Author: Adrian Mcdonald

OTTAWA – Dr. Ezzat Gouda recalls his wife’s disbelief when he told her his refugee claim in Canada had been denied, and he would be sent back to his home country — where he faces a death sentence.”She said, ‘How is this possible, in a country like Canada?'” he said in Arabic through an interpreter on Monday. Gouda was speaking two days before he is scheduled to fly home to Egypt, where the legal system has sentenced him to capital punishment. The couple, who have had to live apart since 2014, always dreamt that one day she could join him…

COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise across Canada according to recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and one infectious disease expert is highlighting the increased risk to seniors(opens in a new tab) as a wave of infections rips through the population. “If we look at who is hospitalized with COVID 19 right now… it is overwhelmingly older Canadians,” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, a Toronto-based infectious disease specialist, told CTV News Channel on Monday(opens in a new tab). “It’s overwhelmingly people over the age of 80.” There are currently two reformulated COVID-19 vaccines — from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna…

The U.S. Department of Commerce has determined fishery disasters occurred in several fisheries in Alaska, California, Louisiana, and Oregon, opening the door for those fisheries to receive federal financial assistance. Most notably, the department determined a disaster took place across all Oregon chinook salmon fisheries from 2018 to 2020. “This determination is incredible news for commercial fishers who have been waiting for years to find out whether or not they can receive support from the federal government,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This is a result of the work of Governor [Kate] Brown and our congressional delegation to recognize and advocate…

A pro-Palestinian rally marched its way through downtown Ottawa Sunday, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza region. The rally started on Parliament Hill, with organizers demanding more action from the Canadian government as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. “Every one of us should be out here today demanding Canadian government to support cease fire,” said Eli El-Chantiry. The rally follows humanitarian aid heists in Gaza while much of the region’s internet and phone connectivity continue to be disrupted by Israel’s heavy bombardment. “It’s one thing to be completely cut off from the world but it’s…

Canada has elected Liberal MP Greg Fergus to be the new Speaker of the House of Commons after the previous one resigned amid a Nazi in parliament row. Mr Fergus – the first black man to hold the position – was chosen by the 338-member House after a secret ballot on Tuesday. He called it “a great honour” to be chosen for the role. The former Speaker resigned after inviting a Ukrainian man who fought for a Nazi unit to the parliament. Anthony Rota said he did not know of the veteran’s Nazi ties. Seven candidates had been in the…

At least 70 people are killed in Israeli air raids in 24 hours as Hamas-Israel ground forces clash near border. The United States is pressing Israel to delay its anticipated ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, according to reports. Meanwhile, hundreds are reported killed as Israel continues to pound the Palestinian enclave and small ground-force clashes are also reported. President Joe Biden’s administration has advised Israel to delay its invasion plan to allow time for the release of hostages and shipments of aid into Gaza, according to US officials quoted by The New York Times newspaper on Monday. The report,…

Frankfurt, Brussels (6/10 – 27) While Tajik authorities have not been able to lay their hands on their activist opponents living in Europe, they are able to turn the screws on their families and relatives, back in the old country. The recent case of arrest of family members took place shortly after President Emomali Rahmon’s visit to Germany, to attend a summit of Central Asian leaders, at the end of last month. Throughout Rahmon’s visit, he was trailed by demonstrators holding up placards bearing pictures of political prisoners and calling him a dictator. When Rahmon headed to the Bundestag on…

Several Alaska school districts received emailed bomb threats on Tuesday.  Schools in Dillingham were closed as a result of the emails, and the Anchorage School District confirmed it received similar emailed threats, but school buildings remained open. “This email has been reported to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. At this time, the threat is broad in nature and lacks specific information. Regardless, we are taking this threat seriously,” Corey Young, an Anchorage schools spokesperson, wrote in an email to parents. The Alaska State Troopers said in an email that they are working with the FBI to investigate the…

Officials in Canada are investigating a major paediatric outbreak of E. coli that appears to originate in a kitchen that makes meals for nursery children. Alberta’s chief medical officer, Dr Mark Joffe, told reporters on Tuesday the kitchen was inspected after a surge in children visiting emergency rooms. Doctors swiftly “linked” the cases to “one centralised kitchen”, he said. Officials have not yet determined the exact source of the outbreak, which has so far sickened 264 children. The kitchen is operated by a company called Fueling Brains, which provides food to daycare centres around the city of Calgary – where…

US President Joe Biden’s administration is to build a section of border wall in southern Texas in an effort to stop rising levels of immigration. About 20 miles (32km) will be built in Starr County along its border with Mexico, where officials report high numbers of crossings. Building a border wall was a signature policy of Donald Trump as president and fiercely opposed by Democrats. In 2020, Mr Biden promised he would not build another foot of wall if elected. His administration passed a proclamation soon after taking office that said building a wall across the southern border “is not a serious…