Wildfire smoke pollution linked to thousands of annual deaths: global study

HALIFAX – Police say they are investigating the sudden death of a 19-year-old female employee at a Halifax Walmart on Saturday night.

The city’s regional police force says officers were called to the store on Mumford Road at around 9:30 p.m., where they found the woman dead.

A news release today says occupational health and safety officials are investigating what happened, alongside police and the provincial medical examiner’s service.

In an email, Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss said the store is temporarily closed and the company is providing grief counselling to its workers.

Moss would not say if the woman was on shift when she died.

An email from the provincial Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration says police have control of the scene and it cannot offer any more information about what happened.

“We extend sympathies to the employee’s family at this incredibly difficult time,” spokesperson Sarah MacNeil wrote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government has released a code of conduct for municipal politicians across the province.

The code includes 40 guidelines under 14 categories, covering topics from gifts and benefits, to how officials should handle confidential information.

Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr says a code ensuring elected municipal officials have clear guidance on conduct and behaviour is long overdue.

The code was originally requested by the provinces’ municipalities and villages, and it was developed based on recommendations of a working group established in January 2022.

The working group recommended a code that applied across the province, with processes for investigating complaints and imposing sanctions.

The provincial government says councils and village commissions must adopt the code of conduct by Dec. 19.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

PARIS (AP) — The French transport minister is expected to meet with cycling associations on Monday following the death of a cyclist in Paris after a dispute with a driver.

The 27-year-old cyclist, Paul Varry, was allegedly deliberately run over last Tuesday by an SUV driver, who now faces preliminary charges of murder. The incident has sparked protests across France, with demonstrators calling for safer roads for cyclists and an end to “motorized violence.”

Varry, a dedicated advocate for urban cycling, was known for his work improving cycling infrastructure in Saint-Ouen, a northern suburb of Paris. Hundreds gathered on Saturday to honor him, including cycling groups like Paris en Selle, which vowed to continue his fight for safer roads.

Transport Minister François Durovray, in a post on X, expressed his deep sympathy for Varry’s family and said that cyclists “have a place on the road,” vowing to address safety concerns. He called Monday’s meeting an opportunity to listen and act on behalf of France’s cycling community, which has been shaken by Varry’s death. The tragedy has reignited national debates on road safety and cyclist protection as France sees an increasing number of cyclists in its urban centers.

Alexis Fremeaux, co-president of the French Federation of Bicycle Users, said that “Paul’s death, killed by a motorist in Paris, has resonated deeply.

“It stirred such emotion because this kind of murder is exceptional. But the violence that cyclists face on the roads today — every cyclist has experienced it. Whether it’s threats, being put under pressure, being endangered, or even deliberate collisions — every cyclist has a story to tell.”

Cycling advocates hope that Varry’s death will spark action and lead to What they say are long-overdue reforms to improve road safety.

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