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National Observer
3 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
First Nations protest at Queen's Park against Ford's mining bill
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is pushing through a controversial mining bill despite the protests of several hundred First Nations members who came from the far north to the front lawn of Queen's Park on Monday. "Kill Bill 5, kill Bill 5," the crowd chanted. The province moved to shut down debate on a mining law known as Bill 5 that would give the government power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas deemed to have economic importance – and remove some endangered species protections. The proposed legislation has sparked an angry backlash from First Nations who say the bill tramples their rights and ignores their concerns. They've asked the province to scrap the bill and to draft legislation alongside First Nations as partners. "Our rights are not for sale," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse at the rally. The government is speeding up the passage of a plethora of bills before the legislature rises later this week for a summer break. Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, is designed to speed up the building of large projects, especially mines. Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is pushing through a controversial mining bill despite the protests of several hundred First Nations members who came from the far north to the front lawn of Queen's Park on Monday. The province will not kill the bill, said Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford. "We're looking forward to passing the bill later this week and getting out and performing our duty to consult," Rickford said. Ford, Rickford and Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce are set to soon meet with the leadership council of the Chiefs of Ontario, and then the ministers plan to visit First Nations in northern Ontario throughout the summer as they try to sell them on the bill. The province intends to designate the Ring of Fire, a region replete with critical minerals, as a so-called "special economic zone" where it can pick and choose which laws to lift. Last week, under pressure from First Nations, the province made several amendments to the bill in an effort to appease them. But First Nations said it was too little, too late. The province will hold off on designating the Ring of Fire the first such zone until it completes consultations with affected First Nations. First Nations have threatened to form blockades of roads, railways and mines should the bill become law. "Certainly we don't condone confrontation and, as I said, I have spoken with a number of First Nations leaders from across the province who've expressed that today is a rally, a peaceful reminder that they want to try to understand how the designation of an economic zone would affect their treaty rights," Rickford said. "We've assured them that they will in no way affect their treaties rights and that, further, the duty to consult is explicit in the bill." A legislative committee heard from First Nations leaders and environmental groups, as well as mining groups, over two days and, as the committee was considering amendments last week, the NDP and Liberals used procedural tools to grind the process to a halt, in protest. Government house leader Steve Clark has stepped in to limit further committee time and require the bill to go back to the house for third reading, with just one hour of debate, and a final vote that same day. While Bill 5 got two days of committee hearings, the six other pieces of legislation the government is speeding up have had no hearings, and will have as little as half an hour of third-reading debate, with just nine minutes each allotted to the two recognized opposition parties. New Democrat Sol Mamakwa, the legislature's lone First Nations member, said in question period that Ford was "telling untruths" about his people's approval of the mining bill. Speaker Donna Skelly asked him to withdraw the comment, which Mamakwa refused to do, so she booted him from question period. Thirty minutes later, Skelly and Mamakwa set aside their differences to feed politicians a "Taste of the North" lunch. Mamakwa had several family and community members help gather food from northwestern Ontario, fly it to Toronto and cook it at Queen's Park. The politicians ate moose, goose, lake trout, pickerel and beaver. Mamakwa has twice packed a frozen goose and brought it to Queen's Park, where he plucked and cooked it – once on the front lawn. "The beaver was a last-minute addition," Mamakwa said with a big smile on Monday. "Food brings people together." With a full belly, Mamakwa returned to his differences and set out for the protest. The opposition parties say pushing bills through without much public consultation or debate is undemocratic. The NDP's Opposition house leader, John Vanthof, spoke in a debate last week over the government limiting debate and bypassing committee for four bills – including the budget bill – in what's called a time-allocation motion. "What's happening now with the time allocation, specifically on four bills, is removing the right of the people to speak, and in many ways, the opposition to speak," Vanthof said. "You actually don't need a parliament. We're actually almost going back to where you have, like, a king. That's truly scary. I'm not opposed to the monarchy as a figurehead, but we came very far in our democracies to actually have parliaments. What the government is doing is basically making the premier the king." Vanthof stressed the seriousness of the matter, though he had the opposition benches laughing while he was reading out quotes from government house leader Steve Clark, upset about time allocation motions when he was in opposition. "My party loves to hear from people," Clark said in the waning days of the former Liberal government. "If this government doesn't want to listen to people, I'll give them a guarantee. I'll give them, actually, the people's guarantee, because we will listen to them, and we will ensure that those Ontarians are being listened to." Clark, who during that 2017 debate called such motions "anti-democratic," said last week that the younger Steve Clark was "maybe more brash and abrupt," defending the current moves. "The government has decided that these four bills are very important for us," he said. "There needs to be certainty from the government's government decides that they're going to prioritize certain things, the government is going to move forward with those legislations. That's my message." However much the former Liberal government shut down debate, the Progressive Conservative government is a worse offender, Vanthof said. "Two time allocation votes in a day was probably the previous record for the travesty to democracy, probably the previous record, and that was held by the Liberals," he said.
