Sweden to help households as electricity prices soar
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden announced Wednesday it had earmarked some 6 billion kronor ($661 million) for a temporary scheme to help the most affected households across the Scandinavian country to cope with high electricity bills this winter.
UK’s Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Wednesday for attending a garden party during Britain’s first coronavirus lockdown, but brushed aside demands that he resign for breaching the rules his own government had imposed on the nation.
German president calls for debate over COVID vaccine mandate
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's president called Wednesday for a thorough debate over plans for compulsory coronavirus vaccinations for all adults in the country, saying such a drastic measure needs to be fully justified.
Omicron may be headed for a rapid drop in Britain, US
Scientists are seeing signals that COVID-19′s alarming omicron wave may have peaked in Britain and is about to do the same in the U.S., at which point cases may start dropping off dramatically.
Biden redoubling focus on testing amid shortages, confusion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is redoubling its efforts to expand supply and accessibility of COVID-19 testing as it faces mounting criticism over long lines and supply shortages for testing nationwide and confusion about when to get teste...
Putin: Russia on the verge of a new virus surge
MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is facing a new surge of coronavirus infections because of the highly contagious omicron variant. “It's
Hong Kong ‘patriots only’ legislature convenes first session
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s legislature convened Wednesday for the first time since elections last month that were held under new legislation ensuring that only “patriots” who have proven their loyalty to Beijing could run as candidates.
PM needs more info on Quebec’s no-vax tax, Ottawa struggles to deliver rapid tests
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday he needs more information before he can say whether he supports Quebec’s anti-vaccination tax, as Ottawa struggled to make good on its promise to deliver COVID-19 rapid tests. Trudeau said Quebec has reassur...
Radiologists warn of growing backlog in medical imaging due to COVID-19 pandemic
Radiologists are warning that Canadian hospitals are in serious need of more equipment and staff to deal with medical imaging backlogs that the country was already facing before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Dr. Gilles Soulez, president of the Canadian ...
Saskatchewan schools take on contact tracing once done by health-care workers
REGINA — As a registered nurse and COVID-19 case investigator in Saskatchewan, Carolyn Strom says she is no longer allowed to reach out to schools. During previous waves of the pandemic, it was her responsibility to contact-trace positive cases in stud...
