Punjab representatives in the Lok Sabha have renewed demands for a dedicated federal relief package to support farmers whose crops were damaged during this year’s monsoon flooding. The call was raised by Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Aam Aadmi Party MP Malvinder Singh Kang, who urged the Union government to release recovery funds without further delay. Kang told the House that intense rainfall in August and September left extensive losses across six districts, affecting more than 2,500 villages. He said the state has yet to receive any portion of the assistance that was expected foll

Malaysia’s transport ministry says a renewed effort to locate Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is set to begin this month, marking the first large-scale search for the aircraft in several years. Texas-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity has been contracted to carry out the operation under a no-find, no-fee arrangement with the Malaysian government. The firm led a similar mission in 2018 but ended its work without discoveries. This year’s search was paused in April because of rough weather in the Indian Ocean, where investigators believe the Boeing 777 went down. The ministry says Ocea

Nanaimo RCMP are appealing for information after a 62-year-old man was discovered unconscious in an alley on the city’s south side. First responders were called shortly after 9 p.m. on December 1 to the area between Sheperd Avenue and Georgia Avenue, near Fifth Street. Police say the man had suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital for emergency treatment. Investigators believe the assault may have taken place some time before the victim was located. Front line officers were joined at the scene by Police Dog Services, forensic specialists, Nanaimo Fire Rescue and para

A powerful early season storm is moving across Atlantic Canada today, bringing heavy, wet snow and winds strong enough to cause coastal flooding in several provinces. Environment Canada has issued multiple snowfall warnings across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, where conditions began to deteriorate overnight. Forecasters say communities under yellow level alerts can expect 20 to 30 centimetres of snow by Wednesday afternoon. Higher risk areas in northern Cape Breton and parts of central Newfoundland remain under orange alerts, with totals that could reach 50 centimetres by evening. The agency w

Canada is increasing its financial and military support for Ukraine, with federal ministers confirming more than $200 million in new commitments as the conflict with Russia continues to dominate international security discussions. National Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada will join NATO allies in purchasing a package of critical military capabilities sourced from the United States, with Canada contributing $200 million toward the shared procurement plan. The announcement was made as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand attended a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Anand

A major employer on Vancouver Island is preparing to wind down permanently, with Domtar confirming that its pulp mill in Crofton will close and leave about 350 workers without jobs. The company says weak global pulp prices and rising challenges in securing affordable fibre in British Columbia made continued operations unsustainable. Domtar says it is reviewing potential future uses for the mill site, though no decisions have been made. The shutdown adds to a series of closures across the province’s forestry communities, a sector that has faced years of instability linked to supply shortages,

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne says a recent security breach inside Surrey Memorial Hospital’s neonatal unit has raised serious concerns about patient safety across the Fraser Health region. She told the legislature the incident was “extremely distressing” for families and staff, and confirmed that Fraser Health has implemented additional safety procedures in response. Surrey RCMP allege that a woman entered the specialized care unit without authorization and made skin-to-skin contact with three newborns. Investigators say 35-year-old Lindsey Hirtreiter is now facing three counts of

Vancouver Police are urging residents to take extra precautions after a sharp increase in distraction thefts reported in the city last month, with most incidents occurring in East Vancouver. Investigators say 20 cases were recorded in November, representing a significant jump compared to the same month last year. Police say the thefts typically target older adults and involve suspects approaching victims in public areas near their homes. Officers describe a consistent pattern in which a person offers fake jewelry and invades the victim’s personal space, using sleight-of-hand techniques to qu

A months-long enforcement initiative involving the RCMP and several other police agencies across Canada has resulted in the seizure of 386 kilograms of fentanyl along with large quantities of other illegal drugs. The coordinated effort ran from late May to the end of October and focused on production sites, trafficking groups and the financial networks that support the illicit drug trade. Police say the operation led to thousands of arrests and charges nationwide. That included 217 individuals accused of trafficking fentanyl while already out on bail, highlighting what investigators describe a