A Kitchener, Ont., man has pleaded guilty to charges related to a hacking attack on a U.S.-based cloud services company that compromised more than 165 organizations, the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday.

The department said in news release that the 26-year-old conspired with other hackers and stole sensitive information online from the U.S.-based software service, then extorted victims by demanding ransom payments.

The department said he entered a guilty plea Wednesday on four counts of his indictment, including computer and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He’s scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 27 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the remaining counts, the department said.

The department said he and others involved in the “widespread computer hacking conspiracy” stole billions of “sensitive customer records” and advertised the breached data for sale on cybercrime forums. The Department of Justice did not name any of the companies involved.

According to the indictment filed in court, the Kitchener man and his co-conspirators extorted funds paid out in cryptocurrency worth approximately $2.5 million at the time.

Companies involved in the incident included major U.S.-based telecommunications, retail and health care firms, the indictment said.

The department said the Canadian man used the data obtained through the security breach to extort — and in at least in one case “re-extort” — victims of the conspiracy.

The accused himself obtained at least $495,000, the Department of Justice release said. It said companies that were targeted lost more than $9.5 million, a figure that does not include any losses incurred by their customers.

The department said the Kitchener man was arrested and extradited from Canada last year following an FBI investigation that received international assistance from police in Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain and Australia.

DOJ records on the case said he surrendered himself for extradition in March of last year and initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

It’s not clear why a plane was allowed to take off as President Donald Trump’s helicopter was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday afternoon in an apparent violation of safety procedures put in place after last year’s fatal midair collision near the busy airport.

Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday they were investigating what happened when a commercial jet took off just as Marine One left the White House for Andrews Air Force Base with the president aboard for the first leg of a West Coast trip.

The FAA decided after 67 people died on Jan. 29, 2025, when an airliner collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter that all takeoffs and landings at the Washington, D.C., airport would be halted anytime a helicopter passes by on a conflicting route. The airspace near the White House and Reagan is heavily congested with military and commercial aircraft.

The airplane that took off Tuesday was climbing above Marine One as the helicopter approached, so the two aircraft were not on a collision course.

The FAA said in a statement that a preliminary investigation showed “there was a momentary loss of separation after which the aircraft continued to move away from one another.”

“The air traffic controller was in contact with both the commercial pilot and Marine One pilot during the loss of separation,” the FAA said.

The White House emphasized that Trump was never in danger.

“Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the President in harm’s way,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.

The Marine Corps defended the actions of their helicopter pilots.

“There were no ‘close calls’ with the routine Marine One movement,” Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Jacob Sugg said in an email. “Washington National Tower did not delay the helicopter crew, ask them to hold, or otherwise alter their flight profile.”

The Wall Street Journal first reported the incident.

Poor communication between the military and the civilian air traffic controllers at Reagan has been an issue in the past. It came out last spring after one of the hearings on the midair collision that a hotline connecting the Pentagon to the tower at Reagan hadn’t been working for more than three years, and the FAA hadn’t even realized it.

The FAA took steps to ensure that helicopters and airplanes would no longer share the same airspace around the airport shortly after the investigation into last year’s collision began. The rules also require air traffic controllers to use radar — and not rely on pilots’ eyes — to maintain separation and require all military aircraft to broadcast their locations.

The main group of family members of the victims of last year’s crash questioned why the government hasn’t done more to prevent collisions in the crowded airspace around Reagan in a post Wednesday on the social platform X. The family members have been urging Congress to reach a compromise and pass the package of aviation safety reforms that the NTSB recommended after the midair collision.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Chief Dan Wilson of the Okanagan Indian Band said his community was left looking like “a war zone” after the Bradley Creek wildfire roared through the region on Saturday.

Wilson said they are still assessing the situation, but they estimate about 30 homes have been lost in the community and BC Wildfire Service estimates that at least 200 homes and structures have been lost in the surrounding areas.

