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Japan’s denial of same-sex marriage, other LGTBQ+ protections looks unconstitutional, judge rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court ruled Thursday that the lack of legal protections for LGTBQ+ people appeared to be unconstitutional, in the latest ruling that may help push the country toward allowing same-sex marriage. Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven nations without LGTBQ+ legal protections. Support for legalizing same-sex marriage has grown among the Japanese public, but the governing Liberal Democratic Party, known for its conservative values and reluctance to promote gender equality and sexual diversity, is virtually the main opposition for marriage rights and other recognition of LGTBQ+ equality.The ruling by the Fukuoka District Court in southern Japan involved the last of five court cases brought by 14 same-sex couples in 2019 that accused the government of violating their equality. Four of the courts have ruled Japan’s current policy is either unconstitutional or nearly so, while a fifth said a ban on same-sex marriage was constitutional.The judge in the F...

Philippines raises alert level around volcano, villagers told to leave danger zone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine officials on Thursday raised the alert level for one of the country’s most active volcanoes after superheated streams of gas, debris and rocks cascaded down its upper slope in a condition they fear could lead to a hazardous eruption within days or weeks.Villagers living within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of Mayon volcano’s crater were told to leave the long-designated permanent danger zone and move to safer grounds due to the danger of volcanic emissions, lava flows, rockfalls and other hazards, officials said.“Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.A tourist draw in northeastern Albay province for its picturesque conical shape, Mayon is one of the most restive of two dozen active volcanoes across the Philippines. It last erupted violently in 2018, displacin...

In The News for June 8 : Wildfires leave most of Canada under smoky haze

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of June 8 …What we are watching in Canada …The battle against hundreds of wildfires continues, as almost every jurisdiction in Canada remains under either heat or air quality warnings from the federal government.The day after what was supposed to be national Clean Air Day, dozens of alerts remain in place for unseasonable heat or smoky air quality that kept millions of Canadians coughing and squinting. And forecasts suggest that air quality risks for the GTA, the Niagara region and southwestern Ontario will only increase through the end of the week.Wednesday saw one of Canada’s worst days in history for air quality. Environment Canada’s air quality health index listed Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., as the worst in Canada on Wednesday, with a very high risk warning. The agency dropped the special air quality s...

Supporters focus on freeing Canadian held in China amid geopolitical ‘ups and downs’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

OTTAWA — A leader of the fight to secure freedom for a Canadian human-rights activist detained in China for 17 years is taking the latest diplomatic deep-freeze between Ottawa and Beijing in stride.Wilf Ruland, a volunteer fieldworker with Amnesty International Canada, says a sustained, long-term campaign aims to keep Huseyin Celil’s case in the public eye and in the minds of Canadian and Chinese authorities.“Throughout the history of this case, there’s been geopolitical ups and downs, but we figure our job is just to keep Canadian government officials’ attention focused on the case and keep them working on it,” Ruland said in an interview.Celil, originally from China, fled the country in 2001 after being jailed for supporting the religious and political rights of the Uyghur minority.Celil, his wife Kamila Telendibaeva and their son settled in Canada that year. They had two more boys and Celil became a Canadian in 2005. The following year, the family we...

Documents reveal what happened inside the discord at Canada’s drug-price regulator

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

OTTAWA — Internal emails from the agency tasked with regulating the price of patented drugs in Canada shows discord and division was sparked by a letter from the health minister, culminating in an indefinite pause on major drug-price reforms and several resignations.Emails released to the House of Commons committee on health suggest some on the regulator’s board believed the crisis that followed the minister’s letter threatened the very survival of the agency.“We are experiencing a significant conflict that must be resolved to ensure the survival, integrity and proposer conduct of business for the (Patented Medicine Prices Review Board),” former acting chair Melanie Bourassa Forcier wrote to the board members on Dec. 4, 2022.She resigned from her post the next day. The emails show the conflict began last November, when the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board was in the process of consulting on the finer points of recently adopted rules that would drasticall...

