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    • Russian Duma gives LGBTQ2S+ 'propaganda' bill final approval

    Russian lawmakers attend a session of the State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament in Moscow, Russia, on Nov. 24, 2022. (The State Duma, The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation via AP) Russian lawmakers attend a session of the State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament in Moscow, Russia, on Nov. 24, 2022. (The State Duma, The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation via AP)
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    Russian lawmakers on Thursday gave their final approval to a bill that significantly expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting gay rights in the country, another step in a years-long crackdown on the country's embattled LGBTQ2S+ community.

    The new bill expands a ban on what authorities call "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" to minors, established by legislation dubbed the "gay propaganda" law. It was adopted by the Kremlin in 2013 in an effort to promote "traditional values" in Russia.

    This year, the lawmakers moved to ban spreading such information to people aged 18 and older.

    The bill was approved in the third and final reading on Thursday by the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. It will go next to the upper house, the Federation Council, and then to President Vladimir Putin, whose signature will give it legal force.

    The new bill outlaws all advertising, media and online resources books, films and theater productions deemed to contain such "propaganda," a concept loosely defined in the bill. The 2013 ban was often enacted against any depictions of same-sex unions and used as a tool to crack down on LGBTQ2S+ rights groups and activists.

    Violations are punishable by fines. If committed by non-residents, they can lead to their expulsion from Russia. The fines range from 100,000 to 2 million rubles (US$1,660-$33,000). For some violations, foreigners could face 15 days' detention prior to expulsion.

    The bill does not make violations a criminal offence. Russian law stipulates that the criminal code can be amended only through an independent bill. Some lawmakers have suggested they favour such a measure.

    Russia explicitly outlawed same-sex marriages in 2020 by adopting amendments to the country's Constitution that, among other things, stipulated that the "institution of marriage is a union between a man and a woman."

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    Top Hezbollah commander among 12 killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

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    • Emergency crews in northern Ontario found the bodies of four people inside a home where a fire broke out Thursday night.

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    Local Spotlight

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    • A field trip aimed at educating Toronto students about the plight of a northern Ontario First Nation ended with them taking part in a protest where pro-Palestinian slogans were shouted.

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    • DEVELOPING

      DEVELOPING

      Edmonton police are warning about traffic disruptions on Friday near the headquarters of the Alberta Teachers' Association, where a protest against the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in school curricula will be taking place.

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    • Emergency crews in northern Ontario found the bodies of four people inside a home where a fire broke out Thursday night.

    • Two people emerged unhurt after a float plane had a hard landing late Friday morning on Lake Temiskaming.

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    • A Vulcan, Alta., man has been charged with a Lethbridge woman's murder after her body was found in the Oyen area.

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    N.L.

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