Guatemala top court reverses ban on anti-graft presidential candidate

Story by By Sofia Menchu • Thursday

Raid of the building of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), in Guatemala City© Thomson Reuters

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala's top court on Thursday suspended an order barring the party of anti-graft candidate Bernardo Arevalo from running for the presidency, after a flood of international criticism that the country's democracy was in jeopardy.

The Constitutional Court said it had granted a provisional injunction filed by the Semilla party against a judge's order to suspend the party and seemingly kick Arevalo out of the race.


Raid of the building of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), in Guatemala City© Thomson Reuters

Arevalo enjoyed a surge in support in June's first round voting to surprisingly qualify for a run-off against former First Lady Sandra Torres on Aug. 20. He has threatened to take on the political establishment which he accuses of being corrupt.


Raid of the building of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), in Guatemala City© Thomson Reuters

Many analysts believe he could win if allowed to run.

But the election was thrown into chaos on Wednesday evening when the lower court granted a prosecutor's request to exclude Semilla over allegations the party had more than 5,000 illegally affiliated members, including 12 deceased people.



Supporters of anti-graft presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo protest in Guatemala City© Thomson Reuters

The contest had already sparked international criticism after other opposition candidates were disqualified earlier in the process, and the move to shut out Semilla has aggravated fears for democracy and justice in Guatemala.



Supporters of anti-graft presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo protest in Guatemala City© Thomson Reuters

The U.S., the European Union and other countries warned suspending Semilla was a threat to democracy.

Related video: Guatemala court suspends anti-graft candidate's party (Reuters)

Duration 2:04   View on Watch

The Canadian PressChaos follows Guatemala election

1:26

NBC NewsGuatemala's presidential election in turmoil as top political party suspended

3:52

ReutersGuatemala's Arevalo says govt wants to push him out

2:35

A group of international donors to Guatemala known as the G13, which include the U.S., Canada and Britain, said it was deeply concerned about actions threatening the authority of the electoral tribunal. Chile and Norway echoed concerns.

On Thursday morning, prosecutors raided the electoral tribunal's citizen registry office as part of the Semilla probe.

Neighboring Mexico backed the tribunal's ratification of the first round results, which had been delayed by allegations of irregularities brought by Semilla's adversaries.

Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche, whose anti-impunity office requested Semilla's suspension, has previously targeted anti-graft campaigners and has been placed on the U.S. State Department's Engel List for "corrupt and undemocratic actors."

Asked about the potential for U.S. sanctions on those behind the Semilla suspension, a U.S. State Department spokesperson cited sanctions already imposed on Curruchiche and Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras but declined to say more. "We do not preview future actions," the spokesperson said.

SURPRISE RISE

Polls had shown Arevalo - an ex-diplomat and son of former President Juan Jose Arevalo - as a distant outsider ahead of the first round.

His second-place finish shocked Guatemala's political establishment.

Arevalo told reporters earlier on Thursday he believed the lower court's move against Semilla violated a Guatemalan law preventing political party suspensions during an election.

"We are in the electoral race, we are moving forward and we will not be stopped by this corrupt group," he said.

The administration of outgoing conservative President Alejandro Giammattei said in a statement it would "maintain distance" from the judicial process and respect the election winner declared by the electoral tribunal.

Under Guatemalan law Giammattei cannot run again.

Arevalo's presidential rival Torres urged the popular vote be respected and said she was suspending her campaign in solidarity with Semilla voters.

Corruption allegations have dogged successive administrations, and the U.S. - Guatemala's top trade partner and a key source of remittances - has repeatedly criticized what it views as efforts to impede a clean-up of government.

Semilla's contender in the 2019 presidential election, former attorney general Thelma Aldana, was barred then too.

Aldana by then had a reputation as an anti-graft crusader and helped oust, prosecute and imprison conservative former President Otto Perez.

Arevalo said after the suspension his party was aware of a falsified signature and that Semilla itself in March reported the person responsible. However, the party was never allowed access to the case file, he said.

