TORONTO --As countries around the world battle COVID-19 in different ways, political leaders, health officials and the public are witnessing how the pandemic is exposing major issues within their respective health-care systems.One former U.S. insurance executive’s tweets -- which accused the insurance industry of spending “big” money to downplay the merits of the Canadian system -- have drawn attention to this issue and the disparities between the Canadian model and the U.S. one.“Amid America's #COVID19 disaster, I must come clean about a lie I spread as a health insurance exec: We spent...…TORONTO --As countries around the world battle COVID-19 in different ways, political leaders, health officials and the public are witnessing how the pandemic is exposing major issues within their respective health-care systems.One former U.S. insurance executive’s tweets -- which accused the insurance industry of spending “big” money to downplay the merits of the Canadian system -- have drawn attention to this issue and the disparities between the Canadian model and the U.S. one.“Amid America's #COVID19 disaster, I must come clean about a lie I spread as a health insurance exec: We spent...WW…

NEWS --South Korean health officials reported on Friday that they were investigating 91 cases of COVID-19 where patients who were thought to have recovered retested positive.Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a cluster of infections at a nursing home found that 18 out of 36 confirmed cases that had been released from quarantine had re-tested positive just days after testing negative.Generally, an infected patient is considered recovered when they have tested negative twice in the span of 24 hours.Scientists say there are several potential scenarios for these test results....…NEWS --South Korean health officials reported on Friday that they were investigating 91 cases of COVID-19 where patients who were thought to have recovered retested positive.Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a cluster of infections at a nursing home found that 18 out of 36 confirmed cases that had been released from quarantine had re-tested positive just days after testing negative.Generally, an infected patient is considered recovered when they have tested negative twice in the span of 24 hours.Scientists say there are several potential scenarios for these test results....WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --The federal government has made preparations to evacuate some 300,000 Canadian citizens out of Hong Kong should the situation deteriorate, even though the chances of it becoming necessary are currently very low, according to Ottawa’s top diplomat in Hong Kong.The government, however, will be unable to help non-citizens seeking asylum, including relatives of Canadian citizens, Jeff Nankivell, Canada’s consul general in Hong Kong and Macau, told the in Ottawa this week.“We have detailed plans in place, and we have resources available and identified to cover a range of...…AdvertisementTORONTO --The federal government has made preparations to evacuate some 300,000 Canadian citizens out of Hong Kong should the situation deteriorate, even though the chances of it becoming necessary are currently very low, according to Ottawa’s top diplomat in Hong Kong.The government, however, will be unable to help non-citizens seeking asylum, including relatives of Canadian citizens, Jeff Nankivell, Canada’s consul general in Hong Kong and Macau, told the in Ottawa this week.“We have detailed plans in place, and we have resources available and identified to cover a range of...WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --A little over a year ago, the idea of raising US$2.125 million to receive the “world’s most expensive drug” for baby Eva Batista seemed impossibly daunting for her family. But thanks to generous donors, including a fellow fundraiser, Eva’s parents are elated she will have the necessary funds to get the lifesaving gene therapy treatment she needs.Eva, who turned one in August, has (SMA), a rare neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and atrophy. Basic mechanisms like breathing, which requires the diaphragm to contract, becomes a matter of survival. Many...…AdvertisementTORONTO --A little over a year ago, the idea of raising US$2.125 million to receive the “world’s most expensive drug” for baby Eva Batista seemed impossibly daunting for her family. But thanks to generous donors, including a fellow fundraiser, Eva’s parents are elated she will have the necessary funds to get the lifesaving gene therapy treatment she needs.Eva, who turned one in August, has (SMA), a rare neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and atrophy. Basic mechanisms like breathing, which requires the diaphragm to contract, becomes a matter of survival. Many...WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --Space Exploration Technologies Corp, better known as SpaceX, moved closer to launching its high-speed satellite internet service in Canada after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the company’s application for a licence.SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, applied for a Basic International Telecommunications Services (BITS) licence in May. The approval for the application was , according to a letter to the company posted on the CRTC website.A BITS licence authorizes telecommunications providers or carriers to carry international...…AdvertisementTORONTO --Space Exploration Technologies Corp, better known as SpaceX, moved closer to launching its high-speed satellite internet service in Canada after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the company’s application for a licence.SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, applied for a Basic International Telecommunications Services (BITS) licence in May. The approval for the application was , according to a letter to the company posted on the CRTC website.A BITS licence authorizes telecommunications providers or carriers to carry international...WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --Arctic sea ice could be completely gone by 2035, according to a new study that compared present day conditions with those during the last interglacial period some 127,000 years ago.The findings, , are important for helping predict future climate change patterns, researchers said.