360° News: international & national briefs
International
- On April 20, an oil platform leased by BP exploded and sank, releasing 5,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico per day. BP is under fire for the lack of safeguard devices on the well, such as acoustic switches, which are legally mandated by other nations.
Attempts to cap the leak - an oil spring gushing on the Gulf floor - with a 100-tonne containment dome failed, forcing authorities to develop alternatives as the flow approaches the Louisiana coast.
- The government of Greece recently submitted legislation to implement a EUR110 billion European Union and International Monetary fund bailout due to their struggling economy. The plan included EUR30 billion cuts across the board, which include cuts to public salaries and pensions, increases in tax on sales, fuel, alcohol, and more.
Greek citizens expressed their outrage, staging a 48-hour civil servant strike at the Acropolis, Three people were killed in a fire set by protesters on May 5, 2010. There have been three strikes since March.
- During a break in a recent baseball game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, 17-year-old Phillies fan Steve Consalvi ran out onto the field, running from security while waving a white Phillies towel. Thirty seconds later, security used a taser to subdue the teenager.
The incident, which occurred in the eighth inning against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, has sparked a heated debate as to the frequency and propriety of taser use.
National
- Prime Minister Harper's government has been warned by House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken that they could be held in contempt of Parliament after refusing to release documents in regards to the Canadian detainees turned over to Afghan authorities. The government has kept them private since December. The federal government has a deadline of May 11 to collaborate with the opposition on a way the some 50,000 uncensored documents should be released without jeopardizing national security.
However, no resolution has been reached and there is speculation the contempt charge will lead to court proceedings or an election this fall.
- Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has come under fire for his unprompted call to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to extend Governor General Michaëlle Jean's term, which is currently set to end on September 27, 2010. Some argue the appointment, meant to be apolitical, is in danger of being seen as favoured by the Liberals, an unpleasant position as the PM prepares to consider a replacement.
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced recently that Canada would no longer support abortion as a part of foreign-aid focus on maternal health. The announcement has been met by the outrage of women's rights groups throughout the country.
Additionally, Canada is on track to becoming an anti-abortion state; the furor caused could make the topic an election issue, which may result in a cut to all funding for abortions in the future, or the training for doctors to perform them.
- On April 20, an oil platform leased by BP exploded and sank, releasing 5,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico per day. BP is under fire for the lack of safeguard devices on the well, such as acoustic switches, which are legally mandated by other nations.
Attempts to cap the leak - an oil spring gushing on the Gulf floor - with a 100-tonne containment dome failed, forcing authorities to develop alternatives as the flow approaches the Louisiana coast.
- The government of Greece recently submitted legislation to implement a EUR110 billion European Union and International Monetary fund bailout due to their struggling economy. The plan included EUR30 billion cuts across the board, which include cuts to public salaries and pensions, increases in tax on sales, fuel, alcohol, and more.
Greek citizens expressed their outrage, staging a 48-hour civil servant strike at the Acropolis, Three people were killed in a fire set by protesters on May 5, 2010. There have been three strikes since March.
- During a break in a recent baseball game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, 17-year-old Phillies fan Steve Consalvi ran out onto the field, running from security while waving a white Phillies towel. Thirty seconds later, security used a taser to subdue the teenager.
The incident, which occurred in the eighth inning against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, has sparked a heated debate as to the frequency and propriety of taser use.
National
- Prime Minister Harper's government has been warned by House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken that they could be held in contempt of Parliament after refusing to release documents in regards to the Canadian detainees turned over to Afghan authorities. The government has kept them private since December. The federal government has a deadline of May 11 to collaborate with the opposition on a way the some 50,000 uncensored documents should be released without jeopardizing national security.
However, no resolution has been reached and there is speculation the contempt charge will lead to court proceedings or an election this fall.
- Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has come under fire for his unprompted call to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to extend Governor General Michaëlle Jean's term, which is currently set to end on September 27, 2010. Some argue the appointment, meant to be apolitical, is in danger of being seen as favoured by the Liberals, an unpleasant position as the PM prepares to consider a replacement.
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced recently that Canada would no longer support abortion as a part of foreign-aid focus on maternal health. The announcement has been met by the outrage of women's rights groups throughout the country.
Additionally, Canada is on track to becoming an anti-abortion state; the furor caused could make the topic an election issue, which may result in a cut to all funding for abortions in the future, or the training for doctors to perform them.
