What’s happening today
A young man holds a sign bearing photographs of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained in China for more than a year, outside B.C. Supreme Court where Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was attending a hearing, in Vancouver, on Tuesday January 21, 2020. In his darkest moments, Michael Kovrig draws strength from knowing that his fellow Canadians and people around the world are working to free him and Michael Spavor from their respective Chinese prison cells. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Canadians ‘tried,’ China says: China said for the first time said that the Canadian men held for two years in a case linked to Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou have been put on trial. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily briefing that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor had been “arrested, indicted and tried.” The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Ministers to meet: Brian Pallister and Canada’s other premiers have a daylong virtual meeting scheduled with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The first half of the meeting will focus on the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the second will focus on health-care funding. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Manitoba’s COVID-19 crisis: The provincial government will announce the latest COVID-19 numbers this afternoon. Since the weekend, Manitoba has announced 76 COVID-19 deaths, including a record 19 on Saturday and 18 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the number of new cases hasn’t hit 400 since Nov. 28. Danielle Da Silva reports. READ MORE
Getting creative for Hanukkah: Jewish people across Canada are preparing to celebrate Hanukkah at sundown, but the festivities will be very different because of the pandemic. David Greaves, the executive director of the Jewish National Fund’s regional chapter, said more than 100 people will likely participate in virtual tours of the tunnels beneath the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The Canadian Press reports. READ MORE
Set for execution: Brandon Bernard is set to be executed for his role in the killing of an Iowa couple on a military reservation in Texas in 1999. It is the second of six federal executions scheduled to take place during the lame-duck period of Donald Trump’s presidency, and a third is scheduled for Friday. The last time federal executions were carried out during the transitional period between presidencies was under Grover Cleveland in 1899. The Associated Press reports. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Cloudy with a high of 0 C, a daytime low of -3 C, wind chill as low as -10 and peak winds from the northwest at 30 km/h gusting to 50.
In case you missed it
SUPPLIEDPATH Employability Centre is referenced in a new report titled COVID-19, The Changing State of the Inner City “Strengthening community in a time of social isolation.”
‘Incredible’ work ‘invisible’: A report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to be released widely today shows how not-for-profit groups such as the North End Community Renewal Corp. have helped inner-city residents during the pandemic. The report’s lead author says the “invisible work” done by community-based organizations is “unseen” by policy decision-makers. Temur Durrani reports. READ MORE
Pandemic’s economic impact: An update from the City of Winnipeg’s economist shows unemployment remains high and retail sales have dropped. Joyanne Pursaga reports. READ MORE
On this date
On Dec. 10, 2006: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that parents of a Winnipeg man involved in a shootout with police were grateful neither their son nor the officer he allegedly shot were killed; the son faced attempted murder charges after a drug raid by police. The Winnipeg International Airport was renamed in honour of airline pioneer James A. Richardson. The Winnipeg Folk Festival celebrated American folk singer Odetta, presenting her with its artistic achievement award.
Today’s front page
Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press READ MORE
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