Garden River First Nation launches new lawsuit against Ontario and Canada
CBC
23-05-18 22:49
The Garden River First Nation has begun a lawsuit against Canadian and Ontario governments for their alleged failure to adhere to the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. The treaty promised Garden River First Nation a reserve covering 54,000 hectares. Today the reserve is just 20,700 hectares. The lawsuit states that over the last 150 years, the land of the community was sold against the community’s wishes by Crown agencies to fund the Ministry responsible for Indian Affairs. The lawsuit does not specify any financial compensation, but suggests compensation may be appropriate in some cases where lost land cannot be restored.
Uganda parliament approves proposed 10% rise in 2023/24 budget
Reuters
23-05-19 05:31
Uganda's parliament has approved a 10% increase in government spending to $14bn in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, according to the country's Finance Ministry. Law requires that the increase be approved before it is mentioned in a budget speech. The lion share of the resources for recent years has gone to energy, transport and health sectors. However, opposition leaders have accused the government of using borrowing to pay for spending. The government stated that this borrowing had been necessary to fund infrastructure and other developmental projects.
’No one feels safe’: The Taliban promised to provide security to Afghans. New data shows threat from ISIS is growing
CNN
23-05-19 04:02
ISIS-K has become increasingly bold in its targeting of high-profile and symbolic targets in Afghanistan, according to David Osborn, team leader of Afghan Witness. In August 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, but since then ISIS-K has claimed 70 attacks, killing at least 670 people and injuring 1,200, according to the group. The Taliban insist they have full control over ISIS-K. However, in reality, ISIS-K has been scaling up the complexity of its attacks across the country and its activity is a growing concern for Afghanistan’s new government and the West, as there are fears it poses a serious threat internationally. ISIS-K and the Taliban are enemies with differing ideologies who are fighting each other for control over parts of the country and for recruits.
ISIS-K and the Taliban are Sunni Islamist extremist groups, but differ in their interpretations of Islam and how to govern followers. The Taliban had promised a more moderate form of rule compared to their previous one two decades ago, but since then have reintroduced harsh measures in line with their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. The group has widely been recognized for brutality toward women and minorities. ISIS-K has been continuously targeting Afghan civilians, particularly from the Hazara community and Shia Muslims in different cities, including Kabul. Nearly half of the attacks verified by Afghan Witness hit crowds gathered in public spaces, including markets, schools, hospitals, funerals, weddings and religious services.
Global leaders including the US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, the EU, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia, will attend the G7 summit in the city of Hiroshima on 21-23 May. The meeting is likely to focus on the Ukraine war, increasing Chinese dominance and the threat to Taiwan. Issues surrounding supply chains, economic and energy security will also be discussed. India’s appearance as a developing nation is also set to feature India plans to devote six roundtables to climate, green and sustainable finance, and debt sustainability issues at the summit. President Joe Biden defined this year’s summit as “a pivotal moment for our world and for democracies and the values we represent”.
Ukraine's military and a Russian mercenary group, the Wagner force, reported further Russian retreats around the city of Bakhmut as Kyiv pressed on with its biggest advance in the city for months ahead of a long-awaited counteroffensive. While Ukrainian forces have seized the “tactical initiative,” according to the Institute for the Study of War, the Russian defence ministry has denied Wagner's leader, who said the flanks of the city were disintegrating and that the regular forces were abandoning ground. The area, which was once home to 70,000 people in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, has been the focus of fighting for months.
The Chinese Communist government has been found to be running approximately 100 overseas police stations in at least 53 countries, including seven in the US. The US Department of Justice has charged two US citizens for conspiring to act as unregistered agents of China. The two men were operating an unofficial overseas police station in New York City on behalf of the Fuzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau. This situation goes beyond traditional spying, where the primary purpose is information gathering, and possibly indicates actual enforcement of Chinese edicts within the US. The US government has charged both men with violating 18 US code 951(a), a more traditional statute that directly prohibits taking certain undisclosed actions on behalf of foreign governments. The Chinese Overseas network is designed to operate outside of formal diplomatic channels as a way for China to monitor overseas communities and exert influence on them. Officials are calling for Congress and intelligence officials to thoroughly evaluate how else China might be covertly trying to exert its influence within the US.
The central bank Governor of Lebanon, Riad Salameh, has had a red notice issued for his arrest by Interpol after France put out an arrest warrant for him. The arrest warrant was issued as part of an investigation into whether Salameh embezzled hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds which he denies. Salameh is 72 years old and is part of the Lebanese political elite who are widely blamed for the economic crisis in the country. He has been targeted by a series of judicial investigations on charges such as fraud, money laundering and illicit enrichment. Salameh has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and states that his wealth comes from his previous employment. Lebanon’s caretaker interior minister said on Friday that he would execute the red notice if the judiciary instructed him to do so.
Ontario Autism Coalition wants to find out how often students with special needs are sent home
CBC
23-05-19 10:00
The Ontario Autism Coalition is questioning parents of children with special needs about the number of times their child has struggled to remain at school. For children with special needs to be able to concentrate and grow in a safe environment, their needs must be met accordingly. Otherwise, the child may be sent home or fail to receive the care and attention they need to excel academically. Despite the Ontario Autism Coalition's request for data on school exclusions, the province has no information and is thus unprepared to address this matter. Once the survey of parents of children with special needs is completed, the Ontario Autism Coalition says it will share the findings with Ontario's legislature and media to increase awareness of the issue. Some parents have already taken issue with how cuts to specialized classrooms have affected their children's education, with both faculty and student struggling to adapt to policy changes.
