Authorities in Sri Lanka are trying to head off a potential environmental disaster as a fire-damaged container ship that had been carrying chemicals was sinking off of the country's main port. The Singapore-flagged ship started sinking Wednesday, a day after authorities extinguished a fire that raged on the vessel for 12 days. Efforts to tow the ship into deeper waters failed after the ship's stern became submerged and rested on the seabed. The ship's operators say the fire destroyed most of the ship's cargo, which included 25 tons of nitric acid and other chemicals. But there are fears that

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has spoken with Premier John Horgan about the discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former Indian residential school site in Kamloops as well as potential next steps. A release from the Prime Minister's Office says they spoke yesterday about the work both governments are doing in relation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls for action as well as new federal funding. Horgan said Tuesday that BC has an obligation to ensure the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are realized. However, he stopped short of offe

The director of the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia says a lack of co-operation in accessing records and other data limits the ability to identify the remains of 215 children found at the former residential school in Kamloops. Mary Ellen-Turpel Lafond says churches and the federal government have fought for more than 20 years against making such school records available. She says the public has an obligation to help identify the remains. But a forensic human identification expert says the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation faces a d

Amid the increased political activity within Punjab Congress, Bholath MLA and former Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira along with two rebel AAP MLAs Pirmal Singh and Jagdev Singh Kamalu joined the party on Thursday.Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh inducted three legislators--Khaira along with Bhadaur MLA Singh, and Maur MLA Kamalu--into the party fold in a low-key event at his residence before his visit to Delhi to meet the party's three-member panel (constituted to resolve factionalism in Punjab Congress)."Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh before leaving for Delhi to

Police say a suspect is in custody after customers in a bank in British Columbia refused to obey orders from a shotgun-brandishing robber and tackled him. A statement from Abbotsford police says a man entered the Scotiabank branch just before noon yesterday and ordered customers to the floor. As he threw bags onto a counter and demanded money, police say one customer confronted him and three more stepped up. The four tackled the man, disarmed him and held him until officers arrived minutes later. No one was hurt and Sgt. Judy Bird says a 46-year-old man is facing robbery and firearms-related

India will continue to ensure that fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi is brought back to the country, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said here on Thursday."India remains steadfast in its efforts that fugitives are brought back to India. He is currently in the custody of Dominica with some legal proceedings underway. We will continue to ensure he is brought back to India," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during a briefing. Choksi had gone missing from Antigua on May 23 after going out for dinner and was soon caught in Dominica after Antigua police launched a manhunt for Mehul Choksi

Victoria police say they're investigating several additional allegations of sexualized violence involving a masseur charged with sexual assault. Police say 35-year-old Ajesh Jacob has been charged in connection with an incident at a massage and reflexology business where he was employed. Jacob was arrested on May 13th and has since been released on several conditions including not to perform massage services on anyone. Detectives say additional survivors have come forward since that time and they are asking any others who have not yet spoken with police to contact them. Victoria Police on Twi

Health officials say British Columbia's COVID-19 restart plan will be a slow, cautious progression to normal life, but they acknowledge it may cause anxiety or fear in some people. In a news release Wednesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say many others are excited about the transition and people will be able to progress along with the restart plan or in a slower, more gradual process. Dix and Henry say people must be mindful of communities that are assessing their own risks and take time to welcome back visitors. They also say businesses will be r

The super-heated housing market in Metro Vancouver cooled slightly in May but the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board says sales still remained active. A statement from the board says 4,268 homes changed hands across the region last month, a 13 per cent drop compared with April. While May didn't match record-breaking activity seen earlier in the spring, the board says transactions were still 187.4 per cent higher than those recorded in May last year during the pandemic shutdown. Sales last month were 27.7 per cent above the 10-year sales average for May and the board says listing activity als