Kolkata: In two separate accidents that took place on Sunday morning, 21 people were injured, including six police personnel, in the city.They were rushed to SSKM Hospital from where all 21 of them were treated and discharged. According to police, first accident happened around 7:15 am near the crossing of Saint Georges Gate Road and Commissariat Road. A bus of South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) rammed behind a mini-truck carrying police personnel from Kolkata Police commando unit. Also Read – Bengal family worships Muslim girl as Goddess Durga in Kumari PujaImmediately traffic police personnel deployed on the road rushed to the spot and rescued the occupants of the mini truck. They were eventually taken to SSKM Hospital for where they have been discharged after treatment as had no serious injuries. Meanwhile, the offending bus and the police vehicle were taken to Hastings police station. On the other hand a pick up van carrying approximately 50 Trinamool supporters to Esplanade from Kulpi toppled near the crossing of Remount Road and Coalberth Road. Also Read – Bengal civic volunteer dies in road mishap on national highway Traffic police personnel arranged necessary transportation to send the injured Trinamool workers to SSKM Hospital. Police informed that 15 persons were injured. As the injuries were minor, all 15 of them were treated and discharged after providing treatment. Later during the meeting Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee told the party workers to return home safely. She also told the Trinamool workers not to sit on the roofs of buses and keep their head down who are travelling in mini trucks and pick up vans as there are wires in many places which may lead to untoward accidents.
Congress workers protest in Lucknow demand Sengars expulsion from BJP
Lucknow: Congress workers sat on a fast on Wednesday in Lucknow, demanding that the BJP expel the rape-accused MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar from the party as his mere suspension will not deter him from influencing the probe in the cases against him.Sengar, a four-time MLA, represents the Bangermau constituency in the UP assembly. A woman has accused him of raping her at his residence in 2017 when she was a minor. The rape case against him was filed after she tried to immolate herself outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence in April last year. On Sunday, her car was hit by a truck when she was going to meet her uncle Mahesh Singh in Rae Bareli jail. Two of her relatives died and she and her lawyer are critical and undergoing treatment at a hospital in Lucknow. Also Read – Uddhav bats for ‘Sena CM’The rape victim’s family has alleged the road accident was a result of a conspiracy. The CBI has taken over the accident case and booked Sengar and 10 others in this connection. On Wednesday, Congress party workers and members of associated groups sat on a fast at the GPO park. “The ‘upvas’ is in support of our demand for expulsion of the MLA from BJP as mere suspension will not serve the purpose and he will continue to influence police and administration,” Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu said. Also Read – Farooq demands unconditional release of all detainees in J&KThe opposition party is also demanding the best treatment available to the rape victim and her advocate, who are battling for life at a hospital after the accident on Sunday, Lallu said. “We have also demanded that all those belonging to the family of the rape survivor who have lost their lives in their battle for justice be given an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore each and one month parole to Mahesh Singh, her uncle, so that he can take care of the family,” he said. The victim’s uncle is in Rae Bareli jail in connection with an old case.Lallu said his party has sought time from Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel to hand her a memorandum in this connection. The CLP leader visited the rape victim in the hospital and said her condition is stated to be still very critical, the advocate has improved slightly. On Tuesday too, Congress workers staged a ‘dharna’ for Sengar’s expulsion from BJP and later courted arrest when they were stopped from moving towards the saffron party office.
Death toll rises to 158 in two states
Thiruvananthapuram/ Bengaluru: Torrential rains lashed many parts of the country and the situation remained grim in flood-hit parts of Kerala and Karnataka, with the death toll mounting to 158 in the two southern states on Wednesday. Three rain-related deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh, where heavy downpour was witnessed. Heavy rainfall in the lower catchments of the Mahanadi in Odisha is likely to cause a “medium flood” in the river, Water Resources Secretary P K Jena said. Also Read – India gets first tranche of Swiss bank a/c detailsAccording to a forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), some areas in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are expected to have heavy to very heavy downpour on Thursday. In Kerala, many low lying areas have been waterlogged, even as the death toll in the rain-battered state has gone up to 95. A red alert has been sounded for three north Kerala districts of Malappuram, Kannur and Kozhikode, which bore the brunt of the flood fury and landslides last week.
