--Thirteenth NewsWatch--

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(Israel-Palestinians)

State-owned television reports one of Egypt's soldiers was shot and killed while responding to an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in nearby Rafah.

Egypt has warned that Israel's incursion in Rafah could threaten the two countries' decades-old peace treaty.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel must destroy what he calls Hamas' last remaining battalions in Rafah. (13)

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(War-Family-Reunification) (Audio: 099)

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada is putting in every effort on every level to safely get Canadians' family members out of Gaza.

Miller is increasing the cap on applications for a much-criticized program that aims to reunite people in the Gaza Strip with their Canadian relatives.

The initial limit of one-thousand applications is being increased to five-thousand, each of which can include multiple family members.

The N-D-P has accused the government of bungling the Gaza program as well another for people in Sudan, saying the Liberals haven't learned from issues that emerged after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. (13)

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(Wildfires-BC)

Evacuees have begun returning home to Fort Nelson, B-C, more than two weeks after being forced out by wildfires.

The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and the Fort Nelson First Nation jointly rescinded their evacuation orders at 8 a-m today, but warn active fires continue burning in the area.

An evacuation alert requiring people to be ready to leave at short notice is in place.

About 47-hundred residents were forced to leave their homes in Fort Nelson on May 10th when strong winds pushed the Parker Lake wildfire toward the town, eventually destroying four homes and damaging six other properties. (13)

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(Competition-Airlines) (Audio: 107)

Market concentration, prices and a rising number of customer complaints are fuelling the Competition Bureau's probe of the airline industry.

The regulator says two carriers continue to dominate the skies while new airlines seem to struggle to enter the market.

The bureau also says domestic fares appear relatively high, while more and more passengers file complaints.

The market study announced May 9th is the bureau's first since it gained new powers in December including the ability to compel information from companies. (13)

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(US-Severe-Weather)

U-S President Joe Biden has sent condolences to the families of people killed in a series of powerful storms that devastated parts of the central and southern U-S over the Memorial Day long weekend.

At least 21 people were killed in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky.

Biden says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground conducting damage assessments, and he has contacted governors to offer federal support.

More than half a million customers across the eastern U-S were still without power this afternoon. (13)

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(Que-Cattle-Theft)

A farmer in Quebec's Eastern Townships went out into his field to find his entire herd of about 75 cattle has disappeared.

Farm co-owner Jonathan Fortin says last week's loss of about 200-thousand dollars worth of cattle represents a good portion of his life savings and four hard years of work.

Fortin found a broken fence and vehicle tracks last Friday morning while his neighbours reported seeing trailer lights and hearing a commotion the previous evening.

Police are investigating and trying to locate the herd. (13)

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(NewsWatch by Jason White)

The Canadian Press