A French court on Thursday declared the ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot guilty of aggravated rapes and all other charges against him. The verdict for 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot was read by the lead judge of the court in Avignon, Roger Arata. He hasn't yet delivered the sentence, which can be up to 20 years imprisonment. A panel of five judges in France is delivering verdicts on Thursday for more than four dozen mencharged with aggravated rapeand sexual assault on Gisèle Pelicot in a historic case that has profoundly shaken the country over the past several months. Among the men on trial is

Several British Columbia media reports say one of two Central Saanich Police officers charged with sexual assaulting a woman they met on duty has died by suicide. The Times Colonist cites four sources saying 43-year-old Sgt. Matthew Ball has died, while other outlets cite police sources saying Ball died by suicide. Mounties say in a news release they are investigating the discovery of a body in a forested area of Shawnigan Lake, which is about 40 kilometres northwest of Victoria. RCMP say they are looking into whether any criminality was involved and the coroner's service is also investigating

Canada Post to start accepting commercial mail as it ramps up post-strike operations Canada Post is set to start accepting commercial letters and parcels as it works to get back to normal operations following a month-long strike. The postal service has warned Canadians should expect delays into the new year as it works through a backlog of mail, after workers went back on the job Tuesday. Canada Post said mail is being processed on a first-in, first-out basis, and it will start accepting new international mail on Dec. 23. More than 55,000 employees were ordered back to work by the Canada Ind

Former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur has called for strict action against current SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami over alleged derogatory remarks made against her. She stated that Dhami has disrespected the SGPC's position and should not go unpunished. The Punjab State Women's Commission summoned Bibi Jagir Kaur today to present her side of the matter. Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill mentioned that necessary action will be taken after obtaining legal advice. Bibi Jagir Kaur emphasized that it is the Women's Commission's responsibility to take legal action in this matter and has for

Premier David Eby's government is facing sharp criticism from the opposition for increasing this year’s record budget deficit by $429 million. BC Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar highlighted the province's growing economic challenges, pointing to the $9.4-billion deficit estimate as evidence of deepening debt. Milobar argued that the fiscal update reflects a slowing economy, declining tax revenues from resources and businesses, and escalating costs of major projects such as Vancouver’s Broadway SkyTrain. He suggested that if voters had been aware of the province's worsening finan

The Supreme Court addressed issues related to the ongoing farmers' agitation on the Punjab-Haryana border. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan stated that farmers can directly approach the court with their suggestions or demands. The court expressed concern over the deteriorating health of farmer leader Dallewal and directed the Punjab government to provide immediate medical assistance and ensure the availability of all necessary medical facilities without delay. The bench instructed the Punjab government to avoid any laxity in handling Dallewal's health. Dallewal

Russia has succeeded in developing a cancer vaccine. Andrei Kuprin, General Director of the Radiological Medical Research Center of the Russian Ministry of Health, informed Radio Rossiya about this breakthrough. According to the Russian news agency TASS, the vaccine will be administered free of charge to Russian citizens starting next year. This discovery is being hailed as one of the biggest medical breakthroughs of the century. Kuprin stated that clinical trials of the vaccine have shown that it helps stop the growth of tumors. The vaccine is mRNA-based and works by stimulating the immune s

British Columbia's budget deficit could reach a record $9.4 billion this year, the province's new finance minister, Brenda Bailey, revealed. Bailey stated that the province's budget deficit for 2024-25 has increased by $429 million from the estimate in the previous fiscal update in September, mainly due to a decrease in revenue. However, she assured that the provincial government will not cut services in response to the increased deficit estimate, and instead will focus on targeted investments to grow the economy. Bailey also promised affordable relief for the people of the province. It is wo

A total of 88 Canadians have been nominated for the Order of Canada, the country's second-highest honour. Among them is Canadian-American Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, who was also awarded the Order of British Columbia in November. "The recipients of the Order of Canada are the creators of a better future for Canada," Governor General Mary Simon said in a news release. "Each of them has made a valuable contribution in their field." This year's list includes scientists such as internationally recognized E. coli expert Carlton Giles, pediatric neuro-oncology researcher Nada Zabado, and speech-