The Tuesday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories
Highlights from the news file for Tuesday, Oct. 25
NURSE CHARGED IN NURSING HOME DEATHS: An Ontario nurse is facing eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of eight nursing home residents over a period of seven years. Elizabeth Wettlaufer, 49, of Woodstock, Ont., appeared in court Tuesday morning and has been remanded in custody. Police say the male and female victims, who ranged in age from 75 to 96, were administered a drug. Seven of the victims lived at a Caressant Care facility in Woodstock, while the eighth lived at a Meadow Park facility in nearby London, Ont.
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TALKS WITH WALLONIA CONTINUE ON CANADA-EU TRADE DEAL: The Belgian government says that talks to convince the region of Wallonia to agree to a trade deal between the European Union and Canada are making progress, two days before the pact is supposed to be signed at a summit. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said Tuesday that Belgian negotiators “really are at the final texts” but added that “as you know, there is the last comma, the last word, which are probably the most important.” The trans-Atlantic trade deal needs unanimity among all 28 EU nations, but Belgium is withholding its signature because it also needs all of its regions to back it and Wallonia has resolutely refused to do so.