India’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday lost three key state elections to the opposition Congress party, in a blow to the momentum of prime minister Narendra Modi ahead of a national poll in the spring. The opposition Congress Party is now set to succeed BJP governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and the crucial…
The three countries in the North American Free Trade Agreement are to vote on whether to investigate if Canada is failing to enforce environmental legislation on tailings ponds in Alberta’s oilsands. The vote is required after the trade treaty’s environmental watchdog concluded there were serious questions about how the federal government enforces the Fisheries Act…
Thailand’s cabinet has approved a new bill that has opened the way for the country to become the first in Asia to recognise same-sex civil partnerships. The bill, which would also afford same-sex couples the right to start their own families, would require approval from the Thai parliament – the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) –…
OTTAWA — The federal government has blocked the proposed $1.5-billion takeover of Aecon Group Inc. by a Chinese state-owned company for reasons of national security. After markets closed Wednesday, Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains confirmed the government’s decision to prevent CCCC International Holding Ltd. from acquiring the Aecon construction firm. The Trudeau government had been…
To begin with it was subtle. A security official who had stopped by at my hotel for a "chat" appeared to be the only thing coming between me and the mosques I wanted to see dotted around the dusty plains of Ningxia province. But by the time my trip to investigate China’s latest government crackdown on…
An Indian soldier was arrested for murdering a policeman during a riot over the slaughtering of sacred cows, in a case that has shone a light on mob rule and the increasingly zealous protection of cattle. The police inspector was killed when a mob of Hindu extremists went on the rampage in the state of…
OTTAWA — Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on up to $16.6 billion worth of U.S. imports in response to the American decision to place similar levies on Canadian-made steel and aluminum. The Canadian tariffs, which go into effect July 1, cover a broad range of items. Some, mainly unfinished iron and steel products, will be…
Charity workers are scrambling to avoid a public health crisis in the wake of the Indonesian tsunami that killed at least 429 people as supplies of medicine and clean water dwindle. Doctors working to limit the fallout from the tsunami that devastated the west coast of Java have warned that children are falling ill and becoming dehydrated. Thousands…
Poised on a chair before a group of American students, who are hanging off her every word, Myka Meier leans forward and lets them into a secret. The magic, she explains conspiratorially, comes from the knees and ankles. As the 30 students take notes, watching intently, Mrs Meier reveals the essence of “The Duchess Slant”…
CALGARY — The president and CEO of WestJet says the threat of a strike by its pilots is over. Ed Sims said the Calgary-based airline and the union that represents the pilots have agreed to a settlement process that will involve a federal mediator. If necessary, WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have…