Latest news with #GroupofSeven
Asahi Shimbun
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Gay partnership systems cover more than 90% of the population
More than 90 percent of Japan's population is now covered by local same-sex partnership systems. ((C) Shibuya City, NPO Nijiiro Diversity 2025) Although gay marriage is banned in Japan, local partnership systems introduced a decade ago that grant limited rights to same-sex couples now cover 92.5 percent of the population. As of May 31, the system had been adopted by 530 municipalities across the country with 9,836 couples receiving partnership certificates. A joint survey by Nijiiro Diversity, a nonprofit organization in Osaka that advocates for rights for sexual minorities, and Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, which pioneered the policy stance in 2015, found that 33 of the 47 prefectures now offer full coverage through local partnership programs. Over the past year, cities such as Sendai have adopted the system, meaning it is now in place in every prefectural capital and designated major city. The number of participating municipalities has more than doubled in the last three years, from 224 in 2022 to the current 530. Shibuya Ward, along with Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, became the first jurisdictions in Japan to recognize same-sex partnerships in November 2015. Since then, the ward has released annual survey data to track progress. With the latest report showing widespread adoption, officials said there is no longer any need to publish the survey. 'The partnership system has made a significant difference, enabling LGBTQ couples to live in public housing and receive some of the same services as married couples,' said Maki Muraki, the director of Nijiiro Diversity. Still, Muraki emphasized that much work remains. The partnership system provides symbolic and limited legal recognition but falls short of marriage equality. Japan is the only Group of Seven country that does not legally permit same-sex marriage. Pressure on national lawmakers to address the issue is mounting with five high courts ruling since last year that the government's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. 'The partnership system was a welcome step forward for sexual minorities who have long been marginalized in society,' Muraki said. 'With the recent court decisions, the question now is: why can't we get married if we're already recognized as families?' She added that it's no longer just about expanding local systems. 'Rather than aiming for 100 percent adoption of partnership systems, it's time to pass the baton to the central government to legalize same-sex marriage.'
Calgary Herald
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Pellerin: Portrait of a country — a new book captures these faces
Sometimes the best way to get to know who you are is to look in a mirror. Or at a portrait. The Kingston Prize, created in the Eastern Ontario city by husband and wife Kaaren and Julian Brown 20 years ago, offers a beautiful and collective way to do just that. Article content Jason Donville co-chairs the Kingston Prize and is passionate about making every Canadian aware of it. It is inspired by Australia's Archibald Prize, and it offers $25,000 to the winner, chosen by an independent jury, among entries by Canadian artists depicting Canadians in portraits based on real-life encounters. Article content Article content Article content The book published to celebrate the first two decades of the prize shows how portraits capture the essence and evolution of who we are as a country. (You can find the images contained in the book on the Kingston Prize website under 'Exhibitions,' which is a nice way to make art widely accessible.) Article content Article content What's interesting and special about the Kingston Prize, Donville explains, is that historically Canada has defined its artistic excellence through landscape, and not just because of the Group of Seven. 'We were a young country that didn't really know what we were about,' he says, 'so we've gone to the land as a way to express ourselves.' Article content And for sure we have spectacular landscapes. 'But the face of Canada is an important part of who we are and our identity,' he adds. One that is complex, diverse and sometimes a little challenging. Article content Article content Article content Looking at those portraits, I can't stop myself from imagining their stories. Families, soldiers, people who appear lonely, others whose hardship I can feel jumping off the page at me. Like the 2007 winner, Emily, by Etobicoke-based painter Joshua Choi. She is sitting on a simple chair, with no background to speak of. Everything is in her tired eyes and heavy lower lip. She seems so exhausted. What could have caused her to be this way? Article content Article content At the other end of the happiness spectrum, I found joy looking at Brian Michon's Lloyd and Elsie from 2009, and I was inspired by the defiance in Ian Stone's Moon-kissed from 2023. Article content I appreciate that the stories I imagine about the subjects of those portraits aren't obvious in the paintings. Anyone looking at this book would find other portraits striking and see some of their own stories reflected at them. That is the magic of art: every single person receiving it has their own way of interpreting it. There is no right or wrong way to appreciate a painting.