Tom's Guide
29-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL review: A middle-of-the-road Hall Effect keyboard
Magnetic keyboards are growing in popularity, and they often offer better value for money than the best mechanical keyboards. NZXT is well-known for making high-quality PC gaming hardware, and it has dabbled in the world of magnetic keyboards with the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL. This keyboard features highly responsive dual-rail Hall Effect switches, 8,000Hz polling and Rapid Trigger to give competitive players an edge. It's built well and features lovely RGB lighting. It's also a delight to type on, and its compact form factor makes it easy to travel with. But you're paying a premium for all of its features, and it has some noteworthy drawbacks, such as wired connectivity only, finicky RGB lighting and limited switch choice. Is this the best gaming keyboard for you? Read my full NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL review to find out more. Specs NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL Price $199 / £169 Switches NZXT dual-rail magnetic Keycaps Double-shot PBT Construction CNC aluminum + plastic Mount Gasket Layout 75%, 87 keys Operating system macOS, Windows Backlighting Per-key RGB Polling rate 8,000Hz Paired devices max 1 Connectivity Wired Measurements 13.72 x 5.23 x 1.49 inches Weight 2.4lbs Colors Black, white From its lovely design, intuitive companion software, and plethora of magnetic gaming features, the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL is a great keyboard for gaming and typing. The NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL has a striking design. It comes in either black or white colorways, and both sport a strip of RGB lighting that runs around the top plate's frame. The black variant I tested looks subdued, but the RGB strip adds an element of fun. The shine-through keycaps also have per-key RGB, which you can customize via the companion software (more on that soon). The Function Elite's sturdy build is one of its most appealing aspects. The keyboard is encased in aluminum metal that gives it a premium look. The bottom plate has a textured rubber material along its edges, which keeps the keyboard from moving around on your desk. As its name suggests, the Function Elite MiniTKL is a tenkeyless keyboard, which means there's no number pad. This helps reduce the keyboard's size, making it easier to travel with. The keyboard measures 13.72 x 5.23 x 1.49 inches and weighs 2.4 pounds, and I had no issues carrying it to and from work. As you'd expect from a Hall Effect keyboard, the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL boasts a plethora of premium gaming features. Firstly, it's fitted with NZXT's dual-rail magnetic switches, which the product page describes as 'linear and silent.' That's slightly misleading as this keyboard is not silent, and my coworkers even pointed out that it was quite loud and clacky — something to keep in mind before buying this keyboard. Now, let's talk about the switches. They are extremely light, needing just 30g of force to activate, which makes them feel airy in use. They have adjustable actuation down to 0.6mm and up to 4mm. You can adjust each key's sensitivity according to the game you're playing. To adjust actuation, you'll need to download NZXT CAM on your Windows machine. I downloaded it onto our shared office Windows 11 laptop and set the actuation of all the keys down to 0.6mm for highly-responsive gameplay in Counter-Strike 2 and Hitman. The Function Elite MiniTKL's performance is on par with the Keychron Q3 HE ($239) and the Wooting 80HE ($199). Executing quick, consecutive headshots in both Hitman and CS2 is effortless since the switches are so sensitive. Since I didn't need to press the switches all the way down for them to activate, I can swap weapons easily or quickly crouch after throwing a grenade. However, I would have liked the switches to be adjustable all the way down to 0.1mm, but I'll discuss that later. On the plus side, the Function Elite MiniTKL's switches feature dual-actuation points. This means that you can assign two actions to one key based on how deeply you press it: one action on the downstroke, another on the way back up. For example, I used the companion software to customize the W key so that short-pressing it made my character in CS2 walk, while long-pressing it made them sprint. This made gameplay more intuitive and eliminated the extra action of holding down the shift key to run. To top it off, the Function Elite MiniTKL boasts an 8,000Hz polling rate, which blows many other magnetic keyboards' measly 1,000Hz polling away. 1K polling is usually sufficient for most players, but competitive or pro-level eSports players will be pleased with 8K polling since that ensures inputs aren't missed