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28-charges-laid-in-northern-bc-drug-trafficking-investigation
BCJun 25, 2025

28 Charges Laid in Northern BC Drug Trafficking Investigation

Four individuals have been charged following a 14-month drug trafficking and firearms investigation led by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) in Northern BC. The investigation began in April 2023, targeting a drug trafficking network operating in Prince Rupert. On June 5, 2024, following a 14-month investigation, CFSEU-BC North District, in partnership with the Prince Rupert RCMP and with assistance from the Prince Rupert Coastal Unit, executed five search warrants in Prince Rupert. Investigators seized the following items: • Nine (9) firearms, incl
carney-says-canada-to-spend-5-of-gdp-on-defence-by-2035
CanadaJun 25, 2025

Carney says Canada to spend 5% of GDP on defence by 2035

NATO allies, including Canada, have agreed to increase defense spending to five percent of GDP over the next 10 years. This means that Western countries, including Ottawa, are going to invest heavily in defense by 2035. The new target was approved during a NATO summit in the Netherlands today, a significant policy victory for President Donald Trump. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte opened the meeting by praising Trump for increasing defense spending. The five percent target is divided into two parts, with the first 3.5 percent focusing on core defense needs, including fighter jets and weapo
vigilance-takes-bikram-singh-majithia-into-custody
IndiaJun 25, 2025

Vigilance takes Bikram Singh Majithia into custody

Punjab Vigilance today arrested former Akali Minister Bikram Majithia after raiding his Amritsar residence, in a case of disproportionate assets. Vigilance has seized 29 mobile phones, 4 laptops, 2 iPads, 8 diaries and other documents from Majithia’s house. This new case comes at a time when a drug-related case registered against Majithia under the NDPS Act in 2021 is already under investigation. Majithia said that this entire action is being taken with a sense of political vendetta but he is not going to be intimidated by it.
calgary-stampede-rodeo-safety-to-include-shaded-pens-heart-monitors-for-horses
CanadaJun 25, 2025

Calgary Stampede rodeo safety to include shaded pens, heart monitors for horses

Tents are being set up to provide shade for bulls and broncs, and some chuckwagon horses are to be fitted with tiny electrocardiograms at the upcoming Calgary Stampede. Ed Pajor (PAY'-jor) is a professor of animal behaviour and welfare in the University of Calgary's faculty of veterinary medicine. The university is working with the Stampede to study some of the animals this year. Pajor says based on the scorching heat during the Stampede last summer, the animals could use a break. Pajor says tents will be provided to some of the bulls and broncos to see if it makes a difference. Researc
april-sees-uptick-in-b-c-overdose-deaths-with-165-fatalities-coroners-service
BCJun 25, 2025

April sees uptick in B.C. overdose deaths with 165 fatalities: coroners service

British Columbia's coroners service says a rebound in overdoses in April saw a return to more than 160 deaths a month due to toxic drugs. The April death toll follows last month's update that confirmed March as the sixth consecutive month during which fewer than 160 people died. The BC Coroners Service says in a statement that 165 people died in April, up from 143 deaths in March and 132 fatalities in February. The February and March numbers represented year-over-year declines of more than 30 per cent compared with the same months in 2024. The statement released Tuesday says deaths in the Fras
b-c-economy-will-get-a-kick-out-of-hosting-fifa-world-cup-games-government-says
BCJun 25, 2025

B.C. economy will get a kick out of hosting FIFA World Cup games, government says

There is less than a year to go before Vancouver is on the global stage hosting seven FIFA World Cup soccer games, and leaders are promoting the economic benefits of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the international showcase. A joint statement from B.C. Tourism Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says one million additional out-of-province visitors are expected between 2026 and 2031, generating more than $1 billion in spending. The statement says more than 18,000 jobs could be generated in that same period. It says FIFA predicts that preparing
alberta-next-panel-announced-with-legislature-members-academics-and-business-leaders
AlbertaJun 25, 2025

Alberta Next panel announced with legislature members, academics and business leaders

Premier Danielle Smith says she'll be spending the summer touring the province with business leaders, backbenchers and an academic to find ways to protect Alberta from what she calls federal mistreatment and overreach. She says Ottawa is to blame for decades of lost investment and resource revenue and that Alberta can't be held back any longer. The premier is to lead the Alberta Next panel, which also includes three United Conservative Party legislature members, Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz, a retired judge and a physician. Smith says following a summer of town halls across
bc-165-people-died-from-unregulated-toxic-drugs-in-april-2025
BCJun 24, 2025

