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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri judge on Monday upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, allowing the state to continue prohibiting treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers for people under 18. Circuit Court Judge Robert Craig Carter from southern Douglas County wrote in a 74-page order on Monday that the ban was constitutional. The ruling rejects a lawsuit brought on behalf of families of trans youth, medical providers and national LGBTQ advocacy organizations. In addition to ruling that the ban was constitutional, Carter went a step further, finding that there was “an almost total lack of consensus as to the medical ethics” of treating adolescent gender dysphoria, which is typically defined as the feeling of distress when a person’s gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth. “The evidence at trial showed severe disagreement as to whether adolescent gender dysphoria drug and surgical treatment was ethical at all, and if so, what amount of treatment was ethically allowable,” Carter wrote in the order. Carter’s ruling comes after a nine-day trial that concluded in Jefferson City last month. The trial and lawsuit centered on a law that the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed and Gov. Mike Parson signed into law in 2023. The law, which took effect in August 2023, bans gender transition surgeries on minors and imposes a three-year moratorium on hormone therapy and puberty blockers unless the patients were already receiving the medications. The legislation also affects adults, prohibiting Missouri Medicaid dollars from covering gender-affirming care and bans prisons and jails from providing gender-affirming surgeries. The ban was part of a nationwide push to regulate the lives of transgender people and has sparked fear in Missouri’s transgender community, prompting some to leave the state. The Kansas City-area was at the center of the fight, with transgender residents straddling two states that sought to restrict their rights. The ACLU of Missouri and the national LGBTQ civil rights law firm Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, sharply criticized the ruling in a joint statement. The two groups said they planned to appeal. “The court’s findings signal a troubling acceptance of discrimination, ignore an extensive trial record and the voices of transgender Missourians and those who care for them, and deny transgender adolescents and Medicaid beneficiaries from their right to access to evidence-based, effective, and often life-saving medical care,” the groups said in the statement. The lawsuit alleged the ban violated the Missouri Constitution by discriminating against trans patients on the basis of sex and their trans status, and deprives parents of a fundamental right to seek medical care for their children. The law also forces medical providers to choose between abandoning their patients or keeping their medical licenses, according to the suit. Carter disagreed, upholding the law on all counts, according to his order. Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office defended the law in court. The ban came after Bailey had previously attempted to severely restrict gender-affirming care by issuing a regulation, leading even some Republicans to question its legality. He eventually abandoned that effort after lawmakers approved the ban. Bailey and other Republicans have regularly framed restrictions on gender-affirming care as necessary to protect children, an argument Bailey reiterated after Monday’s ruling. “Mutilation is not healthcare,” Bailey wrote on social media on Monday. “We will never stop fighting to protect your children.” Bailey’s office put out a release later in the day, saying he was proud of the work his office put in to “shine a light on the lack of evidence supporting these irreversible procedures.” “We will never stop fighting to ensure Missouri is the safest state in the nation for children,” Bailey said.Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk , an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today’s edition, senior politics reporter Alex Seitz-Wald breaks down the long-standing Democratic truisms that were challenged by the results of the 2024 elections. Plus, special counsel Jack Smith filed to drop all federal charges against Donald Trump in the election interference and classified documents cases. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. 5 Democratic assumptions shattered by the 2024 election By Alex Seitz-Wald Democrats have been eager to draw tactical lessons from their second loss to Donald Trump, but they’ve so far been more reluctant to reconsider some of the fundamental assumptions about the broader political landscape that has guided their strategy. The party has been slow to update its mythology to the Trump-era political realignment , leading many Democrats to continue leaning on truisms that may no longer be true. As the final votes are still being counted, it will take some time for the full story of the election to become clear. But exit polls and results from key areas around the country have already revealed new realities that Democrats will need to adjust to as they rebuild for the future. Here are five of the party’s core assumptions that have been challenged by the 2024 election outcome: 1. Higher turnout benefits Democrats: Democrats have long taken for granted a simple truism: The more people who vote, the better for Democrats. That may have been true once — though that is also unclear — and it’s a feel-good story for a party that aligns itself with democracy. But in the Trump era, Democrats have become the party of more reliable voters (college-educated, higher-income and older voters), while Republicans often stand to gain by turning out low-propensity voters (non-college-educated and blue-collar voters) who are mostly apolitical but like Trump. That dynamic helps why Democrats have performed better in recent midterm, off-year and special elections and why polls have consistently underestimated Trump’s support. Non-presidential elections have lower turnout, so the edge often goes to the party with the most reliable voters, which until recently was typically Republicans. 