MAID

Bill C-39, the Canadian legislation that delayed expanded access to medical assistance in dying for people suffering solely from mental illness, is back in discussion as the fall session of Parliament gets underway in Ottawa. With Liberal MPs speaking publicly about their priorities for the new session, attention is turning to how the government will handle the postponed MAID provisions and other pending legislative business.

Canada's medical assistance in dying programme, known as MAID, is back in public attention, with CityNews Toronto outlining the key dates in how the country's assisted dying laws have evolved since legalisation. The timeline traces successive court rulings and federal legislation that expanded eligibility for medically assisted death, a policy that continues to spark debate among doctors, disability advocates and the public over safeguards and where eligibility limits should be drawn.

Ottawa has announced it will indefinitely delay allowing medical assistance in dying for people whose sole medical condition is a mental illness. The exclusion was originally set to lift in March 2027, but the federal government says it will not proceed, keeping MAID unavailable for mental illness alone for the foreseeable future. The move follows years of debate among psychiatrists, disability advocates and provincial governments over whether the health system is ready to assess such requests, and it is drawing strong reactions from both supporters and critics.

The federal government will exclude mental illness as the sole qualifying condition for medical assistance in dying, keeping Canada's existing law unchanged. The measure had already been delayed twice over concerns about health system readiness and safeguards. Advocates and critics remain divided: some see the exclusion as protecting vulnerable patients, others as denying access to those suffering severely.

The City of West Hollywood has presented a new artwork, Banned Books: The Handmaid's Tale, at the West Hollywood Library to mark Banned Books Week. The piece commemorates Margaret Atwood's novel, one of the most frequently challenged books in the United States, and highlights ongoing debates over censorship and book banning in libraries and schools.

Independent artist PanTheMaid is promoting a new album called 'Bread Jam', released on Bandcamp and supported by a YouTube channel. The self-described maidcore and DIY punk project mixes traditional and improvised elements. Promotion is small-scale and self-published, with the artist inviting listeners to check out the music.

Maine West High School's theatre program in Des Plaines, Illinois will stage 'Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood', Adam Hummel's comedic reworking of the Robin Hood legend centered on Maid Marian. The Daily Herald reported the upcoming production. The show, which plays with gender roles and classic folklore, is a popular choice for school theatre programs.

Artist Lotus Aura Art Prints has released a new piece titled 'Flame Maiden Brigid', depicting the figure associated with fire. The artwork is being shared under art tags and drawing attention from viewers interested in mythology-inspired illustration. Little further detail about the piece or the artist is available beyond the title itself.

A quote from critic Leo Bersani, cited in Alan Sinfield's book 'Out on Stage: Lesbian and Gay Theatre in the Twentieth Century', is being shared: the maids' dilemma is that nothing they might do to Madame would not confirm their identity as maids, since transgressiveness is part of that identity. The line refers to Jean Genet's play 'The Maids' and its tangled politics of class, servitude and rebellion.

Reece Shearsmith, co-creator of The League of Gentlemen and Inside No 9, has given an interview discussing the dark themes that run through his work, from severed hands to a 'monstrous mermaid with sharp teeth'. The conversation ties into his new book, which combines myth and memoir, exploring the gothic unease that has defined his career in comedy and horror.

Cinematographer Bérénice Eveno, known for her work on 'The Handmaid's Tale', will make her directing debut with 'Sleepless Nights', a thriller set in Paris starring Sawsan Abes. French sales company SND has boarded international sales for the project. The announcement gives the film early visibility with international buyers as it moves into production.

A movie news roundup touches on several upcoming titles, including Other Mommy, Digger, Animals, Matchbox The Movie and The House Maid. The segment offers brief updates on each project, giving audiences a quick look at what is in development or heading to screens. Details beyond the list of films are sparse, and it is not clear what specific news was shared about any of them.

Real Rebel Radio is playing Iron Maiden's 'Aces High' and shared the track with listeners via its online player. The station posted the now-playing update to let fans tune in live. The classic heavy metal anthem from the band's 1984 album Powerslave remains a staple of rock radio programming.

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island has dropped to fourth place at the Japanese box office in its eleventh weekend of release. Reaching an eleventh weekend still within the top five points to strong staying power for the animated film, which continues to draw audiences months after its debut despite slipping down the rankings.

A user on a federated social network shared a new Hatsune Miku track titled 'Maid NoN Setemper V3', linking directly to the audio. The post has drawn only a small amount of attention so far, with a couple of likes, and no wider discussion or commentary about the song has emerged yet.

Japanese gravure model Sumida Ayano is featured in a new photo shoot wearing a vivid blue thong and black garter belt, telling fans it is 'about time attention was paid to my backside too'. The pictorial showcases her figure and is drawing reactions from fans of Japanese idol and gravure content.

The Argentine online station Forro Pesado is currently airing Iron Maiden's "Lord Of The Flies", a track from the band's 1996 album The X Factor. The now-playing announcement was shared automatically with listeners, noting the song's five-minute runtime. It reflects the station's mix of heavy rock programming for its audience.