WorldFeb 21, 2020
Health officials in China expressing new optimism about a deadly virus
Chinese health officials are expressing new optimism about a deadly virus, but it continues to bring new threats elsewhere. The latest front in the widening global fight against COVID-19 emerged in Daegu, South Korea, whose 2.5 million residents were urged to stay inside, wearing masks even indoors to stem further infection after 35 new cases were reported in the city and surrounding areas. Across the Yellow Sea at the virus' epicenter, China voiced confidence as a noticeably reduced number of new daily infections was recorded. But that came after the country again changed its method for how
WorldFeb 20, 2020
German gunman calling for genocide kills 9 people, PM Trudeau shares grief
Authorities say a 43-year-old German who posted a rant calling for the ``complete extermination'' of various races and cultures shot and killed nine people, most of them Turkish, in an attack on a hookah bar and other sites in suburban Frankfurt. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that the shootings exposed the ``poison'' of racism in Germany. The bloodshed comes amid growing concerns about far-right violence in Germany and stepped-up efforts from authorities to crack down on it. Justin Trudeau's tweet: Canada condemns last night’s terrible attack in Germany. We must stand united agains
WorldFeb 20, 2020
Canadians aboard coronavirus-ridden cruise ship to return home tonight
Healthy Canadians from the Diamond Princess cruise ship will shortly be heading home, according to Canada's foreign affairs minister, after weeks under quarantine for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.The ship, docked in Yokohama, Japan, contained the largest outbreak of the virus outside China, with hundreds of passengers having tested positive. Among the infected are 47 Canadians who will have to remain in Japan for treatment.Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday that passengers would be screened before boarding a chartered flight Thursday evening, Japan time.T
WorldFeb 19, 2020
Passengers begin leaving after ship's virus quarantine ends
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
WorldFeb 19, 2020
43 Canadians on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan contracted the novel coronavirus, COVID-19
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.
WorldFeb 17, 2020
255 Canadians on a cruise ship off the shore of Yokohama, to fly back home
About 255 Canadians on a cruise ship off the shore of Yokohama, Japan should be on a government chartered plane soon bound for Canada, and ultimately a two-week quarantine in Cornwall, Ontario. So far none of them are showing symptoms of the virus called COVID-19. At a news conference in Vancouver federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says she does not have an exact timeline yet. As for people coming into Canada from China, Hajdu says this country is taking its cue from the World Health Organization on what measures should be taken. About 15 Canadians on the Diamond Princess have the new coronav
WorldFeb 15, 2020
Angry protests in Mexico after woman's gruesome killing
Angry demonstrations have broken out in Mexico City as hundreds of women rage against the gruesome slaying and mutilation of a young woman. The case of Ingrid Escamilla has come to personify frustration over the rising incidence of gender-related killings, or femicides. She was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, and indignation grew after some media outlets published horrific photos of her skinned corpse. Friday morning, dozens of protesters spray-painted slogans such as ``We won't be silenced'' on the National Palace. Hours later hundreds marched on a media outlet that published the images
WorldFeb 14, 2020
Calls in China to ban the sale of wildlife and exotic species
The outbreak of a novel coronavirus is prompting calls in China to ban the sale of wildlife and exotic species. The COVID-19 virus spreading throughout the globe is suspected to have originated in the same type of live animal market that spawned the SARS epidemic in 2002. Now, more than 60-million people are under lockdown in more than a dozen Chinese cities, and the virus has sickened more than eight times more people than SARS.
WorldFeb 14, 2020
Canadian officials helping in Japan after 12 Canadians contract virus on ship
Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canadian health workers are assisting in Japan after 12 Canadians contracted the novel coronavirus while on a cruise ship.Champagne says three members of the Public Health Agency of Canada and two medical personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces have been sent to Yokohama, the Japanese port city where the Diamond Princess has been docked since last week.Some 3,500 passengers on the ship are under quarantine and 218 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.Champagne says the Japanese government will allow some elderly people to co