due to latency issues. The NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL's other gaming features include Rapid Trigger and Snap Overrides. Let's talk about Rapid Trigger first. Enabling it through the software basically ensures that the keyboard recognizes every single input when keys are pressed in rapid succession. Rapid Trigger guarantees near-instantaneous switch reset when lifting. Similar to the magnetic keyboards, the Function Elite MiniTKL features Snap Overrides. It's a fancy term for what's commonly known as Snap Tap or Last Key Prioritization, a type of Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Direction (SOCD) resolution, which is banned by Valve in titles like CS2 and DOTA 2. It's basically a cheat code, where the keyboard prioritizes the last key pressed, making actions like counter-strafing easier. You can draw to a complete stop from a sideways strafe by pressing the opposing direction key — see why it's banned? You can find use for it in single-player titles, though, like in Hitman and Lies of P. There is some sick pleasure when standing in front of a large but slow boss in the latter, rapidly typing A and D to strafe, drawing to an immediate stop, and whooping it with a heavy attack. If you're dropping nearly $200 on a keyboard, chances are you're going to use it to type on, too, alongside gaming. The good news is that the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL is a lovely keyboard to type on. The keyboard is fitted with textured double-shot PBT keycaps that feel soft to the touch and comfortable for long periods of typing. PBT keycaps are also more durable than ABS ones, so it's nice to see that NZXT hasn't compromised here. Keyboard Type test speed (WPM) Type test accuracy NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL (3.2mm actuation) 95 92.2% NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL (1.5mm actuation) 97 93.06% NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL (0.6mm actuation) 89 88.42% Epomaker HE65 Mag (0.5mm actuation) 101 89.41% Gamakay TK75 HE (0.5mm actuation) 85 88.9% Keychron K4 HE (0.5mm actuation) 104 94.56% I took a few typing tests at to see how the Function Elite MiniTKL fared against other magnetic keyboards. I adjusted all the keys' actuation points after each test, and you can see the results above. Typing at 1.5mm actuation resulted in my best typing score, and I'm satisfied with the overall result — it's in line with other Hall Effect keyboards I've tested. NZXT CAM, your one-stop shop for customizing all NZXT peripherals, is extremely clean and intuitive to use. Here, you can adjust each key's actuation or choose from four performance presets: MOBA, RPG, FPS, Typing. The pre-key and strip RGB lighting are also fully customizable — from their colors to speed. Since 8,000Hz polling is draining on system resources, you can choose between seven different rates: 125, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 and 8,000. The Function Elite MiniTKL's internal memory can also save up to four custom profiles, so you can create specific ones for work and gaming. While a good keyboard, the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL has some shortcomings. Its switches aren't as sensitive as some others, the RGB lighting is frustrating, it can't be used wirelessly, and it's heavy on the wallet. While the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL's lightweight switches are very responsive, they aren't as sensitive as many others you can buy today. And by that, I mean you can drop their sensitivity down to 0.6mm only. Most other Hall Effect keyboards I've tested, like the Keychron Q3 HE, let you adjust the actuation all the way down to 0.1mm, making the switches extremely sensitive. This may not seem like a world of difference to most casual players, but those playing competitively will want to gain all the edge they can, which is why it's worth considering whether 0.6mm actuation is enough for you. The NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL has another significant shortcoming: it can't be used wirelessly. There's no 2.4GHz dongle included in the box and the keyboard isn't equipped with Bluetooth technology. Given its mini size (it's in the name, after all), it's easy to travel with the keyboard in your backpack, but that doesn't mean you can use it on the move. If you want wireless connectivity in a keyboard that's still a beast for competitive gaming, consider the Epomaker HE65 Mag ($99) or the Keychron Q3 HE. I've praised the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL's RGB lighting that wraps around the top plate. However, I would have liked it more if the lighting weren't so finicky. If your laptop or PC goes to sleep, the keyboard does too. But what's annoying is that, in my testing, it didn't turn itself back on after I woke up