News
Copy by Don Leslie
In local news, a Quinte West councillor, Dave O’Neil, was announced yesterday as the Liberal Party candidate for the Bay of Quite riding for the February 27th Provincial election. His father, Hugh O’Neill, was the Quinte MPP for 20 years until 1995.
The current candidates include Tyler Allsopp for the PC Party, Lori Borthwick for the Green Party and Amanda Robertson for the NDP.
A complete list of candidates will be available after 2 PM on February 13.
GAZA
Yesterday, In a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump said he wants his country to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and redevelop it after Palestinians are displaced elsewhere.
He stated that the US will own the region and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, adding that he is not ruling out sending U.S. troops in to secure Gaza.
He added the U.S. would level destroyed buildings and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.
Trump suggested this would promote stability in the region.
The comments came after Trump earlier suggested that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be “permanently” resettled outside the war-torn territory.
Palestinians claim Gaza as part of a future homeland with a desire to remain and rebuild. Senior Hamas officials condemned Trump’s calls for Gazans to leave as “expulsion from their land.”
RARE EARTH MINERALS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he’s talked to Donald Trump about the prospect of Ukraine sharing rare earth minerals with the United States, a topic he said was first raised with his now White House counterpart months ago.
Trump said Monday that he wanted Ukraine to supply the U.S. with such minerals as a form of payment for the financial support Washington has provided to Kyiv amid its fight with Russia.
The Ukrainian President said his country is open to arrangements being developed with their partners who are helping them to defend their land and pushing the enemy back with their weapons, their presence and sanctions packages.
Reporting from Ukrainian media suggests that point was made to Trump that the land where those resources are located must remain in Kyiv’s control, in order for the U.S. to be in an eventual position to access them — and as such protect them.
And finally, if you are planning on visiting the Rockies this summer, you may want to avoid the Kananaskis region west of Calgary. For the second time, the area will be hosting the G7 meeting of world leaders June 15-17.
Summit venues, popular hiking trails, day-use areas and local businesses will be closed from June 10 to 18.
The G7 summit has been a target for large protests. Given the large restricted area and number of hiking trails in Kananaskis, security organizers will need more personnel on the ground to prevent unauthorized access.
Canada’s next prime minister will be charged with setting the focus for the G7 and achieving consensus on many issues. That may turn out to be the toughest job of all at the summit
Sports
DUKES
Last night in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the fourth place Wellington Dukes were at home to the third place Haliburton County Huskies. The Huskies took an early lead and closed the first period up 2-0. They added 2 goals in the third period and kept the Dukes off the scoresheet for a 4-0 win.
PIRATES
Over in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, tomorrow night the third place Picton Pirates travel to Amherstview to take on the forth place Jets. Puck drops at 7:30
NHL
Last night in the NHL, all seven Canadian teams were in action. The Toronto Maple Leafs headed to Calgary for game 2 of their 5 game Western road trip. The Leafs poured it on in the second period scoring four times to take a 4-2 lead. William Nylander completed his hat trick in the third period to give Toronto a 6-3 win.
Elsewhere, the Ottawa Senators travelled to Tampa Bay where they lost 4-3 to the Lightning
The Winnipeg Jets hosted the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring in the first minute of the game. Goals in each of the next periods gave the Jets a 3-0 shutout win.
The Edmonton Oilers faced the Blues in St. Louis. Leon Draisaitl scored with just over 2 minutes to go in the game to send it into overtime. Connor Brown scored at 2:33 in OT to give the Oilers then win
The Montreal Canadiens were on the west coast taking on the San Jose Sharks and came away with a 4-3 victory.
