The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory this week, cautioning citizens with passports bearing the nonbinary ‘X’ gender designation about potential challenges when entering the United States. Global Affairs Canada emphasized that while Canada issues passports with the ‘X’ gender identifier, it cannot ensure smooth entry or transit in countries that do not recognize this designation. The advisory, released on Monday, specifically highlighted the risk of entry restrictions in such nations. This warning comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding gender identity policies in the US. Since his return to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has taken a firm stance against transgender and nonbinary individuals, asserting in his inaugural address that there are only ‘two sexes, male and female.’ The US State Department, through an executive order, halted the issuance of passports with the ‘X’ gender marker or for individuals whose gender differs from their birth records. Although a court injunction has temporarily blocked this policy, a recent US appeals court decision denied the Trump administration’s efforts to reinstate it. Between 2019 and 2024, Canada has issued approximately 3,400 passports with the ‘X’ gender identifier, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity. However, this move has raised concerns for travelers navigating countries with differing gender recognition policies.
作者： admin
-
White House rejects Pope Leo comments on ‘inhuman’ migrant policy
The White House has firmly defended President Donald Trump’s stringent migration policies following sharp criticism from Pope Leo XIV, who condemned the treatment of migrants in the United States as ‘inhumane.’ Speaking to reporters at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday, the Pope, the first U.S.-born head of the Catholic Church, questioned the moral consistency of those who oppose abortion but support harsh immigration measures or the death penalty. ‘Someone who says “I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants,” I don’t know if that’s pro-life,’ he stated. Pope Leo, born in Chicago and elected in May after the passing of Pope Francis, has been vocal about social justice issues since his days as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, often criticizing Trump and Vice President JD Vance on migration policies. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, a Catholic herself, rebutted the Pope’s remarks during a Wednesday briefing, asserting that the current administration treats immigrants humanely while enforcing the law. She accused the previous administration under President Joe Biden of allowing ‘significant, inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants’ amid record border crossings. The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration’s immigration stance and the Catholic Church’s advocacy for migrant rights.
-
WATCH: Police continue search for missing Manchester schoolboy
In a dramatic turn of events, the Wesley Road area of Mandeville, Jamaica, became the focal point of a large-scale search operation on Wednesday evening. Reports of a sighting of Jayden Smith, a 12-year-old student from Manchester High who has been missing since last Friday, prompted an immediate response from both law enforcement and local residents. The search intensified after citizens reported seeing a child matching Jayden’s description, who reportedly fled when approached by passersby. Eyewitnesses described the scene, with one woman recounting how the boy ran off as she attempted to assist. ‘I was driving when I saw him, and a man was calling out for help. By the time I turned my car around, he had already disappeared,’ she said. Police confirmed they were alerted to the sighting and continued their search until late evening. The principal of Manchester High, Jasford Gabriel, along with school staff, also joined the efforts as the community rallied to locate the missing boy. The search, which began on Tuesday, remains ongoing, with authorities and locals determined to bring Jayden home safely.
-
Ukrainian town in shock after Russian drone kills whole family
In the serene village of Chernechchyna, Ukraine, a tragic incident has left the community in mourning. Natalya, a local resident, recalls the last time she saw her neighbor, Alyona Lesnichenko, a 26-year-old mother of two, who was on a shopping trip to buy treats for her children. “She bought them everything they wanted,” Natalya reminisced, listing sweets, lemonade, pies, sausage, and cheese among the items. Alyona was known for her protective nature, but even she could not shield her family from the devastation that struck on Tuesday morning. A Russian drone tore through their family home, killing Alyona, who was pregnant with twins, her husband Oleksandr, and their two young sons, aged four and six. The funeral held on Wednesday drew dozens of residents, who expressed their shock and disbelief. Alina Lagoyda, a relative, questioned the motive behind the attack, stating, “There have been no strikes here during the entire war, none. What was it for?” Oleksandr, a soldier who had fought on the front lines, had recently returned home, only to meet this tragic fate. Russia has been intensifying its drone attacks on Ukraine, with an average of 188 drones fired daily in September, a significant increase from the previous month. These attacks, often carried out using Iranian-designed ‘Shahed’ drones, aim to terrorize the population. Despite the Ukrainian air force’s efforts to intercept most drones, the escalating scale of the attacks and the rising civilian casualties have instilled fear even in rural areas like Chernechchyna. The funeral procession, a mix of vans and cars, was watched by dozens of locals, some of whom threw flowers on the road. Bouquets of blue and yellow flowers, symbolizing the Ukrainian flag, were carried by attendees. Oksana Chernova, a local councillor, spoke of the family’s unity, “The mother, the father, they were always together.” She speculated that the children likely did not have time to react when the drone struck. Natalya fondly remembered Alyona’s sons as “good kids” who affectionately called her “granny.” “They were good people. But they died that way,” she lamented.
-
UN urges international community to support establishment of new office in Haiti
The United Nations has issued a pressing appeal to the global community to fund its newly proposed UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), designed to bolster the operational and logistical capabilities of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF). This initiative follows the Security Council’s recent resolution to transition the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into the GSF, aimed at curbing gang violence in the crisis-stricken nation.