2. Democrats are the party of the working class: For more than a century, Democrats have viewed themselves as the party of workers and the GOP as the party of the bosses. Strongly aligned with labor unions, Democrats have supported welfare programs and populist economic politics like higher taxes on the wealthy. In 2024, Democrats lost the working class by the two most common measures — income and education levels. NBC News exit polls show Trump won voters without college degrees 56%-42%, while he narrowly won voters with family incomes of $30,000 to $100,000 annually. Kamala Harris won voters with annual incomes over $200,000. That’s a reversal from the previous elections. Even as she lost the 2016 election to Trump, Hillary Clinton still won low-income voters by double-digit margins and kept the education gap close, while Barack Obama easily won non-college-educated voters in 2012, according to NBC News exit polls. 3. Trump can’t expand his base: This is one reason why some Democrats viewed Trump as beatable, especially after his 2020 defeat. But on his third run for the White House, Trump expanded his base of support into major cities , onto Native American reservations and into heavily Latino communities. He gained ground in battleground state cities like Philadelphia and Detroit , while improving his performance in even famously liberal areas like Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles County and Chicago’s Cook County. And he regained ground in affluent suburbs that had drifted away from the GOP in recent years, such as Loudoun County, Virginia. 4. Latinos and immigrants will vote against restrictive immigration policies: Democrats have based their Latino outreach and immigration policies around this implicitly accepted assumption. But Trump had the best-ever performance for a Republican presidential candidate among Latinos, according to NBC News exit polls, outright winning Latino men, while increasing support among Asian Americans and in immigrant communities from Dearborn, Michigan to Lawrence, Massachusetts . Trump nearly swept the heavily Latino counties in Texas along the border with Mexico, several of which have voted Democratic for generations. And the only Manhattan precinct to go for a Republican presidential candidate this decade is an apartment complex that’s home mainly to Chinese immigrants. 5. The Electoral College is biased against Democrats: Until this month, both Republicans elected president in the 21st Century lost the popular vote, leading many Democrats to conclude the Electoral College is structurally biased against them. The idea has some merit, as big blue states like California and New York are unrepresented relative to low-population red ones like Wyoming. But Trump won both the Electoral College and popular vote this year as Harris’ performance fell in those Democratic bastions. Jack Smith files to drop all federal charges against Trump By Ryan J. Reilly and Ken Dilanian Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday filed motions to drop all federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump regarding his mishandling of classified documents and his effort to overturn his 2020 presidential election in the lead-up to the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S Capitol. Hours later, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted Smith’s motion to dismiss the Jan. 6-related indictment, formally bringing to an end the case that alleged Trump unlawfully conspired to overturn his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden. Trump was indicted in June 2023 in a federal court in Miami on 37 felony counts related to mishandling classified documents that he took from the White House to his Florida home. They included willful retention of national defense information, making false statements, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. A Florida judge dismissed the case, but Smith’s office had sought an appeal. Trump was separately indicted on four felonies in August 2023 for his attempt to reverse the 2020 election results: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. Trump has claimed that the prosecutions were politically motivated. He has never publicly conceded that his election claims were, in fact, false, and he pleaded not guilty in both federal cases. The federal indictments of Trump were an extraordinary moment in American history — the first-ever accusation that a president had illegally sought to cling to power, mishandled classified information and attempted to obstruct a federal investigation. Their dismissal is also a historic moment. Fifty years after lawmakers from both parties forced Richard Nixon to resign the presidency amid allegations of criminal conduct in office, half of American voters chose to return Trump to the presidency. Trump’s election means that the Justice Department’s longstanding position that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime will apply to him after he takes office on Jan. 20. Read more → That’s all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if you’re a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here .
Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents
Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” World leaders have paid tribute to Mr Carter, including US President Joe Biden, who was one of the first politicians to endorse Mr Carter for president in 1976 and said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.” Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Carter was “a principled man who dedicated his life to seeking to advance the cause of peace across the world”. He added: “On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my sympathies to President Carter’s children and extended family, to President Joe Biden, to the people of the United States, and to his wide circle of colleagues and friends across the globe.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally, the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center managed to virtually eliminate Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.Mother orca and her children make 'grocery shopping' trip near downtown Vancouver
The ‘Queen Never Cry’ meme has all the babes locked inCanada's immigration minister says he plans to propose measures to reform the country's refugee system, potentially fast-tracking refusals of cases deemed to have little chance of succeeding. Experts and advocates warned that could violate asylum-seekers' right to due process and could be challenged in court. "I plan to put forward more measures. I want to reform the system. It's not working in the way it should," Immigration Minister Marc Miller told a parliamentary committee on Monday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been changing his government's welcoming stance on migrants, pledging to cut immigration and reduce Canada's population over the next two years as his party trails in polls and Canadians surveyed profess dwindling support for new arrivals. Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent adjudicator of refugee claims, is seeing claims from "people having increasingly fewer hopes to stay in Canada and being counseled to file, I think unjustly, asylum claims where they shouldn't have the ability to do so," Miller added. Canada has seen its highest number of refugee claims ever in recent months. Although the monthly total has dropped to about 17,400 in October from about 20,000 in July, the number of claims pending is the highest ever – at more than 260,000 last month. More than 265,000 non-permanent residents came to Canada in the second quarter of 2024, according to Statistics Canada. Thousands of the refugee claims are from international students filing refugee claims, whose veracity Miller has questioned. The reforms would be aimed in part at preventing people who planned to use their international study as a path to permanence in Canada from filing refugee claims as a last-ditch effort to stay now that new rules have closed off that path. Refugee claims were rising prior to the new rules. "There are an increasing number of international students making asylum claims, I think with very little hope, given their conditions," Miller said. "Are there things we can do to make sure that's more streamlined? I would encourage you to follow the next few weeks as we propose more amendments to the immigration system and the asylum system." Miller did not say what those changes will be. He is "exploring options related to asylum reforms," spokesperson Renee LeBlanc Proctor wrote in an email Tuesday. But fast-tracking refugee refusals would likely meet legal challenges on the grounds that it "short-circuits" procedural fairness, said University of Toronto law professor and Human Rights Chair Audrey Macklin. "You can't say (in effect) 'We think this is a 'bogus' claim so we won't bother with a hearing,'" she wrote in an email Tuesday. Advocates for migrants have argued for better resourcing of the Immigration and Refugee Board so it can process more claims faster, and potentially fast-tracking claims from countries with high acceptance rates because they are more likely to succeed. MORE POLITICS NEWS Should Canada retaliate if Trump makes good on 25 per cent tariff threat? 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'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties. 'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it. Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports. 'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday. Opinion opinion | Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election? opinion | Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus. opinion | Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place. opinion | Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point. opinion | Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing. CTVNews.ca Top Stories Most polls closed in Nova Scotia election; results delayed by an hour Nova Scotians cast their votes Tuesday in a snap provincial election, but they won't learn the outcome until after 9 p.m., due to a delayed opening at a polling station. Paul Bernardo denied parole after victims' families plead he be kept behind bars Notorious killer and rapist Paul Bernardo has been denied parole for a third time after the families of his victims made an emotional plea to the Parole Board of Canada on Tuesday to keep him behind bars. Loonie tanks after Trump threatens tariffs on Canadian goods The Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020 after Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods shipped to the United States once he takes office in January. 'We need to address those issues': Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won't denounce Trump tariff threat Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Canada should address U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's border concerns in the next two months, before he's back in the White House, instead of comparing our situation to Mexico's and arguing the tariff threats are unjustified. 