my laptop and the keyboard. I thought this was a problem with my MacBook Air M2, so I tried it with our shared office Windows 11 laptop, and it didn't negate the issue. I haven't encountered this with any other magnetic keyboard I've tested, so it's disappointing to face this here. Like I mentioned up top, while the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL's switches are great for typing and gaming, they are far from being as silent as advertised. The bad news is that switch choice is, at the time of writing, extremely limited. There aren't any other switches you can get for the keyboard. This is a common issue since magnetic switches are still making their way into the mainstream, but most other magnetic keyboards mentioned throughout this review offer at least two (and sometimes three) switch sets. Given its shortcomings, I don't think the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL's price is justified. Good things can be expensive, but this is a middle-of-the-road keyboard, and it retails for $199 / £169 at Amazon. Keychron and Lemokey decks come cheaper (sometimes much cheaper) while offering the same features and more. Keyboards like the Keychron K4 HE ($134) and the Lemokey P1 HE ($169) feature quad-actuation over the Function Elite MiniTKL's dual-actuation. Heck, even the budget Epomaker HE65 Mag features quad-actuation and provides 8K polling over wired and wireless connections. The NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL can be best described as a middle-of-the-road keyboard. Its dual-rail Hall Effect switches are extremely responsive, and it boasts 8,000Hz polling and features like Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap — all of which provide a competitive advantage. But is it worth $199? I don't think so, especially when competitors like Keychron and Lemokey offer all of these features at lower price points. The Function Elite MiniTKL also falls short due to its finicky RGB lighting, limited switch choice, lack of wireless connectivity, and that the lowest you can adjust the switches is only 0.6mm. I'd recommend spending your hard-earned money on the Lemokey P1 HE or the Keychron Q3 HE. The Function Elite MiniTKL isn't the worst keyboard I've tested but it's far from the best.
The South African
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Mamelodi Sundowns: 10 stars heading out!
Mamelodi Sundowns are going to be offloading several players at the end of the season. Mamelodi Sundowns will be releasing a plethora of talent in the next transfer window. Let's take a look at all The Brazilians facing likely exits out of Chloorkop. A number of Sundowns stars contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. Moreover, many of these players have already attracted interest from PSL rivals as well as big sides abroad. Peter Shalulile Sphelele Mkhulise Zuko Mdunyelwa Neo Maema Kobamelo Kodisang Ntando Nkosi Terrence Mashego Thapelo Maseko Matias Esquivel Lucas Suarez Most notieably, prolific PSL goalscorer and legend Shalulile has is linked with a likely departure, according to SNL. Moreover, Mkhulise has attracted interest locally and abroad. Meanwhile, Mdunyelwa is likely to be loaned out in the up-and-coming transfer window. Kodisang is also likely to be loaned out. Also, Nkosi could be loaned out or signed depending on what the player and his agent decide as he seeks gametime elsewhere. Meanwhile, Maema's Chloorkop future is under review with the Bafana Bafana stars contract set to expire soon. Furthermore, Kaizer Chiefs are closely monitoring Maema's situation at Sundowns. Similiarly, Mashego and Maseko are both linked with moves to Amakhosi. Meanwhile, Esquival is linked with a return to South America. Finally, Sundowns have not made a decision on Suarez, who is currently out on loan. Additionally, another five loaned stars are unlikely to return to Sundowns next season. 'This lists excludes players who were out on loan this season. The likes of Sipho Mbule, Thembinkosi Lorch, Ricardo Goss, Sifiso Ngobeni and Luvuyo Phewa are not expected to be part of the team next season,' the report read on SNL. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Flooded with queries, MC extends tender for roundabout upkeep
