The wildfire burning near the Village of Lytton, B.C., has now been brought under control. The fire was first discovered last Friday and is believed to have been caused by human activity. The blaze grew sixfold overnight, prompting evacuation orders and forcing the temporary closure of Highway 1 through the area. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, eight new wildfires were discovered across the province in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of active wildfires in British Columbia to 24. Fire crews continue working to contain and extinguish the blazes. The agency said that 13 of t

A severe heatwave in France has claimed the lives of 58 people so far. According to reports, many people have been seeking relief from the scorching temperatures by swimming in rivers, lakes, and canals. As a result, 40 people have drowned over the past few days, with most of the victims being young people. In addition, 18 people, including two children, have died from heat-related illnesses and heatstroke. The extreme temperatures also forced the shutdown of France's Golfech nuclear power plant on Monday night. Officials expect the temperature of the Garonne River, which is used to cool the p

Alberta's Municipal Affairs Minister, Dan Williams, has assembled a panel to explore ways of increasing funding for infrastructure projects without raising taxes. Williams announced the creation of the ministers' council today in Jasper, where provincial and territorial municipal ministers are gathering for their annual meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. The panel includes representatives from communities and industries across Alberta. It has been tasked with reviewing how infrastructure projects are currently financed, identifying funding gaps, and recommending practical solutions to address

Canada plans to deploy its naval warships to the Indo-Pacific region twice this year, Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed during an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday. The move is part of Ottawa's broader strategy to strengthen military ties with regional partners in the Indo-Pacific, even as Canada continues efforts to maintain trade relations with China. Canadian warships are scheduled to arrive in the region in August and November, where they will participate in various military exercises and make port calls in Japan. McGuinty said Canada is deepening its presence and cooperation with Ja

Durante King-McLean, the alleged getaway driver in the largest gold theft in Canadian history, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by a U.S. court on weapons trafficking charges. The 27-year-old faces charges in Canada for allegedly driving the truck that fled with the stolen gold during the massive heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport in April 2023. Authorities say King-McLean fled Canada shortly after the robbery. He was arrested in September 2023 during a traffic stop by Pennsylvania State Police. A search of his rental vehicle uncovered 65 handguns hidden inside various soc

Canada and Switzerland will face off today at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver in their final Group B match of the FIFA World Cup. Canadian captain Alphonso Davies is expected to make his tournament debut after missing Canada's first two group-stage matches due to a hamstring injury. The match is of great importance for both teams as they look to secure top spot in the group and strengthen their position heading into the knockout stage. A win or a draw for Canada would ensure the team finishes first in Group B and earns the opportunity to play its next-round match on home soil in Vancouver. Both

Canadian carrier Porter Airlines has reduced the temporary fuel surcharge on bookings for its new VIPorter reward flights from $40 to $20, effective Tuesday, citing lower oil prices and improving market conditions. Although oil prices have remained volatile since the conflict involving Iran began in February and are still nearly 50 per cent higher than a year ago, the airline says it plans to eliminate the surcharge entirely once market conditions stabilize further. Porter's decision has raised expectations that other airlines may also reduce their fuel surcharges in the coming weeks. The surc

A tragic boating accident on British Columbia's Okanagan Lake has claimed the life of an American kayaker after strong winds caused two people to capsize. West Kelowna RCMP said the incident occurred Friday evening near the Westbank First Nation beach when two kayakers were caught in sudden and dangerous wind conditions on the lake. While attempting to swim back to shore, one of the kayakers disappeared underwater. People on nearby boats quickly responded and managed to rescue one of the kayakers, but the second person could not be located. The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team later rec

A home has been completely destroyed by an out-of-control wildfire near the Village of Lytton, B.C. The incident comes just days before the fifth anniversary of the devastating 2021 wildfire that destroyed much of the community and claimed two lives. Officials say it remains unclear how many other structures may have been damaged by the current blaze, as emergency crews have not yet been able to fully assess the affected areas. According to the latest update from the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Saw Creek wildfire near Lytton has now burned approximately 704 hectares. However, the agency noted