A large group of demonstrators flocked to the Legislature building in Winnipeg on Saturday to call for regime change in Iran as part of a global day of action spurred by the country’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi.

Thousands have been killed in Iran after widespread anti-government protests broke out in late December.

More than 7,000 people have been confirmed dead as of Friday, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been monitoring the growing death toll. The group said more than 25,800 civilians have been injured and over 53,000 arrests have been recorded. 

Mona Saeidi, who moved to Canada in 2020 and was at the rally in Winnipeg, said two of her brothers were among those arrested for protesting.

Saeidi said her family was forced to pay $14,000 US to secure the release of her brothers, aged 17 and 29.

Saeidi said she was jailed between 2007 and 2014 for practicing her Christian faith and “fighting for freedom.”

“We need freedom for our people in our homeland,” she said, adding she and other Iranians living in Winnipeg will continue to attend rallies until there is a regime change in her home country. 

“We are here to support our people,” Saeidi said.

The rally was one of several happening around the world on Saturday — including a separate march in downtown Winnipeg — after Pahlavi called for a global day of action. He said the main gathering points for Iranians living abroad would be Toronto, Munich and Los Angeles. 

A rally just north of Toronto drew about 350,000 people on Saturday, according to police estimates. 

Outside the Legislature, Winnipeggers waved Iran’s former lion-and-sun flag while chanting, “Regime change in Iran,” and, “King Reza Pahlavi.”

Demonstrators said Pahlavi, the son of the country’s last shah and a prominent opposition figure, should be the one to lead a democratic transition in Iran. 

Farnaz Farokhian, who immigrated to Canada a decade ago, said many Iranians have been calling for regime change over the nearly five decades of the Islamic Republic government. 

Despite watching what’s happening in Iran with a “broken heart,” she said the deadly protests will bring political change.

“I believe this is the last protest,” Farokhian said. 

“I believe the king of Iran will be back.”

Both Farokhian and Saeidi told CBC News that they would like to see the U.S. intervene with military action against the Iranian government. 

Saeidi said Saturday’s protest outside the Legislature — held on Valentine’s Day — was all about showing love to everyone living in her home country. 

“Our homeland is our alentine and we are standing here to send love for our people to Iran,” she said.

While in Germany for the Munich Security Conference, Hillary Clinton participated in a panel titled, “The West-West Divide: What Remains of Common Values.”

During the panel, Clinton appeared to take a stronger approach to her previous stance on border security.

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“There is a legitimate reason to have a debate about things like migration,” Clinton said.

Hillary Clinton calls for ‘secure borders that don’t torture and kill people’ during the Munich Security Conference panel. (Munich Security Conference, David Peinado/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“It went too far, it’s been disruptive and destabilizing, and it needs to be fixed in a humane way with secure borders that don’t torture and kill people and how we’re going to have a strong family structure because it is at the base of civilization,” she added.

Clinton acknowledged that there are places where a physical barrier is appropriate but opposed large-scale expansion of a border wall during her 2016 presidential campaign.

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At the time, she supported then President Barack Obama’s executive actions that deferred immigration enforcement against millions of children and parents in the country illegally and wanted to end the practice of family detention.

“It went too far, it’s been disruptive and destabilizing, and it needs to be fixed in a humane way with secure borders that don’t torture and kill people and how we’re going to have a strong family structure because it is at the base of civilization,” she added. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Clinton also planned on continuing Obama’s policy of deporting violent criminals, but wanted to scale back immigration raids, which she said at the time produced “unnecessary fear and disruption in communities,” Fox News Digital previously reported.

In 2018, Clinton called out the Trump administration for its deportation policies.

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“It is now the official policy of the US government — a nation of immigrants — to separate children from their families. That is an absolute disgrace. #FamiliesBelongTogether,” she wrote on X.

Clinton argued in 2018 that immigrants, whether legal or illegal, have made the American economy exceptional by adding to the workforce. (Christian Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images)

At the Newmark Civic Life Series in Manhattan last year, Clinton argued that immigrants, whether legal or illegal, have made the American economy exceptional by adding to the workforce.

