China Monday confirmed that the new SARS-like virus spreading out of Wuhan in the southern quadrant of the land has spread from human to human. Confirmation of this transmissibility of the lung infection heightens alarm at the prospect of both a national and worldwide epidemic of the potentially fatal syndrome.
The CBC has told the story of a Toronto-area driver, Sam Gill, who says he waited six minutes fro 911 in Peel Region to pick up the phone so he could report an erratic driver. The story ranges over other incidents where people were unable to contact 911 reasonable speed. The writer raises the question of whether governments have fully exploited modern technology to both speed calls and convey information, like position, faster. All good questions.
A man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a two-vehicle collision on the Gardiner Expressway Monday morning. The Gardiner remained closed towards noon hour from the DVP to the Yonge and Bay exit while police investigate.
Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou is before the BC Supreme Court Monday on a hearing intended to decide whether wire and phone fraud charges alleged by the US government would be prosecutable in Canada. It is a litmus test for extradition between the two countries. Washington claims Ms. Meng lied about violating US sanctions against Iran. She has been living a comfortable life in Vancouver since 2018 when she gained a bail of $7.5 million and offered to wear an electronic GPS ankle bracelet and pay for her own 24-hour monitoring through a private surveillance firm. She is seen wearing the device in her always stylish manner. It seems like the ultimate fashion statement for the wealthy Chinese business executive who will be 48 in February. CBC
Education Minister Stephen Lecce tells Melanie Ng on Breakfast Television that 80 percent of the provincial education budget is spent on salaries. He suggested that teacher unions might be decoupling the effect of surprise strikes from the impact on children.
In Iran, the country’s leaders are balking at the release of black boxes from Flight 752 to Canadian investigators. What have they got to hide? Then, the UK will plunge into Brexit on January 31 with consequences that can only be guessed at. Below that, Newfoundlanders are struggling with paralyzing snow. It is rather like being buried in an avalanche. Frightening. And finally, what does it mean when a cat grimaces. Owners and lovers of the eternal feline should pay attention.
A single ticket purchased in the Prairies won Saturday night’s $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot. And the draw’s guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in Quebec. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on Jan. 22 will be approximately $5 million.
Sam Hammond, head of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, has called a fifth one-day strike for Friday. This one will be at the Ontario North East District School Board in the far north and the Bluewater School Board in southeastern Ontario.
Toronto schools out Monday
The first one-day strikes are set to take place at York Region, Toronto and Ottawa-Carleton on Monday. More school boards will strike on Tuesday in Grand Erie, Trillium Lakelands, Renfrew and Superior-Greenstone on Tuesday. Teachers at Thames Valley, Rainbow and Rainy River school boards will strike on Wednesday and at Avon-Maitland, Halton, Niagara and Lakehead on Thursday.
Saturday’s heavy snowfall began tapering off as evening hours approached. A weather bulletin at shortly after 7 p.m. said snow will end tonight.
US authorities are on alert over a spreading respiratory condition apparently related to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). A strain of SARS entered Canada from China in 2002 with frightening impact. Business was badly hurt and people stayed home to avoid contact. Widespread isolation was required and special wards were created for SARS victims across the GTA.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer use the titles His and Her Royal Highness after announcing they would step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family, Buckingham Palace announced Saturday. Prince Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family and will repay the Sovereign Grant funds they recently spent to renovate their official residence, Frogmore Cottage — £2.4 million (about $3 million) of British taxpayers’ money — the palace said in a statement — CNN. Also CBC and CBS
A much-loved masterpiece of the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt has been found in the exterior wall of the gallery in Northern Italy from which it was stolen nearly 23 years ago. Portrait of a Lady is among Klimt’s many depictions of women. They were his favorite subject. The work was found by gardeners digging near the wall.
