British Columbia’s political leaders spent Wednesday outlining their visions for the province’s future during a day that mixed debate, policy talk, and controversy - all closely watched by voters in key battlegrounds like Surrey. Premier and NDP Leader David Eby, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad, and Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau took part in a one-hour debate on Vancouver’s CKNW radio before meeting business representatives at a Greater Vancouver Board of Trade event. The Board also released findings from its 2024 provincial election survey, which highlighted affordability, hou

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is denouncing Iran’s large-scale missile strike on Israel, calling it a reckless act that threatens to ignite a broader regional conflict in the Middle East. Iran launched roughly 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel on Tuesday, warning of a “harsher” retaliation if Israel responds militarily. The attack came as Israeli forces expanded their campaign against Hezbollah, sending ground troops into Lebanon following months of cross-border fire. Trudeau described Iran’s actions as further destabilizing and condemned what he called a “terrorist regime” that

Former Member of Parliament Jasbir Singh Dimpa met with former Congress MLA Kulbir Singh Zira on Wednesday, days after violent clashes broke out between supporters of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Zira, Ferozepur district. Dimpa alleged that the assault on Congress workers occurred in the presence of police officials and accused the area’s Deputy Superintendent of Police of being closely aligned with the local AAP legislator. He urged state authorities to take strict action and ensure impartial law enforcement during the ongoing panchayat elections in Punjab. The former MP al

Palestinian medical officials say at least 32 people were killed overnight in Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in southern Gaza. The European Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving the bodies following heavy bombardments that continued into Wednesday morning. Hospital staff said the dead included several women and children, while dozens of others were injured in the attacks. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The strikes come nearly a year after Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people and led to around 250 being taken hostage. Israeli offici

A Mohali court has extended the judicial remand of Malwinder Singh Mali, former adviser to Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, until October 14. Mali was earlier arrested by the Punjab Police on charges of making statements that allegedly hurt religious sentiments during a YouTube interview. Mali, a retired official from the Punjab Education Department, has been under investigation since his comments sparked controversy earlier this year. He also previously served as the personal assistant to late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, a prominent Sikh leader and former SGPC president.

As panchayat elections continue in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party has come under sharp criticism from the opposition. Congress MP from Gurdaspur and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has alleged that AAP is involving gangsters and their families in local Sarpanch elections. Randhawa claimed that Punjab’s current atmosphere reflects open lawlessness, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party and the Chief Minister are providing support to criminal elements. He said that during his visit to Kalanaur with his security team, he witnessed several police officers standing alongside a kno

Ahead of the Haryana assembly elections, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been released from Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail on a 20-day parole, triggering political controversy across the state. The Congress party has alleged that Ram Rahim’s release could influence voters during the election period. The BJP, however, has rejected the criticism, saying the parole was granted strictly according to law. Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini and the party’s state president said all legal procedures were followed in granting parole. During this period, Ram Rahim is expected to stay in Bag

The House of Commons will hold its third confidence vote in a week today, this time on a motion introduced by the federal government itself. The Liberals are seeking parliamentary approval to move ahead with changes to the capital gains tax first announced in the spring budget. The capital gains inclusion rate, which determines how much profit is taxable, was adjusted in June. Today’s motion will allow the government to introduce legislation that formally enacts the change. Under the new rules, Canadians earning more than $250,000 in capital income in a year - such as from selling secondary

Vancouver police have opened a hate crime investigation following a violent clash between opposing groups during a protest over the war in the Middle East. Police said the confrontation occurred Sunday night outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, where demonstrators gathered expressing differing views on the conflict involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. According to investigators, a 34-year-old woman was assaulted, knocked to the ground, and subjected to antisemitic slurs. She required medical attention for her injuries. Police said the suspect fled into the crowd, but officers later arrested a