'We would likely go out of business': Canadian business owners sound the alarm over Trump's tariffs Business leaders across Canada are voicing concerns and fear over the widespread impact increased tariffs could have on their companies and workers, with some already looking to boost sales in other markets in the event their products become too expensive to sell to American customers. Biden says Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire will take effect Wednesday morning A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah will take effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday. Longtime member of Edmonton theatre community dies during 'A Christmas Carol' performance Edmonton's theatre community is in mourning after an actor died during a performance of "A Christmas Carol" at the Citadel Theatre on Sunday. Should Canada retaliate if Trump makes good on 25 per cent tariff threat? 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Toronto police charge woman in Taylor Swift ticket scam that cost victims $70,000 A Burlington, Ont. woman who allegedly sold fake tickets to Taylor Swift’s concerts in Toronto and scammed fans out of tens of thousands of dollars is facing charges, police say. Most polls closed in Nova Scotia election; results delayed by an hour Nova Scotians cast their votes Tuesday in a snap provincial election, but they won't learn the outcome until after 9 p.m., due to a delayed opening at a polling station. Police chief says 'extreme left group' behind Montreal protest violence; Legault calls for more arrests Quebec Premier Francois Legault is putting pressure on the Montreal police to arrest everyone involved in an anti-NATO protest that turned violent last week. 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Online auction of confiscated booze features hard-to-find bottles of Kentucky bourbons A new Kentucky law allows alcohol confiscated from closed criminal investigations by the state's alcoholic beverage control agency to be auctioned. Politics Should Canada retaliate if Trump makes good on 25 per cent tariff threat? After U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports on his first day back in the White House unless his border concerns are addressed, there is mixed reaction on whether Canada should retaliate. 'We need to do better': Canadian leaders respond to Trump's border concerns As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatens Canada with major tariffs, sounding alarms over the number of people and drugs illegally crossing into America, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and some premiers say they agree that more could be done. 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British lawmakers vote in favour of strict anti-smoking rules British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday in favour of plans to introduce some of the world's strictest anti-smoking rules, giving the green light for the bill to progress to the next parliamentary stage. Sci-Tech Australia's House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media Australia's House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. They thought they'd found Amelia Earhart's plane. Instead, the search continues The disappearance of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart more than 87 years ago has remained one of the most captivating mysteries in history, with a handful of explorers devoted to scouring the seas for any clue to her final whereabouts. Ancient Egyptians drank a heady mix of alcohol, bodily fluids and hallucinogens during rituals, scientists say Researchers have discovered the residues of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids and alcohol inside a 2,000-year-old mug, suggesting that ancient Egyptians imbibed hallucinogenic beverages during rituals. Entertainment 'No view' tickets for Taylor Swift's Vancouver shows reselling for thousands It appears that Swifties hoping to experience the final dates of the sold-out Eras Tour in December were given another chance Monday. It's almost time for Spotify Wrapped. When can you expect your 2024 recap? It's almost that time of year: Spotify is gearing up to release its annual Wrapped, personalized recaps of users' listening habits and year in audio. 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Bank of Canada says Trump's proposed tariffs would impact both economies The Bank of Canada said on Tuesday that if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his threat of tariffs on Canada, it would have an impact on both economies and the central bank would incorporate those into its economic forecasts. Lifestyle World's oldest man dies aged 112 in England John Tinniswood, an Englishman born the same year the Titanic sank and who survived two world wars and two global pandemics, has died aged 112, Guinness World Records said on Tuesday, months after it recognized him as the world's oldest man. China's hottest new tourist attraction is 5,000 feet in the air The newest of these not-for-the-faint-of-heart structures is called Tianti (“Sky Ladder” in Chinese). It clocks in at 168 metres and stretches between two cliffs at a height of 5,000 feet, according to Chinese state media. 