Lt Columbo wonders - and the answer has been The Hannibal Protocol

 

'Great result for Canada', says Carney as Alberta votes to reject separatism

'Great result for Canada', says Carney as Alberta votes to reject separatism

16 minutes ago
Nadine Yousif, Reporting from Edmonton, and
James FitzGerald



'Conversation far from over': BBC reports from pro-separatist watch party


Prime Minister Mark Carney says an overwhelming vote by people in Alberta to remain part of Canada is a "great result" for the country.

Speaking to reporters as he walked into a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Carney said he was "thrilled that Albertans have chosen unity" by rejecting a proposal to pursue separation through a binding referendum.

Preliminary results indicate more than two-thirds chose Canada over a push for independence for the province, according to Elections Alberta.

Monday's referendum was the result of a months-long campaign by separatists in the western Canadian province to get a public vote on the issue.

Provincial leader Danielle Smith welcomed the initial results, commenting: "Albertans have voted for a stronger Alberta in a united Canada."

Premier Smith herself opposed the separatist push but said the public will for a vote was undeniable, and many supporters of her own political party - United Conservative Party - were in the separatist camp.

Smith said she would address Albertans later on Tuesday on the path forward for the province.

In making the case for independence from Canada, many of the separatists said the oil-rich province's economic growth had been stifled by the environmental policies of Canada's central government in Ottawa.

But those who opposed a breakup - including Carney - called for Canada to present a united front in the face of external pressures, including an ongoing trade war with the United States.

"They've chosen to build together," Carney said. "They've chosen to continue to take care of each other, to move forward, to move forward together, with purpose, high ambition."

Carney added that he had spoken to Smith that morning and discussed "moving forward in the spirit of cooperative federalism, including on issues of immigration, other common priorities".

Over the past year, the prime minister has worked with Smith on a number of shared goals, including pushing for an oil pipeline to the Pacific coast.

Huge setback for Alberta's separatist movement after decisive defeat

At a pro-separatist watch party in Edmonton, the hum of upbeat chatter quickly quieted as those present saw the projected results.

After overnight vote projections were published by Canadian broadcaster CBC and others, the mood soured. The watch party attended by the BBC packed up quickly, and people went home.

One of the separatist leaders, Jeffrey Rath, struck a defiant tone, however, vowing that "our movement isn't stopping and we're continuing to move forward".

Speaking to the BBC World Service's Newsday programme, Rath, a lawyer based in Calgary, said he saw Monday's vote as a "first step" which had taught the movement some "valuable lessons".

Asked whether his movement would push to keep holding votes on independence until it got the result it wanted, he responded "why not?", and insisted that "the math and the economics" all added up on his side of the argument.

Separatist leader Jeffrey Rath was defiant even as results went against him


Premier Scott Moe, from the province of Saskatchewan, said he was glad Albertans chose unity, but added that "there is still work to be done on improving how Western Canada is treated by Ottawa".

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada's Conservative party and a member of parliament from Alberta, said on social media that "the promise of Canada is worth fighting for".

"Now our focus must be on results in people's lives: affordable food and homes, safe streets, strong borders, and less immigration," he said.

Smith called the vote after a grassroots group gathered about 300,000 signatures on a petition seeking a binding referendum on separation.

The petition was blocked by a judge, saying it failed to consult indigenous First Nations people - however, Smith opted to go ahead with the ballot.

Another group collected signatures for its own petition that opposed separation, which was signed by more than 400,000 people.

The key question on Monday's voting paper asked: "Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?"

It's the first time a Canadian province has weighed the issue of separation since Quebec's two referendums, in 1980 in 1995.

Both of those were unsuccessful, but Alberta separatists believe Quebec used the threat of independence to gain significant political leverage over Canada's central government.

Smith said before the vote that if Albertans chose the remain option, a binding referendum on separation would not be held - at least, not while she was in power.

Getty Images

Those who favoured remaining part of the Canada cheered the result at an event in Edmonton

Despite the projected results, the conversation around Albertan sovereignty is not over.

Separatists leaders have indicated that they plan to try and push Smith out of power within her United Conservative Party, in the hope of installing a leader who is more sympathetic to their cause.

Another separatist leader, Mitch Sylvestre, told the BBC on polling day that "a lot of work will have to be done" to curb the appetite for independence if his side did lose.

Although responses to the referendum question were tallied first, there were nine other non-binding questions on Monday's ballot paper.

