Category Archives: Science
US begins phasing out COVID-driven asylum restrictions
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Biden administration said Friday it has begun phasing out use of a pandemic-related rule that allows migrants to be expelled without an opportunity to seek asylum as 22 states fight in court to preserve the
Alberta increases funding for more cataract surgeries in private facilities
EDMONTON — The Alberta government says it will fund 25 per cent more cataract surgeries this year in privately-run surgical facilities in an effort to reduce surgery backlogs. Health Minister Jason Copping said the province will fund 35,000 of the eye
Plan to ban menthol cigarettes prompts late lobbying blitz
WASHINGTON (AP) — As federal officials finalize a long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes, dozens of interest groups have met with White House staffers to try to influence the process, which has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of
Mask, vaccine mandates for travel defended as government eases border restrictions
OTTAWA — The government signalled it is aspiring to a "more sustainable" approach to COVID-19 restrictions at the border with several small changes Friday, but public health officials say vaccine and mask mandates remain important. Unvaccinated childre...
Youth advocate says N.B. should revisit decision to end COVID restrictions in schools
FREDERICTON — New Brunswick's government should review its decision to lift the COVID-19 mask mandate in schools because it was made without the proper evidence to justify it, Kelly Lamrock, the province's child, youth and seniors advocate, said Friday...
Big Tech faces ‘major’ EU law on hate speech, disinformation
LONDON (AP) — Taking aim at hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content online, the European Union is nearing agreement on a sweeping law that would force big tech companies to police themselves harder, make it easier for users to
Lawmakers want US to set up field hospitals for Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is calling on the Biden administration to establish field hospitals near Ukraine's border and ramp up medical support for what's expected to be a monthslong war of attrition waged by Russia.
Nova Scotia plan to address challenges in health system panned for lacking detail
HALIFAX — The highly anticipated plan for reforming Nova Scotia’s ailing health system is "nothing new" and lacks detail, opposition parties said Friday, after the Progressive Conservatives released their strategy to fulfil their main election promise....
Higher-paid agency nurses could pose ‘dangerous challenge’ to health system: union
A nursing union boss wants Canada's auditor general to find out how many privately contracted nurses are working for health authorities across the country, doing the same work as staff counterparts while being paid far more. Linda Silas of the Canadian...
Philadelphia to end mask mandate, days after reinstating it
Philadelphia is ending its indoor mask mandate, city health officials said Thursday night, abruptly reversing course just days after people in the city had to start wearing masks again amid a sharp increase in infections.
