CanadaJun 01, 2020
Bird strike might have caused Snowbird crash, early investigation finds
The Royal Canadian Air Force says it's focusing on a bird strike as the reason a Snowbird plane crashed in British Columbia last month. A preliminary investigation report posted today says a close look at video footage of the plane just before the crash showed a bird very close to the plane's right engine intake ``during the critical phase of take-off.''The crash near Kamloops killed air force Capt. Jenn Casey, a public-affairs officer riding as a passenger, and seriously injured the pilot. Though the plane crashed in a populated area, nobody on the ground was badly injured.The Snowbirds were
CanadaJun 01, 2020
Trudeau promises to speed $2B in funding for strapped cities
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is rushing $2.2 billion in expected infrastructure funding to Canada's cities.He says sending gas-tax funds months sooner than planned should ease municipalities' cashflow concerns, which is why the government is sending the money in one shot.Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Trudeau says the money can be used for construction projects to meet local infrastructure needs and put people to work.Municipalities have seen steep losses in revenues through the COVID-19 pandemic as fewer people pay for transit or parking, and recreation ce
BCJun 01, 2020
Minimum wage goes up June 1 in B.C. as businesses face COVID-19 challenges
BC's Labour Minister Harry Bains says he understands the pressures facing employers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but workers are also struggling and the minimum wage will increase as planned on Monday.The BC government announced a series of minimum wage increases in 2018 and the June 1st wage boost goes up 75 cents per hour to $14.60.Bains says Labour Ministry data shows 60 per cent of people earning minimum wage in BC are female and 93 per cent of the province's minimum wage paying jobs are in the service sector, including cleaning services, grocery stores and restaurants.He says businesses
IndiaMay 30, 2020
Locust operations conducted in various locations in India
Several locust operations were conducted at 15 locations in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on Friday by Locust Control Offices (LCOs), in the wake of locust swarm in those regions. Many districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Barmer, Chittorgarh, Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, as per the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, were subjected to the control operations. As per the ministry, no crop loss was reported in parts of Madhya Pradesh (districts of Satna, Balaghat, Niwari, Raisen, and Shivpuri) where locust operations were held. On May 28, a total of 377 spots covering 53,997 hect
CanadaMay 30, 2020
Fourth straight day of less than 1,000 COVID-19 cases in Canada
There are 89,418 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 50,232 confirmed (including 4,363 deaths, 15,908 resolved) Ontario: 27,210 confirmed (including 2,230 deaths, 20,983 resolved) Alberta: 6,979 confirmed (including 143 deaths, 6,218 resolved) British Columbia: 2,562 confirmed (including 164 deaths, 2,170 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,055 confirmed (including 59 deaths, 978 resolved) Saskatchewan: 641 confirmed (including 10 deaths, 570 resolved) Manitoba: 283 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 273 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 261 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 2
WorldMay 30, 2020
US terminates relations with WHO
US President Donald Trump has announced that the US will be terminating its relationship with the World Health Organization. He says the WHO failed to adequately respond to the coronavirus because China has ``total control'' over the global organization. He says Chinese officials ``ignored'' their reporting obligations to the WHO. Donald Trump is sounding a bit more sympathetic about the death of George FloydUS President Donald Trump is sounding a bit more sympathetic about the death of a black man from Minnesota at the hands of a white police officer. Trump gave his condolences to George Flo
BCMay 29, 2020
Four new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., no new deaths reported
The province is reporting just four new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths. That brings the total number of cases in B.C. to 2,562, including 164 deaths. 228 cases of COVID-19 remain active in B.C. The province says there have been no new health-care facility outbreaks, leaving 15 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care unit with active cases.
WorldMay 29, 2020
Joe Biden says he has spoken with the family of George Floyd, calling for justice
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he has spoken with the family of George Floyd and is calling for justice. Biden's comments came as a Minnesota prosecutor announced charges against a police officer seen kneeling on Floyd's neck. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says Derek Chauvin is charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the restraint death of Floyd. In a brief online appearance Friday, the former vice-president blamed systemic racism, which he called ``an open wound'' on American society, for Floyd's death. He says it's time for deep and lasting p
BCMay 29, 2020
Former hotel puchased in Campbell River to house residents displaced by a blaze
The provincial government has purchased a former motel in Campbell River to house residents displaced by a blaze that left 92 people homeless in that city in April. BC Housing's purchase of the former Heritage River Inn will provide 41 units of stable, long-term, affordable rental housing for the low-income residents who escaped the fire. Finding a home in the Campbell River area is challenging at the best of times but the COVID-19 pandemic has made the search even more complicated. North Island MLA Claire Trevena says purchase of the old motel will provide security and peace of mind while th