Wilson added that there was a flare-up in the evacuated area recently, and the fire department extinguished it, but this shows that the fire is still active.

“It’s just like a war zone,” he said.

“There are some structures that, I’ll be turning 67 in November and those structures were there all my life and to see them suddenly gone, it’s just devastating.

“I didn’t recognize my community with all the structures that were gone.”

The band held a community meeting on Tuesday night to update everyone about the situation.

“We know that some of our renters were able to just get out with their lives; it happened so fast, and a lot left without their purses and wallets and ID, so when they got to these evacuation centres, they couldn’t register, so a lot of them, including elders, had to sleep in their vehicles,” Wilson said.

He explained that residents south of Bradley Creek were evacuated to West Kelowna, while those in the northern part were evacuated to Vernon, so it has been challenging to spread information and check on everyone.

“As far as we know, everyone has been accounted for,” Wilson said, but many have lost irreplaceable items.

While B.C. Premier David Eby has not visited any of the affected wildfire zones, Wilson said Eby called him from his personal number on Tuesday night and he has heard from many politicians offering help and support.

Wilson said he would welcome Eby to come to the area and see the devastation for himself.

The Bradley Creek wildfire, burning west of Vernon, is still an estimated 2,852 hectares in size, but it is still burning out of control.

It has prompted four evacuation orders and three evacuation alerts.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

There is no change on Wednesday for evacuation orders or alerts related to the Quilpituk Creek wildfire in the Okanagan.

Central Okanagan Emergency Management said the evacuation orders for the 2,223 properties and evacuation alerts for 425 properties in the wildfire area will remain in place on Wednesday.

The BC Wildfire Service currently lists the Quilpituk Creek Wildfire at 742 hectares and out of control. While the fire continues to grow, it is spreading upslope and to the northwest, away from nearby communities at this time.

In an update provided on Wednesday morning, the wildfire service said crews worked through the night, using helicopters equipped with night vision technology to cool hot spots and limit fire growth.

On Wednesday, firefighters, heavy equipment and aircraft continued building and strengthening control lines, removing hazardous trees and directly attacking the fire along its edges.

The fire activity is currently low to moderate, but it is smouldering and there is surface fire behaviour.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The 2026 season is underway at the Edmonton Corn Maze, finally open after running a few weeks behind schedule due to the weather.

“We are excited to be open again it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster to get here,” said owner Jesse Kraay.

The growing season has been hard and the effects of the weather are noticeable at the attraction west of Edmonton in Parkland County.

“Corn likes heat more than rain, so it has slowed down a bit of the growth and then we had a hailstorm a few weeks ago and set it back a little bit further,” Kraay explained.

“We’re just watching it grow now. It’s not as tall or as thick as we usually hope for, but we still have a full maze out there with lots of trails and decisions to make.”

Every year the maze features a new design and this year, it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Alberta Motor Association (AMA.)

The design includes an airplane, tow truck, house and other symbols intended to honour a century of “helping Albertans explore.”

“We’ve got their logo cut in there and a few games and trivia in the maze — then a few special events later on in the season celebrating that too,” Kraay said.

More than just a maze – there’s plenty of other activities to embrace.

There are giant jumping pillows to bounce on, a train to ride, dozens of farmyard games, mini golf, and farm animals.

“We’ve been doing this for 26 years now and people made this part of their summer and fall traditions,” Kraay said.

“It’s nice to see people laughing and having fun.”

Previous editions of the Edmonton Corn Maze design have featured the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton Oilers and Elks, BioWare, Santas Anonymous, Edmonton’s Food Bank and more.

The corn maze is located on Highway 627/Garden Valley Road, at Range Road 262 — about 10 minutes west of the city.

Summer hours until the end of August are Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Starting September 1, the corn maze will be closed Mondays but the hours on other days will remain the same.

