Putin pays tribute to Russian national unity as fighting grinds on in Ukraine

A Surrey Provincial Court judge has sentenced Abhijeet Kingra to nearly five years in prison for his role in a 2024 extortion-related shooting and arson targeting a Surrey home. According to court records, Kingra pleaded guilty on July 6 to charges of discharging a firearm at a residence and committing arson. The offences stem from an Aug. 10, 2024 incident in which a home belonging to a person who had reportedly received extortion threats was shot at and set on fire. The court imposed a two-year sentence for arson and a sentence of four years, 10 months and 19 days for the shooting offence. T

WestJet's flight attendants' union says 99.4 per cent of its members have voted in favour of strike action, clearing the way for a legal walkout as early as Aug. 2 if a new collective agreement is not reached. According to the union, about 4,400 flight attendants would be in a legal strike position beginning Aug. 2. Key issues in the contract dispute include wage increases that keep pace with inflation, improved working conditions and compensation for all hours spent on duty. WestJet President and CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the airline remains committed to reaching a negotiated agreement

Burnaby RCMP are asking for the public's help as they investigate a reported sexual assault that occurred in the city's Metrotown area last week. According to police, the incident happened at about 11:30 p.m. on July 9 near Royal Oak Avenue and Beresford Street. Investigators said the victim was walking alone when an unidentified man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her. The suspect fled the area after the victim called 911. Officers searched the neighbourhood but were unable to locate him. Police said a second suspicious incident was reported about 30 minutes later near Beres

Two people were killed and one person was seriously injured after a helicopter crashed in a remote area of Vancouver Island on Tuesday morning. According to West Coast Helicopters, the crash occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m. in the Loughborough Inlet area, where the aircraft was supporting forestry operations. The company said the victims have been identified as pilot Riley Brown and forestry worker Bobby Novak. The third occupant survived the crash and was taken for medical treatment with serious injuries. Their identity has not been released. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has t

Forestry company Canfor has announced it will permanently close its Northwood pulp mill in Prince George, a decision that is expected to affect approximately 300 employees. According to a company news release, the closure is driven by ongoing financial losses, a shortage of economically viable fibre supply, and continued weakness in global pulp markets. Canfor said an oversupply of pulp and a significant decline in market prices have created sustained challenges for the sector. The company said the Northwood pulp mill will cease operations by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026. The closure