Wednesday, June 30, 2021

'IMMEDIATELY STOP USING': More than 70000 lawnmowers sold at Canadian Tire recalled due to multiple fire incidents, triggering Health Canada warning - Orangeville Banner

'IMMEDIATELY STOP USING': More than 70000 lawnmowers sold at Canadian Tire recalled due to multiple fire incidents, triggering Health Canada warning - Orangeville Banner
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Memo To Concacaf: Stop Holding The Gold Cup Every Two Years - Forbes

For reasons that are likely primarily financial, Concacaf continues to hold its confederation championship, the Concacaf Gold Cup, on a biennial basis. The next one kicks off in just a couple weeks.

If that’s news to you, amid the generous helping of compelling games we’ve been given this summer by a belated Euro 2020 and Copa America, you could be forgiven.

When the Gold Cup falls the year prior to a World Cup, it always feels a little less glamorous. With teams that are usually neck deep in World Cup qualifying (or in this case eyeing their first games later this summer), coaches often use the Gold Cup as a chance to get a look at fringe first-team players.

But that loss of luster comes into heightened focused when pitted against enormously compelling games this June from Europe and South America. Although that timing is only due to both the Euros and Copa America being delayed by a year, it makes this much clear: Concacaf needs to get on the same page as UEFA and now CONMEBOL and switch to a quadrennial event.

Holding the event only in the year following the World Cup would be addition by subtraction. Coaches would feel more freedom to call every nation’s best players. And as mid-level teams in the federation continue to improve, the tournament could finally take a profile that could be worthy of comparison to the Euros or Copa America.

The creation of the Concacaf Nations League removes the idea that smaller nations need a biennial Gold Cup to get games. Most of those nations don’t qualify for the event anyway. And if Concacaf really needs the biennial ticket revenue, there’s other compelling events they could create.

What might those be? Concacaf could put more beef behind the Central American and Caribbean championships that already exist and hold them in lucrative American markets in those years, on a time frame that actually makes sense. (Past editions were usually ridiculously condensed and played with relatively little fan attendance or media attention in Central American and Caribbean markets.)

Beyond that, Concacaf might look at creating a North American Cup that replaces FIFA’s old Confederations Cup, an eight-team event that would consist of the United States, Mexico, Canada and the champions from the five other continental federations. Obviously those other teams would have to go along, but almost any national team, playing high-level games for two-plus weeks in front of a North American audience would be enormously compelling.

None of those concepts are set in stone. But the point is that devaluing the Gold Cup for the sake of revenue is a tradeoff that doesn’t need to happen. And if that is the only calculation going into playing the event every two years, it’s a lazy one.

Mexico always draws fans in the U.S., but this may be a challenge bigger than most, with Concacaf asking El Tri fans to be excited about group stage games against El Salvador, Curacao and a team to be determined, likely without Tata Martino’s first-choice squad.

The U.S. men’s national team at least has a sexier group match against Canada, but that’s a lot less appealing without most of the Americans’ European-based stars, not to mention Canada’s Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.

There was a time when the vast majority of the best players in the federation were based domestically and a biennial Gold Cup made sense. That time has probably been gone for a while. But seeing the Gold Cup bump up directly against the Euros and Copa America brings it home.

Just maybe, it will influence Concacaf to do the right thing for the future of the tournament, the federation and soccer in the region.

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Aggressive verbal attacks against vaccine clinic staff need to stop, Toronto officials say - CBC.ca

Staff at Toronto's city-run vaccination clinics have been subjected to verbal attacks, aggressive behaviour and displays of anger from clients demanding specific brands of COVID-19 vaccines, officials say.

The incidents in recent days are inappropriate and won't be tolerated by clinic management and security staff, who will remove those individuals, said Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, head of emergency services, at a news conference Wednesday morning.

While both Pfizer and Moderna are being offered at city-run clinics, the former is being reserved for those ages 12 to 17, said Pegg.

"Our clinic staff have no ability to determine or control the allocation of vaccines that are provided to us," Pegg said. "Both our city clinic staff and our Team Toronto partner staff are giving their all, seven days a week to get Toronto vaccinated as soon as possible."

WATCH | Clinic staff face harassment from clients over preferred vaccine, Pegg says:

Toronto Fire Chief and head of Toronto’s Emergency Management Matthew Pegg said in recent days, COVID-19 vaccine clinic staff have been subjected to "inappropriate behaviour" from patients demanding a certain brand of vaccine. Pegg said there is zero tolerance for anyone who displays aggressive behaviour toward clinic staff. 1:17

Mayor John Tory said city staff who've tried to help people experiencing homelessness and enforce alcohol and fireworks bylaws have been treated with "contempt" and, in some occasions, followed home, threatened and abused.

"Public servants should not be mistreated," Tory said. "These are hardworking people working day and night to make sure we get through this pandemic and to the other side."

Toronto plans for post-COVID-19

Meanwhile, Toronto is preparing to wind down its emergency pandemic response, logging just 17 new cases of COVID-19 — the lowest new case count since last August.

Pegg said it remains to be determined when city-run vaccine clinics and testing sites will close, but smoothly scaling down will be a complex operation.

The day the emergency pandemic response ends will be a day worth celebrating, Pegg said.

"Of course that means that we will have beaten COVID-19."

The transition will include city hall returning to "normal" operations and people heading back to work, said Mayor John Tory.

"This day is going to come — heavens above we want it to come very soon — and we want to have the best plans in place so they can be relatively seamless," Tory said.

Toronto's Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa added that she'll be carefully watching vaccination rates to determined when this phase will begin.