Five of these dealt with immigration, while the other four focused on the Canadian constitution.

Early results suggest that most will pass, including proposals for the province to take increased control over immigration levels.

***

Why in the world would any Canadian want to secede from a great nation?

‘Eliminating Tehran regime’ discussed with Trump – Netanyahu

 

Iran war: ‘Eliminating Tehran regime’ discussed with Trump – Netanyahu

By Stephen Quillen, Federica Marsi and Mohammed R Mhawish

Published On 20 Oct 202620 Oct 2026

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• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says both he and President Trump are “committed to completing the ⁠elimination of the Iranian ⁠regime” and recently “discussed this”.
• Two tankers are ablaze after hitting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says. US CENTCOM called the claim “incorrect”.
• Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari says negotiations between Iran and the US are continuing despite growing tensions and fears of renewed fighting.
• The United Kingdom says it will deploy Typhoon fighter jets to help protect Saudi Arabia from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.

• 

  US official: Trump has no plan to attack Iran before November midterms

  By Christopher Sheridan

  Reporting from Washington, DC

  Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly has addressed comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that President Donald Trump is onboard with a plan to “eliminate” Iran’s leadership.

  Kelly responded to a question about discussions between Trump and Netanyahu on alleged plans to take out the Iranian regime.

  “As President Trump stated, Iran is in very bad condition – both economically and militarily – and the blockade will remain in full force and effect with oil flowing in record numbers of barrels through the Hormuz Strait,” she told Al Jazeera.

  “The United States will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections.”
• 19m ago

  (16:45 GMT)

  Iran army chief says low-cost equipment will counter advanced weapons

  Iran’s armed forces chief of staff says Iran will employ “asymmetric” methods in any future conflict against its enemies by using low-cost but effective equipment to “neutralise” advanced weaponry.

  Major-General Ali Abdollahi said the strategy “will prove troublesome, concerning, and highly costly for the enemy”.

  The US and Israel used expensive missiles and drones to attack Iran and to intercept missiles Tehran fired back in response.

  The Patriot and THAAD defence systems – which launch interceptors to take out incoming drones and missiles – can cost millions of dollars for each missile launched. This compares with the $20,000-$35,000 cost of each Iranian Shahed drone.

  

  An Iranian Shahed drone used by Russia to strike Ukraine [File: Efrem Lukatsky/Reuters]
• 34m ago

  (16:30 GMT)

  Netanyahu says toppling Iran’s government would end Hezbollah and bring peace

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the fall of Hezbollah would follow the collapse of Iran’s government, paving the way for peace with Lebanon.

  Netanyahu made the remarks at a meeting with heads of Israeli towns along the Lebanese border. “Completing the mission means toppling the terrorist regime in Iran, for it is the head of this poisonous octopus. If we sever the head, the entire creature will fall,” he said. He added that “the elimination of Hezbollah will follow as a natural consequence”.

  He said Israel had “effectively destroyed all the major terrorist infrastructure, both underground and above ground”.

  But as long as Iran’s government remains, “even if it is defeated or damaged”, it will try to repeat what it attempted a year ago, which Israel managed to stop, by producing nuclear bombs and rebuilding its “axis”, Netanyahu said.

  The prime minister said Israel would “also achieve peace with Lebanon”, but that “we must eliminate the Iranian regime”.

• 39m ago

  (16:25 GMT)

  Yemeni government forces say they repelled Houthi attacks in Taiz governorate

  Yemeni government forces say they have fended off Houthi attacks in various parts of Taiz governorate, including in the areas of al-Shaqab, al-Masrakh and al-Aqroud in the south, and Jabal Han and al-Dabab in the west.

  In a statement, the Yemeni government forces said their combat aircraft had targeted Houthi forces and equipment across the governorate, causing numerous casualties.

  Earlier, as we reported, military spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said Yemeni army attacks had “neutralised” 200 Houthi fighters within 24 hours.
• 44m ago

  (16:20 GMT)

  Iran claim tankers struck by sea mines in Hormuz ‘incorrect’: CENTCOM

  A spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM) says Iran’s claims that two oil tankers hit naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz are “incorrect”.

  The spokesperson told Al Jazeera: “We have cleared international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz of mines. Iran is using missiles and drones in its acts of aggression.”

  Speaking on condition of anonymity, the spokesperson said Iran’s claim that the strait is closed is false, and it remains open to maritime traffic with 95 percent of vessels transiting through Hormuz “successfully”.

