2020 heroes: Americans who kept hope alive during pandemic, civil unrest and uncertainty

Liam Payne is sharing an anecdote indicating his 4-year-old son Bear has a bit of a mischievous streak.

Police clear a roadway at the Ambassador Bridge US-Canada border crossing blocked by truckers as they protest anti-vaccine mandates in Windsor, Ontario. (Photo by GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images) Police moved in to clear and arrest the remaining protesters near the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing on Sunday, trying to end a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions that has hurt the economy of both nations even as they held back from a crackdown on a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa.Local and national police formed a joint command center in Ottawa, where protests have paralyzed downtown, infuriated residents who are fed up with police inaction and turned up pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.The protests have reverberated across the country and beyond, with similar convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Around 300 vehicles taking part in a Canada-style protest convoy against Covid regulations have arrived in Lille, northern France.

The UK has recorded another 41,270 coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours - down from 46,025 on Saturday.

PHILADELPHIA - Two people are dead after a late night shooting in the Kingsessing section of the city.The shooting happened shortly after midnight on the 5700 block of Belmar Street. When police arrived on the scene, they found two men shot and killed.

Travelers wait at the check-in counter ahead of their Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight to Kyiv at Israel's Ben Gurion airport in Lod near Tel Aviv on February 13, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) Some airlines have canceled or diverted flights to Ukraine amid warnings from the West that an invasion by Russia is imminent despite intensive weekend talks between Moscow and Washington.In an hourlong call Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden said an invasion of Ukraine would cause "widespread human suffering" and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but "equally prepared for other scenarios," the White House said.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is fighting for his life after he was shot in the back in the head in West Philadelphia. The shooting happened just after 1 a.m. Sunday on the 200 block of North Wanamaker Street. Police say they found the 40-year-old man suffering from the gunshot wound to the head and he was rushed to a local hospital.

Vladyslav Heraskevych of Team Ukraine looks on after sliding during the Men's Skeleton Heat 4 at the Winter Olympic Games. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images) The Ukrainian Olympic team has followed the lead of skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych in calling for peace.Heraskevych held up a sign with a Ukrainian flag and the message "No War in Ukraine" after completing a run in the skeleton competition on Friday at the Beijing Games.

Gold medallist Erin Jackson of Team United States poses with a Bing Dwen Dwen mascot and the winning time during the Women's 500m at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Erin Jackson has become the first Black woman to win a speedskating medal at the Winter Olympics.And a gold one, at that.Jackson won the 500 meters Sunday with a time of 37.04 seconds, giving the American speedskating program its first speedskating medal of the Beijing Games and first individual medal since 2010.But this one meant much more than national pride.The 29-year-old Jackson, a former inline skater who switched to the ice shortly before the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, joined fellow American Shani Davis as the only Black athletes to win speedskating medals at the Olympics.The silver went to Miho Takagi of Japan, while Angelina Golikova of the Russian team took the bronze.Jackson's gold came after the native of balmy Ocala, Florida, slipped at the U.S.

Dr. Dre will be front and center on one of the world’s biggest stages when he performs at the 2022 Super Bowl on Feb. 13. The rapper will be joined by some of his closest friends in the industry — Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar — for a Halftime Show performance that is sure to be remembered. It’s almost impossible to believe that just 13 months ago, Dre suffered an apparent brain aneurysm that left him hospitalized for nearly two weeks. Luckily, Dre was able to recover from the terrifying medical scare. Learn more about it below:

LONDON :

COVID-19, as the province continues to endure the pandemic.New data released by the province on Sunday suggests 402 people were receiving care in an intensive care unit (ICU), while 244 were on a ventilator. 1,704 people hospitalized in Ontario with COVID-19, 414 in intensive care The hospitalizations and ICU admissions on Sunday mark a drop from numbers reported the day earlier.On Saturday, the province said 1,704 people were hospitalized, with 414 in ICU.However, in a tweet, Ontario’s Health Minister Christine Elliott noted that not all hospitals submit data on weekends.A total of 2,265 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ontario on Sunday.

James Blunt in their latest effort to repel protesters who are camped outside of parliament.The demonstrators, who are angry at COVID-19 vaccine mandates, have been blocking the streets of the country’s capital, Wellington, since Tuesday (February 8).Tactics used by the local authorities to try and get rid of the protesters have included turning on the water sprinklers on the lawn where they camped. But protesters retaliated by digging trenches and building makeshift drainpipes to re-route the water, according to BBC News.When the sprinkler tactic proved ineffective, police turned to blasting out Barry Manilow‘s greatest hits, which include ‘Mandy’ and ‘Could It Be Magic’, on a 15-minute loop from one of parliament’s loudspeakers, as well as the ’90s Spanish hit ‘Macarena’ and a number of vaccine messages.After catching wind of what was happening, Blunt offered his services to New Zealand authorities via Twitter.

