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WorldAug 04, 2022

Tension escalates as more Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan's air defence zone

As the tensions escalated in the Taiwan strait in the wake of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, the Taiwanese Defence Ministry said that 22 Chinese military aircraft entered the island's air defence zone on Thursday. This is the third such incident since Pelosi's trip to Taipei. "22 PLA aircraft (J-11*8, SU-30*12 and J-16*2) entered the surrounding area of R.O.C. on August 4, 2022," Taiwan Defence Ministry said in a statement. Taiwan today strongly condemned China's "North Korea" style missile firing into waters near the self-governed island after China's People's Liberation Ar
WorldAug 04, 2022

Taliban probing US claim of killing Al-Qaeda chief

The Taliban on Thursday said that they had no information about slain Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri's arrival and stay in Kabul. On August 1, the US announced the killing of the Al-Qaeda chief in a safe house in the heart of the country's capital. Though the Islamic outfit confirmed the US drone strike in Kabul but denied the presence of the Al-Qaeda chief. The Taliban said that they have instructed their investigative and intelligence agencies to probe into the various aspects of the incident. "...an air strike was carried out on a residential house in Kabul city, two days later, US Pres
WorldAug 03, 2022

27 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan's air defence zone

China sent 27 aircraft to Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), the island's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday hours after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taipei following a high-stakes visit that has spiked tensions in the Taiwan Strait. As many as six J-11 fighter jets, five J-16 multirole fighters and 16 SU-30 multirole fighters entered the air defence zone today. "27 PLA aircraft (J-11*6, J-16*5 and SU-30*16) entered the surrounding area of R.O.C. on August 3, 2022," Taiwan Defense Ministry tweeted. This incursion after 21 Chinese military aircraft flew into the southwestern
WorldAug 03, 2022

Pelosi departs Taiwan after visit that fueled US-China rift

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed Taiwan on Wednesday after meeting with the president and other officials in a visit that heightened tensions with China. Pelosi and five other members of Congress were headed to South Korea, the next stop on an Asia tour that also includes Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. In Taiwan, she said her delegation was showing their commitment to the self-governing island that China claims and says must come under its control. China staged military drills after her arrival and called her visit a provocation that infringes on its sovereignty.
nancy-pelosis-plane-lands-in-taiwan-amid-china-threat
WorldAug 02, 2022

Nancy Pelosi's plane lands in Taiwan amid China threat

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's plane landed in Taiwan amid a heightened security threat from China, media reports said on Tuesday. China had warned the US that it will "pay the price" if Pelosi visits Taiwan, which is the highest level of US visits in more than two decades. "What I can tell you is, the US will definitely have to bear responsibility and pay the price for harming China's sovereignty and security interests," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing in Beijing adding that China will take "firm and powerful" measures in response. On Monday, US Natio
WorldJul 29, 2022

Ukrainian president observes 1st grain exports leaving

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday visited the Odesa region to observe the loading of grain as exports resume for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy observed a Turkish ship loaded with grain. “The first vessel, the first ship is being loaded since the beginning of the war,” Zelenskyy said. He said the export of grain will begin with the departure of several ships that were already loaded but could not depart the Ukrainian ports.
WorldJul 28, 2022

US Bank workers opened fake accounts for sales goals

NEW YORK : For more than a decade, US Bank pressured its employees to open fake accounts in their customers' names in order to meet unrealistic sales goals, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Thursday, in a case that is deeply similar to the sales practices scandal uncovered at Wells Fargo last decade. The CFPB alleged that US Bank accessed consumers credit reports to open checking and savings accounts, credit cards and lines of credit without their permission. Employees were encouraged to do so, in order to meet the bank's goals of selling multiple products to each customer with t
WorldJul 27, 2022

Strong earthquake hits northern Philippines, kills 5

A strong earthquake set off landslides and damaged buildings in the northern Philippines on Wednesday, killing at least five people and injuring dozens. In the capital, hospital patients were evacuated and terrified people rushed outdoors. The 7-magnitude quake was centered in a mountainous area of Abra province, said Renato Solidum, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, who described the midmorning shaking as a major earthquake. “The ground shook like I was on a swing and the lights suddenly went out. We rushed out of the office, and I heard screams and some of
WorldJul 27, 2022

Biden tests negative for COVID-19, ends 'strict isolation'

President Joe Biden is ending his COVID-19 isolation after testing negative for the virus on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday. That’s according to a letter the White House released Wednesday from Biden’s physician. Dr. Kevin O’Connor writes that Biden has completed his course of treatment with the drug Paxlovid and remains free of fever. O’Connor says that given those factors and the pair of negative tests, Biden will discontinue his “strict isolation” measures. In fact, Biden is scheduled to appear in the White House Rose Garden around midday Wednesday.

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CanadaAug 26, 2026

41-Year-Old Punjabi Man Satwant Soni Sangha Killed in Downtown Toronto

A 41-year-old Punjabi man, Satwant “Sonny” Sangha, has been identified as the victim of a homicide in downtown Toronto. According to the Toronto Police Service, officers responded to a call about a sudden death at around 1:43 a.m. on August 21, 2026, in the area of McGill Street and Church Street. Police attended a residence where a male victim was found deceased.  An autopsy was later conducted, and signs of trauma were found on Sangha’s body. Following the autopsy findings, the death was classified as a homicide. Police have identified the victim as Satwant “Sonny” Sangha, 41, o
eby-urges-ottawa-to-consider-tougher-non-tariff-measures-in-u-s-trade-dispute
BCAug 26, 2026

Eby urges Ottawa to consider tougher non-tariff measures in U.S. trade dispute

B.C. Premier David Eby is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal government to consider measures beyond retaliatory tariffs in response to the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. Eby said Canada should consider stronger non-tariff measures and indicated B.C. could impose a surcharge on energy exports to the U.S. or restrict those exports if necessary. The premier also called on Ottawa to review its plan to purchase U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. Eby argued that the current trade tensions should prompt a reassessment of the planned multibillion-dollar defence purchase. Eby also s
CanadaAug 25, 2026

Dingell Slams Trump Over Strained Canada-U.S. Relations, Urges Resumption of Talks

Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s policies amid worsening relations between Canada and the United States, saying it is an extremely disappointing time for the country when the president appears more comfortable strengthening ties with dictators than talking to one of America’s closest friends and allies. Dingell said Canada and the United States share the world’s longest international border and are connected by generations of friendship, family ties, democratic values and the geography of the Great Lakes. Her comments come
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BCAug 25, 2026

Wildfire Threat Eases in B.C. as Major Fires Drop to Just Three

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Brunswick Creek wildfire in the Fraser Canyon area is no longer considered a wildfire of note, after the threat posed by the blaze eased. The fire has now been removed from the province’s wildfire-of-note list, leaving just three major wildfires in B.C. The agency said, however, that firefighters are still working to fully contain the fire on the west side of the Fraser River. Meanwhile, the Ansley Creek wildfire on the east side of the river remains out of control and is one of the three remaining major wildfires in the province. The Bald Range wi
BCAug 25, 2026

Drug Toxicity Crisis in B.C.: 138 Deaths Reported in June 2026

Suspected unregulated drug toxicity claimed 138 lives in British Columbia in June 2026, according to preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service. That works out to approximately 4.6 deaths per day. During the first six months of 2026, people between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 68% of all drug-toxicity deaths in the province, while 75% of those who died were male. The Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities recorded the highest numbers of unregulated drug deaths in 2026, with 206 and 200 deaths respectively. Together, they accounted for 52% of all such deaths in the province.