Canadian province of Alberta declares a state of emergency as raging wildfires force evacuation of over 24,000 people.

Canadian province declares wildfire emergency

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<p>Alberta on Saturday declared a provincial state of emergency after tens of thousands of Albertans have been forced to evacuate their homes as "unprecedented" wildfires rage on in Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith, head of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) said at a press conference.</p>

<p>By Saturday at 5 pm Mountain Time (7 pm ET), more than 24,000 Albertans had been evacuated from their homes, with 110 active wildfires across the province, and 36 out of control.</p>

<p>"It has been an extremely challenging day for firefighters here," said Christie Tucker, an information unit manager for Alberta Wildfire. "We were battling very strong winds, hot weather and those winds produced extreme wildfire activity."</p>

<p>She added that additional firefighters had arrived today from Quebec and Ontario.</p>

<p>"Much of Alberta has been experiencing a hot, dry spring and with so much kindling, all it takes is a few sparks to ignite some truly frightening wildfires," said Smith at a press conference earlier in the day. "These conditions have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province is facing today."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-forced-to-flee-after-wildfire-and-floods-across-western-canada-589455" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Thousands forced to flee after wildfire and floods across western Canada</strong></a></p>

<p>Among the communities evacuated was Brazeau County, including all 7,000 people living in Drayton Valley, 140 km (87 miles) west of the province's capital Edmonton.</p>

<p>The entire community of 3,600 people in Fox Lake was also among the evacuees, where the 1,458-hectare (3609-acre) Fox Lake fire consumed 20 homes and the police station.</p>

<p>"I don't know that I ever recall seeing multiple communities evacuated all at once in fire season," said Smith.</p>

<p>She said $1.12 billion (C$1.5 billion) is put aside as a contingency because they know a significant amount could need to be spent on emergency management,</p>

<p>Whitecap Resources, an oil producer operating in northwestern and central Alberta, said it has been busy ensuring staff are safe through the evacuation process and assets are unaffected.</p>

<p>"(We are) monitoring closely and praying for rain," Grant Fagerheim, Whitecap CEO, said on Saturday.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/canadian-province-of-alberta-declares-wildfire-emergency-589909"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Canadian province of Alberta declares wildfire emergency</strong></a></p>

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<p>Pembina Pipeline Corp, which runs oil-gathering pipelines in the region, on Friday, said it had activated emergency response and incident management processes and is "evaluating any current or anticipated operational impacts".</p>

<p>Pembina did not respond to a request for an update on Saturday.</p>

<p>So far this year, there have been 43,000 hectares burned from wildfires, Smith said.</p>

<p>"It is very unusual for us to see this much fire activity this early in the season," said Tucker earlier on Saturday.</p>

<p>Voters in Alberta will go to the polls on May 29 to elect a new government. Smith said people should expect election day will go ahead as planned.</p>

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Alberta on Saturday declared a provincial state of emergency after tens of thousands of Albertans have been forced to evacuate their homes as "unprecedented" wildfires rage on in Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith, head of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) said at a press conference.

Alberta on Saturday declared a provincial state of emergency after tens of thousands of Albertans have been forced to evacuate their homes as "unprecedented" wildfires rage on in Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith, head of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) said at a press conference. By Saturday at 5 pm Mountain Time (7 pm ET), more than 24,000 Albertans had been evacuated from their homes, with 110 active wildfires across the province, and 36 out of control. "It has been an extremely challenging day for firefighters here," said Christie Tucker, an information unit manager for Alberta Wildfire. "We were battling very strong winds, hot weather and those winds produced extreme wildfire activity." She added that additional firefighters had arrived today from Quebec and Ontario. "Much of Alberta has been experiencing a hot, dry spring and with so much kindling, all it takes is a few sparks to ignite some truly frightening wildfires," said Smith at a press conference earlier in the day. "These conditions have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province is facing today." ALSO READ | Thousands forced to flee after wildfire and floods across western Canada Among the communities evacuated was Brazeau County, including all 7,000 people living in Drayton Valley, 140 km (87 miles) west of the province's capital Edmonton. The entire community of 3,600 people in Fox Lake was also among the evacuees, where the 1,458-hectare (3609-acre) Fox Lake fire consumed 20 homes and the police station. "I don't know that I ever recall seeing multiple communities evacuated all at once in fire season," said Smith. She said $1.12 billion (C$1.5 billion) is put aside as a contingency because they know a significant amount could need to be spent on emergency management, Whitecap Resources, an oil producer operating in northwestern and central Alberta, said it has been busy ensuring staff are safe through the evacuation process and assets are unaffected. "(We are) monitoring closely and praying for rain," Grant Fagerheim, Whitecap CEO, said on Saturday. WATCH | Canadian province of Alberta declares wildfire emergency × Pembina Pipeline Corp, which runs oil-gathering pipelines in the region, on Friday, said it had activated emergency response and incident management processes and is "evaluating any current or anticipated operational impacts". Pembina did not respond to a request for an update on Saturday. So far this year, there have been 43,000 hectares burned from wildfires, Smith said. "It is very unusual for us to see this much fire activity this early in the season," said Tucker earlier on Saturday. Voters in Alberta will go to the polls on May 29 to elect a new government. Smith said people should expect election day will go ahead as planned. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canadian province of Alberta declares wildfire emergency

<p>Jerry Martin, a 51-year-old Canadian, was detained in British Columbia for starting a mobile shop to sell cocaine, heroin, and other dangerous substances. In court, he has stated he intends to contest his arrest on the grounds that drug supplies cause harm. The arrest took place on Thursday, a day after Martin started his store.</p>

<p>Police in Vancouver claimed to have detained a guy for "drug trafficking in connection with an illicit drug dispensary". However, no official charges have yet been filed against him.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>On Wednesday, he started a portable shop that was parked on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, a place with a high prevalence of drug use and a lot of drug overdose prevention programmes.</p>

<p>Health Canada decriminalised the possession of small amounts of hard drugs in the province of British Columbia (BC) early this year as part of a three-year trial experiment. Martin, whose brother died from an overdose, said he had intended to establish his store.</p>

<p>The public health measure was proposed in response to an increase in the number of fentanyl-laced drug overdose deaths in western Canada. More than 2,720 individuals in British Columbia died from overdoses in 2022. It is seven people on average every day.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/onus-on-india-to-restart-peace-talks-pak-fm-bilawal-bhutto-589483">Onus on India to restart peace talks: Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari</a></p>

<p>In an effort to stop more fatalities, Martin told local media sources that he intended to distribute batches of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and crack in little doses, up to 2.5 grammes. He said that fentanyl content had been checked during testing.</p>

<p>In a statement, Constable Tania Visintin said Vancouver police "support measures aimed at improving public safety for people who use drugs, including harm reduction services and decriminalisation."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Srinagar gears up to host G20 summit | Inside South Asia: part 2</strong></p>

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<p>Numerous people had reportedly queued up outside Martin's mobile store on Wednesday afternoon to purchase drugs, according to the CBC. Although Martin's name was not mentioned in the police news release announcing the arrest, it received extensive coverage in Canadian media.<br />
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Jerry Martin, a 51-year-old Canadian, was detained in British Columbia for starting a mobile shop to sell cocaine, heroin, and other dangerous substances. In court, he has stated he intends to contest his arrest on the grounds that drug supplies cause harm.

Jerry Martin, a 51-year-old Canadian, was detained in British Columbia for starting a mobile shop to sell cocaine, heroin, and other dangerous substances. In court, he has stated he intends to contest his arrest on the grounds that drug supplies cause harm. The arrest took place on Thursday, a day after Martin started his store. Police in Vancouver claimed to have detained a guy for "drug trafficking in connection with an illicit drug dispensary". However, no official charges have yet been filed against him. WATCH | Dramatic visuals as truck driver rescued in Kenya after sudden floods On Wednesday, he started a portable shop that was parked on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, a place with a high prevalence of drug use and a lot of drug overdose prevention programmes. Health Canada decriminalised the possession of small amounts of hard drugs in the province of British Columbia (BC) early this year as part of a three-year trial experiment. Martin, whose brother died from an overdose, said he had intended to establish his store. The public health measure was proposed in response to an increase in the number of fentanyl-laced drug overdose deaths in western Canada. More than 2,720 individuals in British Columbia died from overdoses in 2022. It is seven people on average every day. Also Read | Onus on India to restart peace talks: Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari In an effort to stop more fatalities, Martin told local media sources that he intended to distribute batches of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and crack in little doses, up to 2.5 grammes. He said that fentanyl content had been checked during testing. In a statement, Constable Tania Visintin said Vancouver police "support measures aimed at improving public safety for people who use drugs, including harm reduction services and decriminalisation." Watch | Srinagar gears up to host G20 summit | Inside South Asia: part 2 × Numerous people had reportedly queued up outside Martin's mobile store on Wednesday afternoon to purchase drugs, according to the CBC. Although Martin's name was not mentioned in the police news release announcing the arrest, it received extensive coverage in Canadian media. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canadian man detained in British Columbia for opening shop selling hard drugs

<p>More than 13,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in western Canada, as of Friday (May 5), after a week of record-hot weather, exceeding seasonal averages by as much as 10 degrees Celsius, which have since triggered wildfires. On the other hand, rapid snow melt has trigged flooding across interior British Columbia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Wildfires in Alberta</strong></p>

<p>The officials have said that around 13,000 residents were under evacuation orders, in the Canadian province of Alberta, the region worst affected by forest fires. On Friday, as per reports, the province witnessed nearly 80 active fires out of which many were out of control.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as a western and central part of the country which is home to a large part of Canada’s agricultural land is witnessing “abnormally dry” and even “severe drought” in places, reported AFP citing data from the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this context, among the worst-hit areas was the territory of the Little Red River Cree Nation, which comprises three communities in the north of the province, including Fox Lake, where fire has engulfed as many as 20 houses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Christie Tucker, an information unit manager for Alberta Wildfire, there have been nearly 350 wildfires in Alberta this year, which have burned more than 25,000 hectares. “This is significantly more wildfire activity for this time of year than we have seen any time in the recent past,” said Tucker, at a press conference, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She added, “It's going to get hotter, it's going to get windier and we are expecting some extreme wildfire behaviour. Firefighters are at the ready today for what could be an extremely challenging day.” The official warned that fires were expected to intensify.</p>

<p><strong>Floods and fire in British Columbia</strong></p>

<p>While one part of Canada is dealing with dry conditions and wildfires, British Columbia, on the Pacific coast, is witnessing a terrible combination of both, several wildfires inland and rapid snowmelt that has raised the level of rivers in the southern part of the province. Media reports citing officials have said that some rivers have burst their banks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Multiple days of unusually warm temperatures have generated rapid snowmelt and high streamflows across much of the BC Interior, with severe flooding underway in some areas,” said the provincial authorities, in a statement, as quoted by the news agency AFP. It added, “Severe flooding is possible, and extreme flooding...is plausible, in areas that receive high rainfall.”</p>

<p>The authorities are also concerned about the heavy rains expected at the weekend which could worsen the situation. “The situation is expected to worsen as rainfall and thundershowers are forecast for Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, which increases the likelihood of flooding,” said the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a statement, as per Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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More than 13,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in western Canada, as of Friday (May 5), after a week of record-hot weather, exceeding seasonal averages by as much as 10 degrees Celsius, which have since triggered wildfires.

