5 things to know for Monday, September 27, 2021

TORONTO -

Canada has now fully vaccinated 79.95 per cent of the country's eligible population. Here’s what else you need to know to start your day.

1. Release negotiation: Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. says the Chinese government initiated the dialogue to release Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

2. German election: Germany's centre-left Social Democrats won the biggest share of the vote in a national election Sunday, narrowly beating outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right Union bloc.

3. mRNA vaccines: The story of how mRNA vaccines were developed has been missing a key part, according to a scientist who’s shining a spotlight on the critical work a small team in Canada.

4. Needle alternatives: A team of scientists developed a painless way to deliver a vaccine shot without the use of a needle while offering a better immune response, they say.

5. Cannabis detection: Researchers from Rutgers University in New Jersey say smartphone sensor data combined with machine learning could detect whether someone is under the influence of marijuana.

One more thing…

The 'molten ring': In 2020, the Hubble Space Telescope captured a rare and spectacular image of light from a far-away galaxy curving in a glowing arc around a cluster of dense gravity -- and now, scientists know how long it took to reach Earth.

This image, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, shows an Einstein ring called the "Molten Ring", which is a galaxy that is 9.4 billion light years away. (IMAGE: Saurabh Jha (Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Annual inflation rate increased to 2.9% in March

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Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending

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Worker seriously injured after fall at Montreal Olympic Stadium

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Tim Hortons launches pizza nationally to 'stretch the brand' to afternoon, night

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Despite weather glitch, the Paris Olympics flame is lit at the Greek cradle of ancient games

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Step inside Emma Roberts' sumptuous L.A. home

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NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station

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Hazard ahead: Are cuts at Tesla a warning sign for the EV market in Canada?

Tesla has hit a series of roadblocks, including increased competition and declining sales. The company announced Monday it is slashing 10 per cent of its global workforce.

Canada

Annual inflation rate increased to 2.9% in March

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OPP investigating after human remains found in Ottawa River in Clarence-Rockland

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after human remains were found in the Ottawa River in Clarence-Rockland on Monday.
Rural Manitoba council may be dissolved after mass exodus of elected officials: province

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Worker seriously injured after fall at Montreal Olympic Stadium

A man is fighting for his life after falling about 30 feet in an air duct at Montreal's Olympic Stadium on Monday, authorities say.
Sask. promising RCMP money if they can recruit officers

Saskatchewan and the RCMP have inked a deal that would see the province fund hundreds more officers if Mounties can recruit to fill those positions.
Ontario woman charged almost $7,000 for 20-minute taxi ride abroad

An Ontario woman was shocked to find she’d been charged nearly $7,000 after unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company while on vacation in January.

World

Fire rages through the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, toppling the iconic spire

A fire raged through one of Copenhagen's oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire from the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables.
Tensions rise in Australia after a bishop and priest are wounded in a knife attack in a church

A teenager has been accused of wounding a Christian bishop and priest during a church service in a second high-profile knife attack to rock Sydney in recent days, leaving communities on edge, leaders calling for calm and a besieged church urging against retaliation.
On a China visit, the German chancellor says Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens global security

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Chinese leader Xi Jinping who hosted him in Beijing on Tuesday that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine threatens global security, in an apparent call for China to apply greater pressure on its neighbour and close strategic partner to resolve the conflict.
What's at stake for Canada after Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel

Following the Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel over the weekend, Canada should take the threat of Iran and potential escalation of the conflict seriously, one global affairs analyst says.
190 decaying bodies were found at a Colorado funeral home. Owners charged with COVID fraud of US$880K

A couple who owned a Colorado funeral home where authorities last year discovered 190 decaying bodies were indicted on federal charges that they misspent nearly US$900,000 in pandemic relief funds on vacations, cosmetic surgery, jewelry and other personal expenses, according to court documents unsealed Monday.
Body of 4th Baltimore bridge collapse victim recovered as feds start criminal probe and others launch new investigations

The ship crash that destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and left several people dead is now under federal criminal investigation, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

Politics

Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending

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Joly to Israel: 'Take the win' in thwarting Iran's weekend attack, don't retaliate

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she's urging Israel to de-escalate rising conflicts in the Middle East and not bomb Iran in retaliation for this past weekend's thwarted airstrikes.
Singh defends NDP carbon price position -- without directly supporting a consumer levy

The federal leader of the New Democrats is insisting his party's position on carbon pricing remains unchanged.