(Reporting by Sofia Menchu; additional reporting by Dave Graham and Valentine Hilaire in Mexico City and Matt Spetalnick in Washington D.C.; Writing by Kylie Madry and Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Sarah Morland, Stephen Eisenhammer, Josie Kao and Lincoln Feast.)

BLOW UP #3 AND STILL TRYING

Rocket being developed by Japan's space agency explodes during testing but no injuries reported

 Yesterday 


TOKYO (AP) — A rocket being developed by the Japanese space agency exploded during testing on Friday, but there were no reports of injuries, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

The cause of the accident at the facility in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, was still being investigated, the agency, JAXA, said. It was unclear and when testing for the Epsilon S rocket could resume.

Japanese TV news footage from the site shows the test starting normally, with white smoke shooting out at the side. About a minute later, flames and gray smoke burst upward in an explosion, and the roof is seen blowing off a building.

The failure is a setback for JAXA’s ambitions to enter fully into the launch market for small satellites, a market that is expected to grow.

An Epsilon S demonstration launch had been scheduled for this fiscal year, but a launch attempt failed in May. JAXA’s launch of another kind of rocket called H3 failed in March.

But an earlier Epsilon has worked and managed to send several satellites into orbit.

The Associated Press

Senators to offer amendment to require government to make UFO records public

Story by Alexander Bolton • Yesterday 




Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is part of a bipartisan group of senators who have offered an amendment to the annual Defense authorization bill requiring the federal government to collect and make public records related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act would direct the National Archives and Records Administration to create a collection of records on UAPs and UFOs to be disclosed to the public immediately unless a review board provides reasons to keep them classified.

“For decades, many Americans have been fascinated by objects mysterious and unexplained and it’s long past time they get some answers,” Schumer said in a statement. “The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena.

“We are not only working to declassify what the government has previously learned about these phenomena but to create a pipeline for future research to be made public,” he added.

Schumer said he is carrying out the legacy of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who more than a decade ago pushed funding for the Pentagon’s secret Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program.

Lawmakers’ interest in learning more about UFO sightings soared after that project became public and media outlets began publishing video clips of unexplained aerial phenomena captured by the cameras and sensors on military jets.

After that project became public, Senators, congressmen, committees, and staff began to pursue this issue and uncovered a vast web of individuals and groups with ideas and stories to share.

The amendment has the support of Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee — Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

The lawmakers say “the sheer number and variety” of stories about UFOs have led some of them and their colleagues to believe the executive branch may be concealing information about possible visits from extra-planetary civilizations.

Related video: Congressman says gov't has known of UFOs since 1897, warns of cover-up (Straight Arrow News)  Duration 2:53   View on Watch

News NationRep. Burchett: US government is hiding UFO evidence | Banfield

2:32

NewsweekChuck Schumer Moves to Declassify UFO Secrets Like JFK Records

0:52

Straight Arrow News  Congress wants to declassify even more UFO, extraterrestrial documents

1:48

“Our goal is to assure credibility with regard to any investigation or record keeping of materials associated with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena,” said Rounds. “Relevant documents related to this issue should be preserved. Providing a central collection location and reputable review board to maintain the records adds to the credibility of any future investigations.”

“There is a lot we still don’t know about these UAPs, and that is a big problem,” Rubio said.

“We’ve taken some important steps over the last few years to increase transparency and reduce stigmas, but more needs to be done. This is yet another step in that direction and one that I hope will spur further cooperation from the executive branch,” he added.

“Understanding UAPs is critical to our national security and to maintaining all-domain awareness,” Gillibrand said.

The push to declassify more information about UAPs and UFOs comes after Air Force veteran David Grusch, a former member of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, told NewsNation that the U.S. government has recovered non-human craft for decades

Grusch implied in the interview that the government has recovered more than spacecraft materials.

“Well, naturally, when you recover something that’s either landed or crashed, sometimes you encounter dead pilots and believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds, it’s true,” he said in the NewsNation interview. NewsNation and The Hill are both owned by Nexstar.

