What’s happening today
Melissa Renwick / THE CANADIAN PRESSWaves crash against rugged rocks along the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet, B.C. on Friday.
Tsunami scare: A tsunami warning was cancelled for the coastal area of British Columbia this morning after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 struck off Alaska. Earlier today in Tofino, warning sirens sounded and residents in low-lying areas were told to go to higher ground. READ MORE
Speech in Switzerland: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is expected to focus on the benefits of gender equality and the advancement of women in the workplace, The Canadian Press reports. Trudeau is scheduled to meet with other world leaders as well as the heads of major corporations at the forum, which ends Friday. READ MORE
Weather
Your forecast: Today will be cloudy with a high of -4 C, a 60 per cent chance of flurries and risk of freezing drizzle.
In case you missed it
Revised deal reached: Canada and the remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership have agreed to a revised trade agreement, international media reports state. Word of an agreement came hours after a Canadian government official told The Canadian Press that Ottawa was hopeful a revised deal would be reached as early as today. The U.S. withdrew from the TPP last year. READ MORE
Cosby does comedy: Comedian Bill Cosby performed onstage last night for the first time since about 60 women came forward to accuse him of drugging and sexually assaulting them. The show in a Philadelphia jazz club was Cosby’s first since May 2015. Afterward, he declined to discuss his upcoming retrial in a sexual assault case. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
Matt Sayles / Invision / The Associated Press FilesNominations for the 90th Oscars will be announced today.
Nominees named: The nominees for this year’s Academy Awards will be revealed early this morning. Actors Tiffany Haddish and Andy Serkis will announce some nominees at 7:22 a.m., with high-profile categories, including all four acting awards and Best Picture, set to be announced at approximately 7:38 a.m. READ MORE
Stage goes silent: Iconic singer Neil Diamond announced last night he has been diagnosed with Parkinson disease and has retired from touring, cancelling his scheduled shows. The hitmaker, who turns 77 Wednesday and is best known for songs such as “Sweet Caroline” and “Cracklin’ Rosie,” said in a statement he will continue writing and recording music. READ MORE
Trending now
B.C. and Alaska: Residents in the Pacific Northwest region of the continent, and those concerned for them, remain a top subject on Twitter even after a tsunami warning for the area has been cancelled.
On this date
On Jan. 23, 1952: The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the RCAF had announced a $2-million plan to build 150 housing units in Portage la Prairie. The tragic death of a Winnipeg girl due to leukemia was thought to be a major factor in the later murder-suicide of her parents. An Egyptian newspaper claimed Russia promised to aid all Middle Eastern countries in freeing themselves of “western economic domination.” According to Russian diplomat Maxim Litvinov, Josef Stalin’s death would not change the course of Russian policy. READ MORE
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