What powers will the Emergencies Act give the government? Here’s what the convoy can expect

RELATED: Biden imposes sanctions against Russian oligarchs, banks for ‘beginning’ of Ukraine invasionNow it’s become a major target as Western governments try to exert leverage on Russia to deter further military moves against Ukraine. THE RUNDOWN Nord Stream 2 is a 764-mile-long natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, running from Russia to Germany's Baltic coast. It runs parallel to an earlier Nord Stream pipeline and would double its capacity, to 110 billion cubic meters of gas a year. It means the Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom can send gas to Europe's pipeline system without using existing pipelines running through Ukraine and Poland.WHY DOES RUSSIA WANT THE PIPELINE? State-owned gas giant Gazprom says it will meet Europe's growing need for affordable natural gas and complement existing pipelines through Belarus and Ukraine. Nord Stream 2 would offer an alternative to Ukraine's aging system that Gazprom says needs refurbishment, lower costs by saving transit fees paid to Ukraine, and avoid episodes like brief 2006 and 2009 gas cutoffs over price and payment disputes between Russia and Ukraine. Europe is a key market for Gazprom, whose sales support the Russian government budget.

Tuesday’s throne speech was used as a rally cry for another convoy protest that converged on the Alberta legislature. As Dan Grummett explains, there was noticeably less honking than in recent weekend demonstrations, but still plenty of frustration in the air.

A throne speech read by Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani on Tuesday outlined an Alberta government plan to double the number of surgeries done in private facilities, increase the number of intensive care bed spaces and recruit more specialized health professionals.

The latest announcement by the Ford Government again focuses on wooing Ontario’s drivers ahead of the election. While conceding people need more money in their pockets, the opposition says the government needs to do more on childcare and housing.

Isabelle Jacques, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial Sector Policy Branch at the Department of Finance, said Tuesday during a finance committee meeting on the trucker protests that the invocation of the Emergencies Act allowed the federal government to capture funds from crowdfunding platforms and payment service providers which previously didn’t fall under current proceeds of crime or terrorism laws.

Russia in response to the Kremlin’s deployment of forces into Ukraine and its recognition of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.At a news conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said that Canada is sending up to 460 additional Canadian Armed Forces members to Latvia and the surrounding region to bolster NATO in the face of Russian aggression.Trudeau said the first round of economic sanctions will ban Canadians from all financial dealings with the breakaway regions Putin recognized, Donetsk and Luhansk. The sanctions will also target members of the Russian Parliament who voted for the decision to recognize the separatist regions, as well as ban Canadians from engaging in purchases of Russian sovereign debt, Trudeau said.“These sanctions are a major step and target those responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” said Trudeau, adding that the measures will remain in place until the territorial integrity of Ukraine is restored.

Tamara Lich, one of the organizers of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” that blockaded the nation’s capital for three weeks, was denied bail by an Ottawa judge on Tuesday over “grave” offences.

One person is in custody amid an ongoing operation with a heavy police presence at the Rideau Centre in downtown Ottawa.

The Ontario government has announced it is eliminating licence plate renewal fees and sticker fees by March 13 and will refund the cost of stickers purchased since March 2020. Erica Vella reports.

Cam Guthrie has once again announced plans to end the city’s state of emergency put in place at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.In a news release on Tuesday, the city said the decision to end the state of emergency on March 1 has been made in consultation with the medical officer of health and the city’s emergency operations control group. Guelph facilities moving to next phase of reopening “This is one more milestone in our journey to recovery from the pandemic,” Guthrie said.“But our recovery is only possible if we continue to follow public health guidelines: keep wearing a mask, continue social distancing, and get vaccinated.

NEW YORK - Russia's widespread cyberattacks are part of a technique to destabilize Ukraine before a possible invasion, according to U.S. government officials, who are bracing for possible cyberattacks in the United States. If Russia mounts cyberattacks against the United States, the targets could include banks, power plants, water treatment facilities, and communications. Cyber experts say Russia has the capability to disable or destroy U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera assured that there will be no fuel price increase, following a special cabinet meeting this evening.He said fuel prices will be maintained at their prevent rates, despite global prices hitting a new high.The Minister said the meeting was centered on ensuring a continuous supply of electricity & fuel to the people and payment was released on Tuesday (22) for the fuel ship that arrived in Colombo.He also said the cabinet in unison agreed that there should be no shortage in the supply of fuel.Further, the government has agreed to pay the money owed by the Ceylon Electricity Board to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, said the Minister.“The CPC will receive a sum of approximately Rs. 80 Bn from the banks,” he added.

