Southern B.C. remains on “red alert” as the first of back-to-back storms began drenching the already flood-weary part of the province Saturday. Meanwhile, it’s estimated that the bill for flooded farms in B.C. could cost billions of dollars. On COVID-19: the U.K., Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have all confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, while the U.S. is imposing travel restrictions from eight southern African countries. And, as fears grow over fighting in the year-long civil war in Ethiopia, the federal government is urging all Canadians in the country to leave immediately.