Kenney says federal government’s use of Emergencies Act ‘not necessary’ in Alberta

WASHINGTON - Huggy Wuggy, a popular character from an online video game, is raising concerns among some parents of elementary school aged children.According to Parents.com – the name sounds cute and cuddly – but the character is quite the opposite.Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and WeatherHere's what they say you should now about the new social media trend:SUBSCRIBE TO FOX 5 DC ON YOUTUBEWhat is Huggy Wuggy?The character is an evil villain in a 2021 horror PC game called Poppy Playtime. It's a survival horror game set in an abandoned toy factory and the Huggy Wuggy character tries to hunt down the players while singing them creepy songs.HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINEWhat are kids doing?Some schools are warning parents that kids are offering classmates hugs while recreating the songs sung by the Huggy Wuggy character.Where are kids finding Huggy Wuggy?Parents.com says kids may have access to the game or may be able to watch the videos on YouTube or TikTok.

KYIV, Ukraine - Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine’s capital early Saturday as explosions reverberated through the city and the president urged the country to "stand firm" against the siege that could determine its future. He refused American help to evacuate, saying: "The fight is here."Hundreds of casualties were reported in the fighting, which included shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building and pummeled bridges and schools.

PHILADELPHIA - Ukraine immigrants were among a crowd of Philadelphians who gathered near City Hall on Friday to rally support for Ukraine as it continues to fight a Russian invasion from Russia. Russian troops bore down on Ukraine’s capital Friday while the president grimly predicted that the conflict would soon intensify, and fears of wider war in Europe triggered new international efforts to make Moscow stop, including direct sanctions on President Vladimir Putin.Amid reports of hundreds of casualties — including shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building and pummeled bridges and schools — there also were growing signs that Russia may be seeking to overthrow Ukraine’s government, which U.S. officials have described as Putin’s ultimate objective.

British Columbia’s Liberal opposition called for Russian products to be pulled from BC Liquor Stores.“I’m calling on the NDP to immediately pull Russian spirits from @bcliquorstores and cease all imports of such products by the BCLDB,” Kevin Falcon wrote on Twitter. Ukraine’s president warns of ‘difficult’ night as Russia closes in on Kyiv “We should do all we can to support the people of Ukraine and not benefit Putin’s regime while this unprovoked aggression continues.”Asked about the proposal earlier Friday, B.C.

Ukrainian military has released a statement thanking a marine for allegedly sacrificing himself in order to demolish a bridge that would allow Russian tanks to advance.The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released the statement Friday via social media, reporting that Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Skakun, a battalion engineer, had voluntarily undertaken a mission to mine out the support structure of the Genichesky Bridge near the Kyiv before Russian forces could cross it. Shakun did not have time to flee the blast zone before detonating the explosives, and informed his battalion that he would be blowing it up regardless.The Armed Forces reported that the subsequent explosion was immediate and thwarted Russian efforts to mobilize their tank column over the bridge.Ukraine forces blew up the bridge about 30 miles north of Kyiv on Thursday in order to thwart the advance of Russian tanks toward the capital city, according to reports.The nation’s airborne assault troops targeted the bridge, which crosses the Teteriv River at Ivankiv, helping ground forces stop a Russian tank convoy, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said, according to Newsweek.The invasion efforts reportedly included Russian troops commandeering Ukrainian military vehicles and donning Ukrainian military uniforms in order to ease their way into the city, reports said.Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, noted that the last time foreigners attacked Kyiv took place in 1941.RELATED: Ukraine crisis: How you can helpA Ukrainian military tank is seen near Potemkin Stairs in the centre of Odessa after Russia's military operation in Ukraine on Feb.

LOS ANGELES - Cities in the United States and across the globe are displaying blue and yellow lights, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, in a show of solidarity with the European nation as it grapples with a full-on invasion from neighboring Russia.The Empire State Building was illuminated with blue and yellow lights in a display of support for Ukraine currently under siege by Russian forces."Tonight, the Empire State Building will shine its tower lights in the colors of the Ukrainian flag," wrote the official Twitter account for the Empire State Building. In Dallas, the Ukrainian flag’s colors could be seen shining throughout the Texas city’s skyline. In Cincinnati, Ohio, a sister city to Kharkiv, Ukraine, the Duke Energy Convention Center was also lit up as a hat tip to Ukraine.Roughly 200 miles to the north, in Sandusky, Ohio, a tribute to Ukraine could also be found.Tributes to Ukraine could also be seen in Paris, London, Melbourne, Berlin and Rome, Reuters reported. Berlin, which stood as the front line during the Cold War until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, sent a clear signal to the Kremlin when it lit up the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the city’s most famous landmark, in blue and yellow."We are showing our solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the many Berliners with Ukrainian roots but also with the many Russians who want peace in Russia and Ukraine," Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey said in a statement."They all want nothing more than an end to the escalation and a peaceful settlement to this threatening conflict," she added.A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military action in the breakaway regions of Ukraine, Russian forces appear to be closing in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.Explosions