New appointments open

The city opened up close to 400,000 new vaccine appointments in July at city-run clinics. More than 100,000 appointments have been booked since yesterday morning, Pegg said.

Wednesday also marked hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors and other personal care services reopening for the first time in seven months.

Tory encouraged residents to get a hair cut and tip generously.

"This pandemic has been incredibly tough, especially for these hard working businesses offering personal services," he said.

Meanwhile, the mayor acknowledged the "searing tragedy" of recently discovered unmarked graves at residential schools in Saskatchewan and B.C., and responded to calls to cancel Canada Day, saying residents should reflect on reconciliation.

The Toronto sign and CN Tower will be lit orange tomorrow in solidarity with Indigenous communities, Tory said.

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Historical society raises stink over rest stop – 100 Mile House Free Press - 100 Mile House Free Press

The washrooms at the 108 Mile Heritage Site rest stop were temporarily closed this week, following concerns about their maintenance raised by the local historical society.

100 Mile & District Historical Society director Mal Wood said the upkeep of the rest stop – which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure – has been a problem for several months with overgrown lawns, unkempt planters and foul-smelling washrooms.

The contract for the work is held by Dawson Road Maintenance. It had been sub-contracted to a private citizen, prior to last fall when Dawson took over.

Wood said many visitors to the heritage site have complained about the state of the washrooms, mistakenly thinking the maintenance is the responsibility of the volunteer-run landmark. The washroom doors both need replacing and are difficult to open, and Wood suspects there is a septic issue with the washroom as evidenced by an “unbelievable” smell.

“Quite often people come over to us and they say ‘you’ve got to clean up your washrooms, they’re disgusting,’” Wood said. “It’s reflecting badly upon us.”

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure told the Free Press this week that the washrooms were closed temporarily to allow for interior painting this week, as well as a septic inspection. Following complaints from the historical society, the ministry said Dawson would be increasing the frequency of its maintenance. The ministry noted that $50,000 had been invested in upgrades to the rest area over the past year including upgrades to heating, ventilation, plumbing and resurfacing of the parking lot.

With regards to ongoing upkeep, a spokesperson said there are certain “performance measures” that must be upheld by Dawson, and according to ministry audits, Dawson “continually meets or exceeds contract specifications.”

However, a Dawson employee who was on-site mowing Thursday afternoon after hearing that complaints had been filed, was not surprised to hear that the upkeep had been a concern for locals. The employee – who asked their name not be shared – told the Free Press that the company is facing a staff shortage and doesn’t have the manpower to tend to the 108 rest stop, and others in the area, as often as needed.

“We don’t have enough people, we’re pulling from all different areas,” the employee said. “We need more help out here to get this stuff done.”

The historical society is feeling “cautiously optimistic” that the issues will be addressed in a timely manner, but said they won’t back down until the conditions are vastly improved.

Ideally, the historical society would like to see a “total overhaul” take place on the rest stop washrooms, Wood said, but noted that addressing the septic smell is a priority.

“You talk about COVID and disease, when you walk in there, what are you breathing in?”

melissa.smalley@100milefreepress.net
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Sask. reports 31 new COVID-19 cases; will stop posting releases on weekends - CTV News

REGINA -- The Saskatchewan government says it will return to sending out COVID-19 press releases on weekdays only, with the exception of stat holidays, as numbers continue to drop.

In a release, the government said there will not be a news release published on Thursday, or this weekend, however the COVID-19 dashboard will continue to be updated seven days a week.

The province reported 31 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, pushing the seven-day average of daily new cases to 45.

The province also recorded 60 recoveries, lowering the active case count to 435 – a number not seen since late October.

The new cases are in the Far Northwest (three); Far Northeast (one); Northwest (six); North Central (two); Northeast (one); Saskatoon (11); Central East (one); Regina (two); and Southeast (one). The province said three cases are pending residence location information.

There are 69 people in hospital across the province, the lowest number since mid-November. Fourteen of those patients are in intensive care in the Northwest (two); North Central (three); Saskatoon (six); and Regina (three) zones.

VACCINATIONS

Health-care workers have administered 17,420 more doses of COVID-19 vaccine. As of Wednesday, 724,188 people have received their first dose and 429,532 people have their second shot and are fully vaccinated.

The government said 81 per cent of people age 40 and older have their first dose, as do 76 per cent of people 30 and older; 71 per cent of people age 18 and older; and 70 per cent of people 12 and up, according to the province.

First and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are available for anyone in the province age 12 and older.

VARIANTS OF CONCERN

The province said labs have identified an additional 27 COVID-19 cases to be variants of concern, bringing the total to 12,149.

According to the government, the lineage of 87 new lineage variant cases has been confirmed. Of the 7,242 variant cases with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing, 6,675 are Alpha (B.1.1.7); 348 are Gamma (P.1); 209 are Delta (B.1.617.2); and 10 are Beta (B.1.351).

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Covid Won’t Stop The Olympics Nor Toyota’s Autonomous EV Transportation For Athletes - Forbes

Regulators to tighten scrutiny of asset managers to stop 'greenwashing' - Reuters

Ashley Ian Alder, chairman of the board of International Organization of Securities Commissions, attends the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong, China, January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/File Photo

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Global securities regulators have proposed a stricter approach to preventing asset managers from 'greenwashing' or overstating the climate-friendly credentials of their products to investors.

IOSCO, which groups securities regulators from the United States, Europe and Asia, set out how regulators can better protect investors from greenwashing and what sustainability-related standards the authorities should expect from asset managers.

The volume of money flowing into funds that tout their environmental, social and governance (ESG) attractions has risen sharply, but regulators worry about the lack of reliability and comparability of ESG data asset managers disclose.