More than 13,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in western Canada, as of Friday (May 5), after a week of record-hot weather, exceeding seasonal averages by as much as 10 degrees Celsius, which have since triggered wildfires. On the other hand, rapid snow melt has trigged flooding across interior British Columbia. Wildfires in Alberta The officials have said that around 13,000 residents were under evacuation orders, in the Canadian province of Alberta, the region worst affected by forest fires. On Friday, as per reports, the province witnessed nearly 80 active fires out of which many were out of control. This comes as a western and central part of the country which is home to a large part of Canada’s agricultural land is witnessing “abnormally dry” and even “severe drought” in places, reported AFP citing data from the government. In this context, among the worst-hit areas was the territory of the Little Red River Cree Nation, which comprises three communities in the north of the province, including Fox Lake, where fire has engulfed as many as 20 houses. According to Christie Tucker, an information unit manager for Alberta Wildfire, there have been nearly 350 wildfires in Alberta this year, which have burned more than 25,000 hectares. “This is significantly more wildfire activity for this time of year than we have seen any time in the recent past,” said Tucker, at a press conference, as quoted by Reuters. She added, “It's going to get hotter, it's going to get windier and we are expecting some extreme wildfire behaviour. Firefighters are at the ready today for what could be an extremely challenging day.” The official warned that fires were expected to intensify. Floods and fire in British Columbia While one part of Canada is dealing with dry conditions and wildfires, British Columbia, on the Pacific coast, is witnessing a terrible combination of both, several wildfires inland and rapid snowmelt that has raised the level of rivers in the southern part of the province. Media reports citing officials have said that some rivers have burst their banks. “Multiple days of unusually warm temperatures have generated rapid snowmelt and high streamflows across much of the BC Interior, with severe flooding underway in some areas,” said the provincial authorities, in a statement, as quoted by the news agency AFP. It added, “Severe flooding is possible, and extreme flooding...is plausible, in areas that receive high rainfall.” The authorities are also concerned about the heavy rains expected at the weekend which could worsen the situation. “The situation is expected to worsen as rainfall and thundershowers are forecast for Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, which increases the likelihood of flooding,” said the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a statement, as per Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Thousands forced to flee after wildfire and floods across western Canada

<p>Google and Meta's executives told Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday that the tech giants would take back access to news articles in Canada if the legislation that compels internet companies to pay money to the news publishers gets a green light.</p>

<p>The proposed legislation, which is part of a broader global trend to make tech firms pay for news, would force platforms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc and Google parent Alphabet Inc to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content.</p>

<p>Google's Vice President of News, Richard Gingras, said in testimony to a Senate committee that if this bill is passed, the company may be coerced to withdraw links to news articles found in Canadian search results. He further cited an "uncapped financial liability" if it had to pay publishers for linking to their sites.</p>

<p>Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta in Canada, said that if the bill is passed, Meta would also put an end to the availability of news content in the country.</p>

<p>The bill, introduced in April 2022 by Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, is the latest legislation aiming to make digital media platforms pay for linking news content.</p>

<p>"All we're asking the tech giants like Facebook and Google to do is negotiate fair deals with news outlets when they profit from their work," Heritage Ministry spokesperson Laura Scaffidi said.</p>

<h2><strong>'Google carrying out tests blocking news content for some users in Canada a terrible mistake': Trudeau&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Google, earlier this year, tested blocking some Canadian users' access to news as a potential response to the legislation.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this move a 'terrible mistake'. He said the blocking of news in Canada was an issue "bothering" him.</p>

<p>"It really surprises me that Google has decided that they'd rather prevent Canadians from accessing news than actually paying journalists for the work they do," he said.</p>

<p>"I think that's a terrible mistake and I know Canadians expect journalists to be well paid for the work they do.”</p>

<h2><strong>Australia's ground-breaking law made Facebook and Google pay for news</strong></h2>

<p>Canada's proposal is similar to a trailblazing law passed by Australia in the year 2021 after which Google and Facebook had threatened to withdraw their services but eventually, struck a deal with Australian media companies after amendments to the legislation were offered. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a government report the law has largely worked.</p>

<p>The Treasury Department report said that since the News Media Bargaining Code took effect, the tech firms had inked more than 30 deals with media outlets compensating them for the content which generated clicks and advertising dollars.</p>

<p>"At least some of these agreements have enabled news businesses to, in particular, employ additional journalists and make other valuable investments to assist their operations," said the report.</p>

<p>"While views on the success or otherwise of the Code will invariably differ, we consider it is reasonable to conclude that the Code has been a success to date."</p>

<p>"The review shows the Code has been successful in balancing bargaining power between news media and digital platforms," said Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones.</p>

<p>"Digital platforms must continue to negotiate in good faith with news businesses to ensure they are fairly remunerated for the news content they create."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Google and Meta's executives told Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday that the tech giants would take back access to news articles in Canada if the legislation that compels internet companies to pay money to the news publishers gets a green light.

Google and Meta's executives told Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday that the tech giants would take back access to news articles in Canada if the legislation that compels internet companies to pay money to the news publishers gets a green light. The proposed legislation, which is part of a broader global trend to make tech firms pay for news, would force platforms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc and Google parent Alphabet Inc to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content. Google's Vice President of News, Richard Gingras, said in testimony to a Senate committee that if this bill is passed, the company may be coerced to withdraw links to news articles found in Canadian search results. He further cited an "uncapped financial liability" if it had to pay publishers for linking to their sites. Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta in Canada, said that if the bill is passed, Meta would also put an end to the availability of news content in the country. The bill, introduced in April 2022 by Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, is the latest legislation aiming to make digital media platforms pay for linking news content. "All we're asking the tech giants like Facebook and Google to do is negotiate fair deals with news outlets when they profit from their work," Heritage Ministry spokesperson Laura Scaffidi said. 'Google carrying out tests blocking news content for some users in Canada a terrible mistake': Trudeau Google, earlier this year, tested blocking some Canadian users' access to news as a potential response to the legislation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this move a 'terrible mistake'. He said the blocking of news in Canada was an issue "bothering" him. "It really surprises me that Google has decided that they'd rather prevent Canadians from accessing news than actually paying journalists for the work they do," he said. "I think that's a terrible mistake and I know Canadians expect journalists to be well paid for the work they do.” Australia's ground-breaking law made Facebook and Google pay for news Canada's proposal is similar to a trailblazing law passed by Australia in the year 2021 after which Google and Facebook had threatened to withdraw their services but eventually, struck a deal with Australian media companies after amendments to the legislation were offered. As per a government report the law has largely worked. The Treasury Department report said that since the News Media Bargaining Code took effect, the tech firms had inked more than 30 deals with media outlets compensating them for the content which generated clicks and advertising dollars. "At least some of these agreements have enabled news businesses to, in particular, employ additional journalists and make other valuable investments to assist their operations," said the report. "While views on the success or otherwise of the Code will invariably differ, we consider it is reasonable to conclude that the Code has been a success to date." "The review shows the Code has been successful in balancing bargaining power between news media and digital platforms," said Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones. "Digital platforms must continue to negotiate in good faith with news businesses to ensure they are fairly remunerated for the news content they create." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Google, Meta threaten to withdraw news access if Online News Act becomes law

Canada's largest strike by federal workers is nearing its third week. But there seems to be no end in sight. The strike has particularly impacted people who want to emigrate to Canada for work. Employers continue to be anxious that a slower immigration process may lead to a major labour crunch.

Canada strikes leave immigrants in limbo

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<p>A Canadian chef has been accused of selling lethal poison to suicidal youngsters. According to a report by the Times on Tuesday (April 25), the chef- Kenneth Law- has been sending the poison to vulnerable people around the world from a post office near Toronto for two years. Law sold the substance, which has not been identified yet, on a website disguised to fool authorities about its true purpose.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canadian authorities are investigating Law and his website was taken offline, The Times report said. Up to seven deaths, including four from the United Kingdom (UK), were linked to the poison. Law claimed that he sent the product to hundreds of people in the UK. He said that Britons were some of his most frequent buyers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On being asked how many in the UK got the poison, Law said, “It will be literally in the hundreds. And they’ve all received it. We have had many, many customers in the UK who have purchased it.”</p>

<p>“People in the UK have died, people in the US have died, people in Canada have died, and other parts of the world,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report said that Law is a former aerospace engineer and had spent six months in Coventry working on the Boeing 7E7 programme team for Dunlop Standard Aerospace. However, he was most recently employed as a chef in a hotel in Toronto. Citing sources, the Times reported on Tuesday that Law worked at the hotel after wanting a lifestyle change. But the hotel said that he was not an employee.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to the publication, he said that he came up with the business after seeing his mother suffer greatly following a stroke. Law said that his father is religious and did not believe very much in euthanasia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“She was bedridden, couldn’t speak and they had to feed her through a tube to her stomach for over seven years. And that was very painful. Not only for her family but also very painful for me to witness," Law said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is why I created some avenue of escape, so that people if they are in such a circumstance, can undertake it either by themselves or by somebody else,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The victims</strong></h2>

<p>The Times report mentioned the names of some of the victims who took their lives after buying the poison. The oldest victim was 38 years oldest while the youngest was 17.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the UK, twenty-two-year-old Tom Parfett was one of the victims who bought the poison from Law's company. Tom's father David said that Law was the man that effectively "handed a loaded gun to my son."</p>

<p>David said that Tom would still be alive if it wasn't for Law and the substance. David also pointed out that Law was knowingly supplying the substance for people to take their own lives and gained some kind of perverse pleasure from the knowledge that they were doing it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Michael Dunham, 38, Neha Raju, 23 and a 21-year-old student who was not identified- were all from the UK and died in the last 18 months after they bought poison from Law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report also said that there were three deaths linked to Law in the US. One of the victims, Anthony Jones, 17, consumed the substance and ran to his mother shouting he wanted to live. However, he died shortly afterwards.&nbsp;</p>

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A Canadian chef has been accused of selling lethal poison to suicidal youngsters. According to a report by the Times on Tuesday (April 25), the chef- Kenneth Law- has been sending the poison to vulnerable people around the world from a post office near Toronto for two years.

