A 65‑year‑old man from Battaramulla has been arrested for defrauding the public by promising jobs in Canada, police said.

The suspect, taken into custody by the Special Investigations Unit of the SLBFE, is accused of swindling over Rs. 40 million from people across several areas. 

He was produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court and remanded until September 10.

Aggrieved parties told the media that the suspect had falsely claimed to have served as the Canadian Ambassador in 1988/89. 

He allegedly promised to send individuals overseas within two and a half months, collecting large sums of money in the process.

Investigations by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) have revealed that the suspect is wanted in connection with several other financial frauds. (Newswire)

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Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs against the United States as the trade war between Washington and Ottawa escalates, impacting hundreds of products. 

On Tuesday, the Canadian government said it would impose tariffs on 27.6 billion Canadian dollars, or $19.9bn, worth of US goods, matching “dollar for dollar” the new US duties that Trump imposed. It also announced a new plan for financial support for businesses caught in the trade war. 

The counter-tariffs will impact more than 700 products, the government said in a statement, and will target the steel and aluminium, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics sectors.

The tariffs will range from 15 percent to 50 percent and take effect on September 8.

The Canadian government also announced a new 7.5 billion-Canadian-dollar ($5.42bn) funding package to help small- and medium-sized businesses mitigate financial risks caused by the new tariffs.

Negotiations deteriorate

The new tariffs come after US President Donald Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Canadian products on Saturday, impacting $20bn worth of Canadian goods, only days after announcing a deal.

On Monday, Trump announced new tariffs on Canadian autos, which would double existing tariffs to 50 percent from January 1.

Trump has also hurled insults at Canada in recent days. On Tuesday, Trump said that he was considering renaming Lake Ontario – the easternmost of the Great Lakes, which borders the Canadian province of Ontario – “Lake America”. The US president also referred to Prime Minister Mark Carney as “Governor Carney”, echoing longstanding remarks about annexing Canada as the “51st state”. 

On Tuesday, Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social that the US lost $60bn to Canada annually for the last decade.

But Canada maintains a trade surplus with the US of 9.9 billion Canadian dollars ($7.1bn), according to Statistics Canada. Al Jazeera reached out to the White House for clarification but did not receive a response.

US consumers feel the pinch

The impact of US tariffs is expected to be felt by US businesses and consumers. Cars and auto parts have been exempt from the tariffs that were imposed on Saturday, but have been a point of contention between Washington and Ottawa.

Canada is the largest purchaser of US-made cars, which could put pressure on American carmakers who rely on Canadian demand.

Meanwhile, US households could face higher prices on 550 consumer goods imported from Canada because of Trump’s 50 percent tariff. Those products include ice skates, toilet paper, some alcoholic beverages and paint.

That could drastically affect Americans, according to a report from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, an economic think tank, which found that US importers and consumers absorb 96 percent of the tariff burden.

Markets react

The price of gold, which is largely considered a safe investment in times of economic uncertainty, is trending upwards after falling nearly 1 percent earlier on Tuesday. It remains largely flat, down only 0.03 percent at $4,696 per ounce.

The US dollar has remained fairly stable, down 0.04 percent on Tuesday to 98.96, while the Canadian dollar index has risen comparably by 0.04 percent to 72.27.

On Wall Street, the Nasdaq is up 0.5 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is flat, and the S&P 500 is up 0.2 percent.

In Toronto, the S&P/TSX Composite Index is up 0.6 percent. (Al Jazeera)

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A flight bound for Toronto, Canada, was cancelled Thursday evening after a young child refused to secure their seatbelt, Porter Airlines has said.

Flight PD444 from Victoria International Airport in B.C. to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport did not take off as a safety precaution, a spokesperson for Porter Airlines told CBC Toronto in a statement Saturday.

The aircraft left the terminal and headed to the runway for departure but a young child standing in their seat did not secure their seatbelt, despite attempts by the accompanying parent and cabin crew, Brad Cicero said.

The unsafe situation meant the aircraft could not take off, so flight attendants opted to return to the terminal and disembark passengers, he added.

The time required to bridge the aircraft, deplane the child and parent, retrieve their baggage and refile paperwork meant the plane would have departed too late, according to Cicero, who said Victoria’s airport runway closes at 12:30 a.m.

“We apologize for the effect this had on other passengers, who were able to depart on a flight the following day,” Cicero said.

The aircraft departed the following afternoon, Cicero said. (CBC)

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US President Donald Trump signed orders Monday (Jul 20) to impose new 50 per cent tariffs on many Canadian goods, claiming “discriminatory treatment” by Ottawa against American alcohol, automobile and dairy products.

