esports hoodie Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has directed a top adviser to deliver a renewed national security strategy setting out a framework for Canada's security, defence and diplomatic posture. In a mandate letter to national security and intelligence adviser Nathalie Drouin, Trudeau says he expects her to consult Canadians and work through the national security council to develop the strategy. He says the strategy, to be ready next year, should be reviewed every four years to ensure it remains current and responsive. Trudeau also says he expects Drouin, who became security adviser last January, to manage the flow of intelligence and analysis necessary for him to effectively fulfil his duties. In addition, he cites a need to improve transparency and dialogue with Canadians -- especially those directly affected by emerging threats -- to help raise awareness and improve Canada's ability to respond. Trudeau says this includes better dialogue with parliamentarians, civil society representatives, diaspora communities, provinces and territories, Indigenous groups, allied partners, industry and others. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024.

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Dallas HERO threatens to sue City of Dallas over failure to enforce law on homeless encampmentsKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Felix Okpara had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Volunteers (7-0). Zakai Zeigler added 11 points and nine assists, and Igor Milicic had 13 rebounds and nine points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.WASHINGTON — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he will step down “after weeks of careful thought,” about three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year. Wray’s intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump settled on Patel to be director and repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, including in a television interview broadcast Sunday. His departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump’s norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director before his term was up and Wray — by resigning before he could be fired — opting to avert a collision with the incoming Trump administration that he said would have plunged the FBI into political fighting. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The resignation would clear the way for Patel’s ascension, assuming he is confirmed by the Senate. A White House staffer during Trump’s first term, Patel insists the federal government should be rid of “conspirators” against Trump. The comments stirred alarm that he could seek to use the FBI for retribution against perceived enemies despite longstanding guardrails meant to ensure investigations have a proper basis. It’s extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions. Trump said in the recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property, Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, were both dismissed. Attorney General Merrick Garland, meanwhile, praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement Wray led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. “ Throughout his seven years on the job, Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. In fact, Wray was quick to distance himself and his leadership team from the FBI’s Russia investigation that was well underway when he took office. On the same day of a harshly critical inspector general report on that inquiry, Wray announced more than 40 corrective actions to the FBI’s process for applying for warrants for secret national security surveillance. He said mistakes made during the Russia inquiry were unacceptable and he helped tighten controls for investigations into candidates for federal office. FBI officials actively trumpeted those changes to make clear that Wray’s leadership ushered in a different era at the bureau. Even then, though, Wray’s