BC government will start accepting applications next month for a new emergency benefit for workers affected by the COVID-19

Former Punjab chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amarinder Singh says the BJP will likely need to rebuild its ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal if it hopes to return to power in the state. Speaking about the party’s prospects, he suggested that forming a government without an alliance would be difficult in Punjab’s current political landscape. Singh said discussions on seat sharing between the BJP and the Akali Dal had nearly been finalized ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election but fell apart late in the process. He cautioned that if the two parties do not realign, the

Canada’s Defence Minister Anita Anand is travelling to Brussels this week for a series of high-level engagements with European Union and NATO officials, the federal government confirmed Monday. The trip marks a significant step in Ottawa’s ongoing efforts to deepen transatlantic cooperation on security, economic resilience and Arctic strategy. During her visit, Minister Anand is set to meet senior EU leaders on Tuesday. The agenda is expected to include discussions on strengthening supply chains, advancing shared economic-security objectives and coordinating further sanctions and measures

B.C. Premier David Eby and the federal government have committed 500,000 dollars each to support people affected by a rising number of extortion cases in the province. The announcement followed a roundtable meeting in Surrey on Friday, where officials discussed ongoing threats that have targeted residents and business owners in several communities. The meeting brought together Premier Eby, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, along with senior law enforcement representatives. Participants reviewed current investigations and explored ways to improve

Punjab has scheduled elections for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti bodies for December 14, introducing several procedural changes aimed at improving participation and oversight. The State Election Commission confirmed that ballots will be cast using paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines, marking a shift from recent local elections. Half of all seats will be reserved for women, a measure officials say is intended to strengthen representation and broaden community involvement in local governance. Vote counting is set for December 17. For the first time, each district will have a

Provincial conservation officers have captured two additional grizzly bears on British Columbia’s central coast as the search continues for the animal responsible for last week’s attack on a group of schoolchildren and their teachers near Bella Coola. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the bears are being held for assessment while forensic evidence from the attack site undergoes analysis. The incident left three students and a teacher with serious injuries during a field trip involving about 20 participants. Authorities believe a grizzly sow and two cubs may have been involved, and