Refusal rate for immigration on humanitarian and compassionate grounds rising: data
OTTAWA — The rejection rate for permanent residency applications on humanitarian and compassionate grounds has risen sharply over the past couple of years, according to recently released figures. "These decisions were done quietly behind closed doors a...
Navy kicks off long-anticipated push to replace Canada’s beleaguered submarine fleet
OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Navy is launching its long-anticipated push to replace Canada’s beleaguered submarine fleet, setting the stage for what will almost certainly be an extremely controversial debate around the need for such vessels. Defence off...
Bank of Canada cuts growth forecast for 2021, reduces bond-buying target
OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada says the domestic economy will grow at a slightly slower pace this year than it previously thought and expects the risks from COVID-19 to wane — but not enough to change its trendsetting policy
German police raids against suspected Islamic extremists
BERLIN (AP) — Police said they were searching locations in the central German state of Hesse on Wednesday in connection with suspected Islamic extremists.
UAE inaugurates embassy in Israel in downtown Tel Aviv
JERUSALEM (AP) — The United Arab Emirates formally opened its embassy in Israel on Wednesday, inaugurating its diplomatic offices in Tel Aviv less than a year after the two countries announced they would establish open relations.
Neck rubs, tapped phones: Merkel has history with US leaders
BERLIN (AP) — Neck rubs, pricy dinners, allegations of phone tapping, awkward handshake moments. Angela Merkel has just about seen it
‘I came here to fight’: Rare footage of Ethiopia’s Tigray
MEKELE, Ethiopia (AP) — The 16-year-old girl hoped to go to war. Inspired by the sight of resurgent local forces marching in to retake the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region six months after being forced to flee, Meron Mezgeb waited
Explosion strikes unused ammunition dump in Saudi Arabia
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An explosion Wednesday in Saudi Arabia struck what authorities described as an ammunition dump containing “unserviceable munitions.” Videos showed sparks, flames and smoke shooting out of a desert location southeast o...
Britney Spears allowed new lawyer in conservatorship case
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge allowed Britney Spears to hire an attorney of her choosing at a hearing Wednesday in which she broke down in tears after describing the “cruelty" of her conservatorship.
Sri Lanka economy in crisis as debt mounts, reserves dwindle
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka has cut back on imports of farm chemicals, cars and even its staple spice turmeric as its foreign exchange reserves dwindle, hindering its ability to repay a mountain of debt as the South