Belarus opposition urges immediate release of over 200 political prisoners in dire state

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s premier says he is willing to sit down with the province’s wine industry to discuss more financial aid.

Tim Houston made the comments following a cabinet meeting today, after grape growers last week rejected the government’s offer of an extra $1.6 million in support.

The wineries maintain the government’s offer is unfair because it also includes help for commercial bottlers, who import cheap grape juice to make wine that is less expensive than locally produced wines.

Houston says Nova Scotia’s wine industry is important and has “lots of potential” so he’s open to more discussions because the government wants to help.

Both opposition leaders say the government has to reach a deal that addresses concerns that wineries will be subject to unfair competition if the province also supports commercial bottlers.

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill says there is no economic reason for the province to be supporting commercial wine bottlers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

TORONTO – Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard has requested bail as he appeals his sexual assault convictions in Toronto and the prison sentence he received last month.

The Ontario Court of Appeal says a motion to grant bail pending the appeal was heard Wednesday but the judge’s decision has yet to be released.

The notice of appeal Nygard’s lawyers filed in court last month argues that the trial judge made several errors, including admitting the testimony of clinical psychologist Lori Haskell on the effects of trauma.

The court filing also argues that Nygard’s 11-year sentence is excessive considering the 83-year-old’s “severe” frailty.

Nygard was convicted of four counts of sexual assault last year after multiple women came forward with allegations dating from the 1980s until the mid-2000s.

Even though he was sentenced to 11 years, the trial judge said Nygard’s time behind bars would work out to a little less than seven years after accounting for time already spent in custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Montreal police say they are investigating whether five people arrested Wednesday in possession of incendiary materials could have been planning something in connection to the war in the Middle East.

Police spokesperson Manuel Couture says investigators are trying to determine whether nearby synagogues were intended targets.

Police intercepted a vehicle containing unspecified incendiary materials shortly before 2 a.m. in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and arrested three minors — one aged 16 and the others 17.

Fifteen minutes later police arrested a 20-year-old and a 22-year-old in Côte-Saint-Luc, who also had incendiary materials in their vehicle.

Couture says the suspects were released under conditions with a promise to appear in court at a later date.

In a news release, Montreal police attribute the arrests to an increased presence and surveillance ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.