For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Canada's 13 premiers are meeting face-to-face as the Council of the Federation convenes in Victoria. Premier John Horgan is chairing the gathering and says there is unified support for a reworking of the federal funding model for health care. He says his colleagues want to see the federal portion of the health care tab jump from 22 to 35 per cent, and they want a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by this fall. The premier's meeting starts this afternoon but first the leaders meet with Indigenous representatives from across the count

A 40 year old woman has been injured when shots were fired at a home in Surrey early this morning. RCMP say they responded to reports of shots fired at the home (in the 86-hundred block of 151-B Street) at 3:40 am. Police say the woman's injuries aren't life threatening and she's in stable condition in hospital. Investigators are combing the area for closed-circuit footage, looking for a male suspect dressed in black and carrying a backpack and a flashlight.

The number of people looking for work in Canada set another record low, for the second time in as many months, as Statistics Canada reports the jobless rate fell to 4.9 per cent in June from 5.1 per cent in May. That's despite an overall loss of 43,000 jobs across the country last month. Economists say fewer people were looking for work in June, which would explain the continued dip in unemployment. Unemployment in BC didn't change much in June, climbing one-tenth of a point to 4.6 per cent, while Kelowna saw one of the biggest drops as the rate there fell to an even four per cent from its 4.

The man who was once the senior officer at the B-C legislature has received a three month sentence for fraud and breach of trust, but Craig James won't be going to jail. The 71 year old former clerk of the legislature has been handed a conditional sentence to be served at home, the first month under 24-hour house arrest and the last two months under a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. James was convicted after fraudulently submitting expenses for the purchase of a suit and shirts he claimed as work attire. He was cleared of several other charges but the BC Supreme Court judge hearing the case rejected

After Boris Johnson stepped down as Prime Minister of Britain, former minister Rishi Sunak has put forward his contendership to become the next Prime Minister of Britain. "I'm standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister," he tweeted, adding that it is about time to rebuild the economy and reunite the country. In a further statement, he said, "Someone has to grip the moment and make the right decisions. That's why I am standing to be the next leader of the conservative party and your Prime Minister." I want to lead this country in the right direction, he add

Thirty-one students tested positive for COVID-19 in a government school in Theni district on Friday. According to the District Education Department, the cases have been reported from Theni Government Secondary School, Andipatti. Besides 31 students, 10 parents also tested positive for COVID-19. The District Education Department has temporarily closed the school. The health department said students and parents from the school have been asked to isolate themselves. The health department is in process of contact tracing. The school has been sanitised by the district health officials. Tamil Nadu

A candidate vying to lead Alberta’s United Conservatives has brought on a high-profile former federal politician as campaign chair. Rebecca Schulz says Rona Ambrose, the former Conservative Opposition leader, knows what it takes to unite and lead a party. In a video posted to social media, Ambrose says she has a ton of respect and confidence in Schulz, who had been provincial children’s services minister before stepping down to seek the leadership. Ambrose calls Schulz, the legislature member for Calgary-Shaw, a principled conservative and a compassionate Albertan. Schulz says in the video

As the situation in Amarnath yatra became critical after a cloudburst struck the area near the holy shrine with at least 10 dead, the pilgrimage's suspended till the situation returns to normal, informed the officials on Friday. "Situation is under control, rains are still going on. Looking at the hazard level, the Amarnath Yatra has been halted temporarily due to the area being inundated. If the weather remains normal and makeshift arrangements are made, then the yatra can be resumed tomorrow," said ITBP spokesperson PRO Vivek Kumar Pandey. The Disaster Management Authority of Jammu and Kash

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted heavy rains in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during the next two days till July 10. From July 8 to July 10, heavy (64.5 to 114.5 mm) to very heavy rainfall (115.6 to 204.4 mm) is expected to lash Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and several other cities of Punjab are likely to witness heavy showers between July 9 and July 10. Many cities in Haryana are also likely to witness a torrential downpour. Farmers are being advised to undertake mea