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Speaker of Ontario legislature stands by keffiyeh ban; Ford, opposition seek reversal

A keffiyeh is a checkered scarf sometimes worn in Arab cultures that has come to represent solidarity with Palestinians.

Members of provincial parliament typically ask particular permission to put on an merchandise which will break the principles, akin to ribbons for a selected trigger’s consciousness day, and so they do this by looking for unanimous consent of the legislature.

NDP Chief Marit Stiles moved a unanimous consent movement Thursday morning saying the keffiyeh is a culturally vital clothes merchandise in Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities and must be allowed in the home, however Arnott mentioned he heard a number of individuals say “no.”

The loudest “no” got here from Progressive Conservative backbencher Robin Martin.

“I believe (Arnott’s ruling) is the right choice, in the identical means we are able to’t use other forms of political clothes,” Martin mentioned after query interval.

“We will’t put on T-shirts that say, ‘Free the hostages’ or wrap ourselves in a flag or no matter. We’ve got to comply with the principles of the legislature. In any other case, we politicize your entire debate contained in the legislature and that’s not what it’s about … we use our phrases to steer, not our objects of garments.”

Martin’s place is in distinction to her chief’s, with Premier Doug Ford calling on the Speaker to reverse his choice.

“It actually comes right down to uniting Ontarians and communities,” the premier mentioned Thursday morning at an unrelated press convention. “We see the division proper now that’s happening. It’s not wholesome, and this may simply divide the group much more.”

Stiles mentioned she was upset her movement didn’t cross and pressed the federal government to behave.

“I believe the premier must now guarantee that his caucus does the appropriate factor,” she mentioned.

The difficulty got here to Stiles’ consideration final week when one in all her staffers, who wears a keffiyeh each day, needed to take away it earlier than getting into the constructing.

The Legislative Protecting Service advised the staffer to take away the keffiyeh, she mentioned.

“The keffiyeh is worn by Muslims, Arabs, Palestinians, it’s cultural apparel, identical to so many different issues are,” Stiles mentioned.

“And we reside in a various province, and other people, I believe, have a proper to put on their cultural heritage, their cultural apparel and present their satisfaction of their heritage.”

Ford wants to point out some management to repair the difficulty, mentioned Liberal parliamentary chief John Fraser.

“The premier must say to his home chief, ‘I’m placing ahead a movement,’ and once they put ahead the movement, we’ll all be there to help it,” Fraser mentioned.

“We will’t proceed to debate this, we have now different extra necessary issues to speak about.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed April 18, 2024.

Allison Jones and Liam Casey, The Canadian Press

<!– Picture: 20240418100456-6621353daca545ca19b74b7ajpeg.jpg, Caption:

An NDP movement to permit keffiyehs to be worn within the Ontario legislature has failed because it didn’t obtain unanimous consent after not less than one member voted towards it. Palestinian kids maintain up a big kaffiyeh, a standard Arab headdress, as they take part in a march to commemorate  “Nakba”, which is Arabic for disaster, within the West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah, Monday, Could 17, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Tara Todras-Whitehill

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House speaker plans vote on Israel aid; IDF vows retaliation for strikes

Israeli safety forces “should instantly finish their energetic participation in and help for settler assaults on Palestinians,” in line with a press release from the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights.

It follows a wave of settler assaults on Palestinian cities and villages within the West Financial institution triggered by the killing of a 14-year-old Israeli boy in what authorities say was a militant assault.

The Palestinian Well being Ministry says seven Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers because the assaults started Friday, and one other 75 have been wounded.

Israeli authorities have urged individuals to not resort to vigilante assaults as tensions soar. However rights teams have lengthy accused Israeli forces of routinely ignoring settler assaults and even collaborating in them.

The U.N. assertion stated “Palestinians have been subjected to waves of assaults by tons of of Israeli settlers, usually accompanied or supported by Israeli Safety Forces.” It stated that along with deaths and accidents, the assaults have additionally included the torching of tons of of houses and different buildings, in addition to automobiles.

