Sixth COVID-19 wave worries rise ahead of Easter long weekend

The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring two new COVID-19 subvariants of Omicron, the highly transmissible variant of concern now dominant around the world.

Two people were rescued by the Coast Gaurd near the Little Egg Inlet on Friday. (Photo: U.S.

Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications say Canada’s Commissioner of Competition plans to oppose a multibillion-dollar proposed merger of the two Canadian rival companies.

Authorities seized more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine – valued at over $50 million – that was discovered in shipments of coffee bean bags delivered to a Nespresso plant in Switzerland. The cantonal police were called to the company's factory in Romont on Monday after employees discovered "an undetermined white substance while unloading bags of freshly delivered coffee beans."ILLICIT COVID-19 DRUGS BOUND FOR MEXICO SEIZED BY US AUTHORITIESPolice say the employees were unloading bags that had just arrived off of five shipping containers from Brazil. Officers immediately responded to the factory to analyze the powder, which turned out to be 80% pure cocaine. "The search of the five sea containers delivered on the day in question by train led to the discovery and seizure of more than 500 kg of this drug," police said. Nespresso employees in Switzerland discover cocaine while unloading coffee beans (Cantonal police) GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREThe market value of the drugs was estimated by police at more than 50 million Swiss francs, which is equivalent to $50.65 million. Police determined that the drug was likely intended for the European market. The drugs were isolated and "did not come into contact with any product used in production," according to police. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESSA Nespresso spokesperson told FOX Business that it reported the "suspicious substance" immediately and that the "substance in question did not come into contact with any of our products or production equipment used to make our products." The company declined to share more details while the investigation is ongoing.

Gloucester Township police are investigating after a car crashed into a home in Blackwood.  GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A driver who was intoxicated behind the wheel caused another car to crash into a Gloucester Township home early Saturday morning, according to police. Authorities say officers responded to a home on Douglas Avenue in Blackwood around 3:17 a.m.

Actor Fred Savage is probably best known for his role on The Wonder Years television show. (Photo by Brian Vander Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES (AP) - Fred Savage has been dropped as an executive producer and director of the rebooted "The Wonder Years" amid allegations of inappropriate conduct, the television show's production company has confirmed."Recently, we were made aware of allegations of inappropriate conduct by Fred Savage, and as is policy, an investigation was launched.

PHILADELPHIA - Homicide detectives with the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in Kensington. Authorities say the shooting happened on the 500 block of E Cornwall Street around 12:40 a.m.

Authorities are investigating after the back of a three-story rowhouse collapsed in Manayunk on Saturday morning.  PHILADELPHIA - Authorities in Philadelphia are investigating after part of a house in Manayunk collapsed on Saturday morning. According to the Philadelphia Fire Department, crews responded to the 100 block of Levering Street in the city's Manayunk neighborhood around 6:30 a.m. Officials say fire crews found a three-story rowhouse with a total collapse in the back. Firefighters with specialized training in collapse and technical rescue searched the part of the home that was still standing and the debris and they did not find anyone, authorities say. ___MORE LOCAL HEADLINESAccording to the fire department, the incident was placed under control at 7:17 a.m. AdvertisementUtility companies were notified and neighboring homes were evacuated, officials say. 

Aerial view of an unspecified beach where a visitors stand between the water's edge and a number of beach umbrellas, Paradise Island, Bahamas, December 24, 1989. (Photo by Barbara Alper/Getty Images) Three Americans at a Bahamas Sandals resort were found dead while a fourth has been hospitalized, officials said Friday.Bahamas Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper said that the bodies of two men and one woman were found Friday at the Emerald Bay resort.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 06: ahead of the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 06, 2022 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Twenty eager colts breaking from the starting gate, a full house for the first time in three years, and a Kentucky Derby lacking a dominant favorite.Things could get interesting Saturday at Churchill Downs, where the winners in 2019 and 2021 were disqualified.The biggest question for these 3-year-olds is whether they can handle running 1 1/4 miles while jostling for position in front of the biggest crowd they’ll ever see and hear."Things can get a little dodgy throughout the race, having to go through holes and take dirt and take some bumps along the way," trainer Chad Brown said.

