Canada’s military ombudsman is demanding the federal Liberal government immediately grant his office true independence and oversight powers over the Canadian Armed Forces.Ombudsman Greg Lick says numerous scandals and crises over the past 30-plus years have resulted in calls for external oversight of Canada’s military to protect troops and others.That includes the current sexual misconduct scandal that is ripping through the senior ranks.While governments and leaders within the Armed Forces and Defence Department have publicly agreed to such recommendations each time, Lick alleges such ag

Responding to Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait's threat about teaching a lesson to the central government, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kisan Morcha president Rajkumar Chahar on Tuesday said the farmer leader has nothing to do with farmers and was constantly spreading untruth about the three agriculture laws."Rakesh Tikait ji is constantly presenting a bunch of lies in front of the public. He himself knows this. He is constantly lying and trying to mislead people," Chahar said. The BJP leader also alleged that Tikait was letting himself be used politically by the Congress and t

India and Fiji on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.The agreement was signed by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Fiji's Minister of Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Dr Mahendra Reddy during a virtual meeting, the Government of India said in a statement. India's Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture will be the Executing Agencies from respective sides.The signing of this MoU today will prove to be a milestone in further strengthening the multi-facete

British Columbia is reporting a one-day total of COVID-19 cases not seen since last August, but health officials are encouraging more people to get vaccinated as the virus continues to circulate in the province and neighbouring jurisdictions. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say 45 cases were recorded on Monday, part of the 229 cases B.C. has had over the last three days. Three more people have died of COVID-19, for a total of 1,743 deaths in the province, which currently has 1,204 active cases of the virus. Dr. Henry and Dix say in a joint news releas

The RCMP says 17 vehicles have been in Campbell River. Police say the vehicles were marked with blue-grey forestry marking paint early yesterday. The Mounties say there have been a series of what they describe as ``pointless acts of vandalism'' in central and southern parts of the city in recent weeks. They say suspects responsible for broken fences, windows and some tail lights range in age from the young teens to the early 20's but it's too early to provide an age range for the most recent case of vandalism. Campbell River RCMP on Twitter: Campbell River RCMP investigating numerous mischief

A Catholic Church on the Penticton Indian Band and a Catholic Church on the Osoyoos Indian Band have been destroyed in overnight fires. On June 21, 2021 at 1:22 a.m., a Penticton RCMP officer was on patrol when he observed fire coming from the Sacred Heart Church on Green Mountain Road. By the time the officer arrived on scene the church was fully engulfed. At 3:10 a.m., Oliver RCMP were notified St. Gregory’s Church on Nk’mip Road was burning. Both churches burned to the ground and police are treating the fires as suspicious. Investigators have and continue to liaise with both the Pentic

Premier John Horgan is marking National Indigenous Peoples Day by celebrating First Nation communities while recognizing systemic racism continues to be a reality for them. A statement from Horgan and Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Murray Rankin says they honour the leadership, resilience and strength of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. But the statement says B.C. must also recognize the "systemic racism, discrimination and intergenerational trauma Indigenous Peoples have experienced and continue to experience." A release from the Union of British Columbia Indian Chief

Special weather statements are in effect for eastern and inland Vancouver Island and the entire inner south coast as Environment Canada warns of hot, dry conditions. The weather office says temperatures will remain five to 10 degrees above seasonal normal all week. Although conditions will cool slightly on Wednesday before the heat returns for the weekend. Several heat records were broken in southern BC yesterday. Environment Canada says it was 28.7 degrees in White Rock, smashing the previous record of 27.2 for the day set 83 years ago, while the mercury reached 32.5 in the Hope area and 30.

Denis Shapovalov says he won't compete for Canada at the Tokyo Olympics. The 22-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., says in a Twitter post he made the decision for safety reasons ``due to the current situation.'' Opposition within Japan to holding the games has been high. The country has been dealing with a high number of COVID-19 cases and a low vaccination rate. Shapovalov is the top-ranked Canadian on the ATP Tour at No. 12. He withdrew from the French Open at the end of May, saying on social media that his shoulder had been bothering him and he needed to rest. Earlier that month, Shapovalo