Two major wildfires burning near Clinton, B.C. have merged, increasing the combined fire area to approximately 670 square kilometres, according to the BC Wildfire Service. Officials say the merged Pear Lake and Fifteenmile Creek wildfires have damaged homes and other structures on the outskirts of the Clinton community. The full extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed. BC Wildfire Service Fire Information Officer Shae Stearns said firefighters continue working to protect homes in Clinton as crews respond to the fast-moving wildfire. Residents of Clinton were placed under an evacuation

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province will make changes to its Amber Alert system following the disappearance of 11-year-old Parker Wells, whose case has raised questions about how quickly alerts are issued. Parker Wells, who has autism, went missing on July 16. According to provincial officials, his case did not initially meet the existing criteria for an Amber Alert. Smith said an alert was issued as soon as the Calgary Police Service requested one. Smith said the provincial government plans to introduce legislative changes during the fall session that would give local police grea

At least 107 people have died and 344 others have been injured in Pakistan after weeks of heavy rainfall and flooding that began in late June, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The agency also reported that hundreds of homes have been damaged, with more heavy rain forecast in the coming days. According to the NDMA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 55 deaths, followed by Punjab province, where 36 people have died. The authority said more than half of the fatalities were caused by collapsing homes and roofs during the severe wea

Abbotsford Police have released a composite sketch of a suspect as part of an ongoing investigation into an attempted child abduction involving two young girls earlier this month. According to an Abbotsford Police news release, the incident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on July 22 outside an apartment complex at 33538 Marshall Road. Police said two girls under the age of 10 were playing outside when an unidentified man allegedly attempted to persuade them to get into his vehicle. The suspect fled after one of the children called out to her parents. Police confirmed that neither child was physica

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced federal byelections in three vacant ridings in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Voting will take place on Aug. 31, with advance polls scheduled from Aug. 21 to Aug. 24. According to the Office of the Prime Minister and Elections Canada, the vacant seats include North Vancouver–Capilano in British Columbia, Beaches–East York in Toronto, and Chicoutimi–Le Fjord in Quebec. The North Vancouver–Capilano seat became vacant after former Liberal MP Jonathan Wilkinson was appointed Canada's ambassador to the European Union. Beaches–East York was v