Author: Sophie Mitchell

A new crime thriller anchored by an A-list ensemble has arrived in theatres across Canada and internationally, as Crime 101 makes its wide theatrical debut. Backed by Amazon MGM Studios and produced in association with Working Title, the 139-minute feature brings together marquee names including Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo in a stylized Los Angeles-set caper adapted from a bestselling novella. Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, Crime 101 follows an elusive jewel thief portrayed by Hemsworth whose carefully executed heists along the 101 freeway have baffled authorities. As he prepares for what he believes will…

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Emirates has reached a key milestone in its travel retail expansion strategy with the opening of its 10th flagship “Emirates World” store in Abidjan, as the airline accelerates investment in physical retail concepts aimed at reshaping the customer journey. The Dubai-based carrier said it has invested AED 174 million (US$47.4 million) to grow its global travel retail footprint. With the addition of the Abidjan location, Emirates now operates 10 Emirates World Stores and nine other travel retail outlets worldwide. The airline plans to introduce 29 additional travel retail concepts in 2026, bringing its total store…

A newly signed trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan is poised to significantly expand U.S. dairy exports by eliminating tariffs on all American dairy products and addressing potential non-tariff barriers that could restrict trade flows. Industry groups representing U.S. dairy producers and exporters hailed the deal as a major breakthrough for a high-value Asian market that has become increasingly important to American farmers. Taiwan ranks as the third-largest export destination for U.S. fluid milk, underscoring the commercial significance of the agreement. The pact, signed late Tuesday, removes tariffs across the full spectrum of U.S. dairy products and incorporates…

Prime Video has set May 27, 2026, as the global premiere date for Spider-Noir, a new live-action series starring Nicolas Cage in his first leading role in a television production. The series, produced by Sony Pictures Television exclusively for MGM+ and Prime Video, will debut domestically on MGM+’s linear channel on May 25 before launching worldwide on Prime Video two days later. The series will roll out as a binge release across more than 240 countries and territories. In a nod to its stylistic roots, Spider-Noir will be available in two viewing formats: “Authentic Black & White” and “True-Hue Full…

Prime Video is doubling down on its upcoming college drama Off Campus, announcing a Season Two renewal months before the series is set to premiere in May 2026. The early renewal signals strong confidence from the streaming platform in the adaptation of the internationally bestselling book series by author Elle Kennedy. Season One of Off Campus will debut on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide in May 2026, with teaser art for the series released alongside the renewal announcement. Described as a college-set soap, Off Campus centres on an elite ice hockey team at Briar University…

Halifax — Engage Nova Scotia is rolling out a province-wide survey aimed at capturing a comprehensive picture of wellbeing across Nova Scotia, with organizers positioning the initiative as a critical data tool for governments, researchers and community leaders. Beginning February 23, postcard invitations will arrive in mailboxes across the province, inviting households to participate in the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey. The initiative is being delivered in collaboration with the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), a national research organization based at the University of Waterloo. The survey is designed to gather detailed insights into how Nova Scotians are faring…

Ottawa is preparing to mark a major milestone in 2026, unveiling a sweeping, year-long program of cultural events and public installations to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Bytown’s founding. The capital will celebrate the bicentennial of September 26, 1826 — the date that marked the establishment of the logging settlement that would eventually become Ottawa — with a calendar of festivals, exhibitions and performances running from March through December 2026. Organizers say the initiative will spotlight both the city’s historical roots and its contemporary creative economy under the theme “Celebrate Together.” The program spans music, visual arts, Indigenous storytelling, culinary…

TORONTO — Ontario families can drop a line without dropping a dime this Family Day weekend, as the provincial government waives fishing licence and Outdoors Card requirements from Feb. 14 to 16. The Ministry of Natural Resources announced the annual free fishing period on Wednesday, positioning the initiative as both a family-friendly winter activity and a boost to the province’s outdoor recreation economy. “Family Day weekend is a perfect time for families to get outdoors and enjoy ice fishing here in Ontario,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “Whether you’re a seasoned angler or it’s your first time ice…

WASHINGTON — Two U.S.-based conservation organizations have launched a lawsuit aimed at compelling federal regulators to finalize long-delayed protections for monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), arguing that further inaction heightens the risk of extinction for one of North America’s most recognized pollinators. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Food Safety filed suit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The groups are seeking a court order that would set a binding deadline for the agency to complete the monarch’s listing process. The…

TORONTO — The Ontario government will inject $6.4 billion in new funding into the province’s postsecondary sector over four years, alongside sweeping changes to tuition rules and student aid, in what it calls a long-term plan to stabilize colleges and universities facing mounting financial pressure. The investment, announced Thursday by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, will raise annual operating funding to $7 billion — a 30 per cent increase and the highest level in Ontario’s history — beginning in the 2026 fall term. The province says the reforms respond to “unprecedented pressures” on institutions, including reduced…