Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen has been charged with sexual assault following a police investigation. Vancouver police said Thursday the B.C. Prosecution Service approved one count of sexual assault against Virtanen, 25, in relation to an incident that occurred on Sept. 26, 2017, when Virtanen was playing for the Canucks. Police launched an investigation in May 2021 after a 23-year-old woman filed a complaint. Police say Virtanen, who is playing in the Russian-based KHL this season with Spartak Moscow, is not currently in custody. Selected sixth overall by the Canucks at the 2

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued Rs 1.62 lakh crore income tax refunds to over 1.79 crore taxpayers till January 24, 2022 of the current financial year, official data showed on Thursday."CBDT issues refunds of over Rs 1,62,448 crore to more than 1.79 crore taxpayers from 1st April 2021 to 24th January 2022," Income Tax Department said in a tweet..Income tax refunds of Rs 57,754 crore have been issued in 1,77,35,899 cases and corporate tax refunds of Rs 1,04,694 crore have been issued in 2,23,952 cases, it said.This includes 1.41 crore refunds of Assessment Year 2021-22 amoun

At least six people have died after consuming suspected spurious liquor in Bihar's Buxar district, local police said.The incident took place on Wednesday, police said adding that the six people "died under mysterious circumstances."Relatives of those who died alleged that the victims had consumed spurious liquor. "This happened due to spurious liquor. What is the administration doing? If there is a liquor ban then how are they getting it?" a relative of the deceased told ANI.The police are investigating matter. More details are awaited.There has been a total ban on liquor in Bihar since April

Police say two men and two women who were found dead at a home after a shooting in Richmond, B.C., were from the same family.Sgt. David Lee of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the identities of the four people aren't yet being released.He says one of the deceased had a valid firearms licence and access to guns.Lee says investigators have confirmed that the shooting was an isolated incident and no one else was involved.He say the deaths are not a result of intimate-partner violence.The two men and two women were found in the home Tuesday, although police have said they believed t

Vancouver Coastal Health says it has closed the COVID-19 testing site at the U-B-C Life Sciences Centre. It says the site was established as a temporary testing location on December 24th to support other Vancouver-based sites. The health authority says it continues to offer a variety of testing options in Vancouver. It says anyone who is eligible can get tested at any of its active locations, which can be found on its website.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is isolating at home after learning that he was exposed to someone who had tested positive for COVID 19. The prime minister says in a tweet that he learned about the exposure just last night. He says the result of a rapid antigen test he took was negative, but he is following local public health rules and isolating for five days. Trudeau says he will be working from home during that stretch. Several of Trudeau's cabinet ministers in recent weeks have had to isolate after positive tests, or because they were potentially exposed to the virus. Trudeau is set

B.C. is reporting 2,086 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 316,873 cases in the province.Note: The numbers of total and new cases are provisional due to a delayed data refresh and will be verified once confirmed.There are 30,058 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 282,189 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 949 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 136 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:780 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 12,776464 new cases in Vancouve

Prime Minister Trudeau says comments by some of the people associated with the truck convoy to protest mandatory vaccinations are completely unacceptable. The convoy of big rigs is making its way toward Ottawa for a weekend protest and police are preparing for violence as politicians warn against escalating rhetoric linked to the demonstration.Trudeau points out close to 90 per cent of truckers are vaccinated, just like close to 90 per cent of Canadians. Ottawa police are talking to leaders of a truck convoy making way toward Ottawa for a weekend protest. They are preparing several scenarios

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is extending its mission to train Ukrainian soldiers by three years. He says Canada will also expand the mission, known as Operation UNIFIER. Trudeau says as part of the $340-million commitment, he has authorized the Canadian Armed Forces to deploy 60 personnel to join 200 troops already on the ground, with further capacity to increase that number up to 400. He says it also includes a provision of non-lethal equipment, intelligence-sharing and support to combat cyberattacks. He says this guarantees the Forces' continued support of Ukrainian forces so