The tariffs will take effect in 30 days and cover a range of items including wine, hockey sticks and cement, according to a White House fact sheet.

Trump, who saw many of his tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year, tapped an untested legal provision for the new duties – Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

The latest duties will not apply to energy, potash and goods already impacted by sector-specific tariffs, the White House said.

Crucially, however, they will hit products covered under the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA).

While Trump has slapped sweeping duties on US trading partners since returning to the presidency last year, the orders have generally exempted goods entering his country under the North American free trade pact.

His latest actions threaten to further strain ties between Washington and Ottawa, and come just days after he threatened Canada with increased tariffs over wildfire smoke that drifted into the United States.

The White House, in announcing the new tariffs, said Canada was one of only two countries – along with China – to retaliate against Trump’s sweeping tariffs last year.

It also took aim at the fact that most Canadian provinces have halted purchases of US alcohol, boycotting the products over Trump’s tariff threats and repeated calls for annexation of Canada as America’s “51st state”.

“Canada has taken US alcohol products off Canadian shelves, given better market access to dairy products from the European Union, and has put a cap on US vehicle exports to Canada from companies reshoring to the United States,” charged US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a statement.

The tariff announcement aims to “hold Canada accountable for its retaliation and discrimination”. he added.

“LITIGATION RISK”

Trump’s move marks the first time that Section 338 has been used to impose tariffs, Scott Lincicome of the libertarian Cato Institute told AFP.

Many experts believe that the law has been superseded by other authorities, he said, arguing that Trump has “demonstrated a willingness to use and abuse any statute on the books”.

Ryan Majerus, a former US trade official, told AFP that the law is “subject to a lot of litigation risk” and has never been tested.

“This is clearly designed to get some leverage over Canada,” added Majerus, who is now a partner at law firm King & Spalding.

He noted that negotiations surrounding the USMCA were ongoing, and that the United States’ talks with Mexico have proceeded at a much faster pace than those with Canada.

“This could be an effort to try to get them going,” he said, pointing to the 30-day delay in the tariffs’ implementation.

If the tariffs were to take effect as announced, however, Majerus expects that the removal of exemptions for USMCA imports would be highly negative to US supply chains and businesses. (CNA/ AFP)

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The High Commission of Canada to Sri Lanka has announced the Sri Lankan recipients of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) for 2026, highlighting the country’s vibrant civil society and grassroots leadership.

Among the selected partners are Eastern Self Reliant Community Awakening Organisation, H/Sri Kawantissa Vocational Training Center, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Sevalanka Foundation, South Asian Women in Media, Sri Lanka Unites, The Butterfly Peace Garden, and Transparency International Sri Lanka.

These organizations will implement projects advancing inclusive governance, climate action, peacebuilding, and economic growth. 

Their initiatives span areas such as women’s and youth empowerment, climate-smart agriculture, civic and digital rights, anti-corruption, safe migration, and gender equality.

The High Commission noted that while many strong proposals were received, CFLI remains a highly competitive program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects led by local partners. 

Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply during the next call for proposals in late 2026. (Newswire)

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The High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka has officially relocated to No. 6, Srimath R. G. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 07, the mission announced.

In a statement on ‘X’, the High Commission said it looks forward to welcoming visitors at the new premises. (Newswire)

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The Canadian government has introduced a new digital safety bill that would ban social ⁠media for children under 16, with exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety standards.

The bill also aims to make AI chatbots safer by setting up a digital regulator ⁠to establish safety standards, a government official said.

The proposed “Digital Safety Act” makes Canada the latest in a wave of countries moving to crack down on social media platforms over concerns of harm to children.

“We have seen the very serious consequences that online harms can have. The safety of children cannot be an afterthought,” the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, Marc Miller, said in a statement.

Companies could face penalties of 3% of global revenue or up to C$10 million ($7.2 million), whichever is more, for failing to comply.

“Social media platforms and AI chatbots are designed to capture attention. They do not support healthy childhood development and have become a source of anxiety, isolation, depression and a range of other mental health challenges for many young Canadians,” Miller said.

“This legislation will provide a safer environment for young Canadians and empower them to connect in-person, build friendships, focus in school, and learn real-world skills so they can thrive.”

The bill’s introduction in Parliament comes weeks after families affected by one of the country’s worst mass shootings sued OpenAI, alleging that the company knew the killer was planning the attack after it banned the shooter from its platform in June last year over the user’s troubling conversations on ChatGPT, but did not warn police.

