BCJul 31, 2026
Suspect arrested after firearm reported at New Westminster shopping centre
A suspect is facing potential charges after allegedly brandishing a firearm at a patron outside a coffee shop in New Westminster on Wednesday morning, according to the New Westminster Police Department.
Police said officers responded to a 9-1-1 call at about 6 a.m. on July 30 after receiving reports that a person had pointed a firearm at someone seated on the patio of a business in the Columbia Square shopping centre. Investigators determined the suspect fled across Columbia Street, passed through a hole in a fence and crossed nearby railway tracks.
Officers searched the area with assistance f
BCJul 31, 2026
B.C. Supreme Court strikes down parts of Mental Health Act allowing treatment without consent
The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that portions of the province's Mental Health Act that allow patients to receive psychiatric treatment without their consent are unconstitutional, giving the provincial government six months to amend the legislation.
Justice Lauren Blake found that British Columbia was the only province in Canada where patients could be subjected to psychiatric treatment without an assessment of their decision-making capacity. The court concluded that the provisions violate constitutional protections.
The ruling comes as the B.C. government is pursuing plans to expand involunta
IndiaJul 31, 2026
India says Kartarpur Corridor to remain closed amid ongoing security concerns
The Government of India has said the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor will remain closed, citing the current security situation despite requests from Sikh religious organizations to reopen the cross-border pilgrimage route.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it has received representations from Sikh religious groups seeking the reopening of the corridor. However, the ministry stated that prevailing security conditions have necessitated keeping the corridor closed.
The issue was raised during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament by Members of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Gurmeet Sing
CanadaJul 31, 2026
Indian student in Canada sentenced to four years in U.S. senior fraud scheme
A 22-year-old Indian national who was studying in Canada has been sentenced to four years in prison in the United States after being convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a multimillion-dollar fraud targeting seniors.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Roshan Shah entered the United States multiple times on a visitor visa while studying in Canada and collected approximately US$3.7 million from 15 elderly victims in several states. Authorities allege the scheme relied on callers based in India who falsely claimed the victims' identities had been linked to c
BCJul 31, 2026
Swimmer dies after rescue from Okanagan Lake
A swimmer who was pulled from Okanagan Lake at Hot Sands Beach in Kelowna has died in hospital, marking the sixth drowning-related death in the lake over the past 40 days.
According to police, the swimmer suffered a medical emergency while in the water on Wednesday. Bystanders brought the person ashore before emergency crews transported them to Kelowna General Hospital in critical condition. The swimmer died in hospital the following day.
RCMP Cpl. Steven Lang said investigators have found no evidence to suggest the incident is suspicious or criminal in nature. The B.C. Coroners Service is con
WorldJul 31, 2026
25 killed, 44 injured after passenger bus overturns in Algeria
At least 25 people were killed and 44 others injured after a passenger bus overturned in Algeria's Boomerdes province on Friday, according to the country's Civil Protection Agency.
Officials said the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment following the crash. Authorities have not released details on what caused the bus to overturn.
Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited Boomerdes University Hospital to meet with those injured in the crash and assess the situation, according to officials.
The cause of the crash has not been officially determined. Authorities said an inv
CanadaJul 31, 2026
Canada's economy grew 0.3% in May, second-quarter annualized growth estimated at 3.4%
Canada's economy expanded by 0.3 per cent in May, exceeding market expectations of 0.1 per cent, according to data released Friday by Statistics Canada. The increase follows a 0.6 per cent gain recorded in April, marking a second consecutive month of economic growth.
Statistics Canada said the latest figures point to an estimated annualized growth rate of 3.4 per cent for the second quarter of 2026. The estimate is preliminary and will be updated as additional data become available.
According to the agency, growth in May was led by a 1.0 per cent increase in the mining, quarrying, and oil and
AlbertaJul 31, 2026
High River man charged with first-degree murder in woman's death
A 36-year-old High River man has been charged with first-degree murder following the fatal shooting of a woman in what RCMP are investigating as a domestic homicide.
According to High River RCMP, the victim has been identified as Cayla Bleeker. Police identified the accused as Jarrett Stobbe, 36. Both were residents of High River.
RCMP said officers responded to two separate calls from a residence on 112 Street East on Tuesday. Police said Stobbe first contacted RCMP at about 6 p.m., making allegations against Bleeker that investigators later determined were unfounded. A second emergency call
WorldJul 31, 2026
Four bodies recovered after Broad Peak avalanche as search continues for missing climbers
Pakistani rescue teams have recovered four bodies from the site of an avalanche on Broad Peak, where 10 international climbers were reported missing, according to two senior Pakistani government officials.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said search operations continued Friday for the remaining six missing climbers. Recovery efforts have been hampered by severe weather in the mountainous region.
Authorities have not identified the four people whose bodies were recovered. According to Pakistani officials, teams are working t