Beyond Local

OTTAWA — An area of land 11 times bigger than the city of Toronto burned from wildfires in the last four days — Canada's worst spring wildfire season to date.

EDMONTON — The internet memes started meme-ing within days of Monday's Alberta provincial election. "If you voted Rachel Notley, you don't support Alberta," said one, referring to the leader of the province's defeated New Democrats.

CALGARY — The Nature Conservancy of Canada has announced a plan to protect iconic Prairie grasslands, considered one of the most endangered and least protected ecosystems in the country.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California bill that would force Big Tech companies to pay media outlets for posting and using their news content cleared another critical hurdle Thursday.

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Police in New Westminster, B.C., say a 50-year-old man who worked at a drug recovery organization has been charged with three counts of sexual assault.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he raised concerns about reports that LGBTQ rights and democracy are under threat in Poland during a Friday visit with its prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Toronto.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration has stopped U.S. military bases from hosting drag shows after criticism from some Republicans, amid a broader push in conservative-led states targeting LGBTQ+ celebrations.

PARIS (AP) — America's top military officer says training for Ukrainian forces on advanced U.S. Abrams tanks has started, but those weapons crucial over the long term in trying to expel Russia from occupied territory will not be ready in time for Kyiv's imminent counteroffensive.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday the United States won't support peace talks in the war in Ukraine until Kyiv holds the upper hand, possibly after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that appears to be taking shape.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is committed to keeping David Johnston in place as Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference, despite a majority of MPs voting in favour of his stepping down from the gig.