“Israel, because the occupying energy, should take all measures in its energy to revive, and guarantee, so far as potential, public order and security within the occupied West Financial institution,” it stated.

Israel captured the West Financial institution within the 1967 Mideast struggle and has constructed scores of settlements there that at the moment are house to over 500,000 Jewish settlers. The Palestinians need the West Financial institution, which is house to some 3 million Palestinians, to type the principle a part of their future state.

Violence has surged within the West Financial institution because the Oct. 7 Hamas assault out of Gaza that triggered the struggle. The Palestinian Well being Ministry says not less than 468 Palestinians have been killed because the begin of the struggle in Gaza. Most have been shot useless by Israeli safety forces throughout arrest raids or violent protests.

Ontario Legislature upholds keffiyeh scarf ban

Open this photograph in gallery:

An NDP movement to permit keffiyehs to be worn within the Ontario legislature has failed because it didn’t obtain unanimous consent after at the least one member voted towards it. Palestinian youngsters maintain up a big kaffiyeh within the West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah, Could 17, 2010.Tara Todras-Whitehill/The Canadian Press

The Ontario Legislature has upheld its Speaker’s ban on carrying the standard keffiyeh scarf, lengthy an emblem of the Palestinian trigger, after at the least one Progressive Conservative MPP blocked a movement that may have overturned it.

Ontario NDP Chief Marit Stiles, who had written to Speaker Ted Arnott to protest his ruling, moved a movement within the Home on Thursday searching for the unanimous consent of MPPs to reverse the ban. Premier Doug Ford, Liberal Chief Bonnie Crombie and Inexperienced Social gathering Chief Mike Schreiner had additionally referred to as on Wednesday for the ban to be overturned.

However when Mr. Arnott requested the Home on Thursday morning to grant the required unanimous consent to overrule him, PC MPP Robin Martin, who represents the Toronto using of Eglinton-Lawrence, voted no.

Mr. Ford, who was not within the legislature and was talking at an look in Oakville, Ont., advised reporters earlier than the vote that he wished to keep away from extra division on the problem.

“We see the division proper now that’s occurring. It’s not wholesome and it will simply divide the group much more,” he stated.

Mr. Ford stated he has many mates within the Jewish group in addition to a Muslim son-in-law.

“Everybody must get alongside. This has been occurring for a thousand years.”

B’nai Brith Canada had issued an announcement commending Mr. Arnott’s unique choice. It stated then keffiyeh’s “innocuous origins as a cultural image have been corrupted by radicals. It has grow to be a divisive image that’s used to incite.” And it referred to as for different legislatures and the Home of Commons in Ottawa to comply with swimsuit.

In a letter to Mr. Arnott dated April 12, Ms. Stiles stated it had come to her consideration that legislative safety had begun prohibiting the carrying of keffiyehs within the legislative precinct by members, employees and the general public and that she wished this reconsidered.

She stated the meeting has at all times permitted members to “brazenly have fun their tradition,” together with by carrying conventional clothes.
Ms. Stiles stated the keffiyeh is a major conventional clothes merchandise not just for Palestinians, however for a lot of members of the Arab and Muslim communities. She stated members of her employees have been requested to take away their keffiyehs to be able to come to work.

In a response to her letter dated April 16, Mr. Arnott stated he would reverse the ruling if the Home requested such a transfer with unanimous consent.

The legislature typically varies its guidelines through this type of unanimous consent movement, permitting MPPs to put on sports activities jerseys or different symbols that break the common guidelines.

Mr. Arnott stated in his letter that after researching the query, he had concluded the keffiyeh was a political image.

April 16, 2024 – Israel-Hamas war

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech on July 5, 2023. Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Photographs/File

Israel, aided by its allies, dodged a bullet Sunday.

To be extra exact, 60 tons of explosives aboard greater than 350 Iranian projectiles, some greater than a household automotive, did not dodge Israel’s defenses.

But Israel, in defiance of US President Joe Biden’s warnings to “take the win” and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s menace of a “extreme, in depth and painful” response to any retaliation, is considering simply that.

