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The ‘parental rights’ debate, and the fight over the notwithstanding clause

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, over the next few months, we’re likely to find out how well Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms actually protects marginalized groups. A divisive policy enacted in Saskatchewan would require students to obtain parental consent before using a different name or pronouns at school. Advocates say the policy will out transgender kids in potentially dangerous homes.A challenge to the policy is currently before the courts, but rather than wait for an answer, Premier Scott Moe plans to use the “nuclear option” — the notwithstanding clause — to push the policy through.Charlotte Dalwood is a freelance journalist specializing in legal issues and she wrote about the notwithstanding clause in Xtra magazine“[Premier Scott Moe] knows that this policy is contrary to Canadian’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And so what he wants to do is use the notwithstanding clause in order to trample on those rights and to sidestep...

Amnesty International asks Pakistan to keep hosting Afghans as their expulsion may put them at risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Amnesty International on Thursday urged Pakistan to maintain its support for Afghan refugees by enabling them to live with dignity and be free from the fear of deportation to Afghanistan where they face persecution by the Taliban.A forced return of refugees to Afghanistan could put them at a “grave risk,” Amnesty said in a statement, though Pakistan says its ongoing operations against irregular immigration weren’t specific to Afghans.“Afghans in Pakistan are fleeing persecution by the Taliban,” said Nadia Rahman, Amnesty’s regional deputy director for research in South Asia. “They are living incredibly precarious lives where they are either having to undergo arduous processes for registering as refugees in Pakistan, or are stuck in lengthy processes waiting to obtain relocation to another country.”The appeal by Amnesty came two days after Pakistan announced a major crackdown on migrants who are in the country illegally — many of whom are from Afghanistan...

Russia launches more drone attacks in Ukraine as Zelenskyy attends a European forum in Spain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia targeted Ukraine with drones in another major attack early Thursday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Spain to rally support from Western allies at a summit of around 50 European leaders.Ukraine’s air force said that the country’s air defenses intercepted 24 out of 29 Iranian-made drones that Russia launched at the southern Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions.Andriy Raykovych, head of the Kirovohrad regional administration, said that an infrastructure facility in the region was struck and emergency services were deployed to extinguish a fire. He said there were no casualties.The attack came as Zelenskyy arrived in Granada in southern Spain to attend a summit of the European Political Community, which was formed in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.“The key for us, especially before winter, is to strengthen air defense, and there is already a basis for new agreements with partners,” he said...

Pickup truck crashes into ditch near train tracks in Pickering

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

One person is in hospital after a pickup truck crashed near the train tracks in Pickering on Thursday morning.Durham Regional Police officers responded to the area of Bayly Street and Whites Road just before 6:30 a.m.Paramedics transported a male to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.CityNews flew over the scene of the crash and spotted a pickup truck that crashed into the ditch next to the tracks.Police say the vehicle did not come into contact with any trains but ended up being close to the rail line.Police say it appears the driver of the pickup truck suffered a medical episode.The crash led to GO train delays on the Lakeshore East line.Police also say it may be some time before the vehicle is removed from the area, but the crash is no longer impacting train service.A pickup truck crashed near the train tracks in the area of Bayly Street and Whites Road in Pickering on Oct. 5, 2023. CITYNEWS

Tropical Storm Philippe chugs toward Bermuda on a path to Atlantic Canada and New England

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Philippe aimed for Bermuda on Thursday on a path that would eventually take it to Atlantic Canada and eastern New England.The storm was located 520 miles (835 kilometers) south of Bermuda on Thursday morning. It had winds of up to 45 mph (75 kph) and was moving north at 10 mph (17 kph).A tropical storm warning was in effect for Bermuda, with forecasters warning of heavy rainfall starting Thursday evening.Philippe’s center is expected to pass near Bermuda on Friday and then approach eastern New England and Atlantic Canada on Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone.Philippe is a large storm, with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 230 miles (370 kilometers) from its center.Philippe made landfall in Barbuda late Monday and downed trees and power lines on several islands in the northeast Caribbean, forcing closures of schools, businesses and government offices. The U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday reported major power outages on St. T...

