Canadian truck blockade, Beijing Olympics, Palin vs. NY Times: 5 things to know Friday
Canadian truck blockade continues to affect the auto industry on both sides of the border
The Biden administration urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government Thursday to use its federal powers to end the truck blockade by Canadians protesting the country's COVID-19 restrictions. For the fourth consecutive day, scores of truckers taking part in what they dubbed the "Freedom Convoy" blocked the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor in Ontario to Detroit, disrupting the flow of auto parts and other products between the two nations. Honda will temporarily stop production on one assembly line during the day shift Friday at its plant in Alliston, Ontario. On the U.S. side, GM sent the first shift home two hours early Thursday at its Flint, Michigan, pickup truck plant due to parts shortages. Stellantis cut short the first shift Friday at its Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, due to parts shortages. The Anderson Economic Group in Lansing, Michigan, calculated an initial estimate for lost direct wages in the Michigan auto industry due to the protest at more than $51 million.
- Warning in DHS memo: Truckers convoy in US could disrupt Super Bowl, Joe Biden's State of the Union
- Fact check: No evidence Canadian prime minister fled country amid trucker protests
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Team USA takes on Canada in men's hockey
A rivalry is renewed on Olympic ice Friday, when the U.S. men's hockey team faces Canada in Beijing. Team USA is coming off a dominant 8-0 victory over China in its first preliminary round game. On the other side, Canada cruised to a 5-1 victory over Germany in its opening game at the Beijing Olympics. In the past, Canada and the USA faced each other twice in the gold medal game (2002, 2010) when teams were able to use NHL players. Earlier Friday, American Shaun White completed his legendary snowboarding career on his own terms, flying down the halfpipe. But his final event did not result in his fourth gold medal as he finished fourth in the event. Another of Team USA's biggest stars, Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, returned to action after failing to finish her first two races. Shiffrin had a clean run in the women's super-G, but she finished out of medal contention. Also, in women's hockey, Team USA advanced to the semifinals, defeating the Czech Republic after pulling away in the third period.
- Bidding farewell: Shaun White gives tearful interview after final snowboarding competition of his career
- Katie Uhlaender lost a medal to Russian doping. She isn't sure much has improved since
- Follow the chase for gold: Sign up now for the Olympics newsletter for updates sent to your inbox!
- Get exclusive Olympics updates on your phone: Get behind-the-scenes access to the Winter Olympics
Closing arguments set in defamation trial pitting Palin vs. New York Times
Closing arguments in the defamation trial of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin brought against the New York Times are set for Friday in a New York City federal court. Palin took to the witness stand for a second consecutive day Thursday and told a jury she felt like she was at the mercy of a "Goliath" when she first learned a 2017 New York Times editorial suggested her campaign rhetoric helped incite a mass shooting in Arizona. Palin used her second day on the witness stand to accuse the Times of deliberately fabricating lies that hurt her reputation — the basis of a lawsuit accusing the newspaper of libel that has resulted in a trial. The jury will have to decide whether former editorial page editor James Bennet acted with "actual malice," meaning he knew what he wrote was false, or with "reckless disregard" for the truth when he inserted the disputed wording into the piece. A contrite Bennet testified Wednesday that he botched the edit, but meant no harm.
- Previous coverage: Sarah Palin's positive COVID tests delayed the defamation trial against the New York Times
- New revelation: Palin felt uncomfortable after 2010 meeting with Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, book reveals
- What happened this week? Test your knowledge with our news quiz
UK to ease COVID travel restrictions
The United Kingdom is easing travel restrictions for travelers both vaccinated and unvaccinated against COVID-19 again. Starting Friday, fully vaccinated travelers and children under age 18 can skip testing, the British Department of Transport and Department of Health and Social Care announced. Travelers who aren't fully vaccinated still need to test, before leaving for the U.K. and within two days of arrival, but they won't have to self-isolate unless they test positive for COVID-19. All travelers will need to fill out a simplified passenger locator form with contact information, travel history and vaccination status.
- Which EU countries are open to US tourists?: A breakdown of European travel restrictions by country
- Going south? Here are the travel restrictions across Central and South America due to COVID-19
Looking for mystery or romance? These new movies may be for you
This weekend brings a bunch of new cinematic love stories for Valentine's Day, from a wedding party gone murderously awry to Jennifer Lopez falling in love with Owen Wilson on the big screen. Kenneth Branagh captains a starry new adaptation of Agatha Christie's murder mystery, "Death on the Nile," which features Gal Gadot and Annette Bening. On the more comedic end, Lopez and Wilson tie the knot in a romantic comedy about a pop singer and her unexpected beau in "Marry Me," which will also be streaming on Peacock. Sticking to streaming and romantic comedies, Charlie Day and Jenny Slate help each other win back their exes in a new Amazon Prime movie, "I want you back."
- The 10 most must-see movies of 2022, from 'The Batman' to 'Top Gun: Maverick'
- Review: Kenneth Branagh's epic mustache can't hide stale mystery, bad optics of 'Death on the Nile'
Contributing: The Associated Press