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Canadian convicted in U.S. terror plot gets 50 more years for stabbing prison staff
Canadian sentenced for stabbing U.S. prison guards
THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julia Demaree Nikhinson
An Ontario man convicted of plotting a terrorist attack in the U.S. has been handed an additional 50-year sentence for stabbing two American prison staff.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy was an inmate at U.S. Penitentiary Allenwood in Pennsylvania when he stabbed two correctional officers in December 2020.
It says the weapon, made from part of a steel desk in his cell, was used to stab one guard's hand and the other guard's head and face, causing the latter to lose his right eye.
Officials also say a note in El Bahnasawy's sock made reference to a terrorist attack for the Islamic State, and a pledge of allegiance to the group was found in his cell.
He has been serving a sentence for plotting bombings and shootings on behalf of ISIS in New York City.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty in November 2025 to multiple counts of assault, assault with intent to commit murder, and possession of contraband inside a prison as well as providing material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The additional sentence will be served consecutive to his previous 40-year conviction.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.
By Aaron Sousa | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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National security screening system can be strengthened, senior adviser to Carney says
Security screening can be improved: PM's adviser
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A senior federal adviser says a government-wide registry of security clearance information would improve efficiency, reduce duplication and help departments identify where relevant personnel security data may already exist.
David Morrison, senior diplomatic and international affairs adviser to the prime minister, told MPs on a House of Commons committee Wednesday such a registry would be one way to strengthen Canada's national security screening process.
The Commons public safety and national security committee is holding hearings on the screening process following the arrest of a Canadian NATO intern on espionage allegations.
A federal source not authorized to speak publicly about the issue has said that officials in Canada were proceeding on the basis the suspect is Biwei Zhang — also known as Claire Zhang — who was previously employed by Canadian government agencies.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree previously told the Commons committee the woman arrested in Belgium had received a security clearance from Global Affairs Canada.
The clearance was granted even though court records said the federal Public Service Commission found in 2023 that Zhang committed fraud in an appointment process for a position with the Canada Border Services Agency.
The Federal Court dismissed her application for judicial review of the decision the following year. She submitted a letter of apology during the investigation into her actions.
Morrison, a former deputy minister of foreign affairs, pointed out that individual federal departments are accountable for deciding to issue security clearances, informed by centralized expertise.
The Treasury Board Secretariat establishes the policy framework, the Public Safety portfolio — through RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service — contributes criminality checks and national security assessments, and individual departments collect relevant information, assess risks and make security clearance decisions, he said.
Morrison declined to discuss specific cases, but he said a person screened to work at NATO would likely have a secret-level clearance.
He indicated that open source checks, such as internet searches of a person's history, are now being done for secret-level security screening — a tightening of the system following the arrest in Belgium.
Morrison told the MPs that open source verification should be used more consistently across government for a wider range of security levels. "Its use would also benefit from common tools, training standards and methodologies across departments," he said.
Morrison also suggested human resources-related information relevant to an assessment of an individual's reliability or loyalty should be available to personnel security decision makers without compromising privacy protections or procedural fairness.
Finally, he said a robust personnel security effort should extend throughout a person's employment in the form of insider risk programs, recurring screening, reporting obligations and security awareness. He said these measures would help identify emerging risks, ensure clearance holders remain reliable and loyal, and confirm that clearances reflect current information.
Security expert Wesley Wark said CSIS "shoulders the main burden" of security screening for the federal government, essentially through assessing loyalty to Canada and reliability as it relates to that loyalty. CSIS provides advice related to immigration files as well as on security clearance checks.
Wark, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, said the current system for security screening in Canada "is simply unsustainable," noting CSIS handles hundreds of thousands of screening requests annually.
"The dual burdens of immigration and security clearance screening on CSIS are simply too great and threaten, in my view, to erode the operational effectiveness of CSIS as it addresses its core missions," Wark said.
"An intelligence service should not be a security screening shop."
