Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated India's first smog tower at Connaught Place here on Monday.Speaking in the programme, Kejriwal said, "To fight pollution, we have installed India's first smog tower in Delhi today. This technology has been imported from America, this is a 24-meter tall tower, will clean the air of one-kilometre range, will pull the air from above and release it downward, and will release 1000 square meters per second.""It is being installed as an experimental basis and the data will be analysed by IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay for about two years, and share the resul

B.C. is reporting 663 new cases of COVID-19, including seven epi-linked cases, for a total of 158,919 cases in the province.There are 6,345 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 150,657 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 129 individuals are in hospital and 59 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 24 hours, one new death (Fraser Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 1,785.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. There are 11 active outbreaks:- long-term care: Heritage Villa

Vancouver Police are investigating after a driver was injured during a violent and unprovoked assault by a panhandler earlier this month."We are extremely concerned by the random nature of this assault, which occurred in the middle of the day on a busy downtown street," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "We want people to be aware of this incident, and to contact us if they can identify the suspect."The frightening incident occurred around 1 p.m. on August 6, as a 25-year-old man was driving on West Georgia Street, near the Vancouver Art Gallery. A panhandler approached the front of his car, b

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021.Fires:Wildfires burning in B.C.: 254Since April 1, 2021:1,530 wildfires858,292 hectares of area burnedActive fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 30Coastal: 19Kamloops: 82Northwest: 5Prince George: 52Southeast: 66Resources:Firefighters and other personnel fighting the fires: 3,728Out-of-province firefighters: 520Helicopters and planes supporting ground crews: 206Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 75Evacuation alerts: 118 (-4)Properties:Number of properties on order:

Erin O'Toole says he believes doctors have the right to refuse some services if they object for reasons of conscience. But the federal Conservative leader told reporters in Winnipeg today that those doctors must then refer patients seeking services like abortion or medical assistance in dying to another provider. O'Toole had faced questions about his position on conscience rights for health professionals after a promise to uphold them appeared in his party's election platform. He accused Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau of trying to divide Canadians because of his attack on Conservatives over th

Justin Trudeau says a re-elected Liberal government would introduce 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers. At a campaign event in Winnipeg this morning, the Liberal leader said he also wants to work with lower levels of government so everyone qualifies for paid sick leave.The Liberals had previously introduced three days of paid personal leave for federally regulated workers. At a campaign event in Winnipeg this morning, the Liberal leader said no one should choose between staying safe and paying their bills.

The United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at land and ferry border crossings until Sept. 21.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says in a tweet the measures are being kept in effect to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant.It says it will keep ensuring "the flow of essential trade and travel" and keep working with health and medical experts, as well as international partners, to figure out when things can safely return to normal.The restrictions, which have been in place since March 2020, were set to expire Saturday.

B.C. is reporting 689 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 158,256 cases in the province.There are 5,982 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 150,377 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 121 individuals are in hospital and 56 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 24 hours, two new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 1,784. The new deaths include:Interior Health: oneNorthern Health: oneThere is one new long-term care facility outbreak at Heritage Village (Fraser Health). The outbreak a

A North Vancouver man is facing multiple criminal charges after a traffic stop nets drugs and a loaded firearm. On July 17th, 2021, a WVPD officer was travelling through North Vancouver when he conducted a traffic stop in the 1700 blk. of Main St. The driver, a North Vancouver resident, was found to be the subject of two arrest warrants, and he was taken into custody. A search of his vehicle yielded a loaded handgun, weapons, drugs packaged for sale, and police-like equipment including a holster, fake police badge, and gun belt. Some of the items had been hidden in secret compartments througho