Wildfire battles continue under heat, air quality alerts over most of Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

The battle against hundreds of wildfires continues, as almost every jurisdiction in Canada remains under either heat or air quality warnings from the federal government.The day after what was supposed to be national Clean Air Day, dozens of alerts remain in place for unseasonable heat or smoky air quality that kept millions of Canadians coughing and squinting. And forecasts suggest that air quality risks for the GTA, the Niagara region and southwestern Ontario will only increase through the end of the week.Wednesday saw one of Canada’s worst days in history for air quality. Environment Canada’s air quality health index listed Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., as the worst in Canada, with a very high risk warning. The agency dropped special air quality statements for those areas early Thursday morning.Residents in those cities were encouraged to limit outdoor activities, and those most vulnerable to the smoke were told to avoid them altogether.School boards in Ottawa and the Tor...

Experts worry about Canadian water bomber expertise with rising demand, aging fleets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

MONTREAL — Aviation experts say Canada is losing expertise in the manufacturing of water bombers — just as demand for them is increasing.The Canadair CL-415, a purpose-built water bomber, was last produced in 2015. That plane and its predecessor — the CL-215 — are the only water bombers used in Quebec and play major roles in the fleets of other provinces. On Monday, water bombers from Montana were deployed in Quebec to support the province’s firefighters and its fleet of 14 CL-415s and CL-215s. Quebec is experiencing its worst fire season on record, following a record fire season in Nova Scotia.Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told a news conference earlier this week that the provinces have enough equipment to fight the fires that are raging in several parts of the country. If necessary, he said, Ottawa would try to acquire additional equipment from other countries. “But we have to know where (the equipment) is and how we can access it very quickly,” he s...

Daily horoscope for June 8, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today until 9:05 p.m. PDT. The Moon is in Aquarius.Happy Birthday for Thursday, June 8, 2023:You have a winning personality. You know how to regale others with tales of your exploits and other stories. You are forever curious and dramatic. This is a fun-loving, social, creative year for you! Have fun, but remember your goals. Old friends might rekindle relationships.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Expect a curveball or something unusual to happen when dealing with a friend today (probably a female). Or you might be just as surprised by the antics or decisions of a group. Possibly, you will meet a real character today. Tonight: Be cooperative.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Today you don’t want to be bossed around or dictated to by anyone. You want the freedom to be able to call your own shots. This is why you might feel rebellious when dealing with parents, bosses, teachers or the police if they start telling you w...

Zelenskyy says awaiting final agreements on 'powerful' F16 jets offer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday (6 June) he received "a serious, powerful" offer from leaders of countries ready to provide Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets and is awaiting final agreements with key allies."Our partners know how many aircraft we need," Zelenskyy was quoted as saying in a statement on his website. "I have already received an understanding of the number from some of our European partners ... It is a serious, powerful offer."Kyiv now awaits a final agreement with its allies, including "a joint agreement with the United States," Zelenskyy said.It is still unclear which Kyiv's allies are ready to send the jets to Ukraine.US President Joe Biden told G7 leaders last month that Washington supported joint allied training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. But US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan has said there was no final decision on Washington sending aircraft.Zelenskyy has long appealed for the F-16 jets, saying their appearance with Ukrain...

Miss Manners: They ram my shopping cart and then just stare at me

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:29 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Could you please help me with grocery store behavior, specifically when to stop, yield and go?Most grocery stores are set up in a grid, with the perimeter aisle being the largest and, in my opinion, the main thoroughfare that gets the right of way.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Whose fault is this distressing situation with my pants? Advice | Miss Manners: He’s my husband, not my brother, and why are you even asking? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I really being perverse not to have my DNA tested? Advice | Miss Manners: I made the mistake of sharing my manuscript with this colleague Advice | Miss Manners: How can I make a guest commit to her RSVP? When I come out of an inner aisle, I always yield and make sure the coast is clear before entering the outer aisle.I find most people don’t reciprocate, don’t pay attention, sometimes ram into my cart, and simply look at ...