NewsNation confirmed Grusch’s credentials but did not view or verify evidence that the whistleblower said he provided to Congress or the Department of Defense Inspector General.

The House Oversight Committee is planning to hold a hearing later this month on UFOs that will be led by Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).

The amendment is modeled on the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 which required the public disclosure of documents related to former President Kennedy’s assassination 25 years after its enactment.

The Schumer-Rounds amendment would give the federal government eminent domain over any recovered technologies of unknown origin or biological evidence of nonhuman intelligence now held by private individuals or organizations.

SPACE RACE 2.0

India launches historic Chandrayaan-3 mission to land spacecraft on the moon

Story by Rhea Mogul • Yesterday

'3, 2, 1...': See India launch its mission to the moon | Watch (msn.com)

India is bidding to become only the fourth country to execute a controlled landing on the moon with the successful launch Friday of its Chandrayaan-3 mission.

Chandrayaan, which means “moon vehicle” in Sanskrit, blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh state at just after 2:30 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET).

Crowds gathered at the space center to watch the history-making launch and more than 1 million people tuned in to watch on YouTube.

The Indian Space Research Organization confirmed on Twitter later Friday that Chandrayaan-3 is in “precise orbit” and has “begun its journey to the moon.”

It added that the health of the spacecraft is “normal.”

In response, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Chandrayaan-3 scripts a new chapter in India’s space odyssey. It soars high, elevating the dreams and ambitions of a every Indian. This momentous achievement is a testament to our scientists’ relentless dedication. I salute their spirit and ingenuity!”

The craft is expected to land on the moon on August 23.

It’s India’s second attempt at a soft landing, after its previous effort with the Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 failed. Its first lunar probe, the Chandrayaan-1, orbited the moon and was then deliberately crash-landed onto the lunar surface in 2008.


Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-3, the word for "moon craft" in Sanskrit, blasts off. - Aijaz Rahi/AP© Provided by CNN


The Indian spacecraft blazed its way to the far side of the moon Friday in a follow-up mission to its failed effort nearly four years ago to land a rover softly on the lunar surface. - Aijaz Rahi/AP© Provided by CNN

Developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is comprised of a lander, propulsion module and rover. Its aim is to safely land on the lunar surface, collect data and conduct a series of scientific experiments to learn more about the moon’s composition.

Only three other countries have achieved the complicated feat of soft-landing a spacecraft on the moon’s surface – the United States, Russia and China.

Indian engineers have been working on the launch for years. They are aiming to land Chandrayaan-3 near the challenging terrain of the moon’s unexplored South Pole.

India’s maiden lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, discovered water molecules on the moon’s surface. Eleven years later, the Chandrayaan-2 successfully entered lunar orbit but its rover crash-landed on the moon’s surface. It too was supposed to explore the moon’s South Pole.

At the time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the engineers behind the mission despite the failure, promising to keep working on India’s space program and ambitions.

Just before Friday’s launch, Modi said the day “will always be etched in golden letters as far as India’s space sector is concerned.”

“This remarkable mission will carry the hopes and dreams of our nation,” he said in a Twitter post.

India has since spent about $75 million on its Chandrayaan-3 mission.

Modi said the rocket will cover more than 300,000 kilometers (186,411 miles) and reach the moon in the “coming weeks.”

Decades in the making

India’s space program dates back more than six decades, to when it was a newly independent republic and a deeply poor country reeling from a bloody partition.

When it launched its first rocket into space in 1963, the country was no match for the ambitions of the US and the former Soviet Union, which were way ahead in the space race.

Now, India is the world’s most populous nation and its fifth largest economy. It boasts a burgeoning young population and is home to a growing hub of innovation and technology.

And India’s space ambitions have been playing catch up under Modi.

For the leader, who swept to power in 2014 on a ticket of nationalism and future greatness, India’s space program is a symbol of the country’s rising prominence on the global stage.