COVID-19 struck, bringing back new restrictions and keeping people away.Now, another effort is underway.The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal has released a new study called Relaunching Downtown Montreal with 29 recommendations to bring back office workers and visitors.The CEO of the Chamber and the Quebec Minister Responsible for Montreal held a joint discussion Friday morning talking about the plans.“The government is very aware of the situation of downtown Montreal,” Chantal Rouleau, the Minister Responsible for Montreal, said. Montrealers returning to work after city takes hit amid COVID-19 Experts say elected officials, employers and business owners shouldn’t expect a return overnight.

Tempe Diablo Stadium SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Officials with Major League Baseball say a week after pushing back the start of the exhibition season, spring training games in both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues will not be played until at least March 8.The decision was made amid the ongoing MLB lockout. Here's what you should know about the situation, as it stands now.With the Cactus League, spring training was supposed to start on Feb.

Russian forces pressed on with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many Americans are wondering how they can help the Ukrainian people in their time of suffering. Charity Navigator has put together a list of some of the top-rated nonprofits that are aiding in relief and recovery efforts in Ukraine. These charities have earned high ratings for their financial efficiency and for clarity and transparency about their operations. Charity Navigator helps charitable givers make "intelligent giving decisions" by providing objective ratings and analysis of the financial health and accountability of America's largest charities. The following nonprofits are "engaged in relief and recovery efforts in Ukraine and the surrounding region," according to Charity Navigator. While any decision to give should be carefully considered, the groups below earned three or more stars from Charity Navigator.Ukrainian refugees and a child seen at a train station in Przemysl, Poland on Feb. 24, 2022.

Empty spot where Russian vodka was once stocked at Jacob Liquor Exchange in Wichita, Kansas. WICHITA, Kan. - One Kansas liquor store is standing in solidary with Ukraine after it took all Russian vodkas off its shelves Friday, and they hope to inspire others to take a similar stand. After news broke on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Jacob Liquor Exchange located in Wichita, decided to pull the more than 100 bottles of Russian vodkas and keep them in storage in the event someone specifically asked for one of them, FOX 4 KC reported. "This is obviously a small sanction but it could make ripples and we wanted to show that we are not supporting what’s going on," Jamie Stratton, Jacob Liquor Exchange partner and wine director, told FOX TV Stations.

COVID-19 in Alberta continued to drop slowly Friday as the province announced there were 1,295 people with the virus in the province’s hospitals.Of that number, 88 people are receiving care in the ICU. COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to slowly decline in Alberta That compares to 1,357 in hospital with 92 in the ICU on Thursday.The province also announced an additional 13 COVID-19 deaths had been reported over the past 24 hours.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: Russia's President Vladimir Putin is seen during a meeting with members of Russian business community in the Moscow Kremlin. Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS (Photo by Alexei N BRUSSELS - With a military intervention in Ukraine off the table, and countries around the world looking to heap more financial punishment on Moscow, the United States, Britain and European Union said Friday they will move to sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.The Russian military is in the middle of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.The EU’s unanimous decision, part of a broader sanctions package, indicated that Western powers are moving toward unprecedented measures to try to force Putin to stop the brutal invasion of Russia’s neighbor and from unleashing a major war in Europe.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that the military alliance will deploy elements of its quick response force and broader allied response force to Eastern European member states amid fears that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spread to other regions.

students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined the new set of measures for communities where COVID-19 is easing its grip, with less of a focus on positive test results and more on what’s happening at hospitals.The new system greatly changes the look of the CDC’s risk map and puts more than 70% of the U.S. population in counties where the coronavirus is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals.

Britney Spears is ready to leave the past behind — literally.

A Delta Air Lines plane taxis toward a gate between other Delta planes at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, U.S., on Monday, July 20, 2009.

Two studies yesterday in JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery explore sudden hearing loss after COVID-19 vaccination, one finding no link and the other showing a marginally higher incidence among Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine recipients.

Edmonton Downtown Business Association executive director Puneeta McBryan and University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe join Tom Vernon to break down the 2022 provincial budget and where it falls short.

CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J. - Three people have been charged for allegedly trafficking a missing teenager out of Camden County, the New Jersey Attorney General announced Friday.According to Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin's office, 28-year old Marquise D.

