Papuans challenge Indonesian rule at country's highest court
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Lawyers are challenging Indonesia’s incorporation of the volatile Papua region into its territory in 1969 with a judicial review at the country’s highest court. A spokesman for a group of 15 Papuan lawyers, Agus Sumule, said Thursday the “Act of Free Choice” referendum violated Indonesia’s constitution because it was conducted in a way that grossly violated the human rights of Papuans. Its umbrella body, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, does not support the case and instead continues to endorse a strategy of attempting to bring the plight of Papuans to the International Court of Justice. Indonesia restricts foreign media from reporting in its two easternmost provinces, West Papua and Papua, where an insurgency has simmered since Indonesia occupied the former Dutch colony in the early 1960s. Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said the Papua issue is “finished.”“For us, Papua cannot be discussed anymore.
Source:National Post
April 25, 2019 08:41 UTC
Deciphering the body language at the Kim-Putin summit, from hearty handshakes to manspreading
What caught the attention of many outside observers Thursday wasn’t the scene, but the sound — of Kim’s loud breathing. Clips of the introductory encounter were quickly tweeted around the world, many with comments about the leader’s audible breathlessness. But when the two delivered their opening comments to start the actual talks, Kim seemed to have gotten over whatever the problem was. Unlike the much taller Trump, Putin is roughly the same height as Kim, which probably helped. During his first summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, last April, he appeared to be out of breath as he signed a guestbook after a short walk.
Source:National Post
April 25, 2019 08:37 UTC
China and Russia to hold joint navy drills next week
BEIJING — China said Thursday that it will hold joint naval drills with Russia next week, in another sign that the countries’ militaries are growing closer in the face of shared opposition to U.S. military dominance. The “Joint Sea 2019” drills will be held off the northern port city of Qingdao, Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said at a monthly briefing. Taking place from Monday to Saturday, they will feature ships and submarines along with fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and marine units. Ren described the drills as “joint maritime defensive operations” aimed at “strengthening the two navies’ capability to commonly address maritime security threats.”“The exercise does not target any third parties,” Ren said. Last September, about 3,200 Chinese troops joined Russia’s largest-ever war games in Siberia, in which nearly 300,000 Russian troops conducted drills.
Source:National Post
April 25, 2019 08:15 UTC
Ontario cancels program that aimed to plant 50 million trees
Ontario is cancelling a tree planting program, with those involved warning the move will lead to the loss of jobs and environmental benefits that forests provide. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry told Forests Ontario the day after the Progressive Conservative government delivered its budget this month that the 50 Million Tree Program was being eliminated. The program's annual budget was about $4.7 million, Keen said, and Forests Ontario was told it was being cancelled as a way to cut provincial costs. He predicted the cancellation would also lead to layoffs at organizations such as conservation authorities, which partner on the tree planting. "On average, the forestry industry plants 68 million trees per year, creating jobs for foresters, nurseries and tree planters," she wrote.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 08:03 UTC
Why hasn't Facebook banned any far-right groups in Quebec?
"Within the North American context, and even globally, the Quebec groups don't have as many followers. (CBC News)Goldy, who has been described as a white nationalist, was among the six Canadian groups and individuals that Facebook banned on April 8. Facebook responds to criticismBut other far-right groups in Quebec less obviously transgress Facebook's hate speech policies. The Canadian government applauded Facebook's announcement earlier this month that it was removing some Canadian hate groups from the site. The Quebec government declined to say whether it has addressed any concerns to Facebook about the continued online presence of Quebec hate groups.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 08:00 UTC
Climate-change protesters glue themselves to the London Stock Exchange
At the London Stock Exchange's headquarters, six protesters dressed in black suits and red ties were blocking the revolving doors of the building. A police officer tries to remove the hand of protester Diana Warner, glued to a train, as demonstrators block traffic at Canary Wharf Station. The "aim is to demand the finance industry tells the truth about the climate industry and the devastating impact the industry has on our planet." Here, a demonstrator is carried away during a protest at the Marble Arch in London on Wednesday. The group said they will end their protests in London on Thursday and will end their blockades at Parliament Square and Marble Arch.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
Ontario budget delivers cuts — and confusion — to City of Ottawa
When the Progressive Conservative government tabled its first provincial budget earlier this month, the City of Ottawa breathed a tentative sigh of relief. Mayor Jim Watson says the city may be left with funding gaps after cuts in the provincial budget. Cuts to public health fundingDon't remember cuts to public health as part of any party's campaign rhetoric last spring? Here’s her answer : <a href="https://t.co/xixRO9hFLe">pic.twitter.com/xixRO9hFLe</a> —@JudyTrinhCBCThe provincial budget called for Ontario's public health boards to be amalgamated into 10 regional boards. Of course, public health staff are concerned for their jobs, but they're also worried about how a public health system will be responsive to the health issues of individual communities.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