People listen to a live broadcast of scientists speaking after the launch of spacecraft Chandrayaan-3. - Aijaz Rahi/AP© Provided by CNN

In 2014, India became the first Asian nation to reach Mars, when it put the Mangalyaan probe into orbit around the Red Planet, for $74 million – less than the $100 million Hollywood spent making space thriller “Gravity.”

Three years later, India launched a record 104 satellites in one mission.

In 2019, Modi announced in a rare televised address that India had shot down one of its own satellites, in what it claimed was an anti-satellite test, making it one of only four countries to do so.

That same year ISRO’s former chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan said India was planning to set up an independent space station by 2030. Currently, the only space stations available for expedition crews are the International Space Station (a joint project between several countries) and China’s Tiangong Space Station.

The rapid development and innovation has made space tech one of India’s hottest sectors for investors – and world leaders appear to have taken notice.

Last month, when Modi met US President Joe Biden in Washington on a state visit, the White House said both leaders sought more collaboration in the space economy.

And India’s space ambitions do not stop at the moon or Mars. ISRO has also proposed sending an orbiter to Venus.

Brazilian union sues JBS over alleged exploitation of chicken workers

Story by By Ana Mano • Yesterday 

 The logo of Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA is seen in the unit in the city of Jundiai

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A Brazilian labor union has accused JBS SA of submitting dozens of workers to "degrading conditions," according to a class action suit filed against the world's biggest meatpacker and its suppliers this week.

The union filed the claim on behalf of at least 76 people, including members of the Terena Indigenous community, who were employed as third-party chicken catchers for JBS and worked in conditions "analogous to slavery," the suit alleges.

Their shifts lasted up to 14 hours including the journey to and from the hen houses, said union leader Sergio Bolzan in a telephone interview. The work consisted of packing live chickens in boxes for transportation, some of which weighed as much as 24 kilograms (53 pounds), he added.

JBS is a primary defendant and four outsourcing companies are co-defendants in the suit, documents show.

In a statement, the company said it had not yet been notified of the suit and would investigate the allegations.

The suit claims workers did not get enough rest time, were not fully paid upon dismissal and did not get extra pay for performing hazardous work.

JBS says it maintains "strict protocols and controls in its operations to ensure that all its suppliers comply with their legal obligations and the well-being of employees."

These obligations include providing adequate protective gear, safe working conditions and reliable means of transportation.

It also says it regularly conducts technical visits to supervise the work of catchers and to verify that everything is in order with suppliers.

Bolzan said evidence of alleged exploitation surfaced in April when he paid a surprise visit to where some catchers were being housed to document the conditions.

The union submitted that evidence on Tuesday to a court in Sidrolandia, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where Bolzan said JBS employs 5,000 people directly and indirectly.

The union is seeking 400,000 reais ($82,000) in damages per worker and is pushing for prosecutors to formally join the suit as plaintiffs, documents show.

Bolzan shared his concerns with labor prosecutors, who confirmed preliminary investigations into the matter, including whether catchers were employed "off the books."

($1 = 4.8831 reais)

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Brad Haynes and Mark Potter)

CRYPTO CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M THREAT
Binance could lay off thousands as company buckles down for DOJ probe, source says

Story by Rohan Goswami • Yesterday 


Binance plans to lay off between 1,500 and 3,000 employees through the year in response to an ongoing Justice Department probe, a current employee familiar with the company's plans told CNBC. A company spokesperson disputed the higher number.

The company has already laid off 1,000, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Friday, and this number is part of the total, CNBC's source said.

Binance has been charged by both the SEC and CFTC with various securities and commodities violations, while founder Changpeng Zhao has downplayed concerns.


Changpeng Zhao, billionaire and chief executive officer of Binance Holdings Ltd., speaks during a session at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022.© Provided by CNBC

Crypto exchange Binance is laying off employees in response to an ongoing Justice Department probe that is likely to end with a consent decree or settlement, according to a current employee who is familiar with the company's plans.

The cuts will eliminate 1,500 to 3,000 of Binance's global workforce, this person told CNBC, and will take place through the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal previously reported on Friday that 1,000 employees have already been laid off, and those layoffs are part of the total planned, the source told CNBC. This person asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to talk to the press about internal matters.