WASHINGTON - A federal judge has sentenced a Tampa Bay area man known as "lectern guy" to 75 days in prison for his role in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.Adam Johnson, 37, of Parrish was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine as part of his sentence.Johnson walked away with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern and gleefully posed for a photo with it during the January 6, 2021 riot.That photo quickly went viral.The man seen toting Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the riot was mistakenly identified by some social media users as "Via Getty," based on a misinterpretation of the photo caption -- but a former parishioner from his church told FOX 13 that she immediately knew who it was. "I instantly recognized him, so it's kind of like, 'What are the odds?'" Alex Noon said.

world’s first plant-derived Covid-19 vaccine has been cleared for use in Canada for adults aged 18 to 64.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly about to change its guidelines.

NEW DELHI :

veterans and civilians who have spent the last six months helping Americans escape Afghanistan have now turned their attention to Ukraine after Russia launched an invasion of the eastern European country this week. As soon as the Russian military started shelling the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday morning, Project Dynamo executed a plan that had already been in the works for months. "We had a group of people that were on the ground we had identified that wanted to get out, especially if things went sideways," James Judge, a spokesperson for the coalition of civilians and veterans known as Project Dynamo, told Fox News Digital on Thursday. "Bryan Stern, who is on our team, could feel the explosions in Kyiv and said, ‘Alright, we need to go, we need to get out of here.’"The first wave of Americans and lawful residents who escaped Kyiv on Thursday. (Project Dynamo) About two dozen American citizens and lawful permanent residents were on the first Project Dynamo bus out of the city and the group is already planning more evacuations. RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATESThe State Department told Americans in Ukraine to "depart immediately" on Feb.

moderate to heavy snow was blanketing an area extending from central and eastern New York into New England early Friday morning, while a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain was creating a glaze of ice from central Pennsylvania to the New York City tri-state area and coastal southern New England.A changeover from sleet and freezing rain to plain rain is expected across the New York City tri-state area toward the end of the Friday morning commute, but icy roads could persist even after temperatures nudge above freezing.The National Weather Service has issued various winter weather alerts where additional snow and ice are expected across the Northeast on Friday.The worst travel conditions can generally be expected where Winter Storm Warnings and Ice Storm Warnings are posted. However, areas under Winter Weather Advisories might also encounter slick roadways at times.Various winter weather alerts are in effect across the Northeast on Friday, Feb.

Women's Cricket World Cup becomes its latest victim.Teams have been told that in the event of an outbreak, they'll be allowed to use backroom staff as fielders, providing they're female of course.According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), teams will be expected to fulfil their fixtures even if they have as little as nine fit players.The tournament, which is taking place in New Zealand, has some of the world's strictest Covid protocols.The eight teams involved have squads of 15 players, with a maximum of three travelling reserves.If a game is not played and cannot be rescheduled, it will be abandoned and the points shared.Given that all persons entering New Zealand must quarantine for a week in a hotel, there's little point in sending for reinforcements in the event of an outbreak.As such, the ICC have decided to allow staff members to get involved instead, potentially making for a bizarre spectacle - though teams do have the option of rejecting to play a match if they have fewer than 11 players available.Which Premier League team would benefit the most from fielding members of their backroom staff? Let us know in the comments section..."From a Covid perspective, we need to be a little bit flexible, as far as the way in which we manage the game to take into account these unique circumstances," said ICC head of events Chris Tetley."It's important that we do everything we can to try and maximise opportunities for the best players in the world to show their skills at a World Cup."The tournament on March 4 and will run for one month, with the final taking place on April 3.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government of Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the recent escalation of violence in Ukraine.Sri Lanka in a statement, calls upon all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and work towards the immediate cessation of hostilities, in order to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.Sri Lanka emphasizes the need for concerted efforts by all parties concerned to resolve the crisis through diplomacy and sincere dialogue.

Covid cases, the Jharkhand government today lifted most of the restrictions on markets, schools, parks, and restaurants. Banna Gupta, Jharkhand Health Minister in Ranchi, said that the government has decided to remove restrictions on offline classes in schools of 7 districts. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday (25) visited Mico for Inspection.State Minister D. B.

assault on Ukraine that opened with air and missile strikes on Ukrainian military facilities and included ground troops invading from Crimea.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 137 "heroes" including 10 military officers had been killed and another 316 wounded. Ukraine’s leadership called it a "full-scale war" targeting the country from the east, north and south. Ukraine said Russia’s intent was to destroy the state of Ukraine, a Western-looking democracy intent on escaping Moscow’s orbit.As Ukrainian forces fought back and civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Select Committee of Parliament to Identify Appropriate Reforms of the Election Laws and the Electoral System and to Recommend Necessary Amendments has concluded that the Provincial Council Elections need to take place as per the old method until a new electoral system is created.The Office of the Leader of the House of Parliament in a statement said that the committee had agreed to accept the selection of 60% of the representatives under the first past the post and 40% under the proportional system and draft its report.The Select Committee of Parliament agreed to identify and make the necessary amendments to the electoral system, voting system, and laws.They have agreed in principle to recommend introducing two additional seats for the winning party or group to allow them to gain the majority in local government bodies.

