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punjab-cm-capt-amarinder-singh-launches-covid-care-whatsapp-chatbot
IndiaMay 20, 2021

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh launches COVID care WhatsApp chatbot

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday launched a COVID Care WhatsApp chatbot for self-care during home isolation, as a part of Mission Fateh.This WhatsApp chatbot will also have information on bed availability, vaccine centres, and more.Available in three languages- English, Punjabi, and Hindi, this chatbot would help Covid patients in home isolation to be monitored by experts, who would advise patients on the course of treatment based on their vital input in the chatbot. Chairing a high-level virtual meeting on the COVID situation of the state, the Chief Minister also revi
b-c-reports-521-covid-19-cases-and-8-deaths
BCMay 20, 2021

B.C. reports 521 COVID-19 cases and 8 deaths

The British Columbia government is preparing to vaccinate youth aged 12 to 17 and will roll out its plan shortly. Premier John Horgan is joining Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry for the COVID-19 news conference on Thursday. A joint statement Wednesday says young people can register to receive their vaccine online and details on how they will be vaccinated will come on Thursday. The statement also says anyone who was immunized before April 15, prior to the online system launching, will need to register because while the system has their vaccine informat
drug-stash-found-in-rectum-highlights-the-reality-of-gang-life
BCMay 19, 2021

Drug stash found in rectum highlights the reality of gang life

A drug-filled dialer-bag pulled from the rectum of a drug trafficker provides Surrey RCMP with an opportunity to educate would-be gang associates of the reality of the gang lifestyle.On May 14, 2021 at 7:30 pm, officers from the Surrey RCMP Community Response Unit conducted a traffic stop with a rental vehicle in the area of 15200-block of 16 Avenue, to investigate an offence under the BC Motor Vehicle Act. During their interaction with the driver, officers observed evidence consistent with drug trafficking. The male driver and his passenger were arrested for possession for the purposes of tra
BCMay 19, 2021

Annual inflation rate in April rises to highest in nearly a decade

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are intruding into inflation calculations as Statistics Canada says the cost of living rose to its highest level in nearly a decade in April. Economists blame a record increase in the price of gasoline last month, compared with last April when gas prices plunged due to the pandemic, saying the jump pushed Canada's inflation rate up to 3.4 per cent from its 2.2 per cent setting in March. When compared with last April, gas prices soared 62.5 per cent, but number crunchers say if gas were removed from the equation, the national inflation rate would be 1.9 per
surrey-rcmp-release-picture-of-22-year-old-member-of-brothers-keepers-gang
BCMay 19, 2021

Surrey RCMP release picture of 22 year old member of Brother's Keepers gang

The latest person to be outed by police as a member of a Metro Vancouver-area gang is 22-year-old Naseem Mohammed. Surrey RCMP say Mohammed is a member of the Brother's Keepers gang and is wanted on multiple warrants but police don't know where he is and say he may have entered the United States illegally. In an effort to slow Metro Vancouver's deadly gang conflict, police have begun releasing photos of people they say are gang members who could be targeted by rival gangs putting anyone near them at risk. Vancouver police released six photos on Monday and yesterday the region's integrated gan
vpd-investigates-spike-in-thefts-from-construction-sites
BCMay 19, 2021

VPD investigates spike in thefts from construction sites

Vancouver Police are encouraging construction companies to take extra precautions to prevent crime, following a spike in thefts on the city’s west side. "As lumber prices have continued to rise, VPD has seen a significant increase in break and enters to construction sites this year," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "In many cases, the thieves have made off with thousands of dollars in plywood and other building materials. We’re encouraging site managers to take precautions to avoid future thefts." The most recent theft was reported May 10 at a construction site in Kerrisdale, when three
man-arrested-after-stabbing-at-a-victoria-mall
BCMay 19, 2021

Man arrested after stabbing at a VIctoria mall

Patrol officers arrested a man after he stabbed a loss prevention officer (LPO) at a Victoria mall yesterday evening.Shortly before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18th, Patrol officers were called to a mall in the 1600-block of Hillside Avenue for a report that an LPO was in a struggle with a theft suspect. As officers were on their way to the call they learned that the LPO had been stabbed by the suspect while apprehending him for theft. After apprehending the suspect, the LPO recognized the extent of his injuries and applied a makeshift tourniquet on himself.Officers arrived and took custody of the
putin-xi-initiate-projects-in-show-of-warming-ties
WorldMay 19, 2021

