Muslim countries’ local sodas see boost amid Coke and Pepsi boycott over Gaza

Muslim countries’ local sodas see boost amid Coke and Pepsi boycott over Gaza

Coca-Cola and rival PepsiCo spent hundreds of millions of dollars over decades building demand for their soft drinks in Muslim-majority countries including Egypt to Pakistan. Now, both face a challenge from local sodas in those countries due to consumer boycotts targeting the brands as symbols of America, and by extension Israel, at a time of war in … Read more

Crown seeks closed-door hearings for lawsuit claiming feds contributed to Canadian’s torture

Crown seeks closed-door hearings for lawsuit claiming feds contributed to Canadian’s torture

After years of delays, a Canadian man’s lawsuit accusing the federal government of contributing to his detention and torture abroad is finally going before a court this fall. But before the case can proceed, a judge needs to decide if intelligence officials can testify behind closed doors. Abousfian Abdelrazik was arrested during a 2003 visit to … Read more

Russian ‘spy whale’ Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

Russian ‘spy whale’ Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

A beluga whale that was suspected of spying for Russia after being discovered in Norwegian waters five years ago has been found dead, according to the non-profit organization that had been monitoring the whale. The body of Hvaldimir — a combination of the Norwegian word for whale and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin — was spotted floating in the … Read more

Plaintiff in case against BlackBerry CEO revealed as former chief marketing officer

Plaintiff in case against BlackBerry CEO revealed as former chief marketing officer

Kitchener-Waterloo Lawyers for plaintiff Neelam Sandhu told a U.S. court this month that Sandhu would voluntarily proceed using her real name in the case against the Waterloo, Ont., tech company and its CEO John Giamatteo. Lawyers say Neelam Sandhu chose to use her name to prevent further harm to other women The Canadian Press · … Read more

New early earthquake warning system activated in B.C.

New early earthquake warning system activated in B.C.

An earthquake early detection system has been activated in British Columbia to provide the public with a few seconds of warning ahead of a potentially harmful tremor. Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said when a strong earthquake is detected, alerts will be transmitted automatically to British Columbians via cellphones, radio and televisions.  The alerts will be sent “seconds to tens … Read more

MPs begin probe into how a father and son accused in foiled terrorist plot immigrated to Canada

MPs begin probe into how a father and son accused in foiled terrorist plot immigrated to Canada

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and other senior government officials will be in the hot seat later this morning as MPs begin their investigation into the circumstances surrounding an alleged foiled terrorist attack planned for Toronto — a case that’s raised questions about Canada’s security screening process. Last month, police charged Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, … Read more

Zuckerberg regrets some Facebook decisions on COVID-19 done at behest of U.S government

Zuckerberg regrets some Facebook decisions on COVID-19 done at behest of U.S government

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again. In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the judiciary committee of the House of Representatives, Zuckerberg alleges … Read more

Calgary is moving past peak mosquito activity, but a new species is still buzzing around

Calgary is moving past peak mosquito activity, but a new species is still buzzing around

Although cooler fall temperatures are coming, which local experts say usually drives down mosquito populations, one researcher says Calgary isn’t totally in the clear yet A relatively new species is likely hitting its peak population now, according to John Soghigian, an assistant professor of parasitology at the University of Calgary. The Culex pipiens, also referred to … Read more

Teamsters union serves CN Rail with 72-hour strike notice as CPKC stoppage ongoing

Teamsters union serves CN Rail with 72-hour strike notice as CPKC stoppage ongoing

The Teamsters union has served Canadian National Railway (CN) with a 72-hour strike notice, hours after saying it was taking down picket lines and workers were returning to the job. “Please find this letter as official notice to the company of our intention to withdraw the services of our combined membership of approximately 6,500 members,” reads the notice … Read more

Canada banning sales of flavoured nicotine pouches in convenience stores, gas stations

Canada banning sales of flavoured nicotine pouches in convenience stores, gas stations

Starting next week, the federal government will impose new restrictions on nicotine pouches to make it illegal to sell them anywhere but from behind a pharmacy counter. Beginning August 28, the pouches, which go by the brand name Zonnic, will be completely banned from convenience store and gas station shelves. Berry Frost and Tropic Breeze flavours … Read more