PM Modi visits Zvezda shipbuilding complex along with President Putin
Vladivostok (Russia): Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Zvezda shipbuilding complex along with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and interacted with the management and workers of the shipyard. Modi, who arrived in Russia on a two-day visit during which he will hold summit talks with President Putin and attend the Eastern Economic Forum, is the first Indian prime minister to visit to the Russian Far East Region. During his visit to the shipyard, Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by President Putin. The two leaders hugged and shook hands before their departure for Zvezda shipyard. Also Read – India gets first tranche of Swiss bank a/c details “Strong winds propelling the India-Russia relationship! PM @narendramodi and Russian President Putin spending quality time together on board a ship on their way to ‘Zvezda’ Shipbuilding Complex,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. At the shipyard, Modi interacted with the management and workers of the plant. “PM @narendramodi and President Putin visited the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex. Newer areas of collaboration such as shipbuilding offer opportunities for diversifying the strong India- Russia economic ties,” Kumar tweeted. Also Read – Tourists to be allowed in J&K from Thursday In the future, the ships built at that shipyard “will be used to deliver Russian oil and liquefied natural gas to world markets, including India,” President Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by Tass news agency. The Zvezda shipyard is being set up on the base of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center by a consortium of Rosneft, Rosneftegaz and Gazprombank. The shipyard will produce heavy tonnage ships, offshore platform elements, ice-class vessels, special vessels, and other marine equipment, according to the Russian news agency. After their visit to the shipyard, the two leader will hold the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, which Russia has hosted since 2015 to boost partnerships with Asian countries. “A personal chemistry underlining a strong partnership President Putin welcomes PM @narendramodi in #Vladivostok for their 30th meeting. India-Russia relationship goes beyond relations between two capitals and are now at the cusp of expanding to new frontiers,” Kumar tweeted. In the summit talks, the two leaders are expected to discuss a number of key regional issues, including the Afghan peace process and situation in the Gulf region. Both sides are expected to firm up a five-year roadmap 2019-2024 laying out possibilities of cooperation in oil and gas sector, in terms of exploration and exploitation, and purchase. At present, India relies heavily on the Gulf region for its energy requirement. Gokhale said India is looking at Russia as a major source of hydrocarbons so as to end its complete dependency on the Gulf region. They are also expected to explore ways to enhance cooperation while working in multilateral organisations like Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China and South Africa). Earlier, Modi was warmly welcomed at the Vladivostok airport on his third bilateral visit to Russia. He received a guard of honour at the airport. Ahead of his visit to Russia, Modi said he looked forward to discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest with President Putin. “I look forward to discussing with my friend President Putin the entire gamut of our bilateral partnership as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest,” he said in his departure statement in New Delhi. “I also look forward to meeting other global leaders attending the Eastern Economic Forum, and interacting with Indian Industry and business representatives participating in it,” Modi said. The forum focuses on development of business and investment opportunities in the Russian Far East Region, and presents enormous potential for developing close and mutually beneficial cooperation between India and Russia in the region. In an interview with Russia’s state-run TASS news agency ahead of his visit, Modi said he shared a “special chemistry” with the Russian President and is keen on technology transfers so that the two sides can make military equipment in India at cheaper rates for export to third countries. “I am confident that this visit will give a new vector, new energy and a new impetus to the relations between our countries,” Modi said. Russia and India are set to sign about 15 documents, including some in the military-technical sectors, within the framework of the 20th Russian-Indian summit that will take place on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), a Tass report said.