Chandigarh: The MC received 25 queries from bidders in the recently held pre-bid meeting to earn revenue through the city's more than 30 roundabouts. They came up with a plethora of suggestions, ideas and views. This prompted the civic body to extend the floating of tender until June 3. MC's horticulture department will study the suggestions, and if it finds them feasible, will add the same to the tender for better competition for this maiden project of the civic body. Bids were to be invited on May 23. It has been pushed back by 10 days. The city has about 30 to 35 roundabouts, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the civic body. As part of the MC initiative, the agency selected through the tender process will maintain and beautify the roundabouts, along with the display of signboards and brand names. Moreover, the selected bidder shall pay a licence fee per month per roundabout as offered in the bid (highest-1) and as per the RFP to the MC. The licence fees will be increased every year at 10% per annum, and the advertisement fee will be according to the size of the advertisement as per the Chandigarh Advertisement Control Order. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile" TradeWise Learn More Undo The matter had already been discussed in the monthly general house meeting in the past, and the house members approved the request for proposal (RFP) and permission to float the RFP to invite bids from prospective agencies to outsource the work of maintenance and beautification of roundabouts. As per the plan, MC has decided to give the roundabouts to the successful bidders initially for two years, which is extendable for another year as per the laid down terms and conditions. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would cap ‘junk fees' on tickets for concerts, sporting events
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – When purchasing a ticket for a concert or sporting event, customers may notice a plethora of fees added onto the original price. An Ohio bill introduced last week is hoping to lower those extra costs for residents. Senate Bill 196, sponsored by Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), would prohibit ticket sellers from charging more than a total of $5 in extra fees for a purchase containing one or more tickets. Ohio family pleads for better treatment of mother detained in ICE facility 'We need to do something to help regular everyday families in Ohio that want to do something fun, whether a concert, whether it's a sporting event, and it's not fair that they are overburdened with these fees,' DeMora said. 'Budgets are tight now, people are struggling to make ends meet, but they ought to be able to have some fun in their lives.' The bill deems violating this rule an unfair and deceptive business practice under Ohio law. Violators would be referred to the state attorney general for enforcement, who could take legal action by ordering the company to amend its fees or seeking restitution for consumers, among other options. Service fees average about 27% to 31% of total ticket prices, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. The added costs, which DeMora calls 'junk fees,' have been a longstanding frustration among consumers. 'The fees are outrageous,' DeMora said. 'I mean, if the face value of tickets is $100, you pay $150.' Last year, the United States Department of Justice, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, including Ohio's, filed a civil lawsuit against Ticketmaster's parent company Live Nation Entertainment. The ongoing suit alleges the company holds a monopoly on the ticket market, resulting in fans paying more in fees. Mayor: Village won't replace non-working tornado sirens This month, the Federal Trade Commission began enforcing a new rule that requires ticket-sellers to disclose any extra fees upfront, instead of springing them on customers during checkout. Companies also must now avoid 'vague phrases' such as convenience fees, service fees or processing fees and clearly state the purpose of the charges. The new guidelines, however, do not put a price limit on or ban extra fees. DeMora called the new FTC rule a 'good step in the right direction' but said the fees are still too high and need to be addressed. Ticket fees for entertainment events may go to the ticket-seller, venue or event promoter for various costs associated with running the event, as well as maintaining the facility or services offered by the ticket company. NBC4 reached out to Ticketmaster and other entertainment companies for comment on the bill. The only reply came from SeatGeek, which stated that while the company appreciates and respects DeMora's efforts to make live events more affordable, caps on fees can 'distort the market' and have 'unintended consequences.' Columbus officer confronts school board after being denied access to school 'We believe the best way to protect and empower consumers is through transparent pricing, not caps,' Joe Freeman, vice president of government affairs, said. 'That's why we fully support the FTC's new rule, which took effect last week, requiring ticketing platforms to show the full, all-in price upfront.' SB 196 has been referred to the Government Oversight and Reform Committee, where it awaits its first hearing. Two Democrat state senators, Hearcel Craig (Columbus) and Casey Weinstein (Hudson), are cosponsoring the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
