Here are the latest Top News stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops.
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TOP HEADLINES:
-- Thousands gather at Ottawa anti-vax mandate rally
-- Fifth anniversary of Quebec City mosque shooting
-- COVID hospitalizations down in Ont., Que.
-- Courts will change after COVID-19: lawyers
-- Americans approach Canada with plenty of respect
TOP NEWS STORIES:
Thousands gather at Ottawa anti-vax mandate rally
Trucker-Protest
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Trucks jamming Ottawa streets shut down the core of the national capital on Saturday as a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd packed Parliament Hill to demand the federal Liberal government end vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions, promising to stay for as long as needed to fulfill their goals. By Stephanie Taylor, Erika Ibrahim and Jordan Press. Words: 838, Photos: 1. Will be writethru. With Trucker-Protest-The-Latest, Trucker-Protest-QuickQuotes, Vars others on merit.
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Fifth anniversary of Quebec City mosque shooting
Que-Mosque-Shooting-Commemoration
Québec, Quebec, Canada -- Members of the Quebec City mosque where six men were shot and killed five years ago plan to mark the anniversary of the attack with a ceremony Saturday evening. By Jacob Serebrin. Words: 616, Photos: 1. Will be writethru. Ceremony gets underway at 6 p.m.
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COVID hospitalizations down in Ont., Que.
COVID-Cda
COVID-19 hospitalizations are ticking down in Canada's two most populous provinces, as thousands swarm Ottawa in trucks and on foot to protest public health measures and the Liberal federal government. By Adina Bresge. Words: 204
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Powerful winter storm sweeps East Coast
WEA-Maritime-Storm
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada -- A powerful winter storm is sweeping across the Maritimes today, blanketing much of the region in heavy, blowing snow and prompting officials to warn of hazardous travel conditions, widespread closures and the potential for power outages. Words: 186.
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Courts will change after COVID-19: lawyers
COVID-Courts
Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- The halls of justice may have become less crowded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, say legal experts, and they warn there are still unanswered questions ahead. By Bill Graveland. Words: 637, Photos: 1
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N.L. basilica, lottery money tied up in abuse case
NL-Church-Money
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada -- The Catholic church is asking a Newfoundland and Labrador court to decide if millions of dollars raised through a local parish's fundraiser could be used to pay survivors of physical and sexual abuse at a former orphanage in St. John's. By Sarah Smellie. Words: 760, Photos: 1
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Latvia hopes Canada will extend, expand mission
Cda-Latvia
Ottawa, , -- Latvia is crossing its fingers that it is up next after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this week that Canada is extending and expanding its military mission in Ukraine in response to concerns about Russia. By Lee Berthiaume. Words: 735, Photos: 1
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Americans approach Canada with plenty of respect
SOC-U.S.-Canada
The U.S. takes the field Sunday with plenty of respect for the Canadian team that awaits them in Hamilton. By Neil Davidson. Words: 823, Photos: 1
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Einarson seeks third straight Scotties title
CUR-Scotties
Kerri Einarson took to the ice Saturday to begin the hunt for her third constitutive Scotties Tournament of Hearts title Saturday in Thunder Bay, Ont. Einarson is looking to join a select group of curlers to win the Canadian women’s curling championship three times in a row. 700 Words. By Jim Morris. ETA 5 p.m. ET. PHOTOS By Jim Morris. Words: 69
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FROM AP:
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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TOP STORIES
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WINTER-WEATHER — A winter storm lashed the Northeast with deep snow and wind gusts near hurricane force Saturday, causing coastal flooding and threatening widespread power outages while forecasters warned conditions would worsen as the day went on. Parts of 10 states and some major population centers — including Philadelphia, New York and Boston — were pummeled by the storm. By late morning, more than a foot of snow had fallen on parts of New Jersey’s shore and eastern Long Island. By Mark Pratt and Mike Catalini. SENT: 805 words, photos, video.
UKRAINE-PUTIN-OPTIONS-EXPLAINER — With more than 100,000 Russian troops positioned around Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be preparing to launch an invasion. Certainly, the U.S. believes that’s the case and President Biden has warned the Ukrainian president that an attack could come in February. But Russia has other options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. By Ben Fox and Vladimir Isachenkov. SENT: 1,285 words, photos. With RUSSIA-UKRAINE-TENSIONS — A Russian lawmaker is encouraging residents of the rebel-controlled areas of Ukraine who hold Russian passports to join the Russian army. It is a sign that Moscow is continuing to try to integrate those territories as much as possible amid Western fears that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine. SENT: 650 words, photos.
For full coverage of Ukraine.
