Global National: April 28

Canada’s biggest province, Ontario, is cracking down on cell phones in class and making changes to the rules when it comes to vaping. The province says it’s plan includes some of the strongest measures in this country to “protect the “mental and physical health” of children and to curb distraction at school, but some advocates say the plan itself is a distraction from more pressing issues. And, it has been a tense weekend at number of American campuses with pro-Palestinian protests. Now, the movement has come to Canada, with Montreal students also refusing to take down tents at McGill University, claiming they’ll stay until the school meets their divestment demands. In other news, homeownership is viewed by many in Canada as a milestone and a major step on the path toward setting oneself up financially for retirement. But breaking into the housing market remains elusive for many Canadians. We cover more on whether renters can set themselves up for financial success in the long run. Plus, new rules in Alberta could change how much control municipal officials have over their own governance. The changes would give the province the power to repeal bylaws and even remove elected officials. And, the United Nations Security Council is expressing deep concern for the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region. An opposition military group is closing in on the region’s main city and thousands are at risk if the conflict with the Sudanese army escalates. Also, a new documentary series, produced by James Cameron, is taking a deep dive into a special resident of British Columbia: the giant Pacific octopus. A Vancouver Island resident — known as the octopus whisperer — was tapped to help make it, too.