DEDHAM, MA - OCTOBER 16: Intern Susan Garner-Titus helps New Bridge on the Charles Assisted Living resident Irving as he takes part in a class called Glued Together as part of an art and music therapy sessions for Alzheimer patients on October 16, 20 The Food and Drug Administration has approved marketing for the first in vitro diagnostic test for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.FDA PUTS NEW LIMITS ON JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE DUE TO RARE BLOOD CLOTTING CONDITIONThe Lumipulse G β-Amyloid Ratio (1-42/1-40) test is available at clinical laboratories nationwide for adult patients aged 55 years and older who are presenting with cognitive impairment and being evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of cognitive decline. The test, which is developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc., is intended to measure the ratio of β-amyloid 1-42 and β-amyloid 1-40 proteins found in human cerebral spinal fluid, which can help physicians determine whether a patient is likely to have amyloid plaques. β-amyloid plaques are believed to contribute to the loss of cognitive function that characterizes Alzheimer's disease.Fujirebio’s fully automated LUMIPULSE® G1200 system will analyze the Lumipulse G β-Amyloid Ratio (1-42/1-40) test for Alzheimer's disease.

HAVANA - Rescuers in Cuba’s capital searched Saturday to find survivors of an explosion that killed at least 25 people and devastated a luxury hotel that once hosted dignitaries and celebrities, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z.A natural gas leak was the apparent cause of Friday’s blast at Havana’s 96-room Hotel Saratoga. The 19th-century structure in the city’s Old Havana neighborhood did not have any guests at the time because it was undergoing renovations ahead of a planned Tuesday reopening after being closed.The death toll rose to 25 Saturday, according to Orestes Llánez, coordinator of the Havana city government, according to the official Cubadebate news site.

"Friends" actor Mike Hagerty has died at 67. (Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for Mediaplacement via Getty Images) Actor Mike Hagerty, who had roles in "Friends" and "Somebody Somewhere" has died. He was 67.Hagerty's co-star, Bridget Everett, shared the news on social media Friday."With great sadness, the family of Michael G.

COVID-19 on Saturday, according to data released by the province.The province also reported 204 people in intensive care.The figures represent a decrease of almost 100 hospitalizations compared to Friday when there were 1,662 people in hospital and 210 people in ICU.The number in hospitals has also decreased week-on-week, but intensive care occupancy rose. There were 1,676 people in hospital last Saturday and 188 in ICU.

Love Island star Olivia Attwood has shared her "sad" relationship with exercise and how it has affected her adult life.The 31-year-old blonde bombshell, who will be taking part in ITV's The Games next week, has spoken openly about her trauma regarding running and sports overall.Speaking exclusively to Daily Star at a recent round table event, she expressed: "My history with running is a bit sad."Basically, in a nutshell, I used to run national county level and it's weird some of the running coaches [here] know some of my old running coaches and everything."I got into this high standard and I was just one of those unfortunate cases of young athletes that got overtrained."Referring to a photo that was shared of herself online during her younger days while training, Olivia described herself as "emaciated". "And I was overtrained to the point where you can literally see in that photo that came out of me, I'm emaciated.

Omicron infection can increase the level of antibodies against the Delta COVID variant, but only if you are vaccinated against the virus, a new study has revealed. 

Joshua Bagley (Courtesy: Phoenix Police Department) PHOENIX - Phoenix Police officials say they are looking for a man for allegedly strangling and killing a woman on May 6.According to a statement released by police, officers were called to the area of 27th Avenue and Baseline Road at around 8:00 a.m. about a person on a bus who was not breathing.

A wave of retirements is about to crash down on Canada’s already tight construction jobs market, putting at risk ambitious plans to build more homes over the next decade.

Omicron BA.1 variant than those likely caused by the delta strain.

his band’s website on Friday that “due to a positive Covid case in the Willie Nelson Family Band” two upcoming shows scheduled to happen May 6 and May 7 would be postponed and that Nelson’s Sunday performance at Jazz Fest would be cancelled.Nelson was slated to close the Gentilly Stage — the same stage where his son Lukas Nelson is performing earlier in the day with his band the Promise of the Real. No replacement for the elder Nelson has yet been announced.The news comes after Melissa Etheridge announced Thursday that she would not be able to perform Saturday at Jazz Fest due to “COVID hitting my crew.” Mavis Staples will perform during that time period instead.“Oh my heart hurts not to be there.

Osaka wrote an article for Time magazine, where she detailed her struggles and why she felt the decision was the correct one for her at the time. Gaining substantial criticism for not attending press conferences, Osaka spoke out, saying that the press-conference format was "out of date" and in need of a total refresh. At the time she said: "I communicated that I wanted to skip press conferences at Roland Garros to exercise self-care and preservation of my mental health.

WHO estimate is "unacceptable" to India as the country records Covid deaths systematically following a transparent and legal process, official sources said.