Deterrence, shorthand for “meanest S.O.B. within the room,” Israel believes, is the cornerstone of its survival. Iran is stealing that brick.

When confronted with existential threats up to now, Israel has executed essentially the most audacious raids the area has ever witnessed. The purpose being, Israel received’t telegraph its assault plans as Iran did on the weekend.

Other than the core members of Israel’s conflict cupboard, greater than a dozen different individuals have sat on the desk deep contained in the Kirya, Israel’s most safety protection headquarters in Tel Aviv, thrashing out their subsequent transfer.

Netanyahu’s subsequent transfer will doubtless attempt to lock in sanctions, and strike earlier than damaging Gaza headlines dump the worldwide good will filling his sails.

The clock is ticking. He wants two issues, time to arrange a big shock strike, and time to coalesce worldwide diplomacy. As each march to completely different beats, his legendary political acumen faces certainly one of its stiffest exams but.

Netanyahu is famed as a political survivor. However now he faces the most important gamble of his profession. He’s betting the blood of his nation over Iran’s learn of his rift with America.

Learn extra.

Did Kate Martin get drafted? What to know about WNBA Las Vegas Aces guard

Hawkeye workforce chief Kate Martin is coming into the WNBA, alongside teammate and good friend Caitlin Clark as the one gamers from the state of Iowa chosen within the 2024 draft.

This was her closing season enjoying for the Hawkeyes. Martin made career-highs this season averaging 13.1 factors a recreation and 6.8 rebounds. That is the second season Martin aided the Hawkeyes within the NCAA title recreation. She ended her profession with 1,229 factors and 756 rebounds.

Did Kate Martin get drafted?

Sure. Within the second spherical of the WNBA Draft Monday, Martin was chosen by the Las Vegas Aces. Because the 18th general choose, Martin is certainly one of two Hawkeyes to be drafted this 12 months. That is the primary time two of Iowa’s gamers had been chosen in the identical WNBA draft since 1998.

“I’m so pleased with Kate as a result of her desires got here true,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder advised Hawk Central. “She has been such an enormous a part of our program over the past six years. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed by her friends. I want Kate all of the success with this subsequent step.”

Extra:What did Caitlin Clark say about Kate Martin being drafted?

What ought to I find out about Kate Martin?

Within the final 12 months, Martin turned the forty third Hawkeye in this system’s historical past to eclipse 1,000 profession factors. She earned Second Workforce All-Massive Ten honors from the coaches and media, based on the Hawkeyes Girls’s Basketball web site. She scored 15 or extra factors in 15 video games and 20 or extra factors in three video games.

The place is Kate Martin from?

Martin is from Edwardsville, Illinois, the place she performed for Edwardsville Excessive College. Throughout her highschool profession, she scored greater than 1,000 factors and was a three-year starter. She averaged 16.2 factors, 5.9 rebounds and a pair of.88 assists, based on the Hawkeyes’ web site.

Extra:Kate Martin picked by Las Vegas in WNBA Draft: What they’re saying on social media

How tall is Kate Martin?

Martin stands at 6 toes, based on the Hawkeye’s web site. She was quantity 20 throughout her time with Iowa.

What’s Kate Martin majoring in?

Martin is a graduate scholar on the College of Iowa. She is majoring in sports activities advertising.

Des Moines Register reporter Tyler Tachman contributed to this report.

Kate Kealey is a common project reporter for the Register. Attain her at kkealey@registermedia.com or comply with her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

Referee Mike Sullivan Officiates First NHL Game at Flames/Coyotes

Referee Mike Sullivan will make his Nationwide Hockey League officiating debut on Sunday when he takes the ice in Calgary for Flames vs. Arizona Coyotes. 

Sullivan, sporting #47,  will swimsuit up alongside referee Kendrick Nicholson (#30) and linesmen Travis Toomey (#90) and Bevan Mills (#53).  The Officiating Supervisor can be Al Kimmel. 

