Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is to visit eastern Europe next week, with stops in Ukraine, Latvia and Poland. Champagne says he will meet with top airline officials in Ukraine as part of his push to secure compensation for families of the 57 Canadians who died in last month's Ukraine International Airlines crash in Tehran. Iran has admitted it fired two missiles at the plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Coastal GasLink has agreed to a two-day pause in its activities in northwestern B.C. during talks taking place between federal government ministers and hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation. The R-C-M-P has also committed to ending patrols along a critical roadway during the discussions that are set to continue through tomorrow. The chiefs praised the moves in a statement released shortly before talks got underway this afternoon in Smithers. They say the actions provide the space needed to sit down at the table in good faith to discuss their opposition to Coastal GasLink's natura

The head of Canada's largest port says the novel coronavirus is eating into trade, and it's coming after a year that saw cargo volumes dip. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority CEO Robin Silvester says the number of cancelled sailings is on the rise as large parts of the Chinese economy are shut down due to the outbreak. Silvester says slowdowns could also severely dent trade with Korea and Japan, which together with China account for well over half of the freight volume at Canada's Pacific gateway. China cut wheat and canola shipments from Canada last year amid diplomatic tensions.

Federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and her B.C. counterpart Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Scott Fraser have arrived in Smithers for afternoon meetings with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs. In a Twitter message posted before she left Vancouver this morning, Bennett called the meeting "truly important", and after she reached Smithers she said the talks will "reaffirm" the interest of senior levels of government in speaking with the Wet'suwet'en about title and rights. Fraser says he's pleased further talks have been arranged with chiefs opposed to t

A pedestrian was hit and killed while crossing Highway 17 in Surrey last evening. Surrey RCMP say it happened at about 6 p.m. and the unidentified victim died at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and police say that person is co-operating. Police haven't said if the victim was in a marked crosswalk on the usually busy route and investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward.

RCMP officers have been helping the United Kingdom's Metropolitan Police provide security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since they arrived in British Columbia late last year, but that help will end soon. Public Safety Canada says it is obligated to provide security for Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their infant son, Archie, because the couple are Internationally Protected Persons. But a statement from the RCMP say its assistance will end in the coming weeks ``in keeping with the change in status'' of the Duke and Duchess. Harry and Meghan have been living on Vancouver Island and say

Ontario health officials say the latest case of the novel coronavirus marks the first time the illness was transmitted in the province.The province's chief medical officer of health says the man in his 60s is the sixth case of the virus which is known as COVID-19 in Ontario.They say he contracted the disease from his wife, who had recently returned from a trip to Iran.The Middle Eastern nation is one of the worst affected countries outside China, with hundreds of people infected and at least 26 deaths.

Search and rescue team members say they have been called to take part in a search for a woman missing from her home in New Westminster, east of Vancouver. The team, from Coquitlam, says in a social media post that members have been asked to assist the New Westminster Police Department in the search for Nirla Sharma. Police say the 44-year-old was last seen on Sunday as she went to bed and is believed to have left her home Monday when a family member heard the front door chime at about 4 a.m. New Westminster's major crime unit is now involved in the case and Sgt. Jeff Scott says anyone with das

A meeting between Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and the federal and British Columbia government is expected to take place today.Nationwide rail and road blockades have been popping up for weeks as a show of support for the hereditary chiefs of the First Nation in northwestern B.C., who oppose a natural gas pipeline project cutting across their traditional territory.Chief Na'Moks, who is also known as John Ridsdale, says the meeting scheduled to start this afternoon and continue Friday.It was abruptly cancelled Wednesday afternoon, but Na'Moks says he and the other hereditary chiefs were notif