The lawyer representing Huawei (WAH'-way) executive Meng Wanzhou says fraud allegations against his client are ``fiction.'' Richard Peck says the case against Meng is really about the United States attempting to enforce sanctions against Iran. Peck made the comments on the first day of a hearing in Vancouver designed to test the concept of ``double criminality'' -- to determine if the charges facing Meng are actually a crime in Canada and should lead to her extradition to the United States. Peck told the judge the case would not exist -- except for U-S sanction laws -- and since Canada do

Five people in their 20s are safe after spending a frigid night stranded on Eagle Mountain in Coquitlam. Search and rescue crews say the hikers were on the mountain for over 20 hours before they were found early yesterday. Al Hurley of Coquitlam Search and Rescue says the group was unprepared and only wearing thin clothing for the hike. He says the walk down the mountain was difficult in icy, steep conditions, but fortunately no one was harmed.

All eyes will be on BC Supreme Court today as an extradition hearing for arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou begins.The United States is seeking Meng's extradition on fraud charges linked to the alleged violation of sanctions against Iran. The hearing in Vancouver will consider the legal test of double criminality, meaning that if the allegations are also a crime in Canada then she should be extradited to the US. Meng denies the allegations and her arrest has soured relations between Canada and China.

Vancouver police are investigating the city's second and third homicides of the year, which both occurred over the weekend. On Saturday, a man -- who has yet to be identified -- was found dead inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Marine Gateway Complex. Then early Sunday morning, a 45-year-old woman was found dead inside her home in Gastown under suspicious circumstances. No arrests have been made in either case, but police say the public is not believed to be at risk.

Small businesses, non-profits and arts and culture organizations paying high property taxes through their commercial leases will be able to get relief through interim business property tax relief legislation that is under development. The legislation, to be introduced this spring, would give municipalities the ability to provide property tax relief to small businesses and organizations that they identify as paying high property taxes. These taxes are a result of the combination of years of increasing real estate values and their commercial lease terms, including triple-net leases. "I understa

A 32-year-old man from Surrey has been charged in a death on Vancouver's Eastside last April. Vancouver police say Chad Harry faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of 35-year-old Cong Tran. Constable Tania Visintin says the suspect and the victim had an altercation that led to an assault. She says the homicide was one of 10 in the city last year.

New hybrid electric ferries are expected to arrive in Victoria tomorrow. B-C Ferries says the design of the Island Class vessels reduces underwater radiated noise and lowers emissions. B-C Ferries president Mark Collins says the anticipated arrival of the ships that left Romania on November 20th marks a major milestone in the plan to lower emissions across the fleet. The vessels are expected to service the routes of Powell River-to-Texada Island, Port McNeill-to-Alert Bay and Sointula by the middle of the year.

Lawyers for a Huawei executive wanted on fraud charges in the United States are accusing Crown attorneys of relying on American sanction law to make its case for extradition from Canada. In documents released by the B.C. Supreme Court Friday, Meng Wanzhou's lawyers say Canada has rejected similar U.S. sanction against Iran and not only permits banks to do business with Iran-based entities but encourages them to do so. Her lawyers have said she should not be extradited because her actions wouldn't be considered a crime in Canada. Both sides will make their arguments to the court next week duri

Premier John Horgan says the government is making $5 million available for loans to help contractors who are in danger of losing their equipment due to a forest industry strike on Vancouver Island.He says the program for struggling forest industry contractors will be available by the end of this month with bridge loans to help save equipment.Horgan announced the funding during a speech to forest industry contractors at the annual Truck Loggers Association convention.He spent much of his speech addressing the labour dispute between Western Forests Products and the Steelworkers union, saying the