REPUBLICANS-TRUMP — Former President Donald Trump is facing a cascade of intensifying investigations that represent the most serious legal threat he has faced in his decades of litigious public life. Yet those around Trump describe him as largely unbothered by the legal proceedings. By Jill Colvin. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
SUPREME-COURT-DEMOCRATS — Democrats have fractured repeatedly over President Joe Biden’s agenda, stalling legislation and creating an atmosphere of mistrust that threatens the party’s political prospects in November. But one area where they haven’t cracked, not even an inch, is on Biden’s judicial nominations. The party unity on the courts has helped Biden appoint the most judges during the first year of a presidency since John F. Kennedy. And it gives Democrats hope that the coming fight over the Supreme Court vacancy from Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement could help them stay on the offensive going into November after a particularly difficult stretch that has depressed their base. By Kevin Freking. SENT: 1,105 words, photos.
REL-URBAN-CHURCHES-NEW-USES — Across the U.S., historic urban churches built decades ago to accommodate hundreds or thousands of worshippers and bulging Sunday school classes have struggled with shrinking flocks and rising preservation costs. So, many are finding new ways to use their buildings that let them both keep those sacred places viable and serve the neighborhoods they’ve anchored for decades. In Minneapolis alone, landmark churches have hosted everything from food pantries and Finnish language classes to tai-chi practices and group discussions on reparations. By Giovanna Dell’orto. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
MYANMAR — The army takeover in Myanmar a year ago that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi unexpectedly aborted the ongoing restoration of representative democracy in the Southeast Asian country after decades of military rule. But at least as surprising has been the level of popular resistance to the seizure of power, which has blossomed into a low-level but persistent insurgency. By Grant Peck. SENT: 1,175 words, photos. Eds: This story has moved as the Sunday Spotlight.
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OLYMPICS
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OLY-SKI-ALPINE-PREVIEW — Mikaela Shiffrin is hoping to enter all five individual Alpine skiing races at the Beijing Olympics and add to her career total of three Winter Games medals. The 26-year-old American could be the star of the show but she will be challenged by Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova and Italy’s Sofia Goggia. Top men include Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt and Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. Helping create a lot of unknowns will be a mountain that none of the elite ski racers has ever had a chance to race down. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
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TRENDING NEWS
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MUSIC-SPOTIFY-MITCHELL — Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Neil Young, who ignited a protest against the streaming service for airing a podcast that featured a figure who has spread misinformation about the coronavirus. SENT: 340 words, photos.
BOGUS-VACCINATION-CARDS — Two nurses on New York’s Long Island have been accused of forging bogus COVID-19 vaccination cards and pocketing more than $1.5 million from the scheme. SENT: 290 words.
THAILAND-OIL-SPILL — The governor of a province in eastern Thailand has declared a state of emergency after an oil slick washed up on a sand beach, shutting down restaurants and shops in a setback for the pandemic-hit tourism industry. SENT: 325 words, photos.
TURKEY-MEDIA — Turkey’s president has ordered that steps be taken against media like TV programs that are deemed contrary to Turkey’s “fundamental values.” SENT: 380 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CANADA PROTEST — Thousands of protesters gathered in Canada’s capital to protest vaccine mandates, masks and lockdowns. The sounds of honking horns echoed around Ottawa’s downtown core. SENT: 590 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-RUSSIA — Russia’s daily count of new coronavirus infections has spiked above 110,000 as the highly contagious omicron variant spreads through the vast country. SENT: 345 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-INDONESIA — Indonesia is bracing for a third wave of COVID-19 infections as the highly transmissible omicron variant drives a surge in new cases. The country reported over 11,500 new confirmed infections and 17 deaths in the last 24-hour period. It was the highest daily caseload since August last year when Indonesia was struggling to contain a delta-driven wave. SENT: 475 words, photos.
AUSTRIA-VIRUS-OUTBREAK — Austria plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions in February, government officials announced. SENT: 225 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW ZEALAND — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is self-isolating after coming into close contact with a person infected with the coronavirus. SENT: 230 words, photo.
NEW ZEALAND-AFGHANISTAN — A pregnant New Zealand journalist says she turned to the Taliban for help and is now stranded in Afghanistan after her home country has prevented her from returning due to a bottleneck of people in its coronavirus quarantine system. SENT: 560 words, photo.
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POLITICS
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MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION-VIRGINIA — Newly empowered Republican lawmakers in Virginia who opposed legalizing simple possession of marijuana say they don’t want to scrap the 2021 law, but they do want to make significant changes. SENT: 860 words, photos.
ELECTION 2022-HOUSE-ILLINOIS — A son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Chicago-area congressional seat held by Bobby Rush, who is retiring. SENT: 150 words.