Health

What does science say about the ingredients in functional beverages?

Functional beverages -- or drinks promoted as offering mental or physical benefits beyond hydration -- are growing in popularity around the world. Hundreds of companies have jumped into the market, hoping to get some buzz with trendy and sometimes unfamiliar ingredients.
Ontario may not meet LTC direct care target due to staff shortages: document

Difficulties hiring and retaining enough nurses and personal support workers for long-term care homes could mean the Ontario government may not meet its target for the amount of hands-on care residents receive, the minister responsible for the sector was warned.
Exercise changes the brain in a way that helps heart health, especially for people with depression

It’s common knowledge that exercise is good for your mental health and your heart health — and now a new study suggests that all three are working together.

Sci-Tech

NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station

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Your morning coffee may be hundreds of thousands of years old

Using genes from coffee plants around the world, researchers built a family tree for the world's most popular type of coffee, known to scientists as Coffea arabica and to coffee lovers simply as 'arabica.'
NASA looks for new ways to return Martian samples to Earth due to budget cuts

NASA is seeking innovative methods that could help retrieve samples collected by the Perseverance rover on Mars in the future.

Entertainment

Step inside Emma Roberts' sumptuous L.A. home

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Grimes apologizes for disastrous Coachella set

Canadian singer Grimes apologized to fans on Saturday after her Coachella set earlier that evening was beset by technical issues that caused her to scream into the microphone in frustration.
'Rust' armourer gets 18 months in prison for fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin on set

A movie weapons supervisor was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of 'Rust.'

Business

Annual inflation rate increased to 2.9% in March

Statistics Canada says the annual inflation rate ticked higher in March compared with February, boosted by higher prices for gasoline.
Tim Hortons launches pizza nationally to 'stretch the brand' to afternoon, night

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Lifestyle

'It was a special game': Edmonton pinball player celebrates high score and shout out from game designer

A high score on a Foo Fighters pinball machine has Edmonton player Dave Formenti on a high.
Celebrity food critic Keith Lee blown away by Toronto visit

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Tips for saving on credit cards and shopping

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Sports

Oilers bite Sharks 9-2, McDavid earns 100th assist

Connor McDavid achieved a rare feat as his team was administering a rare beating.
Torch and sandals: What to know about the flame-lighting ceremony in Greece for the Paris Olympics

Here's a look at the workings and meaning of the elaborate flame-lighting ceremony held among the ruins of Ancient Olympia ahead of each modern Olympiad.
Despite weather glitch, the Paris Olympics flame is lit at the Greek cradle of ancient games

The flame that is to burn at the Paris Olympics was kindled Tuesday at the site of the ancient games in southern Greece.

Autos

General Motors to move Detroit HQ to new downtown building, plans to redevelop Renaissance Center

General Motors will move its Detroit headquarters to a new downtown office building next year and work to redevelop its iconic home along the Detroit River, company and city officials confirmed Monday.
Nissan says it will make next-generation EV batteries by early 2029

Nissan expects to mass produce electric vehicles powered by advanced next-generation batteries by early 2029, the company said Tuesday during a media tour of an unfinished pilot plant.
Tesla to lay off more than 10 per cent of staff globally as sales fall

Tesla will lay off more than 10 per cent of its global workforce, an internal memo seen by Reuters on Monday shows, as it grapples with falling sales amid an intensifying price war for electric vehicles.

Local Spotlight

'It was a special game': Edmonton pinball player celebrates high score and shout out from game designer

A high score on a Foo Fighters pinball machine has Edmonton player Dave Formenti on a high.

'Why not do it together?': Lifelong friends take part in 'brosectomy' in Vancouver

While many people choose to keep their medical appointments private, four longtime friends decided to undergo vasectomies as a group in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.

Grain-gobbling bears spark 'no stopping' zone in Banff National Park

A popular highway in Alberta's Banff National Park now has a 'no stopping zone' to help protect two bears.

