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two-major-wildfires-in-northeast-b-c-are-downgraded-leaving-just-one-fire-of-note
BCJun 19, 2025

Two major wildfires in northeast B.C. are downgraded, leaving just one fire of note

Two of the three most significant wildfires in British Columbia have been downgraded and are no longer considered fires of note. They include the 263-square-kilometre Kiskatinaw River wildfire in northeastern B.C., which was deemed on Wednesday to be no longer out of control. The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire northwest of Fort. St. John, the biggest blaze in B.C. at more than 1,500 square kilometres, has also lost wildfire-of-note status, having earlier been removed from the out-of-control stage. Both fires are now considered to be held, meaning they aren't expected to grow beyond current perime
arrest-at-sea-suspect-in-stolen-boat-arrested-after-allegedly-firing-flares-at-police-attempting-to-ram-police-vessel
BCJun 19, 2025

Suspect in stolen boat arrested after allegedly firing flares at police, attempting to ram police vessel

A 25-year-old man has been arrested after a dangerous incident involving a stolen fishing boat that allegedly attempted to ram and evade a police vessel off the coast of Prince Rupert. On the evening of Monday, June 16, 2025 reports were received that the fishing boat, which had been reported stolen out of Port Hardy a day earlier, had been spotted south of Prince Rupert. RCMP Patrol Vessel Inkster and a West Coast Marine Services vessel responded and attempted to intercept the stolen boat, but it did not stop. The situation quickly escalated, becoming increasingly dangerous as the boat operat
b-c-ndp-caucus-asks-rcmp-to-investigate-rustads-claim-of-mla-blackmailers
BCJun 19, 2025

B.C. NDP caucus asks RCMP to investigate Rustad's claim of MLA blackmailers

The chair of British Columbia's NDP caucus has written to the RCMP requesting an investigation into allegations that former members of the Opposition tried to blackmail ex-colleagues. The letter from Stephanie Higginson to Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald comes after B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad confirmed the authenticity of a letter to his caucus warning about the alleged blackmail by three MLAs and their staff. Higginson says in the open letter written on behalf of the NDP caucus that there's a significant public interest in determining the facts. She says if any MLA or their staf
canadian-food-inspection-agency-finds-rare-disease-at-b-c-commercial-pigeon-premises
BCJun 19, 2025

Canadian Food Inspection Agency finds rare disease at B.C. commercial pigeon premises

Canada's food inspection agency says it has uncovered a case of Newcastle disease at a commercial pigeon operation in Chilliwack, B.C., requiring the birds to be culled and the premises to be disinfected.The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the virus affects both wild and domestic birds and can cause pink eye in humans. It says the ailment is of great concern to the world's agricultural community since it's highly contagious and threatens poultry. The agency says mild strains affect domestic poultry and pigeons and more severe strains can kill chickens.It says Newcastle disease can decreas
city-of-surrey-launches-a-pilot-to-streamline-pre-applications-for-development
BCJun 18, 2025

City of Surrey launches a pilot to streamline pre-applications for development

The City of Surrey has launched a pilot pre-application process as part of the ongoing efforts to streamline development application approvals. The pilot pre-application process, includes: Centralized pre-application submissions Reduced target timeline of five weeks Targeted and streamlined feedback The City says, the pilot pre-application process replaces the existing Design Review Group (DRG) as the process to review pre-applications. Pre-applications are not required however, pre-applications lead to improved application submissions that ultimately help reduce project timelines and are s
area-restriction-issued-for-kiskatinaw-bc-wildfire-service
BCJun 18, 2025

Area restriction issued for Kiskatinaw: BC Wildfire Service

The B-C Wildfire Service says it has issued an area restriction around the Kiskatinaw (kiss-KAT'-in-aw) River wildfirenear the B-C-Alberta border. The service says the restriction takes effect this morning and will last until October, restricting entry to a large swath of Crown land where the fire has spurred evacuation orders and alerts. The wildfire service says the blaze is now more than 265-square kilometres in size, and the restriction bars people from entering unless they're travelling to and from home, using a highway or entering to support fire suppression activities. It says those wh
premier-eby-says-deal-to-hire-chinese-shipyard-not-preferred-but-will-not-interfere
BCJun 18, 2025

Premier Eby says deal to hire Chinese shipyard not "preferred" but will not interfere

