24News.ca

Thousands of people are converging in downtown Ottawa to celebrate Canada's 155th birthday, while police and city officials braced for possible protests against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions. It's the first in-person Canada Day in Ottawa in three years, after COVID-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of events in 2020 and 2021. Source

Lorraine M. Wright was completely stunned when she got the call recognizing her as a member of the Order of Canada. "I don't drink coffee, but my hands were actually trembling when they told me the news," she toldThe Currentguest host Nahlah Ayed. Source

BERLIN - Germany and Nigeria are set to sign an agreement in Berlin Friday paving the way for the return of centuries-old sculptures known as the Benin Bronzes that were taken from Africa in the 19th century and displayed in German museums and elsewhere. Source

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. - For the second time in three days, a visitor to Yellowstone National Park was gored by a bison, park officials said Thursday. A 71-year-old woman from West Chester, Pennsylvania and her daughter inadvertently approached the bison Wednesday as they were returning to their vehicle at a Yellowstone Lake trailhead. Source

PARIS - A European military task force that helped Mali's government fight Islamic extremists has formally withdrawn from the West African country amid tensions with its ruling military junta. The French military, which spearheaded the Takuba task force, announced Friday that it officially ended its work Thursday. Source

Chinese President Xi Jinping marked the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return with a speech Friday that emphasized Beijing's control over the former British colony under its vision of "one country, two systems," countering criticism the freedoms promised for the next quarter-century have been largely erased under Chinese rule. Source

AMSTERDAM - The Dutch central bank (DNB) on Friday apologized for its role in the 19th century slave trade and said it would fund projects to raise awareness of slavery and to mitigate the effects it still has on people. Source

Ottawa - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on Canadians to recommit to the country’s values, including respect, hope and kindness, in his official Canada Day message. The prime minister said the national holiday is an opportunity to commit to the values that the Maple Leaf represents, adding that the flag is more than a symbol. Source

RIO DE JANEIRO - When the Archbishop of the Brazilian city of Manaus Leonardo Steiner kneels before Pope Francis on Aug. 27, the Brazilian clergyman will make history as the first cardinal to come from the Amazon region. Source

Canada Day usually arrives in an explosion of red and white, with citizens and newcomers waving this nation's flag to celebrate. But months after the ‘Freedom Convoy’ forced downtown Ottawa to a standstill, with Canadian flags billowing from trucks and prominently displayed in protest crowds, some Canadians are reconsidering what the flag means to them. Source