News you need: Urgent citizenship processing and international cybercrime crackdown
Today’s briefing covers new options for urgent Canadian citizenship documents and an international police operation against cybercriminals. We also report on a hate crime investigation in Ottawa and a political debate over noise rules at the upcoming Calgary Stampede.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) currently takes about 15 months to process citizenship certificates, which serve as official proof of Canadian status. However, individuals can request urgent processing if they need the certificate to access benefits like a Social Insurance Number, start a job, or travel for an emergency. Applicants must provide documentation, such as a job offer or airline tickets, to prove their need for priority service.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) joined an international operation to disrupt "SocGholish," a type of malicious software used by cybercriminals. The malware exploited thousands of WordPress websites to gain unauthorized access to personal computers. Canadian investigators worked alongside international partners to target the infrastructure used by these hackers.
In Ottawa, police are searching for a man who allegedly approached a woman and forcibly removed her hijab, a religious head covering worn by some Muslim women. The suspect also reportedly threw an umbrella at the woman before fleeing. While the victim was not physically injured, police are investigating the unprovoked incident as a hate-motivated crime.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has criticized new noise restrictions for the Calgary Stampede, an annual outdoor festival. A city memo indicates that music bass levels must be kept at 80 decibels after midnight on weekends, which is five decibels lower than the limit allowed last year. The Premier referred to the decision as the work of "fun police," while local officials continue to debate the balance between festival celebrations and residential noise levels.
In local safety news, Toronto police are searching for a suspect following a stabbing at a commercial plaza in Scarborough on Sunday. In Calgary, a man in his 20s died early Sunday morning after his motorcycle crashed into a home in the southwest part of the city.
For more details on these stories and more, visit the app’s News section. Read about Serena Williams’ return to professional tennis at age 44, and catch up on the latest scores from Major League Baseball and the College World Series.