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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

langley-rcmp-investigating-serious-crash-one-person-in-critical-condition
BCApr 22, 2026

Langley RCMP investigating serious crash; one person in critical condition

Langley RCMP say one person remains in critical, life-threatening condition following a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 264 Street and 24 Avenue on the morning of April 22. According to a Langley RCMP news release, officers were called to the scene at about 8:13 a.m., alongside the Township of Langley Fire Department and the British Columbia Ambulance Service. First responders provided emergency care before transporting the injured individual to hospital. Sgt. Zynal Sharoom said the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service has been deployed to assi
coquihalla-highway-reopens-after-trailer-fire-sparked-roadside-wildfire
BCApr 22, 2026

Coquihalla Highway reopens after trailer fire sparked roadside wildfire

The Coquihalla Highway has reopened between Hope and Merritt after a semi-trailer fire forced a closure for much of Tuesday, according to the provincial government. DriveBC, the Ministry of Transportation’s traveller information service, said the route reopened at about 7 p.m. Tuesday. In a post on the social media platform X, the agency said environmental cleanup was ongoing and advised motorists to use caution when travelling through the area. The highway was փակ Monday night after a semi-trailer became fully engulfed in flames and came to a stop on the right shoulder. The fire spread t
faa-reports-near-miss-between-air-canada-and-republic-airways-flights-at-jfk
CanadaApr 22, 2026

FAA reports near miss between Air Canada and Republic Airways flights at JFK

U.S. aviation regulators are investigating a near-miss incident involving an Air Canada jet and a Republic Airways flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said the Republic Airways pilots took evasive action after their aircraft missed its intended approach and came too close to the Air Canada plane. Both flight crews responded to onboard collision-avoidance alerts, the agency said. No injuries were reported. The FAA has not released further details on how close the aircraft came to each other or what factors contribu
surrey-police-investigate-overnight-shooting-at-residence-possible-extortion-link
BCApr 22, 2026

Surrey police investigate overnight shooting at residence, possible extortion link

Surrey Police Service says officers are investigating a shooting at a residential property early Wednesday that is believed to be linked to an extortion attempt. According to an SPS news release, frontline officers responded at approximately 12:40 a.m. to reports of shots fired at a home in the 13400 block of 87A Avenue, near King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue. Police confirmed that no occupants were injured, although the residence sustained damage and bullet casings were found outside. The file has been taken over by the Surrey Police Service Extortion Response Team, with Integrated Forensic
AlbertaApr 22, 2026

New trial ordered in Alberta homicide case after appeal court overturns murder conviction

Alberta’s Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial for a man previously convicted in the 2020 death of his common-law partner, finding legal errors in how intent was assessed at trial. In a decision released Friday, the court overturned Ryan Applegarth’s 2023 conviction for second-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Chantelle Firingstoney. According to the ruling, the trial judge did not make a required finding that Applegarth intended to kill, a key element for a murder conviction. Court records show Firingstoney died in November 2020 at her home in Ponoka, about 95 kilometres south