Vilnius, Lithuania – Leonid Volkov, the former chief of staff for Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of orchestrating a violent attack against him in Lithuania. The assault left Volkov with a broken arm and facial and leg injuries after being attacked with tear gas and a meat hammer while sitting in his car. This attack, according to Lithuania’s State Security Department, was likely organized in Moscow to hinder Volkov’s efforts to disrupt the upcoming presidential election in Russia based on plans communicated by Navalny before his death.
Putin, on the other hand, has stated that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty or independence is threatened, issuing a stern warning to the West just days before an election where he is expected to secure another six-year term. Meanwhile, the Auditor-General’s office has fired two employees for not disclosing their government contracts, with a third case under investigation. These cases have been referred to the RCMP and Ottawa Police amidst increased scrutiny on Parliament Hill following concerns raised in a recent report by Auditor-General Karen Hogan regarding spending and management decisions related to the ArriveCan app.
Israel has announced plans to relocate a significant portion of the displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza Strip, towards “humanitarian islands” in preparation for an offensive in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized the importance of this offensive in achieving the goal of destroying Hamas following a deadly attack by militants. Additionally, a United Nations investigation found that an Israeli tank killed Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah in Lebanon last year, an act deemed a violation of international law.
In the financial markets, the energy sector’s strength led Canada’s main stock index to higher gains, while US stock markets showed mixed results. The Canadian dollar traded for 74.23 cents US, with the April crude oil contract up at US$79.72 per barrel. The April gold contract also saw an increase, closing at US$2,180.80 an ounce.
As the evening closes, readers can explore a variety of topics including Canadians boosting their wealth through stock markets, a French citizen’s concerns over her husband’s imprisonment in China, anticipation for a total solar eclipse in Canada, and the US House passing a bill to force TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, to divest its American assets.
The article also delves into topics such as the importance of maintaining price stability to combat inflation, late federal budgets that impact spending, and media’s evolving role in light of Donald Trump’s influence. Moreover, a discussion on the appeal of granola as a healthy snack and a Colombian adventure in Bahia Solano rounds out the wide range of topics covered.