8.55°C Vancouver

News

surrey-police-arrest-driver-after-failing-to-stop-at-b-c-border-crossing
CanadaJan 06, 2025

Surrey Police arrest driver after failing to stop at B.C. border crossing

Police in Surrey, B.C., say they arrested the driver of a vehicle with Washington state licence plates who failed to stop at the Pacific Highway border crossing Sunday. The Surrey Police Service says the Canada Border Services Agency flagged a white pickup truck that drove through the border around 8:45 a.m. Surrey police say the truck was spotted on King George Boulevard a short time later "driving erratically" and veering into oncoming traffic. The police service says the driver, who was alone at the wheel, was arrested, and unspecified vehicles were damaged but no one was injured. Surrey po
canada-halts-new-permanent-residence-applications-for-parents-grandparents-in-2025
CanadaJan 06, 2025

Canada halts new permanent residence applications for parents, grandparents in 2025

Canada in 2025 will stop accepting new applications for permanent residence under the Parents and Grandparents sponsorship programme. IRCC has said they will only process family sponsorship applications submitted in 2024 under the Parents and Grandparents Program. For 2025, IRCC aims to process no more than 15,000 sponsorship applications. For those Canadian citizens and permanent residents wanting their parents and grandparents to stay longer in Canada, the super visa option remains available, permitting visits lasting up to five years per stay. The Parents and Grandparents Program enables C
pope-francis-has-named-the-first-woman-to-head-a-major-vatican-office
WorldJan 06, 2025

Pope Francis has named the first woman to head a major Vatican office

Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, appointing an Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, to become prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church's religious orders. The appointment marks a major step in Francis’ aim to givewomen more leadership rolesin governing the church. While women have been named to No. 2 spots in some Vatican offices, never before has a woman been named prefect of a dicastery or congregation of the Holy See Curia, the central governing organ of the Catholic Church. The historic nature of Brambilla’s appointm
most-recent-edmonton-cold-weather-response-ends-monday
CanadaJan 06, 2025

Most-recent Edmonton cold weather response ends Monday

With temperatures set to rise, the City of Edmonton says it will deactivate its extreme weather response on Monday at 9 a-m. The city will stop running its expanded overnight shuttle service and overnight emergency shelter this week. The extreme weather response was activated on December 30th, due to the extreme cold.
edmonton-police-charge-man-in-partners-homicide-after-woman-found-dead-on-riverbank
CanadaJan 06, 2025

Edmonton police charge man in partner's homicide after woman found dead on riverbank

Edmonton Police have laid charges after a woman was found dead on a bank of the North Saskatchewan River last week. In a news release, police say a 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged with second degree murder. The man and the victim were known to each other, the release says. The victim has been identified as 43-year-old Ashley Burke. Police say her death is considered an intimate partner homicide. They say they will continue to withhold the cause of death for investigative purposes.
trudeau-expected-to-step-down-this-week-globe-and-mail-reports
CanadaJan 06, 2025

Trudeau expected to step down this week, Globe and Mail reports

The Globe and Mail is reporting that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce he is stepping down as Liberal party leader as early as Monday. Trudeau has faced mounting calls for his resignation from MPs in his caucus as public opinion polls have continued to put the governing Liberals trailing far behind the Conservatives. The Globe report says three sources, who weren't authorized to speak about the matter publicly, did not know a specific timeline but they expected Trudeau would announce his plans before a national caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The Canadian Press has
person-killed-after-being-struck-by-train-in-chilliwack-b-c
BCJan 03, 2025

Person killed after being struck by train in Chilliwack, B.C.

