Beyond Local

BEIJING (AP) — Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia — countries at odds with the United States — are staging joint drills in the Gulf of Oman this week, China’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

EDMONTON — The Transportation Safety Board is calling for better screening of heart-related conditions of Canadian pilots.

EPS Chief Dale McFee has confirmed the suspect behind the killing of two officers this morning is deceased.

OTTAWA — The federal government is at a crossroads on replacing Canada's aging submarines, as cost considerations butt up against warnings about the need for such vessels and allies press ahead with their own plans.

The young male suspect died from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian leader Bashar Assad in the Kremlin on Wednesday for talks that focused on rebuilding Syria after a devastating civil war and efforts to stabilize the region.

"Thank you to all those who face such sacrifices for our safety; the names of these 2 officers will be remembered for the heroes they are."

Edmonton Police Service (EPS) did not give more details about what happened but Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee will make a statement at 10 a.m.

BEIRUT (AP) — The recent deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria which caused billions of dollars in damage has boosted the prospects of Syria's once widely shunned president return to the Arab fold, but appears unlikely to jump-start large-scale reconstruction in the war-ravaged country.

“We are seeing tremendous attacks on First Amendment freedoms across the country right now, at all levels of government. Censorship is proliferating, and it’s deeply troubling,” said Joe Cohn, legislative and policy director with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.