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BCAug 07, 2026

Premier Eby addresses wildfire response, confirms arrival of international firefighting crews

Premier David Eby addressed reporters in Abbotsford on Thursday evening following continued questions about his public absence during British Columbia's ongoing wildfire emergency. During the news conference, Eby issued an update on the province's wildfire response and confirmed the arrival of additional international firefighting personnel. According to the premier, a second contingent of firefighters from Mexico, Australia and New Zealand has arrived in British Columbia to support wildfire suppression efforts. The crews will work alongside personnel from Alberta, Quebec and Yukon to strength
BCAug 07, 2026

B.C. considers cutting development charges to spur housing construction in high-growth communities

The British Columbia government is considering reducing development cost charges to encourage the construction of new homes in the province's fastest-growing communities. Housing Minister Christine Boyle confirmed the province is in discussions with the federal government on a proposal that would reduce development cost charges by up to 50 per cent for multi-unit housing projects in rapidly growing municipalities. According to the minister, the plan also includes exploring options to offset the funding shortfall municipalities would face if the fees are reduced. Development cost charges are pa
AlbertaAug 07, 2026

Two correctional officers and inmate die during transfer from Edmonton women's prison, CSC says

Correctional Service Canada says two correctional officers and an inmate have died during a transfer from the Edmonton Institution for Women. The federal agency announced the deaths Thursday in a social media post, describing the incident as a "tragic accident." It did not say when the deaths occurred or provide details about how the three people were killed. According to Correctional Service Canada, the transfer involved the Edmonton Institution for Women, a multi-level facility in west Edmonton that houses minimum- and medium-security inmates. No additional information about the circumstance
CanadaAug 07, 2026

CBSA spent nearly $1 million on private jets for deportation and detainee transfers, report says

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) spent nearly $1 million over a two-year period chartering private aircraft to deport foreign nationals or transfer detainees within Canada, according to a report by The Globe and Mail citing internal CBSA documents. The report says the agency chartered a Dassault Falcon 900EX private jet in January 2022 to deport three individuals at a cost of approximately $438,000. According to the internal records reviewed by The Globe and Mail, the aircraft was used for a single removal operation. The documents also indicate that in September 2022, CBSA paid $130,432 to
BCAug 07, 2026

RCMP seek public's help after suspected series of fires at Kelowna park

The RCMP are asking the public for assistance after investigators identified a series of suspected deliberately set fires at Gopher Creek Linear Park in Kelowna. According to the RCMP, several small fires were discovered in close proximity inside the park at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. People who were in the park and nearby residents spotted the fires and extinguished them before notifying the fire department, preventing any significant damage. Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the park or near the Gallagher Road and Lynrick Road area that afternoon
BCAug 07, 2026

Nova Scotia to ban e-bikes and e-scooters for children under 14 starting this fall

Nova Scotia will prohibit children under the age of 14 from operating e-bikes and e-scooters beginning this fall as part of amendments to the province's Traffic Safety Act. Public Works Minister Fred Tilley announced the new minimum age requirement, saying the changes are intended to improve road safety as electric mobility devices become faster and more widely used. According to the provincial announcement, the updated rules respond to advances in technology that allow many e-bikes and e-scooters to travel at significantly higher speeds than conventional bicycles. The changes come as injuries
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CanadaAug 07, 2026

Canada adds 75,000 jobs in July as unemployment rate falls to two-year low

Canada's economy added 75,000 jobs in July, bringing the national unemployment rate down to 6.4 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. The agency said the unemployment rate is now at its lowest level in two years. The latest Labour Force Survey marks the third consecutive monthly decline in unemployment. Since April, the jobless rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points. The July employment gain also exceeded economists' expectations, with forecasts having called for approximately 15,000 new jobs. Statistics Canada reported that both full-time and part-time employment contributed almost equa
BCAug 06, 2026

Fort St. John RCMP investigate second targeted drive-by shooting in recent weeks

RCMP are investigating a targeted drive-by shooting in Fort St. John that damaged several properties but did not result in any reported injuries. The incident marks the second targeted shooting in the city within the past few weeks. According to Fort St. John RCMP, officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 1:37 a.m. Thursday in the 9800 block of 108 Avenue, near the city's downtown area. Investigators found bullet damage to a travel trailer, two nearby homes and a vehicle. Police said no injuries were reported. As of publication, investigators have not released a description of any sus
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CanadaAug 06, 2026

Federal government restores full health coverage for refugees and asylum claimants

The federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has reversed recent cuts to health coverage for refugees and asylum claimants, restoring full benefits under the Interim Federal Health Program. New rules introduced on May 1, 2026 required eligible refugees to pay a $4 co-payment for prescription medications. The changes also required them to cover 30 per cent of the cost of supplemental services, including dental care, vision care, physiotherapy and mental health services. The policy drew criticism from frontline physicians, human rights organizations and community advocates, who argued

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BCAug 24, 2026

More Than 60 New Wildfires Sparked by Lightning in B.C.; 50 Flights Cancelled at Vancouver Airport

More than 7,000 lightning strikes across British Columbia over the weekend sparked more than 60 new wildfires across the province. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, around 67 new fires were reported over the past 24 hours. However, rainfall brought by the thunderstorms helped prevent the fires from spreading, and most of the new blazes have been brought under control. The severe thunderstorms also disrupted operations at Vancouver International Airport. For safety reasons, airport operations were suspended from 9:30 p.m. Saturday until 2:55 a.m. Sunday. The disruption left thousands of p
rahul-gandhi-likely-to-visit-punjab-in-first-week-of-september-congress-plans-bus-yatra
IndiaAug 24, 2026

Rahul Gandhi Likely to Visit Punjab in First Week of September, Congress Plans Bus Yatra

Ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Punjab in the last week of August or the first week of September. Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel shared the information after meeting Rahul Gandhi. During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to Punjab and preparations for a special bus yatra across the state were discussed. According to Baghel, a roadmap for the bus yatra has been discussed and preparations for Rahul Gandhi’s visit are underway. During the proposed bus yatra, Rahul Gandhi is expected to travel
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CanadaAug 24, 2026

Doug Ford Warns U.S. Could Lose Ontario’s Electricity and Critical Minerals Amid Escalating Trade War

Amid the latest escalation in the Canada-U.S. trade war, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has warned that the province could cut off electricity and critical mineral supplies to the United States if President Donald Trump’s trade measures push the situation into a more serious phase. Following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to step back from trade talks with the United States late Friday, Ford said that “everything is on the table” as Canada considers possible retaliatory measures. Ford warned that Ontario has important resources that the United States relies on, including electricity
WorldAug 24, 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping May Visit India With Large Delegation for BRICS Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping may attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi next month with a large delegation. If the visit takes place, it would be his first trip to India in nearly seven years and could be seen as another sign of improving relations between India and China. India is scheduled to host the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. According to Indian officials, Chinese officials are working to finalize hotel arrangements and security preparations for Xi’s potential visit. Xi could be accompanied by a delegation of around 400 officials, compared with fewer than 200 officia
BCAug 24, 2026

Kamloops Single-Vehicle Crash Claims Life of 22-Year-Old Woman

A 22-year-old Kamloops woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday evening. According to Kamloops RCMP, police were called to the 7000 block of Westsyde Road at around 6 p.m. after receiving reports of a crash. When Kamloops Fire and Rescue crews arrived, they found the vehicle off the road and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. First responders declared the 22-year-old Kamloops resident, who was driving the vehicle, dead at the scene. Kamloops RCMP said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Police are asking anyone who may have important infor