"This report sets out IOSCO´s view of the regulatory and supervisory expectations needed to support asset managers in addressing these challenges," IOSCO chair Ashley Alder said in a statement on Wednesday.

While many asset managers backed the voluntary sustainability disclosures from the global Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), it was not an indication of "real action" by the sector, IOSCO said.

The shock caused by COVID-19 pandemic and its disruptions to the economy has prompted investors to search out sustainable products that can withstand market shocks, IOSCO said.

"In the 'race to promote their green credentials,' some asset managers may therefore misleadingly label products as sustainable without meaningful changes in the underlying investment strategies or shareholder practices," IOSCO said.

Regulators should consider clarifying or issuing new requirements to improve ESG disclosures on products sold by asset managers, the report said.

Industry should be encouraged to develop common terms and definitions for sustainable finance to ensure consistency through the sector globally, it added.

The recommendations have been put out to public consultation until mid-August.

IOSCO's 130 member jurisdictions cover more than 95% of the world's securities markets and commit to applying the watchdog's recommendations.

The watchdog is also looking at ways to better how companies improve their own ESG disclosures, and how raters of corporate ESG performance operate. read more

Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Steve Orlofsky

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Singapore wants to stop counting COVID-19 cases. Its roadmap could be a model for other countries - CTV News

As countries around the Asia-Pacific region tighten restrictions once again to curb potential breakouts of the Delta coronavirus variant, Singapore has laid out a new vision for life to return to normal.

The roadmap, proposed by three members of Singapore's COVID-19 task force, would scrap lockdowns and mass contact tracing and allow for a return to quarantine-free travel and the resumption of large gatherings. It would even stop counting the daily COVID-19 cases.

The proposal is a radical departure from the so-called "zero transmission" model adopted by several countries and territories -- including rival Asian business hub Hong Kong -- which have so far proved successful at avoiding large outbreaks.

But this "zero transmission" model, which requires stringent, often punishing quarantine measures, will be almost impossible to maintain as new variants spread, and long term is simply not sustainable, the task force members claim. Instead, they say living with COVID-19 can be done.

"The bad news is that COVID-19 may never go away. The good news is that it is possible to live normally with it in our midst," said Singapore's Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, in an op-ed in the Straits Times last week.

"We can turn the pandemic into something much less threatening, like influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease, or chickenpox, and get on with our lives."

It's a bold plan that could become a template for other countries looking to return to normal life and resume travel and tourism -- and offer hope for frustrated residents eager to get their lives back on track after 18 months of pandemic restrictions.

HOW THEY'LL DO IT

The key for a lighter approach to the pandemic? High vaccination rates.

Singapore is on track for two-thirds of its population to have received their first vaccine dose by early July, and aims to fully vaccinate that figure by August 9.

"Vaccines are highly effective in reducing the risk of infection as well as transmission. Even if you are infected, vaccines will help prevent severe COVID-19 symptoms," the ministers said.

As more people get vaccinated, the way Singapore monitors daily COVID-19 infection numbers will change. Following a path similar to how it tracks influenza infections, Singapore will monitor those who fall seriously sick or how many are in intensive care units. Infected people will be allowed to recover at home.

"We will worry less about the healthcare system being overwhelmed," they said.

With new, potentially more contagious variants posing a concern around the world, the minsters said booster shots may be needed in the future and suggested a "multi-year vaccination program" be established.

While testing and surveillance will still be needed, they propose conducting tests in specific scenarios such as ahead of large social events, or when traveling back from abroad, rather than to track and quarantine close contacts.

To do this, the ministers say faster and easier methods of testing will be rolled out as PCR tests take too long to provide results. Other methods "in the pipeline" include breathalysers that take about one to two minutes to produce results.

In time, more treatments will become available for COVID-19. Already, the ministers point to therapeutics that are effective in treating the critically ill, and quicken recovery, as well as reducing severity of illness and deaths.

They also say citizens will be urged to practice "social responsibility" such as good hygiene and staying away from crowds when feeling unwell to reduce transmission rates.

"With vaccination, testing, treatment and social responsibility, it may mean that in the near future, when someone gets COVID-19, our response can be very different from now," the ministers said.

OTHER COUNTRIES REMAIN CAUTIOUS

Singapore had been held up as a success story in controlling the virus, thanks to strict border controls, instituting quarantines and contact tracing as well as rules on social gatherings and mask wearing.

It managed to contain earlier outbreaks, including a peak of cases in April last year. In May, a small cluster of cases was connected to Changi Airport employees, promoting tighter curbs.

The city state of 5.7 million people has been averaging about 18 cases a day in the past month and has recorded just 36 deaths since the pandemic started, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Its new approach is a departure from other places that have been successful at managing the pandemic but have comparatively low vaccination rates and have recently reimposed tougher restrictions.

Several Australian states put their capital cities -- home to around 10.2 million people -- into lockdown on Monday over concerns the Delta strain could spark significant outbreaks.

Australia was celebrated for its initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic but vaccine rates are low. Australia has fully vaccinated nearly 5% of its population, compared with more than 46% in the United States and 48% in the UK, according to Our World in Data.

New Zealand said it was considering making masks compulsory at high alert levels and halted a quarantine-free travel bubble with neighboring Australia following an outbreak of the Delta variant.

And financial center Hong Kong, where vaccine hesitancy is high and only 21% of the population has been fully vaccinated, announced it will suspend passenger flights from the United Kingdom from July 1, over rising cases of the Delta variant there.

