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BCAug 16, 2021

268 wildfires burning in B.C.

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.Fires:Since April 1, 2021:1,511 wildfires766,709 hectaresCurrently burning: 268Active fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 32Coastal: 21Kamloops: 86Northwest: 5Prince George: 60Southeast: 64Resources:Total personnel: 3,701Contract firefighters: 1,236Out-of-province personnel: 480Aircraft (rotary and fixed-wing): 213Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 74 (+13)Evacuation alerts: 119 (-1)Properties:Number of properties on order: 6,607 (+717)Number of properties on alert: 1
toll-from-earthquake-in-haiti-rises-to-1-297
WorldAug 16, 2021

Toll from earthquake in Haiti rises to 1,297

Haitians are searching for survivors and the dead in collapsed buildings following the powerful earthquake over the weekend as hospitals overflow with patients. Thousands of people in the quake zone have slept outside, clutching small transistor radios tuned to the news. Officials have raised the death toll from Saturday's earthquake to at least 1,297. And the devastation could soon worsen. Tropical Depression Grace is predicted to reach Haiti on Monday night and it will bring the potential for heavy rain, flooding and landslides. The country's Civil Protection Agency says the magnitude 7.2 e
CanadaAug 16, 2021

First full day of Canada's election campaign begins with economic pledges

The federal parties are beginning to lay out their plans to revive the country's economy after months of pain from the COVID-19 pandemic.The Liberals are promising to extend a hiring credit first unveiled in their recent budget, aimed at boosting payrolls.Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole laid out his party's full platform, which similarly aims to create jobs, but also unwinds the Trudeau government's child-care system.Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is promising to pry money out of the pockets of CEOs who saw their compensation rise even as their companies received federal business aid.The
us-officials-say-7-killed-in-kabul-airport-evacuation-chaos
WorldAug 16, 2021

US officials say 7 killed in Kabul airport evacuation chaos

Senior U.S. military officials say the chaos at the Kabul airport this morning left seven people dead, including some who fell from a departing American military transport jet. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss ongoing operations. Afghans rushed onto the tarmac of the capital's airport on Monday as thousands tried to flee the country after the Taliban seized power with stunning speed. Some clung to the side of a U.S. military plane before takeoff, in a widely shared video that captured the sense of desperation as America's 20-yea
indias-cumulative-covid-19-vaccination-coverage-exceeds-54-58-cr
IndiaAug 16, 2021

India's cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 54.58 cr

India's cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 54.58 crores, said the Central government on Monday. As per the data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 54,58,57,108 vaccine doses have been administered through 61,54,235 sessions out of which 17,43,114 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours. The country's recovery rate stands at 97.48 per cent and out of the people infected since the beginning of the pandemic, 3,14,11,924 have already recovered from COVID-19, and 35,909 patients recovered in the last 24 hours. The data revealed that 32,937 new cas
navjot-singh-sidhu-appoints-pargat-singh-as-ppcc-general-secretary
IndiaAug 16, 2021

Navjot Singh Sidhu appoints Pargat Singh as PPCC general secretary

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has appointed Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) general secretary (Organisation).A circular issued by Sidhu stated, "With the approval of Hon'ble Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) Sh. K.C. Venugopal and Punjab Congress in-charge Sh. Harish Rawat, I hereby appoint S. Pargat Singh as PPCC General Secretary (Organisation) with immediate effect."Former hockey captain-turned-politician Singh is considered a close confidant of Sidhu. Singh was earlier with S
CanadaAug 14, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine to be mandatory for federal employees

Ottawa is requiring that federal employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. Dominic LeBlanc, president of the Privy Council, says the government expects employers in federally regulated industries to do the same. There are close to half a million people who work directly for the federal government, a Crown corporation, the military or the RCMP.Nearly a million more work in federally regulated industries, which includes banks and airlines.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a week ago that he had asked the clerk of the Privy Council, the nation's top bureaucrat, to consider the mandate. Tran
b-c-reports-717-new-covid-19-cases
BCAug 13, 2021

