A longtime labour and human rights leader in British Columbia has died. The family of Charan Gill say he died in hospital on Feb. 2, following a battle with cancer. Gill was 84. Born in Hong Kong and raised in India, Gill moved to Canada in 1967, settling in Surrey, where he co-founded the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. The farm workers union led to improved pay, benefits and working conditions for farm and ranch workers across Canada while the organization to fight racism was instrumental in stemming the growth of racist groups in B.C. Gill

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says "rare exceptions" to new travel restrictions will be made on compassionate grounds, but that more contagious COVID-19 variants now taking hold in Canada mean tough rules must be implemented in the next few weeks.Trudeau announced last week that passengers returning from abroad will have to quarantine at a hotel for up to three days after taking a PCR test at the airport, but no date has been set for when this will take effect.The move is one of several measures meant to choke off entry of the virus into Canada, but comes after case numbers of more transmissib

British Columbia health officials say there's an encouraging trend in the COVID-19 curve in the province with the efforts of residents making a difference. It comes as the state of emergency was extended again in B.C. on Tuesday, allowing officials to use its extraordinary powers to respond to the pandemic. In a joint statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix reported 429 new cases and eight deaths, bringing to 1,218 the number of fatalities liked to COVID-19. The statement says with people in B.C. following the restrictions, the COVID-19 spread is s

After international pop star Rihanna showed her support to the protests, many international personalities have come forward in support of on going farmers protests in Delhi. Rihanna extended her support to farmers protesting on the borders of India's capital against the three agriculture laws introduced by the Central government last year and asked why people were not talking about it. The 32 year old pop star shared a news story by CNN on the internet shutdown in several districts of Haryana, New Delhi's neighbouring state. "Why aren't we talking about this?!", wrote Rihanna, as she added t

A man convicted of second-degree murder and interfering with a body in the death of a Japanese student in Vancouver will receive a new trial. The British Columbia Court of Appeal ruled in a split decision Tuesday to allow an appeal filed by William Schneider, who was convicted of killing 30 year old Natsumi Kogawa. Schneider pleaded guilty to interfering with her body, admitting that he disposed of her remains in the city's West End in 2016, but denying that he killed her. He was convicted on both counts following a jury trial and filed an appeal, arguing the judge erred in admitting an overhe

International pop star Rihanna extended her support to farmers protesting on the borders of India's capital against the three agriculture laws introduced by the Central government last year and asked why people were not talking about it. Taking to Twitter, the 32 year old pop star shared a news story by CNN on the internet shutdown in several districts of Delhi's neighbouring state Haryana after protestors broke barricades to enter New Delhi and clashed with police in several parts of the national capital during the January 26 'tractor rally' protest organised by farmers. The protestors also e

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says there are signs of community spread of COVID-19 variants in several provinces. Dr. Tam says 148 cases of the mutations that first emerged in the United Kingdom and South Africa have been confirmed across the country, even as overall coronavirus case counts continue to decline. The country's top doctor says that provincial officials should be very cautious about relaxing safety measures, as the U.K. and South African strains are highly contagious. Dr. Tam says the variants' arrival in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia means health authoritie

One worker is believed to have died and two others have been hurt at a mine just west of Kamloops, B.C. A statement from Toronto-based New Gold says the three were at working at the New Afton gold and copper mine around 1:40 a.m. when they were hit by what the company describes as a mud rush. The statement says one contract driller is presumed dead while the two New Gold employees have non-life-threatening injuries. New Gold says RCMP and provincial safety authorities have been notified and are at the scene. All activities at the mine have been suspended while an investigation is underway. Th

An RCMP dive team will be back in the North Thompson River in Kamloops today. Team is looking for a man who disappeared last week. Witnesses saw a man go into the river last Thursday around 7:30 pm and he apparently tried to swim across before disappearing. Constable Crystal Evelyn says crews are still looking after a weekend search with a K-9 unit, a dive team and police helicopter. She says police do not have an identity of the person who went in the water. Man has been described as white, slender and possibly in his 30s.