(0:00 - 0:22) I'm Hannah Bern and I'm Will Dove and these are the top stories for today, Wednesday, June 25th. In today's news, NATO commits all member nations to 5% of GDP in military spending, along with substantial Canadian financial support for Ukraine. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation resorts to juvenile tactics to shut down freedom of speech. (0:22 - 0:59) And a new study finds a strong link between excessive screen time and suicide risk in adolescents. NATO leaders have pledged over US$40 billion in additional security assistance to Ukraine for the year ahead, with Europe and Canada specifically highlighted for accelerating their financial support. At the summit in The Hague this week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte disclosed updated estimates, revealing that European and Canadian allies originally would have announced $32 billion Canadian for the first quarter. (1:00 - 1:31) Instead, they will now provide over $56 billion in additional aid well above initial projections. Rutte described Ukraine's path to NATO as irreversible, emphasizing a clear commitment by allies for Ukraine to stay in the fight. Also at the summit, NATO members agreed to ramp up their defense spending to 5% of each member's economic output by 2035, a move strongly championed by US President Donald Trump. (1:32 - 2:05) Trump called the 5% target a big win for Europe and Western civilization. The new commitment, reached after months of pressure from the US President, involves at least 3.5% of GDP on core defense expenditure by 2035, with an additional 1.5% possible for security-related investments. The decision comes as NATO collectively faces what leaders describe as profound security challenges, primarily the long-term threat posed by Russia and terrorism. (2:05 - 2:24) In a joint statement, NATO reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to the principle that an attack on one member constitutes an attack on all. This statement ignores the fact that Ukraine is not a NATO country. The increased defense spending plan was not without controversy. (2:25 - 3:13) Spain's economy minister Carlos Cuerpo called the 5% target misguided, noting Madrid's struggle to reach 2.1%. Belgium and Slovakia also expressed reservations, but all ultimately endorse the agreement. Rutte accused Russia of continuing to wage war against Ukraine with support from North Korea, Iran, and Belarus, and noted that Russia has paid Iran for defense supplies, including drones used in attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Meanwhile, Trump referenced his diplomatic efforts in the Iran-Israel conflict, describing both countries as kids in a schoolyard, and stressed the need for international partners to help us on Russia, not Iran. (3:14 - 3:53) If you saw Will's interview with analyst Tom Luongo, released yesterday, you will understand why Europe wants to go to war with Russia, and how the Middle East as it is today was engineered by the UK to be inherently unstable. A few weeks ago, we reported on George Katerberg, a Sudbury-area resident and retired HVAC technician who fought the Ontario government in court over his roadside billboard, which the Ministry of Transportation tried to claim was hate speech. Katerberg's fight dates back to March 2024, when he attempted to rent a billboard on Highway 17 near Thessalon. (3:53 - 4:18) His sign featured images of public health officials and politicians and included a message critical of their statements about vaccines. The billboard was repeatedly rejected by the ministry, which initially claimed it promoted hatred. Katerberg, with support from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, launched a constitutional challenge arguing that the ministry's refusal infringed on his freedom of expression under the Charter. (4:19 - 4:36) For a time, it appeared that the ministry might backtrack. Officials conceded that Katerberg's sign did not in fact violate hate speech guidelines and indicated a willingness to reconsider its installation. However, it's now been revealed that the ministry quietly updated its policy manual in April. (4:36 - 5:01) The new guidelines now restrict billboard content along bush highways to promotional messages for goods, services or officially authorized community events. The updated policy is sweeping. It bars any billboard message that could be interpreted as demeaning, denigrating or disparaging any identifiable individual, group, firm, organization, industry, profession, entity, product or service. (5:02 - 5:36) The ministry relied on this new rule to reject Katerberg's revised billboard proposal once again. Chris Fleury, a constitutional lawyer involved with Katerberg's case, asserts that the new policy effectively bans all signage promoting political or social causes. By amending the Highway Corridor Management Manual to effectively prohibit signage that promotes political and social causes, the Ministry of Transportation has turned Mr. Katerberg's fight to raise his sign into a fight on behalf of all Ontarians who wish to express support for a political or social cause, Fleury explained. (5:37 - 6:03) Katerberg is now challenging the new rule. To date, no hearing date has been set for Katerberg's challenge, but his case is drawing attention to the implications of the Ministry's policy for the broader rights of Ontario residents to engage in public debate on highways across the province. A recent study has uncovered a concerning link between compulsive or addictive screen use among children and adolescents and a heightened risk of suicidal tendencies. (6:04 - 6:42) The research indicates that young people who display behaviors classified as addictive in their use of digital devices, such as smartphones, tablets and computers, are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety and thoughts of self-harm. The investigation revealed that children with addictive screen habits often showed symptoms that parallel those found in substance addiction. These include preoccupation with devices, withdrawal symptoms when unable to access screens, and an inability to cut down screen time despite repeated efforts. (6:42 - 7:15) The study specifically highlights that these behaviors are not only tied to lower well-being, but also to a statistically significant increase in suicidal ideation in young users. The researchers found that the association persists even after accounting for other risk factors, such as family background, social environment, and pre-existing mental health conditions. The findings suggest that screen addiction may be an independent predictor for suicide risk among children and teens. (7:15 - 7:47) Researchers involved in the study urge parents, educators, and policymakers to recognize the potential dangers of excessive screen time. They recommend interventions such as setting clear limits on device use, promoting alternative activities, and encouraging open conversations about mental health. The study makes it clear that not all screen time is problematic, but when usage becomes compulsive and interferes with daily life, it can serve as a warning sign requiring attention. (7:48 - 8:05) As with many addictive or compulsive behaviors, the sooner that parents recognize the signs and take steps to set limits, the less likely that children will be psychologically affected by excessive screen time. I'm Hannah Bern. And I'm Will Dove. (8:05 - 8:21) And those are the top stories for today. In tonight's audio news, a Canadian MP has introduced a bill to prevent assisted suicide on the basis of mental illness alone. Big Pharma is making plans in the U.S. to vaccinate everyone despite government bans. (8:21 - 8:25) And will Germany be the first EU nation to implement a military draft?