A Canadian chef has been accused of selling lethal poison to suicidal youngsters. According to a report by the Times on Tuesday (April 25), the chef- Kenneth Law- has been sending the poison to vulnerable people around the world from a post office near Toronto for two years. Law sold the substance, which has not been identified yet, on a website disguised to fool authorities about its true purpose. Canadian authorities are investigating Law and his website was taken offline, The Times report said. Up to seven deaths, including four from the United Kingdom (UK), were linked to the poison. Law claimed that he sent the product to hundreds of people in the UK. He said that Britons were some of his most frequent buyers. On being asked how many in the UK got the poison, Law said, “It will be literally in the hundreds. And they’ve all received it. We have had many, many customers in the UK who have purchased it.” “People in the UK have died, people in the US have died, people in Canada have died, and other parts of the world,” he added. The report said that Law is a former aerospace engineer and had spent six months in Coventry working on the Boeing 7E7 programme team for Dunlop Standard Aerospace. However, he was most recently employed as a chef in a hotel in Toronto. Citing sources, the Times reported on Tuesday that Law worked at the hotel after wanting a lifestyle change. But the hotel said that he was not an employee. Speaking to the publication, he said that he came up with the business after seeing his mother suffer greatly following a stroke. Law said that his father is religious and did not believe very much in euthanasia. “She was bedridden, couldn’t speak and they had to feed her through a tube to her stomach for over seven years. And that was very painful. Not only for her family but also very painful for me to witness," Law said. “This is why I created some avenue of escape, so that people if they are in such a circumstance, can undertake it either by themselves or by somebody else,” he added. The victims The Times report mentioned the names of some of the victims who took their lives after buying the poison. The oldest victim was 38 years oldest while the youngest was 17. In the UK, twenty-two-year-old Tom Parfett was one of the victims who bought the poison from Law's company. Tom's father David said that Law was the man that effectively "handed a loaded gun to my son." David said that Tom would still be alive if it wasn't for Law and the substance. David also pointed out that Law was knowingly supplying the substance for people to take their own lives and gained some kind of perverse pleasure from the knowledge that they were doing it. Michael Dunham, 38, Neha Raju, 23 and a 21-year-old student who was not identified- were all from the UK and died in the last 18 months after they bought poison from Law. The report also said that there were three deaths linked to Law in the US. One of the victims, Anthony Jones, 17, consumed the substance and ran to his mother shouting he wanted to live. However, he died shortly afterwards. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canadian chef sold poison to suicidal youngsters around the world: Report

In a now-viral video, male lawmakers in Canada were seen wearing pink high heels inside the country’s parliament to raise awareness about violence against women, on Friday (April 20). The politicians were participating in the “Hope in High Heels on the Hill” campaign sponsored by Halton Women’s Place based in Halton, Ontario.

Canada: Male politicians walk in pink heels to raise awareness for violence against women

<p>In a now-viral video, male lawmakers in Canada were seen wearing pink high heels inside the country’s parliament to raise awareness about violence against women, on Friday (April 20). The politicians were participating in the “Hope in High Heels on the Hill” campaign sponsored by Halton Women’s Place based in Halton, Ontario.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Violence against women is still prevalent in our society. Hope in Heels is an event that spreads awareness on violence against women while encouraging men and boys to be part of the solution. We wore their signature pink heels in support to this important cause,” Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra wrote on Twitter along with the video of lawmakers walking around the parliament in pink colour heels.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Violence against women is still prevalent in our society. Hope in Heels is an event that spreads awareness on violence against women while encouraging men and boys to be part of the solution. We wore their signature pink heels in support to this important cause. <a href="https://twitter.com/HaltonWomensPl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HaltonWomensPl</a> <a href="https://t.co/5qngxQ6Myu">pic.twitter.com/5qngxQ6Myu</a></p>
— Omar Alghabra (@OmarAlghabra) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarAlghabra/status/1649112084330807298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In a subsequent tweet, he wrote, “Now that I have your attention, violence against women comes in all forms, not just physical. Men, starting with me, need to be aware of the consequences of our actions and words and do better to create space for women around us.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Canadian Minister of Families, Children and Social Development also took to the microblogging platform and said how they welcomed the Halton Women’s Place for the fourth annual “Hope in High Heels on the Hill” and “continue the conversation on systemic violence against women. Educating men and boys is part of the solution, and it is all of our responsibilities to end gender based violence.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We were thrilled to see so many individuals across all political parties participate and walk in the heels to show their support in ending gender-based violence,” said the Halton Women’s Place.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Twitter reacts</strong></p>

<p>The event garnered mostly criticism from Twitter users as many responded to the video posted by Alghabra calling it “ridiculous” or “insulting,” while others questioned how is this helping and called it “offensive.”</p>

<p>“I’m sorry am I missing something - how does men walking in pink heels around a table help women and men of domestic abuse and violence,” wrote one Twitter user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As the survivor of a violent attack this is just so offensive,” said another user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is incredibly insulting to women. Instead of combatting abuse and violence against women with leadership and policies your government wastes time virtue signaling. Do your job instead please,” wrote a Twitter user.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Alghabra responds to criticism&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In response to the backlash and criticism faced for the video posted, the&nbsp;Canadian transport minister, on Saturday wrote, "A credible organization that combats violence against women has been coming for years to Parliament asking male MPs to help them raise awareness about their work. Yet, a group of insecure men gets triggered when they see men wearing high heels speaks to how fragile their ego is."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, "Ironic that those who complain about how easily offended society is are easily offended by a simple gesture."&nbsp;</p>

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In a now-viral video, male lawmakers in Canada were seen wearing pink high heels inside the country’s parliament to raise awareness about violence against women, on Friday (April 20).

In a now-viral video, male lawmakers in Canada were seen wearing pink high heels inside the country’s parliament to raise awareness about violence against women, on Friday (April 20). The politicians were participating in the “Hope in High Heels on the Hill” campaign sponsored by Halton Women’s Place based in Halton, Ontario. “Violence against women is still prevalent in our society. Hope in Heels is an event that spreads awareness on violence against women while encouraging men and boys to be part of the solution. We wore their signature pink heels in support to this important cause,” Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra wrote on Twitter along with the video of lawmakers walking around the parliament in pink colour heels. Violence against women is still prevalent in our society. Hope in Heels is an event that spreads awareness on violence against women while encouraging men and boys to be part of the solution. We wore their signature pink heels in support to this important cause. @HaltonWomensPl pic.twitter.com/5qngxQ6Myu — Omar Alghabra (@OmarAlghabra) April 20, 2023 × In a subsequent tweet, he wrote, “Now that I have your attention, violence against women comes in all forms, not just physical. Men, starting with me, need to be aware of the consequences of our actions and words and do better to create space for women around us.” Meanwhile, the Canadian Minister of Families, Children and Social Development also took to the microblogging platform and said how they welcomed the Halton Women’s Place for the fourth annual “Hope in High Heels on the Hill” and “continue the conversation on systemic violence against women. Educating men and boys is part of the solution, and it is all of our responsibilities to end gender based violence.” “We were thrilled to see so many individuals across all political parties participate and walk in the heels to show their support in ending gender-based violence,” said the Halton Women’s Place. Twitter reacts The event garnered mostly criticism from Twitter users as many responded to the video posted by Alghabra calling it “ridiculous” or “insulting,” while others questioned how is this helping and called it “offensive.” “I’m sorry am I missing something - how does men walking in pink heels around a table help women and men of domestic abuse and violence,” wrote one Twitter user. “As the survivor of a violent attack this is just so offensive,” said another user. “This is incredibly insulting to women. Instead of combatting abuse and violence against women with leadership and policies your government wastes time virtue signaling. Do your job instead please,” wrote a Twitter user. Alghabra responds to criticism In response to the backlash and criticism faced for the video posted, the Canadian transport minister, on Saturday wrote, "A credible organization that combats violence against women has been coming for years to Parliament asking male MPs to help them raise awareness about their work. Yet, a group of insecure men gets triggered when they see men wearing high heels speaks to how fragile their ego is." He added, "Ironic that those who complain about how easily offended society is are easily offended by a simple gesture." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | Canada: Male politicians walk in pink heels to raise awareness on violence against women

<p>Huge quantities of gold and other valuables&nbsp;went missing from Pearson International Airport in Canada's Toronto city on Friday, in what has emerged as one of the biggest robberies of North America in recent times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canadian officials say more than $14.8m&nbsp;of gold and other valuables were stolen on Monday, 17 April.</p>

<p>The "high-value" aircraft container arrived at the airport in the evening and it was reportedly transported to a cargo holding facility.</p>

<p>According to the police, the heist took place at this exact cargo holding facility.</p>

<p>The theft could mark one of the bigger heists in Canadian history, BBC reported. Other heists of similar scale&nbsp;include the 2011 and 2012 Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, when 3,000 tonnes of syrup valued at $18.7m were stolen from a storage facility in Quebec.</p>

<p>Peel Regional Police inspector Stephen Duivesteyn said their team is investigating "all avenues" and described the incident as "isolated" and "rare".</p>

<p>He said the aircraft container was about 5 square feet (.46 square metres) in size.</p>

<p>The Toronto Sun reported earlier on Thursday that police thought organised crime groups were involved.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Canadian police are now investigating the gold heist that have stunned many by its sheer scale.</p>

<p>The investigators are suspecting it to be an act of organised crime,&nbsp;initial reports in the Canadian media said.</p>

<p>Police have called the&nbsp;theft "very rare" and said they consider it to be an isolated incident which poses no threat to public safety.</p>

<p>Police do not yet know where the gold was headed or if it is still in Canada.</p>

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Huge quantities of gold and other valuables went missing from Pearson International Airport in Canada's Toronto city on Friday, in what has emerged as one of the biggest robberies of North America in recent times.

