Global National: Jan. 19

Data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) shows influenza and COVID-19 cases are decreasing across the country. While the numbers are encouraging, doctors say it’s important not to let your guard down. In Toronto, a mother accused of murdering her severely disabled daughter, has been cleared on all charges. Cindy Ali was previously sentenced to life in prison for the death of the 16-year-old, in what the Crown described as a “mercy killing.” Ali spent more than a decade fighting to clear her name. Over in France, President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to boost the country’s birth rate is sparking outrage. Touria Izri reports on the concerns and consequences of Canada’s plummeting birth rate. After a chilly start to 2024, Canada is learning how many homeowners are taking advantage of Ottawa’s recent “oil-to-heat-pump” program. Some advocates say Ottawa needs to provide better options for Canadians looking to cash in. Also, construction on a new electric vehicle battery plant in Quebec shut down temporarily on Friday. Plus, Japan became the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon on Friday. And as Jackson Proskow reports, Japan believes the technology it utilized will be a powerful tool in future interplanetary exploration. And finally, as the two-year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, protective gear worn by Ukrainian soldiers is getting a second life.