Royal Caribbean says 48 passengers test positive for Omicron variant on ship

Royal Caribbean Group said on Monday 48 people on its Symphony of the Seas cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19, fueling concerns that the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus could put a damper on a recovery in the cruise industry.

The cruise operator said it had 6,091 guests and crew members on board the ship, which ended a week-long cruise in Miami on Saturday after setting sail on Dec. 11.

Newsletter sign-up: Get The COVID-19 Brief sent to your inbox

The passengers who tested positive were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, Royal Caribbean said in a statement, adding that six guests were disembarked earlier in the cruise and transported home.

Royal Caribbean said 95 per cent of the community on board were fully vaccinated, while 98 per cent of those who tested positive were also fully vaccinated.

Symphony's future itineraries are not impacted, it added.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Anil D'Silva)

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified

A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.

Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.

Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks

Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.

TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst

TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.

Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail

A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.

Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say

RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.

Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN

A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.

Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately

As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.

Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'

Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.

Canada

Local MP, MLA call on federal government to remove sunken vessel in Saint John River

An MP and an MLA are calling for the removal of a sunken vessel in the Saint John River.
Pro-Palestinian encampment remains at University of Toronto despite safety concerns

Protesters donned rain ponchos and huddled in tents at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Toronto on Friday as they faced wet and windy conditions during the second day of a demonstration calling on the school to distance itself from Israel.
Supreme Court orders new trial for B.C. francophone who was not given French option

A francophone man in British Columbia convicted of sexual assault will get a new trial because he was not informed of his right to be tried in French, the Supreme Court ruled Friday.
Two baby bald eagles born in Toronto

Two baby bald eagles have hatched in Toronto, just weeks after a bald eagle nest was spotted in the city for the first time ever.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail

A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
New Red Dress Alert system to be developed in Manitoba

A new pilot program which will notify the public of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people is set to be implemented in Manitoba.

World

UN agencies prepare for Rafah incursion, warn of 'slaughter'

An Israeli incursion in Rafah would put the lives of hundreds of thousands of Gazans at risk and be a huge blow to the aid operations of the entire enclave, the U.N. humanitarian office said on Friday, as the World Health Organization announced contingency plans for an incursion.
Hope Hicks, ex-Trump adviser, recounts fear in 2016 campaign over impact of 'Access Hollywood' tape

Donald Trump's 2016 campaign was seized with worry about the potential political damage from a tape that showed Trump bragging about grabbing women sexually without their permission, longtime Trump adviser Hope Hicks testified Friday at his hush money trial.
Police clear encampments as U.S. campus arrests exceed 2,300 amid pro-Palestinian protests

Police ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to clear out of a tent encampment at New York University early Friday, a move that follows weeks of demonstrations and police confrontations at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in more than 2,300 arrests.
French cyberwarriors ready to test their defence against hackers and malware during the Olympics

Just like the Olympic athletes, the cyberwarriors that will be crucial for the success of the Paris Games are deep into training for the big event.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift

Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Zebra remains on the loose in Washington state as officials close trailheads to keep people away

A zebra that escaped from a trailer east of Seattle last weekend remained on the lam Friday, as authorities closed off trailheads at a nature area in hopes of keeping people away and easing her capture.

Politics

Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report

Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation

Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.

Health

'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant

A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately

As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week

Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Sci-Tech

Google's search engine is an illegal monopoly, U.S. Justice Department says

Google's preeminence as an internet search engine is an illegal monopoly propped up by more than US$20 billion spent each year by the tech giant to lock out competition, U.S. Justice Department lawyers argued at the closings of a high-stakes antitrust lawsuit.
Scientists identify 'degrees of Kevin Bacon' gene

Many species of animals form social groups and behave collectively: An elephant herd follows its matriarch, flocking birds fly in unison, humans gather at concert events. Even humble fruit flies organize themselves into regularly spaced clusters, researchers have found.
China sends a probe to get samples from the less-explored far side of the moon

China on Friday launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.

