The World Health Organization has put off deciding whether to declare the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China a global health emergency. It is asking its expert committee to continue meeting tomorrow for a second day. The W-H-O's Dr. Maria Kerkove says so far the evidence suggests the new respiratory illness spreads only through close contact. So far 17 deaths have been blamed on the virus, and hundreds of others are sick, mainly in China.

R-C-M-P say a 55-year-old man was hit and killed on 188th Street near 24th Avenue in south Surrey this morning. First responders tried to save the injured, but the efforts went in vain. Reports suggest the drivers stayed at scene and was cooperating. Two people have died in separate Metro Vancouver pedestrian accidents.

R-C-M-P in Langford, just west of Victoria, are investigating a homicide. They say the body of a man was found inside a vehicle as officers responded to a single-car crash in a rural area of the community late Monday night. Police have not said how the unnamed man died, but foul play is suspected and members of the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit are appealing for witnesses, dash cam video or home security tapes. The case was the second of the day on Monday for the major crimes unit after members were also called to the North Cowichan/Duncan area when a body was found on Cowichan

A woman in her 70s has died after being hit by a delivery van as she and her husband crossed a street in downtown Vancouver. A statement from police says the Vancouver resident was hit late Sunday afternoon and died later in hospital. Her husband, who is also in his 70s, remains in hospital with serious injuries. Police say the two were in a marked crosswalk when they were run down by the van that was turning left. The 37-year-old Surrey driver remained at the scene and investigators say he is co-operating, but they also want to speak with other witnesses or anyone with dash-cam video. The wo

The agency responsible for approving and assessing energy development in Alberta is laying off staff as it deals with budget cuts.The Alberta Energy Regulator says it laid off ``a couple of dozen'' staff yesterday with more to come by the end of February.Gordon Lambert, interim CEO, says the changes are part of a restructuring that aims to make the regulator more effective, efficient, and resilient.Last October the government announced that the AER would lose about 22 percent of its operating budget.Lambert says while it is a difficult time for staff, the AER will continue to protect public s

British Columbia Premier John Horgan has made changes to his cabinet, filling a vacancy and swapping a few portfolios.Anne Kang has been appointed minister of citizens' services, replacing Jinny Sims, who resigned from her post last October amid an RCMP investigation into allegations that haven't been made public.Sims has said she is confident her name will be cleared.Michelle Mungall and Bruce Ralston have traded portfolios with some job exceptions.Mungall has been appointed the minister of jobs, economic development and competitiveness, which was formerly the cabinet post of minister of jobs

Chinese health authorities are urging people in the city of Wuhan to avoid crowds and public gatherings after warning that a new viral illness infecting hundreds of people in the country and causing at least 17 deaths could spread further. A national health official says 500 cases are confirmed in China. The 17 deaths are all in Hubei province, where the first cases were reported last month. The illness comes from a new coronavirus that experts say may be spread through the respiratory tract and may be mutating. An expert meeting convened by the World Health Organization on Wednesday will det

British Columbia's health minister and provincial health officer say officials are closely monitoring an international outbreak of respiratory illness linked to a novel coronavirus after a case was confirmed across the border in Washington state Tuesday. Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement there have been no cases of illness caused by the coronavirus in Canada and the risk to British Columbians is considered low. However, they say health-care workers have been asked to be vigilant and take a travel history for anyone reporting respiratory symptoms following an out

A delegation of protestors, including elderly women from Shaheen Bagh area, which met Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on Tuesday regard to their over month-long protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) said they were not pressurised to meet anyone. An elderly woman, who was among the delegation said they will continue their protest and block roads on January 29 if the proposed CAA and NPR are taken forward by the government. Earlier today, Baijal called for maintaining peace and order and urged the protestors to call o