Huge quantities of gold and other valuables went missing from Pearson International Airport in Canada's Toronto city on Friday, in what has emerged as one of the biggest robberies of North America in recent times. Canadian officials say more than $14.8m of gold and other valuables were stolen on Monday, 17 April. The "high-value" aircraft container arrived at the airport in the evening and it was reportedly transported to a cargo holding facility. According to the police, the heist took place at this exact cargo holding facility. The theft could mark one of the bigger heists in Canadian history, BBC reported. Other heists of similar scale include the 2011 and 2012 Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, when 3,000 tonnes of syrup valued at $18.7m were stolen from a storage facility in Quebec. Peel Regional Police inspector Stephen Duivesteyn said their team is investigating "all avenues" and described the incident as "isolated" and "rare". He said the aircraft container was about 5 square feet (.46 square metres) in size. The Toronto Sun reported earlier on Thursday that police thought organised crime groups were involved. The Canadian police are now investigating the gold heist that have stunned many by its sheer scale. The investigators are suspecting it to be an act of organised crime, initial reports in the Canadian media said. Police have called the theft "very rare" and said they consider it to be an isolated incident which poses no threat to public safety. Police do not yet know where the gold was headed or if it is still in Canada. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Gold heist at Canada's Toronto airport could be country's biggest robbery in years

Twitter is in a public spat with the Canadian broadcasting corporation. The public broadcaster pushed back against Twitter's move to label it "a 69% government funded media."

Canada's public broadcaster pauses Twitter use

A Moscow court jailed kremlin critic for 25 years after a trial he and the west said was politically motivated. Vladimir Kara-Murza holds Russian & UK passports. The kremlin critic had lobbied western governments for sanctions & individual Russians for purported rights violations. The ministry accused the envoys of interference in Russia's internal affairs & activity incompatible with diplomatic status. The 3 ambassadors had made a joint appearance in front of tv cameras on the steps of the Moscow court to condemn the verdict against Kara-Murza. UK envoy Deborah Bronnert delivered her remarks in Russian so that Russian-language channels could potentially broadcast them. In a statement, the ministry called Bronnert's remarks inappropriate & provocative. The statement added the ambassador's remarks ran counter to the British Embassy's status & diplomatic norms. Russia warned US envoy that it would quash attempts to incite discord.

Russia summons US, UK and Canada envoys | Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza jailed for 25 years

<p>Canadian history will witness one of the&nbsp;biggest government employee strikes on Wednesday (April 19), as a result of failed negotiations with a public sector union.&nbsp;The final deadline of 9 p.m. in the talks between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Treasury Board of Canada, which hires government employees, passed without a resolution. Around&nbsp;155,000 federal workers will go on strike on Wednesday at midnight, according to PSAC.</p>

<p>“We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s Federal Public Service workers,” PSAC national president Chris Aylward.</p>

<p>One of the services that will be affected is immigration, which will have an impact on applicants for temporary work permits, permanent residency, and study permits for prospective overseas students. The largest country cohort for these categories consists of Indian nationals.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Russia summons US, UK and Canada envoys | Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza jailed for 25 years</strong></p>

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<p>In a statement released on Tuesday night, PSAC said, “With nearly a third of the entire federal public service workers on strike, Canadians can expect to see slowdowns or a complete shutdown of services nationwide beginning tomorrow, including a complete halt of the tax season; disruptions to employment insurance, immigration, and passport applications; interruptions to supply chains and international trade at ports; and slowdowns at the border with administrative staff on strike.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/canadian-fintech-firm-nuveis-shares-fall-after-short-seller-report-584005">Canadian fintech firm Nuvei's shares fall after short-seller report</a></p>

<p>A rise of 13.5 per cent&nbsp;over three years, retrospective to 2021, is one of the proposals from the union. The administration responded with a number of 9% distributed all through that time frame.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Negotiations are anticipated to go on even after the strike starts because, as Aylward stated, "We're ready to reach a fair deal as soon as the government is ready to come to the table with a fair offer."</p>

<p>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada had voiced optimism earlier in the day on Tuesday that a strike could be averted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Canadian history will witness one of the biggest government employee strikes on Wednesday (April 19), as a result of failed negotiations with a public sector union.

Canadian history will witness one of the biggest government employee strikes on Wednesday (April 19), as a result of failed negotiations with a public sector union. The final deadline of 9 p.m. in the talks between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Treasury Board of Canada, which hires government employees, passed without a resolution. Around 155,000 federal workers will go on strike on Wednesday at midnight, according to PSAC. “We truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s Federal Public Service workers,” PSAC national president Chris Aylward. One of the services that will be affected is immigration, which will have an impact on applicants for temporary work permits, permanent residency, and study permits for prospective overseas students. The largest country cohort for these categories consists of Indian nationals. ALSO WATCH | Russia summons US, UK and Canada envoys | Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza jailed for 25 years In a statement released on Tuesday night, PSAC said, “With nearly a third of the entire federal public service workers on strike, Canadians can expect to see slowdowns or a complete shutdown of services nationwide beginning tomorrow, including a complete halt of the tax season; disruptions to employment insurance, immigration, and passport applications; interruptions to supply chains and international trade at ports; and slowdowns at the border with administrative staff on strike.” ALSO READ | Canadian fintech firm Nuvei's shares fall after short-seller report A rise of 13.5 per cent over three years, retrospective to 2021, is one of the proposals from the union. The administration responded with a number of 9% distributed all through that time frame. Negotiations are anticipated to go on even after the strike starts because, as Aylward stated, "We're ready to reach a fair deal as soon as the government is ready to come to the table with a fair offer." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada had voiced optimism earlier in the day on Tuesday that a strike could be averted. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canada: Around 150,000 public employees to go on strike over pay dispute

<p>Canada's public broadcaster CBC and its French-language version Radio-Canada said on Monday that they were quitting Twitter over a new government-funded label, that it deems to be questioning&nbsp;its editorial independence. The Canadian public broadcaster's Twitter exit comes days after the US radio NPR quit the platform over a similar label.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio-Canada said Twitter had added a "government-funded media" label to its account. This, the Canadian state broadcaster added, branded it similar to the major media outlets in countries such as Russia and China.</p>

<p>"In the case of CBC/Radio-Canada this labeling is untrue and deceptive," the statement said.</p>

<p>While the broadcaster is publicly funded, it said its editorial independence is protected under Canadian broadcasting law.</p>

<p>"Twitter can be a powerful tool for our journalists to communicate with Canadians, but it undermines the accuracy and professionalism of the work they do to allow our independence to be falsely described in this way," it said.</p>

<p>"Consequently, we will be pausing our activity on our corporate Twitter account and all CBC and Radio-Canada news-related accounts."</p>

<p>The broadcaster instead urged Canadians to follow it on other social media.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/npr-quits-twitter-over-state-affiliated-media-label-row-first-news-organisation-to-do-so-581793">NPR quits Twitter over ‘state-affiliated media’ label row, first news organisation to do so</a></strong></p>

<p>CBC/Radio-Canada's Twitter exit follows that of National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States over the tag, which has also been applied to Britain's BBC. But soon after, BBC's 'government-funded media' label on Twitter was changed to 'publicly-funded media'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The NPR had a total of 52 official Twitter feeds and became the first major news organisation to completely quit Twitter.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Social media giant Twitter labels BBC as 'government-funded media'</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>CBC News quits Twitter: Political row erupts in Canada</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre of enlisting U.S. billionaires to attack Canada's public broadcaster. Trudeau's comments came shortly after Poilievre prodded Twitter owner Elon Musk to label the CBC "government-funded."</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-1">Poilievre said on Twitter last week that he had written to Musk to request that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation be labeled "accurately". Hours later, CBC's Twitter accounts were labeled 'government-funded'.</p>

<p>Since Elon Musk bought Twitter last November, the social media&nbsp;company has liberalised&nbsp;the moderation of content on the network.</p>

<p>Musk also trimmed Twitter's workforce from 7,500 to fewer than 2,000 employees expanding the post-pandemic layoff spree in the Silicon Valley.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Canada's public broadcaster CBC and its French-language version Radio-Canada said on Monday that they were quitting Twitter over a new government-funded label, that it deems to be questioning its editorial independence.

Canada's public broadcaster CBC and its French-language version Radio-Canada said on Monday that they were quitting Twitter over a new government-funded label, that it deems to be questioning its editorial independence. The Canadian public broadcaster's Twitter exit comes days after the US radio NPR quit the platform over a similar label. In a statement, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio-Canada said Twitter had added a "government-funded media" label to its account. This, the Canadian state broadcaster added, branded it similar to the major media outlets in countries such as Russia and China. "In the case of CBC/Radio-Canada this labeling is untrue and deceptive," the statement said. While the broadcaster is publicly funded, it said its editorial independence is protected under Canadian broadcasting law. "Twitter can be a powerful tool for our journalists to communicate with Canadians, but it undermines the accuracy and professionalism of the work they do to allow our independence to be falsely described in this way," it said. "Consequently, we will be pausing our activity on our corporate Twitter account and all CBC and Radio-Canada news-related accounts." The broadcaster instead urged Canadians to follow it on other social media. ALSO READ | NPR quits Twitter over ‘state-affiliated media’ label row, first news organisation to do so CBC/Radio-Canada's Twitter exit follows that of National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States over the tag, which has also been applied to Britain's BBC. But soon after, BBC's 'government-funded media' label on Twitter was changed to 'publicly-funded media'. The NPR had a total of 52 official Twitter feeds and became the first major news organisation to completely quit Twitter. ALSO WATCH | Social media giant Twitter labels BBC as 'government-funded media' × CBC News quits Twitter: Political row erupts in Canada Meanwhile, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre of enlisting U.S. billionaires to attack Canada's public broadcaster. Trudeau's comments came shortly after Poilievre prodded Twitter owner Elon Musk to label the CBC "government-funded." Poilievre said on Twitter last week that he had written to Musk to request that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation be labeled "accurately". Hours later, CBC's Twitter accounts were labeled 'government-funded'. Since Elon Musk bought Twitter last November, the social media company has liberalised the moderation of content on the network. Musk also trimmed Twitter's workforce from 7,500 to fewer than 2,000 employees expanding the post-pandemic layoff spree in the Silicon Valley. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

After NPR, Canada's CBC News quits Twitter over platform's 'government-funded' label

<p>Emergency services were called to rescue a Canadian man who was trapped inside a piece of Edmonton public art made of large shining silver spheres, Canada-based CBC News reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was charged with one count of mischief after the firefighters helped him to escape the structure and also slapped a fine of $5,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this month, firefighters were called to the Talus Dome sculpture in Edmonton, Alberta around 8:30pm (local time) to rescue 26-year-old Wakeem Courtoreille.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports three teams of emergency responders, including a technical rescue team from the fire department, spent about an hour and a half removing him from the dome. The Talus Dome is made from 1,000 handcrafted stainless steel spheres.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Edmonton Fire Rescue Services chief Troy Brady told CTV News Edmonton: "It's definitely a first for me. It's definitely different than what we would typically use it [the jaws of life] for."&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq1xy_Ft2PZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Connor S (@cwks)</a></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">the fact that someone is stuck inside of the talus dome balls and people are going up to it and taking videos like he's a zoo animal has me in tearssss <a href="https://t.co/4ZtwrmsdCU">pic.twitter.com/4ZtwrmsdCU</a></p>
— TY (@TyUnhinged) <a href="https://twitter.com/TyUnhinged/status/1645287476427382784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>It looked like the man had climbed to the top of the silvery structure and slipped inside through a gap between the balls. A person walking by notices when he shouted for help.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Connor Schwindt told CBC: "It was kind of like watching a mouse fall into a bucket. He was just kind of running around inside of it starting to freak out because he couldn’t get out." Schwindt is a local resident who witnessed the incident while out running.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Emergency services were called to rescue a Canadian man who was trapped inside a piece of Edmonton public art made of large shining silver spheres, Canada-based CBC News reported.