Putin, Xi initiate projects in show of warming ties

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have joined in a videoconference to initiate a series of nuclear energy projects, an event intended to display warming ties between two nations that are the chief geopolitical rivals to the United States. Chinese state media showed Xi and Putin greeting each other via video link and announcing the start of construction of Russia-designed reactors at two Chinese nuclear power plants. China has being seeking to reduce its reliance on coal for electricity, but the political aspects of the event were as important as the economic
cyclone-tauktae-pm-modi-conducts-aerial-survey-of-affected-areas-of-gujarat-diu
IndiaMay 19, 2021

Cyclone Tauktae: PM Modi conducts aerial survey of affected areas of Gujarat, Diu

A day after Cyclone Tauktae ravaged parts of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas. The PM is conducting aerial survey of areas such as Una, Diu, Jafarabad, and Mahuva today. He will also hold a review meeting in Ahmedabad later. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani accompanied PM Modi. Cyclone Tauktae hit several Indian coastal areas, including Gujarat, Mumbai, Diu and Goa.

Just In

charges-approved-after-alleged-sexual-assault-in-downtown-vancouver
BCMar 27, 2026

Charges approved after alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver

A 47-year-old man has been charged following an alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver, according to a Vancouver Police Department release. Police said officers were called at approximately 7:20 p.m. on March 25 to Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Pender streets after a woman reported she had been groped by a stranger. Witnesses also told police the same suspect had allegedly assaulted other people in the area prior to officers arriving. The suspect was located at the scene and arrested without incident, police said. Derek Jason Sangris, 47, has been charged with one count of sexual
bolsonaro-moved-to-house-arrest-after-hospital-discharge-in-brazil
WorldMar 27, 2026

Bolsonaro moved to house arrest after hospital discharge in Brazil

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been released from hospital in Brasília and will continue serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest, following a ruling by the country’s top court. According to a decision by the Supreme Federal Court earlier this week, Bolsonaro was granted permission to serve his sentence at home due to declining health. The court said the arrangement is subject to review within 90 days. Bolsonaro was discharged Friday morning from DF Star hospital in the capital. He then travelled to his residence in the Jardim Botânico neighbourhood, where he lives wit
punjab-and-haryana-high-court-orders-fresh-cross-examination-in-majithia-defamation-case
IndiaMar 27, 2026

Punjab and Haryana High Court orders fresh cross-examination in Majithia defamation case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a fresh cross-examination in a defamation case filed by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia against Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, reviving proceedings in a matter dating back to 2016. According to court proceedings, the High Court allowed a petition filed by Sanjay Singh and directed that the case be revisited for cross-examination. The defamation complaint was originally filed by Majithia in a Ludhiana court in January 2016. The case relates to allegations made during a political rally in Moga, where Singh is accused of referring t
abbotsford-police-issue-public-safety-notice-ahead-of-offenders-release
BCMar 27, 2026

Abbotsford police issue public safety notice ahead of offender’s release

The Abbotsford Police Department says a 46-year-old man with a history of violent sexual offences is scheduled to be released into the community later this month under strict conditions. According to an Abbotsford Police Department news release, Stephen Bradley Ewing is set to be released from William Head Institution on March 30 and is expected to reside in the Abbotsford area. Police say Ewing has prior convictions from 2021 and 2023, including sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, and overcoming resistance by choking. The release also states that at least one offence involved
AlbertaMar 27, 2026

Alberta man sentenced to 17 years in U.S. prison in Florida child exploitation sting

A Red Deer, Alta., man has been sentenced to 17 years in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty in a child exploitation sting tied to a planned trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. According to U.S. court documents, James Hjelmeland, 31, pleaded guilty in November to attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material. The case stems from an undercover operation involving a Florida law enforcement officer. Court records state Hjelmeland began communicating online with a detective who was posing as the parent of a 12-year-old girl. The officer, acting in