  Attacks on shipping point to the “desperation” of the IRGC in the face of the blockade, the spokesperson said, which deprives Iran of “the resources needed to rebuild the military capabilities we destroyed”.

  
• 54m ago

  (16:10 GMT)

  ‘Panic setting in’ in Iran as ‘Operation Outcast’ hammers economy: US

  US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says US economic pressure against Iran is severely weakening its economy, which he predicts will soon go “non-linear”.

  “Think of it like a company going bankrupt – nobody is going to give them [Iran] money, and we can see both from the private and public statements of elected officials and the IRGC that the panic is starting to set in,” Bessent said in an interview with 2WAY TV.

  “We’re seeing that inflation is more than 100 percent,” he added. “We think the economy could be down by double digits.

  “We are eight weeks into Operation Outcast,” he continued, referring to the US’s economic campaign against Iran. “I don’t know if it’s going to take four more weeks or eight more weeks, but at a point, their economy will go non-linear.”

  

  Bessent said ‘We’re seeing [Iran’s] inflation is more than 100 percent’ [File: Gerald Herbert/AP]
• 1h ago

  (16:00 GMT)

  Lebanese and Israeli military delegations hold US-brokered talks in Florida

  

  By John Holman

  Reporting from Tampa, Florida

  Lebanese and Israeli military delegations are meeting in Florida where the US says they’ll discuss the security dimension of the agreement they signed in June, which faces new hurdles as Israel refuses to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

  These talks are closed, but what we do know is discussions are going to have several rounds to try and broker an agreement. This is the first time these talks are split into two separate tracks: one is the political side and the other is military.

  In terms of the military track, there will be two delegations, one from Israel and one from Lebanon. They are going to hold talks for at least two days, and the US will be in the middle trying to broker things.

  The main aim here is for the Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, and if that can happen under what conditions?

  Lebanese officials are saying Israel should stop its strikes and respect the “pilot zones” and not expand into southern Lebanon. Israel says the Lebanese army is not doing enough to disarm Hezbollah.

  

  Hezbollah fighters during a military exercise in Aaramta, bordering Israel, in 2023 [File: Anwar Amro/AFP]

 

Israeli attacks kill at least four Palestinians in Gaza

A couple and a 17-year-old are among those killed by Israeli air attacks and gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian boy views the damage inside an apartment hit in an Israeli attack, in Gaza City, on October 20, 2026 [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters]

By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters

Published On 20 Oct 202620 Oct 2026

At least four Palestinians, including a couple and a 17-year-old, have been killed in Israeli air attacks and gunfire in separate incidents in the Gaza Strip, health officials said.

An Israeli air strike killed Akram Yassin and his wife Dina Abu Baker in an apartment in Gaza City, medics said on Tuesday.

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In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, a 17-year-old boy was killed by Israeli gunfire near the Qizan an-Najjar neighbourhood. Another person was killed by Israeli gunfire in the Zeitoun suburb east of Gaza City.

The Israeli military also carried out artillery attacks in other areas south of Khan Younis, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

‘Distressing scenes’

Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah in Gaza, said there has been a surge in Israeli attacks across Gaza overnight and into the early hours of Tuesday.

“We can see that the attacks have been pretty much concentrated on Gaza City, where a residential flat was targeted without any warning,” he said.

“We are seeing very distressing scenes, and footage coming from the site of the attack shows the scale of destruction that has been inflicted upon the whole residential area,” he added.

“We also saw a clear activation of Israeli drones and fighter jets through the early hours of this morning across the central areas of the territory.”

Palestinians inspected the aftermath of the strike on the apartment in Gaza City before gathering for the couple’s funeral.

“We’re supposed to be in a ceasefire period, but honestly, we are not seeing a ceasefire or anything. The war is still going on, assassinations are continuing, and the shelling has not stopped,” Mahmoud Yassin, whose brother was killed, told the Reuters news agency.

Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinian Tamer al-Sabagh, who was killed in an Israeli attack on Monday, in Gaza City, October 20, 2026 [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters]

Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza has killed at least 74,480 people since October 2023, with another 175,539 wounded, according to the Gaza health authorities.

Since the so-called “ceasefire” in October 2025, 1,522 Palestinians have been killed and 5,421 wounded in Israeli attacks, and 839 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.

About 82 percent of structures in Gaza, roughly 200,000 buildings, have been damaged, with about two-thirds of them destroyed since the start of the war, according to the United Nations.