Emergency services were called to rescue a Canadian man who was trapped inside a piece of Edmonton public art made of large shining silver spheres, Canada-based CBC News reported. He was charged with one count of mischief after the firefighters helped him to escape the structure and also slapped a fine of $5,000. Earlier this month, firefighters were called to the Talus Dome sculpture in Edmonton, Alberta around 8:30pm (local time) to rescue 26-year-old Wakeem Courtoreille. Reports three teams of emergency responders, including a technical rescue team from the fire department, spent about an hour and a half removing him from the dome. The Talus Dome is made from 1,000 handcrafted stainless steel spheres. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services chief Troy Brady told CTV News Edmonton: "It's definitely a first for me. It's definitely different than what we would typically use it [the jaws of life] for." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Connor S (@cwks) × the fact that someone is stuck inside of the talus dome balls and people are going up to it and taking videos like he's a zoo animal has me in tearssss pic.twitter.com/4ZtwrmsdCU — TY (@TyUnhinged) April 10, 2023 × It looked like the man had climbed to the top of the silvery structure and slipped inside through a gap between the balls. A person walking by notices when he shouted for help. Connor Schwindt told CBC: "It was kind of like watching a mouse fall into a bucket. He was just kind of running around inside of it starting to freak out because he couldn’t get out." Schwindt is a local resident who witnessed the incident while out running. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canada: 26-year-old rescued from Edmonton public art, charged with mischief

<p>An Iranian court sentenced 10 members of the armed forces to prison after they were found guilty of their involvement in the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) jet, reported the judiciary’s Mizan Online website, on Sunday (April 16). The downing of the Ukrainian airliner resulted in the death of all 176 people on board.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What was the verdict?</strong></p>

<p>According to the report by Mizan, a commander received 10 years in prison while the sentencing for the nine others ranged between one to three years. The verdict also closes the trial which Iran’s judiciary said it opened back in November 2021 for 10 military personnel connected with the Ukrainian jet’s downing.</p>

<p><strong>What happened back in 2020?</strong></p>

<p>In 2020, UIA flight PS752 was shot down by two missiles moments after its takeoff from Tehran on January 8. The incident led to the death of all 176 people on board which included mostly Iranians and Canadians. Initially, Tehran had claimed that the Kyiv-bound passenger plane had crashed and was not until three days later that the Iranian armed forces admitted to downing the plane “by mistake”.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-human-error-to-blame-for-downing-of-ukrainian-jet-312747">Iran says 'human error' to blame for downing of Ukrainian jet</a></strong></p>

<p>According to reports, the Iranian air defence said that they accidentally downed the Boeing 737 after mistaking it for an incoming missile. Tehran had later called it a “disastrous mistake” by forces who were on high alert, at the time of the incident as tensions between Iran and the United States were soaring.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Iranian forces were anticipating a US counterattack after Tehran fired missiles at a military base in Iraq that was used by American forces. However, the claims of “human error” made by the Islamic Republic have been questioned by Ukraine, Canada, and various organisations as well as observers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization blamed the incident on the misalignment of a radar system and a lack of communication between the air defence operator and his commanders. However, Ukraine and Canada have rejected these claims, reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Among those killed were citizens of Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Germany, Iran, Sweden, and Ukraine. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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An Iranian court sentenced 10 members of the armed forces to prison after they were found guilty of their involvement in the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) jet, reported the judiciary’s Mizan Online website, on Sunday (April 16).

An Iranian court sentenced 10 members of the armed forces to prison after they were found guilty of their involvement in the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) jet, reported the judiciary’s Mizan Online website, on Sunday (April 16). The downing of the Ukrainian airliner resulted in the death of all 176 people on board. What was the verdict? According to the report by Mizan, a commander received 10 years in prison while the sentencing for the nine others ranged between one to three years. The verdict also closes the trial which Iran’s judiciary said it opened back in November 2021 for 10 military personnel connected with the Ukrainian jet’s downing. What happened back in 2020? In 2020, UIA flight PS752 was shot down by two missiles moments after its takeoff from Tehran on January 8. The incident led to the death of all 176 people on board which included mostly Iranians and Canadians. Initially, Tehran had claimed that the Kyiv-bound passenger plane had crashed and was not until three days later that the Iranian armed forces admitted to downing the plane “by mistake”. ALSO READ | Iran says 'human error' to blame for downing of Ukrainian jet According to reports, the Iranian air defence said that they accidentally downed the Boeing 737 after mistaking it for an incoming missile. Tehran had later called it a “disastrous mistake” by forces who were on high alert, at the time of the incident as tensions between Iran and the United States were soaring. The Iranian forces were anticipating a US counterattack after Tehran fired missiles at a military base in Iraq that was used by American forces. However, the claims of “human error” made by the Islamic Republic have been questioned by Ukraine, Canada, and various organisations as well as observers. A report by the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization blamed the incident on the misalignment of a radar system and a lack of communication between the air defence operator and his commanders. However, Ukraine and Canada have rejected these claims, reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Among those killed were citizens of Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Germany, Iran, Sweden, and Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iranian court sentences 10 military personnel over 2020 Ukraine jet downing

<p>24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of Canada's prime minister was shut down last year due to a raging rodent infestation on the property, documents obtained by the National Post have shown. Such was the condition due to dead mice trapped behind the walls and in the basement that the air in the mansion was deemed no longer safe to breathe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 35-room, four-floor property was completed in 1896 and has served as the official residence of Canadian PMs since 1951. Louis St. Laurent was the first occupant of the mansion which was classified as a federal heritage building in 1986.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the documents released show that the dilapidated condition of the building was made possible due to decades of negligence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There is an important rodent infestation, which can’t be fully addressed until the building envelope issues are resolved. In the meantime, we use bait to control the situation, but that leaves us with excrement and carcasses between the walls and in the attic and basement spaces," read the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/unidentified-object-shot-down-over-canada-561263"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Unidentified object shot down over Canada</strong></a></p>

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<p>Cracked windows, failed plumbing, unsafe electrical systems and walls plagued with mould have become some of the key features of the decrepit building.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There is a serious risk associated with the electrical systems, which is why we consider the building a fire hazard,” says the note.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even without any inhabitants in the residence, the costly utility bills are burning a hole in the exchequer's wallet. Reports state that the building's January electricity bill stood at nearly $3,730 while gas and water bills came at around $2,352 and $423 respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stephen Harper was the last PM to have lived at 24 Sussex Drive. Current PM Justin Trudeau and his family have been living in Rideau Cottage - a two-level, 22-room home located on the grounds of Rideau Hall since 2015.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-google-executives-summoned-in-canada-over-blocking-news-content-567540"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Top Google executives summoned in Canada over blocking news content</strong></a></p>

<p>&nbsp;When quizzed why he had preferred to not live in the official residence, Trudeau said it was for the safety of the family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I made the decision a number of years ago not to move into that house, and to ensure that my family lived in a smaller but better place in Rideau Cottage. We continue to work with public servants as they chart a path forward for the official residences," the publication quoted him as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the historical significance of the residence, there has been no formal decision made for renovation or complete makeover of the mansion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Capital Commission (NCC) has estimated that renovating and upgrading the building may cost approximately $30 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of Canada's prime minister was shut down last year due to a raging rodent infestation on the property, documents obtained by the National Post have shown.

24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of Canada's prime minister was shut down last year due to a raging rodent infestation on the property, documents obtained by the National Post have shown. Such was the condition due to dead mice trapped behind the walls and in the basement that the air in the mansion was deemed no longer safe to breathe. The 35-room, four-floor property was completed in 1896 and has served as the official residence of Canadian PMs since 1951. Louis St. Laurent was the first occupant of the mansion which was classified as a federal heritage building in 1986. However, the documents released show that the dilapidated condition of the building was made possible due to decades of negligence. “There is an important rodent infestation, which can’t be fully addressed until the building envelope issues are resolved. In the meantime, we use bait to control the situation, but that leaves us with excrement and carcasses between the walls and in the attic and basement spaces," read the report. WATCH | Unidentified object shot down over Canada × Cracked windows, failed plumbing, unsafe electrical systems and walls plagued with mould have become some of the key features of the decrepit building. “There is a serious risk associated with the electrical systems, which is why we consider the building a fire hazard,” says the note. Even without any inhabitants in the residence, the costly utility bills are burning a hole in the exchequer's wallet. Reports state that the building's January electricity bill stood at nearly $3,730 while gas and water bills came at around $2,352 and $423 respectively. Stephen Harper was the last PM to have lived at 24 Sussex Drive. Current PM Justin Trudeau and his family have been living in Rideau Cottage - a two-level, 22-room home located on the grounds of Rideau Hall since 2015. ALSO READ | Top Google executives summoned in Canada over blocking news content When quizzed why he had preferred to not live in the official residence, Trudeau said it was for the safety of the family. “I made the decision a number of years ago not to move into that house, and to ensure that my family lived in a smaller but better place in Rideau Cottage. We continue to work with public servants as they chart a path forward for the official residences," the publication quoted him as saying. Despite the historical significance of the residence, there has been no formal decision made for renovation or complete makeover of the mansion. The National Capital Commission (NCC) has estimated that renovating and upgrading the building may cost approximately $30 million. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canadian PM's official residence shut down due to rodent infestation: Report

