SHER E PUNJAB

August 1, 2026

BC to launch first grid-scale battery energy storage system

BC Hydro is taking a major step toward delivering British Columbia's first grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project by launching a competitive procurement process to identify qualified suppliers with the expertise and experience to design and deliver a grid-scale BESS on Vancouver Island. The Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ), opening on July 30, 2026, marks the beginning of the procurement process and will help identify leading BESS suppliers capable of delivering a safe, reliable and cost-effective facility. Located adjacent to the Vancouver Island Terminal Substation near Duncan, the BESS project is expected to provide at least 100 megawatts of battery storage capacity to support the growing electricity needs of Vancouver Island and the province. "British Columbia's economy and population continue to grow, and so does demand for clean, reliable electricity,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “Launching this supplier qualification process is an important milestone as we move from planning to delivery on BC Hydro's first grid-scale battery energy storage system. Battery storage will help strengthen reliability, improve flexibility and ensure we can make the most of our existing electricity infrastructure while supporting the energy needs of British Columbians for years to come." The project is a key component of BC Hydro's Powering Growth plan and reflects BC Hydro’s commitment to investing in innovative technologies that help maximize the value of existing infrastructure while supporting a cleaner, more flexible energy system. Moving from planning to procurementBattery energy storage systems charge when electricity demand is lower and deliver electricity back to the grid when demand is highest. As demand for clean electricity continues to increase across British Columbia, battery storage will play an increasingly important role in supporting reliability, increasing system flexibility and helping BC Hydro make the most of existing infrastructure. The RFSQ will evaluate suppliers based on their experience, technical expertise and demonstrated ability to successfully design and deliver grid-scale BESS projects. BC Hydro expects to identify a shortlist of qualified suppliers that may be invited to participate in future competitive procurement processes, including the Vancouver Island Terminal Project and other potential BESS projects across British Columbia. Launching the procurement process represents a significant milestone for the project, advancing it from planning into the market engagement phase and creating an opportunity for experienced suppliers to compete to help deliver this important piece of energy infrastructure. BC Hydro expects to own and operate the BESS facility while leveraging private-sector expertise through a competitive procurement process for design, construction and potentially long-term maintenance services. Ownership will allow BC Hydro to directly operate and dispatch the asset when and where it is needed most to support customers and maintain system reliability. "This procurement process marks an exciting step forward for BC Hydro and for battery storage in British Columbia,” said Charlotte Mitha, President and CEO of BC Hydro. “We are inviting experienced suppliers to help deliver a project that will strengthen reliability on Vancouver Island and provide valuable flexibility for our entire electricity system. As demand for clean electricity continues to grow, battery storage will become an increasingly important tool to help us serve customers and get the most value from our existing infrastructure." Supporting a growing clean energy futureThe Vancouver Island BESS project is targeted to be in service by 2030 and will help ensure BC Hydro’s electricity system is prepared to support continued growth from homes, businesses and communities across the region. “Growth on Vancouver Island is creating new opportunities, from housing and business development to major economic investments," said Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Climate Solutions and MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville George Anderson. “Behind it all is the need for reliable electricity. It's what keeps people safe, communities connected and the island's economy moving."

Man arrested after allegedly brandishing firearm at coffee shop

Canada

July 31, 2026

Man arrested after allegedly brandishing firearm at coffee shop

At approximately 6:00am on July 30, the New Westminster Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call after someone brandished a firearm at a coffee shop patron on the patio of a business in the Columbia Square shopping centre. Police determined the suspect fled across Columbia Street, through a hole in the fence, and across the railway tracks.Officers rushed to the area to locate the suspect. An NWPD drone was deployed to aid in the search. The suspect was located alongside the train tracks in the bushes and arrested thanks to the help of the Lower Mainland District Integrated Police Dog Service. At the time of his arrest the suspect was found to be in possession of prohibited weapons, knives, and cans of bear spray. An area search later located the firearm.“This is the second time within a week our officers have seized a firearm,” stated Sergeant Andrew Leaver. “This was a quick and coordinated response by New Westminster Police Department officers.”The New Westminster Police Department would like to thank the Lower Mainland District Integrated Police Dog Service. The handler and the K9 were instrumental in the arrest and recovery of the firearm. Additionally, the New Westminster Police Department would like to thank the witness who called 9-1-1 quickly as it allowed officers to arrive on scene while the suspect was still in the nearby area.

