TORONTO — After days of backlash over its cuts to institutions serving francophones, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government says it’s making changes meant to recognize the “significant and ongoing” contributions of the Franco-Ontarian community. In a statement Friday evening, Premier Doug Ford says his government is creating the position of French-Language Services Commissioner within the provincial…
A Russian hospital specializing in treating children with cancer stands accused of years of negligence, with over 100 patients reportedly infected with Hepatitis C. Management has denied responsibility. The hospital, which is located in Blagoveshchensk in Russia’s Far East, is currently being investigated by federal law enforcement. A probe was launched after parents who claimed…
Russian troops are expected to receive their first Pantsir-SA this year – a variant of the medium-range anti-aircraft system, designed specifically to operate in the extremely harsh conditions of the Arctic region. The new machine is expected to head for testing “within days,” Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Krivoruchko said on Tuesday. The high-ranking official has…
Takasaki City, Japan — Less than two weeks off a Gold Medal performance at the Pan American Championship, the USA Softball Women’s National Team will close out their 2017 international season in Takasaki City, Japan for the 2017 Japan Cup. Team USA will face three-of-the-four top-ranked teams in the world: No. 1 Japan, No. 3…
YELLOWKNIFE — A Canadian mining firm says it has unearthed the largest diamond ever found in North America. Dominion Diamond Mines says the 552-carat yellow diamond was found at its Diavik mine in the Northwest Territories in October. It says the stone “far surpasses” the previous record-holder, known as the Diavik Foxfire, which was found…
A man, shouting “Rise! Rise!” came to Lenin’s Mausoleum and tried to splash it with olive oil. He wanted to bring the proletariat chief back to life, he explained to police. By-passers at Moscow’s Red Square noticed a strange man, who ranted incoherently before taking out a bottle of olive oil. Police arrested him as…
Archeologists in Uzbekistan have unearthed a treasure estimated to worth at least a million dollars, which includes some items owned by a controversial member of the Romanov royal family, an exile who became a patron of the arts. The trove of items, including coins, bullions, books, paintings and other works of art, was discovered in…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After an impressive career for the Black Sox, as well as his skill, passion and accolades as a softball coach, Florida State’s Travis Wilson was inducted into the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame at the 80th Annual General Meeting on September 2 in Wellington, New Zealand. Wilson, a native of Christchurch, New…
A polar bear has been filmed walking into apartments in the Russian Arctic archipelago of Novaya Zemlya, where locals are facing a massive “invasion” of the wild animals. CCTV footage shows the bear strolling down the snowy streets of Belushya Guba. Then the furry beast is seen circling in the lobby amongst baby strollers and…
OTTAWA — With no new cases of E. coli connected to romaine lettuce detected since mid-November, the leafy green is probably safe to eat again, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported Monday. In the month before that, 29 people got sick from the bacteria in the lettuce, mostly in Quebec. A handful became ill…