All this week anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate protesters said that if police came they wouldn’t leave their blockade of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., but when push came to shove that’s exactly what they did. Sean O’Shea reports.

coronavirus pandemic declaration, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) said it will “improve and increase service” on several of its routes beginning Sunday.In a press release issued Wednesday, TTC said 17 routes would be improved “as the agency starts restoring service across the network to pre-pandemic levels.” Ontario on track to remove ‘almost all restrictions’ on businesses ‘very soon,’ Doug Ford says “Throughout the pandemic, the TTC has prioritized service delivery where it is needed the most, protecting service on the busiest routes at the busiest times of day,” the release reads. “Last November, overall service had to be adjusted based on reduced staff availability.”The TTC said it is planning to restore 100 per cent of pre-pandemic service hours over the coming months as ridership increases.“Schedules and service will continue to be based on demand,” the release said.According to the TTC, on Feb.

Josh Hazlewood conceded just five runs in the Super Over as T20 World Cup champion Australia edged Sri Lanka on Sunday after the second game of their series finished in a tie.Australia Innings:Australia was sent in to bat in Sydney and posted 164 for 6, with Josh Inglis scoring 48 from 32 balls to lead the scoring.Dushmantha Chameera took 2 for 30, including wickets with consecutive balls in the 19th over to remove Steve Smith (14) and Marcus Stoinis (19), and Wanindu Hasaranga returned 2 for 33.Sri Lanka Innings:Sri Lanka was always behind in the run chase after losing wickets in the first, third and fifth overs to slip to 25 for 3, but opener Pathum Nissanka’s 73 from 53 deliveries kept the visiting team in contention.Sri Lanka needed 46 from the last 18 balls for victory and, when Hasaranga was run out for 34 on the last ball of the 19th over, still needed 19 off the last over from Stoinis to win the match and level the series.They scored 18 , with Maheesh Teekshana hitting the second ball he faced for six and Chameera hitting a four down the ground on the last ball to level the scores.Super Over :With the Super Over in play Hazlewood, who returned 3 for 22 in his four overs in regulation, bowled two dot balls and a bye, which resulted in Dinesh Chandimal being run out by a direct hit from Glenn Maxwell as Sri Lanka slipped to 1- 1. The Sri Lankans managed to get to 5 for 1 after six balls.Maxwell took a single off Hasaranga from the first ball of Australia’s Super Over and Stoinis did the rest, driving down the ground for consecutive boundaries to secure the victory with three balls to spare.

Ont.’s Ambassador Bridge.Dozens of trucks, cars, pickups and vans have blocked traffic in both directions at Canada’s busiest border crossing to the U.S. for several days.

The Scottish Government has confirmed 5,301 new cases of coronavirus have been identified overnight.

Kate Garraway has said she is discovering a 'new way to be in love' with her husband.

A Rutherglen man has praised a new NHS weight loss programme after shedding a staggering four stone in less than a year.

Active cases: 3,926Today's positivity rate: 1.50% pic.twitter.com/kqjBfJPSBgNever miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Those opposed to vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 measures gathered near the Pacific Highway truck crossing Saturday – where police say convoy vehicles broke through RCMP barricades. Paul Johnson reports.

KATE Garraway has revealed the heartbreaking conversations she has with her husband Derek since Covid made him struggle to communicate. The Good Morning Britain presenter admits her other half is still unable to speak, but they still have a "deep connection" and have found a "new way" to love each other. Asked whether they can have conversations, Kate tells You: "Not really.

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NEW DELHI :

Cyclone Dovi caused power outages, mudslides and evacuations across New Zealand, but neither the storm nor the music of Barry Manilow could dislodge anti-vaccine protesters camped outside parliament.

Good Morning Britain anchor Kate Garraway has revealed she has found a "new way" to love her husband Derek Draper. The former political lobbyist, 54, has been suffering side effects from coronavirus, having contracted the virus back in March 2020, subsequently becoming the UK's longest hospital inpatient before being discharged one year later.

Seoul (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has called on the world to pledge to not be warmongers and war criminals but peacemakers and sacrifice in whatever way required to benefit humanity forever with bestowed peace.Sirisena was speaking at the World Summit 2022 (Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula) in Seoul, South Korea.World Summit 2022 (Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula) gathered world leaders and a worldwide virtual audience around topics related to peaceful reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.It featured keynote speakers from around the world on a range of topics related to the peaceful reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula. Many speakers are from the 157 countries that have diplomatic ties with both North and South Korea.“The experiences in the unification of Germany and Vietnam show how two contrasting political ideologies could positively merge.

Phase 2 polling in UP tomorrow

Protests in communities across the country have been loud. In an effort to try and stop ongoing honking horns in Edmonton, a temporary injunction was granted to the city.

Rylan Clark has shared an update on his health after revealing he had been taken to hospital earlier this week.TV star Rylan, 33, posted a photo of himself and shared an update with fans on his social media channels on Saturday 12 February. X Factor star Rylan has previously sparked concern amongst fans as he revealed he had been on an "extended trip" to hospital. But, after returning home, Rylan posted a selfie showing the TV star wearing a white hoodie and sitting on his emerald green sofa with his thumb up towards the camera.