Meanwhile, mainland China may have administered more than 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, but it is thinking about keeping its borders shut for another year. The southern city of Guangzhou, a major international travel hub, is planning on building a huge quarantine center with 5,000 rooms to house travelers and Covid-19 close contacts over fears of the Delta variant's spread, according to state-run newspaper Global Times.

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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Fire crews stop spread of wildfire near Port Alberni – Parksville Qualicum Beach News - Parksville-Qualicum Beach News

Firefighers are still working to extinguish a fire at the south end of Cherry Creek Road near Port Alberni, but as of Tuesday morning (June 29), the fire is under control.

The fire was reported before 5 p.m. on Monday (June 28, 2021) and a water tender from Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department and a crew from BC Wildfire Service worked throughout the night to stop the spread of the fire.

“At this point the fire spread has stopped,” said Cherry Creek VFD Chief Lucas Banton on Tuesday morning. “We’ve established a wet line and crews are working their way into the middle of [the fire].”

The fire is estimated to be two hectares in size. Banton says the cause is unknown at this point, but the BC Wildfire Service website lists the fire as “person-caused.”

On Tuesday, crews from Cherry Creek VFD, Beaver Creek VFD and Sproat Lake VFD were on scene, working to extinguish the fire. BC Wildfire Service also provided air support in the morning.

elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
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Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District forest fire

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Ottawa must stop aid to Ethiopia in light of human rights violations: advocates - CTV News

Ottawa should stop sending millions of dollars in aid to the Ethiopian government and push for creating a no-fly zone and delivering air-dropped food aid to the people of the Tigray region, who have been under attack from the federal military for nearly eight months, advocates say.

Azeb Gebrehiwot of the Association of Tigrayan Communities in Canada said Canadians should know their taxpayer money is funding the Ethiopian government, which has been committing atrocities in Tigray.

"We, Tigrayans in Canada, we are so, so disheartened by our Canadian government, because you have the U.S., European Union, the U.K. strongly, strongly speaking out against what's happening in Tigray," she said.

Gebrehiwot, who immigrated to Canada 18 years ago, said the Ethiopian government completely shut off communication in the region, preventing her from reaching her family as Ethiopian and allied forces pursued a military operation in Tigray.

The conflict has led to the world's worst famine crisis in a decade, with more than 350,000 people facing starvation, according to the UN and other humanitarian groups.

Ethiopia's government on Monday declared an immediate, unilateral ceasefire in the region. The announcement was carried by state media shortly after the Tigray interim administration, appointed by the federal government, fled the regional capital, Mekele, and called for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds so that desperately needed aid can be delivered.

Meanwhile, Mekele residents cheered the return of Tigray forces.

The ceasefire, which Ethiopia said will last until the end of the crucial planting season in September, could calm a war that has destabilized Africa's second-most populous country and threatened to do the same in the wider Horn of Africa, where Ethiopia has been seen as a key security ally for the West.

Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of Canada's international aid. The East African country had received almost $2 billion in aid from Canada between 2010 and 2019, according to the Canadian International Development Platform, a data-collecting initiative that operates out of Carleton University.

Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Yohannes Abraha, a former director at Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Ministry who came to Canada last year, said the Ethiopian government started a smear media campaign and made budgetary cuts of federal subsidies for the region three years ago, which laid the ground for the conflict in Tigray that started in November.

He said the conflict has political and historical roots and there are regional factors that played a role in escalating it.

The government of the Amhara region, whose forces fought with the federal government in Tigray, resents how the Tigrayan leadership has been pushing for a strong federalist system in which states have more power, while Amhara has supported efforts to centralize power in the capital.

"The Amhara wanted a unitary Ethiopia. No federalism, no border, just a unitary and unified Ethiopia, without recognizing the different nationalities in the country, the different identities," Abraha said.

Abraha also said Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki sent his forces to fight in Tigray with Ethiopia's federal government because he wanted to be a patron of the Horn of Africa and the leadership of Tigray appeared to be the only obstacle to him as the region continued to be a safe haven for Eritrean refugees and political opposition.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, wanted to neutralize all political powers in the country's regions, and the only region that resisted this move was Tigray, said Abraha.

"Ahmed is coming to power to become the king in Ethiopia," he said.

Ahmed's transformation from making peace to waging war has appalled many observers since the fighting in Tigray erupted. Since then, the world has struggled to access much of the region and investigate growing allegations of atrocities including gang rapes and forced starvation.

Tag Elkhazin, a senior fellow at Carleton University's Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, said Ahmed is facing more challenges than ever, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will lose power as the country awaits the results of national elections.

Elkhazin said the rise of voices in Tigray that are calling for self-determination will likely create new dynamics that can escalate the conflict.

The international community can pressure Ethiopia by stopping funding to its government and levying sanctions on those who led the military activities, including Ahmed, he said.

"This is protracted. It is not going to end today or tomorrow or in a year or two." he said. "Both parties are bent on fighting."

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on June 29, 2021.

With files from The Associated Press.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

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Ed Sheeran won't stop buying Courteney Cox this one NSFW item - etalk

This week on The Late Late Show with James Corden is “Ed Sheeran Week.” Excuse me, but every week is Ed Sheeran week in this house! In any case, the “Shape of You” singer kicked off his week-long residency by revealing just one of the pranks he loves to play on bestie Courteney Cox.

The fact that they’re friends to begin with baffles the mind, but after explaining how he became her most frequent houseguest in 2013, he goes on to explain how he decided to play the most epic, and NSFW, prank on her. It involves Alexa, Amazon, and a lot of patience on Courteney’s part.