He suggested Canada follow the United Kingdom's lead and set up a separate, centralized organization for security clearances.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
By Jim Bronskill | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Police service officially replaces RCMP in northern Alberta city
New police service in Alberta city replaces RCMP
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan
A new police service has officially taken the reins from the Mounties in a northwestern Alberta city.
The Grande Prairie Police Service said the RCMP is no longer responding to calls coming from within city limits starting Wednesday.
The service said it has completed its transition into becoming the city's official police force two years ahead of schedule.
It said the city's roughly 71,000 residents should still call 911 for emergencies.
Grande Prairie councillors voted not to renew a contract with the RCMP in 2023 after a cost analysis found that having a municipal police service wouldn't be as expensive.
Mayor Jackie Clayton said the transition is a significant milestone.
"This transition reflects years of planning, collaboration, and commitment from many people and organizations," she said in a statement Wednesday.
"We are proud to welcome the Grande Prairie Police Service as our police service, marking a new chapter in public safety built on local oversight, strong community partnerships, and a shared commitment to keeping Grande Prairie safe."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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6 vidéos d'OD qu'Éloïse aurait pu regarder sur YouTube lors de son isolement
Le public doit maintenant assimiler tous les événements survenus lors de l'épisode d'OD du dimanche 25 octobre. Entre les pleurs de Karine, le départ de Julie, et la tentative de baiser manquée de Kiki, c'est définitivement la tricherie d'Éloïse d'OD qui a suscité le plus de réactions.
La candidate a avoué avoir regardé des vidéos YouTube à propos de l'émission lorsqu'elle était en confinement suite aux quelques symptômes qu'elle avait eus pouvant s'apparenter à la COVID-19.
Éloïse est revenu dans l'aventure en bonne santé, mais surtout, avec des informations que les autres candidats n'avaient pas sur la saison d'Occupation Double Chez Nous.
Elle n'a mentionné que quelques détails qu'elle avait appris. Toutefois, on se demande si elle a tout dit quant à ses trouvailles.
Voici six vidéos à propos de l'aventure d'OD sur lesquelles elle aurait pu tomber lorsqu'elle a triché.
La sélection de l'éditeur : Noovo confirme qu'il y aura des conséquences pour Éloïse à Occupation Double
Claudie et Mathieu commentent les portraits des candidats d'OD Chez Nous
Dans cette vidéo, le couple de Claudie et Mathieu, ex-candidats d'OD Afrique du Sud 2019, commente les portraits des nouveaux candidats.
Claudie annonce simplement qu'elle aime bien Charles, après avoir vu sa présentation.
Laura-Gabriel montre sa réaction à la première d'OD Chez Nous
La youtubeuse, et ancienne candidate d'OD, commente la première d'Occupation Double Chez Nous. Elle y regarde le tapis rouge et les réactions des candidats.
Chris Negrowski commente le tapis rouge
Le youtubeur commente les présentations des filles sur le tapis rouge lors de la première d'OD Chez Nous. Il dit trouver les candidats moins intéressants que les autres années.
Chris Negrowski a fait, depuis, d'autres vidéos auxquelles Éloïse aurait pu avoir accès.
Le youtubeur sous le nom du Maire de Laval a fait plusieurs vidéos critiquant Charles
Le youtubeur est convaincu qu'Éloïse est allée voir ses vidéos, car il est l'un de ceux qui parlent le plus en mal de Charles sur YouTube.
Sa vidéo Charles doit partir de OD Chez Nous MTN a obtenu plus de 37 000 vues.
Claudie et Mathieu commente une soirée d'élimination
Une autre vidéo de Claudie et Mathieu était sortie lorsqu'Éloïse a eu accès à YouTube.
Elle aurait pu voir les deux tourtereaux commenter l'épisode de l'élimination de Martine.
Alicia Bernier donne son avis sur les candidats
La youtubeuse parle clairement dans sa vidéo de la rumeur qui circulait selon laquelle Charles aurait fait les auditions d'OD lorsqu'il était encore en couple.
Mis à part Charles, Alicia n'a que des bons mots pour les autres candidats de la maison des gars.