Robert Mugabe longtime Zimbabwe leader dies at 95
Harare: Robert Mugabe, the longtime leader of Zimbabwe who was forced to resign in 2017 after a military takeover, has died.His successor Emmerson Mnangagwa confirmed Mugabe’s death in a tweet Friday, mourning him as an “icon of liberation”.Mugabe was a former guerrilla chief who took power after the end of white minority rule in 1980 and presided over a country whose early promise was eroded by economic turmoil and human rights violations.While Mugabe blamed Zimbabwe’s economic problems on Western sanctions and once said he wanted to rule for life, growing discontent about the country’s leadership prompted a military intervention, impeachment proceedings and large street demonstrations.On February 21, 2018, Mugabe marked his first birthday since his resignation in near solitude, far from the lavish affair of past years.
Rupee rises 17 paise to 7167 against USD in early trade
Mumbai: The Indian rupee appreciated by 17 paise to 71.67 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday as gains in domestic equity market and resumption of US-China trade talks in October strengthened investor sentiments.At the interbank foreign exchange the rupee opened at 71.87, then gained further ground and touched a high of 71.67, registering a rise of 17 paise over its previous close.On Thursday, rupee had settled for the day with gains of 28 paise at 71.84 against the US dollar. Also Read – Thermal coal import may surpass 200 MT this fiscalThe domestic unit however could not hold on to the gains and was trading at 71.73 against the dollar at 0949 hrs.Forex traders said investors were optimistic about the US-China trade talks in October.China and the US have agreed to hold the next round of trade negotiations in Washington in early October to end the bruising trade war.Besides, higher opening in domestic equities supported the local unit.Domestic bourses opened on a positive note on Friday with benchmark indices Sensex trading 153.43 points higher at 36,797.85 and Nifty up 44.20 points at 10,892.10. Also Read – Food grain output seen at 140.57 mt in current fiscal on monsoon boostMoreover, weakening of the American currency vis-a-vis other currencies overseas also dragged the rupee down. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, fell marginally by 0.01 per cent to 98.40.Market participants, however, said sustained foreign fund outflows and rising crude prices weighed on local currency.Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the capital market, pulling out Rs 561.17 crore on Thursday, according to provisional exchange data.Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.25 per cent to trade at USD 61.10 per barrel.The 10-year government bond yield was at 6.59 per cent in morning trade.
Committed to welfare of farmers promotion of industry Mamata
Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remembered the third anniversary of the day when the state government handed over parchas (documents) of land to the farmers of Singur whose plots were forcibly acquired by the then Left Front government for the Nano factory.She tweeted: “Today marks the third anniversary of the historic day when our Govt of #Bangla handed over to farmers the parchas of land forcibly acquired in Singur. We reiterate our commitment to the welfare of farmers, alongside promoting industry. My humble pronam to Maa, Mati, Manush.” Also Read – Bengal family worships Muslim girl as Goddess Durga in Kumari PujaIt may be recalled that handing over the forcibly acquired land to the unwilling farmers of Singur was the main slogan of the Trinamool Congress before the 2011 Assembly election. After the Supreme Court, in a judgment on August 31, 2016, described the acquisition of land by the state government for the automobile factory illegal, the TMC-led state government immediately took up the matter and decided to return the land to the deprived farmers. The Singur movement was launched by Mamata Banerjee against the forcible acquisition of farmland by the erstwhile Left Front government in 2006. She stood by the farmers and observed a fast that lasted for 26 days. She broke her fast on December 29, 2006 after being persuaded by the then President APJ Abdul Kalam, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Atal Behari Vajpayee, who wrote letters on December 28, requesting her to give up her fast. Also Read – Bengal civic volunteer dies in road mishap on national highwayAt a joint press conference held on May 18, 2006, the then Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Ratan Tata announced that a small project would come up at Singur on 700 acres of land and the ancillary units would come up on another 300 acres of land. On July 17, the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) began to acquire land in Singur, which the local farmers resisted. Banerjee lent her support to the farmers and the agitation took the shape of a movement. The agitation continued for over a year and finally, the Tatas withdrew themselves from the project on October 3, 2008. Banerjee was sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 20, 2011. On July 14, 2011, the Bengal Assembly passed the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill 2011, which received the Governor’s approval on July 20. Banerjee went to Singur and returned the lands to the farmers at a function on September 14, 2016. Agricultural experts were brought in who examined the condition of the soil. A martyrs’ column was erected in Singur and the movement has been included in the history syllabus of school students.
