Canada & World

Albert “Ian” Schweitzer, left, looks on as Innocence Project attorney Susan Freidman speaks during Schweitzer’s court case Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Hilo, Hawaii. Attorneys for Schweitzer, imprisoned for more than 20 years after his conviction for the 1991 sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder of a white woman visiting the Big Island, ask a judge Tuesday to dismiss his conviction due to new evidence, including DNA testing in the case. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images)

Hawaii man released from prison after 20 years amid new evidence in murder, rape case

Albert “Ian” Schweitzer was convicted in 2000 and sentenced to 130 years in prison

Albert “Ian” Schweitzer, left, looks on as Innocence Project attorney Susan Freidman speaks during Schweitzer’s court case Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Hilo, Hawaii. Attorneys for Schweitzer, imprisoned for more than 20 years after his conviction for the 1991 sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder of a white woman visiting the Big Island, ask a judge Tuesday to dismiss his conviction due to new evidence, including DNA testing in the case. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images)
Siegfried Hecker, from left, Daniel Holz, Sharon Squassoni, Mary Robinson and Elbegdorj Tsakhia with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, remove a cloth covering the Doomsday Clock before a virtual news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that it has moved the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closest ever to midnight due to Ukraine war

‘People and scientists are warning us and we have to wake up now’

Siegfried Hecker, from left, Daniel Holz, Sharon Squassoni, Mary Robinson and Elbegdorj Tsakhia with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, remove a cloth covering the Doomsday Clock before a virtual news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that it has moved the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
An aircraft is silhouetted against the moon in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. The number of commercial pilot licences issued in Canada annually has declined by more than 80 per cent since 2019, even as aviation experts warn of an ever-growing labour shortage that threatens to disrupt Canada’s airline industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Michael Probst

Number of commercial pilot licences issued in Canada has collapsed since 2019

The number of commercial pilot licences issued in Canada has declined by…

An aircraft is silhouetted against the moon in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. The number of commercial pilot licences issued in Canada annually has declined by more than 80 per cent since 2019, even as aviation experts warn of an ever-growing labour shortage that threatens to disrupt Canada’s airline industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Michael Probst
FILE - A nurse prepares a syringe of a COVID-19 vaccine at an inoculation station in Jackson, Miss., July 19, 2022. U.S. health officials are proposing a simplified approach to COVID-19 vaccinations, which would allow most adults and children to get a once-a-year shot to protect against the mutating virus. The new system unveiled Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 would make COVID-19 inoculations more like the annual flu shot. Americans would no longer have to keep track of how many shots they’ve received or how many months it’s been since their last booster. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

U.S. proposes once-a-year COVID shots for most Americans

The FDA will ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to weigh in at a meeting Thursday

FILE - A nurse prepares a syringe of a COVID-19 vaccine at an inoculation station in Jackson, Miss., July 19, 2022. U.S. health officials are proposing a simplified approach to COVID-19 vaccinations, which would allow most adults and children to get a once-a-year shot to protect against the mutating virus. The new system unveiled Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 would make COVID-19 inoculations more like the annual flu shot. Americans would no longer have to keep track of how many shots they’ve received or how many months it’s been since their last booster. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
FILE - A sign is shown on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019. The Justice Department and several states sued Google on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, alleging that its dominance in digital advertising harms competition. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

U.S. Justice Dept. sues Google over digital advertising dominance

The Justice Department and eight states filed an antitrust suit against Google…

FILE - A sign is shown on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2019. The Justice Department and several states sued Google on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, alleging that its dominance in digital advertising harms competition. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault speaks to the media at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton during the second day of meetings at Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

Fiscal room tightening as economy teeters, associate finance minister says

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered an economic update to the cabinet Tuesday

Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault speaks to the media at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton during the second day of meetings at Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
A Canadian passport sits on a suitcase in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Social Development Minister Karina Gould says Service Canada has “virtually eliminated” the backlog of thousands of passport applications. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada’s passport application backlog now ‘virtually eliminated,’ minister says