Penticton adds 521 child-care spaces since 2021

Canada

July 31, 2026

Penticton adds 521 child-care spaces since 2021

More than 520 licensed child-care spaces have been added in Penticton since 2021, putting the community 70 per cent of the way toward its goal of creating 722 new spaces by 2030. Council will receive an update on the Child Care Action Plan at its regular meeting on Aug. 4.The update highlights progress made through partnerships between the City, School District 67, child-care operators, community organizations and senior levels of government to expand access to child care for local families.Adopted by Council in 2021, the Child Care Action Plan established a roadmap to improve access to affordable, inclusive and quality child care in Penticton. The plan identified a target of creating 722 new licensed spaces by 2030 to help address growing demand and support children, families and the local workforce."Finding child care remains one of the biggest challenges many families face," said Rachel McGeachie, social development manager. "Adding more than 500 licensed spaces in five years is meaningful progress that helps parents participate in the workforce, supports local employers and gives families more options close to home. While there is more work to do, Penticton is making steady progress toward its long-term child-care goals."

Port Alberni Valley soon to have expanded access to addiction recovery services

Canada

July 31, 2026

Port Alberni Valley soon to have expanded access to addiction recovery services

People living in the Alberni Valley and surrounding West Coast communities will soon have expanded access to addiction recovery services close to home following the opening of eight new substance-use beds.The British Columbia government, in partnership with Island Health, announced the launch of eight supportive recovery and stabilization beds at the Inlet Recovery Home in Port Alberni. The 24-hour service is scheduled to begin accepting clients in late summer 2026.Every person's path through addiction, treatment and recovery is different, and it is rarely a straight line," Health Minister Josie Osborne said in a release. "I know how important it is for people experiencing addictions in the Alberni Valley to be able to get help close to home."Operated by non-profit service provider Connective, the home will provide bed-based care typically lasting between 30 and 90 days. Programming will focus on goal setting, daily life skills, and wellness to prepare clients for reintegration into the community.Up until now, residents in the area often had to travel outside their local region to access bed-based stabilization and treatment options.The initiative is part of B.C.'s Road to Recovery model. According to the province, B.C. currently funds more than 3,800 substance-use beds, including 879 treatment and recovery beds added since 2017.

Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Claims 828 Lives as Cases Surpass 2,100

World

July 31, 2026

Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Claims 828 Lives as Cases Surpass 2,100

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is battling the second most severe case of the Ebola virus ever witnessed in the world, with recorded cases numbering 3,532 and 1,556 dead within five different provinces. It is reported to be the most rapid spread of an Ebola outbreak ever witnessed due to the fact that this one is caused by a strain of Ebola, known as Bundibugyo, for which there are no approved vaccines or drugs. According to the WHO, the real number of cases may be four times greater than those being officially documented.

Spain and Morocco Strengthen Ceuta Border After Mass Migrant Influx

World

July 31, 2026

Spain and Morocco Strengthen Ceuta Border After Mass Migrant Influx

The Spanish government, in conjunction with Morocco, beefed up the border wall between Ceuta (a Spanish territory) and Morocco following a huge number of about 60,000 migrants that entered into Ceuta within a day, resulting in the death of at least 57 people by drowning and trampling. The Moroccan government resorted to using water cannon, tear gas, and batons to stop the masses, while the Spanish government used military forces and worked towards deporting the migrants back quickly as almost 50,000 people willingly decided to go back because of the scarcity of food and shelter. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, described the whole incident as "an infringement on Spain's territorial sovereignty," which was partly caused by the judgment of the courts to restrict immediate sea deportation.Photo by El Faro de Ceuta. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Hamas Agrees to Gaza Peace Draft, Insists Israel Complete First Stage Before Next Phase

World

July 31, 2026

Hamas Agrees to Gaza Peace Draft, Insists Israel Complete First Stage Before Next Phase

Hamas has accepted the draft Gaza peace deal that was designed by the Board of Peace of Donald Trump. This agreement demands the disarmament of Hamas in stages and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, but Hamas insists that Israel needs to accomplish the first stage completely before advancing to the next one. However, many Palestinians in Gaza are not convinced due to broken promises in the past, and former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said that the PM Netanyahu had surrendered and allowed Hamas to govern. Additionally, there is a lot of tension in the village of Tell in the West Bank after Israeli forces injured and arrested some villagers during settlers' marches. In the Persian Gulf, the US military forces have denied the accusation by Iran that it had blocked the Strait of Hormuz.Image by Kobi Gideon / Government Press Office of Israel (GPO). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