Govt inks allotment pact with WBPDCL for a coal block
New Delhi: The coal ministry on Monday inked an agreement with West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd for allotment of Deocha Pachami Dewanganj-Harinsingha coal block. The project is expected to address the immediate and future coal and power requirements of the region. “The central government entered into an allotment agreement with the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) regarding the Deocha Pachami Dewanganj-Harinsingha coal block today,” the coal ministry said. Also Read – Thermal coal import may surpass 200 MT this fiscalIn accordance with the provisions of Coal Block Allocation Rules, 2017, made under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, the WBPDCL has been allocated the the coal block located in West Bengal containing an area of 12.28 sq km with estimated reserves of 2102 MT for power generation. The project is slated to generate both direct and indirect employment in West Bengal considerably and also contribute to the socio-economic development of the region. Further, the project envisages to address the immediate as well as the forthcoming coal and power requirements.
The right woman for the job Quebec womens federation chooses first trans
MONTREAL – Gabrielle Bouchard, the first trans woman to lead Quebec’s main women’s advocacy federation, says her detractors are guilty of trickle-down feminism.As long as white, privileged and wealthy feminists achieve equality, then less fortunate women will eventually see some benefits too, the logic goes, Bouchard said.“They are saying we’ll tolerate trans women as long as they are not in a position of power,” she told The Canadian Press. “We’ll tolerate lesbians in the movement as long as they stand 10 feet away.”Not long after Bouchard’s recent election to the presidency of the Quebec federation of women, the backlash began.A columnist in a Montreal newspaper wrote in early December, “who is this man who became a woman as an adult?“How can she speak on behalf of all women, as someone who was raised in a masculine culture, ignoring the experiences that women have lived through since they were born?” wrote Denise Bombardier, a well-known media personality in Quebec.Bouchard, 49, said she was chosen by members of the federation to be president and ran unopposed.Yet she’s been criticized on social media and privately in emails by members of the public.“From the members of the federation and the board — the reception has been great,” she said. “I am truly enjoying the team dynamic we have.”Outside the federation, however, “Some women are really, really, not happy,” Bouchard said.The federation of Quebec women represents roughly 300 feminist organizations across the province as well as about 700 individual members.It’s an organization that leans heavily to the left, and its mission, as described on its website, includes an aim to “deconstruct and eliminate patriarchy and all the other systems of oppression or domination with which it is intertwined, such as capitalism, racism, imperialism, heterosexism, colonialism.”The federation’s website also singles out Israel and demands the country end its blockade of Gaza.Bouchard’s vision for the presidency is to better enshrine her organization’s mission: Equality for all women and equality among all women.Her definition of feminism is inclusive: “It’s about not leaving anyone behind,” she said.Over the past few years, governments across Canada have made significant movement toward recognizing trans rights.The federal government passed Bill C-16 last June, which amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.Bouchard agreed society is more accepting today than just six years ago, when she began her activism, but barriers remain.Some women feel uncomfortable when a trans person seeks shelter at refuges for female victims of violence. Employees at those centres have been known to ask trans women if they’ve received gender-reassignment surgery, Bouchard said.Bouchard said part of her work as president will be to fight against so-called trickle-down feminism and for a more inclusive interpretation of womanhood.She rejects the idea she can’t president of a women’s rights organization.“(This opinion) presumes all women live the same experience — which is not true,” she said.“It also presumes the identity barriers I face, the risk of violence I face, the risk of unemployment and not finding housing are illegitimate and not based in sexism.“All the barriers I face are actually based in sexism. They also happen to be based in transphobia. I am living at the intersection of trans identity and being a woman, and it creates a marginalization that some women don’t face.”