&amp;amp;nbsp;

Apparently, the Friends alum told him to make use of her Alexa to order anything he wants during his stay at her house, so he laughs “She walks out the room, and I go, ‘Alexa, order me a leather gimp mask.'”

“Unbeknownst to me, Courteney’s assistant opened the post, and she finds this mask and instantly goes, ‘Oh, I don’t think I was meant to see that,’ and leaves it on Courteney’s bed. And Courteney comes up, and she’s like, ‘Where did this come from?'”

“Anyway, she found out the story, and now every time I go back there, I order her another gimp mask. And she has maybe 12, and I hide them in people’s bedrooms,” he continued.

“So they’ll go in a drawer, and they’ll just find this leather S&M mask. And she had two people look at her piano to try and buy it, two absolute strangers going into her house that I found out about, so I left a couple of masks on the piano as well.”

Then James shares a special private video Courteney filmed for Ed on his 30^th birthday where she thanks him for all the gimpyness and uses the mask as a COVID face shield on film sets.

But Ed wasn’t done. The cheeky ginger Brit brought an extra one for James, and before James could protest (and while he was mid-sentence!) Ed slung one of those leather gimp masks with an extra padlock over James’s face.

“I feel absolutely incredible,” James deadpanned, crossing his legs like wearing this mask was the most natural thing in the world. As his crew in the audience cackled with laughter, James thought out loud, “It would be lovely for a snooze. It’s a total blackout in there! I’m going to start using that as an eye mask on a flight.”

Maybe we don't recommend that.

Ed Sheeran will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden (weekdays at 12:30aET on CTV) all week and check out this week's Etalk Open House where Ed gave an exclusive performance of his new single "Bad Habits" and shared how Buffy the Vampire Slayer inspired the music video.

BEFORE YOU GO: Courtney Love accuses Olivia Rodrigo of copying

[video_embed id='2231199']BEFORE YOU GO: Courtney Love accuses Olivia Rodrigo of copying [/video_embed]

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Canada must stop aid to Ethiopia in light of human rights violations: advocates - Global News

“We, Tigrayans in Canada, we are so, so disheartened by our Canadian government, because you have the U.S., European Union, the U.K. strongly, strongly speaking out against what’s happening in Tigray,” she said.

The conflict has led to the world’s worst famine crisis in a decade, with more than 350,000 people facing starvation, according to the UN and other humanitarian groups.

Ethiopia’s government on Monday declared an immediate, unilateral ceasefire in the region. The announcement was carried by state media shortly after the Tigray interim administration, appointed by the federal government, fled the regional capital, Mekele, and called for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds so that desperately needed aid can be delivered.

Meanwhile, Mekele residents cheered the return of Tigray forces.

The ceasefire, which Ethiopia said will last until the end of the crucial planting season in September, could calm a war that has destabilized Africa’s second-most populous country and threatened to do the same in the wider Horn of Africa, where Ethiopia has been seen as a key security ally for the West.

Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of Canada’s international aid. The East African country had received almost $2 billion in aid from Canada between 2010 and 2019, according to the Canadian International Development Platform, a data-collecting initiative that operates out of Carleton University.

Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Yohannes Abraha, a former director at Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry who came to Canada last year, said the Ethiopian government started a smear media campaign and made budgetary cuts of federal subsidies for the region three years ago, which laid the ground for the conflict in Tigray that started in November.

He said the conflict has political and historical roots and there are regional factors that played a role in escalating it.

Click to play video: 'At least 32,000 refugees flee conflict in northern Ethiopia'

3:06 At least 32,000 refugees flee conflict in northern Ethiopia

At least 32,000 refugees flee conflict in northern Ethiopia – Nov 21, 2020

“The Amhara wanted a unitary Ethiopia. No federalism, no border, just a unitary and unified Ethiopia, without recognizing the different nationalities in the country, the different identities,” Abraha said.

Abraha also said Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki sent his forces to fight in Tigray with Ethiopia’s federal government because he wanted to be a patron of the Horn of Africa and the leadership of Tigray appeared to be the only obstacle to him as the region continued to be a safe haven for Eritrean refugees and political opposition.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, wanted to neutralize all political powers in the country’s regions, and the only region that resisted this move was Tigray, said Abraha.

“Ahmed is coming to power to become the king in Ethiopia,” he said.

Ahmed’s transformation from making peace to waging war has appalled many observers since the fighting in Tigray erupted. Since then, the world has struggled to access much of the region and investigate growing allegations of atrocities including gang rapes and forced starvation.

Tag Elkhazin, a senior fellow at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, said Ahmed is facing more challenges than ever, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will lose power as the country awaits the results of national elections.

Elkhazin said the rise of voices in Tigray that are calling for self-determination will likely create new dynamics that can escalate the conflict.

The international community can pressure Ethiopia by stopping funding to its government and levying sanctions on those who led the military activities, including Ahmed, he said.

“This is protracted. It is not going to end today or tomorrow or in a year or two.” he said. “Both parties are bent on fighting.”

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Lambton police dog helps stop potential B&E - BlackburnNews.com

Lambton police dog helps stop potential B&E

Lambton OPP general service dog Blitz. Photo courtesy of Lambton OPP.

By Colin Gowdy June 29, 2021 9:30am

A Lambton County police dog helped stop a possible break and enter in Dawn-Euphemia earlier this month.

OPP were contacted about a suspicious person at a storage facility at around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, June 18.

Officers responded to the area and surrounded the property. An OPP Canine Unit, featuring Service Dog “Blitz”, arrived on scene and helped locate the suspect.

A 33-year-old man from Brooke-Alvinston is charged with possession of break-in instruments.