Concert featuring Martha Argerich opens 2nd international Chopin competition on period instruments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A gala concert featuring Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich will open the 2nd Chopin Competition on Period Instruments in Warsaw on Thursday. Launched in 2018, the competition is intended to promote historically informed performance of 19th century piano music, chiefly by Polish composer Frederic Chopin.Just like the century-old International Chopin Piano Competition, it is meant to promote music talents and help launch international careers, and 35 young pianists are taking part.The competition begins Friday with a performance by Derek Wang of the United States. Contestants come also from Japan, China, Italy, Poland, South Korea, Russia, Australia and some other European countries.They will be playing on original 19th-century instruments or on replicas. The winner is to be announced Oct. 14. The opening concert Thursday also features Tomasz Ritter, winner of the contest’s first edition. Chopin was born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola near Warsaw to a Polish mother a...

17-year-old boy shot and killed in Round Lake Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. -- A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed in Round Lake Wednesday night, police said.According to police, officers were searching for a phone that dialed 911said around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday night and located a car at a gas station near the area of Cedar Lake and Rollins Road that appeared to be damaged by gunfire.The 17-year-old boy was found with gunshot wounds and he transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was pronounced dead. Englewood woman sexually assaulted at gunpoint during home invasion Further police investigation revealed that the boy was a passenger in the vehicle with two others in the car. Police believe the individuals stopped to meet someone near Midland Drive and Sycamore Drive in Round Lake when they were then approached by a person on foot and shots were fired.After the incident, both the person who fired shots and the vehicle fled. The driver drove to the gas station and officers located the vehicle. There i...

Dunkin' unveils 6-foot inflatable spider donut just in time for spooky season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It's nearing spooky season, and Dunkin' is getting into the spirit by unveiling a 6-foot inflatable version of its seasonal Spider Donut treat.Dunkin's new Halloween-themed lawn decoration is currently for sale at ShopDunkin.com. But those who want to showcase their love of Halloween and donuts will have to shell out some serious dough: The inflatable spider donut will set you back $99.99.“Every October, we watch our guests celebrate the spooky season with Spider Donuts in hand," said Kemma Kefalas, Dunkin's director of brand engagement. "This year, we wanted to create a new and out-of-the-donut-box way for Spider Donut super fans to showcase their love for the season with this inflatable masterpiece," said Kemma Kefalas, Director of Brand Engagement at Dunkin’. The original ‘Dunkin’ Donut’ used to have a handle for dunking The edible version of the spider donut, meanwhile, is scheduled to arrive at Dunkin' locations nationwide on Oct. 11.The 6-foot spider don...

Trump chides Biden over move to build border wall: 'I will await his apology'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Donald Trump chided President Joe Biden over his recent move to allow border wall construction in South Texas, saying he will "await" the incumbent's apology. "Will Joe Biden apologize to me and America for taking so long to get moving, and allowing our country to be flooded with 15 million illegals immigrants, from places unknown," Trump wrote Thursday in a Truth Social post. "I will await his apology!"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Wednesday it will waive 26 federal laws to allow border wall construction in Starr County, Texas, which is experiencing "high illegal entry." The move is the administration's first use of an executive power often used by Trump to fund projects along the southern border. "So interesting to watch Crooked Joe Biden break every environmental law in the book to prove that I was right when I built 560 miles (they incorrectly state 450 in story!) of brand new, beautiful border wall," Trump wrote. "As I have s...

Biden administration waiving 26 federal laws to allow border wall construction in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:40 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Biden administration announced Wednesday that 26 federal laws were waived to allow border wall construction in Texas, marking the administration's first use of an executive power often used by former President Donald Trump to fund projects along the southern border. The waived laws will help expedite the construction of barriers and roads in Starr County, Texas, which is experiencing "high illegal entry," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement posted to the U.S. Federal Registry. The U.S. Border Patrol saw more than 245,000 people in the last fiscal year try to enter the United States in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, the DHS said, citing data from August.“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement. Some of the wa...