14.61°C Vancouver

News

CanadaFeb 10, 2023

Ottawa appeals court ruling directing government to help repatriate four men in Syria

The federal government is appealing a judge's declaration that four Canadian men being held in Syrian camps are entitled to Ottawa's help to return home.In a filing today in the Federal Court of Appeal, the government asks that a ruling last month by Federal Court Justice Henry Brown be set aside and be placed on hold while the appeal plays out.In his ruling, Brown directed Ottawa to request repatriation of the men as soon as reasonably possible and provide them with passports or emergency travel documents.Brown said the men are also entitled to have a representative of the federal government
toronto-woman-loses-seven-family-members-in-syria-earthquake
BCFeb 09, 2023

Toronto woman loses seven family members in Syria earthquake

A Toronto woman says she's devastated after seven members of her family were killed in the massive earthquake that hit parts of Syria and Turkey earlier this week.Aya Hammoud, who came to Canada as a refugee in 2017, says her grandfather, his wife, her four cousins and their mother died when the quake destroyed their apartment building in the Syrian city of Harem, near the country's border with Turkey.Hammoud, 24, says rescue teams have recovered the bodies of her grandfather and his wife, but the bodies of her cousins, who were all under the age of 13, and their mother remain under the rubble
CanadaFeb 09, 2023

'Canada may fast-track immigration applications from people in earthquake zone': Sean Fraser

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says Canada may fast-track applications to come to Canada from people in the earthquake zones of Turkey and Syria.Two major earthquakes rocked southwestern Turkey and northwestern Syria in a matter of hours on Monday, destroying thousands of buildings.The confirmed death toll keeps rising, with more than 19,000 people killed and at least another 64,000 injured.Tens of thousands more are homeless in the middle of winter and struggling to access food, water and shelter.Fraser says his department is trying to understand the effect on applicants already in Canada's
keep-canadas-doors-open-to-ukrainians-refugee-groups
CanadaFeb 08, 2023

'Keep Canada's doors open to Ukrainians' : Refugee groups

Humanitarian groups that have been supporting Ukrainian refugees are calling on Ottawa to extend a special immigration program that allows people fleeing Ukraine to temporarily live, work and study in Canada.The program provides Ukrainians and their families with a visa to stay in Canada for up to three years while they figure out their next steps, but applications are due to close on March 31.As of Jan. 29, more than 150,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada since the Russian invasion of their country last year.Four organizations that represent Canadian volunteers, hosts and sponsors have wri
china-conducted-spy-balloon-programme-for-years-pentagon
WorldFeb 08, 2023

'China conducted Spy Balloon programme for years': Pentagon

The Pentagon says the Chinese balloon shot down off the South Carolina coast was part of a large surveillance program that China has been conducting for ``several years.''The Pentagon press secretary says when similar balloons passed over U.S. territory on four occasions during the Trump and Bidenadministrations, the U.S. did not immediately identify them as Chinese surveillance balloons.It was only ``subsequent intelligence analysis'' that allowed the U.S. to confirm they were part of a Chinese spying effort and learn ``a lot more'' about the program.The spokesman, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, refus
vancouvers-turkish-community-continues-to-collect-donations-for-quake-survivors
BCFeb 08, 2023

Vancouver's Turkish community continues to collect donations for quake survivors

Donations are pouring into a Vancouver warehouse for those affected by Monday's devastating earthquake in Turkey, but a volunteer organizer says the country could most benefit from professional search and rescue teams."The next 72 hours is crucial," said Cansoy Gurocak, who was one of dozens of volunteers dealing with donations of food, clothing, tents, sleeping bags, diapers and other goods in a fundraising event that was quickly co-ordinated by the Canadian Turkish Educational and Cultural Foundation.Both Turkey and Syria were rocked Monday by the massive quake, setting off international aid
WorldFeb 07, 2023

Germany, Denmark, Netherlands pledge Ukraine Leopard 1 tanks

Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands have announced plans to provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished Leopard 1 battle tanks. The announcement follows Germany agreeing last month to allow deliveries of the more modern Leopard 2 tanks.It also comes as Kyiv anticipates a new Russian offensive around the anniversary of the invasion. However, military analysts expressed skepticism about the potential impact of such an assault.Meanwhile, Moscow's forces continued to shell Ukrainian towns and cities.Regional authorities reported Tuesday that shelling in the northeastern town of Vovchansk caused
CanadaFeb 07, 2023