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Ottawa must stop aid to Ethiopia in light of human rights violations: advocates - CKPGToday.ca

The conflict has led to the world’s worst famine crisis in a decade, with more than 350,000 people facing starvation, according to the UN and other humanitarian groups.

Meanwhile, Mekele residents cheered the return of Tigray forces.

Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He said the conflict has political and historical roots and there are regional factors that played a role in escalating it.

“Ahmed is coming to power to become the king in Ethiopia,” he said.

Elkhazin said the rise of voices in Tigray that are calling for self-determination will likely create new dynamics that can escalate the conflict.

The international community can pressure Ethiopia by stopping funding to its government and levying sanctions on those who led the military activities, including Ahmed, he said.

“This is protracted. It is not going to end today or tomorrow or in a year or two.” he said. “Both parties are bent on fighting.”

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on June 29, 2021.

— With files from The Associated Press

—

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Maan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

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Are some new LTC stops dangerous to bus riders and cyclists? - CTV News London

LONDON, ONT. -- The safety of several new London Transit bus stops is being questioned.

‘Integrated bus stops’ require passengers to exit the bus directly into a bike lane, creating the potential for a collision.

“I feel a little unsafe every time I get off the bus here,” admits Camila Valim at the corner of Dundas and Maitland streets. “ You have to look to make sure nothing is coming.”

Samuel Nyarko, owner of Afro Beauty Looks, says several customers have complained about the stop.

Nyarko has seen near misses, “The bus is stopping, a bike is coming, when is the door opening?”

A report to the London Transit Commission (LTC) raises safety concerns about the design that requires shared-space, and that similar stops are being installed this summer along Colborne, Brydges, and Wavell.

“A transit rider may be alighting from the back door, and may Step directly into the path of a cyclist,” the report warns.

“I’m really disappointed something like this would happen,” says Councillor Phil Squire who chairs the commission. “It’s indicative of what sometimes happens at city hall. People get siloed doing bike lanes, or it may be roads, and they don’t adequately consult with other groups like LTC.”

But not everyone views the integrated stops with the same concern.

“When I come up to this stop or another one, I always slow down,” explains Jamieson Robert’s, an avid bicycle rider who lives near the stop on Dundas Street.

Roberts says integrated bus stops occur in other cities where there isn’t enough right of way to accommodate separate transit and cycling infrastructure.

“It’s far better for a pedestrian and a cyclist to have to negotiate shared space, than a cyclist and a car,” he adds.

City hall and London Transit have committed to a ‘robust’ communications strategy to educate Londoners about safely sharing the spaces.

Squire isn’t convinced.

“A communications strategy doesn’t trump safety, and the best thing for safety is to keep bike lanes away from bus stops.”

The London Transit Commission will receive a report about the safety concerns at its June 30 meeting.

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Monday, June 28, 2021

Commuters stop to put out wildfire near Kokanee Creek Provincial Park - Castlegar News

Murray and Lynne Shunter may have kept a wildfire from spreading to a beloved park.

The Shunters were driving to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park north of Nelson on Saturday afternoon when they spotted a small fire on the opposite side of the highway at the park’s entrance.

The couple jumped out of their car and ran to the fire, which Murray estimated was about three metres in diameter. They started kicking dirt on the fire, and as Lynne called 911 other drivers stopped to help.

“For sure it was going to take out half the park,” said Murray. “It was going well and there was a lot of tinder-dry stuff where it was.

“Felt like we did a good job.”

They sure did.

Balfour-Harrop Fire Rescue chief Pat Hergott said residents were dumping water from bottles on the fire when his department arrived on scene and soaked the area. The fire, he said, was likely caused by a tree that fell onto a power line overhead and may have caused sparks to fall.

Hergott said he wants enthusiastic residents to be cautious before attending to a fire themselves, but nevertheless appreciated people pitching in.

“It was great to see because with the temperatures being as hot as they are, I think everyone is being vigilant with fires these days,” he said.

Murray said it would have been a tragedy if the fire had spread to the park, which the Shunters value as a place to walk their dog.

“You hate to see any forest go up, but in particular something that’s being preserved and is so well used,” he said.

Shunter also credited Rob Hallett, Isaac Gray and Kirsten Vanhorne with helping put out the fire. One more woman whose name he didn’t get helped gather water. If that’s you, email editor@nelsonstar.com and we’ll make sure you get added to this story.

• VIDEO: Water salute welcomes Air Canada back to West Kootenay Regional Airport

@tyler_harper | tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com

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Opinion | People should stop mass buying items only to resell - UI The Daily Iowan

Since the release of the next gen, systems scalpers have been on the rise. We need to stand up to them, by making it illegal.

It was nearing the end of 2020 when next-gen systems PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were made available to purchase. In October, stores and the PlayStation website were attacked by bots – computer programs made to mass purchase items for those controlling the bots, called scalpers– and these bots purchased many of the systems.

Scalpers are individuals who buy products to sell later for a large or quick profit. Sure enough, a few hours later on websites like Ebay, there were postings of the next-gen systems for $1,800, instead of the original $500.

I was lucky to be a part of some countermesurements on the PlayStation website and was able to get a PS5. We need to stop scalpers from mass buying items to only sell them for way over the original price.

That begs the question, why did Sony and Microsoft need something to stop bots? As PerimeterX puts it, scalpers are no longer going after niche items.

There used to be an era when people only scalped commodity items, such as sports tickets or Beanie Babies. However, the times are changing. Scalpers are buying up items that the general population are willing to buy.

This is the beginning of a terrible change in our society. Products like the PS5 and Xbox Series X were not meant to be bought and sold for outrageous amounts. They were meant to be played and owned by the people who would actually buy games for it.