The Justice Department probe will likely reshape the company fundamentally, the employee told CNBC. If Binance opts to settle the DOJ allegations, it could result in a multi-billion dollar payment. Reuters has reported that federal prosecutors have been weighing anti-money laundering violations and sanctions evasion charges, allegations that would make it difficult for Binance or founder Changpeng Zhao to continue to get licenses to operate.

A Binance spokesperson disputed that the cuts would impact 3,000 employees, saying that the high-end number was "just not right."

The spokesperson said, "As we prepare for the next major bull cycle, it has become clear that we need to focus on talent density across the organization to ensure we remain nimble and dynamic. This is not a case of rightsizing, but rather, re-evaluating whether we have the right talent and expertise in critical roles."

Binance has faced significant regulatory challenges over the last few months, culminating in lawsuits from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over alleged mishandling of customer assets and the operation of an illegal, unregistered exchange in the U.S.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has repeatedly dismissed concerns about the future of the exchange, even after being personally named in the SEC's lawsuit. Binance itself has suffered significantly since the lawsuits from U.S. regulators, with exchange outflows running into the hundreds of millions. The company has also seen a number of key executive departures.

Critical moment for Thai democracy as parliament fails to elect new prime minister

Story by Helen Regan • CNN - Thursday

The sole nominee to be the next prime minister of Thailand failed to secure enough parliamentary votes to form a government Thursday, a set back for the future of democracy in the country following nearly a decade of turbulent military-backed rule.

The vote was seen as a critical moment for Thailand, in which members of the bicameral National Assembly declared their pick for prime minister, and was expected to reveal whether the ruling establishment would accept the choice of the people who overwhelmingly voted for progressive, opposition parties in a May election.

In a shock election result, newcomer party Move Forward won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote, capitalizing on years of rising anger over the kingdom’s governance.

Move Forward’s leader Pita Limjaroenrat received just 324 votes out of the 376 needed for a majority in both the upper and lower houses. The House Speaker will now call for another round of voting scheduled for a later date.

The party had pledged deep structural reforms to how the Southeast Asian country of more than 70 million people is run: changes to the military, the economy, the decentralization of power and even reforms to the previously untouchable monarchy.

Following the vote, Pita told reporters outside parliament that he accepts the result “but won’t give up.”

“We will not change our policies, we have to keep our promise given to the people,” he said, in reference to his party’s radical campaign pledge to amend Thailand’s strict lese majeste law despite the taboo surrounding any discussion of the royal family in Thailand.

Monarchy looms over the vote

Section 112 of the Criminal Code criminalizes criticism of the King, Queen or heir-apparent and lese majeste convictions carry long prison terms of up to 15 years. Currently, anyone can bring a case, even if they aren’t connected to the alleged crime.

The subject of royal reform is so sensitive that several senators and conservative parties ruled out voting for Pita for this reason.

“He is not suitable to become a prime minister of Thailand. First, the Move Forward Party has a policy amending and abolishing Section 112, secondly, after the Election Commission has forwarded the case to the court to look into his eligibility, this has proved at a certain level that he is not qualified,” Senator Seri Suwannapanon told CNN before the vote.

“The tendency of the senators, they will protect Section 112 and won’t vote for an ineligible person.”

Outside parliament Thursday morning, Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said he wouldn’t vote for Pita, “because they are behind attempts to meddle with independent agencies, military, police and Section 112.”

But Move Forward’s policies won huge support among the country’s youth who have long felt disaffected by years of authoritarian politics and frustrated with the stuttering economy and tough job market.

The May election, which saw a record turnout, also delivered a powerful rebuke to the military-backed establishment that has ruled Thailand since 2014, when then-army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha seized power in a coup.

Thailand has witnessed a dozen successful coups since 1932, including two in the past 17 years.

Prayut was elected prime minister in 2019, a win largely credited to a military-drafted constitution that entrenched the military’s power in politics.