Canada announces $10 million to earthquake relief efforts in Turkey & Syria

Ottawa says Canada will contribute $10 million to earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria as part of an initial aid package.International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan says the federal government is conducting a needs assessment for further aid and is also considering deploying the country's disaster assistance response team to help with rescue operations.The death toll of Monday's earthquake has surpassed 5,300 and is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.The powerful 7.8 magnitude quake, which was followed by strong aftershocks, has levelled thousands of buildi
bc-fire-tanker-crashes-in-australia-both-pilots-safe
CanadaFeb 06, 2023

BC fire tanker crashes in Australia, both pilots safe

A Boeing 737 air tanker owned by a British Columbia company has crashed in western Australia while on deployment to a fire. Coulson Aviation, based in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, says in a statement that both pilots walked away from the accident and have been medically assessed. The statement says the company is offering all the support it can to its local and international crews and is grateful to its firefighting and aviation industry colleagues in Australia. Coulson announced last month that it had been awarded a contract to provide its Boeing 737 Flatliner, designated tanker 139,

Just In

ihit-investigating-murder-suicide-in-abbotsford
CanadaJul 02, 2025

IHIT investigating murder-suicide in Abbotsford

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) continues an investigation in Abbotsford where two people were found deceased inside a residence. Background: On the evening of June 30, 2025, at approximately 7:46 p.m., Abbotsford Police patrol officers responded to a dispute at a residence in the 36000 block of McKee Road. Upon arrival, officers entered the residence and discovered two deceased adults. IHIT was called to investigate and continues to work in close partnership with the AbbyPD Major Crime Unit, AbbyPD Forensic Identification Service (FIS) and BC Coroners Service to advance th
former-united-conservative-mlas-resuscitating-albertas-once-dominant-pc-party
AlbertaJul 02, 2025

Former United Conservative MLAs resuscitating Alberta's once-dominant PC Party

Two former members of Alberta's governing United Conservative Party are resuscitating the province's once-dominant Progressive Conservative Party. Former infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie and legislature member Scott Sinclair were booted from caucus earlier this year for pushing back against the Premier Danielle Smith's government and now sit as Independents. Sinclair says the province's two-party system has become too divisive, and they want to galvanize support from Albertans who feel they don't have a political home. Former NDP premier Rachel Notley ended the PC's 44-year
israel-is-ready-to-make-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-for-60-days-trump
WorldJul 02, 2025

Israel is ready to make a ceasefire in Gaza for 60 days: Trump

There may be a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. According to President Donald Trump, Israel is ready to make a ceasefire in Gaza for 60 days. He said that during this time, all parties will try to end the war together. Trump warned Hamas that if it does not accept the agreement, the situation will worsen. Trump said that Qatar and Egypt will send the final proposal of this agreement to Hamas. These two countries have been trying to bring peace for a long time. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also visit Washington next Monday, where he will meet Trump at the White House.
more-flexibility-for-development-charges-will-unlock-more-homes-for-people
BCJul 02, 2025

More flexibility for development charges will unlock more homes for people

More affordable homes will be on the way quicker as the Province takes steps to speed up construction timelines and reduce up-front costs for homebuilders. “We are committed to finding innovative and cost-effective solutions to build housing, so everyone has a fair chance to live in communities where they work and belong,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “These changes are about supporting housing development and easing the financial burden on builders and developers so they can get shovels in the ground faster to help unlock more homes for people in B.C.”
WorldJul 02, 2025

Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted of most serious charges, convicted of prostitution-related offenses

Sean ``Diddy Combs has been convicted of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted on the most serious charges at his New York trial on Wednesday. The mixed result could still put Combs behind bars for up to a decade. Combs was convicted of transporting people across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. But the jury acquitted him of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, which were related to allegations that he forced girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fueled sex marathons with other men. His lawyers said the women were willing participants.