WorldNov 24, 2020
Bomb attack in Afghanistan kills 14
Afghan officials say a roadside bomb attack in central Afghanistan has killed at least 13 civilians and a traffic policeman. The attack Tuesday comes as government negotiators and the Taliban meet to find an end to decades of war. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry says 45 others were wounded in a late afternoon blast in Bamiyan city in Bamiyan province. Several shops and vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the attack. A provincial official says there were two bombs that exploded in quick succession. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Islamic State group aff
BCNov 24, 2020
Kelowna woman arrested after refusing to wear a mask at a store
A woman in Kelowna has been arrested after refusing to wear a mask at a Value Village store. Mounties say they responded to a call on Sunday, with the woman refusing to leave the store. She was arrested for allegedly causing a disturbance and obstructing a police officer. The woman was later released on conditions for a future court date.
CanadaNov 24, 2020
Flash estimate shows manufacturing sales up 0.6 percent in October
Statistics Canada says a preliminary estimate shows manufacturing sales rose 0.6 percent in October. The agency says the growth came due to higher sales in the petroleum and coal products, paper, primary metals and wood products industries. The flash estimate for October follows a rise of 1.5 percent to $53.8 billion in September.Statistics Canada cautioned that it is continuing to collect October data and that the early indicator is subject to a higher revision rate than its regular monthly release.The early estimate was calculated based on a weighted response rate of 57.8 per cent. It says
CanadaNov 24, 2020
Liberals will deliver a long-awaited update on the health of federal finances on Nov. 30: Chrystia Freeland
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the Liberals will deliver a long-awaited update on the health of federal finances on Nov. 30. She made the announcement today in the House of Commons. The Liberals had promised an update this fall on the federal deficit as part of a document that could also include the first steps toward a national child-care program. The government has not tabled a budget for this fiscal year, but in July delivered what it called a ``fiscal snapshot'' that estimated the deficit was heading for a record of $343.2 billion. Deputy PM announces businesses can start applyin
BCNov 24, 2020
1,933 COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths reported in B.C.; Dr. Henry says this pandemic is like ironman championship
British Columbia health officials are working to clear up confusion surrounding COVID-19 restriction guidelines announced last week. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix spent part of their news conference Monday explaining what counts as an event or social gathering. Non-essential travel is not recommended across the province, and worship services along with community and social events have been suspended. Dr. Henry and Dix announced 1,933 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days, along with 17 additional deaths for a total of 348 people since the p
BCNov 24, 2020
Shirley Bond will serve as the B.C. Liberal party's interim leader after Andrew Wilkinson's resignation
Longtime legislature member Shirley Bond will serve as the B.C. Liberal party's interim leader after Andrew Wilkinson's resignation on Saturday. Bond has been a member of the legislature since 2001, representing Prince George-Valemount, and served in cabinet, including as justice minister and deputy premier in the province's previous Liberal government. Bond says in a statement that she is looking forward to holding the NDP government accountable over the coming months. The NDP won 57 seats in last month's provincial election to form a majority government. The Liberals won 28 seats and the Gr
CanadaNov 23, 2020
Canadian Armed Forces to formally apologize to victims for sexual misconduct
Victims of sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces will receive an apology from the military's commander. However, it's not clear if it will delivered by outgoing chief of the defence staff, General Jonathan Vance, or his still-to-be-named successor. The apology is part of a 900 million dollar settlement agreement that the federal government reached last year with current and former military members, as well as civilian Defence Department employees, after a class-action lawsuit against the Forces. A lawyer who represented the plaintiffs says the apology gives victims a chance to he
BCNov 23, 2020
Hudson's Bay Coquitlam store shuttered over the weekend for non-payment of rent
The Hudson's Bay outlet in Coquitlam is the latest to run afoul of its landlord in a dispute over rental payments. The Coquitlam store was shuttered over the weekend for non-payment of rent, just the latest in a series of problems that have seen judges in Quebec and Ontario order the retailer to pay rents to various shopping mall landlords. A spokesman for one of the landlords says the court rulings are welcome and the retailer and its "New York-based private-equity owners" must honour obligations to pay rent. The ruling from Quebec reminds Hudson's Bay that it cannot take the law into its ow
CanadaNov 23, 2020
Conservatives say new commercial rent-relief program has taken too long to arrive; call for a halt to the audits of small businesses that have received federal wage subsidy
The Opposition Conservatives say a new commercial rent-relief program offered by the federal government has taken too long to arrive, and there are still shortcomings in the related legislation that have yet to be fixed. Conservative small business critic Pat Kelly says December's rent is due in about a week, and today is the first day that businesses can apply for the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy. The Conservatives are accusing the Trudeau government of circumventing the will of Parliament by failing to push off audits of small businesses that have received the federal wage subsidy. He