Ottawa Citizen
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Pellerin: Portrait of a country — a new book captures these faces
Article content Sometimes the best way to get to know who you are is to look in a mirror. Or at a portrait. The Kingston Prize, created in the Eastern Ontario city by husband and wife Kaaren and Julian Brown 20 years ago, offers a beautiful and collective way to do just that. Article content Jason Donville co-chairs the Kingston Prize and is passionate about making every Canadian aware of it. It is inspired by Australia's Archibald Prize, and it offers $25,000 to the winner, chosen by an independent jury, among entries by Canadian artists depicting Canadians in portraits based on real-life encounters. Article content Article content Article content The book published to celebrate the first two decades of the prize shows how portraits capture the essence and evolution of who we are as a country. (You can find the images contained in the book on the Kingston Prize website under 'Exhibitions,' which is a nice way to make art widely accessible.) Article content Tthe most beautiful part? We all bring our experiences and sensibilities to how we look at those gorgeous portraits and see ourselves reflected in them. Article content What's interesting and special about the Kingston Prize, Donville explains, is that historically Canada has defined its artistic excellence through landscape, and not just because of the Group of Seven. 'We were a young country that didn't really know what we were about,' he says, 'so we've gone to the land as a way to express ourselves.' Article content And for sure we have spectacular landscapes. 'But the face of Canada is an important part of who we are and our identity,' he adds. One that is complex, diverse and sometimes a little challenging. Article content Article content Article content Looking at those portraits, I can't stop myself from imagining their stories. Families, soldiers, people who appear lonely, others whose hardship I can feel jumping off the page at me. Like the 2007 winner, Emily, by Etobicoke-based painter Joshua Choi. She is sitting on a simple chair, with no background to speak of. Everything is in her tired eyes and heavy lower lip. She seems so exhausted. What could have caused her to be this way? Article content Article content At the other end of the happiness spectrum, I found joy looking at Brian Michon's Lloyd and Elsie from 2009, and I was inspired by the defiance in Ian Stone's Moon-kissed from 2023. Article content I appreciate that the stories I imagine about the subjects of those portraits aren't obvious in the paintings. Anyone looking at this book would find other portraits striking and see some of their own stories reflected at them. That is the magic of art: every single person receiving it has their own way of interpreting it. There is no right or wrong way to appreciate a painting.
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Canada to recognize Palestinian state in September
PM Carney says Canada plans on making the proclamation at the UN General Assembly this September Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a working session during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alta. on June 16, 2025. Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL / AFP via Getty Images OTTAWA — Canada intends to officially recognize a sovereign state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly this September. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The announcement was made by Prime Minister Mark Carney at a last-minute press conference on Parliament Hill late Wednesday afternoon, after a cabinet meeting convened to discuss concerns with Israel's ongoing operation in Gaza. ' This intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority's commitment to much-needed reforms — including the commitments by Palestinian Authority President (Mahmoud) Abbas to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state,' Carney said. 'Canada will increase its efforts in supporting strong, democratic governance in Palestine and the contributions of its people to a more peaceful and hopeful future.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Carney's announcement comes just days after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he'd do the same if Israel didn't take steps to reduce suffering in Gaza, enact a ceasefire and not annex any more land in the West Bank. 'The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable, and it's rapidly deteriorating,' Carney said in English before switching to French. 'Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, thousands more are on the brink of famine. Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has let the situation deteriorate in Gaza to this extent.' Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who spent the week attending high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York on the topic, stood by Carney's side during Wednesday's press conference. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'International co-operation is essential to securing lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, and Canada will do its best to help lead that effort,' Carney said. 'Canada has long been committed to a two-state solution — an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state living side-by-side with the State of Israel in peace and security.' Those hopes, he said, have been eroded by ongoing Palestinian terrorism, including the Oct. 7 2023 terror attacks, accelerated settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, recent votes in the Knesset calling for the annexation of the West Bank, and Israeli government actions in Gaza, with Carney accusing Israel of impeding access to food and medical supplies. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Addressing the explosion of antisemitism Canada's seen since the Oct. 7 attacks, Carney said legislation would be introduced this fall to criminalize intentionally blocking access to places-of-worship, community centres and schools. Anti-Israel activists have frequently targeted Jewish schools, synagogues and businesses since Oct. 7, staging demonstrations, intimidation marches and even opening fire. 'The heinous attacks of Oct. 7th traumatized the Jewish people in Israel, here in Canada and around the world,' Carney said. 'With each day that the remaining hostages and their remains are not returned, families live in fear and grief.' ISRAEL REJECTS CANADA'S MOVE In a statement, Canada's Israeli embassy rejected the gesture, saying it rewards Hamas' barbarism and punishes both Israeli and Palestinian victims of terror. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Let us be clear: Israel will not bow to the distorted campaign of international pressure against it,' said Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed. 'We will not sacrifice our very existence by permitting the imposition of a jihadist state on our ancestral homeland that seeks our annihilation.' The Conservative Party of Canada, while supporting the idea of a two-state solution, said recognizing it in the aftermath of Oct. 7 sends the wrong message. 'A unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, without peace negotiations or a renunciation of violence, destroys the path to a durable, two-state solution,' read a statement. 'Worse, it legitimizes terrorism by handing political rewards to a group that rules Gaza through fear, oppression, and brutality.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume MLB Celebrity Wrestling Toronto & GTA Columnists
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, the prime minister says
TORONTO — Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday. Carney convened a Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. It came after he discussed the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who. announced a similiar move on Tuesday. Leaders are under mounting pressure over the issue as scenes of hunger in Gaza have horrified so many. 'The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,' Carney said. 'Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.' Pressure to formally recognize Palestinian statehood has mounted since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state in September. As with France and the U.K., Canadian recognition would be largely symbolic, but it's part of a broader global shift against Israel and could increase diplomatic pressure for an end to the conflict. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including a dozen in Europe. Macron's announcement last week made France the first Group of Seven country — and the largest in Europe — to take that step. Gillies writes for the Associated Press.