Deer family appears to accept B.C. man as one of their own

B.C. resident Robert Conrad spent thousands of hours on Crown land developing an unusual bond with deer.

Doorbell video shows family of black bears scared off by dog in Sudbury, Ont.

A Sudbury woman said her husband was bringing the recycling out to the curb Wednesday night when he had to make a 'mad dash' inside after seeing a bear.

Quebec teacher fired after taking leave to be on 'Survivor' reality TV series

A school teacher who took part in the Quebec version of the Survivor reality TV show took time off work to be a contestant is now out of a job.

Young P.E.I. actor fulfills childhood dream to play Anne Shirley

A young actor from Prince Edward Island is getting the chance to fulfill a childhood dream, playing the precocious and iconic Anne Shirley on stage.

From beginner to Olympian: Meet Canada's youngest male to fence on the world stage

Nicholas Zhang, 17, will be competing at the Paris Olympics in July. He is the youngest Canadian male fencer to ever compete in the category.

'It was surreal': Ontario mother gives birth to son on day of solar eclipse

For many, Monday's total solar eclipse will become a distant memory or collection of photos to scroll through in the years to come. But for Alannah Duarte and her family, they'll be reminded of the rare celestial event every year they celebrate their youngest son's birthday, as he was born on the day of the momentous occasion.

Vancouver

B.C. woman facing steep medical bills, uncertain future after Thailand crash

The family of a Victoria, B.C., woman who was seriously injured in an accident in Thailand is pleading for help as medical bills pile up.
As B.C. marks grim anniversary, advocates call for more urgent action

Last summer, Jessica Michalofsky ran from Nelson to Victoria, raising awareness about the toxic drug crisis that claimed her son Aubrey’s life. Nearly a year later, she's disappointed by the lack of movement on the crisis, as more families lose loved ones.
Diverging views emerge on Vancouver home construction outlook

A Vancouver real estate services firm is pushing back against the widely held view that not enough homes are being built in Metro Vancouver.

Toronto

Ontario woman charged almost $7,000 for 20-minute taxi ride abroad

An Ontario woman was shocked to find she’d been charged nearly $7,000 after unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company while on vacation in January.
Striking food service workers at Toronto's Pearson airport say meals on some flights may be impacted by labour action

Some flights may be departing from Toronto Pearson International Airport with “less or no food” after workers who prepare meals for in-flight service walked off the job on Tuesday, the union representing employees says.
Tim Hortons launches pizza nationally to 'stretch the brand' to afternoon, night

Tim Hortons is launching flatbread pizzas nationally in a bid to pick up more afternoon and evening customers.

Calgary

Academics, rural municipalities raise concerns about Alberta's Bill 18

Alberta legislation pitched to protect provincial priorities could slow down grant funding and allow federal money to be spent elsewhere, say officials representing rural municipalities and faculty members at post-secondary institutions.
Annual inflation rate increased to 2.9% in March

Statistics Canada says the annual inflation rate ticked higher in March compared with February, boosted by higher prices for gasoline.
Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending

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Ottawa

Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending

Canadians will learn Tuesday the entirety of the federal Liberal government's new spending plans, and how they intend to pay for them, when Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the 2024 federal budget.
OPP investigating after human remains found in Ottawa River in Clarence-Rockland

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after human remains were found in the Ottawa River in Clarence-Rockland on Monday.
Kingston, Ont.'s Aaliyah Edwards drafted into WNBA

After four years at the University of Connecticut, Edwards was selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in the WNBA draft Monday night.

Montreal

Recycling Montreal's Olympic Stadium roof: international competition collects bids

An international competition is hoping to gather new and interesting ways to recycle Montreal's Olympic Stadium roof, which is set to be dismantled this summer.
Montreal Canadiens recall Logan Mailloux from AHL

The Montreal Canadiens have recalled defenceman Logan Mailloux from the AHL's Laval Rocket.
3 people arrested in Quebec City for assault, threats, forcible confinement

Quebec City police say three people were arrested in connection with an alleged assault in the Beauport borough.

