360º News: International & National briefs
National News
Ottawa is seeking an appeal on an order from a Federal Court that they must make their websites accessible to visually impaired users. Last November, Justice Michael Kelen ruled the sites were to be updated within 15 months. The issue developed because a blind woman from Toronto was unable to apply for a public service job on the website. The government argues that their services are available by phone, in person and by mail so therefore there is no discrimination.
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Toronto's Halton Catholic District School Board is facing criticism for banning gay-straight study clubs. It's even gotten the attention of blogger, Perez Hilton. One particular comment made by board chair Alice Anne LeMay set the ball rolling. She stated that having gay-straight alliances at schools, which were recommended by Queen's Park to establish a more inclusive high school community, does not work alongside the messages of the Catholic Church. She then used the example that it's the same reason the school doesn't accept Nazi groups.
International News
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Australia's waterfront city, Brisbane, was hit with a two-metre wall of water on January 11. The flood killed eight people overnight. The city is also dealing with a "super rainstorm" and Mayor Campbell Newman estimates that 6,500 properties will be flooded. There is concerned that the flooding will be worse than the one that occurred in 1974, in which 14 people died and thousands of properties were flooded.
President Obama's State of the Union address is to take place on January 25. This particular speech establishes what Obama hopes to accomplish in the upcoming year. However, this year may prove to be a challenge as he faces a Republican majority in the House and a larger Republican minority in the Senate, which may create some conflict with his goals.
The South Korean Ministry of Unification confirmed January 12 that it has reopened communication channels with Pyongyang, North Korea, in the border area of Panmunjom. It is the first time in eight months that the two sides have reopened the hotline.
— compiled by Jessica Ireland
Ottawa is seeking an appeal on an order from a Federal Court that they must make their websites accessible to visually impaired users. Last November, Justice Michael Kelen ruled the sites were to be updated within 15 months. The issue developed because a blind woman from Toronto was unable to apply for a public service job on the website. The government argues that their services are available by phone, in person and by mail so therefore there is no discrimination.
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Toronto's Halton Catholic District School Board is facing criticism for banning gay-straight study clubs. It's even gotten the attention of blogger, Perez Hilton. One particular comment made by board chair Alice Anne LeMay set the ball rolling. She stated that having gay-straight alliances at schools, which were recommended by Queen's Park to establish a more inclusive high school community, does not work alongside the messages of the Catholic Church. She then used the example that it's the same reason the school doesn't accept Nazi groups.
International News
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Australia's waterfront city, Brisbane, was hit with a two-metre wall of water on January 11. The flood killed eight people overnight. The city is also dealing with a "super rainstorm" and Mayor Campbell Newman estimates that 6,500 properties will be flooded. There is concerned that the flooding will be worse than the one that occurred in 1974, in which 14 people died and thousands of properties were flooded.
President Obama's State of the Union address is to take place on January 25. This particular speech establishes what Obama hopes to accomplish in the upcoming year. However, this year may prove to be a challenge as he faces a Republican majority in the House and a larger Republican minority in the Senate, which may create some conflict with his goals.
The South Korean Ministry of Unification confirmed January 12 that it has reopened communication channels with Pyongyang, North Korea, in the border area of Panmunjom. It is the first time in eight months that the two sides have reopened the hotline.
— compiled by Jessica Ireland