Sullivan, to not be confused with the Pittsburgh Penguins head coach, was employed by the NHL  previous to the beginning of the season.  He performed faculty hockey at Bowling Inexperienced State College earlier than listening to to Europe. Sullivan spent three seasons in Italy, enjoying within the win2day ICE Hockey League (then referred to as the EBEL) earlier than heading to the U.Ok. to hitch the EIHL’s Dundee Stars for one season. 

“I needed to be a referee for some time now, however I by no means actually knew how one can get began,” Sullivan advised his former workforce, the Dundee Stars.  “[In 2017], I used to be fortunate sufficient to attend the NHL Publicity Mix for potential/potential officers. I cherished the entire expertise and realised that I needed to essentially give officiating a shot.”

Sullivan made his officiating debut in 2019, working video games within the Better Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), together with the American Hockey League – as a referee – and the Ontario Hockey League – as a linesman.  He’s at present in his fifth AHL season, his third as a full-time referee.

“Officiating is unquestionably one thing that I might like to do for the remainder of my life,” Sullivan stated again in 2020.  “To have the ability to be across the sport on a regular basis, and make a fantastic profession out of it, could be a dream. For the time being, I’m simply ensuring that each sport I get within the AHL, OHL, and Minor Hockey, I work arduous and do my greatest to referee a good sport. The sport has given me a lot, and I owe it to the sport to try this.”

From the NHLOA:

Born and raised within the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario, Mike Sullivan performed hockey throughout the Better Toronto Space till 2011, when he started a collegiate profession at Bowling Inexperienced State College.  After enjoying 4 years for the Falcons, he graduated and joined his older brother in Italy, signing with Asiago within the Italian Skilled Hockey League.

After two seasons in Italy, he started pursuing a profession in officiating by making use of to the 2017 NHL Officiating Beginner Publicity Mix. After a watch opening week on the mix, he returned to Italy for an additional season, the place his workforce gained the Alps Hockey League Championship, and he acquired the esteemed privilege of representing Italy on the 2018 World Championships. That summer season, he attended the 2018 NHL Officiating Mix as soon as once more to proceed to develop as a possible official.

He performed one ultimate season within the UK’s Elite League, the place he performed for the Scottish based mostly Dundee Stars, whereas additionally incomes his Grasp’s Diploma in Enterprise from the College of Dundee.

After as soon as once more attending the 2019 NHL Officiating Mix, he picked up a whistle and started his officiating profession, working 200 youth video games within the Better Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), whereas additionally being a linesperson for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and a Referee for the American Hockey League (AHL). He transitioned to full time Referee within the AHL for the 2021 season, working a full schedule together with the primary two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 2022-23 season was his 4th AHL season, the place he continued to hone his sport by a full season schedule, incomes the glory of working the Calder Cup Convention Finals.  After that season, In June of 2023, his on-ice profession would come full circle, as he could be supplied a minor league referee NHL contract in his hometown of Toronto.

 

Sullivan is the fourth and ultimate referee to make his Nationwide Hockey League debut this month.  Referee Graedy Hamilton took the ice for the primary time within the NHL at Coyotes vs. Sharks, adopted by Stephen Hiff at Sharks vs. Kraken, and Riley Brace at Canadiens vs. Senators.  All 4 had been employed previous to the 2023-24 season.

UPDATE:  Sully acquired a barn-burner for his first sport within the present because the Flames gained 6-5.  Right here’s the opening draw and some officiating highlights… 

 

 

Congratulations to Mike Sullivan on the beginning of his Nationwide Hockey League officiating profession! 

 

Kate Martin attends WNBA draft to support Clark, gets drafted

“I used to be right here to help Caitlin, however I hoped to listen to my title referred to as,” Martin stated in an interview on ESPN after she was chosen by the defending WNBA champions.

NEW YORK — Kate Martin traveled to the WNBA draft to help her Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark and ended up getting drafted by the Las Vegas Aces.

Martin was chosen 18th general by the defending champions.