B.C. reports 717 new COVID-19 cases

B.C. is reporting 717 new cases of COVID-19, including 11 epi-linked cases, for a total of 155,079 cases in the province.There are 4,277 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 148,964 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 82 individuals are in hospital and 39 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:140 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 821101 new cases in Vancouver Coastal HealthTotal active cases: 593376 new cases in Interior HealthTotal active cases: 2,44660 new cases in Nort
police-remind-public-open-alcohol-not-permitted
BCAug 13, 2021

Police remind public open alcohol not permitted

As we head into a warm and sunny weekend, Vancouver Police are reminding everyone that open alcohol in public places is prohibited."Generally speaking, we have seen a substantial increase in open consumption of alcohol in the downtown core, despite there being designated spaces set out by the City of Vancouver," says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD.Along the Granville Entertainment District, officers report a 607 per cent increase in liquor pour outs since June 1, compared to the same period last year, and an 84 per cent increase since 2019."The Granville Mall is a place people are congregating

Just In

some-residents-may-remain-in-b-c-landslide-evacuation-zone-after-road-access-cut
BCApr 21, 2026

Some residents may remain in B.C. landslide evacuation zone after road access cut

Some residents may still be inside an evacuation zone in northeastern British Columbia after road access was closed due to landslide risk, according to the Peace River Regional District. In a social media update, the regional district said a co-ordinated evacuation took place Monday night in the community of Old Fort, about five kilometres south of Fort St. John, but some residents may not have left the area. Authorities are urging anyone still inside the zone to conserve supplies and stay away from the slide area. The district declared a state of local emergency and issued an evacuation order
afn-chief-asks-un-to-oppose-b-c-move-to-amend-indigenous-rights-law
BCApr 21, 2026

AFN chief asks UN to oppose B.C. move to amend Indigenous rights law

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called on the United Nations on Tuesday to support First Nations leaders opposing proposed changes to British Columbia’s Indigenous rights law. Speaking at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the province’s plan to amend or suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act violates international standards. According to her remarks to the forum, First Nations rights are protected under international human rights law and “cannot be suspended, amended or paused by
drug-package-disguised-as-grass-patch-found-inside-mission-institution-rcmp-investigating
BCApr 21, 2026

Drug package disguised as grass patch found inside Mission Institution, RCMP investigating

Corrections officers at Mission Institution in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley seized a package containing suspected drugs and contraband after it was discovered inside the prison grounds earlier this month, according to police. The RCMP said in a news release that staff located the package on April 9 after it had been dropped over the facility’s perimeter fence overnight. The parcel was disguised to resemble a patch of loose turf, with real cut grass attached to the outside of a bubble mailer to blend in with the surrounding ground. According to police, the package contained more than 30
federal-government-tables-bill-to-regulate-space-launches-from-canada
CanadaApr 21, 2026

Federal government tables bill to regulate space launches from Canada

The federal government has introduced legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for launching spacecraft from Canadian territory. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon tabled the proposed Canadian Space Launch Act on Tuesday. According to a Transport Canada technical briefing, the legislation would give the federal government authority to oversee both launches and the re-entry of spacecraft. Officials said the proposed rules are intended to enable launches of satellites and rockets from within Canada, supporting both civilian and military applications. The framework would also set
surrey-memorial-expands-chemotherapy-capacity-with-six-new-treatment-chairs
BCApr 21, 2026

Surrey Memorial expands chemotherapy capacity with six new treatment chairs

Surrey Memorial Hospital has added six new chemotherapy treatment chairs, bringing the total to 39, in an effort to address growing demand for cancer care in the region. According to health officials, the expansion will allow up to 420 additional patients to receive treatment each month. Dr. Sylvie Bourque, executive medical director at BC Cancer’s Surrey centre, said demand for chemotherapy services in Surrey continues to rise. She said the expanded capacity is expected to help the hospital meet a key target: starting first treatment for more than 90 per cent of patients within two weeks of