The number of police-reported hate crimes in Canada remained largely unchanged in 2024 following several years of sharp increases, according to new data released by Statistics Canada. The agency reported 4,882 hate crimes in 2024, marking a one per cent increase over the previous year. The latest figures follow a 34 per cent rise between 2022 and 2023, and a broader trend that has seen reported incidents more than double since 2018, according to the federal data agency. Statistics Canada said incidents targeting race or ethnicity increased by eight per cent in 2024. At the same time, police-re

Search and rescue teams were deployed Monday after a passenger boat sank in rough seas off eastern Indonesia, leaving 27 people missing, according to local authorities. Muhammad Rizal, head of the search and rescue office in Palu, Central Sulawesi, said the vessel, identified as Nazila 05, was travelling from Taliabu Island in North Maluku province to the coastal village of Kema when it encountered severe weather late Sunday. According to Rizal, the boat’s captain contacted the owner early Monday to report that the bow had broken after being struck by high waves. Roughly 30 minutes later, th

A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a police-involved shooting during a traffic stop early Sunday in Fort St. John, according to British Columbia’s police watchdog and the RCMP. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said in a statement that the incident occurred shortly after 3 a.m. near 86 Street and 97 Avenue. RCMP officers had stopped a pickup truck after determining one of the two occupants was believed to have outstanding warrants. According to RCMP, one exited the vehicle carrying a weapon, prompting an officer to discharge a firearm. The man, identifi

Police in New Westminster are asking for the public’s help following a hit and run that left a motorcyclist injured Saturday evening. According to a release from the New Westminster Police Department, officers responded to a crash in the 200 block of McBride Boulevard at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Investigators say a white van struck a motorcyclist and then fled the scene. The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with injuries. Police are urging the driver involved to come forward. Investigators are also asking anyone who may have dash camera or nearby CCTV footage from the area around the time

Spain has barred U.S. military aircraft from using its airspace and bases in connection with ongoing operations involving Iran, according to a statement by the country’s defence ministry. Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Spain will not allow its territory or infrastructure to be used for military actions linked to Iran. The restriction applies to U.S. military flights, while commercial and emergency aircraft are exempt. The decision means U.S. aircraft will need to reroute operations that would typically pass through Spanish-controlled airspace or rely on Spanish military facilities. P

Air Canada says chief executive officer Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of this year, according to a company statement. The announcement follows criticism earlier this month over a video message Rousseau delivered after a deadly plane crash in New York that killed two Air Canada Express pilots. The four-minute condolence video, posted online, included only limited French, using the words “bonjour” and “merci.” Prime Minister Mark Carney said the decision to release the message primarily in English showed a “lack of judgment and lack of compassion,” high

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she welcomes a range of views within her United Conservative Party caucus after one of her MLAs publicly supported a petition calling for a referendum on provincial separation. Speaking on her provincewide radio show Saturday, Smith said her government remains committed to a “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” despite comments from Jason Stephan, the MLA for Red Deer-South and her parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs. Stephan wrote in an opinion piece published Friday that he supports a citizen-led petition to trigger a referendum o

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is scheduled to visit China from April 1 to April 4, according to a federal government itinerary, marking a continued effort by Ottawa to re-engage with Beijing on economic issues. The visit follows a recent trip by Prime Minister Mark Carney to Beijing, where discussions focused on easing strained relations between the two countries. Champagne is expected to meet with Chinese finance and banking officials during his stay, although details of specific agreements or outcomes have not been publicly confirmed. According to government offici

A 47-year-old man has been charged following an alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver, according to a Vancouver Police Department release. Police said officers were called at approximately 7:20 p.m. on March 25 to Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Pender streets after a woman reported she had been groped by a stranger. Witnesses also told police the same suspect had allegedly assaulted other people in the area prior to officers arriving. The suspect was located at the scene and arrested without incident, police said. Derek Jason Sangris, 47, has been charged with one count of sexual