Scheer mum on persistent questions about blame in Rick Dykstra affair
OTTAWA – Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer refused to say Tuesday what fate might await those involved in the party’s mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against Rick Dykstra during the 2015 election campaign.Scheer, who called a news conference to pillory Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his tony Bahamian vacation with the Aga Khan, was instead peppered yet again with questions about the misconduct controversy roiling both the federal Conservatives and their Ontario counterparts.Most of those questions he deferred to a promised third-party investigation that has yet to begin, since the details have yet to be sorted out. But Scheer said he wants to move quickly so the report can inform the structure of the next campaign.Until it is finished, Scheer said he won’t comment on statements being made by anyone — including former prime minister Stephen Harper — about the fact the party knew Dykstra was facing accusations dating back to 2014 but kept him on the ballot in 2015 because no charges had been filed.“There are statements now out there by some people involved; those statements speak for themselves,” Scheer said.“I’ll leave it to the findings of the third-party investigation to determine what happened, what went wrong, what can be done going forward.”Harper, his former chief of staff and one of the Tory campaign chairs in 2015 have now all come forward publicly with accounts of how the matter was handled following a Maclean’s magazine report on the allegations against Dykstra and the fact that removing him as a candidate was discussed by the party.Dykstra, who resigned his position as president of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, denies the allegations, which have not been tested in court nor confirmed independently by The Canadian Press.Dykstra was a friend and fellow MP of former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown, whose sudden downfall and resignation last month amid similar allegations — all with a provincial election looming this summer — helped to precipitate the current controversy.Brown surfaced Tuesday on Twitter to thank those who continue to support him, and to again protest his innocence.“I am immensely grateful for all the support expressed to my family and myself,” he tweeted. “#Metoo can be a tool to lift society and I applaud that effort. False allegations however undermine that good work.“The truth will come out. Thank you to all.”Scheer refused to say whether those involved in the 2015 incident remain welcome in the party.“I’m not going to speculate, I’m not going to try and guess what may or may not be in that report,” he said. “My job is to make sure that those types of mistakes can’t happen going forward.”Conservative MP Michelle Rempel chastised those involved in the decision in the aftermath of the report last week, saying they should no longer hold any positions of influence.On Tuesday, she said she’s “satisfied at this point in time with the level of severity and the degree of seriousness that the leader of my party is placing on this issue.”Scheer is implementing a code of conduct for his MPs, as well as training. The party is also requiring all candidates who want to run in 2019, including incumbent MPs, to say whether they have ever been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.“This is not an issue that is being faced by just one party,” Scheer said.“It crosses all party lines and I really do sense good faith between party leadership of all parties to deal with this in a way that is meaningful.”Indeed, Liberal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc said as much Tuesday, suggesting that the Parliament Hill community is conscious of the need for permanent change and seized with making it happen.“That consciousness is obviously much greater than it would have been 10 years ago — that’s a very positive thing,” LeBlanc said.“Everyone, I think, has become much more aware in a positive way of the steps that have to be taken to ensure that you’re not standing idly by while something inappropriate happens.”Also Tuesday, the NDP — wrestling with a harassment allegation of its own against caucus member Erin Weir — said University of Ottawa law professor Michelle Flaherty, a former vice-chair of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, had been appointed as its independent investigator.Weir was suspended from caucus duties last week after a reply-all email from caucus colleague Christine Moore alleged “harassing behaviour towards women, specifically members of the NDP staff team,” leader Jagmeet Singh told a news conference.The Liberals, meanwhile, are promising a “rigorous green-light process” for its candidates in the 2019 election.“The details of that process are still being reviewed and finalized,” party spokesman Braeden Caley said in an email.