“There are a number of feelings proper now,” Martin stated in an interview on ESPN. “I’m actually pleased to be right here. I used to be right here to help Caitlin, however I hoped to listen to my title referred to as. All I wished was a chance and I bought it. I’m actually excited.”

Martin was among the many 1,000 followers who had been contained in the Brooklyn Academy of Music, seated subsequent to her former Iowa teammates Gabbie Marshall and Jada Gyamfi. As she heard her title referred to as, she hugged Hawkeyes assistant coach Jan Jensen.

“I’m tremendous excited for the chance. I’ve a extremely good work ethic,” Martin stated.

She helped Iowa attain the NCAA title recreation for the second straight season and completed her profession with 1,299 factors, 756 rebounds and 473 assists.

Together with Clark, who was drafted first by Indiana, Iowa had two gamers chosen within the draft for the primary time since 1998.

The league will open coaching camp on April 28 and the season begins Might 14.

The Aces did not have any picks within the first spherical, however made probably the most of three second-round selections. Las Vegas additionally selected Syracuse guard Dyaisha Truthful, who completed because the third-leading scorer in NCAA Division I historical past, with the sixteenth decide.

The workforce closed out the spherical by drafting Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley, who’s recovering from a torn ACL. She’s out for the season and confirmed up on crutches.

Kesha slams Diddy in tweaked ‘Tik Tok’ lyrics at Coachella

In gentle of current occasions, Kesha is giving certainly one of her largest songs a rewrite.

The singer carried out her mid-aughts monitor “Tik Tok” with Reneé Rapp at Coachella on Sunday, however tweaked its opening lyric that references Diddy after the rapper’s houses have been raided by legislation enforcement.

Instead of the road “get up within the morning feeling like P. Diddy,” Kesha as an alternative sang “(expletive) P. Diddy” whereas elevating a center finger.

Her shock look got here throughout Rapp’s Coachella set, and the “Imply Ladies” star joined Kesha in cursing out Diddy and elevating a center finger within the air.

Final month, U.S. Homeland Safety Investigations officers raided two of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ houses, which a number of retailers reported was a part of a intercourse trafficking investigation. In current months, Diddy has confronted quite a few allegations of sexual assault in a slate of civil fits filed towards him.

This is not the primary time Kesha has tweaked the lyrics of “Tik Tok.” In November, she dropped Diddy’s identify from the tune solely, singing at a Los Angeles live performance, “Get up within the morning feelin’ similar to me.” That change got here on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who sued him for rape and intercourse trafficking in November.

“Mr. Combs asserted full management over Ms. Ventura’s private {and professional} life, thereby guaranteeing her incapacity to flee his maintain,” the lawsuit stated. “He supplied unprecedented avenues for achievement for the aspiring artist, however in return, demanded obedience, loyalty and silence.”

Cassie and Diddy shortly reached a settlement. Diddy’s lawyer has stated the rapper is harmless and criticized the raid on his houses as a “witch hunt based mostly on meritless accusations.”

Diddy investigated for intercourse trafficking:A timeline of allegations and the rapper’s life, profession

Talking to MTV Information in 2009, Kesha defined the Diddy lyric took place “as a result of one morning, I awoke surrounded by a bunch of sizzling babes, and I used to be like, ‘I am like Diddy, man.'” Diddy additionally contributed vocals to the tune.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Naledi Ushe

Michael Douglas jokes he and Catherine Zeta-Jones ‘seduce’ their kids with vacations

They gotta pay to play.

Michael Douglas joked he and his spouse, Catherine Zeta-Jones, “seduce” their two kids, Dylan, 23, and Carys, 20, into hanging out with them by providing them lavish holidays.

“Catherine and I are blessed with the truth that our youngsters Dylan and Carys nonetheless wish to journey with us,” the legendary actor, 79, shared on Tuesday’s episode of the “Right now” present.

“And so, we simply completed 5 weeks in India at Christmastime. And we’re all the time planning subsequent yr, what our journeys can be and the place we’ll go.”