In its proposal for Bill C-34, the Canadian government said that apart from individual behaviour, online harms “are also shaped by how digital services are designed and operated. Features such as algorithmic recommendation systems, engagement-based feeds, autoplay, and endless scrolling can amplify harmful content and increase exposure, particularly for young users.” 

AI has added new challenges, and digital services have “not kept pace with the scale, speed, and severity of online harms”, the government said. 

Against that backdrop, the bill aims to set up new safety requirements for social media and AI chatbot services, requiring them to identify risks of harm on their platforms, adopt measures to address certain risks, implement safety-focused and age-appropriate design features, provide tools, such as blocking and flagging, and more.

It also wants platforms to remove content that includes the non-consensual sharing of intimate images within 24 hours of being flagged, according to local media reports.

In December, Australia became the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16. ⁠A month after its law was introduced, social media companies collectively deactivated the accounts of nearly 5 ⁠million teenagers. Government officials in a technical briefing said it could take a year for the bill to pass, and 18 months to set up the digital regulator once it does.

France, Denmark and ⁠Poland are also considering tightening rules around social media use for children, while Greece in April announced it would ban access to young people under 15 from January 2027. (Al Jazeera)

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The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is investigating allegations of corruption involving Cricket Canada, one of which focuses on a game involving Canada from the recent men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

ESPNcricinfo understands the ACU has two active investigations that span elements of Cricket Canada and allegations of breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code at the international and domestic levels as well. The existence of the allegations emerged in a documentary ‘Corruption, Crime and Cricket’, produced by The Fifth Estate, a Canadian investigative documentary programme. 

The 43-minute film, aired by the public broadcaster CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) on Friday, makes wide-ranging accusations of corruption and governance at Canada Cricket.

According to the documentary, the claim of corruption at the World Cup comes from Canada’s game against New Zealand. Under scrutiny is the fifth over of New Zealand’s chase when the captain Dilpreet Bajwa came on to bowl. Bajwa, then 22, was appointed captain three weeks before the tournament began.

Primarily a batting allrounder who bowls offspin, Bajwa took the ball with New Zealand 35 for 2. Canada had opened the bowling with pace in Jaskaran Singh and Dilon Heyliger, but in a poor start, they conceded 15 and 14 runs respectively. 

They switched to spin as early as the third over, when Saad bin Zafar came on and bowled a wicket maiden. Heyliger took a wicket in the next over – the fourth – and then Bajwa came on. He began the over with a no-ball, bowled a wide down the leg side and ended up conceding 15 off the over.

The other investigation stems from a recording of a telephone call involving then Canada coach Khurram Chohan, in which he claims that senior (now former) Cricket Canada board members put pressure on him to select certain players to the national side. The audio was leaked last year and has been under ACU investigation since. The recording also contains claims of attempts to fix in matches, though those involve challenges in corroborating with actionable evidence.

“The ACU is aware of the programme broadcast by CBC,” Andrew Ephgrave, interim General Manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit, said in a statement to ESPNcricinfo. “Consistent with its established operating procedures, the ACU is not in a position to comment on the substance of any allegations contained within it.

“Governance matters in relation to ICC Members are considered by the ICC, where they fall under its jurisdiction, in accordance with the ICC’s standard constitutional processes.

“The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit operates across three core functions: intelligence, prevention and education, and investigation. These functions operate concurrently and are applied wherever there is a credible basis to believe the integrity of the sport may be at risk.”

The documentary also interviews another former coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, who makes a similar claim on undue influence being applied on him in squad selections, in his case for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The fifth estate said the board tried “to force” Dassanayake to select certain players and when he didn’t, he was told his contract would be terminated. Dassanayake is suing Cricket Canada for wrongful dismissal.

Cricket Canada has faced administrative turmoil over the last year, most notably in the appointment and subsequent removal of former CEO Salman Khan. 

Khan’s appointment had attracted ICC attention, for failing to disclose prior criminal charges and he has been charged with theft and fraud by Calgary Police. Khan has denied the claims. Earlier this month Arvinder Khosa was elected board president, replacing Amjad Bajwa.

Canada’s players faced delayed payment of prize money due to them from the 2024 T20 World Cup and the documentary claims that national players were uncontracted from July 2025 and then put on small retainers for four months leading up to this year’s T20 World Cup.

The documentary also explores the links of organised crime after a former player claimed he was threatened. That investigation, Ephgrave told the fifth estate is beyond the ACU’s remit. “I am aware of some allegations. That very much is a domestic matter for whenever that is taking place. And very much a law enforcement responsibility,” Ephgrave said in the documentary. (ESPNcricinfo)

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Rallies have been held across Canada urging the government to reverse planned cuts to a healthcare programme for refugees and asylum seekers.

