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Saskatchewan considers notwithstanding clause to keep school pronoun policy change

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is ready to use the notwithstanding clause to protect a new rule requiring parental permission for transgender and nonbinary students to use different names or pronouns at school.In the face of a court challenge brought against the new education policy, Moe announced late last week that his provincial government would seek to enshrine the changes in legislation to be introduced this fall.He recently told reporters that his Saskatchewan Party government was prepared to use different “tools” to ensure that the policy remains in place.“If necessary, that would be one of the tools that would be under consideration — yes,” Moe said in an interview Wednesday when asked whether the notwithstanding clause was an option on the table.“The notwithstanding clause is present for a reason — so that duly elected governments can represent their constituents when necessary.” The notwithstanding clause is a provision in the Charter...

Credit card debt hit all-time high in Q2 as financial pressure builds: Equifax

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

TORONTO — Equifax Canada says credit card balances hit an all-time high of $107.4 billion in the second quarter of 2023, in a sign financial stress continued to build in the face of inflation and rising interest rates.The agency says total Canadian consumer debt reached $2.4 trillion during the second quarter.Vice-president of advanced analytics Rebecca Oakes says non-mortgage debt growth was largely due to substantial growth in credit card balances and a notable increase in debt among subprime and deep subprime consumers. The report by Equifax Canada said average non-mortgage debt per credit-active consumer edged up to $21,131.Oakes says despite mounting credit card debt, credit card delinquencies aren’t rising as fast as expected, in part because of an influx of new credit card users which also contributed to the growth in overall non-mortgage debt. Equifax Canada says many Canadians are slowing down their credit card spending, but lower-income households are having a harder...

Daily horoscope for September 14, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The New Moon in Virgo occurs at 9:40 p.m. EDT today (6:40 p.m. PDT).Happy Birthday for Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023:You have a creative mind and excellent problem-solving skills. You are straightforward and tend to tell it like it is. This is a wonderful year to socialize and enjoy life. Your zest and creative desires flourish. Old friends may reappear. Explore your artistic talents.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Today’s New Moon is the perfect time to think about how to improve your job. And likewise, how you can improve your health or buff your bod. (It’s the only one you have.) Mickey Mantle said, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself.” Tonight: Guard your pets.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★Today is the perfect day to take stock of how you balance work and play. How is this working out for you? Are you working too much? Are you playing too ...

Simplifying EU rules for citizens and business: Findings from the 2022 Annual Burden Survey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

The European Commission has published the 2022 Annual Burden Survey, which presents the Commission's action to simplify and modernise EU rules. It lays out the progress and concrete examples of what the Commission has achieved in the first year of fully applying the ‘one in, one out' approach, as well as with its Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) programme and its follow-up to the recommendations of the Fit for Future Platform high-level expert group. This work is reinforced by additional efforts, as outlined in the SME Relief Package.First year results of implementing the ‘one in, one out' approachThe ‘one in, one out' represents a kind of ‘cost brake', which means that all new compliance costs, including administrative costs, for citizens and businesses are quantified and offset with a reduction of existing burden or compensated to the greatest extent possible. The Commission applied the approach to 52 legislative proposals in 2022. The adopted proposals are expected to r...

Miss Manners: This newbie player is always holding up our game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I belong to a community group that plays mah-jongg once a week. We are a friendly bunch that welcomes inexperienced players.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I’m tired of being mistaken for a wife rather than an exec Advice | Miss Manners: Is it OK to point a knife at someone? What about a piece of cake? Advice | Miss Manners: Was I wrong to wear black to the wedding? Advice | Miss Manners: She took my keepsake T-shirts but never made me the quilt Advice | Miss Manners: Is it OK to trick them into diving with great white sharks? Most newcomers tend to play very slowly and are aware they are holding up the game. Different newbies handle the situation in various ways. For example, one person might sit out every other game, while another might play only one game each session. Gradually, everyone who likes the game and sticks with it learns to play and joins in more and more.The...

