British officials have authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, greenlighting the world's first shot against the virus that's backed by rigorous science and taking a major step toward eventually ending the pandemic. The go-ahead Wednesday for the vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech comes as the virus surges again in the United States and Europe, putting pressure on hospitals and morgues in some places and forcing new rounds of restrictions that have devastated economies. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency recommended the vaccine co

Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior farmers decided to march towards Delhi to join the ongoing protest. Farmers have intensified protests near national capital against Centre's farm laws. Government held third round of talks with the farmer unions. The fourth round of discussion will be held on December 03.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the Union government over farmers protest against the new agriculture laws and termed the Centre a government of 'lie and loot'."They said farmers' income will double. What they did- increased their friends income four times while farmers' income will be halved. Government of lie, loot and of suit boot," the Congress leader tweeted in Hindi.The Congress leader also shared a video from a news channel regarding the recent farmers' protest.The farmers' protest against the three agricultural sector laws passed by the Central government in the last

British Columbia recorded 656 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday as officials urged residents not to bend public health rules. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say in a joint statement that an additional 16 people have died, pushing B.C.'s death toll to 457. The new positive tests bring the total confirmed cases in the province since the pandemic began to 33,894, while about 70 per cent of those are considered recovered. The statement says there are 8,796 active cases in the province and another 10,123 people exposed to known cases are under active public heal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the vote on the tens of billions in new spending measures in the fall economic statement will be a confidence measure. That means the minority Liberal government could fall, sending the country into a winter pandemic election if at least one of the opposition parties don't support it. Trudeau doesn't think anyone wants an election now. He says he's confident of opposition support given the need for many of the proposed measures. PM says, 80 per cent of the money spent to support Canadians during the pandemic has come from the federal government Prime Ministe

The Oscar-nominated Canadian star of the film "Juno" has come out as transgender. The Halifax-raised Elliot Page, formerly known as Ellen Page, made the announcement in a powerful post on social media. The star of the Toronto-shot Netflix series "The Umbrella Academy" says his preferred pronouns are he/they. Page's letter thanks those who have supported him along the journey, and addresses the trauma trans people face from discrimination, hateful acts, and a lack of rights. He says it feels remarkable "to finally love" who he is enough to pursue his "authentic self." And he's been "endlessly

Finance Minister Selina Robinson says insurers in BC have agreed to end a practice that helped contribute to skyrocketing condo insurance rates. Robinson says insurers have agreed to end the practice known a "best terms pricing" by January 1st. It developed when multiple insurers would each agree to submit their own bid to carry a portion of the total risk related to insuring a strata property, but the final premium paid by strata owners would usually be based on the highest of those bids, even if the majority of quotes were lower. An interim report from the BC Financial Services Authority sa

Procurement Minister Anita Anand says there has been significant misinformation about the doses of COVID-19 vaccines the government has procured and when they will start arriving. Anand says Canada was one of the first countries to sign a deal to get doses of Moderna's vaccine candidate, and the fourth to sign a deal with Pfizer. Health Canada is currently reviewing four potential COVID-19 vaccines. Pending regulatory approval, Anand says vaccine doses will begin arriving in the new year.

Police in Vancouver and Victoria say they are still breaking up parties despite COVID-19 protocols prohibiting them. Vancouver Police say the gave out fines up to 2,300 dollars each when they found parties with 16, 15, and eight to 10 people this weekend. Patrol officers in Victoria say they busted two parties, including one where they found people hiding in a closet and at the foot of a bed. A provincial health order prohibits gatherings at residences that include anyone who isn't part of that household.