Edmonton

Tickets issued after large, unleashed dog spotted in front of home where boy was killed by dogs

Two tickets were issued after an unleashed dog was seen in front of a home where a boy died in a dog attack earlier this month.
Oilers bite Sharks 9-2, McDavid earns 100th assist

Connor McDavid achieved a rare feat as his team was administering a rare beating.
Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending

Canadians will learn Tuesday the entirety of the federal Liberal government's new spending plans, and how they intend to pay for them, when Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the 2024 federal budget.

Atlantic

Battery fires a concern for Maritime departments as numbers grow

Batteries power many things in our lives, from phones to laptops to even cars, but there’s a danger lurking in our battery dependency.
Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending

Canadians will learn Tuesday the entirety of the federal Liberal government's new spending plans, and how they intend to pay for them, when Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the 2024 federal budget.
Youth hospitalized after stabbing: Halifax police

Police are looking for a youth who allegedly stabbed another youth in Halifax on Monday morning.

Winnipeg

Rural Manitoba council may be dissolved after mass exodus of elected officials: province

A mass exodus of elected officials from a rural Manitoba municipality has put the community in limbo and may force the province to dissolve what's left of the crumbling council.
Overland flood warning issued for parts of Manitoba

An approaching low-pressure system that could bring 50 millimetres of mixed precipitation has triggered a flood warning for parts of Manitoba.
Lights, camera, action! Extras casting underway for Ke Huy Quan movie in Winnipeg

If you’ve ever felt the allure of Hollywood and wanted to be in a big-budget movie your time to shine is now.

Regina

Sask. NDP, advocates call for full reopening of Moose Jaw hyperbaric chamber

Moose Jaw's hyperbaric chamber has now partially resumed services after being discontinued in 2021 due pandemic related staffing shortages. However, only one patient is currently being treated leading to criticism over a perceived lack of service.
'A sense of urgency': Sask. man accused of abducting daughter calls himself to the stand during trial

Michael Gordon Jackson, the man on trial after being charged with contravention of a custody order for allegedly abducting his daughter in late 2021 to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, called himself to the stand Monday.
Regina's Jon Ryan to retire a Seahawk

Regina's Jon Ryan is set to sign a one-day contract with the Seattle Seahawks tomorrow officially bringing to an end his pro-football career.

Kitchener

Some Delhi residents told to shelter in place, keep children home from school

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are asking some people in Delhi to stay in their homes as officers conduct an investigation.
Driveway paving scammers reported in Waterloo Region

Cambridge resident Samantha Falkiner explains why something felt "off" about the men who approached her and her neighbours on Friday.
Police search home after man injured with explosive

Police are searching a residence just east of downtown Guelph after a man went to hospital with injuries from a homemade explosive device.

Saskatoon

Saskatoon Muslim community mourns teen killed in high-speed crash

Friends are raising money for the grieving family of a 16-year-old Saskatoon boy who was killed in a high-speed crash that injured two other teens on Sunday morning.
Sask. struggling to recruit and retain specialists, doctor says

Dr. Ana-Maria Bosonea is the only allergist in Saskatoon seeing children under 12, and now she’s moving to Alberta.
Saskatoon residents can expect some odour from city landfill as gas well project expands

The city says there may be some odour emanating from the landfill in the coming weeks as crews dig new gas wells and piping to collect more methane from decomposing waste.

Northern Ontario

Ontario woman charged almost $7,000 for 20-minute taxi ride abroad

An Ontario woman was shocked to find she’d been charged nearly $7,000 after unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company while on vacation in January.
Northern Ont. man acquitted of murder on James Bay coast

A northern Ontario family is devastated after a jury found a Moose Factory man not guilty of a 2021 murder.
Body of 14-year-old boy pulled from Lake Ontario, police say he drowned while swimming

The body of a 14-year-old boy has been pulled from Lake Ontario after police say he drowned while swimming near Ashbridges Bay Park on Sunday night.

London

Fire hydrant struck in Sarnia, traffic reduced to one lane

All lanes of traffic have reopened after a vehicle struck a fire hydrant in Sarnia on Monday. It happened in the area of Michigan Avenue and Blackwell Road and caused officials to reduce eastbound traffic to one lane.
Students displaced following house fire

A number of students have been displaced after a house fire in east London near Fanshawe College. Crews were called to the scene on Prosperity Court late Monday night.
Tax rebate from $31 million municipal surplus could unleash 'budget bomb'

A massive surplus remains from last year’s municipal budget in London, but city staff warned councillors against using it for a tax break this year.

