Canadians desperate to hear from families in Iran as violence escalates and routes out are limited
CBC
Iranian-Canadians are trying desperately to get in touch with friends and family in Iran as missiles fall and routes out of the country are limited.
Mina Morshed, who lives in Toronto, says her parents in Tehran are sick and unable to leave.
In a brief phone conversation Friday, her mother told her the bombing had started and had to hang up. Morshed wasn't able to reach her family members on Wednesday.
"I'm very upset and worried about them," she told CBC News Network.
Iran's communications ministry says it has restricted internet access to defend against Israeli cyberattacks amid ongoing violence between the two countries, making contact even more difficult.
Morshed says she tries not to pass her stress onto her kids, but she says they're also becoming worried and asking what will happen if their grandma and grandpa die.
"I explained, 'Don't worry, they're strong enough. They'll try to protect themselves,' " she said.
Israel launched the first strikes of an air campaign against Iran last week, kicking off an exchange of missile fire between the two countries.
A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 585 people, including 239 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded.
Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds.
Global Affairs Canada says more than 4,000 Canadians were registered as being in Iran as of Tuesday evening, with more than 6,600 Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Because registration is voluntary, these numbers are likely an undercount.
Both Iran and Israel have suspended outgoing flights.
Thousands have fled Tehran by car, spending hours in gridlocked traffic amid warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump to immediately evacuate the city of 10 million.
Many are stuck there — including those who are elderly and others who can't afford to leave.
The federal government is stoking Quebec separatism by walking back its climate commitments — including in its recent deal with Alberta — Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says.
Four more Alberta MLAs are facing recall petitions organized by their constituents, including the first NDP representative to be caught in the province's ongoing wave of recall efforts.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.