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WorldMar 24, 2020

250 Canadians scheduled to return to Canada on a flight from Kyiv to Toronto

Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Shevchenko says about 250 Canadians are scheduled to return to Canada on a flight from Kyiv to Toronto that is scheduled for Wednesday. The Ukraine International Airlines flight was organized by the Canadian and Ukrainian governments. Shevchenko says the plane will then load up with Ukrainians, some of whom are on their way to Toronto Pearson International Airport from as far as Vancouver, and return to Kyiv on Thursday. He says future flights are possible depending on demand.
CanadaMar 24, 2020

Quebec now has 1,013 confirmed cases of COVID-19

Quebec now has 1,013 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but no additional deaths to report today, with the provincial tally steady at four. Premier Francois Legault says 67 people are hospitalized, including 31 in intensive care. Legault says about 2,500 people are awaiting test results while 12,200 have received negative tests. The premier sought to reassure Quebecers that measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus are temporary and necessary to save lives.
dr-theresa-tam-community-spread-of-covid-19-within-canada-now-rising
CanadaMar 24, 2020

Dr. Theresa Tam: Community spread of COVID-19 within Canada now rising

Canada's chief medical health officer says there's now a pretty equal ratio of travel related to community transmission of COVID-19. Dr. Theresa Tam says this represents a fundamental shift in the spread of the virus in Canada. She also notes it's a common misconception that the virus only affects the elderly or people with underlying health issues. She says younger people can get very sick too. Nearly 120,000 Canadians have been tested for the coronavirus, with an average of 10,000 people tested per day.
westjet-to-layoff-6-900-employees
WorldMar 24, 2020

WestJet to layoff 6,900 employees

WestJet Airlines Ltd. says roughly half of its 14,000 employees will leave the company some temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 6,900 departures comprise early retirements, resignations and both voluntary and involuntary leaves after WestJet asked staff to choose one of those options or reduce their hours or pay, said CEO Ed Sims. Up to 600 Air Canada pilots will also go on unpaid leave in the coming months due to the fallout from the virus, their union said Tuesday.
indias-prime-minister-decrees-21-day-lockdown-to-curb-virus
IndiaMar 24, 2020

India's prime minister decrees 21-day lockdown to curb virus

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “total lockdown” in the country of 1.3 billion people during a televised address Tuesday night, the most extensive stay-at-home order yet in the world's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The 21-day lockdown was set to begin at midnight. “To save India and every Indian, there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes,” Modi said, adding that if the county failed to manage the next 21 days, it would be set back by 21 years. Indian health officials have reported 469 actives cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus,
tokyo-olympics-officially-postponed-until-2021
WorldMar 24, 2020

Tokyo Olympics officially postponed until 2021

The Tokyo Olympics have been officially postponed until 2021. The International Olympic Committee along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organizers have decided that the Tokyo Games cannot go ahead as scheduled this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. The IOC says the games will be held “not later than summer 2021” but they will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
covid-19-punjab-govt-urges-centre-to-release-rs-150-crore-for-isolation-wards-buildings
IndiaMar 24, 2020

COVID-19 : Punjab govt urges Centre to release Rs 150 crore for isolation wards, buildings

Punjab Health Minister BS Sidhu, said on Monday that the state has requested the Centre to release Rs 150 crore for building isolations wards and other buildings necessary to treat coronavirus patients. "As we have so many NRIs in Punjab and 90,000 people have come here in the last three-four months, we have asked for Rs 150 crore from the Centre to help us build infrastructure as well as for isolation wards and other things if there are more cases," said Sidhu. He also said that five MPs met Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, regarding the matter. According to the Union Ministry of Hea
CanadaMar 24, 2020

Dr. Vera Etches: Public health authority may use cellphone data to find out whether people really are self-isolating

Ottawa's medical officer of health says the public health authority may use cellphone data to find out whether people really are self-isolating. Dr. Vera Etches says the agency is trying to get a better handle on whether people are following the advice to stay home and away from others. She says one way to do that is with polling, but they are also looking at ways to use ``electronic data'' to see if people are congregating in public spaces or moving about.
dr-theresa-tam-is-warning-against-using-any-medication-including-hydroxychloroquine-to-try-to-treat-covid-19
CanadaMar 24, 2020

Dr. Theresa Tam is warning against using any medication, including hydroxychloroquine, to try to treat COVID-19

Canada's chief public officer Dr. Theresa Tam is warning against using any medication, including hydroxychloroquine, to try to treat COVID-19 until scientific evidence confirms its efficacy. The warning follows reports on social media that hydroxychloroquine can cure the respiratory illness. Among those who have repeated the claim is U.S. President Donald Trump. Tam says there is a large number of pre-existing medications that scientists are looking at to see whether they can treat COVID-19, but people should not take anything until the results are confirmed. Tam adds that some of the medicat

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BCMay 11, 2026

Telus, Ottawa announce AI data centre expansion in B.C. to strengthen Canadian computing capacity

The federal government and Telus announced plans Monday for a multi-site artificial intelligence data infrastructure project in British Columbia that officials say is intended to expand Canada’s domestic computing capacity and support what they described as “sovereign” AI infrastructure. Federal AI Minister Evan Solomon joined Telus representatives in Vancouver to outline the project, which includes an expansion of Telus’ existing data centre in Kamloops and two new facilities planned for Vancouver – one in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood and another in the downtown core. According
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BCMay 11, 2026

BC Conservatives criticize NDP government following two Surrey shooting incidents

The BC Conservative Party is criticizing the provincial NDP government following two separate shooting incidents in Surrey that left two people dead and two others injured. BC Conservative representative Harman Bhangu questioned the province’s approach to public safety, saying shootings, gang violence and homicides are increasingly affecting residential neighbourhoods. Bhangu said residents are frustrated by repeated political statements following violent incidents and are demanding stronger action to address public safety concerns. Surrey–Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko also called on the p
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IndiaMay 11, 2026

AAP protests outside BJP offices in Punjab over ED action against Sanjeev Arora

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged protests outside Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district offices across Punjab on Monday following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) arrest of Punjab cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora in a money laundering case. Party workers raised slogans against the BJP and accused the central government of using investigative agencies for political purposes. Tense situations were reported in several locations where AAP and BJP workers gathered during the demonstrations. However, no major clashes or arrests had been officially confirmed at publication time. Punjab Finance Mini
WorldMay 11, 2026

American cruise passenger tests positive for hantavirus after Canary Islands evacuation

A U.S. passenger evacuated from a cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak in the Canary Islands has tested positive for the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said a second American passenger who was onboard the ship is also being monitored after showing mild symptoms. Both individuals returned to the United States overnight and are being observed at the U.S. National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska. Health officials have not released additional details about the patients or confirmed how many total cases have been linked to the cruise ship outbrea
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IndiaMay 11, 2026

Bhagwant Mann’s cousin Gyan Singh Mann joins BJP

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s cousin, Gyan Singh Mann, has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party after leaving the Aam Aadmi Party. Gyan Singh Mann was inducted into the BJP in Chandigarh in the presence of Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. Speaking after joining the party, Gyan Singh Mann said he had joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2014 but claimed the party changed after forming the government in Punjab in 2022. He alleged that the AAP had shifted from being “a party of ordinary workers to a party of special interests” and crit