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Toronto Ford says Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods like 'a family member stabbing you right in the heart' Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods proposed by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is akin to 'a family member stabbing you right in the heart.' Serial killer Paul Bernardo denied parole for a third time: Key moments from today's hearing Notorious killer Paul Bernardo has been denied parole for a third time following a hearing before the Parole Board of Canada. Wanted suspect shot at passing vehicles on Highway 401 in Mississauga: OPP Ontario Provincial Police are looking for a man who they say shot at several vehicles on Highway 401 in Mississauga Tuesday morning. Calgary TSB orders more training following incident involving plane in Calgary The Transportation Safety Board says an incident that involved a Westjet plane hitting the runway in Calgary earlier this year was connected to an issue with pilot training on a particular model of aircraft. Alberta takes aim at emissions cap, proposes rules on trespass and data gathering Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is taking steps to challenge the proposed federal greenhouse gas emissions cap. 'We are a weak link': Canada's border security under the microscope following Trump tariff threat Canada’s border security has been thrust into the spotlight after president-elect Donald Trump threatened the country with a 25 per cent tariff on all goods, including energy coming into the U.S. Ottawa 'It's insulting:' Ontario premier slams Trump on Canadian tariff threat Ontario Premier Doug Ford is reacting to a threat from incoming U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, calling the proposal ‘insulting’ and emphasizing the need for leaders to work together on a response. O-Train Line 2 and 4 opening pushed into December at the earliest The head of Ottawa's transit service says we will learn more about the launch of O-Train Line 2 and 4 next week, as the north-south light rail line remains closed to passengers. Questions regarding photo radar tickets in Ottawa amid postal workers' strike As the ongoing Canada Post workers' strike continues to shut down mail delivery, there are questions about those photo radar tickets issued on Ottawa streets and what it means for speeders. Montreal Cinemas Guzzo closing West Island theatre amid major financial troubles Cinemas Guzzo owner and reality TV star Vincenzo (Vince) Guzzo said he will close the Cinema Des Sources location as he faces financial trouble and fights to save his business. 'Broken lives and families': former members of Quebec religious community speak out Several former members of fringe religious community the Mission de L’Esprit Saint are urging the Quebec government to intervene following claims that it was a cult that brainwashed some members. Their stories are being told in a new documentary by Noovo Info. Man, 26, extradited from France to charges in deadly 2023 beating outside Orange Julep Montreal police say a man has been arrested in France and extradited to Canada to face charges in connection with a deadly assault outside the city's Orange Julep restaurant in May 2023. Edmonton Alberta takes aim at emissions cap, proposes rules on trespass and data gathering Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is taking steps to challenge the proposed federal greenhouse gas emissions cap. Edmonton police officer charged with assault An Edmonton police officer has been charged with assault. NHL shot success has much to do with luck and circumstances, Oilers coach says Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have feasted on National Hockey League goaltending in recent years. At the beginning of this NHL campaign, however, the top-six Edmonton Oilers forwards are weathering puck-luck famines. Atlantic Most polls closed in Nova Scotia election; results delayed by an hour Nova Scotians cast their votes Tuesday in a snap provincial election, but they won't learn the outcome until after 9 p.m., due to a delayed opening at a polling station. 'Human error' and high traffic cause snafus on election day in Nova Scotia Tuesday was election day in Nova Scotia, but not everything went according to plan. Elections Nova Scotia says “human error” is to blame for a delayed opening at one polling station and high traffic caused its website to crash. N.S. lobster buyer calls for heightened policing after shot fired into Meteghan home A lobster buyer in Meteghan, N.S., is looking for increased policing and a community-wide push aimed at organized crime after a bullet was fired into his home on Saturday night. Winnipeg Premier Kinew says Trump's tariffs would cause a recession in Manitoba Tariffs on Canadian goods headed to the United States would mean a recession in Manitoba. That is how Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew feels about comments from president-elect Donald Trump Monday. Portage la Prairie Mall closing after 45 years A beloved retail staple in Portage la Prairie, Man., is shutting its doors at the end of the year. 'They're scared to come to work': Winnipeg transit union calls for more safety measures amid rise in violence A string of recent violent attacks against operators and passengers has prompted the union to sound the alarm. Regina Charged dropped against ex Regina high school teacher accused of sexual exploitation of student A former Regina high school teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female student was acquitted on Tuesday of all five charges he faced, Regina’s Court of King’s Bench confirmed to CTV News. Affordability and tariffs dominate talk as legislature resumes in Saskatchewan Day two of an exceptionally short fall sitting of the Saskatchewan legislature has now wrapped. An opposition motion to cut the provincial gas tax was struck down while the government faced criticism on more than half a dozen portfolios. SJHL game postponed in Weyburn over ammonia leak A hockey game scheduled between the Yorkton Terriers and Weyburn Red Wings has been postponed due to a "mechanical issue." Kitchener Guelph man guilty in hit-and-run crash that killed cyclist A Guelph man has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in the death of a cyclist and community advocate. Waterloo, Ont. tech company Sandvine granted court order to explore refinancing, sale, investment opportunities A Waterloo, Ont.