Pandemic caused a nearly two-year lull in passport applications

A Canadian passport sits on a suitcase in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Social Development Minister Karina Gould says Service Canada has “virtually eliminated” the backlog of thousands of passport applications. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
New research has spelled out for the first time the gap between official lists of trails in the southern Rockies and the number of trails there actually are, suggesting effects from the growing number of backcountry users may be larger than suspected.The hiking trail on Yamnuska in Alberta’s Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, part of Kananaskis Country, is shown in June 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz

Nearly one-quarter of trails in southern B.C., Alberta unmapped and unmanaged: study

Researchers found 24 per cent of all trails in the southern Rockies were undocumented and unmanaged

New research has spelled out for the first time the gap between official lists of trails in the southern Rockies and the number of trails there actually are, suggesting effects from the growing number of backcountry users may be larger than suspected.The hiking trail on Yamnuska in Alberta’s Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, part of Kananaskis Country, is shown in June 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz
Fish swim in a coral reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia in a handout photo. Fish, it turns out, are a chatty lot. They communicate about everything from what area of the sea has the best food to where predators might be hiding and, of course, their desire for for a mate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Simon Fraser University-Kieran Cox

Fish sounds could help scientists understand their ocean world

Scientists say acoustic monitoring can answer numerous questions related to ecology, evolution

Fish swim in a coral reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia in a handout photo. Fish, it turns out, are a chatty lot. They communicate about everything from what area of the sea has the best food to where predators might be hiding and, of course, their desire for for a mate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Simon Fraser University-Kieran Cox
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrive at the Hamilton Convention Centre, in Hamilton, Ont., ahead of the Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Monday, January 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

Passport backlog update expected as federal cabinet retreat enters second day

Offices unable to deal with passport renewal applications as COVID-19 restrictions eased last year

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrive at the Hamilton Convention Centre, in Hamilton, Ont., ahead of the Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Monday, January 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
A TTC worker is shown in a bus while on shift in Toronto on April 23, 2020. Police continue to investigate after up to 15 youth allegedly attacked two Toronto Transit Commission workers on a bus. Toronto police say officers responded to the area of Kennedy Road and Merrian Road in the city’s east end Monday afternoon where a group of 10 to 15 youths, all male, allegedly assaulted two TTC employees.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

UPDATED: Four 13-yr-old boys arrested in alleged attack on Toronto transit workers

The teens cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act

A TTC worker is shown in a bus while on shift in Toronto on April 23, 2020. Police continue to investigate after up to 15 youth allegedly attacked two Toronto Transit Commission workers on a bus. Toronto police say officers responded to the area of Kennedy Road and Merrian Road in the city’s east end Monday afternoon where a group of 10 to 15 youths, all male, allegedly assaulted two TTC employees.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A view of Hidden Lake in Banff National Park near Lake Louise is shown on Friday, Sept. 1, 2022. Parks Canada has announced infrastructure upgrades in the four mountain national parks in Alberta and British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol

Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho national parks to see infrastructure upgrades

$71 million in federal funding for quartet of national parks long B.C./Alberta border

A view of Hidden Lake in Banff National Park near Lake Louise is shown on Friday, Sept. 1, 2022. Parks Canada has announced infrastructure upgrades in the four mountain national parks in Alberta and British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
The Northwest Territories is considering whether to end seasonal time changes after a survey suggested there’s interest in the move. The Northwest Territories flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Majority of survey respondents vote to end seasonal time change in N.W.T.

Yukon, Saskatchewan and parts of Nunavut and Quebec have ended seasonal time changes

The Northwest Territories is considering whether to end seasonal time changes after a survey suggested there’s interest in the move. The Northwest Territories flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends the Lunar New Year parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Trudeau and his ministers are gathering at a Hamilton hotel today to begin a three-day cabinet retreat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

New health deal a focus as Trudeau and cabinet begin three-day retreat in Hamilton

Trudeau says more money will come when he sees accountability from provinces on how it will be spent