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NATIONAL
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ISLAMIC STATE-FEMALE-BATTALION — A woman who once lived in Kansas has been arrested after federal prosecutors charged her with joining the Islamic State group and leading an all-female battalion of AK-47 wielding militants. The U.S. Attorney in Alexandria, Virginia, announced that 42-year-old Allison Fluke-Ekren has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization. Prosecutors say Fluke-Ekren wanted to recruit operatives to attack a college campus in the U.S. SENT: 525 words, photo.
BRIDGE-COLLAPSE-PITTSBURGH-EXPLAINER — A 50-year-old bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh had been rated as poor on a recent inspection report. But transportation officials and engineering experts caution that doesn’t necessarily signal imminent danger for the thousands of other U.S. bridges with the same designation. SENT: 880 words, photos.
POLICE SHOOTING-TEXAS — Police in Denton, Texas, say an officer fatally shot a knife-wielding man who was holding a woman hostage. SENT: 200 words.
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INTERNATIONAL
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CONGO-UNREST — Thousands of people in Congo have been displaced after they fled ongoing clashes between the Congolese army and rebel fighters this week. Residents from six villages in the country’s east have fled the violence. At least 2,000 people are now living in improvised shelters, in churches, schools or with host families. SENT: 350 words, photos.
ITALY-PRESIDENTIAL-VOTE — Support for Italian President Sergio Mattarella to stay on for a second term is quickly growing among political parties after they failed to find an alternative candidate. The chorus of backing to persuade the head of state to change his mind and stay after his first term ends on Feb. 3 came after several rounds of balloting by lawmakers and regional delegates failed to elect a successor. SENT: 615 words, photos.
FRANCE-ELECTION — In France, election-time politics and fury among opponents of COVID-19 vaccinations are making public service increasingly risky. An upsurge of physical and verbal attacks directed at public office-holders is ringing alarm bells. Apparent arson attacks in December targeted a lawmaker and a mayor, both aligned with President Emmanuel Macron. Violence has also increased as France’s government has steadily increased pressure on the non-vaccinated to get COVID-19 jabs. SENT: 885 words, photos.
PORTUGAL-ELECTION-EXPLAINER — Portuguese voters go to the polls Sunday, two years earlier than scheduled, after a political crisis over a blocked spending bill brought down the minority Socialist government and triggered a snap election. SENT: 710 words, photos.
SOC-CAMEROON-STADIUM-STAMPEDE — Cameroon authorities have blamed a deadly stadium crush at the African Cup of Nations tournament on a “massive” influx of ticketless fans who arrived late to the game and forced their way in. Sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi says the fans also wanted to avoid COVID-19 screening. SENT: 635 words, photos.
NETHERLANDS-METOO-PROTEST — Hundreds of people have protested in Amsterdam in a #MeToo demonstration sparked by allegations of sexual impropriety linked to a popular Dutch TV talent show. SENT: 200 words, photos.
VIETNAM-THICH NHAT HANH — A funeral has been held for the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, a week after the renowned Zen master died at the age of 95 in Hue in central Vietnam. SENT: 340 words, photos.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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FILM-KOSOVO-OSCARS — Filmmaker Blerta Basholli’s debut feature “Hive,” an Albanian-language film about a woman who starts her own business after the Kosovo War, is an international sensation. Last year it became the first film in Sundance history to win the top three awards in the world cinema competition. Now, it has a strong chance of becoming Kosovo’s first Oscar contender in the best international feature category. It’s been shortlisted with 14 other films, which will be narrowed down to five on Feb. 8. SENT: 810 words, photos.
REL-ARABIC-NETFLIX-UPROAR — The first Arabic Netflix film has sparked controversy in Egypt and beyond. The feature, based on an Italian hit, includes talk about teenage sex, marital infidelity and a character coming out as gay. Opponents argue that the movie is unfit for Arab societies, accuse it of undermining cultural and religious values and question its intentions. Fans accuse detractors of being in denial about what happens behind closed doors in real life and say they reject policing artistic expression. SENT: 1,125 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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FBN-49ERS-RAMS-RIVALRY — Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay arrived in California five years ago, a pair of hot-shot young coaches with a shared history and similar offenses taking over struggling franchises. McVay has had more overall success with the Los Angeles Rams than Shanahan has had with the San Francisco 49ers. But Shanahan has dominated the head-to-head rivalry, with the 49ers winning the last six meetings headed into the NFC title game that will send the winning coach to the Super Bowl for the second time. SENT: 875 words, photos.
TEN-AUSTRALIAN-OPEN — Ash Barty has won the Australian Open women’s final in straight sets against Danielle Collins to end a 44-year drought for Aussies at their home Grand Slam tournament. Barty won the first set with one service break but was down 5-1 in the second set after dropping serve in the second and sixth games. SENT: 990 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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