Tamara Lich, one of the organizers of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” that blockaded the nation’s capital for three weeks, will remain behind bars after an Ottawa judge denied her bail.“These offences are grave,” said the presiding judge ruling on the bail application.Lich was arrested on Thursday evening as law enforcement in Ottawa began a major push that lasted through the weekend to clear out the convoy blockade following the invocation of the Emergencies Act.In a video posted by the convoy’s official Twitter page, Lich could be seen being led away by officers and saying “hold the line.” Tamara Lich, convoy organizer, arrested amid ‘major’ push to oust blockade The judge referenced that comment during the bail hearing.“You have had plenty of opportunity to remove yourself and even others from this criminal activity but obstinately chose not to, and persistently counselled others not to either,” the judge said, adding that “this community has already been impacted enough.”The Crown is also seeking a non-communication order that would bar Lich from any communications with  three fellow convoy organizers and leaders: Chris Barber, Pat King and B.J. Dichter.Barber is charged with counselling to commit the offence of mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobey court order, counselling to commit the offence of obstruct police.He was granted bail on Friday.

Melittin and honeybee venom were studied for their anti-cancer properties and showed they decreased the viability of triple-negative breast cancer cells and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells, Dr.Ciara Duffy said in her study. (iStock) WOODLAND, Calif. - For a few frenzied weeks, beekeepers from around the United States truck billions of honeybees to California to rent them to almond growers who need the insects to pollinate the state’s most valuable crop.But as almond trees start to bloom, blanketing entire valleys in white and pink flowers, so begin beehive thefts that have become so prevalent that beekeepers are now turning to GPS tracking devices, surveillance cameras and other anti-theft technology to protect their precious colonies.Hive thefts have been reported elsewhere in the country, most recently three hives containing about 60,000 bees taken from a grocery chain’s garden in central Pennsylvania.

FILE - Rose Lavelle #16, Alex Morgan #13, Christen Press #11 and Megan Rapinoe #15 of Team United States celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot-out after the Women's Quarter Final match between Netherlands and United States on U.S. women soccer players reached a landmark agreement with the sport’s American governing body to end a six-year legal battle over equal pay, a deal in which they are promised $24 million plus bonuses that match those of the men.The U.S.

Tamara Lich, one of the leading organizers behind protest against COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government on Parliament Hill.Lich, who was arrested last Thursday and charged with counselling to commit mischief, appeared before Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois in a bail hearing on Saturday.During that hearing, Lich promised to give up her advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta. The judge reserved her bail decision on Lich.Patrick King, another prominent figure connected to the demonstrations, is also scheduled for a bail hearing today in Ottawa.King, 44, was arrested on Friday and faces charges of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order and counselling to obstruct police.

All remaining coronavirus restrictions are to be lifted, starting from this week.

Nicola Sturgeon is set to lay out her new strategic framework for dealing with covid later today.

Tomorrow is budget day here in B.C. The provincial NDP government is playing out its plan for our province’s financial books, but just what are we expecting them to spend on? Richard Zussman has more.

Corbevax for 12-18 years. It is the second vaccine for children after Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. However, the government has not yet decided on vaccination for less than 15 years. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)'s approval comes after the Subject Expert Committee on COVID-19 of the CDSCO on February 14 recommended granting restricted EUA to Corbevax for the 12 to 18 years age group after deliberating on Biological E's application.

After more than 24 hours, he and a group of other South Asian Canadian truckers approached authorities to find out when they could pass.“That’s when another guy, he came out of his truck and he was, like, being racist. He was saying, ‘Go back to your truck, go back to India,”’ recalled Singh, a 28-year-old driver from Edmonton.Disturbed, he and his co-driver set out for another crossing — an option unavailable to some, since oversize loads can only move through certain checkpoints — on a route that added more than 500 kilometres to their trip.

