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bc-ferries-under-fire-over-chinese-contract-for-4-new-ships
BCAug 14, 2025

BC Ferries under fire over Chinese contract for 4 new ships

BC Ferries is under fire over a contract with a Chinese company for 4 new ships. Now, Canada’s largest and oldest shipyard has condemned it. Davie Shipyard CEO James Davis said it was “very unfortunate” that BC Ferries had contracted with a Chinese company. Davis said BC Ferries prioritized low prices. He said the Chinese shipyard receives heavy subsidies, has to pay cheap labor, and no Canadian or Western shipyard can reasonably compete with it. No other company, including Canada's Davie Shipyard, got a chance to bid for the contract, with BC Ferries saying it would have cost $1.2
punjab-cabinet-approves-withdrawal-of-land-pooling-policy
IndiaAug 14, 2025

Punjab Cabinet approves withdrawal of land pooling policy

The Punjab Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today approved the formal withdrawal of the land pooling policy. The state government had announced the withdrawal of this policy a few days ago amid protests by farmers. Under this, 65,533 acres of land were to be acquired in 164 villages of the state. The state’s farmers’ organizations had announced to continue the struggle until the notification was cancelled in the cabinet meeting. This policy was brought by the Bhagwant Mann government in May. The government had claimed that this policy would make farmers partners
largest-wildfire-in-eastern-newfoundland-has-destroyed-up-to-100-homes-officials
CanadaAug 14, 2025

Largest wildfire in eastern Newfoundland has destroyed up to 100 homes: officials

Officials say the largest wildfire burning in Newfoundland and Labrador may have destroyed up to 100 homes and structures. However, Premier John Hogan says it is still too dangerous for crews to get into the area to complete an accurate tally. The fire burning along the northwestern shore of Conception Bay began on Aug. 3 near Kingston, N.L., and Hogan says it now measures more than eight square kilometres. Meanwhile, Forestry Department spokesman Jamie Chippett says improving weather has helped slow the wildfire burning near St. John’s, but it is still burning in the ground and considered o
death-toll-in-kashmir-flash-floods-rises-to-at-least-32-indian-officials-say
IndiaAug 14, 2025

Death toll in Kashmir flash floods rises to at least 32, Indian officials say

At least 32 people are dead in flash floods caused by torrential rains in a remote, mountainous village in Indian-controlled Kashmir, a top disaster management official said Thursday. Mohammed Irshad said rescue teams scouring the devastated Himalayan village of Chositi brought at least 100 people to safety. He said initial estimations suggested at least 50 others were still missing. India’s deputy minister for science and technology, Jitendra Singh, said the floods were triggered by a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chositi area and “could result in substantial casualty.” Chositi is
charges-laid-coquitlam-homicide-investigation
BCAug 13, 2025

Charges laid Coquitlam homicide investigation

On August 1, 2025, at approximately 6:19 a.m., Coquitlam RCMP responded to a report of an assault with a weapon in the 400 block of Midvale Street, Coquitlam. Upon arrival, police located a man suffering from serious injuries. The man was transported to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Coquitlam RCMP secured the scene, and a suspect was taken into custody. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took conduct of the investigation and worked in collaboration with Lower Mainland Forensic Identification Services (LMD IFIS) and BC Coroners Service. On August 1, 2025, th
carney-world-leaders-meet-ahead-of-trump-putin-summit-on-ukraine-war
CanadaAug 13, 2025

Carney, world leaders meet ahead of Trump-Putin summit on Ukraine war

Prime Minister Mark Carney met today with the "Coalition of the Willing," a group of nations who've agreed to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion, ahead of the ceasefire negotiations set for Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska on Friday to talk about ending the war. Today's meeting was chaired by the leaders of the U.K., France and Germany and also involved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Zelenskyy is not invited to Friday's summit, though Trump has said he wants to meet w
cupw-to-hold-two-says-of-talks-with-canada-post-overtime-ban-remains-in-effect
CanadaAug 13, 2025

CUPW to hold two says of talks with Canada Post, overtime ban remains in effect

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it will hold two days of talks with Canada Post. The union, which represents about 55,000 postal workers, says both sides met with federal mediators on Tuesday and it has agreed to meet with Canada Post on Friday and Monday. The talks come after workers rejected Canada Post's latest proposal, which would have seen wage hikes of about 13 per cent over four years and restructuring to add part-time workers to the deal. The union says its national overtime ban remains in effect. Negotiations for a new collective agreement have been ongoing for more than a
oliver-woman-faces-three-impaired-and-dangerous-driving-charges-for-2024-collision-that-killed-a-man
BCAug 13, 2025