When will all Prince George’s Co. high schools have metal detectors in place?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Dick Uliano talked to DuVal students about the metal detectors Wednesday $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); In Prince George’s County, Maryland, work has been underway to enhance security at all high schools — and that includes the addition of metal detectors. This week, the devices were installed at DuVal High School in Lanham after the killing of 16-year-old student Jayda Medrano-Moore not far...

Dallas hosts Atlanta to open playoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

Atlanta Dream (19-21, 11-9 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (22-18, 11-9 Western Conference)Arlington, Texas; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Wings -6.5; over/under is 168.5WNBA PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Wings host first series matchupBOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Wings host the Atlanta Dream to start the first round of the WNBA playoffs. Dallas went 3-0 against Atlanta during the regular season. The Wings won the last regular season meeting 94-77 on Sept. 10 led by 32 points from Arike Ogunbowale, while Rhyne Howard scored 19 points for the Dream.The Wings have gone 11-9 in home games. Dallas leads the Western Conference in rebounding, averaging 38.7 boards. Natasha Howard leads the Wings with 8.0 rebounds.The Dream are 8-12 on the road. Atlanta ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference giving up 84.0 points while holding opponents to 43.0% shooting.TOP PERFORMERS: Satou Sabally is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 8.1 rebounds for the Wings. Ogunbowale is averagin...

Sykes, Mystics to face Stewart, Liberty on Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

Washington Mystics (19-21, 9-11 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (32-8, 16-4 Eastern Conference)New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -9.5; over/under is 162.5WNBA PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND:BOTTOM LINE: The New York Liberty square off against the Washington Mystics.The Liberty have gone 16-4 against Eastern Conference teams. New York scores 89.2 points while outscoring opponents by 8.6 points per game.The Mystics are 9-11 against Eastern Conference teams. Washington has an 8-6 record in games decided by 10 points or more.TOP PERFORMERS: Breanna Stewart is scoring 23.0 points per game with 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Liberty. Betnijah Laney is averaging 17.1 points over the last 10 games for New York.Natasha Cloud is averaging 12.7 points and 6.2 assists for the Mystics. Brittney Sykes is averaging 18.2 points over the last 10 games for Washington.LAST 10 GAMES: Liberty: 8-2, averaging 91.3 points, 36.8 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 6.8 steals and ...

Anastasia Potapova stuns top-seeded Ons Jabeur in San Diego Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Anastasia Potapova stunned seventh-ranked Ons Jabeur 6-4, 7-6 (4) on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open.It was the fourth time this year the 27th-ranked Potapova beat a player ranked in the Top 10.“I think it was my patience, just to stay focused as much as I could because Ons is very tough to play,” the 22-year-old Russian player said. “She’s truly one of the best in the world. With her style, it’s very uncomfortable for myself, but I’m really happy and proud to get this win.”Jabeur, from Tunisia, was the top seed. She landed just 39 of 85 first-serves, had nine double-faults and could never really find any rhythm. But Potapova said it was still difficult to close out the three-time Grand Slam finalist.“Tell me about how popular she is — my mother, she loves her so much,” Potapova said. “Every time I talk to my mom on FaceTime with Ons around, she’s like, ‘Call Ons! She’s my best player!’ They’re actually pretty good friends....

Tunisia denies entry to EU lawmakers on official visit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:52 GMT

BRUSSELS — Tunisia denied entry to a group of European Parliament lawmakers planning an official visit to the North African country, due to get under way Thursday. The group of MEPs from the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Germany’s Michael Gahler, were blocked from entering Tunisia on Wednesday evening. “This delegation will not be allowed to enter national territory,” the Tunisian government wrote in a letter seen by POLITICO addressed to the EU’s embassy in Tunis.The move comes after the European Commission struck a controversial deal with Tunisia in July to stem migration flows to Europe. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the agreement as a template for similar deals with other countries in her State of the European Union speech on Wednesday, despite mounting criticism from the Parliament, NGOs and national governments including Germany.The Parliament’s delegation condemned the Tunisian authorities’ action and deman...