In the news today, August 7

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U.K. SHARES CONCERNS ON DETAINED CANADIANS

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and her British counterpart say they’re both concerned about two Canadians detained in China. Freeland says Britain has taken a strong and public stand on what she called a difficult issue while U.K. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab says his country shares Canada’s concerns on the matter. Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have been detained in China since last December. Freeland says Canada’s relationship with China continues to be challenging, and the cases of the two detained Canadians are a top priority.

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FEDS DETAIL $22M TO COMBAT CHILD PORN

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says provincial and municipal police forces will receive $15 million to combat the exploitation of children online. The Liberal government committed about $22 million over three years to the cause in this year’s federal budget, and are detailing how the majority of the spending will go to local police internet child exploitation units. The rest of the money will go towards raising awareness, strengthening the judicial system and engaging with online companies to make sure their platforms do not host child pornography and related content. The announcement follows a meeting last month that Goodale attended with his counterparts from Canada’s Five Eyes intelligence allies — the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

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DUCEPPE, PARIZEAU CLAN MEMBERS VYING FOR BLOC RUN

Members of two of Quebec’s best-known sovereigntist clans are battling it out for a chance to represent the Bloc Quebecois in a Montreal riding in the upcoming federal election. Anne Duceppe, the cousin of former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe, is facing the outgoing leader of the Communist Party of Quebec, Andre Parizeau, the nephew of former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau. They are seeking to represent the Bloc in north-end Ahuntsic-Cartierville, where a nomination meeting is set for Aug. 17. The successful candidate will face off against Liberal Melanie Joly, who won the federal riding for the Liberals in 2015 with more than 46 per cent of the vote.

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TURTLE LAYS EGGS IN N.S. GOLF COURSE BUNKER

For the second year in a row, a central Nova Scotia golf course is home to an unusual hazard after a resident snapping turtle laid eggs in a bunker. Debert Golf Course manager Mark Webb says the sand trap next to the seventh hole has been declared off limits after the turtle laid the eggs. Webb says the turtle nicknamed Shelley was rescued from the side of a road last year by a friend and brought to the course, where it has apparently found a home. The nine-hole course has several ponds that provide an ideal turtle habitat. Webb says that after a hatching last September, he was able to help three of the baby turtles make it safely to a pond on the course.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen holds a media availability to discuss newcomer settlement services across Canada.

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with members of the International Association of Fire Fighters at the biennial Canadian Policy Conference and will deliver brief remarks.

— Rural Economic Development Minister Bernadette Jordan and N.S. Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell make a joint announcement related to the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.

— Federal Infrastructure Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Victoriaville Mayor Andre Bellavance take part in an infrastructure announcement to address the impact of drought.

— Premier Jason Kenney will discuss the accomplishments of his government in its first 100 days in office and make an announcement regarding Indigenous people in Alberta.

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The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, August 7

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