French President Macron says Qatar World Cup 'should not be politicized'

French President Emmanuel Macron listens during his meeting with Indonesia President Joko Widodo at the G20 leaders' summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

PARIS -

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that "sports should not be politicized," days after it was announced -- to criticism -- that he would attend the World Cup in Qatar if France reaches the semifinals.

Speaking in Bangkok, Macron said issues about Qatar's human rights record and the environment were "questions you have to ask yourself when you award the event."

Qatar won the hosting rights for this year's tournament in a FIFA vote in 2010.

The World Cup has sparked multiple controversies -- from the living conditions of migrant workers to the impact on the environment of air-conditioned stadiums and the place of LGBTQ people, women and minorities.

The first World Cup to be held in an Arab country opens on Sunday. On Monday, the presidential Elysee said Macron will go to the Qatar if the country's national team reaches the semifinals, specifying that the French president "wrote them a message" to this effect.

Last month, the city of Paris said it will not broadcast World Cup matches on giant screens in public fan zones amid concerns about Qatar's human rights record.

It follows similar moves by other French cities, despite France being the defending champion.

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.

‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters

Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.

The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire' are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK

The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.

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.'

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.

The UN warns Sudan's warring parties that Darfur risks starvation and death if aid isn't allowed in

The United Nations food agency warned Sudan's warring parties Friday that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don't allow humanitarian aid into the vast western region.

Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.

Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.

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.

Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial

Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.

Canada

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.
'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.
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.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters

Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
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.

World

Early results from London suggest Labour's Sadiq Khan will secure a record third term as mayor

Sadiq Khan, the Labour Party's mayor of London, appeared Saturday to be romping to victory as results from the capital pour in.
The UN warns Sudan's warring parties that Darfur risks starvation and death if aid isn't allowed in

The United Nations food agency warned Sudan's warring parties Friday that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don't allow humanitarian aid into the vast western region.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial

Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48

A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video

Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, N.C., home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbor's house.
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.

Politics

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.'
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting

The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
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.

Health

Black youth face multiple barriers in accessing mental health care, experts say

Black youth in Canada face multiple barriers in getting access to mental health services — and health-care providers can make the situation more difficult, experts say.
'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.

Sci-Tech

Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts aboard new capsule, the newest entry to space travel

It’s the first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board, a pair of NASA pilots who will check out the spacecraft during the test drive and a weeklong stay at the space station.
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.

Entertainment

The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire' are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK

The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
'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.

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.
Golf season a summer tourism driver in Canada

Golf is a sign of spring and summer and a major driver for seasonal tourism, experts say.
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.

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.

No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules

A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
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.

Toronto

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.
Police investigate more than a dozen complaints of damaged vehicles on residential street in Mississauga

Peel police are investigating after receiving more than a dozen complaints about damage to vehicles on a residential street in Malton early Saturday morning.

Calgary

TransAlta cancels wind power project over new government rules on development

A major Alberta utility has cancelled a large wind power project in response to new government rules on where such developments can be built.
Wranglers beat Firebirds 4-1 to take Game 1

The Calgary Wranglers claimed Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Coachella Valley Firebirds 4-1 on Friday night.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting

The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.

Ottawa

Firefighters battle second Overbrook highrise blaze on Donald Street

Ottawa Fire Services says crews battled a fire that broke out in a bedroom in the same highrise that displaced hundreds of residents and sent three people to hospital in critical condition Thursday morning.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters

Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
NEW THIS MORNING
NEW THIS MORNING The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace

A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.

Montreal

Despite shift to EVs, number of gas-powered cars on Quebec roads hits record high

The province has been pushing drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) but it appears Quebecers aren't buying in. The latest numbers from the SAAQ show that the number of gas-powered vehicles hit a record high in 2023.
Semi-pro soccer squad looks to make Saint-Laurent proud at Canadian Championship

Quebec semi-pro soccer team CS Saint-Laurent is set to face off against Toronto FC in the 2024 Canadian Championship in five days.
Montreal police investigating drive by shooting and stabbing near shopping centre

Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating after shots were fired at Carrefour Angrignon in the Montreal borough of LaSalle on Friday evening.

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.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting

The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
'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.

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.
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.
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.

London

CTV News London's top stories from this week

In case you missed it, CTV News London has compiled all the top local stories from this week into one video for your convenience.
Soon to expire municipal funding would close 120-bed homeless shelter and return people to tents

Municipal funding is running out for a temporary shelter program that serves homeless Londoners.
PLAYOFF TRACKER
PLAYOFF TRACKER Knights fall to Saginaw in Game 5

Sam O'Reilly scored twice and added two assists as the visiting London Knights defeated the Saginaw Spirit 7-3 on Wednesday to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven OHL Western Conference final series.

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.
Man in custody after alleged intimate partner violence

A Barrie man is facing multiple charges related to incidents of intimate partner violence that originated in the Township of Essa.
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.

Windsor

CTV News Windsor's top stories from this week

In case you missed it, CTV News Windsor has compiled all the top local stories from this week into one video for your convenience.
Grade 6 student saves choking classmate

A lesson learned at school saved a life Thursday.
Windsorites in store for warm but wet conditions this weekend

A wet and muggy start to the weekend is expected across Windsor-Essex.

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.

French President Macron says Qatar World Cup 'should not be politicized'

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

NEW THIS MORNING | The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace

PLAYOFF TRACKER | Knights fall to Saginaw in Game 5

NEW THIS MORNING The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace

PLAYOFF TRACKER Knights fall to Saginaw in Game 5