On Tuesday, Prayut announced his retirement, adding he would remain as prime minister until the new government is formed.

Regardless, he was not expected to gain enough support in the lower house to win another term as prime minister, as his party only won 36 seats in the May election.

Roadblocks to the progressive movement

Pita’s supporters say a victory for the 42-year-old Harvard alumni in Thursday’s parliamentary vote would usher in a progressive and democratic new era for Thai politics.

Despite a clear win at the polls for Pita, it remains far from certain who will be Thailand’s next leader.

In Thailand, a party or coalition needs to win a majority of 376 seats in both lower and upper houses of parliament – 750 seats – to elect a prime minister and form a government.

Move Forward’s majority was not big enough to form a government outright, even with a coalition of seven other opposition parties.

To secure victory, the coalition will need support from the unelected 250-member Senate – which was appointed by the military under a post-coup constitution and has previously voted for a pro-military candidate.

That proved to be major roadblock in Pita’s path to prime minister.

Thailand’s powerful conservative establishment – a nexus of the military, monarchy and influential elites – has a history of blocking fundamental changes to the status quo.

Move Forward’s proposed structural changes target the heart of this establishment, with priorities to “demilitarize, demonopolize and decentralize” Thailand, Pita recently told CNN.

That includes getting rid of mandatory conscription, reducing the military budget, making the military more transparent and accountable, and reducing the number of generals.

In another major setback on the eve of the vote, Thailand’s Constitutional Court Wednesday accepted two complaints against the Move Forward Party and its leader Pita.

The case is set to be reviewed next week and if it moves to trial, Pita will be suspended from political duty. That outcome will likely add fuel to the fire of his young support base, with the potential for mass street protests.

One of the complaints, forwarded to the court by the Election Commission, accuses Pita of violating election law for allegedly holding shares in a media company and requested he be disqualified. Pita has denied he broke election rules and a statement from Move Forward accused the Election Commission of rushing the case to court.

In recent weeks, Pita has been rallying supporters across the country, with thousands of people gathering in Bangkok on Sunday, despite heavy rain.

He has previously been confident of securing enough parliamentary votes, but on Sunday warned senators not to vote against the will of the people.

“The voting is not for Pita, not for MFP, but it is for Thailand to move forward into normalcy of democratic system, just like any democratic countries in this world,” he said on Twitter.

If Pita is not elected on Thursday, the Speaker of the House has announced two more rounds of voting – on July 19 and 20 – for a result to be declared.

After that, coalitions may start to crumble and a political deadlock could derail the progressive movement’s election success, potentially sparking protests.

Move Forward encouraged citizens to show their support at parliament on Thursday and a prominent Thai protest leader Wednesday called for demonstrations if the senators refused to vote in line with the election results.

DEMOVICTION

B.C. family evicted for demolition but found new tenants were moved in

By Amy Judd & Kylie Stanton Global News
Posted July 14, 2023 

WATCH: A Vancouver Island woman says she was force out of her rental home, which was later rented to someone else, she says as a result of municipal red tape. Kylie Stanton reports.

A Vancouver Island woman says she was forced out of her home and left with no recourse, but now she is questioning what happened.

Chelsea Langlois told Global News she had to move her family of four out of their rental home in Langford, B.C., when she was notified it would be torn down for development.

“While we were struggling, looking for a place to live, we thought we would reach out to the developer and just ask them since the rezoning hasn’t (yet) gone through, could we stay just until those permits go through?” she said

“At that time he said, ‘No, we have a permit to demolish. That’s all we need to evict you. And our plan is to demolish and start prepping the land in preparation for the rezoning permit’.”

Langlois said it got to the point where they thought they would have to leave the area, live in a van or even separate the family.

She eventually managed to find another place to live, albeit at more than $1,000 more per month. And that wasn’t easy.

“My experience with that is that there are hundreds if not thousands of applicants per rental,” Langlois said.

“It really is about presenting yourself in a way that the landlord would see you as a benefit to tenant their place. So very much an interview-type process. I’m very lucky that I’m a registered nurse and a college instructor, so that bodes well when I interview to rent a place. However, not everybody has that kind of criteria to back them up, which is frustrating.

