The Daily Populous

Saturday June 26th, 2021 morning edition

image for Trudeau says Pope should apologize on Canadian soil for church's role in residential schools

OTTAWA, June 25 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday he has asked the pope to come to Canada to apologize for the Catholic Church's role running residential schools for indigenous children, after nearly 1,000 bodies were found in two mass graves.

"I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to press upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on Canadian soil," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

"I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken.".

Cowessess First Nation said on Thursday some 751 unmarked graves had been found at the site of Marieval Residential School in Saskatchewan, just weeks after 215 unmarked graves were discovered at a former school in British Columbia.

The residential school system, which operated between 1831 and 1996, removed about 150,000 indigenous children from their families and brought them to Christian residential schools, mostly Catholic, run on behalf of the federal government.

A federal commission's report found the residential school system enacted cultural genocide on Canada's indigenous people.

"I have heard directly from many Catholics across this country who want to see the church play a positive role in this," Trudeau added. »

Even the Taliban are surprised at how fast they're advancing in Afghanistan

Authored by nbcnews.com

Some Afghan government units have abandoned their weapons and vehicles without a major fight, as local officials reportedly negotiated surrender agreements with the Taliban.

The visit "will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues," the White House said.

The decision by the Taliban not to seize cities appears aimed at avoiding antagonizing U.S. and NATO forces as they depart. »

Justice Department to sue Georgia over sweeping voting restrictions

Authored by independent.co.uk

The US Department of Justice will sue the state of Georgia over the passage of an elections law with far-reaching restrictions on voting, marking the first major challenge under President Joe Biden against a nationwide voter suppression campaign in Republican-dominated state legislatures.

The lawsuit will be carried by civil rights chief Kristen Clarke and associate attorney general Vanita Gupta, two recently appointed Justice Department officials with long careers in civil rights litigation.

The Justice Department will also issue new guidance ahead of those debates, Mr Garland said. »

'Worst is yet to come': Disastrous future ahead for millions worldwide due to climate change, report warns

Authored by eu.usatoday.com

'Worst is yet to come': Disastrous future ahead for millions worldwide due to climate change, report warns.

"The worst is yet to come, affecting our children's and grandchildren's lives much more than our own," the report warns.

"Climate change will fundamentally reshape life on Earth in the coming decades, even if humans can tame planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions," according to Agence France-Presse , which obtained the report draft. »