-based tech company is fighting for its life and that fight has now made its way to courtrooms in both Canada and the U.S. Paul Bernardo denied parole after victims' families plead he be kept behind bars Notorious killer and rapist Paul Bernardo has been denied parole for a third time after the families of his victims made an emotional plea to the Parole Board of Canada on Tuesday to keep him behind bars. Saskatoon Saskatoon man hospitalized after he was allegedly stabbed in the forehead A man has been taken to hospital after he was allegedly stabbed in the forehead early on Tuesday. The Riche stuff: Off-season addition enjoying early success with Saskatoon Blades The Saskatoon Blades were back in action Tuesday after a rare day off due to the snow Monday. Affordability and tariffs dominate talk as legislature resumes in Saskatchewan Day two of an exceptionally short fall sitting of the Saskatchewan legislature has now wrapped. An opposition motion to cut the provincial gas tax was struck down while the government faced criticism on more than half a dozen portfolios. Northern Ontario Police seize $1M in drugs in northwestern Ont. bust Suspects from Alberta and B.C. are in custody after Ontario Provincial Police made a massive drug bust at a rental unit near Kenora, Ont. Sudbury resident scammed out of $20K, suspect from southern Ont. charged A 21-year-old from southern Ontario has been charged with several offences after a victim from Greater Sudbury was tricked into giving him $20,000. Loitering causing safety concerns by fire station in downtown Sudbury There is enhanced security outside the main fire hall in downtown Sudbury in response to safety concerns. London The potential impact of Trump's tariff plans on St. Thomas EV factory President-elect Donald Trump dropped a bombshell on Truth Social on Monday evening – stating “as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff.” Police look to identify 3 suspects in shooting investigation, arrest 4th suspect London police are asking the public for help identifying suspects involved in a break, enter and shooting investigation. Sarnia councillor won't apologize to mayor and staff for vulgar attacks during meeting A controversial Sarnia councillor is under fire for a vulgar exchange during a city budget meeting on Tuesday. Barrie One person seriously injured in collision with dump truck Emergency crews attended the scene of a serious collision between a dump truck and a minivan in Clearview Township. Multi-vehicle crash involving dump truck sends 3 to hospital Three people were hospitalized after police say a dump truck struck four vehicles in Newmarket on Monday afternoon. Break-in and theft at Barrie business under investigation Police in Barrie are investigating an alleged break-in and theft from a business in the south end. Windsor Two suspects wanted for pharmacy break-in Windsor police are searching for two suspects after a break-in at a pharmacy on Tecumseh Road East. Lakeshore man facing more sex assault charges after second alleged victim comes forward Essex County OPP say a Lakeshore man is facing more sexual assault charges after a second alleged victim has come forward. Historic part of waterfront ignored Many times a day, people walk, ride or bike by two rusted rail lifts in front of the Rotary Club of Windsor’s Centennial Plaza on Riverside Drive. Vancouver Island BC Ferries changing direction on how it receives community feedback BC Ferries says it’s changing route on how it receives feedback from the public. B.C. court levies $4K fine, year-long ban for illegal fishing A British Columbia man was handed a $4,000 fine and a one-year fishing ban after he was caught using a gillnet to illegally catch salmon. Man who stabbed stranger at Vancouver Tim Hortons released to halfway house: police Vancouver police are warning the public that a man convicted in the random stabbing of a stranger at a downtown Tim Hortons in 2022 will once again be living at a halfway house in the city. Kelowna Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops. Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year. B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail. Lethbridge Lethbridge & District Exhibition short millions of dollars, unclaimed management expenses: report Unclaimed management expenses, unsupported strategic plan targets and inconsistent project budgets are believed to be leading factors behind the Lethbridge & District Exhibition's (LDE) financial troubles, according to a newly released report. 'Let's do this': Crowsnest Pass mayor wants proposed coal mine sooner than later A mayor in southwestern Alberta is hoping for an immediate meeting with Premier Danielle Smith to discuss a coal project his community has voted in favour of being built. Alberta NDP concerned postal strike plan could hinder upcoming byelection Alberta's Opposition NDP says a decision not to mail out voter registration cards due to the Canada Post strike could hurt turnout in a provincial byelection that is set for a week before Christmas. Sault Ste. Marie Police seize $1M in drugs in northwestern Ont. bust Suspects from Alberta and B.C. are in custody after Ontario Provincial Police made a massive drug bust at a rental unit near Kenora, Ont. Sault police issue alert about surge in grandparent scams The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service warned residents Tuesday about a surge in grandparent scams targeting local senior citizens. Sault road reopens after building safely demolished A building on Queen Street East in Sault Ste. Marie is in danger of collapsing because of heavy snow. N.L. 'Who profits on hunger?': Inuit send pleading emails to minister about food costs People in Nunavut and northern Labrador have been writing to Canadian government officials this year to say grocers were charging exorbitant prices despite receiving a federal subsidy. As N.L. firm pivots, scientists say Canada's green hydrogen dreams are far-fetched A Newfoundland energy company's embrace of data centres is raising doubts about eastern Canadian hopes of harnessing the region's howling winds to supply Germany with power from green hydrogen. Canadian leads group pushing Vatican for zero-tolerance policy on abuse by clergy An international group led by a Canadian is in Rome this week to push the Catholic Church to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on abuse by clergy. Stay Connected
