Canada has officially recorded more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 across the country. The 173 new cases of COVID-19 reported today in Ontario, one of two provinces at the epicentre of the outbreak, pushed the overall tally past the grim milestone. Such a figure seemed incomprehensible six months ago when public health officials greeted word of the country's first COVID-19 case with repeated assurances that the risk of contracting the virus was low. That message shifted dramatically in mid-March as cases were reported across the country, prompting widespread shutdowns meant to help flatten th

Condoling the death of four Indian soldiers from Punjab who were killed in face-off with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced ex-gratia compensation, along with a government job to a next of kin of the deceased. "The loss suffered by the families was immeasurable and could not be compensated with material things, but the compensation and the jobs would help alleviate some of their sufferings," Singh said. The Chief Minister said: "Cabinet ministers would represent the state government at the martyrs' funerals, which will be held with f

Premier John Horgan is urging British Columbians to provide feedback on how the province should spend 1.5-billion dollars earmarked for COVID-19 recovery. Horgan says the province has been meeting with businesses, labour, First Nations and not-for-profits to get their perspective and is taking action on their ideas. But he is also urging British Columbians to take part in an online survey, provide written input or take part in a virtual town hall to make sure the recovery works for them. Finance Minister Carol James says the province has lost 314,000 jobs since February and rebuilding the eco

The province has announced 19 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,775. It says in a release that 185 cases remain active with 11 of those patients in hospital, including five in intensive care. There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, leaving the total at 168. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says two new health-care facility outbreaks in the Fraser Health district are very concerning and public health teams are working hard to contain further spread.

The RCMP are investigating the death of a woman who was dropped off at a hospital in Surrey, B.C., Wednesday morning with serious injuries. Police say they received a report earlier in the day of a seriously injured woman who died despite receiving medical treatment at the hospital. The Mounties say it's not clear how the woman was injured and they are trying to figure out her movements before her death. They say they are treating the death as suspicious. The RCMP say they are also looking into whether the woman's injuries connected to an earlier investigation in the 2700 block of 168 Street.

The Atlanta officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in the back after the fleeing man pointed a stun gun in his direction is going to be charged with felony murder and 10 other crimes. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard made the announcement about Garrett Rolfe during a news conference Wednesday. Howard said Rolfe kicked Brooks while he lay on the ground and that the officer with him, Devin Brosnan, stood on Brooks' shoulder as he struggled for life Friday night. Howard says Brosnan is co-operating and has given testimony, the first time in 40 cases he remembers such co-operation. R

Canada has lost its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Canada's loss came in the first round of voting today in a secret ballot of 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly. It follows the loss by the former Conservative government of Stephen Harper in 2010, and after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared Canada's candidacy after coming to power in 2015. Canada lost to Norway and Ireland for two available seats for a two-year term starting next year. The voting began at 9 a.m. eastern time, with the UN ambassadors being given staggered access to the General

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called a Bloc Quebecois MP racist today after a New Democrat motion on RCMP discrimination failed to receive unanimous consent from the House of Commons.Singh refused to apologize for the words directed at Bloc member Alain Therrien.That prompted the Speaker to order Singh to leave the House for the rest of the day.Singh had asked the Commons to recognize there is systemic racism in the RCMP and to call on the government to review the force's budget, ensure the Mounties are truly accountable and do a full review of the RCMP's use of force.There was at least one objecti

Blood samples collected from tens of thousands of Canadians will soon be tested for signs of COVID-19 antibodies as the federal government seeks to learn how many people have already contracted the novel coronavirus.Dr. Teresa Tam, chief public health officer for Canada, says Ottawa's immunity task force is collaborating with Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec on the project.The federal government today announced a contract is now in place with Abbott Laboratories to buy 140,000 serological tests for the project.The blood tests can detect the presence of the antibody that is produced afte