A team has been selected to design a new eight-lane tunnel to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel under the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver, with British Columbia's transportation minister calling it a "huge step" for the project. Rob Fleming says the selection of the preferred proponent for the tunnel project, Cross Fraser Partnership, means design plans can now be finalized. A statement from Fleming's ministry says the proponent will build on extensive design work the province has already completed, working toward a final design and construction agreement that considers the risks and cost

Haryana's farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has announced his candidates for the by-elections to be held in the four assembly seats of Punjab. Chaduni said that his United Struggle Party will contest the by-elections in 4 constituencies Giddarbaha, Barnala, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabewal of Punjab and apart from this, elections will be contested in all 90 seats of Haryana. Talking to reporters, he also said that the option of an agreement with other parties except BJP and JJP in Haryana is open and if an honorable agreement is reached, they will fight the elections by forming an alliance.

Calgary residents can now turn on their sprinklers for longer as the city swelters under an extreme heat warning. Mayor Jyoti Gondek says outdoor watering restrictions may befully lifted within days, but for now residents can turn on their hoses for up to two hours twice a week to water grass and outdoor plants. Michael Thompson, Calgary's infrastructure services general manager, says operational pump issues have been fixed, but other mechanical problems need to be resolved before the city can give the full green light. He says the city's water system is approaching 75 per cent c

The numbers seem ever increasing for British Columbia wildfire statistics, including more than 400 fires, tens of thousands of lightning strikes and at least six homes lost. The homes were in the Venables Valley, and Colton Davies with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District says they were among 20 buildings destroyed by the Shetland Creek wildfire. The BC Wildfire Service says recent thunderstorms brought 58,000 lightning strikes, and they expect to see new fire starts from those over the next few days. More than 80 per cent of current wildfires were started by lightning and about two-thirds of

Police in Vancouver say they have identified the two women whose bodies were found on the shores of English Bay on Sunday and Monday. Sgt. Steve Addison says police now know the women's names and their families have been informed of their deaths. He says in a statement that police are still investigating both cases, but they are confident the deaths are not connected. They say the cause of death of the woman found on Sunset Beach on Sunday is not yet known and police are not releasing her name at this time. Police say criminality is not suspected in the death of the second woman found near Kit

Bibi Jagir Kaur, the veteran leader of Shiromani Akali Dal's rebel faction, has targeted Sukhbir Badal for disbanding the core committee of the party. Bibi Jagir Kaur said that Sukhbir Badal considers himself supreme from the beginning, when he is alive, he dissolves committees, when he is alive, he creates new ones and when he is alive, he expels someone from the party. Bibi Jagir Kaur said that Sukhbir Badal considers the party as his company and himself as CEO and all other members as shareholders of the party. He said that Badal is not concerned about the Akali Dal but the concern is for

The Special Investigation Team probing the multi-crore drugs smuggling case in Punjab has again summoned Shiromani Akali Dal's senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia, asking him to appear for questioning at Police Line Patiala on July 30. Earlier, Majithia was summoned on July 18 and 20 but both times Majithia did not appear before the SIT. The SIT members allege that Majithia is not cooperating with the investigation. It is to be noted that the Punjab Police registered a case of drug trafficking against Majithia three years ago on 20 December 2021 during the Congress government. After this he

The Bank of Canada delivered a widely expected interest rate cut today, marking the second consecutive time it has lowered its policy rate. The central bank's quarter-percentage-point cut brings its policy rate down to 4.5 per cent. The Bank of Canada says the decision was motivated by continued progress on getting inflation down as well as weakening economic conditions. In his prepared statement, governor Tiff Macklem says as inflation edges closer to its two per cent target, the central bank is trying to avoid the risk of the economy and inflation weakening by more than expected.

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib today, where he submitted a reply to Jathedar Raghbir Singh in a sealed envelope regarding the allegations made against him by the rebel leaders of Akali Dal, including pardoning the Dera Sirsa chief. Sukhbir Badal stayed for about 15 minutes at the secretariat for clarification. It is to be noted that in the apology, the rebel faction had apologized for supporting the wrongs done during the Akali Dal government and alleged that Sukhbir Badal had misused his influence and powers while enjoying power, includ