Author: Sam Allcock

TOKYO — Casio Computer Co., Ltd. is expanding the flagship end of its G-SHOCK lineup with the launch of a new MR-G timepiece that blends traditional Japanese craftsmanship with advanced watchmaking technology, the company announced Thursday. The new model, the MRG-B2100D, introduces a three-dimensional latticework dial inspired by kigumi, a centuries-old Japanese woodworking technique that relies on intricate joinery rather than nails or metal fasteners. The dial is finished in hanada-iro, a deep, dignified shade of blue historically associated with Japanese art and textiles. The release underscores Casio’s broader corporate philosophy, which the company describes as being driven by its…

Mission Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department has returned to full 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operations, marking a key step in restoring consistent access to urgent care for residents of Mission and surrounding communities. Effective 8:00 a.m. today, the Fraser Health Authority confirmed that round-the-clock emergency coverage has resumed at the hospital following a period of reduced hours linked to physician staffing challenges. The restoration of full service is intended to improve continuity of care and reduce pressure on neighbouring emergency departments across the Fraser Valley. Emergency departments play a critical role in regional health systems, particularly in fast-growing communities such as Mission, where…

The Ontario government has approved plans for a new high-voltage underwater electricity transmission line into Toronto, a project it says is essential to sustaining economic growth, enabling housing construction and ensuring reliable power as demand in the city accelerates over the coming decades. The decision follows a recommendation from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and marks the province’s first IESO-led competitive transmission procurement process. The proposed line would run underwater from near the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station to Toronto’s downtown core and eastern areas, delivering up to 900 megawatts of clean, reliable electricity. Provincial officials say that capacity will…

Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a formal statement Tuesday recognizing Orthodox Christmas, underscoring the province’s cultural diversity and the contributions of Orthodox Christian communities to Ontario’s social and economic life. The message, released January 7 by the Premier’s Office, comes as Orthodox Christians across Ontario and around the world mark Christmas according to the Julian calendar. The observance, which falls later than Christmas celebrations in Western Christian traditions, is a significant religious and cultural event for millions of people. “today, many people across Ontario are coming together to celebrate Orthodox Christmas. This festive occasion honours the birth of Jesus Christ…

Farmworker advocates, environmental organizations and public health groups have taken the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to court over its approval of a new pesticide containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), arguing the regulator failed to follow its own cancer risk assessment standards and underestimated potential threats to human health. On December 30, 2025, Farmworker Justice, Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network North America, and the Center for Food Safety filed a legal challenge in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn the EPA’s approval of five pesticide products containing the fungicide cyclobutrifluram. The contested approvals, granted by the Environmental…

Moscow’s transport authority ended 2025 with a comprehensive modernization of its ticketing system, marking a pivotal year in the city’s push toward digital fare payments, domestically produced infrastructure and more inclusive passenger services. From January through December, Moscow Transport implemented a large-scale upgrade program across the capital’s transit network. The initiative focused on three core priorities: replacing legacy equipment with Russian-made technology, expanding biometric payment options, and introducing virtual solutions for students and other privileged passenger categories. The most significant development was the full rollout of biometric fare payment across the rapid transit system. By the end of the year,…

SURREY, B.C. — Health and road safety officials in Metro Vancouver are urging drivers and pedestrians to take extra precautions this winter as colder temperatures, reduced daylight and icy conditions contribute to a sharp increase in pedestrian-involved collisions across the Lower Mainland. In a public service announcement issued Tuesday, Fraser Health warned that winter months consistently bring higher risks on local roads, particularly for people walking near busy intersections and arterial routes. “The number of motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians in the winter months drastically increases compared to the summer months in the Lower Mainland,” said Dr. Emily Newhouse, Fraser…

CALGARY — As Canada’s bobsleigh team enters a critical Olympic year, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton is turning the camera inward with the launch of Redemption Run, a three-part documentary series that chronicles the rebuilding of the national bobsleigh program after a period of upheaval both on and off the ice. The series, which begins streaming Friday, Jan. 23 on CBC Gem, offers an unfiltered look at the pressures of high-performance sport and the organizational reset that followed cultural challenges within the program. The documentary will also air on CBC TV on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. (7:30 NT), with back-to-back…

WHITBY, Ont. — The Ontario government is committing more than $26 million to expand training capacity in the long-term care sector, a move aimed at addressing persistent staffing pressures while allowing students to study and work closer to home. The funding, announced Tuesday by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care, will support the training of nearly 3,000 new frontline workers, including personal support workers (PSWs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs), while also providing new professional development opportunities for staff already working in long-term care homes. “Our government continues to make historic investments to train more staff in long-term care,” said…

Wacken Metal Battle Canada has announced the cities, dates and early lineup details for its 2026 national competition, setting the stage for a cross-country series of live music battles that will send one independent Canadian metal band to perform at Germany’s Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s largest and most influential heavy metal festivals. The 2026 edition of the competition will feature qualifying rounds and regional finals in multiple Canadian markets, including Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Okanagan, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. The national final is scheduled to take place in Montreal on May 9, 2026, where…