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BCMar 18, 2020

7 Langley firefighters directed to stay home, after exposure to coronavirus

Seven Langley firefighters have been directed to stay home after exposure to a person confirmed to have the coronavirus. Chief Stephen Gamble tells CTV Vancouver the exposure occurred several days ago but Langley Fire Rescue was only notified about it yesterday. Gamble says initially eight members of the service were ordered to self isolate but one has since been cleared to return to work. He won't speculate on whether the other seven could have exposed other members of the department or the public to COVID-19 until their test results are back.
BCMar 18, 2020

ICBC has temporarily suspended all road tests

ICBC has temporarily suspended all road tests amid the evolving coronavirus pandemic. It also says all customers visiting an ICBC driver licensing office will be asked screening questions for the virus and be asked to go home if they respond yes to any questions. Access to waiting areas is also being limited to ensure appropriate social distancing. ICBC says road tests can be rebooked online and it will reassess whether to resume them in two weeks.
railways-minister-piyush-goyal-reviewed-the-progress-of-preparedness-of-indian-railways-about-efforts-to-prevent-the-spread-of-coronavirus
IndiaMar 18, 2020

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal reviewed the progress of preparedness of Indian Railways about efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday reviewed the progress of preparedness of Indian Railways and the ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus. "Had a meeting with General Managers and Divisional Railway Managers and took stock of the preparations and precautionary measures taken by Railways in trains and stations to combat novel coronavirus," Goyal tweeted. A total of 137 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India so far and three persons have lost their lives. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and said that E
CanadaMar 18, 2020

8 COVID-19 related deaths in Canada so far, Total cases-598

There have now been eight COVID-19 deaths in Canada, as BC reports another three fatalities hours after Ontario announced its first death. BC's provincial health officer says six of the deaths stem from a care home in North Vancouver, while a man in his 80s died on Monday in hospital in the Fraser Health region Health officials in Ontario say the 77-year-old man in the Muskoka region was not a confirmed case, but the illness was discovered after his death, the cause of which remains under investigation. BC, Ontario and Alberta have also declared public health emergencies today.
BCMar 17, 2020

Public Health Emergency declared in B.C., 3 news deaths and 83 news cases reported, Total cases-186

British Columbia is confirming another three deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic and another 83 cases of the novel coronavirus. BC's total number of cases is now 186. The province is declaring a public health emergency. Alberta and Ontario made similar declarations earlier today.
BCMar 17, 2020

BC Ferries: Passengers are being allowed to remain in their vehicles on the enclosed car decks

Passengers are being allowed to remain in their vehicles on the enclosed car decks of vessels operated by BC Ferries because of COVID-19. The ferry service says is relaxing its restriction after Transport Canada and the Canadian Ferry Association agreed to give ferry operators more flexibility to help people keep their social distance. BC Ferries says in a statement that passengers are normally kept off closed car decks to ensure their safety in an emergency. As a result of the temporary change in policy, the ferry service says it will increase patrols on the car decks of its vessels.
WorldMar 17, 2020

Costco is going to start controlling the number of customers allowed in its warehouses

Costco says it has had a surge of business since the COVID-19 outbreak, and is going to start controlling the number of customers allowed in its warehouses in response. The company is also reducing some services and is asking customers and employees to practice social distancing in its stores. Limits have been placed on the number of certain items customers are allowed to buy at once and the company is working with suppliers to make sure in-demand items are available. Costco has also stepped up sanitation of its carts, cashes and product shelves.
CanadaMar 17, 2020

State of public emergency declared in Alberta

Alberta is declaring a state of public emergency in reaction to the novel coronavirus. Premier Jason Kenney has announced that any gathering larger than 50 people, including weddings and funerals must be cancelled. Public recreation facilities, casinos, bingo halls, bars, museums and art galleries will also be shuttered if not already. Worship services and conferences also fall under the 50 person rule. Kenney says his government will spend $60 million on charities and non profit groups who are helping people cope with the effects of the virus.
BCMar 17, 2020

St. Patrick's Day won't be a party in Vancouver, all bars and restaurants in the city to close

St. Patrick's Day won't be a party in Vancouver as health authorities have asked all bars and restaurants in the city to close their doors for the day. The request from the Vancouver Health Authority came just hours after the city's mayor said the shutdown would help efforts to control COVID-19 by keeping people away from packed St. Patrick's Day events. Gatherings of more than 50 people are now banned in British Columbia. The province's latest official count of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus is 103, including four deaths and six patients under care in hospital.

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three-dead-16-injured-in-calgary-bus-crash-and-explosion
AlbertaOct 16, 2026

Three Dead, 16 Injured in Calgary Bus Crash and Explosion

Three people have died and 16 others, including a police officer, were injured in a bus collision and fire in Calgary on Thursday. All three deceased were passengers on the same bus. Two of the victims have been identified, while the identity of the third is still being confirmed. According to police, the crash involved two transit buses and several other vehicles in the northeastern part of the city. A bus carrying compressed natural gas tanks caught fire, followed by a powerful explosion within seconds. One bus driver managed to escape unharmed, while the driver of the second bus was taken t
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IndiaOct 16, 2026

Punjab and Haryana High Court Clears Bhagwant Mann’s Proposed France Visit

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has overturned the Centre’s decision to deny political clearance for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s proposed visit to France. According to reports, Mann may now leave for France tomorrow. The Union Ministry of External Affairs had refused permission, citing security concerns and the absence of a formal invitation from the French government. The Punjab government challenged the Centre’s decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court’s ruling today has provided relief to the state government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to
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BCOct 16, 2026

Burnaby Man Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison for Online Sextortion of Teenage Girls

A 22-year-old man from Burnaby has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for online sextortion involving underage girls. The accused, Anwar Jelassi, obtained nude images from eight or nine girls aged 15 to 18 whom he met on social media between October 2022 and December 2023. The victims were from Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. He threatened to expose their images to extort money from them. According to reports, Jelassi sent an online message to a 17-year-old victim from Ontario who refused to pay him, threatening to ruin her life until her entire family had seen her nude images
eby-slams-b-c-conservatives-warns-their-promises-could-leave-5b-budget-hole
BCOct 16, 2026

Eby Slams B.C. Conservatives, Warns Their Promises Could Leave $5B Budget Hole

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has launched a sharp attack on the B.C. Conservative Party during an election rally in Coquitlam, as the provincial election campaign enters its final stretch. Eby accused B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson of making promises that could create a massive $5 billion hole in the provincial budget, claiming the party has no clear roadmap to cover the shortfall. According to Eby, the consequences of the Conservatives’ proposals would be particularly damaging to the province’s education and health-care sectors. Outlining his own party’s plans, Eby said his govern
canada-updates-express-entry-rules-for-pr-offering-more-points-for-high-wage-jobs
CanadaOct 16, 2026

Canada Updates Express Entry Rules for PR, Offering More Points for High-Wage Jobs

Canada has introduced changes to its Express Entry system for permanent residency (PR), giving additional points to candidates with Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage sectors such as engineering. According to an announcement made by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab on Friday, candidates with Canadian work experience or qualifying high-wage job offers will receive additional points under the updated system. The government will define a high-wage job as one that pays at least 1.3 times the national median wage. Candidates with higher-paying job offers will be eligible for