Barrett tells doubtful Dems she’d keep open mind on court

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett presented herself Wednesday in her final round of Senate confirmation questioning as a judge with a conservative approach and deeply held personal and religious beliefs but committed to keeping an open mind in rulings on the court.

Senate Republicans are championing President Donald Trump’s pick, an originalist who adheres to a strict reading of the Constitution. Doubtful Democrats are digging deeper into the judge’s approach to health care, abortion, racial equity and voting rights, but they are running out of time to stop her quick confirmation.

Greek neo-Nazi chief sentenced to 13 years in prison

The leaders of Greece’s fascist Golden Dawn party were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for running a criminal gang linked with hate crimes.

Presiding judge Maria Lepenioti handed down 13-year jail terms to six former lawmakers, including Golden Dawn’s leader Nikos Mihaloliakos, a 62-year-old mathematician and Holocaust denier, at the Athens Criminal Appeals Court.

Ex-senator Don Meredith's staff to be compensated $498K for harassment, abuse

Conduct included demeaning, belittling and humiliating staff members as well as kissing, touching and intimidation that created what the Senate ethics investigator described as a "poisoned work environment."

Trudeau blames cuts under Harper for Public Health Agency’s ills

Mr. Trudeau put much of the blame for the problems on the previous government, saying structural changes and funding cuts implemented by the Conservatives are at the heart of the matter.

However, doctors and epidemiologists inside Public Health say the problems were never fixed. Even though the Liberals opposed the Conservatives’ moves at the time they say the Trudeau government allowed them to persist.

White House Embraces Covid-19 ‘Herd Immunity’ Declaration

The White House has embraced a declaration by a group of scientists arguing that authorities should allow the coronavirus to spread among young healthy people while protecting the elderly and the vulnerable — an approach that would rely on arriving at “herd immunity” through infections rather than a vaccine.

Leaders of B.C.’s three main political parties clash on pandemic response, recovery

NDP Leader John Horgan’s decision to call an election during a pandemic and the B.C. Liberal promise to cut the provincial sales tax were the focus of attacks during a televised debate on Tuesday night.

Trudeau blasts Tories, NDP for continued focus on WE Charity amid COVID-19 pandemic

The prime minister sidestepped questions Tuesday about whether he would support having one special committee continue the investigation into WE, suggesting instead that the issue is closed for the government and its priority is dealing with COVID-19.

Cutting 11,000 health jobs during pandemic will create more chaos, Alberta unions and NDP say

The bulk of AHS jobs lost — about 9,700 positions — will come from outsourcing jobs in laboratories, housekeeping, food services, and laundry over the next three years. The remaining 1,300 care staff or support staff positions will be reduced by attrition.

The AHS report also adds out-of-pocket fees for Albertans.

Nearly half of Manitoba’s new 124 COVID-19 cases are on reserve

Little Grand Rapids is operating under a Code Red on the provincial pandemic response system with the most cases in a First Nation in the province, officials confirmed Tuesday.

It is one of nine First Nations in Manitoba with confirmed cases of the infectious virus.

Nigeria dissolves controversial police unit accused of brutality

A controversial Nigerian police unit accused of brutality will be disbanded, following nationwide protests demanding an end to police violence in the country.

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police announced that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known as SARS, will be dissolved, according to a police statement.

Quebec orderlies say provincial government not following through on salary, working conditions

“It’s practically a deal with the devil,” said Marie-Anne Goupil, one of the thousands to answer the premier’s call for help on June 15. “No one thought it would go this far.”

US Military Bases Are Poisoning Okinawa

The U.S. military has contaminated the drinking water for almost half-a-million Japanese – but Japanese authorities can’t do anything about it.