Dozens of people demonstrated in Toronto on Tuesday as part of a national day of action against cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which are set to come into effect on May 1. Critics say the curbs put vulnerable people at risk and will lead to higher costs down the line.

“We want to make sure that we have a universal healthcare system, and we also don’t want a system that punches down against vulnerable people and migrants,” Dr Ritika Goel told Al Jazeera at the protest in downtown Toronto.

“We want to support a system that provides care to everyone,” she said.

The Canadian government announced in late January that it would be making changes to the IFHP, which provides basic health coverage to refugees, asylum claimants, and others not covered by other healthcare programmes in Canada.

As of next month, people receiving IFHP coverage will have to pay $4 per eligible prescription medication, as well as 30 percent of the cost of supplemental services such as dental and vision care, and counselling.

“Introducing co-payments for supplemental health products and services helps manage growing demand, keeping the IFHP sustainable over the long term,” a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told Al Jazeera in an email.

“This approach will allow the government to continue supporting eligible beneficiaries while keeping the program fair and consistent with other publicly funded health insurance programs that provide supplemental benefits, including those available to many social assistance recipients.”

Major spending cuts

While the new co-payments may appear modest, doctors and refugee rights advocates say they can be prohibitively expensive for newcomers struggling to rebuild their lives in Canada amid soaring costs.

“Certainly, it can have the result of preventing or discouraging [people] from seeking healthcare supports and services that they need,” Aisling Bondy, president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, said in an interview in late March.

That is “very concerning”, Bondy told Al Jazeera, “especially when we’re talking about people who have just arrived in Canada, who are just becoming established, and who are very vulnerable and have experienced physical and psychological trauma”.

The cuts come as views towards refugees and migrants in Canada have soured in recent years amid soaring costs of living and an affordable housing shortage.

After a rapid increase in arrivals during the COVID-19 pandemic, a poll in October of last year found that more than half of Canadians said they believe the country accepts too many immigrants.

And since taking office in March 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has moved to alleviate pressure on a strained immigration system.

Carney’s government is drastically cutting down on temporary visas, including for international students and foreign workers. It passed a new law last month that introduced new restrictions on access to asylum, drawing condemnation from rights groups.

It is also making massive budget cuts across various departments amid economic uncertainty, and is seeking to slash $60 billion in Canadian dollars ($43.5bn US) in public spending over five years.

‘Increasing suffering, expenditures’

According to the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the cost of the IFHP rose from $211 million Canadian dollars ($153m US) in 2020-2021 to $896 million Canadian dollars ($645m US) in 2024-2025 as the number of beneficiaries and cost per beneficiary “increased significantly”.

The programme is projected to grow at an average of 11.2 percent annually through 2030, although that is far below the 33.7 percent seen over the past five years, the office said.

The IRCC spokesperson told Al Jazeera that the changes to the programme “could result” in $126.8 million in Canadian dollars ($91.95m US) in savings in 2026-2027, and $231.9 million in Canadian dollars ($168.2m US) “onwards”.

But Dr Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association, has said the changes to the IHRP would likely increase – not reduce – overall costs to the healthcare system.

“When patients cannot afford medications or essential supports, preventable conditions worsen and ultimately require emergency or hospital care, increasing both human suffering and system-wide expenditures,” she said in a letter to Canada’s health minister in February.

“The new co-payments will also create additional administrative burden for frontline providers, including pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, and physicians, further straining a healthcare system already under pressure,” Burnell said.

She also warned that the changes would amount to “a de facto denial of care” for patients living in poverty.

Similar arguments were made in 2012, when then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper also made cuts to the IHRP, prompting widespread protests and a legal challenge.

In 2014, the Federal Court of Canada ruled that the curbs amounted to “cruel and unusual” treatment and violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The cuts were later rescinded when former PM Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party defeated Harper’s Conservatives in a 2015 election. (Al Jazeera)

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Canada’s public safety minister said he wouldn’t intervene in the removal proceedings of a Tamil migrant who arrived in Canada by sea 16 years ago, but acknowledged the dangers such people face upon return to Sri Lanka.

Gary Anandasangaree responded to a question from CTV News at an unrelated news conference, saying the courts are the best place to decide the fate of Kumar Thuraisinkam, a man who lives in Toronto and who was one of almost 500 people to arrive on Canada’s west coast in the M.V. Sun Sea back in 2010.

“Let me just say the matter is before the courts. I will leave it to the courts to decide,” Anandasangaree said on Tuesday.

“I have, in the past, advocated for those who particularly came on the M.V. Sun Sea not to return to Sri Lanka because we had one incident of an individual who was alleged to have been killed by the government several years ago. However, I do believe the courts, in Canada, will be the best place to adjudicate this matter,” he said.