Entertainment

'Congratulations': Celine Dion praises Montreal DJ for new mashup featuring her vocals

Quebec singing legend Celine Dion has praised a Montreal DJ for creating a mashup featuring one of her songs with U.K. producer Majestic.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'

Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Twin Alberta Ballet dancers retire after 15 years with company

Alberta Ballet's double-bill production of 'Der Wolf' and 'The Rite of Spring' marks not only its final show of the season, but the last production for twin sisters Alexandra and Jennifer Gibson.

Business

Loblaw boycott organizer says she met with CEO to talk about grocery prices

One of the organizers of a month-long boycott of Loblaw-owned stores says she met with the grocer's president and CEO Per Bank on Thursday afternoon.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst

TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Ontario to increase fines for 'bad actor' employers

Ontario is set to clamp down on bad employers with big fines. Labour Minister David Piccini says his government will introduce legislation next week that will see fines increased for violations of the Employment Standards Act.

Lifestyle

B.C. man's sand sculpture park a lesson in creativity, catastrophe and resilience

When Damon Langlois visited the beach as a boy, he never would have imagined how significant sand would become in his life.
Two Ontario nurses help deliver baby during a flight to Dubai

Two registered nurses from Ottawa and Kingston have been an integral part in the delivery of a baby on board a flight heading to Dubai.
Italy bans puppy yoga classes amid welfare concerns

Italy's Ministry of Health has banned the popular wellness trend of "puppy yoga" amid concerns that the puppies used in the practice could be exploited and mistreated.

Sports

Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks

Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
A sellout for a WNBA exhibition game? Welcome to the Caitlin Clark era

More than three hours before Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever in an exhibition game against the Dallas Wings on Friday night, some fans among the sellout crowd were lined up outside the arena dressed in No. 22 University of Iowa jerseys.
New study suggests appetite for more women's sports in Canada

A new study suggests women's sports have a solid market in Canada.

Autos

These driving offences now come with an automatic impoundment, licence suspension in Sask.

Drivers in Saskatchewan will now lose their licence for a week and their vehicle for a month if they are caught committing certain high-speed and dangerous offences on the road.
April auto sales jump 14 per cent; still below pre-pandemic levels: DesRosiers

Auto sales last month totalled 164,000 units, higher than April 2023, which was the weakest month for sales last year.
Rolls-Royce is growing its factory so it can build its 'bespoke' cars more slowly

Rolls-Royce is vastly expanding its factory in Chichester, England. The BMW subsidiary is adding five new buildings with construction planned to start next year.

Local Spotlight

Twin Alberta Ballet dancers retire after 15 years with company

Alberta Ballet's double-bill production of 'Der Wolf' and 'The Rite of Spring' marks not only its final show of the season, but the last production for twin sisters Alexandra and Jennifer Gibson.

B.C. mayor stripped of budget, barred from committees over Indigenous residential schools book

A British Columbia mayor has been censured by city council – stripping him of his travel and lobbying budgets and removing him from city committees – for allegedly distributing a book that questions the history of Indigenous residential schools in Canada.

Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks

Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
Former B.C. Mountie fined for hiring foreign nanny without work permit

A former Mountie who pleaded guilty to illegally employing a foreign national without a work permit has been ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and have no contact with her former nanny for two years.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.

Toronto

Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto

York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified

A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire

Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.

Calgary

Calgary council wraps second week of public hearing on blanket rezoning

As of Friday morning, 611 Calgarians had voiced their opinions about the city's proposed blanket rezoning, with 92 still remaining.
Globe Cinema sale could signal a cultural shift in Calgary’s developing film industry

Many in Calgary’s film industry are worried about the potential sale of another iconic downtown theatre, and what it could mean for the local arts scene.
Alberta impaired driving victims applaud Mandatory Alcohol Screening in Ontario

Mandatory Alcohol Screening has been in place in Alberta for the past few years and a move by the Ontario Provincial Police to begin enforcing breath samples at all traffic stops is being applauded by local victims of impaired driving.

