Hundreds of passengers began leaving the Diamond Princess cruise ship Wednesday after the end of a much criticized, two week quarantine that failed to stop the spread of a new virus among passengers and crew. Officials still were continuing tests for the coronavirus that has sickened tens of thousands of people in China and more than 540 on the ship. Some passengers said on Twitter they received health check forms asking if they had any symptoms such as headache, fever, cough. Passengers who tested negative and had no symptoms still had to get their body temperature checked before leaving. A J

The federal government says there are now 43 Canadians on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan who have contracted the novel coronavirus. Meantime about 225 others from the Diamond Princess are set to arrive home later this week. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says it's not yet clear just how many of those Canadians will be airlifted home. But she stresses that any sick people will have to stay in Japan for treatment. The healthy Canadians who come home will have to be quarantined for another two weeks in Cornwall, Ontario.

Navi Mumbai Police has registered an FIR against 76 people, including an ex MLA under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for alleged irregularities of over Rs 512 crores in the Karnala Nagari co-operative bank scam of over Rs 512 crores. The police said, "In the FIR registered, charges have been registered against 76 people including Vivekananda Patil, a former MLA of the Peasants and Workers Party of India and the chairperson of Karnala co-operative bank." "The other names registered in the FIR were in the executive board of the bank," the police added.Reacting to the development, BJ

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has offered effusive thanks to New Democrats and stinging criticism of the Conservatives after the NDP supported the minority Liberal government's efforts to more speedily ratify the new North American trade agreement. Freeland said the government wanted to end study by a House of Commons committee of the new deal, which replaces the quarter-century-old North American Free Trade Agreement. Both the United States and Mexico have formally ratified the new pact, which was reached after the Trump administration in Washington foisted a renegotiation on its t

Hundreds of forestry workers staged a rally on the lawn of British Columbia's legislature Tuesday, reminding the government about how important the industry is to the economy and to the survival of rural communities. Many of the workers arrived in logging trucks and parked their rigs near the legislature, temporarily shutting down a busy thoroughfare. Among the crowd of about 500 people were many who carried placards saying, ``Forestry Feeds My Family.'' Forests Minister Doug Donaldson spoke to the crowd, saying he will take their message to the government. Port McNeill Mayor Gaby Wickstrom t

Budget 2020 moves British Columbia forward by building the infrastructure the growing province needs, supporting thousands of new jobs, strengthening investments in health and education and making life more affordable for everyone. "From new roads, hospitals, housing, schools and child care centres to better, more affordable services in every community, we're seeing fundamental changes that are making life better for British Columbians," said Carole James, Minister of Finance. "Together, we've made a lot of progress and we can't turn back. Budget 2020 keeps our province moving forward by foc

RCMP say one of their officers narrowly avoided being run down by a woman by hopping on the hood of his cruiser. Mounties say in a news release the officer tried to stop the woman after identifying her vehicle as one allegedly associated with fuel thefts in the southern Interior. They allege she rammed into his cruiser when he tried to block her way, and she accelerated toward him after he exited the vehicle. The 44-year-old woman from 100 Mile House faces multiple charges, including dangerous driving, flight from police and assaulting a police officer with a weapon.

Ontario now has no novel coronavirus cases under investigation.A daily update from the provincial government shows that 421 people have been tested in the province over the past several weeks, and nearly all were negative for the virus.Three people in Ontario tested positive for the virus, called COVID-19, all of whom had a recent travel history to the affected area in China.At least one of the cases has since completely recovered, with tests showing she no longer has the virus in her system.There have been eight confirmed cases in Canada, including five in British Columbia.In China, more than

Renowned Punjab politician Sukhpal Singh Khaira today talked about Punjab’s politics in Sver Wala Show with Vijay Saini today. Khaira said that the political realities of Delhi and Punjab are totally different and victory in one state does not translate into an automatic victory in the other. He alleged that Delhi is the first priority of Arvind Kejriwal and he does not care much about Punjab. Complete audio of this interview will be available on Connect FM’s social media pages.