Top Stories – October 20

Israel’s defence minister has told troops to be ready for a ground assault on Gaza but hasn’t revealed how soon that might happen. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border following the October 7th cross-border massacre by Hamas terrorists. The World Health Organization says it’s ready to enter Gaza with five truckloads of medical supplies when the Rafah border crossing reopens.

BC residents were among the millions of people around the world that took part in the annual ShakeOut drill. It’s designed to get people practicing ways to stay safe during earthquakes. About 75 percent of the four-thousand earthquakes that happen every year in Canada, are in BC.

So is the Competition Bureau not doing its job? The Bureau says profits and markups have increased over the last two decades as the state of competition in Canada has deteriorated. In a report looking at the last 20 years, it found that the most concentrated industries got even more concentrated over time, while more industries came to be considered highly concentrated.

Heads up for next Sunday, the 29th, as the annual Family Monster Bash returns from 1 to 4pm at the Capital News Centre. The event is free but organizers ask people to take a donation for the Central Okanagan Food Bank. There’ll be an obstacle course, bouncy house, Zorb soccer, face painting, Halloween-themed games, free skating and more.

A survey found 81% of Canadian companies experienced at least 25 cybersecurity incidents over the past year, compared to 73% globally. In Canada, 44% of businesses reported they collectively spent $50 million annually on cybersecurity. The survey shows almost half of respondents find it difficult to balance security and innovation, and view the cloud and internet where technologies face big risks in the next five years.

While screenwriters are back at work, film and TV actors remain on picket lines, with the longest strike in their history set to hit 100 days tomorrow. Studios abruptly ended talks last week saying the actors’ demands were exorbitantly expensive and the two sides were too far apart to continue.

In a bid to ease the crushing demands on ambulance crews, Ottawa paramedics want provincial approval for a new program that would see some patients with non-urgent concerns taken to hospital in a taxi. A big contributor is offload delays, the time paramedics spend in ERs waiting to hand over a patient to the care of the hospital. Any patient transported by taxi, who would walk into the health-care facility themselves, would receive a follow-up call from paramedics within 24 hours.

An Alberta man has been convicted of trying to bring illegal gun magazines across the border in the South Okanagan. Jody Stuart Bishop was stopped at Osoyoos last December when they were discovered. He was fined $7,500 and issued a two year firearms prohibition.

Two BC credit unions that are looking to merge have come together to raise money for wildfire relief efforts. Interior Savings and Gulf & Fraser worked together for United Way BC’s ‘United for BC Wildlife Recovery Fund’. Combined community contributions and those made by each of the credit unions, saw a total of $67,000 raised.

SPORTS

It’s a quick trip south of the border tonight for the Kelowna Rockets as they take on the Tri-City Americans, then tomorrow they are back at Prospera Place hosting the Vancouver Giants. Both games start at 7:05, which means 6:35 pregame shows on 104.7 The Lizard.

There’s a BCFC semifinal game for the Okanagan Sun tomorrow afternoon at the Apple Bowl. They take on the Valley Huskers at 2.

It’s the second last week of the regular season in the CFL and it begins tonight in Vancouver. The Lions host the Stampeders at 7.

In Tampa yesterday, the Canucks posted a 4-3 loss to make it 1 and 2 on the road trip. Vancouver takes on the Panthers in Sunrise, Florida tomorrow.