To boost 'Ease of Doing Business' for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday approved a list of NOCs required for setting up of industry in the state.With this move, Punjab has become the first state in the country to take systematic proactive steps for improving ease of doing business in matters of NOCs to enable MSMEs to flourish and prosper in the state, an official release said.The Chief Minister had, in his Independence Day speech, announced the state government's decision to promote MSME business in the stat

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,434 new cases of COVID-19, including four epi-linked cases, for a total of 156,513 cases in the province:Aug. 13-14: 532 new casesAug. 14-15: 441 new casesAug. 15-16: 461 new casesThere are 5,090 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 149,553 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 104 individuals are in hospital and 47 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 72 hours, one new death (Fraser Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 1,780.There are 10 acti

Vancouver Police are investigating after a man’s throat was slashed by a stranger during an unprovoked attack in Mount Pleasant Sunday afternoon. "This attack appears to have been random, and it caused serious injuries to the victim," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "We believe there were a number of people in the area when it happened, and we’re asking anyone with information to contact VPD investigators."The victim, a 46-year-old man from Vancouver, was near Quebec Street and East 10th Avenue around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon when someone approached from behind and cut his throat, then wa

Vancouver Police arrested a 35 year old man Sunday morning, after two people were randomly assaulted while walking on Commercial Drive."These assaults appear to have been completely unprovoked," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "Fortunately, witnesses called 911 right away and VPD officers were able to arrest the suspect before anyone was seriously hurt."Police believe the suspect was walking near Broadway and Commercial Drive around 8 a.m. Sunday when he allegedly approached a 35-year-old man outside a fast-food restaurant and sexually assaulted him by groping him from behind. A number of pe

President Joe Biden says he stands ``squarely behind'' his decision for the U.S. to leave Afghanistan. Speaking about the chaotic situation in Kabul, Biden says he faced a choice between sticking with an agreement to leave or sending thousands more U.S. troops to fight a ``third decade'' of war. Biden spoke Monday after the planned withdrawal of American forces turned deadly at Kabul's airport as thousands tried to flee following the Taliban's swift takeover of the country. He told Americans it would be wrong to use US troops to stand up to the Taliban when Afghan forces would not. Biden retu

Fourteen people are safe after a harrowing incident off Gabriola Island just east of Nanaimo. An eight-metre boat began taking on water near Pilot Bay yesterday. A BC Ferry running between Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay was one of the many vessels that responded to the call. All 14 people were rescued while their crippled boat was towed to Nanaimo for repairs. BC Ferries on Twitter: #ServiceNotice UPDATE #Tsawwassen - #DukePoint #QueenOfAlberni is currently delayed 30 minutes due to assisting in a marine rescue for a vessel in distress. Details posted here: http://ow.ly/IAB130rR794 ^gh1:59 PM · A

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says Canada plans to send military aircraft back into Afghanistan to evacuate Canada-connected Afghans. But Trudeau says the airport in the capital, Kabul, must be secured to combat the chaos that currently exists there. Trudeau says Canadian military aircraft are on standby in Kuwait, waiting until the Kabul airport can be secured so they can extract Afghan citizens who helped the Canadian mission there. Afghans have been flocking to the Kabul airport, desperately trying to get out of the country. Several people are reported to have been killed as they frantical

Police say a male victim is in hospital after a shooting in Surrey, B.C. The RCMP say officers responded to a shots fired call on 152nd Street just after midnight. Police say a male with a gunshot wound was found at the scene and rushed to hospital. There was no immediate word on his condition. Investigators say the investigation is in its early stages, but they believe the victim was targeted. Mounties have been canvassing the neighbourhood, hoping to talk to possible witnesses.

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