B.C. Premier David Eby says he shares the concerns of union leaders who have criticized BC Ferries' decision to build four large ferries in China. But Eby says he will not interfere with the company's decision to contract a Chinese shipyard owned by the Communist government to build four new ferries, calling the vessels "urgently needed" despite the deal not being his "preferred outcome." The decision by BC Ferries, a company that operates independently of the provincial government but is wholly owned by it, has drawn widespread criticism from groups including the BC Federation of Labour. It h
weekend-rain-cooler-conditions-allow-crews-to-make-progress-on-b-c-wildfires
BCJun 16, 2025

Weekend rain, cooler conditions allow crews to make progress on B.C. wildfires

Firefighters are marking success in opposite corners of British Columbia after favourable weather this weekend allowed crews to rein in two prominent fires that have triggered evacuation orders and alerts. The BC Wildfire Service says crews remain on the scene in Squamish, B.C., to extinguish hot spots from the Dryden Creek fire, which was declared to be no longer out of control on Saturday. The District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre along with Squamish Fire Rescue have rescinded most evacuation alerts, though one remains in effect for properties on Dryden Road east. The wildfire ser
man-presumed-drowned-after-disappearing-in-metro-vancouver-lake
BCJun 16, 2025

Man presumed drowned after disappearing in Metro Vancouver lake

Police in West Vancouver say a 29-year-old man is presumed to have drowned after going missing while swimming across a lake in Cypress Provincial Park. They say BC Emergency Health Services and North Shore Rescue reported the man missing to the department around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Police say the man, who was from Burnaby, was swimming across Cabin Lake with his fiancée when he "began to struggle." They say several witnesses saw the man in distress and his companion trying to help him before the man slipped beneath the surface and disappeared. A news release from the department says North Shore

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WorldJul 04, 2025

Russia becomes the first country to formally recognize Taliban rule in Afghanistan

Russia on Thursday became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan since it seized power in 2021, after Moscow removed the group from its list of outlawed organizations. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it had received credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed Ambassador Gul Hassan Hassan. The official recognition of the Afghan government will foster “productive bilateral cooperation between our countries,” the ministry said in a statement. Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry called it a historic step, and quoted Taliban Foreign Minis
two-suspects-arrested-in-ongoing-lower-mainland-extortion-investigation
BCJul 03, 2025

Two suspects arrested in ongoing Lower Mainland extortion investigation

The RCMP is now able to publicly confirm the existence of an ongoing investigation into extortions, which is being managed by a Joint Force Operation (JFO). The investigation, that began in 2024, has led to the arrest of two individuals. On July 3, 2025, two suspects under investigation for extortion were arrested for careless discharge of a firearm and arson in relation to incidents that occurred in 2024, in Surrey, BC. Since late 2023, police across the Lower Mainland have been investigating a series of targeted financial extortions primarily affecting members of the South Asian business com
wheel-fell-off-rcmp-trailer-igniting-lytton-b-c-fire-that-triggered-evacuations
BCJul 03, 2025

Wheel fell off RCMP trailer, igniting Lytton, B.C., fire that triggered evacuations

Mounties say a wildfire that has triggered evacuations near Lytton, B.C. was caused when a wheel fell off an RCMP trailer in a "tremendously unfortunate" incident. Staff Sgt. Kris Clark says in a statement that the "equipment failure" that ignited the Izman Creek fire, about 250 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, happened on Tuesday afternoon on Highway 12. The wildfire began a day after the fourth anniversary of a blaze that destroyed most of the village of Lytton, and it's now grown to 130 hectares and has been upgraded to the only wildfire of note in the province. Clark says it appears the
political-petting-zoo-politicos-arrive-to-flip-pancakes-at-calgary-stampede
AlbertaJul 03, 2025

Politicians arrive to flip pancakes at Calgary Stampede

The first political pancakes have been flipped as party leaders from around Canada gather for the Calgary Stampede. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek led an early morning crowd through a series of ``Yahoos'' to herald the start of the rodeo that dubs itself The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. The 10-day event is an annual staple for politicos of all stripes as they hit what's commonly known as the summer barbecue circuit. Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says he calls Stampede a``political petting zoo'' and to get away from that, he says he has encourage
alberta-reaches-settlement-with-two-coal-companies-suing-over-policy-flip-flop
AlbertaJul 03, 2025

Alberta reaches settlement with two coal companies suing over policy flip-flop

Two coal companies suing Alberta's government over its mining policy flip-flop say they've reached a settlement agreement with the province. Notices published online by Evolve Power and Atrum Coal say the details are confidential and no dollar figures are disclosed. Atrum says its agreement is definitive but Evolve says the terms of its own settlement are still being finalized. The companies are among five that are suing Alberta for a collective $16 billion. The companies argue that Alberta effectively expropriated their land after it suddenly reinstated its long-standing coal polic