Anandasangaree was referring to his time as a lawyer with the Canadian Tamil Congress, when, after the M.V. Sun Sea’s arrival, he did interviews about his advocacy for those aboard the vessel.

The M.V. Sun Sea came to B.C. Shores from Thailand carrying 492 people after the Tamil Tigers were defeated by the Sri Lankan army after more than two decades of conflict.

According to the Canadian Council for Refugees in a report from 2015, some 63 per cent of refugee claims by those on the M.V. Sun Sea were accepted, meaning that an arbitrator felt they were in need of protection in Canada.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are a listed terrorist group in Canada, and in 2025, Anandasangaree said he would recuse himself from any matters related to the group.

One man who was charged with organizing the ship, Sathyapavan Aseervatham, swore an affidavit that he was beaten and tortured upon his return to Sri Lanka. He died in a car crash about a year after the affidavit was signed, his lawyer said in 2013.

Thuraisinkam refers to that death in his arguments before the Federal Court to stay in Canada, said his lawyer, Kes Posgate.

Statements made by the Canadian government in the wake of the ship’s arrival, aggressively pursuing deportations, could also prejudice him upon return to that country, he said.

“There is a serious risk that he will be perceived, if he returns to Sri Lanka, to be affiliated with the Tamil Tigers,” Posgate said.

Thuraisinkam said that he fled Sri Lanka after years of violence and gunfire, and said he was viewed with suspicion by the victorious Sri Lankan army.

He said he went to Thailand and got on the M.V. Sun Sea, bound for Canada. Quickly he realized how dangerous the journey would be.

“There was no food. It was an old ship, and I didn’t expect it to be like this. It was very windy and I was scared,” Thuraisinkam told CTV News through a translator.

Thuraisinkam’s refugee claim was denied, but he was able to stay in Canada for a while with a work permit as a carpenter in Scarborough.

He said the stress of living in Canada without his wife and three children in Sri Lanka contributed to depression and alcohol use.

A more recent impaired driving conviction prompted the authorities to start removal proceedings against him.

The Canadian Border Services Agency refused a request to wait on Thuraisinkam’s removal, pointing to a lack of documentation that he is wanted or faces a threat.

Thuraisinkam said in the interview that he feels Canadian after being here for 16 years, and he is worried about his life should he return.

“I’m very scared if they send me back. I don’t know what will happen to me in Sri Lanka,” he said. (CP24/ CTV)

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Canada has said that it “strongly condemns” Israel’s plans to occupy southern Lebanon and warned that Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity “must not be violated”, amid plans by Israeli forces to mount a major ground invasion of its northern neighbour.

Israel’s preparations to invade and take control of territory up to 30km (18.6 miles) inside Lebanon’s southern border come as the death toll in Lebanon from Israeli attacks has risen to at least 1,072 people, with almost 3,000 wounded, since the start of this month.

More than a million people have also been displaced by weeks of Israeli attacks in the south and east of the country, as well as the capital, Beirut, while warnings of a humanitarian crisis are being made at all levels, as Israel’s ground incursion looms.

Expressing “solidarity” with the Lebanese government and people of Lebanon, Canada’s Ministry of Global Affairs said on Wednesday that all sides in the conflict must “act in accordance with international law”.

“We urge all parties to protect civilians, refrain from attacks on infrastructure, health workers, and peacekeepers,” the ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, France’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot also said that Israel should refrain from its planned occupation of southern Lebanon, warning that such a move would have a dire impact on civilians.

“We urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from such ground operations, which would have major humanitarian consequences and would exacerbate the country’s already dire situation,” Barrot told the AFP news agency.

The French and Canadian statements come after Israel announced that its military will take control of south Lebanese territory up to the Litani River, some 30km from the Israeli border.

Israel’s Minister of Defence Israel Katz said the military “will control… the security zone up to the Litani”, adding that displaced Lebanese residents would not be permitted to return to their homes south of the river “until security is guaranteed for the residents of the north” of Israel.

Raising the spectre of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, Katz said that Israel’s military was “following the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoon” in Lebanon, two cities that were effectively razed to the ground amid the war on the Palestinian enclave.

On Monday, Israel’s far-right Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich went even further in calling for Israel’s official annexation of southern Lebanon, saying that a “change of Israel’s borders” was necessary.

“I say here definitively… in every room and in every discussion, too: The new Israeli border must be the Litani”, he said in an interview.