The Federal Court of Canada has granted Alberta intervener status in four legal challenges against the Emergencies Act.

Retired Gen. Jonathan Vance has been stripped of the prestigious Order of Military Merit after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice.

A B.C. court judge has rejected the provincial government’s bid to have a case against its COVID-19 vaccine orders for health-care workers thrown out.

OCEAN CITY, N.J. - Mother Nature isn't in the mood this Mother's Day weekend. Forecasters are calling for nearly two days of continuous rain across the Delaware Valley, with bouts of heavy downpours and temperatures in the 40s. If that wasn't enough, the National Weather Service issued a region-wide Wind Advisory for damaging gusts. Forecasters expect areas along the New Jersey coast to shoulder the brunt of the weekend storm.

Bike racer Sean Gordon will ride round every Scottish Premiership ground to raise awareness of our rising mental health crisis.

booster shots at private vaccination centres.

gasoline prices more often.It’s a fact that is impacting every motorist across the country — the price for regular gasoline is at highs never seen before. Gas prices top $2 per litre in Montreal, up about 65 cents in 1 year They’ve been increasing since late last year, Statistics Canada data shows, and a significant drop might not come for a while, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.com.“We are at all-time record highs across Canada in many areas,” he told Global News.“Unfortunately, we continue to set new records almost every day as we make the transition to summer gasoline across Canada, and as we see oil prices continue to go up as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and escalations in that situation.”At this time last year, the average price in Canada for regular fuel was $1.31 a litre, Statistics Canada data shows.

Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial has now concluded its fourth week, after three weeks centering on the volatile relationship between Depp and Heard. Depp, 58, is suing Heard, 36, for $50 million in Fairfax County Circuit Court after Heard wrote a December 2018 op-ed piece in The Washington Post describing herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse." Depp and Heard were married between 2015 and 2017. While the article never mentions Depp by name, Depp’s lawyers say her article defamed him when she described herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse" and claim it was a clear reference to abuse allegations Heard levied in 2016, in the midst of the couple’s divorce proceedings. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor claims the abuse allegations were an elaborate "hoax" to promote her film "Aquaman" and punish him for leaving her.

PHILADELPHIA - Just a week ago a ride-share driver found himself in the middle a terrifying ordeal - a shooting inside his car in West Philadelphia.The 50-year-old driver, who asked for his identity to be concealed, says he was shot in the back after he picked up a man and woman."I was trying to do 28 trips that night to get the 100 trips I had to do to get my bonus for four days of the week," he explained. "So that was exactly trip 26 for the night."Things took a turn after he dropped the woman off at one location, then continued onto 63rd and Cobbs Creek to drop off the man."I heard a funny sound in the back like it sounds like someone is playing with a gun like they clicked it our something," he said.Suddenly he says he was shot, and the man got out of his car and ran."I heard a loud bang and my arm went limp and stuck outside the side of the window, just shaking like that," he said.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The kidnapping and safe recovery of a 3-month-old boy in San Jose made headlines in April. Two people who knew his mother from church were ultimately charged with the crime.New information has come to light regarding the church.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 06: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat fouls Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half during Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center on May 6, 2022 in Philadel PHILADELPHIA - Joel Embiid inspired the 76ers with his return from a facial injury, Danny Green and Tyrese Maxey each scored 21 points and Philadelphia beat the Miami Heat 99-79 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night.Wearing a black mask, Embiid had 18 points and 11 rebounds after missing the first two games of the series.Jimmy Butler scored 33 points for the Heat, who lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.Embiid sat out the first two games with a right orbital fracture and a mild concussion suffered in the last round.

Today we are reporting 6,745 community cases, 339 hospitalisations and 12 deaths.

PEORIA, Ariz. - A woman has been arrested after she reportedly killed her cousin with a hammer in their Peoria home Wednesday afternoon, police said.Officers say they visited a residence near 112th Avenue and Diana on a medical call and found the body of a 33-year-old man who had suffered "blunt force trauma."Investigators identified the suspect as 29-year-old Brianna Elise Zerth, a cousin and roommate of the victim.Court documents say the two had been drinking and got into an argument, which ended in the deadly attack.Zerth's 6-year-old daughter was home at the time but was not hurt. Officials say the girl told investigators that her mother had killed someone using a hammer.

All good things must come to an end.

FLORENCE, Ala. - Agents with the U.S. Marshal Service have located the vehicle believed to have been used by escaped Alabama prisoner Casey White and fugitive corrections officer Vicky White, roughly one week after the pair fled from a county jail.Investigators received a tip around 11 p.m.