Coastal GasLink (GGL) that took place early Thursday morning on the Marten Forest Service Road.Investigators spent much of the long weekend at the site and reviewing the surveillance footage from the night of the incident.They told Global News they have not yet decided if they are going to release any of that footage to the public.They are also not linking the incident to prior protests in the area. No suspects yet in ‘violent confrontation’ at B.C.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka had advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Ukraine, due to the current situation surrounding tensions between world powers in the region.The Government of Sri Lanka is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine in the context of recent developments.The Sri Lanka Embassy in Ankara, concurrently accredited to Kyiv, is in close contact with the over forty Sri Lankan nationals, including fourteen students, residing in Ukraine, with a view to ensuring their safety and welfare.While six of the fourteen Sri Lankan students in Ukraine have left the country temporarily, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Ankara is in close communication with the eight remaining students.The Foreign Ministry requests all Sri Lankan nationals in Ukraine to exercise vigilance and to be in contact with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Ankara.The Ministry also advises all Sri Lankan nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine at present.

COVID-19: Quebec opposition says it’s time to end state of emergency The Barreau du Québec said Monday it’s time the government explain why it still needs emergency powers.“Does the current situation require keeping the state of emergency?” Catherine Claveau, head of the bar association, wrote in a statement. “Are the measures that will be maintained during the deconfinement plan justified? To answer these questions, the government must provide clear justifications for maintaining some ‘exceptional rules.”’Over the past two years, the Quebec government has used emergency powers to impose curfews, ban private gatherings and close businesses such as restaurants, bars and gyms.

The blaring horns and snarled streets of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” blockade in Ottawa are no more, but on Monday Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested the work to heal the pandemic divisions in the country that the convoy exposed must now begin.

Ontario says it is providing more stand-alone HEPA filter units for schools and child-care centres to offer more children greater protection against COVID-19.A Monday statement says up to 40,000 more air purifiers will be made available to school boards and up to 9,000 will go to child-care settings.Education Minister Stephen Lecce says ventilation improvements are a critical priority, after the government previously announced that it would provide 73,000 of the filters and other ventilation devices.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested on Monday that while protests surrounding Parliament Hill in Ottawa have mostly dispersed and the horns are no longer sounding, the work to heal the pandemic divisions in the country that the convoy exposed must now begin.

The Prime Minister has announced that British workers should "learn from Germany" and not go to work if they are feeling ill.

announced this week it will cancel $415 million in federal student loans by nearly 16,000 borrowers allegedly misled by for-profit colleges.The borrowers, who attended DeVry University, ITT Technical Institute, Westwood College and the Minnesota School of Business/Globe University, will receive the relief through a legal provision known as borrower defense, which allows individuals to discharge some or all of their student loan debt if their school misled them or otherwise engaged in other misconduct. "The department remains committed to giving borrowers discharges when the evidence shows their college violated the law and standards," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement Wednesday.The department found that between 2008 and 2015, DeVry University, a for-profit university headquartered in Illinois, repeatedly misled students by claiming that 90% of its graduates actively seeking employment landed a job in their field of study within six months of graduation. The job placement level was actually closer to 58%, according to the department.The department has so far identified about 1,800 borrowers who will be eligible for more than $71 million in discharges because they "relied upon DeVry's misrepresentation in deciding to enroll." The number of borrowers who qualify for discharge is expected to grow as the department continues to review outstanding claims from former students.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a list of steps in the next part of England's Covid plan.

LOS ANGELES - It feels like a never-ending uphill battle for many homebuyers across the United States. "My experience with looking for a house has been frustrating," one Georgia resident told FOX Television Stations Group. "I have been texting my agent day and night to squeeze in a showing only for the house to go before I could even go see it." The woman, who desires a home in Atlanta, revealed, not too long ago, she put in an offer on a house above the asking price only to discover the seller went with someone else's offer who paid $200,000 over the asking price with no contingencies. "At this point, instead of being able to take my time to find a house that I truly like, I have resorted to finding one that is good enough because that’s all I can afford," she added.But this is only the tip of the iceberg for first-time homebuyers and likely not the first story you’ve heard, especially lately: tight inventory, multiple offers on rundown properties, houses selling for well over the asking price (sometimes by hundreds of thousands of dollars) and home renovations taking substantially longer than predicted due to low supply on flooring, cabinets, and, well, literally everything. "COVID has flipped our life upside-down, disturbed many aspects of everyday life, but the housing market [had] exceptional performance," Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), told FOX Television Stations.