The latest as of 12:20 a.m. ET Friday:

New satellite images are providing a clear view of the damage Ukrainian military infrastructure has already suffered after Russia’s military invaded the country on Thursday.

PLYMOUTH, Pa. - A community is shaken after gravestones and monuments in three different Montgomery County cemeteries were vandalized with hateful symbols. Saint Mary's Polish-American Society shared over a dozen pictures on Facebook of desecrated tombstones in St. Benedict and Old St.

PHILADELPHIA - Members of Philadelphia's Ukrainian community gathered Thursday to rally for peace as Russia's invasion of their homeland continued for a second day. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraine’s government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.Members of the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Northeast Philadelphia gathered for a special night of prayer. "It's kind of like this state of not knowing what to do next," Pastor Denis Sichkar said.

Alberta’s 2022 budget has more money for the health-care system to support a growing and aging population.

KYIV, Ukraine - Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Friday as Russian forces pressed on with a full-scale invasion that resulted in the deaths of more than 100 Ukrainians in the first full day of fighting and could eventually rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.After using airstrikes on cities and military bases, Russian military units moved swiftly to take on Ukraine's seat of government and its largest city in what U.S. officials suspect is a brazen attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to dismantle the government and replace it with his own regime.Ukrainian leaders pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, and hotels in Kyiv were being evacuated amid early indications of an assault.Ukrainian forces braced for more attacks after enduring for hours a Russian barrage of land- and sea-based missiles, an assault that one senior U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s Indian visit has been postponed again.Basil Rajapaksa was to fly to India to wrap up credit lines worth a billion US dollars, that would be used for essential goods and medicines.“We are ready to enter into several agreements with India for financial facilities worth a billion US dollars,” State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told the Parliament.Sri Lankan Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said personally he has no issue with discussing matters on approaching the International Monetary Fund and other agencies.However, he said the decision on such a matter should be taken by the Finance Minister and the Central Bank.

KYIV, Ukraine - Several explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Friday as Russian forces pressed on with their assault.Associated Press reporters heard several blasts in different parts of the city.Earlier on Thursday, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraine’s government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.Scores of Ukrainians, civilians and service members alike, were killed in the first full day of fighting, and the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv appeared to be increasingly threatened.

A person fills out an unemployment benefits application. WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits fell to a 52-year low after another decline in jobless aid applications last week.Jobless claims fell by 17,000, from 249,000 to 232,000 for the week ending Feb.

COVID-19 continues to slowly decline.On Thursday, there were 1,357 people hospitalized with COVID-19 across the province, a slight drop from 1,373 patients on Wednesday. Of those in hospital, 92 are being treated in intensive care.

PHILADELPHIA - While the sovereign and free democratic country of Ukraine now faces an invasion from a world superpower, a Ukrainian father is praying for the safety of his daughter and mother."My daughter, my little daughter in Kyiv is with her mom, they spent all the day in the subway in the underground because there was alarm sounds all day," Yevhen Semekhin said.Semekhin’s family is trying to escape the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and meet in Western Ukraine, but so are many other frightened Ukrainians."They are in their car but there are a lot of cars in Kyiv. There is no gasoline at gas stations people with money go to the gas stations.

WASHINGTON - The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday will announce a change to the metrics it uses to determine whether to recommend face coverings, shifting from looking at COVID-19 case counts to a more holistic view of risk from the coronavirus to a community. Under current guidelines, masks are recommended for people residing in communities of substantial or high transmission — roughly 95% of U.S.

As the pandemic presses further into its third year, US officials are working on overhauling the nation's strategy, and international officials are for the first time seeing COVAX vaccine supply exceed demand, casting a spotlight on the need to solve rollout problems in Africa.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr.

Two men are facing federal charges after prosecutors said they were shot by a Lyft driver during an attempted carjacking. PHILADELPHIA - Federal prosecutors on Thursday brought charges against two suspected carjackers who were both shot by a Lyft driver when they tried to steal his car at gunpoint in West Philadelphia.United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said Alex Fernandez-Pena, 32, and Juan Jose Rodriguez, 20, are facing charges of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to investigators, on Jan.

KYIV, Ukraine - A presidential adviser says Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, where Ukrainian forces had waged a fierce battle with Russian troops.Adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press that Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster."After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe," he said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced several hours earlier Thursday that Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.SEE ALSO: Russia invades Ukraine as Putin threatens 'consequences you’ve never seen' if West intervenesA nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, exploded in April 1986, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe.The exploded reactor was covered by a protective shelter several years ago to prevent radiation leaks.A Ukrainian official said Russian shelling hit a radioactive waste repository and an increase in radiation levels was reported.