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“One of the reasons why our economy did so much better than comparable advanced economies across the world is because we actually had a replenishment, because we had a lot of immigrants, legally and undocumented, who had a, you know, larger than normal — by American standards — families,” she said.

Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking ring extended all the way to Africa’s southern coast – held together by the invisible chains of psychological bondage that kept his victims ensnared for years at a time. 

“Invisible chains is a good way to put it, it was like I was handcuffed invisibly,” says 43-year-old Juliette Bryant.

“I’d never even told my family, I never told anyone about what happened with him until he died.”

Juliette was recruited from Cape Town by Epstein in 2002, as a first-year university student and aspiring model. At only 20 years old, she thought her life was about to change for good.

“It just seemed like my dreams were all coming true because our family was struggling financially and I just really wanted to try and make a difference for my family.”

Juliette was on a flight to New York on her first overseas trip outside of South Africa, three weeks after meeting Epstein for the first time at a Cape Town restaurant with Bill Clinton, who was there on an official AIDS awareness trip accompanied by actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker.

Hours barely passed after arriving in New York City when she was told she would be travelling on to the Caribbean. A driver dropped her off at a runway at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and she boarded a private jet where Epstein and the women she says initially recruited her in Cape Town were waiting to fly to his private island.

“He patted the chair next to him… and then I went and sat there. It was such a confusing situation for a young person to be in.

“As the plane took off, he started forcibly touching me in between my legs, and I just freaked out and I suddenly realised – oh my God, my family aren’t going to see me again, these people might kill me, you know?

“They [the women] were laughing. I was really petrified.”

It is unlikely she was the only young woman trafficked by Epstein from Cape Town. Emails from the Epstein files show flight details for unnamed female travellers being shuttled from Cape Town to London, Atlanta and New York up until late 2018.

Juliette says she was not trafficked to other men but raped by Epstein repeatedly.

“I would see him at lunch, breakfast and dinner, and then I would be called to his room. Otherwise, I didn’t see a lot of him, he was always off working.

“I spent a lot of time there on my own. I’d sit by the pool or read books, and I also found disposable cameras in the kitchen which I took to, so I took photos while I was there.”

Juliette’s photos flit between beaming smiles in the embrace of other young women and haunting portraits of desolation and loneliness.

“There was no way of getting away, you know. They had my passport and by then we had landed on one of the Caribbean islands and then were taken on a helicopter to his island. There was just no way of getting away. I’m not strong enough to swim away. I wouldn’t be able to swim off there.”

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Her entrapment was more than physical. Even after she was sent back to Cape Town, she boarded more flights to Epstein’s properties in New York, Palm Beach, Paris and New Mexico where she says she met women and underage girls from Brazil, Romania, France and Spain.

Juliette tells us she is still piecing together the depth of Epstein’s dark machinery while contending with her psychological recovery and constant exposure to news about her abuser.

“I look on Facebook, I see Epstein’s face. I look on X, I see Epstein’s face. I look at the news, there it is again. You know, there are times when it’s made me feel physically ill, to be honest, it is just constantly there and there is no way of escaping it.”

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‘All horror’: Epstein survivors’ stories told for first time

The controversial US Department of Justice release of the latest Epstein files saw dozens of vulnerable victims exposed by insufficient redactions. Juliette’s emails to Epstein were published unredacted and show her expressing support for him ahead of his trial in 2008 and continuing to contact him until 2017.

“Whenever I sent emails, it was always when I had been drinking or when I was having a bit of a breakdown… I always felt like he was watching me, and that was also why I emailed.

“I have nothing to hide. It has obviously been upsetting because it confuses people because obviously the man had a terrible grip on my mind.”

Health experts including the NHS, UKHSA, and WHO recommend keeping homes above a minimum temperature

Energy costs are soaring and have been escalating each winter, but there’s a compelling reason to ward off the chill. Feeling cold isn’t just uncomfortable – the temperature of our homes plays a significant role in our overall health.