Oliver woman faces three impaired and dangerous driving charges for 2024 collision that killed a man

On July 31, 2025, exactly one year after a collision that killed a 39-year-old man in the South Okanagan, an Oliver woman has been arrested for the fatal crash. On July 31, 2024, just before 8:00 a.m., a grey Toyota Echo and a white Ford Explorer collided on Highway #97 near Road 21 in Oliver, BC. The driver and lone occupant of the Toyota Echo was killed. After nine months of investigation, BC Highway Patrol – Keremeos forwarded a report to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) who approved the following charges against 30-year-old Vanessa Lameiras: Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causin
b-c-residential-unit-sales-up-in-july-but-down-year-to-date-association-says
BCAug 13, 2025

B.C. residential unit sales up in July but down year-to-date, association says

Sales of homes in British Columbia grew in July compared with the same month last year, but year-to-date numbers show transactions remain slower. The British Columbia Real Estate Association says there were about 7,000 residential unit sales in the province last month, up 2.2 per cent from the numbers reported in July 2024. Just under 43,000 homes sold in B.C. in the first seven months of this year, down 5.7 per cent from 2024 levels during the same period. The association's chief economist Brendon Ogmundson says the numbers show markets in the province building momentum through the summer, wi

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WorldApr 29, 2026

Pakistan says ceasefire efforts ongoing in Middle East, signals possible U.S.–Iran talks

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says efforts to maintain a ceasefire in the Middle East are continuing, crediting Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement with helping keep the truce in place. According to statements attributed to Sharif, Pakistan is working to ensure the ceasefire holds and that peace initiatives do not lose momentum. He said there would be no relaxation in efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation. Officials familiar with the discussions indicate that Pakistan is again attempting to bring United States and Iran back to the negotiating table. Reports suggest a new roun
bank-of-canada-holds-key-interest-rate-at-2-25-as-global-risks-weigh-on-outlook
CanadaApr 29, 2026

Bank of Canada holds key interest rate at 2.25% as global risks weigh on outlook

The Bank of Canada kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent on Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive decision to hold rates, according to its latest monetary policy report. The central bank also maintained its deposit rate at 2.20 per cent. Governor Tiff Macklem said ongoing conflict in the Middle East and evolving U.S. trade policies are reshaping global trade patterns and adding uncertainty to the economic outlook. According to the bank’s report, the Iran-related tensions have reduced growth prospects in oil-importing countries while contributing to higher inflation
federal-finance-minister-tables-2026-spring-mini-budget-with-focus-on-skilled-trades-training
CanadaApr 29, 2026

Federal finance minister tables 2026 spring mini-budget with focus on skilled trades training

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled the federal government’s 2026 spring mini-budget in the House of Commons, outlining measures aimed at strengthening the national economy and addressing labour shortages in key sectors. According to the government’s budget statement, a new initiative branded “Team Canada Strong” will focus on expanding the skilled trades workforce. The plan sets a target of training 100,000 new skilled trades workers by the 2030–31 fiscal year to help meet demand in housing construction, infrastructure projects and major resource developm
WorldApr 28, 2026

Israel orders evacuations in southern Lebanon villages amid ceasefire violations claims

The Israeli military has ordered residents in more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately, citing safety concerns during an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. According to a statement posted on the social media platform X by Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee, civilians in the affected areas were urged to leave without delay. The military said the warning was issued for public safety, alleging that Hezbollah had violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The evacuation order comes despite the ceasefire remaining formally in effect. Isra
b-c-attorney-general-urges-ottawa-to-include-ai-chatbots-in-youth-social-media-rules
BCApr 28, 2026

B.C. attorney general urges Ottawa to include AI chatbots in youth social media rules

British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma says federal plans to set a minimum age for social media use should explicitly include artificial intelligence chatbots, arguing the rules would be ineffective if such platforms are excluded. In a letter to the federal government, Sharma said tools such as ChatGPT should fall within any regulatory framework aimed at protecting children online. According to her office, the letter cites recent incidents, including a shooting in Tumbler Ridge, and references cases where AI tools were reportedly linked to harmful online behaviour. Sharma said AI system