360º News: International & National briefs

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
With the death toll in Libya topping 1,000, the United Nations Security Council unanimously decided to refer Moammar Gadhafi to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. The international community has imposed an arms embargo and asset freeze on senior Libyan government officials, and the U.S. military has repositioned its naval and air forces around Libya for "flexibility once decisions are made," reported CNN International. The Council has only referred one other country to the ICC, Sudan in 2005.
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The small town of Speed, Australia, has changed its name to SpeedKills for the month of March to promote safe driving on rural roads. After noticing a 25 per cent increase in deaths on rural roads, the state's Transport Accident Commission took their pitch to the town. If their Facebook campaign gathered over 10,000 followers, the town would change their name for a month. The campaign reached 30,000 followers. Town resident Phil Down went one step further and changed his name to Phil SlowDown for the month. The town is hoping this idea will catch on worldwide.
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Creative Director John Galliano has been suspended from Christian Dior pending an inquiry after being arrested in Paris for allegedly threatening a woman and her boyfriend with racist remarks. Galliano has been charged with assault and making anti-Semitic remarks, which is a crime in France. His attorney has denied the accusations, but if found guilty, Galliano could face up to six months in prison.

NATIONAL NEWS
Ontario's Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey is setting up a panel of experts to investigate the government's use of Agent Orange as an herbicide from the 1950s to the 70s. Jeffrey said forestry and highway workers, farmers and hydro employees would likely have used the deadly toxin to control weeds and brush, reported the Toronto Star. Agent Orange was used extensively during the Vietnam War, and can cause birth defects, various types of cancer and serious skin problems. The chemical was not used on foods, Jeffrey said.
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Many Londoners rejoiced on February 28 as it was announced that city taxes would be frozen. London city council voted unanimously to approve a budget that holds property taxes at 2010 levels, reported the London Free Press. The freeze, a major part of Mayor Joe Fontanna's platform, means the average homeowner will save approximately $65 in property taxes this year.
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The Conservative government is ignoring a looming crisis in health care, warned Dr. Jeff Turnbull, president of the Canadian Medical Association. MPs are worried about potential political fallout if they address these issues, he added. The system is under strains from an aging population and rising costs, resulting in crowded emergency rooms, insufficient mental health care, long wait times for tests and the inability of 10 per cent of Canadians to afford necessary drugs, reported the Toronto Star.

— compiled by Erika Faust and Kirsten Rosenkrantz