29 new COVID-19 cases in B.C., cases related to Abbotsford berry packing plant rise to 59

People in Canada and around the world are preparing to watch the launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which is set to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, according to NASA mission briefings. The crew includes Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, 50, of London, Ont., who will serve as mission specialist. The Canadian Space Agency says Hansen is expected to become the first non-American astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit. Hansen will fly alongside NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch. The mission is part of NASA’s Artemis p

The Surrey Police Service has taken full responsibility for policing in Cloverdale as of Friday, marking the end of more than 75 years of service by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the area. The transition applies across the Cloverdale district, from 196 Street east to the borders of Fleetwood and Newton, and from the Fraser River south to 48 Avenue. Policing in Whalley and City Centre, Newton, and South Surrey had already been transferred to the municipal force in earlier phases. The RCMP will continue operating in Guildford on an interim basis until the city’s full policing transition

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is set to join multi-nation talks hosted by the United Kingdom on Thursday aimed at identifying diplomatic options to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade corridor disrupted by the ongoing Iran conflict. Anand said Canada is prepared to support efforts to secure the strait once a ceasefire is in place, though she indicated the federal government has not yet determined what specific measures it would take. According to her office, the discussions will focus on restoring safe passage for commercial shipping amid rising tensions in the region. The c

A new public opinion survey suggests a narrowing political contest in British Columbia, with the BC Conservatives slightly ahead of the governing NDP, according to findings released by the Angus Reid Institute. The poll indicates that if an election were held today, 44 per cent of decided voters would support the Conservatives, compared with 42 per cent for the NDP. The results point to a potential shift in voter sentiment in a province where the NDP, led by Premier David Eby, currently holds power. According to the Angus Reid report, one factor contributing to the shift is voter concern over

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the federal government to cancel a proposed high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City, describing the նախագproject as a costly and disruptive initiative. Speaking to reporters in Peterborough, Ont., on Tuesday, Poilievre said the estimated $90 billion plan would not deliver value for taxpayers. He alleged the project would negatively affect farmland and private property along the proposed corridor, though detailed route impacts have not been independently verified. Poilievre also questioned the accessibility of the service, sta