With colds, flu, norovirus, and Covid, winter bugs are abundant and hard to dodge. You’ll be familiar with one of the simplest ways to protect yourself being handwashing, but maintaining warmth is also crucial in preventing illness.

Cold weather impacts the body and keeping your home chilly can lead to sickness, NHS Inform explains. When it’s cold, our hearts have to work harder to keep the body warm, which consequently raises blood pressure. Cold air can irritate the lungs and leave joints feeling sore.

So, what temperature best wards off illness? The guidance from the NHS, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) all point to the same minimum temperature: 18C.

The WHO’s Housing and health guidelines state: “Indoor housing temperatures should be high enough to protect residents from the harmful health effects of cold. For countries with temperate or colder climates, 18C has been proposed as a safe and well-balanced indoor temperature to protect the health of general populations during cold seasons.”

This advice is mirrored by the guidance given by the UKHSA for staying well in winter. The agency advises: “Our top tip is to heat the home, or the parts of it you’re using, to at least 18C.

“This is the temperature at which we start to see changes in the body, when the blood starts to thicken. So, temperatures above this are best to protect your health.”

However, it’s worth noting that the thermostat should be set even higher if there are individuals who are more susceptible to the cold, reports the Mirror. As per NHS Inform, “Anyone can become unwell when the weather is cold. However, some people are more at risk.”

The following groups are listed:

• People aged 65 or over
• People with underlying health conditions, like heart or lung conditions or mental health conditions
• Children (particularly aged five and under)
• Pregnant women
• People who are housebound or have low mobility

Public Health Wales has recommended increasing the temperature to 23C in such instances: “For those households with vulnerable people, the recommendations are 23C in the living room and 18°C in other rooms achieved for 16 hours in a 24-hour period.”

The cold itself doesn’t cause illness, but it does facilitate conditions that do. For example, a chilly environment benefits viruses. Studies have demonstrated that the viruses responsible for flu and Covid survive longer in cold and dry conditions, thereby increasing their chances of infecting people.

“Cold temperatures themselves do not cause infections,” clarified Manal Mohammed, a Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology at the University of Westminster in The Conversation.

“Instead, they influence a combination of biological, environmental and social factors that make people more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses, especially during the winter months.”

Being cold also places our bodies at a disadvantage once we become unwell, as UKHSA noted: “Being cold also affects our body’s ability to fight off infection. This is why in the weeks after the cold weather we see more deaths from infections like pneumonia, as lung conditions and coughs can develop into a more serious problem.”

Starting your day off with a bowl of oatmeal could be the key to living longer, dietitians have revealed. 

Eggs, savory meats like bacon, sweet pancakes and sugary cereals are American breakfast staples, but the picks have long gotten flack for being high in saturated fat and sugar, which may raise the risk of long-term health issues. 

And surveys suggest as many as one in four US adults regularly skip breakfast entirely, leading to a lack of focus, fatigue and overeating later in the day. 

Oatmeal, however, could help stave off overeating, regulate blood sugar and slash saturated fat intake, making the body less prone to issues such as heart disease and cancer.

Oats are rich in fiber, a nutrient necessary for adding bulk to stool to make it easier to pass and slowing down digestion.

Protein in oatmeal also slows digestion, promoting fullness and lowering the risk of overeating and obesity.  

One bowl also contains complex carbohydrates and vitamins like manganese, magnesium and iron, which lower disease-causing inflammation in the body and protect cells, slowing the aging process. 

Dietitians also note that because oatmeal is versatile, it can easily be customized with fresh fruit and seeds to add extra antioxidants and protein. 

Dietitians have revealed eating oatmeal every day could increase the chance of living longer (stock image)

Vandana Sheth, registered dietitian nutritionist in California, told EatingWell: ‘Oatmeal when prepared well can support heart health, blood sugar balance and longevity.’

Oats are also inexpensive, costing as little as $3 for 18 ounces.

One cup of dry oats contains around four grams of fiber, nearly one-fifth of the recommended daily intake of 25 to 30g for women and one-sixth of the 30 to 38 recommended grams for men. 

