Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a Muslim body, on Monday filed a plea in the Supreme Court urging it to urgently hear its petition seeking action against media reports indulging in communal branding of COVID-19 pandemic in the light of 2020 Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area. The body sought an urgent hearing of its plea in the backdrop of upcoming assembly polls in five states saying the dissemination of fake news and hate speech poses a grave danger to the lives and liberties of a large section of citizens. The PIL was last listed on September 2 last year and since then it has not

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 4,997 new cases of COVID-19, including three epi-linked cases, for a total of 313,076 cases in the province:Jan. 21-22: 2,163 new casesJan. 22-23: 1,489 new casesJan. 23-24: 1,345 new casesThere are 31,822 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 276,529 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 987 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 129 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:1,702 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 14,431862 ne

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending the vaccine mandate for cross-border truck drivers as a convoy of hundreds of them heads to Ottawa in protest. Trudeau says getting vaccinated is the most important way to keep Canada's economy going, and he accuses the Conservatives of "fearmongering" about empty store shelves. In a news conference this afternoon, Tory Leader Erin O'Toole refused to say whether he'd meet with the protesters in Ottawa. The Conservatives have been pressuring Trudeau to lift the vaccine mandate for truckers, calling it a risk to Canada's supply chains and economic recov

For the first time in Vancouver Canucks history, the team has hired a female assistant general manager. Emilie Castonguay joins the Canucks from the player management agency Momentum Hockey, where she broke another barrier in 2016 when she was named the first female NHLPA certified agent in Canada. Canucks interim G-M Jim Rutherford says Castonguay will play a lead role in player contracts and negotiations, as well as managing the collective bargaining agreement. Castonguay has a bachelor's degree in finance, a law degree from the University of Montreal and played four years of NCAA Division

Vancouver police have released video of what they say is a random stabbing at a downtown coffee shop. Sergeant Steve Addison says the ``disturbing incident'' on Saturday put a 25 year old man in hospital with life-threaten wounds. Police say the man was waiting in line at the Tim Hortons in Vancouver's Harbour Centre mall when a stranger wearing a black-hooded coat and facemask approached him from behind and attacked. Police say they released the video of the attack with the hope the six-foot-two man in his 20s will be identified. Click the link to watch the video of attack: https://vpd.ca/ne

Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon has re-opened to all vehicle traffic after being closed by slides and avalanches during severe flooding in November. The Ministry of Transportation says the route re-opened at noon today, restoring a key connection between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Although the route is open, the ministry cautions there will be delays of up to two hours at several ongoing worksites, including over a temporary, 80 metre long bridge at Jackass Mountain, where single-lane alternating traffic will be in effect. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the crews have

The senior military officer once tasked with overseeing Canada's COVID-19 vaccination drive is opting to have his sexual assault case tried by a Quebec judge without a jury present. A lawyer for Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin announced the decision during a brief hearing in a Gatineau courtroom this morning. Fortin was removed from his position on the vaccine campaign in May and was charged with one count of sexual assault in August. He is fighting for reinstatement to his former role with the Public Health Agency of Canada alleging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other senior members of the Liberal

British Columbia's Education Ministry says graduation assessments for students in grades 10 to 12 will not take place this month due to COVID 19. The ministry says in a statement that staffing issues have significantly affected the administration of the assessments. The ministry says it will provide an exemption to Grade 12 students graduating early in the school year. It adds that is has worked with post-secondary institutions to ensure that admissions will not be affected by these changes. The ministry says the news may cause concern for students and promised that all Grade 12 students w

Mounties in Mission, B.C., say officers were called after two people were dropped off at a hospital with gunshot wounds. RCMP say they were called early Saturday morning after finding a man, 61, and woman, 52, suffering serious injuries after being dropped off at the Mission Memorial Hospital. Const. Harrison Mohr says the shooting appears to be targeted but not connected to the Lower Mainland's ongoing gang conflict. Mohr says the shooting took place in an industrial area where the majority of businesses were closed. Police say no one has been arrested but an investigation is ongoing. Anyone