“But we went to the lengths of having the prospective landlords come to our current rental to see how we take care of our home in order to demonstrate that we would.”

2:10 Vancouver housing advocates urge permanent solutions to modular units

Then, in another blow, about six months later, their former neighbours told them there was someone else living in their former rental home.

“So we went up and had a look for ourselves and it did appear to be occupied,” Langlois said. “So not only had it not been demolished, but it’s still standing and it has new tenants living in it.”

She said the whole experience has been extremely frustrating.

“The stress we went through trying to find a new place, the increased expenses of having to move, and knowing that that home is still standing and we could still be living there could have saved us not only money but a lot of stress and angst as well,” she added.

In a statement, the developer blames the City of Langford, saying it was given a demolition permit but the city then changed it to require that the house be moved instead.

The developer said it had to re-rent the house while dealing with the new requirements because it was losing money with the house empty.

The City of Langford told Global News it cannot comment on the file.

“I did initially believe it was on the developer, but through arbitration found out that the permit was solely issued to evict us,” Langlois said.

“And I was just shocked by that, that the city would issue a permit for the sole purpose of evicting tenants in a global pandemic during a housing crisis.”

She added she would like to see the City of Langford take accountability for its actions in issuing permits to demolish with no intent to demolish the property for the sole purpose of evicting tenants.

“I would like to see the city really look at how they’re going to promote housing for individuals and how they’re going to tackle our housing crisis rather than contributing to it,” she said.

4:22  Rethinking how to deal with the housing crisis

Manitoba liquor workers to go on strike with planned walkout

Story by Talha Hashmani • Yesterday 

The union representing over a thousand workers with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries issued a strike notice that would come in effect on July 19.© Google Maps

Union workers with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries have issued a strike notice, with plans to hold a one-day, provincewide walkout on July 19.

Represented by the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, approximately 1,400 workers will be part of the strike action beginning at 7 a.m. next Wednesday. It also includes workers at the Liquor Distribution Centre and those in supporting business operations, which includes information technology, purchasing and administration.

"This is absolutely not the position our members wanted to be in, but frankly we were forced here," said union president Kyle Ross.

In a press release on July 14, the union said workers had been working under an expired contract since March 2022. According to Ross, an offer from the employer — which would provide a two per cent increase annually for four years — wasn't enough.

"It certainly wouldn't help retain the workers who are leaving for better pay at places like Walmart and Sobey's - and it falls far short of the pay increases that the premier and her cabinet are taking," said Ross. "A strike is and always will be the last resort."

Union members are expected to refuse all overtime following the July 19 walkout. Further strike actions could be announced if a "fair deal" isn't reached.

Global News has reached out to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries for comment.

Video: Manitoba government reintroduces bill to ease liquor rules

B.C. wants 1,000 more international firefighters to join wildfire battle

Story by The Canadian Press •


British Columbia is putting out a call for national and international help to fight wildfires that are blanketing communities in thick smoke, as some residents watch flames approach their homes.

The province had requested 1,000 additional foreign firefighters to join 160 from Mexico and the United States already in B.C., said Bowinn Ma, minister of emergency management and climate readiness.

Ma also formally requested more federal resources from her counterpart in Ottawa, Bill Blair, to help fight the 350 or so fires burning across B.C.

She said at a briefing about drought conditions in B.C. on Thursday that an "incident management team" from Australia is arriving on Saturday.

An evacuation order was issued Thursday by Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation for areas of the Lhoosk’uz community. The order covers an area from its borders with the districts of Bulkey Nechako and Fraser-Fort George, extending south to near the Kluskus Lakes and Tsacha Lake regions.

Firefighters from South Korea, France, South Africa and the Dominican Republic have also been fighting fires in Canada, during what is shaping up as a record-breaking fire season.

Blair, federal minister of emergency preparedness, had earlier said he was expecting a "fairly substantive" request for help from B.C. as wildfires worsen.