Ottawa for the first time in more than three weeks on Sunday as police continued their efforts to put a final end to anti-government demonstrations that immobilized the national capital.Roadways once choked with trucks and protesters opposed to COVID-19 public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government were largely clear, though debris and other signs of the blockade dubbed an illegal occupation by its critics were still in evidence.Ottawa Police, working in tandem with forces from across the country, said they’d arrested 191 people and laid 391 charges related to the demonstrations, though Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said the mammoth law enforcement operation was far from over.“There is another phase that will identify how we maintain the streets, how we eventually demobilize, once we’ve identified that there is no threat of further protests coming to our city,” Bell said at a news conference. “We aren’t there yet.” Ottawa’s convoy occupation mostly clear, but police ‘not done’ with operation yet Bell said charges laid to date include obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, mischief, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer.Law enforcement is “with every hour” getting closer to delivering on its promise to clear streets and give them back to residents, he added.Chris Harkins, deputy commissioner with the Ontario Provincial Police, said commercial and private vehicle driver’s licenses have been suspended, while 76 vehicles have been seized and towed in Ottawa.But the massive enforcement blitz also drew attention from Ontario’s police watchdog on Sunday.

Queen’s Covid scare will not deter the Royal Family from being an “example” following the Government's expected relaxing of restrictions, a royal expert has insisted.Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen would continue to carry out “light duties” despite showing “mild cold like” symptoms. Despite calls from royal fans for the reigning monarch to rest, it seems as though The Firm look set to carry on as normal as Kate Middleton looks to continue onto her trip to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Elderly and vulnerable people will be offered another booster jab by the government, following recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

In Rwanda, the ‘land of a thousand hills’, reaching the nearest health facility usually means a long walk that, until recently, took an average of 95 minutes. Although the walking time was halved to 47 minutes in 2020, it is still a challenge for many people to access health care in a timely manner. Through an innovative approach that brings greater numbers of health posts close to communities, the Government aims to further reduce walking time to under 25 minutes by 2024. The health posts serve as an interface between community health workers and health centres. Here, health workers provide essential primary care services and make referrals to hospitals for specialized services, ultimately strengthening the foundation of the health system and improving the way people receive the care they need. The health posts have also contributed to an effective national response to COVID-19, with communities still able to access basic care despite the crisis.

Covid-19 curbs in Maharashtra may be relaxed further in March as daily new cases continue to show a declining trend, said state health minister Rajesh Tope on Monday. 

Omicron BA.2 is more transmissible than the previously identified BA.1 subvariant, it will not cause another surge, the official asserted. 

Emergencies Act helped end the Ottawa blockades, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Sunday ahead of a House of Commons vote on the controversial measure.Conservatives, however, are highly critical of the government move and some are pushing the Liberals to revoke the act now that blockades that effectively shut the city down for more than three weeks appear to be over.There is one day left of debate on the government’s decision to invoke the act.MPs will vote on the motion Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and it is expected to pass with the joint support of the Liberals and NDP.

Covid-19 vaccine Covovax for the 12 to 17 year age group, reported PTI, quoting sources, on Monday. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); According to a request made by present Commander of Air Force, Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana after assuming duties at the office for a dedicated maritime surveillance aircraft on Gratis basis (with relevant surveillance equipment onboard), United States (US) government has agreed to provide Qty 02 maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) under Foreign Military Sales Contract in strengthening the maritime surveillance capability in Sri Lankan Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to ensure the maritime security in the region.SLAF requested Beechcraft 360ER twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Textron Aviation which is a light transport aircraft certified by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in United States and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).SLAF has been operating Beechcraft B-200 aircraft over period of decades which is earlier versions of Beechcraft family, has accumulated ample experiences on operational and maintenance aspects.The established operational and maintenance capabilities are one of main advantage that SLAF possesses in future operation of new B-360ER aircraft.These two (2) maritime surveillance aircraft (Beechcraft 360ER) would be delivered in term of 100% free grant (Free of Charge) from government of US to Sri Lankan government through Foreign Military Sales Contract to be operated by SLAF.These aircraft will be deployed for the maritime surveillance operations which is a demanding requirement in present day context that was heavily urged for respond maritime disasters (Ex: MT New Diamond and X Press Pearl), assisting deep sea rescue missions, monitor illegal fishing activities and to assist Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in combating transnational crimes including

Police have cleared the main convoy protest zone, as MPs continue to debate invoking the Emergencies Act for the first time. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair about the police clearing out the main area of the Ottawa convoy protest.