-
Million-year-old skull could change human evolution timeline
A groundbreaking study published on Friday has revealed that humans may have diverged from our ancient ancestors 400,000 years earlier than previously believed, and in Asia rather than Africa. The findings, based on a digital reconstruction of a million-year-old skull discovered in China in 1990, could reshape our understanding of human evolution and resolve the so-called ‘Muddle in the Middle’ period of human history. The skull, labeled Yunxian 2, was initially thought to belong to Homo erectus, an early human ancestor. However, advanced reconstruction technologies, including CT scanning and virtual modeling, revealed features more closely aligned with later species such as Homo longi and Homo sapiens. Chris Stringer, an anthropologist at London’s Natural History Museum and a member of the research team, stated, ‘This changes a lot of thinking. It suggests that by one million years ago, our ancestors had already split into distinct groups, pointing to a much earlier and more complex evolutionary split than previously believed.’ The study, published in the journal Science, also challenges the long-held assumption that early humans dispersed exclusively from Africa. Michael Petraglia, director of Griffith University’s Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, noted, ‘There’s a big change potentially happening here, where east Asia is now playing a very key role in hominin evolution.’ However, some experts remain skeptical, cautioning that the findings are likely to be disputed. Andy Herries, an archaeologist at La Trobe University, argued that fossil morphology alone may not be a reliable indicator of human evolution, emphasizing the importance of genetic analysis. The study underscores the complexity of human origins and highlights the need for further research to unravel the mysteries of our evolutionary past.
-
Colombia gives chunk of druglord Escobar’s ranch to conflict victims
In a significant move toward social justice, Colombia has reallocated a portion of the late drug lord Pablo Escobar’s sprawling Hacienda Napoles estate to women impacted by the nation’s prolonged armed conflict. President Gustavo Petro announced the decision on Wednesday, marking a step in the government’s efforts to address historical inequalities tied to land ownership. The 120-hectare parcel, once a symbol of Escobar’s immense wealth and power, has been granted to local women farmers who were previously evicted from the land despite receiving a loan from the Puerto Triunfo municipality in 2017. Escobar, the infamous leader of the Medellin Cartel, amassed a fortune estimated at $25 billion in the 1980s. His 4,000-hectare estate, complete with exotic animals like hippos, became a notorious emblem of his criminal empire. After his death in 1993, the property was converted into a theme park, attracting tourists with its zoo and replica plane—a nod to his drug-smuggling operations. The government’s decision aligns with Petro’s broader land reform initiative, which seeks to redistribute thousands of hectares, including properties once owned by drug traffickers, to rural Colombians. While tourism operators have opposed the estate’s division, citing its economic benefits, the move has been celebrated by beneficiaries like Millinery Correa, who expressed hope and gratitude for the land allocation. Additionally, the estate’s hippo population, now numbering around 150, has been declared an invasive species, with plans underway to relocate 70 of them to overseas sanctuaries.
-
Cavalier SC out of Concacaf Caribbean Cup
In a dramatic turn of events, Weymouth Wales FC of Barbados brought an end to Cavalier SC’s reign as Concacaf Caribbean Cup champions with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in their Group B encounter on Wednesday. The match, held in Bridgetown, Barbados, saw Weymouth Wales secure their win with a decisive goal in added time, leaving Cavalier SC’s hopes of advancing in the tournament shattered.
-
Single Lane Traffic on VRN and AR
The Ministry of Works’ Project Implementation Management Unit (PIMU) has announced the implementation of single-lane traffic on Valley Road North (VRN) and Anchorage Road (AR) to facilitate critical infrastructure repairs. The measures, which began this week, are part of the Second Road Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project initiated by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. On Valley Road North, single-lane traffic will be in effect daily from approximately 8:00 a.m. to allow for the completion of headwalls, concrete swales, and asphalt works. Similarly, Anchorage Road will experience single-lane traffic during the same hours to facilitate road markings, sidewalks, and culvert installations. Flag persons will be stationed at the sites to guide motorists, and heavy-duty equipment will be operational in the vicinity. Authorities urge drivers to adhere to instructions for safe passage. While the repairs may cause delays, all businesses in the area remain open. C.O. Williams Ltd., the contractor overseeing the project, has expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and encourages stakeholders to adjust their travel plans accordingly. For further inquiries, the public can contact the C.O. Williams Project office at 562-9573.
-
ABWU Signs New Collective Bargaining Agreements with American University of Antigua
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) has successfully negotiated two new Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with the American University of Antigua (AUA), effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026. These agreements mark a significant milestone for both line and security employees, introducing substantial financial and non-financial benefits. Key financial gains include a shared 2.5% increase in the thrift fund contribution for the first year, followed by annual salary increases of 3% in the second and third years. Additionally, the overtime clause has been revised, allowing staff to earn up to four times their hourly rate under specific conditions. Enhancements to call-out, shift, meal, and graveyard shift allowances further recognize the demands of shift work. On the non-financial front, paternity leave has been extended from five to seven days, and administrative staff will now receive uniforms. ABWU President Kem Riley praised the agreements as a reasonable improvement over previous terms, highlighting the resilience of the workers and the collective strength of the Union. He commended the shop stewards and works committee for their active involvement in the negotiation process. The ABWU reaffirmed its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and advancing fair labor standards across all sectors in Antigua and Barbuda.