The entire town of Oliver is on evacuation alert and nearly 200 properties between Oliver and Osoyoos are evacuated as a new wildfire threatens parts of the south Okanagan. The Inkaneep Creek blaze broke out yesterday afternoon and charred seven square kilometres of bush within hours, prompting evacuation orders from both the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. The regional district has also issued a state of local emergency covering Oliver and the evacuated areas and ``strongly advises'' residents currently on alert to be ready to leave on very short notice

Evacuation orders have been lifted for all but one building in Kelowna, B.C., as crews have dismantled what remained of a crane that collapsed, killing five people. A statement issued by Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says residents and businesses at six addresses can return. It says site engineers and utility inspectors have completed infrastructure and safety inspections but property owners are urged to do their own checks to ensure customers and residents are safe as they go back. The statement says another building directly across the lane from the construction site where the crane

First Nations with former Indian Residential School and Indian Hospital sites in or near their communities can now access the B.C. residential school response fund, with the added support of two newly appointed First Nations liaisons."I acknowledge the trauma that Indigenous peoples continue to experience as a result of the colonial legacy of residential schools, and I grieve with the families and communities as we grapple with recent findings and the findings yet to come," said Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. "We know it's going to take time, technical reso

58% of respondents to an online survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies say travellers should be required to show a document that proves they are immunized against COVID-19. The poll suggests 48 per cent of Canadians support the total reopening of the Canada-US border at the end of August. Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque says Canadians are divided on the issues of requiring travellers to show proof of vaccination and re-opening the borders. The online poll of 1,529 adult Canadians was carried out July 16th to 18th, and it cannot be assigned a margin of error

The RCMP says it has notified the Independent Investigations Office of BC after someone was taken to hospital with a dog bite. The Mounties say police received a report of a person yelling and screaming for days on Quadra Island Sunday. They say the incident occurred when responding officers encountered someone who appeared to be holding a weapon and refused to leave a trailer. RCMP say the person suffered a dog bite after a police service dog was deployed and received first aid at the scene before being transported to hospital.

A group made up primarily of retired military officers and diplomats is looking for volunteers to welcome and help integrate any former Afghan interpreters and their families who end up being evacuated to Canada. Calls are growing to protect those who worked with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan from Taliban retaliation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Hamilton today that many Afghans put their lives at risk to support Canadians.Trudeau says this is something his government takes very seriously and that it is working diligently and aggressively on its plan. Some Canadian vet

Canada's deputy public health officer says almost 80 per cent of Canadians 12 and over have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Howard Njoo says over 57 per cent of Canadians are fully vaccinated with two doses. He says that number is steadily increasing, with many people intending to get vaccinated. Njoo says with fall and back-to-school approaching, it's a call to arms to get the shot and protect yourself and others.

British Columbia is expected to name the newly appointment First Nations liaisons who are supporting its residential school response. Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Murray Rankin is scheduled to introduce the liaisons and provide more details on the province's 12-million-dollar residential schools response fund early this afternoon.The government has previously said the fund will support investigative work at former residential school sites and fund programs that support those experiencing trauma following the discovery of remains.Several First Nations in B-C and Saskatchewan

BRICS Members agreed to take forward India's proposals circulated in the 2021 BRICS meeting on Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI).The meeting of the CGETI was held from July 12-14, 2021. During the three day meeting, the BRICS Members deliberated on the following proposals circulated by India, for strengthening and increasing the intra-BRICS cooperation and trade, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement."These proposals are, BRICS Cooperation on Multilateral Trading System; BRICS framework for ensuring Consumer Protection in E-Commerce; Non-Tariff Measures res