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden kicked off his final holiday season at the White House on Monday by issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in southern Minnesota. Biden welcomed 2,500 guests to the South Lawn under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom” and sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency after a half-century in Washington power circles. “It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” Biden said, taking note of his impending departure on Jan. 20, 2025. That's when power will transfer to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, the man Biden defeated four years ago and was battling again until he was pressured to bow out of the race amid concerns about his age and viability. Biden is 82. Until Inauguration Day, the president and first lady Jill Biden will continue a busy run of festivities that will double as their long goodbye. The White House schedule in December is replete with holiday parties for various constituencies, from West Wing staff to members of Congress and the White House press corps. Biden relished the brief ceremony with the pardoned turkeys, named for the official flower of the president's home state of Delaware. “The peach pie in my state is one of my favorites,” he said during remarks that were occasionally interrupted by Peach gobbling atop the table to Biden's right. “Peach is making a last-minute plea,” Biden said at one point, drawing laughter from an overflow crowd that included Cabinet members, White House staff and their families, and students from 4H programs and Future Farmers of America chapters. Biden introduced Peach as a bird who “lives by the motto, ‘Keep calm and gobble on.’” Blossom, the president said, has a different motto: “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.” Peach and Blossom came from the farm of John Zimmerman, near the southern Minnesota city of Northfield. Zimmerman, who has raised about 4 million turkeys, is president of the National Turkey Federation, the group that has gifted U.S. presidents Thanksgiving turkeys since the Truman administration after World War II. President Harry Truman, however, preferred to eat the birds. Official pardon ceremonies did not become an annual White House tradition until the administration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989. With their presidential reprieve, Peach and Blossom will live out their days at Farmamerica, an agriculture interpretative center near Waseca in southern Minnesota. The center's aim is to promote agriculture and educate future farmers and others about agriculture in America. Separately Monday, first lady Jill Biden received the official White House Christmas tree that will be decorated and put on display in the Blue Room. The 18.5 foot (5.64 meters) Fraser fir came from a farm in an area of western North Carolina that recently was devastated by Hurricane Helene . Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm lost thousands of trees in the storm “but this one remained standing and they named it ‘Tremendous’ for the extraordinary hope that it represents,” Jill Biden said at the event. The Bidens also traveled to New York City on Monday for an evening “Friendsgiving” event at a Coast Guard station on Staten Island. Biden began his valedictory calendar Friday night with a gala for hundreds of his friends, supporters and staff members who gathered in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn, with a view out to the Lincoln Memorial. Cabinet secretaries, Democratic donors and his longest-serving staff members came together to hear from the president and pay tribute, with no evidence that Biden was effectively forced from the Democratic ticket this summer and watched Vice President Kamala Harris suffer defeat on Nov. 5. “I’m so proud that we’ve done all of this with a deep belief in the core values of America,” said Biden, sporting a tuxedo for the black-tie event. Setting aside his criticisms of Trump as a fundamental threat to democracy, Biden added his characteristic national cheerleading: “I fully believe that America is better positioned to lead the world today than at any point in my 50 years of public service.” The first lady toasted her husband with a nod to his 2020 campaign promise to “restore the soul of the nation,” in Trump’s aftermath. With the results on Election Day, however, Biden’s four years now become sandwiched in the middle of an era dominated by Trump's presence on the national stage and in the White House. Even as the first couple avoided the context surrounding the president's coming exit, those political realities were nonetheless apparent, as younger Democrats like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore , Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Biden's Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg not only raised their glasses to the president but held forth with many attendees who could remain in the party's power circles in the 2028 election cycle and beyond. ___ Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.UN climate summit: What does ‘Finance COP’ mean for South-east Asia?
