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ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — In downtown St. John's, N.L., this summer, motorists have been treated to a rare botanical sight — a plume of pink lupins growing at the heart of a hectic intersection.

WINNIPEG — A steam locomotive made in 1882 and billed as Canada's oldest operating one is in need of some tender loving care, and the volunteers who have kept it running on a vintage railway north of Manitoba's capital are raising funds for the fixup

COACHELLA, Calif. (AP) — Claudia Lua Alvarado has staked her future on the rows of towering date palms behind the home where she lives with her husband and two children in a desert community east of Los Angeles.

MOORE, Okla.

Umicore says it has halted spending on a $2.76-billion battery materials plant in eastern Ontario. The global materials company says it made the decision because of scaled-back expectations for growth in the electric vehicle market.

Bell Canada president Mirko Bibic says the company takes complaints from Yukon residents about poor cellphone service in the territory "extremely seriously.

WHITEHORSE, YUKON — The Yukon government says it is stepping in to build a safety berm at the site of the Eagle Gold mine disaster after the mine's owner failed to meet a deadline imposed by an inspector last week.

TORONTO — Widespread gains helped push Canada's main stock index higher Friday, while U.S. stock markets also rose after an encouraging U.S. inflation report.

MONTREAL — Environmental activists have caused disruptions outside Montreal Trudeau International Airport for three consecutive days protesting Canadian fossil fuel policy. On Friday around 12:30 p.m.

HALIFAX — Postmedia Network Inc. has announced plans to buy "certain businesses" belonging to SaltWire Network Inc. and The Halifax Herald Ltd., the two insolvent media companies behind Atlantic Canada’s largest newspaper chain.