No charges against driver whose car struck and killed Quebec cyclist
MONTREAL – Crown prosecutors in Quebec will not lay charges against a motorist whose vehicle struck and killed a cyclist.Clement Ouimet, 18, died last October shortly after being hit as the driver attemped a U-turn.The Crown says it studied the Montreal police report into the death and concluded it would not be able to prove the driver was guilty.Ouimet’s loved ones were informed of the decision before the Crown made it public Wednesday.The police report stated the motorist, an American who was visiting Montreal, said he looked in the mirrors before attempting the manoeuvre and that he saw no cars or bicycles.A passenger in the vehicle said the same thing, while the Crown noted that an expert quoted in the police report confirmed the likelihood of that hypothesis.“The expert concluded the cyclist didn’t have enough time or distance to avoid the collision,” the Crown said in its statement.
New website lets you navigate the PATH on your phone
TORONTO – Many who venture into Toronto’s PATH walkway get lost in the labyrinth of underground tunnels. But a new website wants to help people navigate the largest subterranean shopping mall in the world.“I’ve personally experienced the frustration of getting lost in the PATH,” says Eric Rotberg, the 38-year-old inventor who took it upon himself to develop the mobile site, Pathmap.ca. “Once you’ve found your current location and selected your destination, the site calculates the shortest, quickest route to get you there.”About 200,000 people use the 30-kilometre-long network every day. While many locals use it to get to and from work daily, occasional users and visitors to the city can have a difficult time finding their way through the maze of tunnels that connect 50 buildings and 1,200 shops.“[The PATH] is a tourist trap in the literal sense. Anybody that comes down there for the first time is bound to get lost,” says Richard Joy, executive director of Toronto’s Urban Land Institute.It often takes some trial and error to find your way on the PATH, Joy says. “When you’re aboveground, you can always find the CN Tower and get your bearings. But belowground, I don’t think that’s something that can be vastly improved.”A 2016 report by N. Barry Lyon Consultants suggests that the PATH is underused because of unclear signage. It also said that there’s a lack of confidence for anyone who’s not already familiar with the walkway in finding their way around.New signs and maps are being rolled out for the PATH, says Tim Kocur, spokesperson for the Toronto Financial District Business Improvement Area. The group helped develop a new mapping system in partnership with the city.Not everyone thinks that using a phone will help people find their way in the PATH.“I’m not utterly convinced that you can make the PATH especially navigable for the first-time and second-time user,” says Joy.Site creator Rotberg says he’s still trying to improve his “bare-bones” navigation tool, explaining that additional features will be added. He’s developing a mobile app for iOS and Android systems that will have step-by-step navigation. “It will prompt you and say, ‘turn left at Tim Hortons’ and ‘turn right at Aldo Shoes,’ for example.”Other major cities have developed apps to map out their underground pedestrian networks. An app is available for Montreal’s Underground City. Houston’s tunnel system, which is a third of the size of the PATH at 11-kilometres long, also has one.“Our vision would be to potentially partner with the City of Toronto to make the application official,” says Rotberg.
