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Canada

Jaw-dropping video shows collapse at Coquitlam, B.C., construction site

Emergency work is underway after a collapse at a Coquitlam, B.C., construction site that was caught on camera this week.
Spy watchdog calls for more information on border agency's air traveller targeting

The national spy watchdog says Canada's border agency needs to do a better job of documenting how and why it singles out certain air passengers for possible additional scrutiny.
B.C. man tries to appeal driving ban by claiming his designated driver crashed his Mercedes, fled the scene

B.C.'s Supreme Court has upheld a 90-day driving ban for a man who refused to give a breath sample after crashing his Mercedes into a ditch – rejecting his claim that an "unnamed designated driver" was behind the wheel and fled the scene.
Here are the factors experts say are contributing to Canada's drug shortages

Experts say drug shortages have gradually worsened in Canada over the last decade, putting patients in difficult and sometimes dangerous positions. But potential solutions like rethinking where drug manufacturing is concentrated and expanding pharmacists' prescribing privileges could help ease those impacts.
Suspect arrested in Morocco could be behind Ontario bomb threats, OPP says

Investigators have 'strong reason' to believe that a suspect taken into custody in Morocco could be behind numerous bomb threats across Ontario in early November, police say.
Sask. premier expects 'no consequences' over decision to stop collecting carbon tax on electric heat

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he's not expecting "any consequences whatsoever" for the province's decision to stop collecting the carbon levy on electric heat.

World

South Koreans want their own nukes. That could roil one of the world's most dangerous regions

With dozens of nukes in North Korea's burgeoning arsenal, repeated threats to launch them at its enemies, and a stream of tests of powerful missiles designed to pinpoint target a U.S. city with a nuclear strike, a growing number of South Koreans are losing faith in America's vow to back its longtime ally.
Pressure builds to eliminate fossil fuel use as oil executive takes over climate talks

Pressure to phase out fossil fuels mounted Thursday on the oil company chief who took over international climate negotiations in Dubai as part of the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28).
Montana's first-in-the-nation ban on TikTok blocked by judge who says it's unconstitutional

Montana's first-in-the-nation law banning the video-sharing app TikTok in the state was blocked Thursday, one month before it was set to take effect, by a federal judge who called the measure unconstitutional.
Driver arrested after 2 troopers killed in hit-and-run on Las Vegas freeway, police say

Two Nevada state troopers in Las Vegas were killed in a hit-and-run Thursday while helping another driver on the state's busiest freeway, authorities said. Police confirmed Thursday afternoon that a suspect had been taken into custody hours after the crash.
GOP Rep. George Santos refuses to resign and warns his expulsion from Congress would set a precedent

In his closing arguments for remaining a member of the House, a defiant Rep. George Santos depicted himself as a victim of a smear campaign by some of his colleagues and made clear that he would not resign before a vote Friday on whether he should be expelled.
Allegations against India official linked to plot to kill Sikh separatist on U.S. soil are serious: White House

The U.S. takes very seriously the allegations against an Indian government official who is accused of directing an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on U.S. soil, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.

Entertainment

Shane MacGowan, lead singer of The Pogues and a laureate of booze and beauty, dies at age 65

Shane MacGowan, the singer-songwriter and frontman of 'Celtic Punk' band The Pogues, best known for the Christmas ballad 'Fairytale of New York,' died Thursday, his family said. He was 65.
After hearing, judge mulls extending pause on John Oates' sale of stake in business with Daryl Hall

A lawsuit by Daryl Hall over John Oates' plan to sell his share of the Hall & Oates duo's joint venture without the other's permission headed Thursday to court, where a judge will decide whether to keep pausing the deal.
Will an earlier Oscars broadcast attract more viewers? ABC plans to try the 7 p.m. slot in 2024

Academy Awards enthusiasts won't have to stay up quite as late to hear the best picture winner in March. The 96th Oscars will begin one hour early, with the official show starting at 7 p.m. Eastern for the first time, ABC said Thursday.

Health

Here are the factors experts say are contributing to Canada's drug shortages

Experts say drug shortages have gradually worsened in Canada over the last decade, putting patients in difficult and sometimes dangerous positions. But potential solutions like rethinking where drug manufacturing is concentrated and expanding pharmacists' prescribing privileges could help ease those impacts.
Southwestern Ont. hospitals facing $480M class action after patient data breached, sold on dark web

A group of southwestern Ontario hospitals is facing a potential $480-million class action lawsuit after at least 270,000 patients in the region had their data breached and reportedly sold by hackers on the dark web.
Years in the works, Canada's new 988 suicide crisis line is now available

In a massive step towards prioritizing the mental health and well-being of Canadians, the government has officially launched a nationwide, three-digit suicide crisis helpline.

