Canada has strongly condemned China’s execution of four Canadian citizens on drug smuggling charges earlier this year, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced on Wednesday.
Joly revealed that all four individuals held dual citizenship and stated that Ottawa would appeal for leniency for other Canadians facing the death penalty in China.
"There are four Canadians that have been executed, and we are strongly condemning what happened," Joly told reporters, confirming they had been convicted on drug-related charges.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry clarified that Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian sentenced to death in 2019 for drug smuggling, had not been executed.
Canada-China relations have remained strained since 2018 when Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer, was arrested in Vancouver at the request of the Trump administration. In response, China detained two Canadian nationals. All three were released in 2021.
Earlier this month, Beijing imposed tariffs on more than U.S. $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products. The move was a response to Ottawa’s levies on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum products last year.
The Chinese embassy in Ottawa rejected Canada’s criticism, calling it an "irresponsible remark."
"China imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes and maintains a 'zero tolerance' policy towards the drug problem," the embassy said in a statement, without confirming the executions.
Mexico's northern state of Sonora is set to receive a $3.7 billion investment boost, aimed at driving economic growth and modernizing key industries in the region, according to the country’s Minister of Economy.
Asylum applications in the European Union fell by 13% in 2024, marking the first decline since 2020, according to Eurostat. Despite the drop, Syrians remained the largest group of applicants, with significant numbers also coming from Venezuela and Afghanistan.
Record greenhouse gas levels in 2024 have driven global temperatures to an all-time high, accelerating the loss of glaciers and sea ice, raising sea levels, and bringing the world closer to a key climate threshold, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Ukraine launched a drone strike on the Russian Engels airfield Thursday, causing a massive explosion and fire at the base housing Tu-160 bombers.
The European Union has postponed its planned counter-measures against the United States over President Donald Trump's metals tariffs, now set to take effect in mid-April, allowing more time for reassessment and continued negotiations between the two sides.
Mexico's northern state of Sonora is set to receive a $3.7 billion investment boost, aimed at driving economic growth and modernizing key industries in the region, according to the country’s Minister of Economy.
Thousands gathered across North Macedonia to mourn victims of the nightclub fire in Kocani, the country's worst disaster in decades. Grief turned to anger as protests erupted over corruption and safety violations. Authorities have detained over 20 people and launched nationwide inspections.
Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa rejects a ceasefire call in east Congo, vowing to fight until their cause is heard. He condemns a proposed U.S. minerals-for-security deal as "treachery" while M23 fighters advance deeper into Congolese territory, seizing strategic towns.
Asylum applications in the European Union fell by 13% in 2024, marking the first decline since 2020, according to Eurostat. Despite the drop, Syrians remained the largest group of applicants, with significant numbers also coming from Venezuela and Afghanistan.
Record greenhouse gas levels in 2024 have driven global temperatures to an all-time high, accelerating the loss of glaciers and sea ice, raising sea levels, and bringing the world closer to a key climate threshold, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
In a groundbreaking study published in Cell on January 18, Chinese researchers have unveiled a novel cancer treatment that ingeniously disguises tumors as pig tissue, triggering the body’s immune system to mount a hyperacute rejection response against the cancer cells.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
On March 16, at around 09:45, Armenian armed forces opened fire on Azerbaijani positions located in the direction of the Digh settlement in the Goris region, using firearms, according to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed on Thursday that discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump have not touched on the potential American ownership of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains under Russian control.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
Mexico's northern state of Sonora is set to receive a $3.7 billion investment boost, aimed at driving economic growth and modernizing key industries in the region, according to the country’s Minister of Economy.
Thousands gathered across North Macedonia to mourn victims of the nightclub fire in Kocani, the country's worst disaster in decades. Grief turned to anger as protests erupted over corruption and safety violations. Authorities have detained over 20 people and launched nationwide inspections.
Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa rejects a ceasefire call in east Congo, vowing to fight until their cause is heard. He condemns a proposed U.S. minerals-for-security deal as "treachery" while M23 fighters advance deeper into Congolese territory, seizing strategic towns.
Mexico's northern state of Sonora is set to receive a $3.7 billion investment boost, aimed at driving economic growth and modernizing key industries in the region, according to the country’s Minister of Economy.
Thousands gathered across North Macedonia to mourn victims of the nightclub fire in Kocani, the country's worst disaster in decades. Grief turned to anger as protests erupted over corruption and safety violations. Authorities have detained over 20 people and launched nationwide inspections.
Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa rejects a ceasefire call in east Congo, vowing to fight until their cause is heard. He condemns a proposed U.S. minerals-for-security deal as "treachery" while M23 fighters advance deeper into Congolese territory, seizing strategic towns.
Asylum applications in the European Union fell by 13% in 2024, marking the first decline since 2020, according to Eurostat. Despite the drop, Syrians remained the largest group of applicants, with significant numbers also coming from Venezuela and Afghanistan.
Record greenhouse gas levels in 2024 have driven global temperatures to an all-time high, accelerating the loss of glaciers and sea ice, raising sea levels, and bringing the world closer to a key climate threshold, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
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