WorldAug 23, 2023
Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on passenger list of crashed plane that killed 10 on board
Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the private jet that crashed in Russia on Wednesday, killing all 10 people on board.However, it was not immediately clear if he was on board.According to preliminary information, a commercial plane from Moscow to St. Petersburg crashed on Wednesday, killing all 10 people on board.It is worth mentioning that Prigozhin rebelled against Putin in June and after that he allegedly moved to Belarus.It is however not clear till now that how and when did he reach Russia.A Russian official told reporters that they have started an investig
CanadaAug 23, 2023
Chrystia Freeland fined for speeding on an Alberta highway
Canada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has been fined $273 for speeding.Freeland was speeding in Grand Prairie and Peace River, Alberta, when she was stopped and issued a $273 ticket.However, Freeland spokeswoman Katherine Cuplinskas said Freeland has paid the full amount of the fine.Freeland was driving at a speed of 132 km per hour in a 110 km per hour zone.It is worth noting that Chrystia Freeland claimed last month that she does not even have a car and travels by train while her children walk, cycle and use the subway.
CanadaAug 23, 2023
Quebec to ban cellphones in elementary and high school classrooms
It's the final bell for cellphones in Quebec classrooms as the province's Education Department plans to ban their use in most teaching settings.Education Minister Bernard Drainville is scheduled to make the announcement this morning.The directive would only apply to public elementary and high schools and would still allow teachers to use mobile phones for lessons.A spring survey of 7,000 teachers conducted by a federation of 34 teacher unions found that 92 per cent of respondents were in favour of such a measure.Federation president Josée Scalabrini said at the time that teachers wanted to re
BCAug 22, 2023
Wildfires in McDougall now under control
The intensity of the McDougall Creek wildfire has decreased.Dozens of evacuation orders and alerts issued in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley have been reduced.Central Okanagan Emergency Operations announced that residents of several properties within Westbank First Nation, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country can return home, but should still be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.Five properties in Kelowna were destroyed while several in Lake Country sustained exterior damage, Kelowna Mayor Tom Deas said.
BCAug 22, 2023
'Wildfire smoke is toxic, may cause health issues': Expert
Experts say that the smoke spread in Metro Vancouver due to forest fires is toxic and can cause many health problems.Burnaby's Dr. Susan Kwan says the air is full of toxins that will make it difficult for people to breathe, whether they have health problems or not.She said that air contains nitric oxide and aromatic hydrocarbons, and such elements are toxic to the body.This can cause skin irritation, eye irritation, itching, pain or irritation in the nose.Dr. Kwan says that to avoid these problems, limit your outdoor time and drink plenty of water.The smoke is expected to persist for the next
CanadaAug 22, 2023
Meta responds to Trudeau & Eby on row over blocking Canadian news
Social media conglomerate Meta has responded to criticism from both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B-C Premier David Eby on its decision to continue its ban on Canadian news content on Facebook and Instagram.Meta says in a statement that the company has been clear since February about the federal Online News Act and its effect on Canadian news content on its platforms.The statement also says Canadians can still access news by going directly to news outlets' websites and mobile apps, while Facebook continues to carry emergency information through crisis-response pages for both Kelowna and Ye
CanadaAug 22, 2023
Canada considering foreign student visa cap to address housing shortage
The Canadian government is considering putting a cap on international student visas to deal with the housing crisis.Former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser gave this information while talking to journalists.Speaking to reporters in Charlottetown on Monday, he said capping the number of international students to ease pressure on the housing market is one of the options he should consider.It is worth noting that Canada is a popular choice for international students because it is easier to get a work permit compared to other countries.According to official data, 800,000 foreign students came to C
BCAug 22, 2023
'Too early to estimate insured losses from the fires' : The Insurance Bureau of Canada
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it may not be possible to estimate insured losses from the fires currently burning in British Columbia, however, experts say that one should start processing the insurance claims as soon as possible. .Daniel Ivans of Rates dot ca says that when filing a claim, not every detail of the damage needs to be provided right now, and relevant information can be added later.The Insurance Bureau of Canada says all standard homeowners and tenant insurance policies cover fire damage, and also provide coverage to help with mass evacuation costs.
CanadaAug 21, 2023
Justin Trudeau slams Meta for blocking news during wildfires in Canada
In the wake of the devastating wildfires in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned Meta's decision to block news on its platforms in Canada.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Prince Edward Island for a cabinet retreat, where he commented on Meta that people in Canada are neither sharing nor receiving news on Facebook and Instagram.In fact, since the federal government passed its Online News Act Bill C-18 in June, Meta has blocked news on its platforms in Canada.It is worth noting that due to the wildfires, the pressure to remove the news ban on Meta is increasing.On the other han