<p>Canada on Tuesday (April 11) pledged fresh military support for war-torn Ukraine and imposed new sanctions on Russia. After meeting Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government would send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine and impose sanctions on 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities, including security targets linked to Wagner Group, the news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-hackers-claim-hacking-russian-spy-who-targetted-us-democrats-in-2016-581419">Ukraine hackers claim hacking Russian spy who targetted US Democrats in 2016</a></strong></p>

<p>"We will continue to support Ukraine with everything needed for as long as necessary," Trudeau said. The Canadian prime minister added that Ottawa was also imposing sanctions on nine entities tied to the Belarusian financial sector to further pressure Russia's "enablers in Belarus."</p>

<p>Since January last year, Canada has committed over C$ 8 billion to Ukraine in financial, military, humanitarian, and other assistance, a month before Russia's invasion began.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On February 24 this year, <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-canada-pledges-4-more-leopard-tanks-to-kyiv-imposes-new-sanctions-on-russia-565866">Prime Minister Trudeau announced that his government was sanctioning an additional</a></strong> 192 Russian individuals and entities. These sanctions targeted Russian lawmakers who supported Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, including ministers in Putin's cabinet, the military and defence sector as well as family members of individuals already on the sanctions list of Canada. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Ukraine's general staff said on Tuesday that Russia pressed on with its offensive in the eastern Donetsk region where several cities and towns came under heavy bombardment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, accused Moscow of "scorched earth". Speaking about Bakhmut, Colonel General Syrskyi said, "The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire," Reuters further reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>(With inputs from agencies)</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Canada on Tuesday (April 11) pledged fresh military support for war-torn Ukraine and imposed new sanctions on Russia. After meeting Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government would send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and 2.

Canada on Tuesday (April 11) pledged fresh military support for war-torn Ukraine and imposed new sanctions on Russia. After meeting Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government would send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine and impose sanctions on 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities, including security targets linked to Wagner Group, the news agency Reuters reported. ALSO READ | Ukraine hackers claim hacking Russian spy who targetted US Democrats in 2016 "We will continue to support Ukraine with everything needed for as long as necessary," Trudeau said. The Canadian prime minister added that Ottawa was also imposing sanctions on nine entities tied to the Belarusian financial sector to further pressure Russia's "enablers in Belarus." Since January last year, Canada has committed over C$ 8 billion to Ukraine in financial, military, humanitarian, and other assistance, a month before Russia's invasion began. On February 24 this year, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that his government was sanctioning an additional 192 Russian individuals and entities. These sanctions targeted Russian lawmakers who supported Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, including ministers in Putin's cabinet, the military and defence sector as well as family members of individuals already on the sanctions list of Canada. Meanwhile, Ukraine's general staff said on Tuesday that Russia pressed on with its offensive in the eastern Donetsk region where several cities and towns came under heavy bombardment. Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, accused Moscow of "scorched earth". Speaking about Bakhmut, Colonel General Syrskyi said, "The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire," Reuters further reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: Canada pledges fresh military support for Kyiv, imposes new sanctions on Russia

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<p>In 2018, a gold miner, going about his usual business found a mysterious fur ball in the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City, Yukon in Canada. At the time, the object seemed unidentifiable and clearly was not a gold nugget as the miner had set out to find. However, five years later, scientists have revealed that the mangled 'brown blob' of fur is a perfectly preserved Arctic ground squirrel that lived roughly 30,000 years ago during the Ice Age.</p>

<p>Having spent thousands of years in the permafrost, the mummified squirrel's remains were too fragile to decipher.</p>

<p>"Arctic ground squirrels are tiny of course, it's curled up in a ball, so just by looking at it it's hard to tell what it is," said Grant Zazula, a Yukon government palaeontologist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hence, the researchers sought the help of a veterinarian with an X-ray machine to solve the mystery. Jess Heath, a veterinarian at the Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre conducted the X-ray scans and revealed that the tiny glob was actually a curled-up Arctic ground squirrel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We could see that it was in great condition and it was just curled up like it was sleeping," Heath was quoted as saying by CBC.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/discovery-of-fossils-of-this-250-million-year-old-marine-reptile-could-rewrite-history-572204" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Fossil discovery of THIS 250-million-year-old marine reptile could rewrite history</strong></a></p>

<p>"When you see the X-ray, you can see this curled-up skeleton, and the head, and the leg bones, and whatnot, and the tail, all curled up together and it looks amazing under the X-ray," added Zazula.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The little squirrel likely died while hibernating and through nature's unique ways, was mummified. The palaeontologists who discovered the squirrel's age have named it “Hester” because it was found near Canada’s Hester Creek.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the area where Hester was discovered is not far from the Alaskan border and has already produced several well-preserved fossils like giant beavers, wolf pup and a baby mammoth from the ice age.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-new-early-human-discovered-in-130000-year-old-fossils-394156" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Israel: New early human discovered in 130,000-year-old fossils</strong></a></p>

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<p>The squirrel discovered belongs to the same species of Arctic ground squirrel that still frequents the Yukon today. They make underground nests for their hibernations and it is perhaps the reason why Hester's nest was preserved for so long.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The unique specimen will soon go on display at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center in Whitehorse, Canada for the public to closely observe Hester, who once roamed around the Yukon several thousand years ago.</p>

<p>"You’ll be able to see this incredible specimen on display at the Beringia Centre very soon! This fossil, along with many others will be incorporated into our new exhibits," the museum announced on its Facebook account.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In 2018, a gold miner, going about his usual business found a mysterious fur ball in the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City, Yukon in Canada. At the time, the object seemed unidentifiable and clearly was not a gold nugget as the miner had set out to find.

In 2018, a gold miner, going about his usual business found a mysterious fur ball in the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City, Yukon in Canada. At the time, the object seemed unidentifiable and clearly was not a gold nugget as the miner had set out to find. However, five years later, scientists have revealed that the mangled 'brown blob' of fur is a perfectly preserved Arctic ground squirrel that lived roughly 30,000 years ago during the Ice Age. Having spent thousands of years in the permafrost, the mummified squirrel's remains were too fragile to decipher. "Arctic ground squirrels are tiny of course, it's curled up in a ball, so just by looking at it it's hard to tell what it is," said Grant Zazula, a Yukon government palaeontologist. Hence, the researchers sought the help of a veterinarian with an X-ray machine to solve the mystery. Jess Heath, a veterinarian at the Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre conducted the X-ray scans and revealed that the tiny glob was actually a curled-up Arctic ground squirrel. "We could see that it was in great condition and it was just curled up like it was sleeping," Heath was quoted as saying by CBC. ALSO READ | Fossil discovery of THIS 250-million-year-old marine reptile could rewrite history "When you see the X-ray, you can see this curled-up skeleton, and the head, and the leg bones, and whatnot, and the tail, all curled up together and it looks amazing under the X-ray," added Zazula. The little squirrel likely died while hibernating and through nature's unique ways, was mummified. The palaeontologists who discovered the squirrel's age have named it “Hester” because it was found near Canada’s Hester Creek. Notably, the area where Hester was discovered is not far from the Alaskan border and has already produced several well-preserved fossils like giant beavers, wolf pup and a baby mammoth from the ice age. WATCH | Israel: New early human discovered in 130,000-year-old fossils × The squirrel discovered belongs to the same species of Arctic ground squirrel that still frequents the Yukon today. They make underground nests for their hibernations and it is perhaps the reason why Hester's nest was preserved for so long. The unique specimen will soon go on display at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center in Whitehorse, Canada for the public to closely observe Hester, who once roamed around the Yukon several thousand years ago. "You’ll be able to see this incredible specimen on display at the Beringia Centre very soon! This fossil, along with many others will be incorporated into our new exhibits," the museum announced on its Facebook account. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canada: ‘Brown blob’ found by gold digger turns out to be mummified 30,000-year-old squirrel

IN PICS | Canada: Two killed, millions without power after ice storm

Two people died and more than a million were without power after an ice storm hit Canada's two most-populated provinces. Hem Soraya brings you the report.

Quebec ice storm leaves two dead, a million without power

<p>Just a day after freezing rain and strong winds lashed southeast regions of Canada more than 1.2 million people were without power in Ontario and Quebec. These are two most populated provinces of Canada. In Quebec alone, about 1000 workers were trying to restore power overnight and on Thursday morning, according to the province's electricity provider.</p>

<p>"We are confident that we can restore power to some of the affected customers today," Hydro-Quebec said in a statement. "Unfortunately, it is already expected that some customers will still be without power on Friday and this weekend." The company was quoted by Reuters.</p>

<p>About 1.1 million people did not have power in Quebec and about 167,000 in Ontario as of 10:35 am (1435 GMT), according to Poweroutage.com. Ontario and Quebec account for more than half of Canada's total population of about 39.6 million.</p>

<p>Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said that crews were expected to restore power for a large portion of about 65000 affected customers by noon.</p>

<p>Some areas in the national capital "remain hazardous due to fallen debris and power outages affecting traffic signals," he said.</p>

<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was scheduled to be in Montreal on Thursday to speak about his government's budget, offered to provide federal assistance if required.</p>

<p>Montreal is among the worst affected by the power outages after Wednesday's ice storm, according to Hydro-Quebec.</p>

<p>"We're thinking of everyone in Quebec and Eastern Ontario affected by yesterday's storm – and we're thanking the crews who are clearing roads and restoring power," Trudeau said on Twitter.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Just a day after freezing rain and strong winds lashed southeast regions of Canada more than 1.2 million people were without power in Ontario and Quebec. These are two most populated provinces of Canada.