Barrie

Kashechewan First Nation preparing for mass evacuation amid flood threat

The residents of Kashechewan First Nation are in a race against time, preparing for a mass evacuation as the relentless threat of flooding from the Albany River looms closer.
Car crash sends two women to hospital

Two women were seriously injured after a car crash in Orangeville.
Family of man killed in Wasaga Beach crash seeks justice as case sees more delays

It's been more than two years since Jim Lynne died in a crash along Mosley Street in Wasaga Beach.

Windsor

Porch pirate suspect sought in Walkerville area

Windsor police are looking for a woman after a parcel was taken from a home in the 400 block of Chilver Road.
First Canadian tornado of 2024 confirmed in Essex County

The first Canadian tornado of 2024 hit Essex County in March, says a report from the Northern Tornadoes Project.
Windsor ranks high on dopest cities list

A new ranking by food delivery platform Uber Eats puts Windsor among the top cities in the province for ordering cannabis.

Vancouver Island

B.C. woman facing steep medical bills, uncertain future after Thailand crash

The family of a Victoria, B.C., woman who was seriously injured in an accident in Thailand is pleading for help as medical bills pile up.
B.C. fraudster who lured investors with promise to help homeless fined by securities regulator

A Vancouver woman whose company duped investors by promising big returns on real-estate deals that would house the homeless has been ordered to pay nearly $626,000 after the British Columbia Securities Commission deemed the operation a Ponzi scheme.
Arctic and offshore patrol vessel HMCS Max Bernays arrives in CFB Esquimalt

The HMCS Max Bernays made its way into its new home at CFB Esquimalt on Monday after a long journey from Halifax.

Kelowna

B.C. to add 240 complex-care housing units throughout province

British Columbia is planning to add 240 new units to its complex-care housing program, providing homes for people with mental-health and addictions challenges that overlap with other serious conditions.
Evacuation of Kelowna, B.C., apartment near construction site extended for two weeks

More than 80 residents from a low-income apartment building in Kelowna, B.C., have learned they won't be able to return to their homes for at least another two weeks.
2 men injured after 'road rage' incident with Dodge Ram driver, Kelowna RCMP say

Mounties are investigating a reported "road rage" incident in Kelowna, B.C., that left two men injured last week.

Lethbridge

Phillips calls for funding to be reinstated to Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network

Lethbridge West MLA Shannon Phillips is calling on the province to reinstate funding for the Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network.
Southern Alberta could be alive with the sound of rattlesnakes this weekend: expert

If you’re planning to head to the coulees this weekend to enjoy the nice weather, don’t forget to look down.
Lethbridge police team up with campaign to urge drivers to slow down

With the weather starting to feel like spring is really here, more kids will likely be outside enjoying the sunshine and warm temperatures, which organizers of the Slow Your Roll campaign say is a perfect time to re-launch the campaign.

Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Downtown Plaza sees big winter turnout

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is expecting a busy summer at the Downtown Plaza. City officials say the plaza is coming off a successful first winter season, which saw large crowds gathering at the outdoor rink.
Soo Greyhounds return home to face Saginaw

The Soo Greyhounds are the talk of the town, as their second-round matchup in the OHL playoffs touches down in the Sault.
Thunder Bay police discuss charges against former chief

Thunder Bay Police Service held a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the misconduct investigation that led to criminal charges being laid against the city's former police chief.

N.L.

Protest averted as Newfoundland and Labrador premier helps reach pricing deal on crab

A pricing agreement has been reached between crab fishers and seafood processors that will allow for Newfoundland and Labrador's annual crab fishery to get started.
A fish harvester's protest threatens Newfoundland and Labrador's crab season -- again

Longliners across Newfoundland and Labrador are tied up once again, as a new protest by the province's fish harvesters threatens to derail the crab fishery for a second straight year.
Unique photo exhibit put cameras in the hands of survivors of domestic and sexual violence

A unique photo exhibit is putting cameras into the hands of survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Newfoundland and Labrador.