Blair told The Canadian Press the government operations centre has been in discussions with the province for the last several days, and Ottawa is ready to deploy resources.

"The fire season now is obviously sparking up pretty seriously out there and they have sent us an indication of some additional resources that they will require," he said in an interview Thursday.

"For the last 48 hours we've been working with Canadian Armed Forces, Parks Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and people from the Canadian Coast Guard," said Blair. "There's a lot of different federal departments all mobilizing their response to the requirements of British Columbia."

He said the federal help could include military assistance for airlift evacuations from remote locations, as well as troops trained as firefighters who can "mop up" to keep blazes from reigniting.

"If there are communities that become isolated and need to be evacuated, then Canadian Armed Forces provides those resources," Blair said.

The Canadian Coast Guard is also mobilizing support for affected coastal communities, and Natural Resources Canada staff with forest management expertise are also preparing to help, he said.

Blair added there are a number of national parks in B.C., so Parks Canada is ready to aid the province with park firefighters and forest management experts.

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Blair said B.C. is one of the better-equipped provinces to handle fires because it is often among the hardest hit, but any extra help needed is being made available.

B.C. would welcome all additional firefighters and equipment as hot weather and afternoon lightning storms keep fire conditions extreme and strain resources, said BC Wildfire Service spokesman Cliff Chapman.

"It is very, very challenging across Canada and across the globe right now to secure additional firefighting capacity," he said. "This is a very dangerous job. With the conditions we are in it makes it all that much more dangerous for our staff who are working 14-, 16-, 20-hour days trying to do everything to move these fires away from critical impacts."

He said in northwest B.C., 51,000 lightning strikes have been recorded over the past seven days and about 160 wildfires are burning. Crews were facing difficult conditions in which daily afternoon lightning storms were starting new fires.

Fire officials have also received reports from residents living in Burns Lake and Houston who say they can see flames from their backyards, he said.

Chapman said more than 2,000 B.C. firefighters are currently battling the flames, but many need rest and the arrival of international help will provide that opportunity.

"We are not short 1,000 firefighters in B.C. at this time," he said. "We are planning ahead, obviously looking into next week, but even looking into the next number of weeks to secure resources so we can rest some of our staff."

Ma's request for more international help was lodged through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, which co-ordinates firefighting resources across the country.

Premier David Eby said earlier this week the province was looking for more firefighting support, particularly air equipment, in its battle against wildfires.

He said forecasts suggest B.C. and Canada could be facing the worst fire season in 100 years.

Eby expressed gratitude for the help provided by the firefighters from Mexico and the U.S. who are on the frontlines with provincial crews.

Rural and northern B.C. communities have felt the brunt of this year's wildfire season, but on Wednesday, smoke from a blaze on the mountains overlooking Vancouver could be seen across the city, as helicopters dropped water to extinguish the flames.

Brant Arnold-Smith, director of the Metro Vancouver regional district's emergency operations centre, said at a media briefing Thursday that crews were still tackling hot spots, saying the fire in North Vancouver's Seymour conservation area is deep underground.

"We are quite confident that it will not spread anymore," he said.

Arnold-Smith said their initial theory suggested it was caused by lightning, but they’re not ruling out that it was human caused until an investigation is done.

But he said the fire was in a “rugged, secluded area” where people rarely trek, taking an hour and a half for crews to reach the scene through thick brush.

“This event serves as an important reminder as to how dry our region is,” he said. “It's been almost a month of just no precipitation in the region, so our green spaces are very dry and very susceptible to any sort of ignition sources that could cause a wildfire."

There are more than 350 wildfires burning in all corners of the province, and the BC Wildfire Service warns another blast of heat in many areas could add more burdens on already overstretched crews.

The wildfire service says a week-old, 300-square-kilometre blaze close to Highway 37 just south of the Yukon boundary has been calm, but it and similar fires across northern B.C. could flare up during the next several days of expected hot weather.

— With files from Darryl Greer

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2023.

Dirk Meissner and Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press