Paramount halts ‘Mission: Impossible’ shoot over new virus

CEBL disputes cancellation being a black eye for league

One day after the first game of its nationally televised inaugural championship series was cancelled owing to unsafe court conditions, the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s president and CEO refuted the idea that the circumstances are a black eye on the league.

Ty Mazereeuw stood by the league’s decision to allow Wednesday night’s Game 1 of the CEBL Finals between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Brampton Honey Badgers to go forward at the CAA Centre in Southern Ontario, even though it was kiboshed before the contest was two minutes old due to condensation on the court.

The bizarre and abrupt ending to what was supposed to be a best-of-three series came nine days after a bench-clearing brawl broke out in the regular-season finale between Brampton and the Scarborough Shooting Stars, which led to five players being suspended and six players fined — another situation in which the league was criticized for its handling.

“I would just say (I’m not) sure I fully buy that the league has fallen flat. I think what we’ve seen is a couple of significant situations that have been amplified, whether it was through a celebrity, or in a case like (Wednesday) night when you have more people than we’ve ever had in Brampton, and it happens to be Game 1 of the Finals, and that situation happens — wish it could have been in the regular season — everything is just amplified. And because those two things have happened in a short period of time, I think it’s magnified for sure, and especially amongst our most passionate fans, and it invites conversation,” Mazereeuw told the Free Press Thursday.

Paramount halts 'Mission: Impossible' shoot over new virus

NEW YORK - Paramount Pictures on Monday halted production on the seventh “Mission: Impossible” film due to the new virus, as Hollywood began to more drastically adapt to the growing global outbreak.

“Mission: Impossible 7" had been scheduled to shoot for three weeks in Venice. More than 200 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Italy, the largest number outside Asia. While most of those cases are in the neighbouring Lombardy region, authorities said three people in Venice have tested positive for the virus.

In a statement, Paramount cited the Venetian government's halting of public gatherings, and said it was cancelling the shoot “out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew."

Paramount also on Monday postponed the Chinese release of “Sonic the Hedgehog,” which had been set for Friday. Cinemas in China have been shuttered due to the outbreak, closing down the world's second largest box-office market.

Slaying 19-year-old ‘caring soul’ during drug binge worth 11 years, judge rules

Jordan Belyk may have been in the grip of a drug-induced psychosis when he stabbed 19-year-old stranger Brittany Bung to death, but he knew full well his drug binge could have tragic consequences, a judge said Tuesday before sentencing him to 11 years in prison.

“There is no question this offence was shocking in its violence,” said Queen’s Bench Justice Joan McKelvey. “A significant sentence is appropriate in order to have denunciatory and deterrent effects on those who voluntarily intoxicate themselves with mind-altering drugs.

“Mr. Belyk was aware of the effect such drugs had on his life and indeed recognizes that he may continue to struggle with substance abuse once he returns to the community,” McKelvey said.

McKelvey credited Belyk for time served since the Oct. 3, 2017 killing, reducing his remaining sentence to just under six years.

Salvation Army trio focuses on others' well-being during frigid overnight shift in pandemic

The night begins with a prayer, an incantation from the lips of three faithful members of the flock, standing in dim light with clasped hands as they implore God to direct them where help is needed most.