BC: 165 people died from unregulated toxic drugs in April 2025

Preliminary reporting released by the BC Coroners Service (BCCS) finds that 165 people died from unregulated toxic drugs in April 2025. In 2025, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 68% of drug-toxicity deaths in the province, and 77% were male. April marks a return to more than 160 deaths attributed to unregulated drug toxicity reported to the BC Coroners Service after six consecutive months of reporting fewer than 160 deaths a month. By health authority in 2025, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (18
canada-may-have-to-spend-150-billion-on-defense-alone-under-natos-new-target
CanadaJun 24, 2025

Canada may have to spend $150-billion on defense alone under NATO's new target

Canada may have to spend $150-billion annually on defense alone under NATO's new target. Prime Minister Mark Carney said this in an interview during a NATO meeting in the Netherlands. The prime minister said he hopes that a meeting of NATO leaders on Wednesday, which will also be attended by President Donald Trump, will agree to give 10 years to reach this target. The prime minister also said that he will not spend indiscriminately and hopes that NATO will review this target. It is noteworthy that in Wednesday's meeting, NATO countries are expected to increase military spending to 5 percen

Just In

big-difference-in-the-number-of-extortion-cases-in-various-cities-in-the-lower-mainland
BCNov 08, 2025

Big difference in the number of extortion cases in various cities in the Lower Mainland

The number of extortion incidents occurring in B.C. in 2025 is staggering, and the number of arrests or charges in the cases is disappointing. Connect FM gathered data on extortion in several major jurisdictions in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The number of extortion cases targeting businesses or people associated with the Indo-Canadian community in Surrey has reached 81 as of November 3 of this year. There were 42 extortion cases where shooting incidents took place. In this, information about the addition of 28 extortion files has come to light in the just month of October alone. Surrey Police Se
woman-dead-several-displaced-after-house-fire-in-mission
BCNov 07, 2025

Woman dead, several displaced after house fire in Mission

A woman has died and several people have been forced from their home following a house fire on Shaw Street in Mission earlier this week. Emergency crews were called to the rural property around 1:45 a.m. on November 6 after a neighbour reported flames coming from the home. When firefighters and RCMP officers arrived, the building was already fully engulfed. Once the fire was brought under control, investigators confirmed that an adult woman had been found dead inside the residence. A man was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation but has since been released. No other serious injuries were repo
b-c-sees-slight-job-decline-in-october-amid-u-s-tariff-uncertainty-says-minister
BCNov 07, 2025

B.C. sees slight job decline in October amid U.S. tariff uncertainty, says minister

British Columbia recorded a small drop in employment last month as global trade tensions and new U.S. tariffs added pressure to key sectors, according to the province’s jobs minister. Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon said Friday that the October Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada shows a decline of about 2,900 jobs in B.C., largely due to losses in construction and forestry. He linked those decreases to “unjustified” tariffs imposed by the United States, which he said have hurt workers and businesses across the province. Despite the monthly dip, Kahlon noted that
22-men-charged-in-quebec-child-exploitation-investigation
CanadaNov 07, 2025

22 men charged in Quebec child exploitation investigation

Quebec provincial police say 22 men have been arrested following a provincewide investigation into online child sexual exploitation. The suspects, aged 18 to 70, were taken into custody after a series of coordinated raids carried out earlier this week. According to the Sûreté du Québec, 20 of the accused have already appeared in court on charges that include possession, distribution and access of child sexual abuse material. The investigation was conducted between November 3 and 7, with more than 150 officers participating in searches across multiple cities, including Montreal, Quebec City,
canada-to-host-g7-foreign-ministers-meeting-in-niagara-with-india-among-invited-participants
CanadaNov 07, 2025

Canada to host G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara, with India among invited participants

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, has announced that foreign ministers from G7 member nations will gather in Niagara, Ontario, from November 11 to 12, 2025. The meeting will bring together representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Anand said Canada will also welcome ministers from several outreach countries, including Australia, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, and Ukraine, as part of efforts to strengthen global cooperation on shared priorities. India’s External Affairs