Gas explosions rare but danger always present Canadian experts say
MONTREAL – Energy experts say a chain gas explosion like the one that tore through three Boston suburbs could happen in Canada, but that such a possibility is unlikely.The director of the Queen’s Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy says the type of multiple explosions that caused more than 20 fires and at least one death in Massachusetts is extremely rare.Warren Mabee says most networks have alarms that shut down the system before an excess of pressure starts leaking or building up to the point of explosion, though it’s unclear why those didn’t work Thursday.A spokesperson for Quebec-based natural gas firm Energir says the company has a much newer network than Boston’s and many safeguards in place to prevent, and respond to, breaks and pressure buildups.Catherine Houde says the company deals with 500 breaks per year and hasn’t had a fire or explosion since a fatal incident killed one person in 2005 in Pointe-du-Lac, about halfway between Montreal and Quebec City.But she says there’s always a danger when dealing with natural gas and the company will follow the aftermath of the Boston incident to learn more about what happened.— With files from The Associated Press
Alberta Holocaust denier guilty of inciting hatred in German court
A former federal Green party candidate has been convicted in Germany of inciting hatred by publishing videos that denied the Holocaust.Monika Schaefer of Jasper, Alta., was in Germany visiting family when she was arrested in January on charges of “incitement of the people.”B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish service organization, said she has been sentenced to 10 months.“We commend the German justice system for effectively dealing with a blatant manifestation of anti-Semitism,” Michael Mostyn, chief executive officer of B’nai Brith Canada, said Friday in a release.“Holocaust denial is once again on the rise, but this important court decision should help deter others from engaging in racist and hateful rhetoric.”Schaefer ran unsuccessfully for the Green party in Alberta’s Yellowhead riding in 2006, 2008 and 2011. The party rejected her candidacy in 2015.The following year she appeared in a YouTube video denying the Holocaust, which prompted the Green party to publicly condemn her views.In the 2016 video Schaefer called the Holocaust the most “pernicious and persistent lie in all of history” and described concentration camps as “work camps” that did not have gas chambers.The Holocaust is one of the most documented atrocities of the 20th century. The Nazi regime murdered about six million Jewish people and targeted other groups including the Roma, people with disabilities and gay people.Germany has strict laws against anti-Semitism and hate propaganda.Mostyn said Monika Schaefer’s brother, Alfred Schaefer, received a sentence of three years and two months on similar charges.“B’nai Brith will aggressively continue to combat anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial and all forms of bigotry and racism,” Mostyn said.
BC government to bring lower transgender surgery to the province
The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Reconstructive lower surgery for transgender people will soon be available in British Columbia.Health Minister Adrian Dix says the trans community has advocated for a number of years for improved access to care for the complex surgeries in B.C.Up until now, those wanting the surgery had to travel to Montreal or the United States, which Dix says resulted in additional medical risks associated with travelling long distances after surgery and with follow-up care.The Health Ministry says gender-affirming surgery will be available at Vancouver Coastal Health starting next year and trans people will also have improved access to publicly funded chest and breast surgeries throughout the province.Dix says B.C. is the first province in Western Canada to provide the surgeries.The government says about 100 people travel out of the province for the lower surgeries every year and about 200 chest and breast surgeries are expected to take place in B.C. in the coming year.
Venezuelans rally in Calgary to show support for homeland
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Hundreds of Venezuelans braved the snow and cold in Calgary to show support to individuals in their home country protesting for democracy.The unrest in Venezuela comes after President Nicolas Maduro was sworn into a second term at the beginning of January, but has been considered illegitimate after his main opponents were banned from running against him.Crowd of Venezuelans starting gather at City Hall. They’re protesting here in Calgary in support of restoring democracy in Venezuela. #yyc pic.twitter.com/3KEklRsj9G— Jenna Hamilton (@j_hamilton04) January 23, 2019Leader of the opposition National Assembly, Juan Guaido, swore himself in as president. The protestors outside Calgary’s city hall support this decision.“We are following the rules made in our own constitution, we’re not making it a coup d’etat or anything else. There is an emptiness in the government at this moment and we’re taking the opportunity to fill up that emptiness with the National Assembly elected by the people,” said Abeladio Eljesser, rally participant.Raising their hands in support of their new president & being responsible for what happens inside their country. #yyc pic.twitter.com/TIre1QhNlY— Jenna Hamilton (@j_hamilton04) January 23, 2019The United States and Canada announced they will recognize Guaido as the president of Venezuela.Other countries, such as Mexico and Russia have said that they would continue to recognize Maduro as the president.-With files from the Canadian Press
