fully electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles priced up to $150,000 will no longer be subject to the additional luxury tax. The government said the decision takes into account the higher upfront cost of zero-emission vehicles and aims to encourage their adoption. Howe