US President Joe Biden says he and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed in detail the next steps their countries should take on arms control. At a news conference in Geneva, Biden said this means diplomats and military experts from both countries will meet for what he called a ``strategic stability dialogue.'' Biden says he stressed human rights issues in his meeting with Putin. That includes the cases of two Americans who Biden says are wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. Putin hailed Biden as a constructive and highly experienced leader after their meeting.

The death of 27 year old Amy Watts, whose body was discovered in downtown Nanaimo, is being treated as a homicide. The deceased was discovered on Thursday June 3, 2021, in a small wooded steep ravine near the intersection of Albert St and Victoria Crescent. The Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit has overall responsibility for the investigation. Police spoke with the family of the deceased last week and informed them on the status of the investigation. Police are fully engaged and are actively pursuing all investigative steps, said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. To date, no arrests

Two RCMP officers have been cleared of wrongdoing related to the fatal crash of an all-terrain vehicle in northwestern B.C. The Independent Investigations Office, which examines all cases of death or serious harm involving police, says its review has determined two officers from the Terrace RCMP detachment did not commit any offences related to the May 23 crash. The officers had attempted to pull over the ATV on a forest service road near Terrace because none of the three riders had helmets. The ATV did not stop and continued about 10 kilometres north before crashing, injuring a woman who ev

Statistics Canada says the consumer price index in May was up 3.6 per cent compared with a year ago, its largest yearly increase since May 2011. The reading for May compared with a year-over-year gain of 3.4 per cent in April, which at the time was the fast annual rate in nearly a decade.Part of the rise in the headline inflation barometer is due to comparing prices to the low levels seen last year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as for gasoline, furniture and beef products.Excluding gasoline, the consumer price index in May was up 2.5 per cent compared with a year ago.However, Sta

Noting that India has implemented huge reforms across sectors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the country has been "adaptable and agile" even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. He invited investments on the five pillars of talent, market, capital, eco-system and culture of openness.Delivering the keynote address at the 5th edition of VivaTech through video conferencing, he said India offers what innovators and investors need.He said COVID-19 is the "biggest disruption of our age" and there is a need to focus on the twin foundations of "repair and prepare".VivaTech is

British Columbia health officials are reporting 108 new cases of COVID-19 as the province begins step two of its reopening plan. They say in a statement B.C. has 1,496 active cases and 143,299 people have recovered from the infection. There have been no new deaths and the total number of fatalities is 1,734. Officials say more than 76 per cent of eligible adults have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 657,491 have had their second shot. Step two of the reopening plan means indoor seated gatherings with up to 50 people are permitted at venues such as movie theatres and banque

Vancouver Police are reminding east-side residents to be wary of jewelry scammers, after a Collingwood man was bilked out of thousands of dollars yesterday."With Covid restrictions easing and more people heading outside to enjoy the warm weather, these scammers will prey on people’s good will and naivety," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "We need people to know how they work and to be assertive if they are approached."VPD is investigating two incidents that occurred Monday afternoon in East Vancouver, and suspect there might be links between the cases.A 51-year-old man was walking alone ne

``Gone Girl'' actor Lisa Banes has died 10 days after being injured by a hit-and-run driver in New York City. A police spokesperson says the 65 year old Banes died Monday at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. She was struck by a scooter or motorcycle while crossing a street on June 4. Banes appeared in numerous television shows and movies, including ``Gone Girl'' starring Ben Affleck in 2014 and ``Cocktail'' with Tom Cruise in 1988. Her manager says Banes was hit as she was crossing Amsterdam Avenue on the way to visit the Juilliard School, her alma mater. Police have made no arrests.

The Canadian Real Estate Association says buyers are increasingly frustrated by volatile home sales in this country and an expected decline in transactions could underscore their irritation with hot markets like those in Metro Vancouver. The association says home sales fell 7.4 per cent in May compared with the month earlier, and the month-over-month skid affected about 80 per cent of markets across Canada. But the association also predicts sales will hit a new, overall record by the end of the year, leaping nearly 24 per cent compared with 2020 before slipping about 13 per cent next year. As