Michael Douglas joked he and his spouse, Catherine Zeta-Jones, “seduce” their two kids, Dylan and Carys, into hanging out with them by providing them lavish holidays. Michael Douglas/Instagram
“Catherine and I are blessed with the truth that our youngsters Dylan and Carys nonetheless wish to journey with us,” the legendary actor shared on the “Right now” present Tuesday. Right now Present/NBC

Douglas — who additionally shares son Cameron, 45, together with his ex-wife, Diandra Luker — mentioned it’s a “deal with” having his grownup youngsters round him.

“Particularly if you’re not forcing them. [I] mentioned, ‘Catherine, look, they really need to hang around with us.’ I mentioned, ‘You understand, it’s good,’” he mentioned.

“However we’ve acquired good journeys. We seduce them with good locations to go.”

Douglas and Zeta-Jones, 54, met on the 1998 Deauville Movie Competition whereas selling their movies.

Douglas — who additionally shares son Cameron together with his ex-wife, Diandra Luker — mentioned it’s a “deal with” having his grownup youngsters round him particularly after they don’t need to “drive” them. Right now Present/NBC
“However we’ve acquired good journeys. We seduce them with good locations to go,” he joked. Right now Present/NBC

Douglas famously informed the “Masks of Zorro” actress, “I need to father your kids.”

The pair tied the knot in November 2000 on the Plaza Resort in New York Metropolis.

Though Dylan and Carys have two well-known mother and father, that doesn’t imply they don’t embarrass them typically.


For extra Web page Six you’re keen on…


Douglas and Zeta-Jones met in 1998 at a movie pageant and tied the knot two years later. Michael Douglas/Instagram
The “Deadly Attraction” actor famously informed the “Masks of Zorro” actress: “I need to father your kids.” catherinezetajones/Instagram

Final yr, Dylan who can be an actor, mentioned his dad tells loads of “unhealthy jokes.”

“Extra by way of what he says, fairly than who he’s,” he completely informed Web page Six on the Broadway opening of “Good Night time, Oscar” in April 2023.

“Simply dad stuff. [He’s a] bit out of contact, unhealthy jokes for certain!”

Though Dylan and Carys have two well-known mother and father, that doesn’t imply they don’t embarrass them typically. Catherine Zeta-Jones/Instagram
Dylan beforehand informed Web page Six that his dad makes loads of “unhealthy jokes.” WireImage

And in December 2022, Zeta-Jones, who performs Morticia Addams on “Wednesday,” in contrast Carys to her onscreen daughter’s character on the hit Netflix collection.

“Carys, my actual daughter as a little bit lady. 🤣,” the Oscar winner captioned footage of her daughter at a recital.

“I’ve had a Wednesday Addams in my life for 19 years and 9 months.🤣. Morticia and I like you my little rain cloud🖤.”

Kesha Switches “Tik Tok” Lyric About Sean “Diddy” Combs at Coachella

The occasion do not cease, however this lyric has. 

When Kesha made a shock look at Coachella alongside Reneé Rapp, she modified a longstanding lyric to her music “Tik Tok” that references Sean “Diddy” Combs

Whereas the unique opening line was, “Get up within the morning feeling like P Diddy,” throughout her April 14 efficiency, Kesha as an alternative sang, “Get up within the morning like f–k P. Diddy.” And in footage shared to social media, each she and Rapp may be seen holding up their center fingers. 

E! Information reached out to reps for Combs however was unable to achieve them for remark. 

The change comes amid authorized hassle for the rapper and is actually not the primary time Kesha has swapped the lyric whereas performing. In November whereas performing in Los Angeles as a part of her Solely Love tour, the 37-year-old sang, per The Hollywood Reporter, “Get up within the morning feeling similar to me.” 

That efficiency occurred sooner or later after Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura—Combs’ former girlfriend of over a decade—filed a lawsuit towards the rapper in New York, accusing him of bodily and sexual abuse all through their relationship.

Two extra lawsuits have been filed towards the “I am going to Be Lacking You” artist that very same month over separate alleged incidents of sexual misconduct. He denied wrongdoing in every occasion and settled the case with Ventura on November 18.