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Rights groups welcome Malaysia’s move on death penalty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Human rights groups on Tuesday applauded Malaysia’s move to scrap the mandatory death penalty as a major step forward in the push for the abolition of capital punishment in Southeast Asia. Instead of the death penalty, lawmakers on Monday approved bills to give courts the option of imposing prison sentences of between 30 and 40 years and caning not less than 12 times. Previously, courts had no choice but to mandate hanging as punishment for a range of crimes including murder, drug trafficking, treason, kidnapping and acts of terror.Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch said Malaysia’s progressive stance could help “break the logjam on forward movement towards abolition of the death penalty” in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “Far too many ASEAN states like to brandish the death penalty as some sort of big stick to scare criminals, but that tactic is not really working. Singapore has gone on an execution spree, Vietnam pu...

Police: Palestinian stabs 2 Israelis near army base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian suspect stabbed two Israelis near an army base south of Tel Aviv on Tuesday, police said, in the latest incident in a yearlong spate of violence that shows no sign of abating. The Magen David Adom paramedic service said first responders treated two men for serious and light stab wounds in the incident on a highway near the Tsrifin military base. The men were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment their injuries. Israeli media identified the two victims as soldiers. Police said that civilians at the scene apprehended the suspected attacker, who was taken into police custody for questioning. Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged over the last year, as the Israeli military has carried out near-nightly raids on Palestinian cities, towns and villages and as Palestinians have staged numerous attacks against Israelis.On Monday, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian gunmen during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. At least 88 Palestin...

Progressive Conservatives win big in P.E.I. : In The News for April 4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 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 April 4 …What we are watching in Canada …P.E.I. Premier Dennis King’s decision to go to the polls early paid off with a massive win for his Progressive Conservatives on Monday night.The party captured 55.9 per cent of the popular vote and won 22 of the province’s 27 seats, leaving the Liberals with just three seats and the Greens with two.King told supporters in Charlottetown that the results were a vindication for “positive politics,” and he promised to stay positive as his re-elected government faces challenges in health care, housing, education and climate change.For the Green Party, it was a sobering shift in fortunes from the election four years earlier when the party formed the official Opposition — a first for the Greens in any province.King called the election six months befor...

‘A beautiful community:’ Universities open lounges for Black students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

TORONTO — Spaces designated for students from marginalized backgrounds are spreading across Canadian universities, as officials say they are a necessary and overdue response to decades of racism on campus. Toronto Metropolitan University officially opened a space late last month for students who self-identify as Black.Cheryl Thompson, an associate professor at the university, said the need for such lounges became increasingly clear following the death of George Floyd, whose 2020 killing by a white Minneapolis Police Department officer sparked protests worldwide. “Something did shift in 2020 institutionally … when the world witnessed the inhumanity in that George Floyd video,” Thompson said about the Black man who was seen in a video using his last few breaths telling the officer kneeling on his neck, “I can’t breathe.”“The demands Black students have been making for decades have finally been heard.”Eboni Morgan, a spokesperson for TMU&...

Head of Canadian Museum of History looks to move past a tumultuous few years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

GATINEAU, Que. — Caroline Dromaguet first started working at the Canadian Museum of History as a summer guide, where as a student she fell in love with the world of museums. Over the years she saw the exhibits change, with her life experience changing, too. The museum is where she got her first “grown-up job,” and 25 years later, she has climbed to the top.In December she was appointed president and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History Corp., a federal Crown corporation responsible for both the history museum in Gatineau, Que., and the Canadian War Museum on the Ottawa side of the river, after serving as interim CEO for two years.“I just feel extremely lucky,” Dromaguet said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press, describing her appointment as “quite unexpected.”Her predecessor, Mark O’Neill, resigned in 2021 following allegations of workplace harassment. He had been on medical leave since the summer of 2020, when an independent inve...

Battle looms between Canadian defence officials, decision-makers after federal budget

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

OTTAWA — A battle is brewing between Canadian defence officials and federal decision-makers as the Trudeau government looks for ways to save billions of dollars over the next few years.Experts say last week’s budget and the delays in a planned update to the defence policy are signs of this pending conflict, with ramifications for Canada’s military and its international reputation.The budget contains virtually no new defence funding, but does include several cost-cutting measures, notably an order for departments and agencies to identify ways to cut spending by three per cent over the next few years.And while the government says the Canadian Armed Forces will be excluded from such cuts, it remains unclear the degree to which the exemption will extend to the Department of National Defence, which controls the military’s budget.“Regarding the reduction in eligible spending by departments and agencies, as indicated in Budget 2023, the reduction will not impact the...

Federal Court to hear further arguments against government’s use of Emergencies Act

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

OTTAWA — The Federal Court is slated to hear more concerns today about the Liberal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to quell “Freedom Convoy” protests early last year.Counsel for the Canadian Constitution Foundation and other parties are expected to appear in Ottawa before Justice Richard Mosley on the second day of the three-day hearing.On Monday, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said the government did not clearly spell out proper legal justification for its use of the emergency measures last February.The government contends the extraordinary steps taken to deal with the emergency situation were targeted, proportional, time limited and compliant with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.The Public Order Emergency Commission, a mandatory inquiry held last fall, found the government met the very high threshold for using the law.Now the legal arguments for and against the decision are being heard in a court of law.This report by The Canadian Pr...

Daily horoscope for April 4, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

Moon Alert: Caution! Avoid shopping or major decisions from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT today (6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Virgo into Libra.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, April 4, 2023:You are daring and charismatic. When inspired, you generate amazing energy for organization, activity and inducing others to leap on your bandwagon. This year service to others is a theme, which is why you need to take care of yourself. Perhaps a makeover? Others will turn to you for guidance.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★This is another day with confusion and possible deception, especially related to your work, your health or a pet. This means you might be kidding yourself about a health issue. Think about that. Meanwhile, if you think a co-worker isn’t on the level with you, look into it. Tonight: Cooperate.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Some kind of confusion and misunderstanding related to your kids, a romantic partner or a social situation continues to blur things for you. T...

Pope Francis leads Palm Sunday service, bounces back from illness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

Pope Francis led a Palm Sunday Service the day after he was discharged hospitalized following a bout with bronchitis. He urged the world's leaders to better care for the sick, lonely, and the poor.As Francis, a white open-topped vehicle with a white roof, was driven to St. Peter's Square, thousands of people waved palms and olive branches."I want to thank you for your participation, and for your prayers which have intensified over the past days. Thank you," he stated at the conclusion of the service, referring to his recent illness. He received loud applause from the crowd.After experiencing breathing problems, the pope, who is now 86, was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital. He was quickly treated and then returned to his Vatican residence.To allay any concerns regarding his health, the Vatican announced that he would participate in an array of Easter events this week. This is the busiest period on the Roman Catholic Church calendar. It will begin with an open-air Palm Sunday servi...

Miss Manners: I was embarrassed when everyone in the post office focused on me

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:53:12 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: The other day, I took a package to the local post office. It was early, the line was very short, and I noticed the woman in front of me couldn’t get a handle on the three packages she was trying to take out to her car.Not being in a hurry, I offered to help, and took one package out for her. She thanked me, I said something about being happy to help, and went back in.The man who had been in line right behind me thanked me four or five times, while also apologizing profusely for being waited on while I was gone. I certainly didn’t expect the whole place to pause while I went outside!The woman behind him insisted I cut in front of her and thanked me several times, as did two other people.I found it quite embarrassing and really didn’t know how to respond. I think I muttered something about needing all the brownie points in heaven I could get, and tried to just shrug it off.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I’m embarrassed to b...