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the government is working to get taxpayer value for the money it paid for medication that has yet to be approved and delivered. Smith announced the plan two years ago amid a national shortage of children's pain medication. The province spent $70 million upfront to import five million bottles from Turkey-based Atabay Pharmaceuticals. But Alberta Health Services said Friday that Health Canada only approved 1.5 million bottles or $21 million worth of product. That left a credit of $49 million. Smith said this week the holdup is with Health Canada, which would have to approve a new suite of imports for the province to get its money's worth. “We’re waiting for Health Canada to work with AHS to identify the products, get the formulations, approve it, so that we're able to execute on it. Those things take time," Smith said in a year-end interview. The premier said the province had to pay the $70 million upfront. "They delivered a portion, and then the supply chains were restored, and we didn't need to fulfil it with the two products we'd initially ordered. So we have a credit on file with Atabay,” said Smith. The government and AHS declined to say what specific products they're seeking or when they might arrive. “We want it to be delivered soon," said Smith. Health Canada was unable to provide an immediate response. AHS said the $70-million prepayment went to Edmonton-based medical supplier MHCare. AHS did not address questions about how common it is to pay the entire contracting fee upfront with no apparent backstops to ensure fulfilment. The costs of shipping, waste disposal and other administration tied to the deal were initially estimated to be an extra $10 million, but are yet to be finalized. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Smith's United Conservative government signed a deal that didn't follow normal procurement practices, and it backfired. "The federal government had already signed a deal to get real Tylenol onto the shelves that arrived before the Turkish Tylenol," he told The Canadian Press. "Albertans should be really angry, because we basically have given $80 million of taxpayers money that could have built schools." Smith's government has stood by the decision to import the medication because, in late 2022, parents were desperate to find relief for their children at the height of the respiratory virus season. The purchase has long been mired in difficulties. It was immediately beset by delays, as the province sought regulatory approvals and sorted out packaging and warning labels. Pharmacists had to keep some of the medicine behind the counter to make sure customers who bought it were aware of the comparatively lower dosage. Hospital neonatal units eventually stopped using it due to safety concerns. The purchase also sparked questions about whether the province's relaxed ethics rules meant elected officials could be bought for the right price. Multiple UCP cabinet ministers have said they accepted free tickets to Edmonton Oilers hockey games during the Stanley Cup playoffs. They said they followed conflict-of-interest rules and denied any claims of disreputable behaviour. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange has said AHS has identified what imported adult medications it could use, is in negotiations with Atabay and is working to get approval from Health Canada. “Once those processes have been gone through, I will be happy to share exactly what those medications are,” she said Thursday. "My goal has always been to get products that we can use, get maximum value out of what's remaining on the books there, and that's what's happening." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024. Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% across UK retail destinations by 5pm, in comparison to last year, MRI Software found. The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.
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Excerpts from Manmohan Singh’s 1991 budget address: The problem, the path and the pain...US President JoeBiden was informed about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines planein Kazakhstan, coordinator for strategic communications at theWhite House National Security Council John Kirby said, reports. "The president has been and will continue to be apprised andkept up to date on what is going on. But as I said, it is activelybeing investigated, he wanted to make sure that our team, and wedid this both through our diplomats but also through some NSCofficials, made very clear to Azerbaijani government that we standready and willing to help them should they need it with theirinvestigation. But again, I don’t want to get ahead of where weare," John Kirby said. To note, AZAL's Embraer 190 passenger plane on the Baku-Groznyroute crashed 3 km away from Aktau airport on December 25. A total of 67 people (62 passengers and 5 crew members) were onboard the Embraer 190 airplane, flying Baku-Grozny, which crashedin Aktau. Following the crash of the passenger airplane near Aktau, 27people were hospitalized. Of them, 15 people are citizens of theRepublic of Azerbaijan, 8 of the Russian Federation, and 3 of theKyrgyz Republic. The identity of one person has not beenestablished yet. Of the victims hospitalized, 11 are being treated in theintensive care unit, 13 in the traumatology department, 2 in theneurosurgery department, and 1 in the surgical department. Thesepersons are under the control of professional doctors fromKazakhstan and those expelled from Azerbaijan and Russia. They wereprovided with prompt and specialized medical and psychologicaltreatment. Both crew pilots as well as the flight stewardess were lost, buttwo crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning inAzerbaijan.
Amazon director Jonathan Rubinstein sells $1 million in stock