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Ontario teachers settle labour complaint, early reading screening tool not mandated

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

Two Ontario teachers’ unions say they have settled unfair labour practice complaints against the government, with the province agreeing not to mandate an early reading screening tool for the upcoming school year.The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) accused the government two weeks ago of failing to bargain in good faith by issuing the new requirement since it is a topic of discussion in negotiations.The four major teachers’ unions have been bargaining for a new contract with the government for more than a year, and three say they are planning strike votes this fall.A new policy announced by Education Minister Stephen Lecce earlier this year would have required teachers to use an early reading screening tool in senior kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2.A joint statement Wednesday from ETFO and OECTA says while they firmly believe that every child has the right to learn to read, thei...

Canada sanctions Russian nuclear sector, assesses reports of Prigozhin death

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

Canada is sanctioning more Russians accused of supporting the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with a focus on banks, defence companies and the nuclear sector.Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is announcing a dealings ban for four Russians and 29 entities, including a rifle company, a shipbuilder and atomic research institutions.The ban targets subsidiaries of Russia’s state atomic energy corporation, known as Rosatom, as well as an export agency that helps sell Russian nuclear technology abroad.Ottawa says the intent is to nudge Russia toward upholding international nuclear-safety standards, given the unclear situation at a major nuclear plant in the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, which is occupied by Russian forces.Canada has sanctioned thousands of people and firms it accuses of supporting Russia’s war, although experts say it’s unclear how well Ottawa enforces these sanctions or monitors their effectiveness.Meanwhile, Joly says she’s looking into uncon...

North Korea conducts rocket launch in likely 2nd attempt to put spy satellite into orbit

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Thursday that North Korea has launched a long-range rocket.South Korea’s military said in a statement that the launch involved what the North called “a space launch vehicle.”It gave no further details. But it is likely be the North’s second attempt to put a spy satellite into space.Earlier this week, Japanese officials said North Korea told it that the North plans to launch a satellite in the coming days.The Associated Press

AUC says it will still process applications during renewables moratorium

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

CALGARY — The Alberta Utilities Commission has clarified how it intends to implement the UCP government’s moratorium on wind and solar energy development.The regulator says it will continue to accept and process applications for renewable energy developments while the seven-month pause period is in effect.However, no approvals will be issued until the moratorium is lifted.The Alberta government announced the moratorium on Aug. 3, saying the pause is necessary to give the regulator time to hold an inquiry on how the rapid pace of renewable energy development in the province is affecting agricultural land and system reliability, as well as what plans are in place for reclamation of wind and solar projects.Premier Danielle Smith has faced criticism for announcing the moratorium with no advance notice and without consulting stakeholders, jeopardizing billions of dollars in potential investment in renewables.The Business Renewables Centre-Canada says by choosing to continue accepti...

3 charged with murder after man killed in Aurora home invasion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

AURORA, Ill. — Three men have been charged with murder following a deadly shooting and home invasion back in May.On Tuesday, Kevan Spatz, 36, of Chicago, Joshua Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, and William Rodriguez, 18, of Melrose Park, were arrested by U.S. Marshals and charged with first-degree murder and home invasion. Spatz and Joshua Rodriguez were additionally charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.William Rodriquez was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a person under 21.On May 8, Aurora officers responded to a residence in the 2300 block of Candleberry Lane on the report of shots fired. 36-year-old man shot, killed in Aurora Isaiah Ayala, 36, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.All three men charged are being held on a $2,000,000 bond.Police said they are still investigating the shooting.

Giuliani surrenders at Fulton County jail over Georgia charges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

Rudy Giuliani surrendered at the Fulton County, Ga., jail Wednesday over charges tied to his efforts to help former President Trump remain in office after losing the 2020 election after agreeing to a $150,000 bond agreement.The former New York City mayor and longtime Trump ally faces 13 charges for allegedly joining a criminal enterprise bent on keeping the former president in the White House.  He joins 18 other defendants, including Trump, in a sweeping case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D).Upon leaving the jail, Giuliani told reporters he believed the indictment was a "travesty." He also said posting bond should not mistaken for admitting guilt in the case, insisting that he did so to not serve jail time. He maintained that Willis was infringing on First Amendment rights of people who were advocating for the former president."If they could do this to me, they could do this to you," Giuliani said. Television footage showed Giuliani entering a bail bon...

Stop using these two types of eye drops, FDA warns

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use two brands of eye drops due to contamination that could cause a potentially deadly infection.Tests of the drops, Dr. Berne's MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye repair, found bacterial and fungal contamination, the FDA said in a news release Tuesday. Using the products could result in a "serious vision-threatening infection which could possibly progress to a life-threatening infection," according to the FDA.To sell eye drops in the U.S., the product must be sterile to be safe for use, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act states. 5 recalls in 4 weeks: All the things from Trader Joe’s you should toss Both products were being illegally marketed and would never have been deemed safe, according to the FDA, because they contain methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as an active ingredient. "There are no legally marketed opthalmic drugs that contain MSM as an active ingredient," the release says.While...

BA.2.86 subvariant potentially better at causing breakthrough infections: CDC

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

(The Hill) -- The recently detected BA.2.86 COVID-19 subvariant may be more capable of causing infections in people who previously contracted the virus or have been vaccinated, according to a risk assessment from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), though it remains unclear if this strain causes more severe illness than others.First detected last month, a handful of infections caused by BA.2.86 have been reported in the U.S., Denmark, South Africa, the U.K. and Israel. The CDC noted that genomic sequencing of COVID-19 has dropped "substantially" when compared to the past few years so the spread and occurrence of new strains may go undetected for longer.So far, only two cases from BA.2.86 have been confirmed in the U.S. This newer strain is believed to be descended from the BA.2 "stealth" variant that surged globally early last year. CDC warns against kissing small turtles over salmonella risk The updated COVID-19 vaccines are targeted towards strains descendin...

Study links children's screen time to heart damage in adulthood

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

(NewsNation) — More sedentary time as a child could lead to a higher chance of heart attacks and strokes later in life, researchers found in a new study.Even for those at a normal weight and blood pressure, hours of inactivity from childhood to young adulthood was associated with heart damage. This study was conducted as part of the Children of the '90s study by the University of Bristol, in which over 14,000 children born between 1991 and 1992 and their families were "intensively observed" for over two decades.“All those hours of screen time in young people add up to a heavier heart, which we know from studies in adults raises the likelihood of heart attack and stroke,” the study's author, Dr. Andrew Agbaje of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, said. “Children and teenagers need to move more to protect their long-term health.”As part of the research, 11-year-old children were given a smartwatch with an activity tracker to wear for seven days. They were then given the smar...

CDC warns against kissing small turtles over salmonella risk

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:47 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning people about kissing small turtles, saying the affectionate gesture could lead to salmonella. In an investigation notice published Wednesday, the CDC said that 26 individuals have been infected with the disease outbreak linked to small turtles in 11 states. Nine of the 26 patients were hospitalized. “Don’t kiss or snuggle your turtle, and don’t eat or drink around it,” the health agency said in its notice, adding that turtles with shells less than four inches long are a known source of the illness. “This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick.” Retail giants warned over online sales of unapproved products targeting kids’ skin condition The health agency also highly recommended that children under the age of 5, adults who are 65 years or older and people with weak immune systems, shouldn’t have pet turtles, noting that those people are more likely to get a serious il...