Just a day after freezing rain and strong winds lashed southeast regions of Canada more than 1.2 million people were without power in Ontario and Quebec. These are two most populated provinces of Canada. In Quebec alone, about 1000 workers were trying to restore power overnight and on Thursday morning, according to the province's electricity provider. "We are confident that we can restore power to some of the affected customers today," Hydro-Quebec said in a statement. "Unfortunately, it is already expected that some customers will still be without power on Friday and this weekend." The company was quoted by Reuters. About 1.1 million people did not have power in Quebec and about 167,000 in Ontario as of 10:35 am (1435 GMT), according to Poweroutage.com. Ontario and Quebec account for more than half of Canada's total population of about 39.6 million. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said that crews were expected to restore power for a large portion of about 65000 affected customers by noon. Some areas in the national capital "remain hazardous due to fallen debris and power outages affecting traffic signals," he said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was scheduled to be in Montreal on Thursday to speak about his government's budget, offered to provide federal assistance if required. Montreal is among the worst affected by the power outages after Wednesday's ice storm, according to Hydro-Quebec. "We're thinking of everyone in Quebec and Eastern Ontario affected by yesterday's storm – and we're thanking the crews who are clearing roads and restoring power," Trudeau said on Twitter. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Canada: Millions without power as freezing rain lashes southeast

<p>Australia will soon join the list of countries which have banned TikTok on government devices, reported the Australian media, late Monday (April 3). The ban follows other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and so on, who have also recently banned the Chinese-owned short video app.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly agreed to impose a ban on the use of TikTok on government devices following a&nbsp;security&nbsp;review by the Department of Home Affairs, reported The Australian, as per Reuters. An announcement about the same is expected sometime this week, said the media reports. &nbsp;</p>

<p>According to The Age newspaper, based in the city of Melbourne, Victoria state will also ban TikTok from government phones, citing a state government official as saying Victoria would follow the federal government’s guidance on the matter. Meanwhile, Tiktok Australia general manager Lee Hunter in a statement said that the company is “extremely disappointed” by the decision if confirmed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that they were also disappointed to learn about the possible decision from the media “despite our repeated offers to engage with government constructively about this policy.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We stress that there is no evidence to suggest that TikTok is in any way a security risk to Australians and should not be treated differently to other social media platforms,” said Hunter, as per media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, reports also suggest that TikTok is considering separation from parent company ByteDance as it is under scrutiny in the US over the app and the alleged national security risks it poses, said a report last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Australia will soon join the list of countries which have banned TikTok on government devices, reported the Australian media, late Monday (April 3). The ban follows other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and so on, who have also recently banned the Chinese-owned short video app.

Australia will soon join the list of countries which have banned TikTok on government devices, reported the Australian media, late Monday (April 3). The ban follows other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and so on, who have also recently banned the Chinese-owned short video app. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly agreed to impose a ban on the use of TikTok on government devices following a security review by the Department of Home Affairs, reported The Australian, as per Reuters. An announcement about the same is expected sometime this week, said the media reports. According to The Age newspaper, based in the city of Melbourne, Victoria state will also ban TikTok from government phones, citing a state government official as saying Victoria would follow the federal government’s guidance on the matter. Meanwhile, Tiktok Australia general manager Lee Hunter in a statement said that the company is “extremely disappointed” by the decision if confirmed. He added that they were also disappointed to learn about the possible decision from the media “despite our repeated offers to engage with government constructively about this policy.” “We stress that there is no evidence to suggest that TikTok is in any way a security risk to Australians and should not be treated differently to other social media platforms,” said Hunter, as per media reports. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that TikTok is considering separation from parent company ByteDance as it is under scrutiny in the US over the app and the alleged national security risks it poses, said a report last month. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia to ban TikTok on government devices: Reports

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<p>Eight people including two children were found dead in the Saint Lawrence River near the Canada-US border on Thursday. Now, a family in the Mehsana district of the western Indian state of Gujarat has claimed that the Indians among the eight dead may have been their kin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Officials of the Mehsana district administration said some village residents approached the collector and requested that arrangements be made to retrieve the bodies of the four deceased.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is confirmed that four members of a family from Manekpur village in Vijapur taluka of Mehsana went to Canada on a visitor's visa and tried to cross the river. The villagers approached us seeking help to bring back their bodies, which we have reported to the state government," said an official.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to The Hindu report, Pravin Chaudhary, a farmer, his wife Daksha, their son Mit, and daughter Vidhi had reached Canada a few weeks ago on a tourist visa. They were attempting to enter the US illegally by undertaking the risky boat journey across the river.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/authorities-8-dead-during-illegal-river-crossing-on-the-us-canada-border-577963"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Authorities: 8 dead during illegal river crossing on the US-Canada border</strong></a></p>

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<p>Jasubhai Chaudhary, a resident of Manekpur village claimed it was his brother that died in the accident after repeated phone calls to reach him went blank.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Two months ago, my brother, his wife and two children went to Canada on a visitors' visa. Yesterday morning I learnt about the death of members of a family from India in Canada. I tried to contact my brother but was not able to do so. This caused suspicion that they were our family members,"&nbsp;Chaudhary was quoted as saying by PTI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report added that a local agent was involved in human smuggling had sold the dream of living in the US to&nbsp;Pravin and his family.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indians-romanians-likely-among-those-found-dead-while-crossing-into-us-from-canada-illegally-canadian-police-577799" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Indians, Romanians among eight found dead while crossing into US from Canada illegally</strong></a></p>

<p>To identify the cause of death, authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, as per reports. The bodies, as per reports, were recovered in a marsh area Thursday during an aerial search with the Canadian Coast Guard.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Eight people including two children were found dead in the Saint Lawrence River near the Canada-US border on Thursday. Now, a family in the Mehsana district of the western Indian state of Gujarat has claimed that the Indians among the eight dead may have been their kin.

Eight people including two children were found dead in the Saint Lawrence River near the Canada-US border on Thursday. Now, a family in the Mehsana district of the western Indian state of Gujarat has claimed that the Indians among the eight dead may have been their kin. Officials of the Mehsana district administration said some village residents approached the collector and requested that arrangements be made to retrieve the bodies of the four deceased. "It is confirmed that four members of a family from Manekpur village in Vijapur taluka of Mehsana went to Canada on a visitor's visa and tried to cross the river. The villagers approached us seeking help to bring back their bodies, which we have reported to the state government," said an official. According to The Hindu report, Pravin Chaudhary, a farmer, his wife Daksha, their son Mit, and daughter Vidhi had reached Canada a few weeks ago on a tourist visa. They were attempting to enter the US illegally by undertaking the risky boat journey across the river. WATCH | Authorities: 8 dead during illegal river crossing on the US-Canada border × Jasubhai Chaudhary, a resident of Manekpur village claimed it was his brother that died in the accident after repeated phone calls to reach him went blank. "Two months ago, my brother, his wife and two children went to Canada on a visitors' visa. Yesterday morning I learnt about the death of members of a family from India in Canada. I tried to contact my brother but was not able to do so. This caused suspicion that they were our family members," Chaudhary was quoted as saying by PTI. The report added that a local agent was involved in human smuggling had sold the dream of living in the US to Pravin and his family. ALSO READ | Indians, Romanians among eight found dead while crossing into US from Canada illegally To identify the cause of death, authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, as per reports. The bodies, as per reports, were recovered in a marsh area Thursday during an aerial search with the Canadian Coast Guard. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Family of four from Gujarat identified in Canada's fatal St. Lawrence River crossing: Reports

<p>Canadian authorities recovered eight bodies from the St. Lawrence River near Akwesasne, amoung them are bodies of two families, one of Romanian descent and the other of Indian citizens.&nbsp;Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service Deputy Chief Lee-Ann O’Brien said the people were likely trying to enter the United States illegally from Canada.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-top-10-corrupt-countries-in-the-world-577675">Top 10 corrupt countries in the world</a></p>

<p>In a presser, Lee-Ann O’Brien earlier said there were five adults and one child. Later, a&nbsp;police helicopter retrieved two more bodies in the St Lawrence River Friday. One child belonged to a Romanian family, she said.</p>

<p>A Canadian passport was also recovered from the child, as per the police. To identify the cause of death, authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, as per reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bodies, as per reports, were recovered in a marsh area Thursday during an aerial search with the Canadian Coast Guard.&nbsp;The&nbsp;bodies were found in Tsi Snaihne (Snye), a Mohawk territory in Akwesasne, a region that borders Quebec, Ontario, and New York state. The first body, according to the authorities, was found at&nbsp;about 5 pm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/openais-chatgpt-blocked-in-italy-reports-577685">OpenAI’s ChatGPT blocked in Italy over alleged privacy violations</a></p>

<p>The bodies&nbsp;were found as a consequence of a&nbsp;Thursday&nbsp;search for another missing individual, a 30-year-old Casey Oakes.&nbsp;Oakes&nbsp;was last seen&nbsp;Wednesday boarding a small, light blue vessel. The vessel was departing from the east end of Cornwall Island, in the St. Lawrence at the time of it was last seen with Oakes onboard it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Will Ben Stokes be CSK's impact player? | WION Sports Extra</strong></p>

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<p>Later, the same&nbsp;vessel was discovered next to the six of the dead bodies. Police in Akwesasne were unable to confirm if Oakes had any links with&nbsp;the victims. Oakes is still missing. Around 120 kilometres west of Montreal, Akwesasne borders Cornwall, Ontario.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Canadian authorities recovered eight bodies from the St. Lawrence River near Akwesasne, amoung them are bodies of two families, one of Romanian descent and the other of Indian citizens.

Canadian authorities recovered eight bodies from the St. Lawrence River near Akwesasne, amoung them are bodies of two families, one of Romanian descent and the other of Indian citizens. Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service Deputy Chief Lee-Ann O’Brien said the people were likely trying to enter the United States illegally from Canada. Also Read | Top 10 corrupt countries in the world In a presser, Lee-Ann O’Brien earlier said there were five adults and one child. Later, a police helicopter retrieved two more bodies in the St Lawrence River Friday. One child belonged to a Romanian family, she said. A Canadian passport was also recovered from the child, as per the police. To identify the cause of death, authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, as per reports. The bodies, as per reports, were recovered in a marsh area Thursday during an aerial search with the Canadian Coast Guard. The bodies were found in Tsi Snaihne (Snye), a Mohawk territory in Akwesasne, a region that borders Quebec, Ontario, and New York state. The first body, according to the authorities, was found at about 5 pm. Also Read | OpenAI’s ChatGPT blocked in Italy over alleged privacy violations The bodies were found as a consequence of a Thursday search for another missing individual, a 30-year-old Casey Oakes. Oakes was last seen Wednesday boarding a small, light blue vessel. The vessel was departing from the east end of Cornwall Island, in the St. Lawrence at the time of it was last seen with Oakes onboard it. Watch | Will Ben Stokes be CSK's impact player? | WION Sports Extra × Later, the same vessel was discovered next to the six of the dead bodies. Police in Akwesasne were unable to confirm if Oakes had any links with the victims. Oakes is still missing. Around 120 kilometres west of Montreal, Akwesasne borders Cornwall, Ontario. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indians, Romanians among eight found dead while crossing into US from Canada illegally

The statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised at a university campus in Canada's British Columbia province, days after another statue of the global peace icon was targeted in this country by Khalistan supporters.