Canadian demonstrators led by truckers angry over Covid-19 restrictions defied police and kept occupying a key bridge yesterday, while thousands more rallied in the capital as a two-week-old protest showed no signs of abating.

The Queen is scheduled to return to work next week, which suggests that she didn't catch Covid off her son Prince Charles after having afternoon tea with him a couple of days before he tested positive.Major concerns had been raised after The Queen and Charles had afternoon tea together at Windsor Castle two days before he tested positive for Covid.Many were concerned as Charles would typically greet his mother in public with both a kiss on the hand and a kiss on the cheek.After a long-anticipated nervous wait, it's understood that the Queen, who has been triple jabbed, is showing no symptoms and has submitted a negative result.In an exclusive chat with The Sun, Royal sources told that Her Majesty has a diary of engagements at Windsor Castle next week which she is expected to go ahead with, which is an indication that she doesn't have Covid.The jobs are believed to be video calls with ambassadors and dignitaries from her desk.

Day 16 of what the prime minister and police are calling an illegal occupation in our nation’s capital. All available officers are being deployed to enforce safety and to encourage protesters to leave, but the disruption continues.

Chapelhall FC will kick their first league ball during the summer, having been borne of a hunger for the game in the village but, more importantly, to help struggling players with their mental health battles.

How common are reinfections?

trucker convoy protesters who break the law will be “increasingly severe” as an occupation in Ottawa extends past two weeks and blockades spring up across the country.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a meeting Saturday with ministers and senior officials to see how protests, occupations and blockades can be brought “under control.”“I convened the Incident Response Group again today – we went over the efforts underway to address the illegal blockades and occupations,” Trudeau said on Twitter.

COLOMBO (News 1st); In an operation conducted in seas north of Talaimannar in the dark hours of 12th February 2022, Sri Lanka Navy managed to seize 02 Indian trawlers with 12 Indian fishermen, whilst poaching in Sri Lankan waters.Sri Lanka Navy is conducting regular patrols and operations to curb illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters, considering the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters on the local fishing community and the sustainability of fishery resources of Sri Lanka.Meanwhile, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne visiting the North Central Naval Command to review its operational readiness on 12th February 2022, gave necessary directives to beef up the operational efficiency of fleet units and naval establishments of the Command.Further, he emphasized the importance of curbing all forms of illegal activities including illegal fishing practices and ensuring the security of Sri Lankan waters.

Thousands of children were made homeless during the pandemic, according to shock new figures branded a “national disgrace.”

Philadelphia Police investigate after a man was shot at least three times in the head and killed. EASTWICK - Philadelphia Police are investigating after a man was shot in the head and killed.Officials say the shooting happened on the 8100 block of Grovers Avenue, in Philadelphia’s Eastwick neighborhood, Saturday night, just before 7:30.Responding officers found the man, who was in his late 20s or early 30s, with at least three gunshot wounds to his head.MORE HEADLINES:Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene.Investigators say no weapon has been recovered and no arrests have been made.___Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847).

Transportation officials said the main route to one of B.C.’s busiest border crossings was closed Saturday, amid the latest protest convoy by opponents of vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 measures.

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Purported veterans and supporters of the so-called “Freedom convoy” removed fencing protecting the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Saturday. A police officer can be seen telling the demonstrators they would be responsible for taking care of the memorial, according to Global News’ Abigail Bimman, who was on the ground at the time.

#FreedomConvoy #vancouver#military pic.twitter.com/XhnXUyDUaY— WaiverHunter (@WaiverHunter) February 12, 2022RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Elenore Sturko said late Saturday afternoon a group of vehicles, including a large truck with a military-style paint job, broke through a police blockade and over a median heading the wrong way on the northbound side of the road.It appears to be some type of, maybe military surplus … it’s not anything with the government of Canada, it’s a vehicle that is painted and lifted and looks to be a military type style, and that was one of the first vehicles to break over the median and past police barriers,” Sturko said.UPDATE #BCHwy15 – CLOSED in both directions between 8th Ave and 1st Ave due to a public demonstration.

The sharp increase in new cases today is another reminder that, as expected, the highly transmissible Omicron variant is now spreading in our communities as we have seen in other countries.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police announced that the movement of traffic will be restrict along the Colombo – Horana Road as a result of the development of the Bokundara Bridge in Piliyandala.From the 13th of February 2022 until further notice, two lanes will be open for vehicles to travel to Colombo from 6 AM to 3 PM daily, and one lane to travel to Horana during that time.Further, from 3 PM to 6 PM, two lanes will be open to travel to Horana while one lane will be open to travel to Colombo.In addition, from 6 AM to 9 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM, all heavy vehicles, excluding passenger transport buses, will not be allowed to enter these roads.Sri Lanka Police requested the general public to use the following alternatives to avoid inconveniences.* Horana to Colombo : Proceed to Galle Road from Piliyandala and then move to Colombo.* Horana to Werahera : Proceed to Ratmalana via Galle Road and then use Borupana Road to access Werahera* Colombo to Horana : Proceed to Maharagama from Boralesgamuwa and use the Maharagama Piliyandala Road.