criticism of the investigation was occasionally measured — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of it as a “witch hunt” — and there were other instances, particularly in response to specific questions, when he memorably broke with the White House. In 2020, he said that there was “no indication” that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election, countering a frequent talking point at the time from Trump. When the Trump White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide, Wray made known his displeasure. Wray also angered Trump for saying that antifa was a movement and an ideology but not an organization. Trump said he wanted to designate the group as a terrorist organization. Then came the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search, which officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction the Justice Department said was gathered. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Funeral Service for Zina Michelle Butler, age 60 years, a resident of West Street, Nassau Bahamas will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday December 14, 2024, at Salem Union Baptist Church, Taylor Street, Bahamas. Officiating will be Reverend Huter B. Rolle, and Reverend Dr. Stephen E. Thompson, assisted by other Ministers of the Gospel. Interment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive. Zina was predeceased by her parents: Mr. William Herman and Dorothea Elaine Butler; Grandparents: Christopher & Mariam Bullard, and Jessie Young; Sister: Willimeta Elaine Butler-Bullard; Brothers: Keith Magnus Butler Sr., Vernon Urie Butler Sr., Jerome Butler; Nephew: Vernon Urie Butler Jr.; Aunts: Paterica Bullard, Janet Bullard and Loraine Bullard- Newbold. Left to cherish these memories is her Son: Ethan Reginald Charlton; Sisters: Denise Butler, Antoinette Lewis (Tampa Fl., Diane Nelson Tampa Fl.); Sisters In-Law: Helena Butler, Deborah Butler; Brother In-Law: Larry Bullard; Aunts: Beryl Bullard-Clark, Dorothy Billy Godet; Nephews and Nieces: Tameka Pratt, De'chan Hall, Kaynell Butler-Paul (Christopher), Keilya and Leonardo Jones, Kerah Butler, Deangelo Butler (Lakeisha) of Tampa, FL, Keith Butler Jr. (Brunise) Miami, FL, Vernica and Verkeisha, Alexandria Butler; Great Grand Nephews and Nieces: Christopher Paul Jr., Kristalee Newbold, Logan and Ariah Jones, Deangelo Jr., Kamini and Kahalani Butler (Tampa, FL), Deano, Adrian and Alina Butler and Kamari Hamilton (Miami, FL), Sawekon Brown (Toronto Canada), Adam Smith, Kenny, Attai, Royce, Kendyle Lightbourne, Veronica Butler; numerous Cousins Including: Gwyneth (Donald) Barr and family, Stephanie Forbes and family, Daphanie (Dr. Samual) Bain and family, Patrick Huyler, Timothy and Lisa, Kenneth (Margarita)Wilson and family, William Clarke, Maria Thompson family, Withfield Woodside and family, Kevin, Lowell Huyler and family, Nicholas Huyler and family, (Benard decease), Lavern Bostwick and family, Tina, Greg, Linda, Santana and Bronell Degama, Dericka Higgs and family, Clarence Higgs and family, Dereck Higgs and family, Shawn and family, Charles and family, Clarence Higgs Jr., Prince, Jay Goodman, Kendel Lightbourn; Lifelong Friends: Janet Newbold and family, Chanarae Turnquest. Mrs. Charmekka Turnquest, Chanaze Clarke, Caroline and Erin Larrimore, Evangelist Joanne Glinton, Mrs. Dorothy, Nicole Glass and family Miami, Fl., Mercelee Dimples McQuay, Dr. Ruth Gardiner and family, Audrey Albury, Christal Adderley, Yvonne Joseph, Denise Mortimer and Family, Genevieve Strachan, Marcia White. Kashala Taylor and family Michael (Bater) Caroll and family, Christopher and Shawn Collins; God Sister and Brothers: Donna Grant and family, Colyn, Bradley, Dale, Carter; God Children: Sherell and Raquel Newbold, Edwards Russell III, Raynaldo Russell Canada, Nicolette Keon Canada, Beau McQuay, Lakeitha McDonald, Tenneil Watkins, Taran Watkins, Armory Kelly, Armory Price, Antrell Fernander, Georgette and Tony Newbold, Travon and Taniska Sands (Bimini); The employees of The Atlantis Casino and Human Resources Department, Slots Technician Assistant VP Casino: George Daley, Chief Gaming Officer Joe Burnini, Vice President of Casino David Francis, Manager of Slots Keith Carey, Gaming Board Inspectors; Staff: Shantel Brown, Lavardis Morley, Michaela Whylly, Cassandra Collie, Eloise Burrows, Daphane Bain, Lamona Gibson Alina Taylor, Shanique Goodman, Vernita Smith, Hercules Seymour, Donna Morris, Shakeva Williams, Nisha, Aniska, Karen Brown, Ida Curtis, Monty Pinder, Kathy, Katherin Hepburn, Sherri Brown, Lowell Bethel, Florinda, Bar Sol, Shervin Bethell, Tammy King, Dellarese, Jack Knowles, Tammy, Bronson, Percy, Monty, Jervin, Roney Charlton and family, Lowell, Leonard, Caven, Lolita, Theresa, Cleanne, Violet, Ethel, Carla Moss, Theo, Tangle Smith, Vernita Smith, Kelia, Hilton, Diane, Casino Cage, Casino Dealers, Space Cleaners, Casino Security, Bar Sol, Guess Services, Cocktail Waitresses, Hotel Guest Rob and Dena; Other Relatives: Rev. Hector Smith of Miami FL. Shirley Princess Smith John Smith Family Miami FL, Elain Bullard-Butler and Family Silis Bullard, Wendy Morley and family, Morley family, Melanie Thompson and family, Mary Johnson, Sherel Bullard and family, The entire Butler Family, Family of the late Claudette Lundy and God Mother of the Late Doreth Grant and Family, Joey and Brenda Turnquest, Yvonne and Marsha Smith Family, Mary Ferguson and Family, Pam Major, Marsha Bullard, Antonette Hall, Franklyn and Hermine Sturrup, Garfield Bullard, Linda Munnings and Family, the Morley Family, The entire Bullard Family, The Smith Family, Hectoria Lightbourn and Family, Robert, Penny, Shawn, Zetta, Yvonne Bullard, Stanley, Sue Ranger, Cheryl Ranger Cindy Romer and Nickey McPhee, Mel McSweeney Family, Paulette Walker and Family, Matthew and Family, Lakera Bullard, Audrey Tucker and Family, Elenor Butler and Family, The Late Jenny Edwards and Family, Mae Munroe and Family, Bronnie, Mrs. Parish and Family; Friends: Pastor Heuther and Priscilla Rolle, Sir Baltron and Helen Bethel, Rev. Edris Bowe, Rev. Cedrick Farquharson and Family. Sister Vernie Rolle and Family, Salem Baptist Church Family, Rev’d Stephen Thompson, Rev’d Sherma Bowe and the Transfiguration Church Family, Rev. Oral and Myrtle Rolle, Reginald and Lyllian Charlton, The Late Louise Pople, Eloise Rolle and Family Ian Wilkinson and Family, Charlton Family, Melva Kemp, Roslyn and Miriam Charlton and Family, Hope and Orry Johnson, Dorotthy, Billy and Roosevelt Godet, Dr. Homer Bloomfield, Tony and Donna Henfield, George and Norma Newbold, Paul Cooper, Donna Higgs and Family, Shandika “Dika” Holbert, Wesley “Fatboy” Victor, Roberto, Melrecka “Mel” Knowles, Judy, Sanny, Pat, Jeffery, Tony Deleveaux, Kera and Family, Rory, Anthon, Ray Newbold and Family, Dave Thurston, Carolyn Adderley and Family, Jackie Taylor, Willamae Turnquest and Family, Margo Adderley, Yvonne Deleveaux, Ann Smith and Family, Toya Conyers, Scarlett Taylor, Harold Brown, Tamara and Takerie, Ena Gittens and Family, Stanley Pratt, Sidney Wilson Jr., The Family of the late Rev. Harriet McDonald, Jouitte, Lorna, Janice, Howard, Jason and family, Jeffery Smith and family, Frida Armbrister and family, Paul Major, Mrs. Dorothy Sands and family, Chann Hall and family, Joseph and Stephen Cumberbatch and family, Lisa Sands and family, Gina Pinder and family, Margaret Dillet, Ann and Alfred Harris, Lue, Rose, Wellington Tyrone Olander, Brian Miller, the Family, Kera Graydon and family. Charles and Rev’d Laverne Rolle, Gregory and Bernadette Clarke, The Ellis Family, Management and Staff of The Department of Inland Revenue, Management and Staff of Petro Distributors and Maintenance Services. Dr. Ricardo Davis; Other Neighbors and Friends: The entire Weir Corner, Blue Hill Road, Hospital Lane and Martin Street Family and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Road on Friday 12:00 noon to 5:00p.m and at the church 8:00 a.m. on Saturday until service time.