Despite the fact that more than 90 percent of Americans don’t get enough fiber, the nutrient is essential for promoting regular bowel movements and healthy digestion. By adding bulk to stool, fiber softens it and allows it to pass more easily, reducing constipation and keeping it from staying in the colon. 

Fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, the top cause of cancer death in Americans under 50, because it reduces the risk of bacteria and other contaminants in the stool from coming into contact with colon cells and causing tumors to form.

Fiber also stimulates the release of the appetite-reducing hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy mimic. This reduces appetite and the chance of overeating, in turn lowering the risk of becoming obese and prone to long-term health issues like heart disease and diabetes.

Additionally, fiber slows how quickly sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, which prevents blood sugar spikes. Consistent spikes in blood sugar raise the risk of developing diabetes, nerve damage and kidney disease. 

Oatmeal is rich in fiber, protein and essential vitamins like manganese and magnesium (stock image)

A cup of oats also contains around five grams of protein. Health authorities recommend that average, relatively sedentary adults get 0.36g of protein per 1lbs of body weight, but this varies based on activity level. For a sedentary person weighing 150lbs, they should consume about 55g of protein in a day.

Similar to fiber, protein also releases GLP-1 and takes longer to digest than carbohydrates and fat, keeping it in the stomach longer and increasing fullness. Additionally protein helps repair muscles and protects against muscle loss that comes with aging, lowering the risk of falls, inflammation and heart disease.

Just half a cup of dry oats is packed with vital nutrients, including nearly two-thirds of the daily recommended intake of manganese, which has been linked to bone maintenance and reducing inflammation. 

Manganese is also an antioxidant, a compound that protects the body’s cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. These have been shown to reduce inflammation and boost immune health. 

A cup of oats also has around 13 percent of the recommended daily intake of magnesium, an essential mineral for bone health and overall muscle function. 

Sheth recommends in addition to typical oatmeal toppings like berries and honey, savory options like tofu can further increase nutritional content.

In a Valentine’s Day Truth Social message, President Donald Trump railed against “jerk” TV host Bill Maher for being “anti Trump” on his show, despite the two enjoying a “great dinner” together at the White House last year.

The president, who often uses his social media to lash out at late-night hosts, claimed he had indulged Maher’s request to have dinner at the White House, and even invited him to the White House Christmas Party, only to have Maher insult him on Real Time with Bill Maher.

“I’d much rather spend my time MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN than wasting it on him,” Trump wrote Saturday. “Bill continues to suffer from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS!), and there is nothing that will ever be done to cure him of this very serious disease.”

Hitting at Maher, Trump said the late-night host was “extremely nervous” and “had ZERO confidence” when he met him last year in the Oval Office.

“To soothe his nerves, immediately, within seconds, asked for a ‘Vodka Tonic,’” Trump wrote, later calling Maher an “underrated lightweight.”

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“I’ve never felt like this before, I’m actually scared,” Trump claimed Maher said to him. The president went on to say that Maher “seemed to be a nice guy” and was “very respectful” about their meeting.

However, his opinion on Maher seems to have changed after comments made on his show Friday evening, in which he mocked the president for writing on Truth Social that China will take over Canada and “terminate all ice hockey.”

“What the f***,” Maher said after reading Trump’s Truth Social post out loud. “I think this is the kinda thing that is causing his popularity to go down.”

The president insisted he “jokingly” remarked about China taking over Canada and terminating ice hockey.

“He went on and on about the Hockey statement, like ‘What kind of a person would say such a foolish thing as this,’ as though I were being serious when I said it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Despite his frustration, Trump said he thought Maher was still “slightly more talented” than fellow late night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, or Stephen Colbert.

The Independent has asked Maher’s representative for comment.

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Maher, known for his political satire, often uses his show to bring on a diverse group of voices in an effort to unify the country at a polarizing time.

Last year, Maher dined with Trump, alongside Kid Rock and Dana White, at the White House. Afterward, he gave a positive review of the president, calling him “gracious.”

But Trump appeared angry Saturday that Maher has returned to criticizing him and his administration, rather than acknowledging his perceived successes such as the Dow hitting 50,000 points and immigration agenda.