The corn maze will be open Labour Day (Sept. 7) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as the National Truth & Reconciliation Day (Sept 30) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Thanksgiving Monday (October 12) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All hours are dependent on good weather. For more information on admission, visit the corn maze’s website.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is not ruling out ever allowing jets to land at Toronto’s island airport, but he is focused for now on a broader transportation picture, he said Wednesday.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford had pitched a plan to expand Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to allow jets to land, framing it as a way to boost the economy.

It was an idea Carney at one point said was “interesting,” but his government would later nix it.

“Interesting’ has a quite wide range of meanings,” Carney noted at a press conference Wednesday when asked about it.

The land is governed as a tripartite agreement that was formerly between the city of Toronto, the federal government and the Toronto Port Authority, which is a federal agency, but the province took over the city’s role earlier this year.

Carney’s government rejected Ford’s vision last month following a consultation largely opposed to the idea of jets. The results of the consultation were clear, Carney said, but “forever is a long time.”

His government is developing a “comprehensive” approach to transportation, touching on airports large and regional as well as rail, he said.

“(Billy Bishop) is a small part of a much bigger puzzle, and we need to focus on those other puzzle pieces,” Carney said.

Sources who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to share internal discussions have said Ford and Carney had a handshake deal in which the province supported Carney’s high-speed rail plan in exchange for federal support for the airport expansion.

However, when asked Wednesday if he ever told Ford he would greenlight the project, Carney said no.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

A scam involving fraudulent credit cards is victimizing trucking and transportation companies across Western Canada, according to the Saskatchewan RCMP.

Twelve businesses spanning across Saskatchewan have been targeted by the alleged scam, according to the RCMP news release. It says officers began investigating the “large-scale fraud — where fraudsters purchase truck tires and other items with fraudulent credit cards over the phone” in March.

Fraudsters tend to target businesses such as fuel distributors, automotive suppliers and tire shops in communities including Battleford, Weyburn and Onion Lake, the Saskatchewan RCMP said. People called those shops looking to buy items, including engine oil or trailer parts, and offered payment via credit card over the phone.

The transaction would show as “approved and pending” prompting the shops to courier the goods to the customer, the release says.

“After the items were shipped, the credit card would be declined, and no payment would be received,” it continues.

Nobody has been charged in relation to this scam, according to police, who said they are hoping they can “help prevent further victimization.”

RCMP believe more businesses have been defrauded and are urging them to come forward. The release notes that non-transportation companies may have also been targeted.

“The investigation extends across provincial borders, with other related incidents having been identified throughout Western Canada,” the Saskatchewan RCMP said. It said it is working with police in other jurisdictions in the probe.

To avoid falling victim to this scam, the RCMP recommended business owners be cautious when the first method of payment for an order is declined, as fraudsters may have access to more than one card. It said to be mindful and stay diligent during rushed or unusual requests.

Police also said businesses should not proceed with shipment of orders with suspicious transactions until they have been verified. Companies should also verify the caller’s identity and avoid relying on caller ID, it added.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating after an RCMP officer shot a man in Fox Creek early Wednesday morning, after an overnight standoff.

RCMP in Fox Creek, located about 250 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, responded to a domestic disturbance call involving a weapon on Tuesday around 10:15 p.m.

RCMP said they found a man at a property 5A Street between 7 and 8 Avenue with a weapon.

He didn’t want to surrender, leading to seven hours of crisis negotiations while people in the community were ordered to shelter in place.

At 5:18 a.m., there was a confrontation between the man and RCMP, during which an officer fired their gun at the suspect, police said in an updated news release.

The man was provided medical care at the site and airlifted by STARS to hospital. RCMP said no officers were injured.

In addition to ASIRT’s investigation, the RCMP are also conducting their own internal review and say they are fully cooperating with ASIRT.

The government agency investigates incidents involving police officers that result in serious injury or death, along with allegations of misconduct.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Eight years after he went missing, the remains of an Ontario man have been found on a property northeast of Smiths Falls, Ont.

Ontario Provincial Police say they found the remains of Robert Lambert on July 20 on a rural property that has been part of an ongoing investigation where the remains of another man were found last year.