Ottawa

'He was the coolest kid': Remembering Griffin Bell ahead of CN Cycle for CHEO

Photographers will tell you that one of the best times to capture incredible images is just after sunrise or right before sunset. That time is known as the golden hour. It's the light that starts each day, offering hope and wonder about the day ahead. Griffin Bell exemplified that hope and light in a way that few others ever will.
Nighttime LRT construction derails east-end residents' sleep

Residents of an Orléans neighbourhood are voicing their frustration as overnight work on Stage 2 LRT causes disturbances for those living next to the construction site.
Two Ontario nurses help deliver baby during a flight to Dubai

Two registered nurses from Ottawa and Kingston have been an integral part in the delivery of a baby on board a flight heading to Dubai.

Montreal

Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled

Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'
Judge worries amendment to Quebec language law will cause 'undue delays' for English trials

A Quebec judge overseeing the trial of a person accused of killing a cyclist with their car has raised concerns that an amendment to the province's language charter could cause 'undue delays' for trials held in English.
'Congratulations': Celine Dion praises Montreal DJ for new mashup featuring her vocals

Quebec singing legend Celine Dion has praised a Montreal DJ for creating a mashup featuring one of her songs with U.K. producer Majestic.

Edmonton

Oilers to face Canucks in second round of NHL playoffs

The Edmonton Oilers will face the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the National Hockey League post-season after Vancouver advanced with a 1-0 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 6 Friday, winning the best-of-seven opening-round series 4-2.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire

A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Alberta doctors' advocate decries federal capital-gains tax changes

Federal tax changes could soon make it difficult for people to find a family doctor, says the Alberta Medical Association.

Atlantic

Police launch Mandatory Alcohol Screening program in Halifax area

An initiative called the Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) program is designed to cut down on the number of drunk drivers on the road in the Halifax area.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant

A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
Officers seize 28kg of elvers at N.S. holding facility

Fishery officers seized nearly 30 kilograms of elvers at a Yarmouth County, N.S., holding facility on Wednesday, arresting three people in the process.

Winnipeg

2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home

Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Manitoba man sentenced to house arrest for keeping fishing tournament funds meant for Children's Hospital Foundation

A Manitoba man who pleaded guilty to keeping the funds raised from an ice-fishing fundraiser for the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba has been handed a sentence of 18 months house arrest.
'I never thought it would be anything this size': City committee approves oversized garage without permit

A city committee has given the green light to an oversized garage, where no permit was pulled.

Regina

Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say

RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Sask. Party raises $3.6M, leads in donations ahead of looming election call

Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party has received millions of more dollars in donations compared with rivals ahead of this year's election.
Regina's North Central Family Centre launches Hopes and Dreams campaign

The North Central Family Centre (NCFC) has launched a capital campaign to help aid in the completion of a major project they are in the midst of building.

Kitchener

WRDSB to lay off 106 elementary school teachers

More than 100 teachers at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) are learning they have been declared surplus will likely be out of a job as of Aug. 12.
Search underway for missing 17-year-old in Kitchener

There was a large police presence in a Kitchener neighbourhood Friday evening as officers searched for a missing 17-year-old.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says

People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.

Saskatoon

Deflated for now, Saskatoon's Golf Dome is about to get a makeover

A lesser known fixture of Saskatoon's skyline is coming down for repairs and renovations.
Saskatoon police investigating city’s 9th homicide

The Major Crime Section of the Saskatoon Police Service has taken over the investigation into the death of a 30-year-old man, marking the city’s 9th homicide in 2024.
Company fined $260,000 for workplace injury in Saskatoon

Richelieu Hardware Canada Ltd. was fined a hefty $260,000 for a workplace safety violation leading to a serious worker injury.

Northern Ontario

Northern Ont. man guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in Sudbury firebombing

The jury deciding the fate of a man responsible for a fatal firebombing in Sudbury found him guilty of three counts of first-degree murder Friday afternoon.
Almost $17K in fines for illegal hunting, fishing in northern Ont.