“Fortunately, his Television Ratings are so low that nobody will learn about his various Fake News statements about me.”,Trump wrote.

THORNTON — Brihanna Crittendon’s rewritten Colorado hoops history.

The Riverdale Ridge senior broke CHSAA’s all-time scoring mark on Saturday, passing Tracy Hill’s tally of 2,934 points that stood for 43 years. Crittendon scored a fast-break lay-up in the third quarter against Monarch to move beyond Hill, an ex-Ridgway star.

When Crittendon banked in the decisive shot, Hill — who drove about six hours from the Western Slope to see the consequential game — sat courtside cheering her on. Then the two embraced at midcourt during the Riverdale Ridge timeout that followed, the scoring torch passing from one great to another amid a standing ovation.

“It’s exciting, it’s amazing, and the record is not necessarily something I’ve worked for, but it’s something that has been a result of all the work I’ve put in the last four years,” Crittendon said. “It’s really meaningful to add my name to the top of the list, because I never thought this would be a possibility when I first started my high school career.”

Crittendon’s scoring feat marked the pinnacle of a prep career that’s lived up to the hype from the very start. In her high school debut on Dec. 6, 2022, the do-everything guard/forward scorched Severance for 32 points on 16 of 18 from the field.

Deric Yaussi, the Severance coach at the time who is now at Loveland, recalled pulling out all the stops to limit the phenom freshman.

None of it worked, a common theme for those who have coached against the University of Texas-bound superstar.

“Coming into the game, I heard a lot about how good she was,” Yaussi recalled. “So I put my best defender on her the entire game. We double-teamed her, we had a third defender shadow her. But she didn’t flinch. She passed out of the double-teams. She looked like a senior out there, poised and controlled.

“… To drop 32 in her first game, I knew she was going to be very special. And when we played her when she was a sophomore (and she scored 28), I laughed with my players afterwards like, ‘Hey girls, we held her under 30 points! We did it!’

Crittendon lit up Class 4A in her first two seasons, a run that culminated with the program’s first state championship in 2024. Crittendon set the state scoring record for a freshman with 811 points, then set the state scoring record for a sophomore with 809 points.

The Toronto Zoo says a postmortem examination has provided new details about the death of Kiko, a Masai giraffe that died earlier this year.

In a statement, the zoo said findings from a complete postmortem conducted by the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph were consistent with cardiac failure associated with acute muscle exertion.

The zoo said the incident occurred when Kiko’s head became trapped in a small gap between a slide-shift door and a vertical post as the door was opening.

Officials said the event resulted in almost immediate death.

The report indicated the death was linked to a condition known as exertional myopathy, which can occur during periods of intense physical activity.

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The condition involves a rapid release and buildup of muscle enzymes that can lead to tissue damage and cardiac failure.

The zoo said a CT scan did not identify any fractures or abnormalities in the giraffe’s neck, and there were no microscopic findings suggesting an underlying medical condition.

Staff described the movement of giraffes between areas as a routine procedure carried out regularly without prior incident.

“Kiko’s loss requires us to face uncomfortable facts,” the zoo said in its statement. “This tragedy stemmed from an unforeseen vulnerability when the door is opening.”

The zoo said several steps have been taken following the findings, including reviews of staff training and procedures, an independent third-party assessment of processes and human factors and a special inspection by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

An internal review of habitat retrofits is also underway, with particular attention to areas involving hydraulic doors.

The zoo said the findings provide clarity but do not lessen the impact of the loss.

“While these results cannot ease our heartbreak, they do provide some clarity during this difficult time,” the statement said.

The zoo also said it continues to monitor Mstari, a female Masai giraffe in the late stages of pregnancy, carrying Kiko’s offspring.

As for those questioning whether Kiko’s death will impact the offspring’s growth, the zoo reassured that male giraffes play little direct role in raising calves, with care primarily provided by mothers.

“Calves depend entirely on their mothers for nursing, security, and social learning.”

As the investigation continues, the zoo says they will cooperate with investigators every step of the way.

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