Asian Boyz Gang Member Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

World

July 31, 2026

Asian Boyz Gang Member Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

A Lowell, Mass. man with allegiance to the Asian Boyz gang was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing and conspiring to distribute thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine.Owen Landry, aka “Oski,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April this year, Landry pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. Landry was among five charged in January 2025.In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting Lowell.The investigation revealed that Landry, an Asian Boyz gang member, formed an alleged conspiracy with another gang member, Sovath Yern, a/k/a “Stryke,” to profit from the sales of bulk quantities of the counterfeit Adderall pills. Co-defendant Zachary Hansen agreed to let Landry use his residence in Lowell as one of the group’s storage and distribution centers. At Landry’s direction, Hansen also sold the counterfeit Adderall pills and collected payments.Specifically, Landry negotiated two large counterfeit Adderall pill deals in July and August 2024 and directed the buyers to Landry’s Lowell residence to complete the transactions. Unbeknownst to Landry and Hansen, the pill deals were part of law enforcement operations to surveil and record the purchases. In July 2024, a cooperating witness met Hansen inside the Lowell residence and paid him $2,000 in exchange for 5,000 pills. In August 2024, a co-conspirator was observed, travelling back and forth from Landry’s residence in Lowell during a deal with a second cooperating witness, who paid another $2,000 in exchange for 2,000 pills.Later in 2024, Landry himself sold pills he had allegedly obtained from Yern’s apartment in Billerica to a cooperating witness. Specifically, on two separate occasions in November 2024 and December 2024, Landry directed the cooperating witness to meet him in the garage of Yern’s apartment complex. After meeting the cooperating witness and taking the cash payments, Landry then entered the building where Yern allegedly escorted him inside. Landry was seen entering Yern’s apartment with the money and then leaving with large bags of pills. Landry then returned to the cooperating witness to deliver methamphetamine pills – 4,000 pills in November 2024 and 5,000 pills in December 2024.United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

Akahl Takh Sahib directs Sikh Lawmakers to withhold consent on amendments anti-sacrilege legislation

Punjab

July 31, 2026

Akahl Takh Sahib directs Sikh Lawmakers to withhold consent on amendments anti-sacrilege legislation

The highest temporal authority in Sikhism- Shri Akal Takht Sahib has directed Sikh lawmakers in Punjab to withhold consent for any further amendments to anti-sacrilege legislation during the upcoming state assembly session starting Aug. 3.Acting on instructions from Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, secretariat in-charge Bagicha Singh issued formal letters to Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, along with Sikh cabinet ministers and MLAs. The letters remind lawmakers of their religious obligation to resist further changes to the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026 unless full consensus is reached with the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).The order follows the Jathedar’s rejection of a July 29 response sent by the Punjab government’s Home Department addressing earlier objections raised by the Sikh authority. Jathedar Gargajj dismissed the state’s response as unsatisfactory.In the letter addressed to Speaker Sandhwan, the Akal Takht Sahib clarified that its concerns are non-political and focus on the potential future misuse of the statute against Sikhs, citing historical precedents set by laws such as TADA and UAPA. Lawmakers were urged to look past party politics and uphold Sikh sentiments.Despite the firm directive, the Akal Takht expressed a commitment to open dialogue. It announced the formation of a six-member panel of Sikh legal experts and scholars—including retired judges and senior advocate advisers—to negotiate with the state government and reach a mutual agreement within two months.

Traffic on Highway 5 to remain affected on long weekend

Canada

July 31, 2026

Traffic on Highway 5 to remain affected on long weekend

Travellers using Highway 5 (Coquihalla) between Hope and Merritt should prepare for significant delays during B.C. Day long weekend.A section of Highway 5 between Exit 250 and Exit 256 is undergoing major drainage construction. Lane closures will be in place in the area due to hazards within the closed lane and cannot be removed during the long weekend.With increased holiday traffic, the ongoing closure of Highway 1, wildfire activity and evacuations affecting other major routes, traffic volumes on the Coquihalla are expected to be much higher than normal, particularly on Friday, July 31 and Monday, Aug. 3.People travelling during the long weekend should have a plan.Expect significant delays.Ensure the vehicle has a full tank of fuel before departing.Carry plenty of drinking water, snacks and food.Allow extra travel time.