Ideally, Sony and Microsoft can take a few hits in lowering the prices of their systems. Most of their money is made through video game sales. However, if systems are ending up in warehouses or not being used, they bring in less money.

This also hurts video game producers. With fewer people able to buy games, it can push release dates back as video game producers try to sell as many as they can.

On the production side of the next-gen systems, there is a growing problem caused by the pandemic.Computer chip shortages affect many different industries, and gaming is one of them.

Without the chips to properly make the next-gen systems, the supply goes down. With scalpers buying up every unit they can get their hands on, it leaves little to no supply for the general population. The general population, of course, is still super hyped to get the next-gen systems, so there is still extremely high demand.

What can people do about bots and scalpers? One answer that they are using over in the United Kingdom is making scalping illegal. In 2018, the U.K. banned buying event tickets to only sell them way beyond what they were purchased for. In December 2020, there were calls for banning bots for mass purchasing tech products like the PS5. Presently, no new laws have been passed in the U.K., but petitions have called for two different ideas.

The first is to prevent or deter the mass buying of products, often to the point of depleting the stock. This could possibly solve the tech problems caused by the bots. It would also solve the societal problems brought on by scalping.

The second is to ban all bots from making online purchases. Since the first petition did not outright ban bots, it made it possible for it to continue to be a problem. With a ban on all bots, it would get rid of the scalping problem entirely.

There have been many solutions to the growing scalping problem, but with the recent petitions in the U.K., we are on the right track towards solving it. An outright ban on bots and scalping, especially with tech products like the PS5, is the best solution.

Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.

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Commuters stop to put out wildfire near Kokanee Creek Provincial Park - Nelson Star

Murray and Lynne Shunter may have kept a wildfire from spreading to a beloved park.

The Shunters were driving to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park north of Nelson on Saturday afternoon when they spotted a small fire on the opposite side of the highway at the park’s entrance.

“For sure it was going to take out half the park,” said Murray. “It was going well and there was a lot of tinder-dry stuff where it was.

“Felt like we did a good job.”

They sure did.

Hergott said he wants enthusiastic residents to be cautious before attending to a fire themselves, but nevertheless appreciated people pitching in.

“It was great to see because with the temperatures being as hot as they are, I think everyone is being vigilant with fires these days,” he said.

Murray said it would have been a tragedy if the fire had spread to the park, which the Shunters value as a place to walk their dog.

“You hate to see any forest go up, but in particular something that’s being preserved and is so well used,” he said.

• VIDEO: Water salute welcomes Air Canada back to West Kootenay Regional Airport

@tyler_harper | tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com

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N.L. will stop issuing alerts when babies are born to mothers deemed high risk - Toronto Star

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador’s government says it will stop informing child-welfare officials when a baby is born to a mother deemed high risk. Advocates and Indigenous leaders have long said so-called birth alerts disproportionately affect Indigenous mothers and result in high numbers of their newborns placed into institutional care.

A statement today from the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development says the move is in keeping with recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

The department would not say when the last birth alert was issued or how many had been issued in the past, but said the practice will end Wednesday.

The final report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls called on governments and child-welfare agencies to stop birth alerts, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called for a reduction in the number of Indigenous children in institutional care.

Since 2019, several provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario have also ended birth alerts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2021.

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Report: Classified U.K. defence papers found at bus stop - CTV News

LONDON -- Sensitive defence documents containing details about the British military have been found at a bus stop in England, the BBC reported Sunday.

The papers included plans for a possible U.K. military presence in Afghanistan, as well as discussion about the potential Russian reaction to the British warship HMS Defender's travel through waters off the Crimean coast last week, the BBC said.

The broadcaster said a member of the public who wanted to remain unnamed contacted it when they found the pile of documents -- about 50 pages in all -- in a soggy heap Tuesday behind a bus stop in Kent, southeast of London.

The Ministry of Defence said an employee had reported the loss of the documents last week. It did not provide details about the incident or confirm the documents were found at a bus stop.

"The Ministry of Defence was informed last week of an incident in which sensitive defence papers were recovered by a member of the public," it said in a statement. "The department takes the security of information extremely seriously and an investigation has been launched."

"The department takes the security of information extremely seriously and an investigation has been launched," it said in a statement. "It would be inappropriate to comment further."

John Healey, the defence spokesman for the opposition Labour party, said the incident was both embarrassing and worrying.

"Ministers must be able to confirm to the public that national security has not been undermined, that no military or security operations have been affected and that the appropriate procedures are in place to ensure nothing like this happens again," he said.

The HMS Defender upset Russia's military on Wednesday when it sailed south of the Crimean Peninsula in a Black Sea area that Moscow claims as its territorial waters. Many nations, including the U.K., do not accept Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and consider that area to be Ukrainian waters.

Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots in response to the destroyer's intrusion, but Britain denied that account and said the warship was not in Russian waters. The U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said the ship was "conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law."

The documents showed officials conducted high-level discussions before Wednesday's clash about how Russia may react if HMS Defender sailed close to Crimea, the BBC said.

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PGA Tour to stop onsite COVID-19 testing beginning next month - Golf Channel

The PGA Tour will stop onsite COVID-19 testing beginning at next month’s 3M Open, according to a memo sent to players on Monday.

“Due to the high rate of vaccination among all constituents on [the] PGA Tour as well as other positively trending factors across the country, testing for COVID-19 will no longer be required as a condition of competition beginning with the 3M Open,” the memo read.

At last month’s Memorial, the Tour’s senior vice president of tournament administration, Andy Levinson, said the circuit’s “fully vaccinated population is north of 50 percent.” Jon Rahm was forced to withdraw from the Memorial following the third round after testing positive for COVID-19.