Second Mahatma Gandhi statue vandalised in Canada this month

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - This brand is selling a bag made of real meteorite at a whopping price, Can ChatGPT replace journalists in breaking stories?, US President Joe Biden mixes up China with Canada in another gaffe.

This brand is selling bag made of real meteorite; Can ChatGPT replace journalists? | Trending on WION

<p>US President Joe Biden, who is prone to make gaffes, made another howler after he mistakenly praised China while speaking at the Canadian Parliament.</p>

<p>“Today, I applaud China for stepping up,” the 80-year-old president said while speaking about Canada’s immigration policy.</p>

<p>But he then immediately corrected himself, evoking laughter among the members of the parliament.</p>

<p>“Excuse me, I applaud Canada … You can tell what I’m thinking – about China,” triggering more laughter. “I won’t get into that yet.”</p>

<p>A clip of the whole episode was shared on Twitter by US Congressman Byron Donalds who wrote, "Gaffe or Freudian slip? Biden "accidentally" praises China when addressing the Canadian Parliament. China is on his mind, and the @HouseGOP knows why."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gaffe or Freudian slip?<br />
<br />
Biden "accidentally" praises China when addressing the Canadian Parliament.<br />
<br />
China is on his mind, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseGOP</a> knows why. <a href="https://t.co/0M8Rix5nds">pic.twitter.com/0M8Rix5nds</a></p>
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDonaldsPress/status/1639355491045220352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Later in the day at a press conference, New York Post outlet claimed that Biden nearly made a similar gaffe by mentioning Japan while talking about China’s relationship with Russia, but caught himself mid-word at “Japa…”</p>

<p>Biden was on a two-day visit to Ottawa for talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This was his first official visit to Canada since taking office in January 2021.</p>

<p>In a joint statement, the two countries "acknowledge the serious long-term challenge to the international order posed by the People's Republic of China," referring to the country by its official name.</p>

<p>Biden has often found himself at the firing line with his gaffes and awkward anecdotes. In February, he boasted during a speech at the White House that "more than half the women" on his team "are women."</p>

<p>Earlier this month during a speech about health care policy, Biden told a&nbsp;story about a nurse,&nbsp;saying, "She'd come in and do things I don't think you learn in nursing school. She'd whisper in my ear, I couldn't understand, but she'd whisper, and she'd lean down and actually breathe on me to make sure there was a human connection."</p>

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US President Joe Biden, who is prone to make gaffes, made another howler after he mistakenly praised China while speaking at the Canadian Parliament. “Today, I applaud China for stepping up,” the 80-year-old president said while speaking about Canada’s immigration policy.

US President Joe Biden, who is prone to make gaffes, made another howler after he mistakenly praised China while speaking at the Canadian Parliament. “Today, I applaud China for stepping up,” the 80-year-old president said while speaking about Canada’s immigration policy. But he then immediately corrected himself, evoking laughter among the members of the parliament. “Excuse me, I applaud Canada … You can tell what I’m thinking – about China,” triggering more laughter. “I won’t get into that yet.” A clip of the whole episode was shared on Twitter by US Congressman Byron Donalds who wrote, "Gaffe or Freudian slip? Biden "accidentally" praises China when addressing the Canadian Parliament. China is on his mind, and the @HouseGOP knows why." Gaffe or Freudian slip? Biden "accidentally" praises China when addressing the Canadian Parliament. China is on his mind, and the @HouseGOP knows why. pic.twitter.com/0M8Rix5nds — Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) March 24, 2023 × Later in the day at a press conference, New York Post outlet claimed that Biden nearly made a similar gaffe by mentioning Japan while talking about China’s relationship with Russia, but caught himself mid-word at “Japa…” Biden was on a two-day visit to Ottawa for talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This was his first official visit to Canada since taking office in January 2021. In a joint statement, the two countries "acknowledge the serious long-term challenge to the international order posed by the People's Republic of China," referring to the country by its official name. Biden has often found himself at the firing line with his gaffes and awkward anecdotes. In February, he boasted during a speech at the White House that "more than half the women" on his team "are women." Earlier this month during a speech about health care policy, Biden told a story about a nurse, saying, "She'd come in and do things I don't think you learn in nursing school. She'd whisper in my ear, I couldn't understand, but she'd whisper, and she'd lean down and actually breathe on me to make sure there was a human connection." WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | US President Joe Biden mixes up China with Canada in another gaffe

<p>Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Indian diplomatic missions and officials amidst ongoing protests related to the Khalistani movement.</p>

<p>Marilyne Guèvremont, a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada, in response to WION said, "We are aware that the protests have taken place at various locations in Canada. Canadian authorities have been in contact with Indian diplomatic officials regarding the protests."</p>

<p>The statement also highlights Canada's commitment to upholding its security-related obligations under international law.</p>

<p>" Global Affairs Canada is committed to the safety and security of these missions and diplomats. We take very seriously our security-related obligations under international law,” an official statement from Global Affairs Canada read.</p>

<p>The statement indicates that the Canadian government is taking the Khalistani protests and their potential impact on diplomatic safety seriously.</p>

<p>Canada is the third country after the UK and the US to issue assurances on the safety of Indian diplomatic missions after the Khalistani protests.</p>

<p>In the UK, the Indian Mission in London was vandalised by the Khalistani protestors. The UK foreign secretary James Cleverly termed it as an "act of violence" towards the Indian High Commission in London.</p>

<p>Calling it "unacceptable" he said, "We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously.”</p>

<p>The Indian Mission in San Francisco was also attacked by protestors after which the White House and the US NSA issued statements condemning the incident.</p>

<p>"We certainly condemn that — that vandalism. &nbsp;It’s just absolutely unacceptable," the White House said.</p>

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Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Indian diplomatic missions and officials amidst ongoing protests related to the Khalistani movement.

Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Indian diplomatic missions and officials amidst ongoing protests related to the Khalistani movement. Marilyne Guèvremont, a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada, in response to WION said, "We are aware that the protests have taken place at various locations in Canada. Canadian authorities have been in contact with Indian diplomatic officials regarding the protests." The statement also highlights Canada's commitment to upholding its security-related obligations under international law. " Global Affairs Canada is committed to the safety and security of these missions and diplomats. We take very seriously our security-related obligations under international law,” an official statement from Global Affairs Canada read. The statement indicates that the Canadian government is taking the Khalistani protests and their potential impact on diplomatic safety seriously. Canada is the third country after the UK and the US to issue assurances on the safety of Indian diplomatic missions after the Khalistani protests. In the UK, the Indian Mission in London was vandalised by the Khalistani protestors. The UK foreign secretary James Cleverly termed it as an "act of violence" towards the Indian High Commission in London. Calling it "unacceptable" he said, "We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously.” The Indian Mission in San Francisco was also attacked by protestors after which the White House and the US NSA issued statements condemning the incident. "We certainly condemn that — that vandalism. It’s just absolutely unacceptable," the White House said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Canada assures safety of Indian diplomatic missions amidst Khalistani protests

For the first time ever, Canada's population has grown by more than one million people in a year. This was almost completely because of immigration into the country. Molly Gambhir telling you more.

Gravitas: Canada's population sees record growth

<p>The US and Canada have agreed to refuse asylum seekers at unauthorised&nbsp;border crossings.&nbsp;The official&nbsp;agreement will be announced on Friday (March 24)&nbsp;by&nbsp;US President Joe Biden&nbsp;along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Ottawa.</p>

<p>The agreement is anticipated to provide border officers the authority to turn away such asylum seekers travelling in either direction, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The number of migrants entering the US from Canada has also increased.&nbsp;The action is a part of efforts to control a migrant inflow along Roxham Road, an unauthorised border crossing between the states of New York and Quebec.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-mp-han-dong-exits-party-over-chinese-interference-allegations-report-575254">Canadian MP Han Dong exits party over Chinese interference allegations: Report</a></p>

<p>According to unidentified US officials speaking to CBS News, Canada will establish a new refugee programme for 15,000 people&nbsp;escaping persecution and violence in South and Central America as part of the agreement.</p>

<p>For 24 hours, Biden will be in Ottawa, Canada, to meet with Trudeau and discuss a number of economic, trade, and immigration-related concerns. The announcement of the migration agreement is planned just before his Friday arrival in the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Fake AI images of Donald Trump being arrested has gone viral</strong></p>

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<p>The agreement modifies the two parties' Safe Third Country Agreement from 2004, which mandates that migrants file for asylum in the first "safe" country they arrive in, whether that be the US or Canada.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new agreement would also close a gap in the Safe Third Country Agreement that allowed Canada to refuse entry to people using unauthorised crossing points.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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The US and Canada have agreed to refuse asylum seekers at unauthorised border crossings. The official agreement will be announced on Friday (March 24) by US President Joe Biden along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Ottawa.

The US and Canada have agreed to refuse asylum seekers at unauthorised border crossings. The official agreement will be announced on Friday (March 24) by US President Joe Biden along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Ottawa. The agreement is anticipated to provide border officers the authority to turn away such asylum seekers travelling in either direction, reported Reuters. The number of migrants entering the US from Canada has also increased. The action is a part of efforts to control a migrant inflow along Roxham Road, an unauthorised border crossing between the states of New York and Quebec. ALSO READ | Canadian MP Han Dong exits party over Chinese interference allegations: Report According to unidentified US officials speaking to CBS News, Canada will establish a new refugee programme for 15,000 people escaping persecution and violence in South and Central America as part of the agreement. For 24 hours, Biden will be in Ottawa, Canada, to meet with Trudeau and discuss a number of economic, trade, and immigration-related concerns. The announcement of the migration agreement is planned just before his Friday arrival in the US. ALSO WATCH | Fake AI images of Donald Trump being arrested has gone viral The agreement modifies the two parties' Safe Third Country Agreement from 2004, which mandates that migrants file for asylum in the first "safe" country they arrive in, whether that be the US or Canada. The new agreement would also close a gap in the Safe Third Country Agreement that allowed Canada to refuse entry to people using unauthorised crossing points. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US, Canada reach agreement to turn away asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings

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