NEWS FOR FRIDAY, JULY 20TH 2018

NATIONAL
By Allison O’Reilly

Smoke is blanketing British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley as several fires continue to burn out of control in the region, jamming traffic on the main highway.

According to CBC News, the Mount Eneas fire, which is burning between Peachland and Summerland, nearly doubled in size overnight on Wednesday and now covers 500 hectares.

On Wednesday it forced the evacuation of dozens of properties and temporarily closed the main highway.

As of noon Thursday, no new evacuation orders had been issued, but firefighters are ramping up efforts.

NATIONAL 
By Jessica Barile

A Surete du Quebec officer is found guilty after causing the death of a five year old boy.

According to CTV news, Patrick Ouellet was speeding at 134 km/h on February 13th, 2014 and smashed into a car while making a left hand turn on a green light.

Five year old Nicholas Thorne-Belance was a passanger in the car.

The accident happened while Ouellet was using a unmarked police car during a undercover operation

Ouellet is facing maximum 14 years in prison with no mandatory minimum.

Thorne's family said they were satisfied with the sentence.

INTERNATIONAL 
By Patricia Petit Liang 

French prosecutors are investigating a senior presidential aide who attacked protesters in Paris earlier this year. 

According to BBC News, Alexandre Benalla, an assistant to President Emmanuel Macron's chief of staff, was filmed attacking two citizens while wearing a police visor during May Day protests. 

Riot police did not appear to intervene as Benalla dragged protestors by the necks and stomping on their stomachs.

Possible charges include violence by a public official, impersonating a police officer and the illegal use of police insignia.