The Alberta government is expanding its support for Ukrainians coming to the province from the war-ravaged country. Premier Jason Kenney says there's a special, deep connection between Alberta and Ukraine. He says starting July 25, Ukrainian evacuees arriving in the province would be eligible for temporary financial assistance for basic living expenses _ such as food, clothing and rent _ for up to six months. He says those arriving later this month would also be able to apply for child care support for the first six months. Kenney says the expanded support is key for people, particularly women

Canadian airlines and airports claimed top spots in flight delays over the July long weekend, notching more than nearly any other around the world. Air Canada ranked No. 1 in delays on Saturday and Sunday as two-thirds of its flights – 717 trips in total – took off late, according to tracking service FlightAware. It was more than 14 percentage points above the three carriers tied for second place. Jazz Aviation – a Halifax-based company that provides regional service for Air Canada – and the lower-cost Air Canada Rouge both saw 53 per cent of flights delayed, putting them in the No. 2

As many as six people were killed and 24 were hospitalized in a shooting at the July 4th parade route in north suburban Highland Park in Illinois. All individuals are advised to shelter in place. Law enforcement agencies are searching for the suspect; evidence of a firearm has been recovered. Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, erupted in panic when shots were fired about 10 minutes after the parade kicked off, according to media reports. At least 25 shots were fired at an Illinois Fourth of July parade; a reporter saw five people bloodied. Source

Hundreds of people gathered in Calgary and Edmonton yesterday to support women who are affected by the U-S Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protection for abortion. Rallies were held at the Alberta Legislature grounds in the capital city and at a march in Calgary. The group in Calgary walked from Harley Hotchkiss Gardens to Olympic Plaza, chanting ``my body, my choice'' and holding up signs about a woman's right to choose. On June 24th, the U-S Supreme Court overturned the historic Roe versus Wade case, a decision from 1973 that provided women the constitutional right to abortion

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has indicated his United Conservative government will reveal details next week about additional support to help people deal with high inflation. Earlier this week when Finance Minister Jason Nixon announced a $3.9 billion surplus at the end of the 2021-22 fiscal year ending March 31, Nixon said one of the goals was to examine further ways to help Albertans get through the current stretch of rising prices.Kenney said there will be an announcement about more support, which he believed would come this week.

In a bid to provide relief to the people of Maharashtra from skyrocketing fuel prices, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday announced that the state government will reduce value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel. A decision to reduce VAT on fuel will be taken in the state Cabinet, Shinde informed the Legislative House, while replying to a debate after he won the floor test. Addressing a press conference today after attending today's Assembly session, Shinde said, "We will cut VAT on petroleum to provide relief to the people of Maharashtra. When the Central government comes wit

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob on Monday said that she had tested positive for COVID-19 with mild flu-like symptoms. Yacob confirmed on her Facebook post that she was just tested positive for COVID-19 with mild flu-like symptoms, reported Xinhua. "Thankfully, I have been vaccinated and boosted. I hope to recover soon and am sorry to have to miss the events this week," she stated in a Facebook post. Also on Monday evening, Singapore's Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin also said that he was tested positive for COVID-19. "All good things must come to an end. My COVID-free days are over,"

A school south of Edmonton is among 10 schools from around the world shortlisted for the World's Best School Prize for Environmental Action contest. Lacombe Composite High School is the only school in North America to be nominated. The school has 32 solar panels that produce up to four per cent of the school's electricity, and students also replaced a portable classroom with a greenhouse that operates solely with renewable energy. Five winners of the contest are to be announced in the fall and a prize of about 322-thousand dollars will be shared.

Police in Calgary say a man faces 25 charges after a stolen vehicle dragged a firefighter while it was driving away from a crash on Saturday. The firefighter was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Prior to being arrested, the suspect is also alleged to have rammed a peace officer's vehicle during an attempted stop outside of Calgary. Thirty-five-year-old Jakub Matthew Kornacki will appear in court July 18th. The suspect has been accused of damaging an Esso gas station in Strathmore, Alta., and a railway crossing barrier while trying to flee the scene.