A B.C. government decision to allow Teck Resources' coal mines in southeastern B.C. to use a new type of water treatment has prompted a stern response from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has written a letter to Environment Minister George Heyman demanding data on why the mines can exceed guidelines for the release of selenium, a toxic heavy metal. The agency wants to do its own assessment of the water treatment system, because it says the new technology is not effective over large areas or for long periods of time. The letter to Heyman, sent February 4th, follows U.S. concerns t

The head of the World Health Organization says the agency needs $1.7 billion to fund its response efforts for COVID-19 for the rest of the year, and that it's about $1.3 billion short. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was suspending funding to the U.N. health agency, saying WHO botched its response to the coronavirus pandemic and was acting as a public relations agency for China. WHO said previously it was conducting an assessment of what the loss of U.S. funding would mean for its operations. In a press briefing on Friday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said WHO's C

A member of the military serving as one of US President Donald Trump's valets has tested positive for the coronavirus. The White House says Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have since tested negative for the virus and remain in good health. It's the first known instance where a person who has come in close proximity to the president has tested positive since several people present at his private Florida club were diagnosed with COVID-19 in early March. Trump says neither he nor Vice President Mike Pence spent much time around the valet.

The U.K. has become the second country to record more than 30,000 deaths as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, said at the government's daily briefing that another 649 people in the U.K. have died in all settings, including hospitals and care homes, after testing positive for the coronavirus. That takes the U.K.'s official death toll to 30,076, only behind the United States, which has more than 71,000 coronavirus-related deaths. The British government is expected to extend the lockdown restrictions on Thursday when they come up for review, partly

New York state is now reporting more than 1,700 previously undisclosed COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities, raising the total in the homes to more than 4,800. Exactly how many nursing home residents have died remains uncertain despite the state's latest disclosure, as the list doesn't include nursing home residents who were transferred to hospitals before dying. There have been more than 19-thousand deaths in New York state since the beginning of the outbreak.

India's prime minister announces extension to the country's lockdown for 1.3 billion people until May 3, but says there may be some easing in restrictions in people's movement after one week to help the poor daily wage earners and those working in agriculture sector.In an address to the nation on radio and television on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the lockdown will be eased only in areas which do not show any deterioration in the spread of coronavirus.He said India has paid a big economic price by imposing the lockdown, but it was much better placed than many other countries as

Two cruise ships experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak are waiting to learn when they'll be allowed to dock at a Florida port.About 250 Canadians are on board the M-S Zaandam and M-S Rotterdam.Holland America says it has received approval from a health system in Fort Lauderdale to treat fewer than 10 people ``who need immediate critical care.''It says guests have been self-isolating in their rooms since March 22nd.

U.S. officials are warning COVID-19 could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans, even with social distancing measures. Experts made the prediction at a media briefing yesterday with President Donald Trump, who warned that the country is heading for ``a very tough two weeks.'' Trump has extended social distancing guidelines through April 30th. New York is the deadliest hot spot in the U.S. with more than 15,000 deaths state wide, most of them in New York City.

The US Coast Guard says it's working with Holland America to plan for the docking of the cruise ships MS Zandaam and the MS Rotterdam. The ships have reached Miami after two weeks at sea. Two of the four deaths on board the Zaandam have been blamed on COVID-19 and the cruise company says nine others have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. About 250 Canadians are aboard the two vessels. Holland America says the Rotterdam took on nearly 1,400 people who appear to be healthy from its sister ship.