WorldDec 12, 2025
Former Bangladeshi PM Khaleda Zia placed on ventilator as health deteriorates
Doctors in Dhaka say former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia has been moved to a ventilator after her oxygen levels dropped sharply earlier this week. The 80-year-old opposition leader has been in Evercare Hospital since November 23 for multiple ongoing health complications, according to her medical team.
Members of the hospital’s medical board reported that Zia began experiencing increased difficulty breathing, prompting the shift to full respiratory support. Physicians say her condition has not shown significant improvement despite weeks of treatment.
Zia, who heads the Bangladesh Na
BCDec 12, 2025
Man charged after altercation linked to protest at B.C. ostrich farm
A man from Ontario has been charged following an altercation connected to a protest at Universal Ostrich Farm in the rural community of Edgewood, where federal inspectors culled more than 300 birds last month amid an avian influenza outbreak. RCMP say officers were called to the area on September 22, when they were alerted to a disturbance at a neighbouring property shortly after arriving to support federal officials.
Mounties report that a 73-year-old woman received medical attention from officers at the scene, and a 60-year-old man was taken into custody. Investigators say the individual has
BCDec 12, 2025
Burnaby RCMP recovers high-value stolen eyewear during search at local residence
Burnaby RCMP say officers uncovered a large cache of stolen designer eyewear while carrying out a search warrant linked to a separate investigation last week. Members of the Investigative Support Team discovered eight boxes holding more than 100 pairs of sunglasses and prescription frames, many still tagged for retail sale at stores across the Lower Mainland.
Police report that some of the price tags helped investigators identify the items as stolen merchandise from multiple businesses. One item carried a price of more than one thousand dollars, and several others were valued in the hundreds,
British ColumbiaDec 12, 2025
Public Dialogue on Memory, Identity, and Institutions Convened on International Human Rights Day
On International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2025, Wanjara Nomad Collections, with participation from the Guru Nanak Jahaz Heritage Society, hosted a three-hour public dialogue titled “Let’s Talk” in Surrey, British Columbia. The program examined questions of memory, identity, and institutional responsibility within Sikh Canadian public life.
Wanjara Nomad Collections organized the dialogue and brought together elders, representatives of gurdwara societies, human rights advocates, scholars, artists, and members of the public. The gathering functioned as a dialogue-based forum that emph
BCDec 11, 2025
Threat prompts brief lockdown at Nanaimo high school
A Nanaimo high school was placed under a precautionary lockdown Wednesday afternoon after school staff were alerted to a threat directed at a student. The incident at Nanaimo District Secondary School began around 2:30 p.m., prompting administrators to activate established safety procedures.
Nanaimo RCMP officers responded immediately and remained on site while classrooms were secured. Police and school officials said the lockdown lasted roughly 30 minutes, and students and staff were released shortly after 3 p.m. once officers determined there was no ongoing risk.
The district says students w
BCDec 11, 2025
Vancouver Police seize loaded rifle and drugs during Downtown Eastside arrest
Vancouver Police say a loaded rifle and several other weapons were taken off the street this week after officers arrested a man suspected of trafficking drugs in the Downtown Eastside. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon near East Hastings and Columbia Street, an area where frontline police and community workers have long raised concerns about violence linked to the drug trade.
According to the Vancouver Police Department, members of the Beat Enforcement Team were on routine patrol around 2:35 p.m. on December 9 when they arrested a 32-year-old Surrey resident outside a residential build
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
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
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