Much of Western and Northern Canada is bracing for a bitterly cold and snowy Christmas, with Environment Canada issuing a mix of snow advisories and extreme cold warnings across several provinces and territories. Central Alberta is expected to see between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow by Christmas morning, prompting warnings for hazardous travel conditions on highways and local roads. Environment Canada is advising drivers to plan ahead and adjust travel plans where necessary as snowfall continues through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Cold warnings are also in effect across parts of Alberta

Eight people were killed after a small jet crashed near Turkey’s capital late Tuesday, including Libya’s Chief of the General Staff, Mohammed al-Haddad, Turkish authorities confirmed. The aircraft went down roughly 30 minutes after takeoff following a reported technical failure. Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the Falcon 50 jet disappeared from radar after issuing an emergency landing signal. Wreckage was later found in the Haymana district, south of Ankara, after overnight search and rescue operations by Turkish emergency crews. Those killed in the crash included General a

The B.C. Conservative candidate who narrowly lost the Surrey–Guildford riding in last year’s provincial election has withdrawn his legal challenge of the results, ending a court case that centred on alleged voting irregularities. Honveer Singh Randhawa, who was defeated by 22 votes, said Tuesday he has decided to drop his petition before the B.C. Supreme Court. In a written statement, Randhawa said his legal action had already led to what he described as a material outcome after the province’s chief electoral officer acknowledged that some violations had occurred. In his original filing,

Penticton RCMP say a man is facing criminal charges following an alleged sexual assault reported in the city on Monday evening. Police were called shortly before 6 p.m. on December 22 to the 200 block of Orchard Avenue after receiving reports of a possible sexual assault in progress. According to investigators, several bystanders intervened and restrained the suspect until officers arrived at the scene. The victim was taken to hospital for medical assessment. Police have not released details about the victim’s condition. RCMP say Josiah Foisy has been charged with sexual assault and assault.

Burnaby RCMP are asking for the public’s help to identify two pickup trucks believed to be involved in the theft of a Bobcat loader valued at about $100,000 in North Burnaby. Police say the theft happened on the afternoon of Sunday, November 30, when two pickup trucks arrived near the intersection of Midlawn Drive and Westlawn Drive in the Brentwood area. One of the trucks was towing an empty flat deck trailer. A short time later, both vehicles were seen leaving the area with the Bobcat loader loaded onto the trailer. Investigators describe the first suspect vehicle as a dark-coloured pickup

Richmond RCMP say a targeted enforcement operation aimed at retail theft led to 16 arrests earlier this month, as police continue efforts to address repeat shoplifting and organized theft in the city. The arrests were made during a Project Boost and Bust operation carried out by frontline officers on December 13. The initiative is supported through the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program and focuses on high-theft retail locations across Richmond. Police say most of the individuals arrested do not live in Richmond, reinforcing concerns that retail theft in the city is frequently d

Elections Alberta has approved three additional recall petitions against sitting members of the provincial legislature, bringing the total number of active recall efforts across the province to 26. The latest petitions target two United Conservative Party backbenchers, Ron Wiebe and Justin Wright, along with Opposition New Democrat MLA Peggy Wright, who serves as the party’s labour critic. With the new approvals, 24 of the 26 active petitions are aimed at UCP politicians, representing more than half of Premier Danielle Smith’s 47-member caucus. Petitioners seeking the removal of Wiebe and

Several schools in Patiala district and the Patiala railway station were placed under heightened security on Tuesday after authorities received bomb threats through email, Punjab Police said. The threat follows similar warnings reported earlier in Amritsar and Jalandhar, raising concerns among parents and local residents. Police teams were immediately deployed to the affected schools and public locations, where thorough search operations were carried out as a precautionary measure. According to officials, the email claimed that explosive devices could detonate between 1:11 pm and 9:11 pm. As a

Sooke RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance as they investigate an alleged counterfeit currency transaction at a local gas station earlier this month. Police say two men attended the Chevron gas station at 6610 Sooke Rd. on December 20 shortly after 6:00 p.m., where a counterfeit $100 bill was allegedly used during a transaction. The incident was reported to police two days later, on December 22. The first suspect is described as a Caucasian man between 20 and 30 years old, with brown hair and a beard. At the time, he was wearing a black North Face jacket. The second suspect is also de