Israel’s preparations to invade southern Lebanon have included bombing bridges spanning the Litani River and bombing Lebanese homes close to the border that separates the two countries.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Israel’s attack on the Qasmiyeh Bridge on Sunday – a key to the south of the country – a “prelude to ground invasion”.

Lebanese state media cited the Ministry of Health early on Wednesday as saying that nine people had been killed in Israel’s most recent attacks on Lebanon.

Four people were killed in an “Israeli enemy raid” on the southern town of Adloun, and another two were killed in a strike on an apartment in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp, with four others wounded, according to reports. An earlier Israeli raid on the town of Habboush, also in the south, killed at least three people and wounded 18 others.

In northern Israel – as repeated air raid sirens sent residents to safety shelters – a woman was killed on Tuesday following rocket fire from Lebanon, Israeli authorities said. (Al Jazeera)

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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that 10 people, including the suspected shooter, have been killed in a shooting at a high school in the province of British Columbia, with more people injured.

The Tumbler Ridge RCMP said in a statement on Tuesday that six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while another person died on the way to the hospital, according to police.

Another two people were found dead at a home that police believe is connected to the shooting.

The RCMP said the incident involved an “active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School” in British Columbia, and that “an individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury”.

Two people were “airlifted to hospital with serious or life‑threatening injuries” and approximately 25 others were “being assessed and triaged at the local medical centre for non‑life‑threatening injuries”, the RCMP added.

“All remaining students and staff were safely evacuated. Police are working closely with the school district to support a coordinated reunification process for families,” the police said.

Located in the foothills of the British Columbia Rocky Mountains, more than 1,100 km (685 miles) north of Vancouver, the township of Tumbler Ridge has a population of fewer than 3,000 people.

Canadian media have reported that the shooter was female, but the RCMP declined to provide any details on the suspect’s identity in a news conference on Tuesday.

The RCMP said officers were searching other homes and properties in the community to see if there were additional sites connected to the incident.

RCMP’s northern district commander Ken Floyd said in a statement this “was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation”.

“This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community, and we are grateful for the cooperation shown as officers continue their work to advance the investigation,” he said.

David Eby, the British Columbia premier, described the mass shooting as an “unimaginable tragedy” and said the government would “ensure every possible support for community members in the coming days”.

“Our hearts are in Tumbler Ridge tonight with the families of those who have lost loved ones,” Eby said.

Canada has stricter gun ownership laws than its neighbour, the United States, but a string of mass shootings in recent years has prompted calls for tougher control measures.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced gun control measures in 2022, including a “freeze” on the buying and selling of handguns in the country. (Al Jazeera)

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The Government of Canada has warned of visa scams targeting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Canadian Government has announced that no special visa called a “FIFA Visa” or any special tourist visa will be issued for the 2026 World Cup. 

Furthermore, the tourist visas that are issued cannot be used for employment or permanent residence in Canada, it further warned. 

The Canadian Government states that if you want to come to Canada to attend a FIFA World Cup 2026 match as a fan, you will be entering Canada as a tourist. 

There’s no special FIFA World Cup 2026 visa, but you may need either of the following to enter Canada: a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

The public is further warned to beware of immigration agents who promise entry to Canada for the FIFA World Cup 2026, stating that no one can guarantee a visa or an eTA.

“You’re responsible for all the information in your application, even if a representative completes it for you. Make sure all your documents are accurate, or you could risk a 5-year ban,” the Canadian Government announced.

For more details, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/soccer-2026.html?utm_source=IRCCSM&utm_medium=facebook (Newswire)

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President Trump announced Thursday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to join the “Board of Peace” for the war-torn Gaza Strip has been withdrawn. 

“Dear Prime Minister Carney,” Trump’s Truth Social post began. 

“Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time,” the president continued. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Trump didn’t give a reason for revoking the invite but his announcement comes on the same day Carney fired back at the president’s criticism of Canada in Davos. 

“Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” Carney said in a speech in Quebec City Thursday. 

Earlier this week, at the World Economic Forum, Trump asserted that “Canada lives because of the United States.”

“Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” the president warned.

Trump also complained that Canada gets “freebies” from the US and “should be grateful.”

The president’s needling came after Carney spoke of “a rupture in the world order” at the forum in Switzerland Tuesday. 

The Canadian prime minister, who has been unable to negotiate a trade deal to lift Trump’s tariffs, called on the world’s “middle powers” to “act together.” 

Trump, who was announced as the inaugural chairman of the Board of Peace, has sweeping veto power over the panel and the sole ability to determine which nations will be represented on it.

The White House confirmed this past weekend that while temporary three-year terms on the board are free, the president is expecting countries to cough up $1 billion for a permanent slot to raise money for reconstruction in Gaza.