Federal finance minister promotes preelection fiscal plan
TORONTO (NEWS 1130) – Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has begun his budget roadshow on Wednesday to promote his pre-election fiscal plan.The budget tries to squeeze in a little something for everyone before the fall vote and that means adding more than $20 billion in deficits over the next six years.During his post-budget event, Morneau promoted measures like the immediate infrastructure cash for cities, the benefit to help people change careers, and the creation of the Canada Drug Agency with the aim of creating a Pharmacare plan.LISTEN: Canada’s federal budget and you: what matters, what’s noiseHe also defended the incentives for first time home buyers which some argue doesn’t do enough to help people in hot housing markets like Toronto and Vancouver.“We’re talking about first-time homebuyers, it’s giving people optimism that they can get into the market while being careful to ensure that we continue to have a stable housing market,” Morneau said.Morneau asked if the Trudeau government doesn’t return but he is re-elected, is he willing to sit in the opposition benches. Morneau says he’s committed to running for the Liberals in the election and representing the people of Toronto Centre #cdnpoli— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) March 20, 2019He said the country is starting to see the results of the government’s long-term plan, “We’ve created together 900,000 new jobs in this country.”The Conservatives have attacked the Liberals for breaking their deficit promise and have demanded Morneau map out a return to balanced books. They’ve accused the government of borrowing today on the backs of future generations.“It’s just another part of his government part coverup,” Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said.New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said the budget didn’t go far enough on universal pharmacare, skills training and pensions.
Justice minister calls for probe after report judge acquitted friend for traffic
The Canadian Press Quebec’s justice minister has asked the province’s judicial council to investigate a municipal judge who reportedly acquitted a friend over a traffic violation the day before he was set to retire.Sonia LeBel said Tuesday she sent a letter to the judicial council after reading about former municipal court judge Jean Herbert in the Journal de Montreal.The Journal reported that last Feb. 4, Herbert moved forward a friend’s court date so it wouldn’t interfere with her planned vacation and then took 42 seconds to acquit her of a traffic violation. Before his retirement, Herbert sat on the bench in Longueuil, south of Montreal.Herbert told the newspaper the woman acquitted, Diane Lelievre, was an artist and he had once bought a painting from her. Lelievre told the newspaper the judge was a patient of her spouse, an ophthalmologist.Herbert also told the Journal he helped other friends by changing their court dates.LeBel said she considers the facts reported in the article to be serious but declined to comment further.
Legault tells companies to increase wages if they want to find workers
QUEBEC CITY – Quebec Premier Francois Legault says the reason many industries across the province are having trouble finding workers is because they aren’t paying enough.Legault was responding today to pleas from business groups for the government to significantly increase annual immigration to respond to labour shortages.Quebec plans to accept 20 per cent fewer immigrants this year compared with 2018 and then slowly increase the annual rate of newcomers until 2022.Business groups have been telling a legislature committee holding public consultations this week on Quebec’s immigration policy that Legault’s government risks aggravating labour shortages and hurting economic growth.WATCH: Quebec business group wants more immigrants But the premier told reporters the vast majority of jobs in Quebec that aren’t being filled are low paid. Legault says his government is seeking to help companies increase their productivity and add value to their jobs so they can offer higher salaries.Legault says his government needs to temporarily reduce immigration because too many immigrants can’t find work within the first five years of arriving, and many don’t speak French.The Canadian Press
New Brunswick education minister warns against antivaccination message
FREDERICTON — New Brunswick’s education minister says people spreading misinformation about the effectiveness of vaccines are from the “far, far fringe.”A committee of the New Brunswick legislature is hearing today from supporters and opponents of more stringent vaccine requirements for New Brunswick children.The province’s Tory government wants to pass legislation making vaccinations mandatory for children in schools and daycares unless they have a medical exemption.Education Minister Dominic Cardy opened the hearings by cautioning the committee about false information being spread by vaccination opponents.He says getting vaccinated is safer than spurning vaccines.The bill was introduced in June amid a measles outbreak in southern New Brunswick.The Canadian Press