Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the death toll from Israeli air and ground attacks since March 2 has risen to nearly 900 as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 886 people have been killed and 2,141 others injured during Israeli strikes across parts of Lebanon over the past two weeks. The ministry said the attacks have also affected the country’s health-care system. Medical teams responding to emergencies were among those hit during the strikes. At least 38 health workers have been killed and another 69 injured w

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over a homicide investigation following a fatal shooting early Saturday at a residence in Surrey. According to an IHIT news release, officers with the Surrey Police Service responded at about 1:40 a.m. to reports of shots fired inside a home in the 13900 block of Laurel Drive. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said officers immediately provided first aid until paramedics with BC Emergency Health Services arrived. The man was later pronounced dead at the scene. A man was arrested at the residence an

The federal government says it will invest $200 million over the next decade to secure access to a Canadian-owned satellite launch pad in Nova Scotia, part of a broader effort to build domestic space and defence capabilities. Defence Minister David McGuinty announced the initiative Monday at a laboratory operated by the Canadian Space Agency in Ottawa. The funding will be used to lease a launch pad near Canso that Ottawa says will form the foundation for a future Canadian spaceport. Canada currently relies on other countries, primarily the United States, to send satellites into orbit because i

Environment Canada says parts of British Columbia are expected to see heavy rain, strong winds and periods of snow this week as an atmospheric river approaches the coast. The federal forecaster says Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound could receive up to 150 millimetres of rain by Wednesday, with prolonged heavy rainfall forecast to begin early this week. According to Environment Canada weather warnings, some areas could also see rain mixed with snow, raising concerns about rising river levels and localized flooding. Environment Canada has issued yellow weather warnings indicati

An 81-year-old man from Port Alberni has been charged with second-degree murder after a fatal shooting at a trailer park on Vancouver Island Friday night. According to a statement from the B.C. RCMP, Port Alberni RCMP officers were called to a report of a shooting at about 9 p.m. Officers who arrived at the scene found three men, including one who had suffered a gunshot wound. Police say the injured man died at the scene. His identity has not been released. The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit has taken conduct of the investigation and is working with Port Alberni RCMP. In a statem

Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand, is travelling to Turkey and the United Kingdom this week for meetings focused on Middle East developments and strengthening bilateral ties. According to a statement from Global Affairs Canada, Anand is scheduled to meet with Turkish officials, including the country’s energy and foreign ministers, to discuss regional security and diplomatic cooperation. The discussions are also expected to include possible border crossing options for Canadian citizens seeking to leave Iran. During her stop in London, Anand will participate in the Chatham House

A 27-year-old woman is dead after a head-on collision on Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton early Saturday, according to police. The Edmonton Police Service says the woman was driving west in an eastbound lane of the expressway when her vehicle collided with another vehicle. Police said the crash occurred on Anthony Henday Drive, one of the city’s major ring-road routes. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released her name. The 37-year-old man driving the other vehicle was taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Police have not said what led

Canada’s annual inflation rate slowed to 1.8 per cent in February, down from 2.3 per cent in January, according to new data released Monday by Statistics Canada. The federal statistics agency reported the 0.5 percentage point drop in the consumer price index on a year-over-year basis. The figures suggest price pressures eased compared with the previous month. Economists, however, say the latest data may not fully reflect the impact of rising global tensions in the Middle East, which have pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks. The full effect of those increases may appear in future inflati

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Monday, where the two leaders discussed international security issues and cooperation on intelligence sharing. The meeting took place at 10 Downing Street, the official residence and office of the British prime minister. According to statements from the leaders, Canada and the United Kingdom agreed to continue working closely together on global challenges, including security and intelligence coordination. Carney said the current global environment has become increasingly complex and requires st