The panel, which Trump has hailed as “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled,” is expected to include representatives from about 30 countries.

Some European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, have turned down invitations over concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inclusion and possible undermining of the United Nations.

Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan were represented on stage in Davos Thursday for the board’s inaugural ceremony. (New York Post)

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Canada has announced over $2 million in humanitarian assistance for Sri Lanka in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. 

Sri Lanka has been devastated by Cyclone Ditwah, which triggered widespread flooding and landslides across the island. These disasters have claimed lives and caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, severely disrupting communities and local economies.

According to the Canadian Government, Secretary of State (International Development), Randeep Sarai, on Tuesday, announced more than $2 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to support emergency relief efforts in Sri Lanka. 

The funding is allocated as follows:

• $1.4 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide immediate access to food for affected households.
• $350,000 to World Vision Canada, a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, to provide relief items and emergency shelters, along with water, sanitation and hygiene services, through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund.
• $215,000 to support the Sri Lanka Red Cross’s ongoing relief operations through the Emergency Disaster Assistance Fund, which is administered by the Canadian Red Cross.
• Nearly $70,000 provided through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to deliver emergency relief.

The Canadian Government said it continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact with experienced partners to assess and respond to evolving needs.

“The loss of life and devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah is heartbreaking. Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka during this difficult time. This support is focused on providing immediate relief, and we remain committed to identifying additional ways to assist as recovery efforts progress,” Secretary of State (International Development), Randeep Sarai said.

“Cyclone Ditwah has caused unimaginable loss, leaving many families and communities in Sri Lanka facing devastation and uncertainty. Canada stands with those impacted and will continue to provide humanitarian aid and support to help communities recover and rebuild,” Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, said. 

Pooled humanitarian funds, to which Canada contributes, were used to support response efforts in Sri Lanka, including allocations from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund, the Red Cross’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund and the WFP’s Immediate Response Account.

Canada has provided $8.1 million in bilateral development assistance to Sri Lanka in the fiscal year 2024 to 2025. (Newswire)

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US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was immediately ending all trade talks with Canada, accusing it of misquoting former president Ronald Reagan in an advertising campaign against tariffs.

“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

“The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.”

The latest extraordinary twist in relations between the North American neighbors comes just over two weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Trump in the White House to seek a relaxation of stiff US tariffs.

The Ronald Reagan Foundation said on X that the government of the Canadian province of Ontario had used “selectively audio and video” from a radio address to the nation to the nation on trade by Reagan in April 1987. 

It said the ad “misrepresents” what the Republican former actor had said in his address, adding that it was “reviewing its legal options in this matter.”

Trump said the ad was designed to “interfere with the decision of the US Supreme Court,” which is due to rule on his sweeping global tariffs. 

The sudden decision to end trade talks will come as a blow to Carney, whom Trump described as a “world-class leader” when they met on October 7, adding that the Canadian would be “very happy” with their discussion. 

At the time, however, Trump offered no immediate concessions on tariffs. 

Roughly 85 percent of cross-border trade in both directions remains tariff-free as the United States and Canada continue to adhere to an existing North American trade deal called the USMCA.

But Trump’s global sectoral tariffs — particularly on steel, aluminum, and autos — have hit Canada hard, forcing job losses and squeezing businesses. (France 24)

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Three suspects have been arrested in Bambalapitiya for financially defrauding the public, promising jobs in Canada. 

According to the Police, the suspects were arrested with a fake visa sticker by officials from the Bambalapitiya Police Station, yesterday (25). 

The arrested suspects are a 69-year-old man from Borella, and two women aged 26 and 68, from the Gonagangaara and Borella areas.

Police investigations have found that one female suspect had defrauded Rs. 3,831,000 and Rs. 3,436,000, promising to send people to Canada. 

The Bambalapitiya Police have launched a probe to find out if the suspects were involved in other similar scams. (Newswire)

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Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September if the West Bank’s governing body agrees to make certain commitments.

The prime minister said the Palestinian Authority must hold an election in 2026 and commit to other democratic reforms.

“Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism, and honouring their innate desire for the peaceful co-existence of Israeli and Palestinian states as the only roadmap for a secure and prosperous future,” Carney said during a news conference on Wednesday.

He said Canada would formally recognize the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly.

Carney’s announcement came after he spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier Wednesday. 

Mona Abuamara, the former chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada, told CBC’s Power & Politics that she believes the commitments Carney set out are achievable.

“The Palestinian people have been living hell for two years. They know what they want. They need the opportunity to actually build their own state,” she told guest host David Common.