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends the Lunar New Year parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Trudeau and his ministers are gathering at a Hamilton hotel today to begin a three-day cabinet retreat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Workers wait for electricity outside their workshop following a power breakdown across the country, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Much of Pakistan was left without power for several hours on Monday morning as an energy-saving measure by the government backfired. The outage spread panic and raised questions about the cash-strapped government’s handling of the crisis. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Lights out in Pakistan as energy-saving move backfires

Major cities and remote towns without electricity for more than 12 hours

Workers wait for electricity outside their workshop following a power breakdown across the country, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Much of Pakistan was left without power for several hours on Monday morning as an energy-saving measure by the government backfired. The outage spread panic and raised questions about the cash-strapped government’s handling of the crisis. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
Ottawa’s Chief of Police Eric Stubbs says resources, logistics, traffic, towing and staffing plans are in place ahead of potential protests this weekend. Then RCMP Assistant Commissioner Eric Stubbs, speaks in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday February 5, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa police preparing for possible weekend protests on ‘Freedom Convoy’ anniversary

Chief says the force will not tolerate any vehicle-based protests

Ottawa’s Chief of Police Eric Stubbs says resources, logistics, traffic, towing and staffing plans are in place ahead of potential protests this weekend. Then RCMP Assistant Commissioner Eric Stubbs, speaks in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday February 5, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - Cory and Shari Foltz, the parents of a Bowling Green State University student who died in an alleged hazing incident, look on while Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson, left, takes questions from the media at the Wood County Courthouse, April 29, 2021, in Bowling Green, Ohio. The family of the student will receive nearly $3 million from Bowling Green State University to settle its lawsuit. A copy of the agreement announced Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 says the family of Stone Foltz and the university will work together to eliminate hazing on college campuses. (J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune via AP, Fille)

Fatal hazing lawsuit at U.S. university ends with nearly $3M settlement

Eight former fraternity members previously either pleaded or were found guilty on various charges

FILE - Cory and Shari Foltz, the parents of a Bowling Green State University student who died in an alleged hazing incident, look on while Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson, left, takes questions from the media at the Wood County Courthouse, April 29, 2021, in Bowling Green, Ohio. The family of the student will receive nearly $3 million from Bowling Green State University to settle its lawsuit. A copy of the agreement announced Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 says the family of Stone Foltz and the university will work together to eliminate hazing on college campuses. (J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune via AP, Fille)
A woman checks out a jobs advertisement sign in Toronto on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The Conference Board of Canada says the country’s smaller cities have an opportunity to make a bigger economic impact in the coming years thanks to pandemic-driven trends and the federal government’s new immigration plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Smaller cities can benefit from immigration uptick and pandemic shift: Research

Conference Board of Canada says more evenly distributed migration would be helpful

A woman checks out a jobs advertisement sign in Toronto on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The Conference Board of Canada says the country’s smaller cities have an opportunity to make a bigger economic impact in the coming years thanks to pandemic-driven trends and the federal government’s new immigration plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The Canadian military has concluded on the balance of probabilities that Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin “did not engage in sexual misconduct” after the senior military officer was acquitted of sexual assault late last year. Fortin speaks to members of the media following an acquittal in his case at a Gatineau, Que., courthouse on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

After sex assault acquittal, military clears Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin of misconduct

Fortin will be assigned ‘appropriate duties commensurate with his rank and experience’

The Canadian military has concluded on the balance of probabilities that Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin “did not engage in sexual misconduct” after the senior military officer was acquitted of sexual assault late last year. Fortin speaks to members of the media following an acquittal in his case at a Gatineau, Que., courthouse on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Canada’s top public servant to look into the government’s procurement process over what he called a seemingly “illogical and inefficient” contract to develop the ArriveCan app. A person holds a smartphone set to the opening screen of the app in a photo illustration made in Toronto on June 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini

Subcontracting ArriveCan development ‘seems highly illogical and inefficient:’ PM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Canada’s top public servant to look…

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Canada’s top public servant to look into the government’s procurement process over what he called a seemingly “illogical and inefficient” contract to develop the ArriveCan app. A person holds a smartphone set to the opening screen of the app in a photo illustration made in Toronto on June 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini
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