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TORONTO — Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is sticking up for another headline-grabbing 91Ô­´´ — Justin Bieber. Ford was asked about the pop singer when he spoke by phone today to hosts on the Washington, D.C.-based Sports Junkies radio show.

TORONTO — Justin Bieber pushed his way through a teeming crowd of journalists and deliriously screaming fans Wednesday night as the global pop phenom surrendered to face a charge of assault.

OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has kicked Liberal senators out of the party caucus, describing the move as a significant step forward in the evolution of the Senate.

OTTAWA — A government-commissioned risk analysis says the coast of southern British Columbia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence are the 91Ô­´´ areas most vulnerable marine oil spills and among the most likely for a major spill to occur.

OTTAWA — A number of military veterans are in Ottawa today to denounce government plans to close Veterans Affairs district offices in communities across the country. Offices in Kelowna, Saskatoon, Brandon, Man., Thunder Bay, Ont., Windsor, Ont.

FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick government is appointing a special mediator to try to end an ongoing strike by faculty at the University of New Brunswick.

OTTAWA — It's back to reality for Prime Minister Stephen Harper after receiving a warm welcome during a week-long visit to the Middle East.

SACKVILLE, N.B. — A faculty strike has hit a second university in New Brunswick. Faculty at Mount Allison University in Sackville walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. after months of negotiations with the university failed to produce a new contract.

L'ISLE-VERTE, Que. — A fire destroyed a seniors residence in L'Isle-Verte, Que., and police early Thursday said three people were confirmed dead and 30 missing.

L'ISLE-VERTE, Que. — Many of the 30 people unaccounted for in a fatal fire in a seniors residence northeast of Quebec City had limited movement and were confined to wheelchairs and walkers, a local official said Thursday.