The Bank of Canada has decided to hold its key interest rate at 2.25 per cent, a move that economists had largely anticipated as the central bank continues to assess the pace of economic recovery. This marks the Bank of Canada’s first rate decision of the year, following a pause in interest rate cuts announced in December. Governor Tiff Macklem said economic conditions have developed broadly in line with the bank’s expectations since that pause was put in place. New economic projections released alongside the decision indicate Canada’s economy showed little growth in the final quarter of

A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison after finding her guilty of corruption, marking a significant development in a series of high-profile cases involving the country’s former leadership. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Kim accepted bribes from the Unification Church in exchange for business-related favors, according to court findings released Wednesday. Prosecutors argued that the transactions undermined public trust and violated South Korea’s anti-corruption laws governing public officials and their immediate family members.

A privately operated aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed in an open field in western India on Wednesday, killing all five people on board, according to India’s aviation authorities. There were no survivors. The mid-size Learjet 45 was travelling from Mumbai to Pawar’s home city of Baramati when it went down about 254 kilometres from the financial capital. Television footage aired nationally showed flames and heavy smoke rising from the wreckage. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and an investigation has been launched by the Directorate Gen

Two men are facing firearm-related Criminal Code charges following an early-morning police investigation in Surrey that began after officers reported hearing a suspected gunshot. Surrey Police Service officers assigned to Project Assurance were patrolling the area of 129 Street and 84 Avenue around 3:50 a.m. when they heard what they believed was a shot fired. Police located a suspect vehicle shortly afterward and took the driver and a passenger into custody. A loaded handgun was seized during the arrest. Project Assurance is a proactive policing initiative focused on neighbourhoods and busine

Air travel across Central Canada began stabilizing Tuesday as airport crews worked to clear the aftermath of a record-breaking snowstorm, though thousands of passengers continued to face delays and cancellations. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows Toronto Pearson International Airport recorded 46 cancelled flights by late morning, representing about 11 per cent of scheduled departures. That marked a sharp improvement from Monday, when cancellations were roughly ten times higher as airlines grappled with buried aircraft and congested runways. Environment Canada says Pearson received

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has filed a supplementary charge sheet in court against Harpreet Gulati, an associate of senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, marking a significant development in an ongoing investigation linked to alleged financial irregularities. According to vigilance officials, the supplementary challan runs into more than 11,000 pages and details financial transactions between Majithia and Gulati over a period spanning from 2008 to 2017. The documents reportedly include records of multiple transactions conducted through various bank accounts. The vigilance b

The British Columbia government has granted an environmental assessment certificate for the proposed restart of the Eskay Creek gold and silver mine in northwestern B.C., a project located within Tahltan Nation territory. In a statement, the province said the decision follows a collaborative environmental assessment led jointly by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office and the Tahltan Central Government. Provincial officials described the process as the first to be guided by a formal consent-based agreement with a First Nation, reflecting commitments under the United Nations Declaration on t

After nearly two decades of negotiations, India and the European Union have finalized a landmark free trade agreement, marking a significant boost to economic ties between the two regions. Officials say the deal opens new avenues for trade and investment while strengthening strategic economic partnerships. Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the agreement on Tuesday, highlighting that both sides are using the pact to reinforce their economies amid uncertain trade relations with the United States. He described the deal as a major step toward deeper cooperation and expanded market access. Und

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to increase tariffs on goods imported from South Korea, raising the rate from the current 15 per cent to 25 per cent. The proposed increase would apply to a range of products, including automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other manufactured goods. Speaking about the decision, Trump accused South Korea of failing to properly implement a trade agreement reached last year. He said the tariff increase is intended to address what his administration describes as unfair trade practices and ongoing concerns about market access for U.S. companies. So