Three men from southern Ontario and a man from Texas have been fined a total of $16,700 for illegal hunting and fishing in September 2021.
New Hamburg, Ont. family can't get truck's faulty transmission fixed due to aftermarket attachment

A New Hamburg family is feeling deflated after buying a new Toyota hybrid truck.

London

'I felt like the wildebeest in National Geographic': Cyclist recounts wild dog attack

Neighbours east of Dorchester are demanding action after an alleged attack by dogs.
Benzene levels 424 times acceptable levels: Aamjiwnaang First Nation

The Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia says it has recorded benzene levels 424 times above acceptable levels coming from a nearby chemical plant.
Trio found guilty of sex trafficking charges

Three people were found guilty on Friday afternoon of sex-trafficking related charges involving teenaged females.

Barrie

80-year-old Ont. man to face jury in historical sexual assault case involving children

A trial date has been set for an Ontario senior facing allegations of historical sexual offences involving children.
Bracebridge plant pauses operations after destructive fire

On Thursday night, 30 firefighters battled a destructive fire that broke out in a facility in Bracebridge Ont.
Driver charged with speeding while impaired on Hwy 11

A driver was handed a three-month licence suspension for allegedly speeding while impaired on Highway 11 in Muskoka.

Windsor

Grade 6 student saves choking classmate

A lesson learned at school saved a life Thursday.
Two people exchange gunfire in Leamington parking lot

Essex County OPP investigators are asking for help in identifying an individual involved in a shooting incident in a Leamington parking lot.
Suspect arrested after allegedly pointing an airsoft gun at pedestrians

The Windsor Police Service (WPS) has arrested a suspect for allegedly pointing an airsoft pistol at pedestrians and passing vehicles in downtown Windsor.

Vancouver Island

Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks

Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
B.C. man's sand sculpture park a lesson in creativity, catastrophe and resilience

When Damon Langlois visited the beach as a boy, he never would have imagined how significant sand would become in his life.

Kelowna

B.C. breweries take home awards at World Beer Cup

Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
B.C. man rescues starving dachshund trapped in carrier: BC SPCA

An emaciated dachshund is now recovering thanks to a Good Samaritan who found the pup near a biking trail in Kelowna, according to the BC SPCA.
Search crews called in after missing Kelowna senior's truck found

Search and rescue crews have been called in after a vehicle belonging to a missing senior was located near a rural intersection outside of Kelowna Tuesday.

Lethbridge

Southern Alberta animal shelters overrun with abandoned pets

Animal shelters across the province are finding themselves frequently at capacity -- or more.
Woman charged in connection with fatal crash

Lethbridge police say impaired driving is to blame in a fatal crash that killed a 25-year-old man on Thursday.
Contractors want to repurpose Milk River high school rather than see it demolished

The bell at Erle Rivers High School in Milk River, Alta., will ring for the last time on June 26, as the 114-year-old school is scheduled to be torn down to make way for a new K-12 school.

Sault Ste. Marie

Health coalition calls on public to stand up for health care

The de-rostering of thousands of patients at the Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie was the centre of attention at a town hall Friday organized by the Algoma chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition.
Chi-Cheemaun kicks off 50th season on the Georgian Bay

The Chi-Cheemaun ferry arrived at Manitoulin Island on Friday morning to kick off its 50th season on the Georgian Bay.
Sault’s Queen Street to undergo reconstruction

Phase 1 of the reconstruction of Queen Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie is getting underway, although it will be scaled down from the original plan.

N.L.

Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole

A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Newfoundland fisherman says police broke his leg during protest that delayed budget

Richard Martin is spending this year's fishing season on land after he says a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer broke his left leg in three places during a protest last month that shut down the provincial legislature.
'I feel honoured to say I was his friend': Wayne Gretzky remembers Bob Cole

Tributes continue to pour in for Bob Cole as his family has confirmed a funeral will be held for the legendary broadcaster Friday in St. John's, N.L.