According to the memo, the Tour will continue to have onsite testing capabilities for players, caddies or officials who become symptomatic. If a player tests positive for COVID-19 after becoming symptomatic he will still be required to quarantine according to CDC guidelines and withdraw from the event.

The Tour still plans to limit access to the weekly “bubble” to players and significant others through the Tour Championship.

Onsite testing will continue at Korn Ferry Tour events.

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'Stop denying racism, start dismantling it,' U.N. rights chief says - Reuters

Bachelet reports on racism against people of African descent
Racial profiling, excessive force by police in Americas, Europe
Says 190 blacks killed by law enforcement officers, most in US
Police officer convicted in George Floyd killing is exceptional

GENEVA, June 28 (Reuters) - Nations should "start dismantling racism" and prosecute law enforcement officials for unlawful killings, the U.N. human rights chief said on Monday, denouncing systemic racism against people of African descent in many parts of the world.

Michelle Bachelet, in a global report sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020, said police use of racial profiling and excessive force is entrenched in much of North America, Europe and Latin America.

Structural racism creates barriers to minorities' access to jobs, healthcare, housing, education and justice, she said.

“I am calling on all states to stop denying, and start dismantling, racism; to end impunity and build trust; to listen to the voices of people of African descent; and to confront past legacies and deliver redress," she said in a report.

The report called for the creation of victim compensation programmes and reparations programmes, including payments, at the national level, with input from affected communities.

Bachelet welcomed a "promising initiative" by U.S. President Joe Biden in signing an executive order in January to address racial inequity across the United States.

A visitor looks at a memorial at the site of the arrest of George Floyd, who died while in police custody, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. June 14, 2020. REUTERS/Eric Miller/File Photo

At least 190 people of African descent havedied worldwide at the hands of law enforcement officials in the past decade - most of them in the United States, the report said.

"With the exception of the case of George Floyd, no one was held accountable," Mona Rishmawi, head of the rule of law branch who led the report, told a news conference.

It selected seven "emblematic cases", including that of Floyd. A judge sentenced former police officer Derek Chauvin on Friday to 22-1/2 years for his murder, video of which galvanised the national Black Lives Matter protest movement. read more

Other victims include an Afro-Brazilian boy, 14, shot dead in an anti-drug police operation in Sao Paulo in May 2020 and a Frenchman of Malian origin, 24, who died in police custody in July 2016.

"One (Brazilian) mother in particular said to us 'you always talk about George Floyd. Every day we have a George Floyd here and nobody talks about it'," Rishmawi said. "We realised that we were only touching the tip of the iceberg."

Racism is most prevalent in countries linked to the former trade of an estimated 25-30 million Africans for enslavement or colonialism, resulting in large communities of people of African descent in countries such as Brazil, Britain, Canada, Colombia, France and the United States, the report said.

"Systemic racism needs a systemic response," Bachelet said. "There is today a momentous opportunity to achieve a turning point for racial equality and justice."

Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Editing by William Maclean

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Wednesday, June 30, 2021

'IMMEDIATELY STOP USING': More than 70000 lawnmowers sold at Canadian Tire recalled due to multiple fire incidents, triggering Health Canada warning - Orangeville Banner

Memo To Concacaf: Stop Holding The Gold Cup Every Two Years - Forbes

Aggressive verbal attacks against vaccine clinic staff need to stop, Toronto officials say - CBC.ca

Toronto plans for post-COVID-19

New appointments open

Historical society raises stink over rest stop – 100 Mile House Free Press - 100 Mile House Free Press

Sask. reports 31 new COVID-19 cases; will stop posting releases on weekends - CTV News

VACCINATIONS

VARIANTS OF CONCERN

Covid Won’t Stop The Olympics Nor Toyota’s Autonomous EV Transportation For Athletes - Forbes

Regulators to tighten scrutiny of asset managers to stop 'greenwashing' - Reuters

Singapore wants to stop counting COVID-19 cases. Its roadmap could be a model for other countries - CTV News

HOW THEY'LL DO IT

OTHER COUNTRIES REMAIN CAUTIOUS

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Fire crews stop spread of wildfire near Port Alberni – Parksville Qualicum Beach News - Parksville-Qualicum Beach News

Ottawa must stop aid to Ethiopia in light of human rights violations: advocates - CTV News

Ed Sheeran won't stop buying Courteney Cox this one NSFW item - etalk

BEFORE YOU GO: Courtney Love accuses Olivia Rodrigo of copying

Canada must stop aid to Ethiopia in light of human rights violations: advocates - Global News

Lambton police dog helps stop potential B&E - BlackburnNews.com

Lambton police dog helps stop potential B&E

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Ottawa must stop aid to Ethiopia in light of human rights violations: advocates - CKPGToday.ca

Are some new LTC stops dangerous to bus riders and cyclists? - CTV News London

Monday, June 28, 2021

Commuters stop to put out wildfire near Kokanee Creek Provincial Park - Castlegar News

Opinion | People should stop mass buying items only to resell - UI The Daily Iowan

Commuters stop to put out wildfire near Kokanee Creek Provincial Park - Nelson Star

N.L. will stop issuing alerts when babies are born to mothers deemed high risk - Toronto Star

Report: Classified U.K. defence papers found at bus stop - CTV News

PGA Tour to stop onsite COVID-19 testing beginning next month - Golf Channel

'Stop denying racism, start dismantling it,' U.N. rights chief says - Reuters

Traffic stop leads to arrests, seizure of weapons and drugs - CTV News Kitchener

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