BCNov 29, 2023
U.S. says alleged murder plotter was directed by India and mentioned B.C. killing
American prosecutors say a man allegedly involved in a murder plot against a Sikh activist on U.S. soil also discussed the killing of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar, just hours after Nijjar was gunned down outside a British Columbia temple.The murder-for-hire indictment against Nikhil Gupta, 52, says he told an undercover officer who he thought was a hit man that Nijjar "was also the target," and because he was dead, there was "no need to wait" on the next killing.The indictment says Gupta was recruited by an Indian government employee to orchestrate the killing of the activist, who isn't name
CanadaNov 29, 2023
US authorities charge man from India in plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader in New York City
U.S. authorities announced murder-for-hire charges Wednesday against a man from India who they say plotted to pay an assassin $100,000 to kill a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York City after the man advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the charges against Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who had lived in India, as an indictment was unsealed in Manhattan federal court. "As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly ad
BCNov 29, 2023
El Niño brings a warm start to winter, but that could change: Weather Network
Chilly nights and snow-covered slopes may not be easy to come by in much of Canada during the first part of the winter season, according to the winter outlook from one of Canada's prominent forecasters.
The Weather Network predicts El Niño conditions will lead to above-average temperatures and lower-than-normal precipitation levels in much of the country, particularly in Western and Central Canada. While that trend is expected to hold throughout the winter in British Columbia and the Prairie provinces, the network said areas further east may see more variable conditions as the season progres
CanadaNov 29, 2023
Ottawa reaches deal with Google over controversial Online News Act
The federal Liberal government has reached a deal with Google over the Online News Act, following threats from the digital giant that it would remove news from its search platform in Canada.
A government official confirmed that news to The Canadian Press under condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the deal. source is reporting, that the agreement would see Canadian news continue to be shared on Google's platforms in return for the company making annual payments to news companies in the range of $100 million.
A formula in the government's draft re
CanadaNov 29, 2023
Three in four Canadians say higher immigration is worsening housing crisis: Poll
A large majority of Canadians agree that higher immigration is fueling the housing crisis and putting pressure on the health-care system, a new Leger poll suggests.
New federal voting intention numbers from the polling firm also show that the Conservatives are maintaining their sizable lead over the governing Liberals. The polling, conducted from Friday to Sunday, found that about three-quarters of respondents agreed the increase in immigrants is adding strain to both the housing market and health-care system.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents, or 63 per cent, said the volume of newcomers is al
BCNov 29, 2023
WorkSafeBC releases first online registry of licensed asbestos abatement contractors in B.C.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, asbestos abatement employers must be licensed to operate in B.C. This means homeowners, business owners, and contractors must ensure their asbestos abatement contractor holds a valid licence before allowing them to carry out work.
To enable British Columbians to verify that a contractor is licensed, WorkSafeBC has developed an Asbestos Abatement License (AAL) Registry.
In B.C., asbestos is prevalent in residential and commercial buildings, posing serious health and safety risks when disturbed.
Asbestos is a mineral that was used in more than 3,000 building materials f
IndiaNov 28, 2023
All 41 workers rescued from collapsed Indian tunnel after 17 days
Forty-one construction workers have been rescued from a collapsed tunnel in northern India where they had spent the last 17 days.
The rescue on Tuesday marked a happy ending to an ordeal that had gripped the country and led to a massive rescue operation that overcame several setbacks. Locals, relatives and government officials erupted in joy, set off firecrackers and shouted ``Bharat Mata ki Jai'', Hindi for ``Long live mother India", as happy workers walked out after receiving a brief checkup by doctors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to some of the rescued workers over the phone. He
BCNov 28, 2023
The Conservative leader rejected the allegations made by Nikki Sharma regarding SOGI
The leader of the BC Conservatives is rejecting accusations that he's stoking hateful politics with his opposition to school programs about sexual orientation and gender identity, known as SOGI.
John Rustad was responding to comments Monday by Attorney General Niki Sharma about a highway chase on the weekend that ended when a tractor flying an anti-SOGI protest flag crashed with a police car and flipped over.
Sharma said it was a concerning incident and Rustad's party is to blame for ``dangerous protests'' about the issue.
Rustad says parents are right to raise concerns about SOGI, saying t
BCNov 28, 2023
BC Attorney General to take steps to stop online sextortion
BC's attorney general says the province is taking the next step in its plan to tackle online sextortion.
Niki Sharma says the province intends to launch an online platform in January that will allow people to report if their intimate images are being distributed without their consent, and provide an order telling the perpetrator to stop distributing images and for online platforms to take it down.
Her comments come after Mounties in Prince George, BC, said a 12-year-old boy had died by suicide after being targeted in an online sextortion scheme. Sharma called the boy's death ``terrible'' an