“Locating Robert Lambert brings us one step closer to providing answers to a family that has waited eight years,” said OPP Det. Insp. Marty McConnell.

“Our focus remains on following the evidence and conducting a thorough investigation.”

Lambert went missing when he was 75 year old. Lanark County OPP said they received the report of his disappearance on Nov. 30, 2018. Numerous searches and an extensive investigation followed, but police said there was no trace of him.

Police found his remains slightly more than a year after they announced a $50,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for his disappearance.

At the time of his disappearance, Lambert required assistance to travel and medication on a regular basis.

Investigators were told in 2018 that he had travelled to the U.S., but there was no record of him crossing the border. Police said foul play was suspend

Police said it is the second time human remains have been found on the Kelly Jordan Road property.

Last October, OPP officers found the first set of remains while executing a search warrant on Oct. 30.

The remains were confirmed to be those of Robbie Thomson, who was reported missing in October 2023.

Four people have since been arrested and charged in connection with Thomson’s death.

No charges have been announced as of Wednesday in connection with Lambert’s death, but police said the investigation is ongoing and residents of Kelly Jordan Road should expect an increased police presence.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Alberta’s government says it’s reviewing the case of a boy who was hit by machine belt as part of school discipline known as the “strap.”

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the review will help determine whether further action is required.

“The safety and well-being of students is my top priority,” he said in an email Wednesday.

Fort Vermilion RCMP announced this week that a woman who was a supervisor at a private religious school in a northwestern Alberta community has been charged with assault with a weapon, after a parent reported on May 20 that their son had bruising from being disciplined at school.

The RCMP said the child was left with red marks on his thigh.

Police then searched a school in mid-June and found a machine belt, similar to a timing belt on a motor or another machine, rather than a pant-worn belt.

The practice of physically disciplining students with the “strap” was being used at three private religious schools in the La Crete area: the Blumenort Mennonite School, Wilson Prairie Mennonite School and Tompkins Mennonite School, the investigation revealed.

The student was from one of the three schools but RCMP not specify which to maintain privacy for the victim.

Police said parents had been made aware of the practice in a collective constitution they signed.

RCMP said the educators at the schools are not accredited teachers but are considered adult supervisors.

Alberta’s Education Act indicates that registered independent schools are funded by the province, and are not required to use certificated teachers or to teach the Alberta programs of study.

The schools are required to provide copies of its rules for discipline to its students and their parents. The rules must “incorporate the principles of fundamental justice,” the act states.

The education minister has the authority to investigate registered independent schools, and shut them down if the school doesn’t comply with the province’s regulations.

On Wednesday, RCMP added no one else has come forward with assault allegations, but the school community has been informed what constitutes a Criminal Code violation.

“Should more victims come forward, we will open another investigation,” Cpl. Mathew Howell said.

Located about 650 km northwest of Edmonton, La Crete is a unique bilingual hamlet made up heavily of people from the Mennonite community whose ancestors relocated to the remote region in the early 1930s, looking to to escape the modernization of the developing world.

About 1.5 times more residents of the hamlet report their mother tongue being Germanic (such as Plautdietsch, also known as Mennonite Low German) than English, according to Statistics Canada data.

La Crete is one of several Mennonite communities across Canada that sprung up over the past two centuries when the federal government offered incentives for people to work the land in exchange for autonomy to run schools and preserve their faith, language, and culture.

However, in the 1900s, the world wars and shifting provincial education policies dissolved many of those original federal accommodations, creating friction that led to some Mennonites leaving Canada for South America (with some eventually migrating back north) and attributing to a mistrust of authority which has carried into the modern day.

As a result of the investigation, RCMP said Eva Bueckert, 37, of Cleardale, Alta., has been charged with assault with a weapon.

She is scheduled to appear in court Fort Vermilion on Aug. 11.

— With files from Karen Bartko, Global News

© 2026 The Canadian Press