The Palestinian Authority currently controls parts of the West Bank through the Fatah party. Hamas governs in Gaza. Neither territory has held an election since 2006.

Carney said Hamas can have no role in the election he is proposing. He also reiterated that Hamas needs to release the remaining Israeli hostages and said a Palestinian state must be demilitarized.

The announcement follows similar commitments from other allied countries in the past week.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the U.K. will also recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows the UN to bring in aid and takes other steps toward long-term peace. 

France announced a similar plan last week, but without conditions. Ireland, Norway and Spain have all recognized Palestine within the last year.

Carney said he has spoken to both Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in recent days.

“In our judgment, and the judgment of others, the prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes,” the prime minister said.

“Working with others to support the possibility of a Palestinian state establishes that [prospect].”

Canadian governments previously said they would acknowledge a Palestinian state only after a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and Palestinian leadership. Carney said that approach was “no longer tenable.”

Carney said the ongoing threat of Hamas, the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and “the ongoing failure by the Israeli government to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza” spurred Canada to make this move now.

Israel rejects Canada’s plans

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said its government “rejects” Carney’s move.

“The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages,” the statement said.

Iddo Moed, the Israeli Ambassador to Canada, told Power & Politics that Canada’s decision would “embolden” Hamas.

“Hamas is very much aware of what is going on right now and I think they will be celebrating this very message,” Moed said.

Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), said in a news statement on Wednesday that Carney’s decision is “predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments” by Abbas.

“Extending recognition absent real change on the ground is a recipe for another failed Palestinian pseudo-state controlled by terrorists,” Shack said.

More than 100 advocacy groups have been warning of hunger spreading in Gaza as ceasefire negotiations stall.

Israel, which controls all supplies entering Gaza, denies it is responsible for food shortages.

Carney was asked how likely it is that elections could be held given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the heightened tensions in the region overall.

“Much has to happen in order for a democratic viable state [to be] established in Palestine. We fully recognize that,” Carney said.

“We’re committed to help work as part of that process, but I’m not in any way [or] shape minimizing the scale of that task.”

Carney was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who announced $10 million to “to accelerate reform and capacity-building for the Palestinian Authority” earlier this week.

Anand’s announcement was made at a major UN conference — convened by France and Saudi Arabia — to find ways to preserve the two-state solution.

Conservatives denounce decision

The Conservative Party said in a statement that it supports a two-state solution, but also said Carney’s decision is a “reward” for Hamas.

“A unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, without peace negotiations or a renunciation of violence, destroys the path to a lasting, two-state solution. Worse, it legitimizes terrorism by handing political rewards to a group that rules Gaza through fear, oppression and brutality,” the statement said.

NDP MP Heather McPherson said she welcomed Carney’s decision but said it should have been made sooner. She also called on Canada to do more to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“It should not have taken the Liberals this long to make this decision — and it should not take until September to implement it,” McPherson wrote in a statement.

“The Liberals should recognize the state of Palestine today — while also taking the political action necessary to end Canada’s complicity in this genocide.”

In the past week, a number of Liberal MPs have called on Canada to follow France’s lead.

Toronto MP Salma Zahid and Montreal-area MP Sameer Zuberi said in social media posts that Canada must join France in announcing its recognition of a state for the Palestinian people.

Fares Al Soud, who represents the Toronto-area riding of Mississauga Centre, said on social media that justice for the Palestinian people “demands recognition.”

Last fall, dozens of MPs from the Liberals, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green Party joined an international call for the recognition a Palestinian state. (CBC)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has participated in a special community event titled “An Evening with Dr. Harini Amarasuriya” in Surrey, British Columbia, during her ongoing visit to Canada. 

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the event offered a unique opportunity for the religious leaders and members of the Sri Lankan origin community to interact with the Prime Minister.

PM Amarasuriya arrived in Canada on Tuesday to attend the Meeting of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors in Vancouver.

Upon her arrival, she was warmly received by senior officials from the Government of the Province of British Columbia, the Commonwealth of Learning, and the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa, in coordination with and facilitated by Global Affairs Canada. (Newswire)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya departed for Canada this morning to attend the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors.

PM Harini Amarasuriya will participate as the representative of the South Asian region in the event, which will be held from 24 to 26 June in Vancouver, Canada.

According to the PM’s Office, the summit will primarily focus on key sectors of education and training of children and women, higher education, teacher education, lifelong learning, and the integration of digital technology to enhance active learning.

Discussions will also focus on the topics of investing in innovation and research, supporting the digital transformation of institutions and organizations, implementing effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and promoting gender equality. (Newswire)

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