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BCJul 31, 2026

B.C. Supreme Court strikes down parts of Mental Health Act allowing treatment without consent

The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that portions of the province's Mental Health Act that allow patients to receive psychiatric treatment without their consent are unconstitutional, giving the provincial government six months to amend the legislation. Justice Lauren Blake found that British Columbia was the only province in Canada where patients could be subjected to psychiatric treatment without an assessment of their decision-making capacity. The court concluded that the provisions violate constitutional protections. The ruling comes as the B.C. government is pursuing plans to expand involunta
IndiaJul 31, 2026

India says Kartarpur Corridor to remain closed amid ongoing security concerns

The Government of India has said the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor will remain closed, citing the current security situation despite requests from Sikh religious organizations to reopen the cross-border pilgrimage route. The Ministry of External Affairs said it has received representations from Sikh religious groups seeking the reopening of the corridor. However, the ministry stated that prevailing security conditions have necessitated keeping the corridor closed. The issue was raised during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament by Members of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Gurmeet Sing
CanadaJul 31, 2026

Indian student in Canada sentenced to four years in U.S. senior fraud scheme

A 22-year-old Indian national who was studying in Canada has been sentenced to four years in prison in the United States after being convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a multimillion-dollar fraud targeting seniors. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Roshan Shah entered the United States multiple times on a visitor visa while studying in Canada and collected approximately US$3.7 million from 15 elderly victims in several states. Authorities allege the scheme relied on callers based in India who falsely claimed the victims' identities had been linked to c
BCJul 31, 2026

Swimmer dies after rescue from Okanagan Lake

A swimmer who was pulled from Okanagan Lake at Hot Sands Beach in Kelowna has died in hospital, marking the sixth drowning-related death in the lake over the past 40 days. According to police, the swimmer suffered a medical emergency while in the water on Wednesday. Bystanders brought the person ashore before emergency crews transported them to Kelowna General Hospital in critical condition. The swimmer died in hospital the following day. RCMP Cpl. Steven Lang said investigators have found no evidence to suggest the incident is suspicious or criminal in nature. The B.C. Coroners Service is con
WorldJul 31, 2026

25 killed, 44 injured after passenger bus overturns in Algeria

At least 25 people were killed and 44 others injured after a passenger bus overturned in Algeria's Boomerdes province on Friday, according to the country's Civil Protection Agency. Officials said the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment following the crash. Authorities have not released details on what caused the bus to overturn. Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited Boomerdes University Hospital to meet with those injured in the crash and assess the situation, according to officials. The cause of the crash has not been officially determined. Authorities said an inv
canadas-economy-grew-0-3-in-may-second-quarter-annualized-growth-estimated-at-3-4
CanadaJul 31, 2026

Canada's economy grew 0.3% in May, second-quarter annualized growth estimated at 3.4%

Canada's economy expanded by 0.3 per cent in May, exceeding market expectations of 0.1 per cent, according to data released Friday by Statistics Canada. The increase follows a 0.6 per cent gain recorded in April, marking a second consecutive month of economic growth. Statistics Canada said the latest figures point to an estimated annualized growth rate of 3.4 per cent for the second quarter of 2026. The estimate is preliminary and will be updated as additional data become available. According to the agency, growth in May was led by a 1.0 per cent increase in the mining, quarrying, and oil and
AlbertaJul 31, 2026

High River man charged with first-degree murder in woman's death

A 36-year-old High River man has been charged with first-degree murder following the fatal shooting of a woman in what RCMP are investigating as a domestic homicide. According to High River RCMP, the victim has been identified as Cayla Bleeker. Police identified the accused as Jarrett Stobbe, 36. Both were residents of High River. RCMP said officers responded to two separate calls from a residence on 112 Street East on Tuesday. Police said Stobbe first contacted RCMP at about 6 p.m., making allegations against Bleeker that investigators later determined were unfounded. A second emergency call
WorldJul 31, 2026

Four bodies recovered after Broad Peak avalanche as search continues for missing climbers

Pakistani rescue teams have recovered four bodies from the site of an avalanche on Broad Peak, where 10 international climbers were reported missing, according to two senior Pakistani government officials. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said search operations continued Friday for the remaining six missing climbers. Recovery efforts have been hampered by severe weather in the mountainous region. Authorities have not identified the four people whose bodies were recovered. According to Pakistani officials, teams are working t
prime-minister-carney-announces-10b-investment-to-expand-port-of-vancouver-capacity
CanadaJul 30, 2026

Prime Minister Carney announces $10B investment to expand Port of Vancouver capacity

Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the Port of Vancouver in Delta on Thursday, where he announced a proposed $10 billion federal investment to expand the port's capacity and strengthen Canada's access to international markets beyond the United States. According to the Prime Minister, the expansion project is intended to increase Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets by 50 per cent, with a focus on agricultural products and other key commodities. The federal government says the investment is aimed at improving Canada's trade infrastructure and supporting long-term economic growth. Carney said th

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CanadaOct 20, 2026

Canada’s Economic Growth Forecast Cut Amid U.S. Tariffs, Budget Deficit Expected to Rise

Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) has lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing the impact of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Canada’s retaliatory measures. According to the federal budget watchdog’s latest report, Canada’s real GDP is expected to grow by 0.9 per cent in 2026 and 1.5 per cent in 2027. The PBO had previously forecast growth of 1.1 per cent for 2026 and 1.6 per cent for 2027 in June. The report also projects an increase in Canada’s budget deficit following the breakdown of trade negotiations between Canada and the Unit
bsf-arrests-gunman-of-former-punjab-mla-kulbir-singh-zira-with-opium
IndiaOct 20, 2026

BSF Arrests Gunman of Former Punjab MLA Kulbir Singh Zira With Opium

The Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly arrested the gunman of former Punjab Congress MLA Kulbir Singh Zira with opium in Ferozepur district. Aam Aadmi Party leader Baltej Pannu shared the information on social media. However, the identity of the arrested individual, the quantity of opium seized, and further details about the case have not yet been disclosed.
alberta-referendum-majority-support-immigration-and-constitutional-reform-proposals
AlbertaOct 20, 2026

Alberta Referendum: Voters Back Several Government Proposals

Preliminary results from Alberta’s referendum on nine questions related to immigration and constitutional reforms show majority support for most of the provincial government’s proposals. About 58.6 per cent of voters supported giving Alberta greater control over immigration. Meanwhile, 57 per cent backed restricting access to services such as health care and education to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, while charging temporary residents fees for these services. A total of 58.4 per cent supported requiring temporary residents to live in Alberta for 12 months before qualifying for
alberta-voters-reject-separation-from-canada-76-vote-to-stay
AlbertaOct 20, 2026

Alberta Voters Reject Separation from Canada, 76% Vote to Stay

Alberta voters have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to separate from Canada in a referendum, with preliminary results indicating that approximately 76 per cent voted to remain in the country, while only 24 per cent supported initiating the separation process. Following the historic vote, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith thanked Albertans, describing the result as a victory for a united and strong Canada. Carney said the strong support for remaining in Canada sent a clear message that Albertans had chosen unity, cooperation and standing together as a country. He
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BCOct 20, 2026

Abbotsford Double Murder Sentencing Delayed Until February 2027

The sentencing hearing for Abhijeet Singh, Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Toor, convicted of the first-degree murders of 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and his 76-year-old wife, Joanne De Jong, has been postponed until February 2027. The couple were killed during a home invasion at their Abbotsford residence nearly four years ago. The three men were found guilty of first-degree murder in May, an offence that carries a mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years. However, the three convicted men have sought the right to apply for early parole under the Criminal Code’s “faint-h