Politics

'The only choice': Defence Department going with Boeing to replace aging Aurora fleet

The federal government is buying at least 14 Boeing surveillance planes from the United States to replace the aging CP-140 Aurora fleet, cabinet ministers announced Thursday. The deal costs more than $10.3 billion in total, including US$5.9 billion for the jets themselves, and the planes are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
Housing reality check: Canada behind on building housing for marginalized communities, advocates say

The federal government has spent about half of the $82.5 billion in its national housing strategy funding and has now spent all of its funds that it had set aside to build low-income rental units for vulnerable people.
Blasted by Bloc, Conservative MP apologizes for asking minister to speak English

Conservative MP Rachael Thomas has apologized after drawing criticism from other members of Parliament for asking Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge to answer questions in English at a committee meeting.

Sci-Tech

Montana's first-in-the-nation ban on TikTok blocked by judge who says it's unconstitutional

Montana's first-in-the-nation law banning the video-sharing app TikTok in the state was blocked Thursday, one month before it was set to take effect, by a federal judge who called the measure unconstitutional.
Chinstrap penguins nod off more than 10,000 times per day in seconds-long 'microsleeps,' study finds

A new study has documented the peculiar sleeping habits of this species of penguin. Instead of taking one long continuous period of sleep, chinstrap penguins prefer to sleep in seconds-long intervals, more than 10,000 times a day.
Brazilian city enacts an ordinance that was secretly written by ChatGPT

City lawmakers in Brazil have enacted what appears to be the nation's first legislation written entirely by artificial intelligence -- even if they didn't know it at the time.

Business

Some OPEC+ members will cut the oil that they send to the world to try to boost prices

The OPEC oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia and allied producers including Russia made another big swipe at propping up lagging crude prices Thursday, expanding some output cuts into next year and bringing up-and-coming oil supplier Brazil into the fold.
Tesla delivers about a dozen stainless steel Cybertruck pickups as it tries to fix production woes

With manufacturing kinks still to be worked out, Tesla delivered the first dozen or so of its futuristic Cybertruck pickups to customers Thursday, two years behind the original schedule amid uncertainty over when large-scale production will begin.
Canadian economy shrank in Q3 but manages to 'keep its head above recession waters'

The Canadian economy shrank in the third quarter as higher rates weighed on consumer and business spending, but has so far managed to skirt a recession after a significant upward revision to second quarter GDP figures.

Autos

New technology installed beneath Detroit street can charge electric vehicles as they drive

Crews have installed what's billed as the nation's first wireless-charging public roadway for electric vehicles beneath a street just west of downtown Detroit.
Tesla delivers about a dozen stainless steel Cybertruck pickups as it tries to fix production woes

With manufacturing kinks still to be worked out, Tesla delivered the first dozen or so of its futuristic Cybertruck pickups to customers Thursday, two years behind the original schedule amid uncertainty over when large-scale production will begin.
Consumer Reports: Electric vehicles less reliable, on average, than conventional cars and trucks

Electric vehicles have proved far less reliable, on average, than gasoline-powered cars, trucks and SUVs, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports, which found that EVs from the 2021 through 2023 model years encountered nearly 80 per cent more problems than did vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines.

Lifestyle

Fire upends Christmas charity in Michigan but thousands of kids will still get gifts

Donations are pouring in at a beloved Christmas charity after smoke damage from a fire stymied plans for the delivery of wrapped gifts for thousands of children in western Michigan.
This Saskatoon man just turned 104 years old and he still likes to boogie

A Saskatoon man is celebrating a remarkable milestone this week as he turns 104 years old. With a life that has spanned over ten decades, Nick Kazuska is still going strong.
'I just fell in love with it:' Montreal high school students learn how to cut hair

A small group of Montreal high school students is completing a 10-week program on cutting hair, learning everything from basic techniques to what it's like to run a barber shop.

Sports

NHL veteran Perry apologizes for 'inappropriate' behaviour, says he is seeking help

Corey Perry says he has started seeking help for his struggles with alcohol following his release from the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
Arrest warrant issued for Buffalo Bills LB Von Miller for alleged assault of pregnant person

Police in Dallas have issued an arrest warrant for Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller for allegedly assaulting a pregnant person.
Canadian women's ski jump team chases excellence from base abroad

Four Calgarian women under the age of 25 have made Planica Nordic Centre and its valley their residence 10 months of the year since June 2021. Canadian ski jumping was in survival mode when Calgary's ski jumps built for the 1988 Olympic Games shuttered in 2018.