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By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.None

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(The Center Square) – The U.S. Government Accountability Office says leadership is needed to fully define quantum threat mitigation strategy. A new report released by the agency emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive federal leadership to address the emerging cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computing, warning that without prompt and coordinated action, adversarial nations might exploit quantum technology to undermine national security. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.The metallic screech of a train rolling by. The constant hum of traffic on the nearby Trans-Canada Highway. These are the sounds of the Brunette River in the fall, as it cuts through the suburbs of Burnaby, B.C. And rising above the din of Metro Vancouver, the splashing of chum salmon as they push upstream to spawn. The salmon in the river are looking haggard by mid-November, their skin patchy and worn as they near the end of their lives. But they continue the timeless cycle to produce the next generation of their keystone species. Jason Hwang, vice-president of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, recalled growing up in Delta, south of Vancouver, and thinking “salmon were something that came into the Fraser River but swam on by the Lower Mainland to better habitat” farther inland. Then, as a child, Hwang saw salmon spawning in Surrey’s Bear Creek. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “You might look out at the city and Vancouver and say, ‘Well, it’s a big city now and maybe the time to have salmon in our proximity is long passed.’ But that’s not true.” Efforts to rehabilitate urban waterways have helped bring spawning salmon back to parts of Metro Vancouver, including unlikely-looking streams surrounded by industrial and residential development. While it’s doubtful that city salmon will recover to their original numbers, those involved in restoration work say it has a host of side benefits, from boosting resilience to flooding to inspiring community connection and stewardship. Hwang said “an amazing thing happens” when people realize there are important natural assets in their communities, including spawning salmon. “There’s a pride of stewardship that exists that you see all over the Lower Mainland ... in the communities that are aware they’ve got salmon in their neighbourhoods.” Salmon are a keystone species, supporting the broader ecosystem, and they serve as a barometer for the state of their environment, Hwang said. “If you look at salmon, it’s one way to get a pretty good picture, and they’re showing us that we can do better, and we need to do better.” Francisca Olaya Nieto, a biologist with the Vancouver Park Board, said a century of urban development had altered the landscape to the point that aiming for healthy, sustainable salmon populations across the city is probably not realistic. About 100 kilometres of stream were covered up as Vancouver grew, she said, and just a handful of salmon-bearing waterways continue to flow naturally. Some of those original streams were diverted into pipes and connected to the city’s water system, while others were filled in, buried and paved over. Nieto said salmon in urban waterways must contend with pollution, sediment, warming waters, and infrastructure blocking their passage. Still, they have been returning to streams where the City of Vancouver and its park board have undertaken restoration work, said Nieto, who has been involved in efforts to recover or “daylight” sections of once-buried or degraded waterways. “The main goal is to find those opportunities where we can improve the water quality, and if salmon can return, that will be a win, but also we can benefit many other species,” she said. “We’re working more toward creating healthy habitat across the city, working toward connectivity and improving our biodiversity.” Amir Taleghani,asenior engineer with the City of Vancouver, said restoring salmon habitat may have started with naturalization and beautification in mind, but the work also provided an opportunity to tap into the broader benefits of natural assets. He pointed to Still Creek, flowing from the east side of Vancouver into Burnaby. The creek has been the site of restoration efforts over several decades, and Taleghani recently captured a video showing salmon spawning in the stream surrounded by parking lots, train tracks, big-box stores and industrial buildings. But Still Creek plays a role beyond providing salmon habitat, said Taleghani, whose work is focused on floodplains and watercourses in Vancouver. “Increasingly, we’re seeing the creek as a natural drainage asset, important to ... adapting to climate change and managing flood risk,” he said. “You need room for water to safely be stored in a flood. So, by widening the creek and lowering the surface where we can, we provide the space that in an extreme rainfall event can be flooded in a safe way, but the rest of the year, it can be habitat.” Taleghani said the city was incorporating Still Creek in its draft land-use plan for the area, which includes two SkyTrain stations, and looking at how the waterway can help manage run-off and flood risk as more housing and infrastructure is built. Hwang, too, said it was crucial to include natural assets in city and regional planning given the population increases expected for the Lower Mainland. “As a salmon biologist, I would advocate for all of the reasons that (restoration) can be helpful for salmon, but it’s also helpful for your community,” he said, pointing to flood mitigation as well as recreational opportunities in naturalized areas. While salmon will likely never return to streams in Metro Vancouver as they once did, Hwang said the target should be to restore as much habitat as possible. He recalled attending the British Columbia Institute of Technology as a post-secondary student, where there is an ongoing effort to restore a creek that runs through the Burnaby campus and eventually flows into Still Creek. “Maybe Guichon Creek used to produce thousands of salmon, and now it produces a couple of dozen ... but isn’t that still awesome? Isn’t it awesome that in the (school’s) parking lot area, you can make salmon, still, in a stream?”