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Canada women climb to No. 6 in new FIFA rankings in wake of scandal-ridden Olympics

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The Canadian women, despite an Olympic spying scandal that cost the team its coach and a six-point penalty, have climbed two spots to No. 6 in the latest FIFA world rankings.

Canada, which went to Paris as the defending Olympic champion, was rewarded for its on-field performance, posting wins over France, New Zealand and Colombia to survive the point deduction and make it to the knockout round where it lost a penalty shootout to Germany in the quarterfinals.

FIFA subsequently barred coach Bev Priestman and two members of her staff from football for a year. Canada Soccer has initiated an independent review into the scandal.

Canada’s highest-ever position was No. 4, a ranking it last held in March 2018.

The U.S., which won Olympic gold in Paris, climbed four spots to return to No. 1 after a year’s absence.

England, which was not part of the Olympic competition, moved up one spot to No. 2 at the expense of former No. 1 Spain, which fell to third after losing to Brazil in the semifinals and Germany in the bronze-medal match. The Germans remained No. 4 in the new rankings.

Sweden moved up one spot to No. 5, followed by Canada, Japan (unchanged at No. 7) and Olympic silver medallist Brazil, up one at No. 8. North Korea climbed one place to No. 9 while France plummeted eight spots to No. 10.

The French find themselves in their lowest ranking position since September 2019 after losing to Brazil in the Olympic quarterfinals and being beaten by Ireland in the lead-up to the Games.

Colombia and New Zealand, Canada’s other group opponents at the Olympics, went different ways in the new rankings. Colombia moved up one spot to a career-high No. 21 while New Zealand fell three places to No. 31.

Mexico, ranked third in CONCACAF behind the U.S. and Canada, fell one rung to No. 30.

Five other teams have achieved their highest-ever rankings: Iceland (No. 13), Zambia (No. 62), Solomon Islands (No 86), Cabo Verde (No. 130) and Central African Republic (No. 144).

Liechtenstein debuts in the rankings at No. 187 after drawing and losing to Namibia (1-1 and 2-0), bringing the total number of teams in the ranking to a record 194.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2024

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RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

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EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

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RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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