Mounties in Chilliwack, B.C., say a person was struck and killed by a train near an overpass in the city early this morning. They say officers responded to a report of a pedestrian struck near the Yale Road Overpass and McIntosh Drive around 3:19 a.m. Police say first responders at the scene found the body and have determined the victim was female. They say she has not yet been identified. The RCMP say the incident does not appear to be suspicious, but police are working to figure out who she was. They say the investigation is also being done in partnership with the BC Coroners Service.
john-rustad-criticizes-premier-david-ebys-government-over-health-services
BCJan 03, 2025

John Rustad Criticizes Premier David Eby's Government Over Health Services

B.C. Conservative Party leader John Rustad has criticized Premier David Eby's government for the state of health care in the province. Rustad highlighted a recent incident at a Victoria hospital where a mother waited 14 hours in the emergency room for her sick child, who had a high fever. He called the situation unacceptable and accused Eby's government of prioritizing its own interests over addressing the public's needs. Rustad claimed that B.C.'s health services have deteriorated to an alarming level and emphasized the need for urgent, major reforms to improve the system.
children-to-require-parental-consent-for-social-media-accounts-in-india
IndiaJan 03, 2025

Children to Require Parental Consent for Social Media Accounts in India

In India, children under 18 will soon need parental consent to create social media accounts. On Friday, PM Narendra Modi's government unveiled a draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which includes this provision. The draft also mandates that companies obtain government approval before transferring personal data outside India. However, it does not specify penalties for non-compliance with the rules. The government has invited public feedback on the proposed regulations. A final decision will be made after February 18, incorporating the views of citizens.

Just In

donald-trump-unveils-new-gold-card-immigration-program
WorldDec 11, 2025

Donald Trump unveils new ‘Gold Card’ immigration program

Former United States president Donald Trump announced on Thursday the launch of a new immigration initiative he calls the Gold Card, opening the application process for the program. Under the plan, individuals can apply for the Gold Card at a fee of US$1 million, while companies wishing to secure a card for executives or employees would pay US$2 million. Trump’s campaign says cardholders would receive a U.S. passport, full voting rights and the same benefits enjoyed by other American citizens. Trump framed the Gold Card as part of his broader “America First” policy agenda, asserting the
flooding-prompts-wider-evacuations-and-highway-closures-across-southern-b-c
BCDec 11, 2025

Flooding prompts wider evacuations and highway closures across southern B.C.

Communities across southern British Columbia are facing new evacuation orders and travel disruptions after heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides that severed key routes between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Provincial officials say multiple highways, including the Coquihalla and Highways 1, 3, 5 and 11, remain shut as crews assess washouts and unstable slopes. The closure of Highway 11 has also halted access to the Sumas border crossing. In Abbotsford, 371 properties on the Sumas Prairie were ordered evacuated overnight as waters linked to the overflowing Nooksack River conti
cra-plans-major-hiring-push-to-boost-call-centre-capacity-ahead-of-tax-season
CanadaDec 11, 2025

CRA plans major hiring push to boost call centre capacity ahead of tax season

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age
house-of-commons-prepares-to-adjourn-for-six-week-winter-break-as-key-bills-remain-unfinished
CanadaDec 11, 2025

House of Commons prepares to adjourn for six-week winter break as key bills remain unfinished

Members of Parliament are expected to wrap up the fall sitting as early as Thursday, ending the session ahead of the scheduled Friday adjournment and beginning a six-week winter break. MPs are due to return to the House on January 26, leaving several major pieces of government legislation still awaiting final approval. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said the minority Liberal government considers the fall session productive, noting progress on budget and public-safety bills that have not yet cleared Parliament. This sitting was the first full session under Prime Minister Mark Carney,
BCDec 11, 2025

Two Maple Ridge residents sentenced to five years for 2023 killing of Surinderjit Singh

Two people have been sentenced to five years in prison for the 2023 killing of Maple Ridge resident Surinderjit “Jack” Singh. The case, which involved extensive work by homicide investigators and local RCMP, concluded last week with a pair of manslaughter convictions. Police were called to the 21800 block of 122 Avenue on the morning of March 4, 2023, where officers found the 55-year-old victim deceased at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team took charge of the file, working with Ridge Meadows RCMP, forensic specialists, and the BC Coroners Service. Investigators later ide