Five stories in the news today, April 26

Five stories in the news today from The Canadian Press:

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PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU CONDEMNS MURDER OF CANADIAN HOSTAGE

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the “cold-blooded murder” of a 68-year-old Canadian who was beheaded by terrorists in the Philippines after being held hostage for seven months. John Ridsdel of Calgary was one of four tourists — including fellow Canadian Robert Hall, a Norwegian man and a Filipino woman — who were kidnapped last Sept. 21 by Abu Sayyaf militants from a marina on southern Samal Island.

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PM TRUDEAU TO MEET WITH FIRST NATIONS LEADERS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with First Nations leaders in Saskatchewan today when he visits with the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council. He is scheduled to have a private discussion with tribal council leadership in Fort Qu’Appelle. Trudeau is then slated to meet with Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall in Saskatoon on Wednesday.

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PETITION ATTEMPTS TO RESURRECT AFGHAN ABUSE CASE

Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberals have been put on the spot by an e-petition, spearheaded by a former New Democrat MP, which demands an inquiry into unresolved questions surrounding the treatment of prisoners during the Afghan war. Craig Scott, who represented Toronto-Danforth until the Oct. 19 election, has gathered 750 names — well over the threshold of 500 individuals that compels a reply.

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JURY TO RESUME DELIBERATIONS IN CHILD DEATH CASE

The jury in the case of an Alberta couple charged in the meningitis death of their toddler son will begin a second day of deliberations today. David Stephan, 32, and Collet Stephan, 35, are charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life to 19-month-old Ezekiel in 2012. The couple testified they believed Ezekiel had croup or flu, so they treated him for 2 1/2 weeks with remedies that included hot peppers, garlic, onions and horseradish.

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ACCUSED IN HOTEL KILLING FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER

A man accused in the grisly slaying and dismemberment of a friend in an Ontario hotel room has been found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury in London, Ont. The panel also found James McCullough guilty of offering an indignity to a dead body. McCullough, 22, had pleaded not guilty to both charges in the bloody death of 20-year-old Alex Fraser. The Crown argued McCullough was a “calculated predator” but the defence suggested he only stabbed his friend in a rage after an abrupt and troubling sexual advance.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Nova Scotia Auditor General Michael Pickup will hold a news conference to discuss his latest report.

— Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz delivers a speech at securities conference in New York.

— AeroMontreal hosts an aerospace conference in Montreal. Participants include Bombardier, Airbus, Pratt & Whitney.

— CN Rail will hold its annual meeting in Montreal.

— Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci will address the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto.

— Companies reporting quarterly results today include Sherritt International, Barrick Gold, Husky Energy, West Fraser Timber and Teck Resources.

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