The British Columbia government is proposing changes to the province's Employment Standards Act to allow up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave each year for people facing what Premier David Eby described as "catastrophic" illness or injury. Eby told a news conference in Victoria that the change would take effect this fall if the bill is passed by his New Democrat majority government. He says the leave would ensure people undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy could take the time they need without worrying about job security. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside joined Eby, saying workers deserve to

Federal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says progress is being made in ongoing trade discussions with the United States but cautions that a final agreement is not imminent. LeBlanc pushed back Tuesday on reports suggesting Canada and the U.S. could soon announce a deal to ease tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The minister said he was surprised by a report in The Globe and Mail claiming a potential agreement on steel, aluminum and energy could be ready for signing at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. LeBlanc, who accompan

Langley RCMP say one person has died following a collision early Tuesday morning near 264 Street and 0 Avenue. Police were called to the scene around 6:42 a.m., where emergency crews from the British Columbia Ambulance Service and the Township of Langley Fire Department also responded. Investigators say a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and died at the scene despite life-saving efforts. Sergeant Zynal Sharoom of the Langley RCMP said officers remain on site as investigators work to determine the circumstances leading up to the crash. The area around 264 Street and 0 Avenue is closed to traf

Punjab's former director general of police Mohammad Mustafa and his wife Razia Sultana, a former state minister, have been booked in connection with the death of their son, Haryana Police said. Akil Akhter, an advocate, died in Haryana's Panchkula on Thursday. Also booked in the case are Akhter's wife and sister. The FIR was registered on October 20 under Sections 103 (1) and 61, which deal with murder and criminal conspiracy charges, after a man named Shamshuddin, in a complaint, alleged foul play in the death, saying Akhter died under "suspicious circumstances", the police said. They have b

Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.4 per cent in September, according to new data from Statistics Canada, driven by higher grocery bills and modest increases in gasoline and rent costs. The latest Consumer Price Index report shows inflation up from 1.9 per cent in August, slightly above economists’ forecasts. While gasoline prices were lower than a year earlier due to the removal of the federal carbon charge, the annual decline was smaller than in August — a factor that nudged overall inflation higher. Food prices continued to climb, with fresh vegetables up 1.9 per cent compared t

Japan has appointed its first woman prime minister, marking a historic political shift in a country long dominated by male leadership. Lawmakers elected Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday, ending a three-month leadership gap following the resignation of former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba. Takaichi, a veteran member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is known for her socially conservative views, including support for male-only imperial succession and opposition to same-sex marriage. While she has pledged to expand women’s participation in government, her initial Cabinet lineup includes ju

U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, signalling reluctance to approve Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. The talks focused on military aid and the ongoing war with Russia, as Kyiv continues to seek advanced weapons to bolster its defence. The meeting followed a lengthy phone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier, during which the two discussed the conflict in Ukraine. While Trump had recently indicated a willingness to consider missile sales, he appeared to scale back exp

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem says the central bank will take a cautious approach as it resumes formal economic forecasting later this month, acknowledging the need for “humility” in the face of continued trade uncertainty. The Bank of Canada is expected to release its next economic outlook alongside an interest rate announcement on October 29 its first full forecast this year. The central bank paused detailed projections earlier in 2025, citing unpredictable global conditions tied to U.S. tariffs and shifting trade relations. Speaking from Washington, D.C., where he is attending th

A Montreal resident has pleaded guilty to making death threats against Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and his family. Court records show that 42-year-old Philippe Clément-Laberge entered the plea on Tuesday at the Montreal courthouse. The threats were reportedly made in early March 2024, prompting a police investigation that led to his arrest shortly afterward. St-Pierre Plamondon publicly addressed the incident last year after news of the threats surfaced, saying he was concerned for his family’s safety but expressed confidence in the justice system’s response. The cas