Eyewitness gives detailed account of Abdirahman Abdi's arrest
A Crown witness testifying at the manslaughter trial of an Ottawa police officer Wednesday provided a detailed account of the arrest of Abdirahman Abdi, including the moments before and after Abdi lost vital signs outside his Hintonburg apartment building. Clements watched as a police officer chased Abdi down Wellington Street W. toward Hilda Street around 9:46 a.m. on July 24, 2016. The weighted rubber mat Abdirahman Abdi held over his head while fleeing police is now an exhibit in the manslaughter trial of Const. Daniel Montsion (Laura Osman/CBC)When Abdi and the officer turned onto Hild Street, Clements moved to another window for a better look. In court, Clements described how Montsion punched Abdi more than once in the face.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
Warm today, but very rainy tomorrow
Unfortunately rain arrives Friday morning, but the high is still 13 C.There are special weather statements for our entire region about the rainfall. Twenty to 40 millimetres of rain could fall in the Outaouais, except for Gatineau, and the Kingston area. There is also a chance of the ugly "f" word — flurries — on Friday night into Saturday. That precipitation will also add to the strain on local rivers, which are already high or bursting their banks. The weekend looks cold with temperatures hovering around 4 C on Saturday and 8 C on Sunday.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
Trade shock, harsh winter and Doug Ford blamed for pausing the Canadian economy: Don Pittis
Interest rates were unchanged, but more important, governor Stephen Poloz had downgraded growth from 1.7 per cent to 1.2 per cent. (Don Pittis/CBC)Another drag on the economy, said Poloz, was the energy sector, still struggling from low prices and poor market access. That private-sector investment in human capital expands the capacity of the economy — a good sign for future growth. The bank's calculations show the effect on economic growth will be negligible because the rebates mean the money will still be spent — just on different things. All that does not mean the Canadian or global economy is entirely out of the woods.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
Experts say 'predatory' essay writing firms are thriving, and there's no law to stop them
A staff member at a Toronto-based essay writing company said the company only employs writers who are native English speakers with graduate-level degrees. Academic integrity experts say a lack of research and awareness also has made it difficult to combat contract cheating. While essay writing companies plaster university and college campuses with flyers every semester, the actual number of students buying papers is practically impossible to determine. In some recent cases, he said, the essay writing companies have even tried to blackmail students by threatening to report them unless they pay additional fees. The Academic Integrity Council of Ontario (AICO), an organization that represents 30 universities and colleges, is calling on the provincial government to make essay writing services illegal.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
By claiming Ontario's done its 'fair share,' Doug Ford pushes the climate burden west
(Some perspective: the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick produced a combined total of 30 Mt of emissions in 2017.) That new provincial target matches the national target. As the Ford government now loudly notes, Ontario's emissions have declined by 22 per cent below 2005 levels. A line graph from the Ontario government's 2019 budget shows emissions trends in Ontario versus the rest of Canada. In 2017, the province's emissions were 11 Mt.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
How do you prove a porn user is 18 or older?
The British government announced last week that beginning July 15, Brits who want to browse X-rated content online will need to prove they're 18 or older. But the question is, how do you go about proving a porn user is 18 or older? Co-operating with governmentThe Digital Economy Act 2017 was passed to give the government more power to deal with copyright infringements, internet speeds, mobile phone contracts and online porn. A code on the receipt can then be entered into the Portes app, verifying the user's age while also allowing them to use it on more than one device. The major distinction between AgeID and Portes is that the latter keeps users' online activities completely anonymous.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
Death on the highway
Lydia Philippe. (Jean Delisle/CBC)“I don't understand why it's OK to leave someone on the highway,” Philippe-Remy said. In a statement to CBC, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation confirmed that a pedestrian could be charged under the Highway Traffic Act for walking along a 400-series highway. [But] I don't think it's fair to drop someone [on the highway],” said Jean Saintil, Philippe’s father. Lydia Philippe has written to her MPP about strengthening the Highway Traffic Act, and is set to meet with Marie-France Lalonde next month to discuss her mother’s death.
Source:CBC News
April 25, 2019 07:52 UTC
Hand-carved mahjong tiles are a dying craft in Hong Kong
HONG KONG — Just opposite the entrance to a neon-lit night market, one of Hong Kong’s few remaining carvers of mahjong tiles engraves the two Chinese characters for the number 8,000 on a piece of acrylic. His is a dying craft in an era of mass-produced tiles for the table-top game, popular in southern China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The 65-year-old artisan believes there are only three or four carvers left in Hong Kong. “For hand-carved mahjong tiles, when you look closely, you can see each of them is different,” he said. Hong Kong once was dotted with mahjong parlours, where people could play against strangers for money, but few are left.
Source:National Post
April 25, 2019 05:48 UTC