The federal government will continue to implement never-before-used powers under the Emergencies Act as long “as they are required” to help end the illegal blockade of the national capital, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair has said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Ali Sabry PC said the government has no control over how evidence is led with regard to the cases filed over the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.“Cases are filed by the Attorney General’s Department and the leading of evidence is an independent act by the Attorney General,” he told reporters on Sunday (20).He said the main case is yet to be taken up for trial and it is the judiciary that must act independently on these cases.The Justice Minister also dismissed claims that the government was concealing evidence from the prosecution, however, there are some documents only with the Attorney General and the President as they relate to national security.“The President will decide if those documents need to be disclosed,” he told reporters, adding that the Presidential Commission itself had requested for the documents to be considered before disclosing them.However, those documents do not relate to evidence concealment, said the Justice Minister.

Many residents of Ottawa are breathing a sigh of relief tonight after three weeks about complaints of harassment, noise and unease during the demonstration. Sean O’Shea joins us from inside the security zone.

For the first time in more than three weeks the streets of downtown Ottawa are largely quiet and calm. The police operation isn’t over yet as officers remain in the area around Parliament Hill clearing out the last of the protesters and working to ensure they can’t return.

Freedom Convoy” that has occupied the Canadian capital for 24 days.Police arrested some protesters that were wearing body armour and had smoke grenades on them. They also had miscellaneous fireworks in their bags, the police said.As of Saturday evening, a total of 170 arrests were made.In statements posted on Twitter on Saturday, Ottawa police described encounters with the convoy demonstrators as “assaultive” and “aggressive.” Ottawa police arrest 170 amid push to clear convoy blockade As a result, officers on the ground were equipped with helmets and batons for their own safety.Police continue to urge the crowds to leave peacefully.In the West Block, MPs in the House of Commons resumed their debate Saturday on the government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act that had to be paused Friday because of security concerns.The debate is scheduled to continue on Sunday and Monday, with a final vote set for 8 p.m.

Freedom Convoy” blockade that has paralyzed the nation’s capital for the past three weeks.On Sunday morning, officers were back at the protest site near Parliament Hill, where a convoy of protesters, many of them truckers, have been demonstrating against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures.At total of 191 people have been arrested since Friday, while dozens of vehicles, including many large trucks, either pulled out on their own or were towed away. Ottawa police use anti-riot weapons on convoy protesters, arrest 170 In a series of Tweets on Sunday, Ottawa police warned protesters they “will actively look to identify” them and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges.It urged residents to avoid the downtown area and to remove all vehicles parked on streets between Metcalf and Bay, and Albert and Gloucester.To prevent protesters from reclaiming territory, officers installed fencing around the demonstration site on Sunday.“We continue to maintain a police presence in and around the area of the unlawful protest occupied,” Ottawa police said in a Tweet.“We are using fences to ensure the ground gained back is not lost.”Things had been very quiet here downtown.

COVID.Downing Street has said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reveal details of his “living with COVID” plan on Monday (February 21) – outlining that factors such as vaccination, testing, and anti-viral drugs will be enough to keep people safe, rather than expecting infected people to stay at home.Self-isolation regulations for those who test positive and their close contacts are expected to cease by the end of this week.“COVID will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms,” said Johnson. “We’ve built up strong protections against this virus over the past two years through the vaccine rollouts, tests, new treatments and the best scientific understanding of what this virus can do.”He added: “Thanks to our successful vaccination programme and the sheer magnitude of people who have come forward to be jabbed, we are now in a position to set out our plan for living with COVID this week.”Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary told BBC‘s Sunday Morning today (February 20) this was “declaring victory before the war is over”, that ending mandatory self-isolation was “not the right thing to do” and that this was a distraction from the ongoing ‘partygate’ scandal.“At this stage the PM risks muddying the waters,” he said. “We want to see the government publish the scientific advice because at the moment this seems very premature.”“He continued: It seems like Boris Johnson is keen to declare victory before the war is over in the hope he gets some headlines about ‘victory day on COVID’ instead police officers asking questions about actions in Number 10.”Labour Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting tells #Raworth that dropping remaining