“The advances made in climate modelling means that we can create a more accurate simulation of the Earth's past climate, which, in turn gives us greater confidence in model predictions for the future,” said joint lead author Maria Vittoria Guarino with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), in a...…AdvertisementTORONTO --Arctic sea ice could be completely gone by 2035, according to a new study that compared present day conditions with those during the last interglacial period some 127,000 years ago.The findings, , are important for helping predict future climate change patterns, researchers said.“The advances made in climate modelling means that we can create a more accurate simulation of the Earth's past climate, which, in turn gives us greater confidence in model predictions for the future,” said joint lead author Maria Vittoria Guarino with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), in a...WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --Three-year-old Alexandra Naggear, a rallying symbol in Lebanon against government corruption, was identified on Friday as one of two Canadians killed by the massive explosion that levelled part of Beirut.Alexandra was among at least 178 people killed on August 4. Thousands more were injured.As one of the youngest victims of the tragedy, her death enraged, saddened, and galvanized Lebanon. Many hoped she would survive, but she died two days after the explosion.“They are all responsible, and they should all pay for what they did. We will avenge Alexandra,” said Sarah...…AdvertisementTORONTO --Three-year-old Alexandra Naggear, a rallying symbol in Lebanon against government corruption, was identified on Friday as one of two Canadians killed by the massive explosion that levelled part of Beirut.Alexandra was among at least 178 people killed on August 4. Thousands more were injured.As one of the youngest victims of the tragedy, her death enraged, saddened, and galvanized Lebanon. Many hoped she would survive, but she died two days after the explosion.“They are all responsible, and they should all pay for what they did. We will avenge Alexandra,” said Sarah...WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --Boho-chic lifestyle retailer Anthropologie denied accusations it racially profiled customers by assigning codenames to Black shoppers so employees could watch them more closely.Earlier this week, Diet Prada, an Instagram account  within the fashion industry, reported that multiple employees from stores across the U.S. and Canada said they were told to watch Black shoppers and that the codename “Nick” was used.“Regarding allegations of racial profiling, we have never and will never have a code word based on a customer’s race or ethnicity, Our company has a...…AdvertisementTORONTO --Boho-chic lifestyle retailer Anthropologie denied accusations it racially profiled customers by assigning codenames to Black shoppers so employees could watch them more closely.Earlier this week, Diet Prada, an Instagram account  within the fashion industry, reported that multiple employees from stores across the U.S. and Canada said they were told to watch Black shoppers and that the codename “Nick” was used.“Regarding allegations of racial profiling, we have never and will never have a code word based on a customer’s race or ethnicity, Our company has a...WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --Players of colour in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, the world’s largest minor hockey league, say they are routinely targeted with verbal insults because of their race​.“I’d probably say, like, half of the games someone said something, but no one ever heard,” said Myles Douglas, a 16-year-old Black player from Georgetown, Ont.“They always say it when the refs backs are turned, or when they know the refs or no one else will hear them.”Douglas says he hears racial slurs directed at him in half of the 45 games he has played this season. It is difficult to say how many...…AdvertisementTORONTO --Players of colour in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, the world’s largest minor hockey league, say they are routinely targeted with verbal insults because of their race​.“I’d probably say, like, half of the games someone said something, but no one ever heard,” said Myles Douglas, a 16-year-old Black player from Georgetown, Ont.“They always say it when the refs backs are turned, or when they know the refs or no one else will hear them.”Douglas says he hears racial slurs directed at him in half of the 45 games he has played this season. It is difficult to say how many...WW…

AdvertisementTORONTO --Several people were taken into custody Monday as police moved in and began dismantling a blockade near Belleville, Ont., sparking condemnation from the Mohawk of Tyendinaga.A stream of police cruisers, vans, unmarked vehicles, and dozens of officers, including some wearing what appeared to be tactical gear were seen flooding the Mohawk blockade shortly after 8:00 a.m. EST. Some demonstrators scuffled with officers before being taken away and an ambulance was seen leaving the area, although it was unclear what kind of injury may have been sustained.Andrew Brant, a land...…AdvertisementTORONTO --Several people were taken into custody Monday as police moved in and began dismantling a blockade near Belleville, Ont., sparking condemnation from the Mohawk of Tyendinaga.A stream of police cruisers, vans, unmarked vehicles, and dozens of officers, including some wearing what appeared to be tactical gear were seen flooding the Mohawk blockade shortly after 8:00 a.m. EST. Some demonstrators scuffled with officers before being taken away and an ambulance was seen leaving the area, although it was unclear what kind of injury may have been sustained.Andrew Brant, a land...WW…