G7 leaders meeting in Hiroshima have pledged fresh measures to rein in Moscow’s “war machine”, hoping to increase the cost of the conflict for Russia and those supporting it. The bloc intends to tighten restrictions on Russia’s access to G7 economies and build on previous measures including export bans on items essential to Russia’s aggression, and the targeting of key sectors including manufacturing, construction, transportation and business services. The G7 will continue to pursue their demand for the unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and equipment from Ukraine, whilst also reiterating their commitment to hit the assets of individuals connected to Moscow’s aggression.
The Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima is expected to highlight the Ukraine war, the growing power of China and the threat to Taiwan. Leaders from India, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia will also be attending the summit, which opens today. Discussions will also focus on matters involving supply chains, economic and energy security. The Indian presence at the summit is expected to create a focus on the developing world within the G7, while the recent overtures of Russia and China towards Central Asia are also set to feature prominently. Yesterday, the G7 leaders released a statement ahead of the summit stressing their support for Ukraine which “will not waver”, and detailing “new steps” to be taken to ensure Russia's aggression fails. Sanctions imposed on Russia are also likely to be discussed, as well as their impact on trade of agricultural, medical and humanitarian products.
China says it will work for better solution of Zambia's debt issues
Reuters
23-05-19 07:52
The Chinese foreign ministry has stated that it takes Zambia's debt issues seriously and will work towards finding a solution together. This statement was made in response to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema's desire to meet with President Xi Jinping to address the issue of Zambia's debt restructuring.
The G7 is holding its annual summit in the Japanese shrine city of Hiroshima where the talks are set to focus on the growing influence of China, the Ukraine crisis and the ongoing threat to Taiwan. G7 leaders, however, are keen to avoid confrontation with China over the issue of its territorial claims that are threatening the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Instead, the leaders are set to extend the promise of G7 cooperation. Alongside the G7 nations, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines have been invited as guests, symbolising Japan's ongoing interest and focus on Southeast Asia. In addition, India and South Korea, which have previously pressed Japan to address issues related to Japanese Imperial Army’s conscripting of sex slaves for the military during World War II, will also take part, together with the EU.
China's first domestically built cruise ship, built by a joint venture between China State Shipbuilding and US firm Carnival, has been named Magic City, a nickname for Shanghai. The 323-metre-long ship will be tested before it is delivered at the end of 2023 and can carry up to 5,246 passengers. The CSSC-Carnival joint venture, called Adora, is 60% owned by China State Shipbuilding. The Magic City is seen as a way of boosting the tourism sector and China's position as a global powerhouse in developing and operating luxury cruise ships.
Transgender people in El Salvador continue to face discrimination and violence due to their gender identity, exacerbated by weak legal protection, a lack of social acceptance and the influence of Catholicism and evangelicalism. El Salvador’s supreme court ruled in 2022 that people should be able to alter the gender markers on their official documentation, but the government failed to meet a 2021 deadline to enact reform to facilitate that process. LGBTQ rights are said to be under threat in the country following a swing to the right in elections, with activists reporting increased homophobia and transphobia. Transgender citizens face practical challenges in their daily life due to misgendering or a lack of official documents that match their gender identity. Hospitals, banks and insurers are among those who refuse to respect the gender identities of transgender citizens. Violence against trans women in particular has increased in El Salvador in recent years, with police officers among those said to be operating with impunity.
Sources claim some Mintz Group staff based in Hong Kong left after the company's Beijing office was raided by Chinese authorities, with fears the crackdown has led companies to feel threatened in the global financial hub. The temporary move to Singapore, according to sources, was made to ensure workers' safety during an uncertain time, concerning a police probe surrounding Mintz. It is unknown why the firm's office was raided, potentially due to previous inquiries related to human rights violations in China's Xinjiang region. Other foreign firms carrying out similar duties have reportedly been warned off from the location. The law change will see Beijing introduce stricter anti-espionage laws from July. Mintz has said it would work with Chinese authorities to "resolve any misunderstanding".
Private prosecutions have become a burgeoning industry in England and Wales, filling a gap left by a retreating state. While once little-known, the concept of private prosecutions was given a significant boost in 1985 with the creation of the Crown Prosecution Service. Today, people and companies can bring private prosecutions for offences including shoplifting and counterfeiting, and the government will pay at least some of the expenses afterwards. Private prosecutions do have critics, however, who say that most shoplifters are drug addicts and need help that will deal with the root cause of their behaviour.
David McKelvey, a retired police officer and CEO of TM Eye, is enjoying his second career in law enforcement, this time in private practice. McKelvey’s company, which initially specialised in corporate investigations, now prosecutes counterfeit cases for big brands, and focuses heavily on private prosecutions for prolific crimes. The company’s clients have included Apple, Louis Vuitton and Fortnum & Mason, with its targets ranging from organised crime operatives to young women on benefits hawking fake designer jewellery and tracksuits on Facebook.
TM Eye is at the forefront of a growing wave of private prosecutions in England and Wales. The company’s move into prosecuting counterfeit cases came after the authorities became less interested in the types of crime uncovered by McKelvey’s investigations. At the same time, austerity measures in the UK have meant that the wheels of justice have ground almost to a halt for a broad swathe of crimes, allowing people with money to buy their day in court.
Ottawa angler faces $10K fine after catching 10 times the legal limit of walleye near Armstrong
CBC
23-05-19 17:32
An Ottawa fisherman has been fined $10,000 after catching more than 10 times the legal limit during a fishing trip to a remote northern Ontario lake. The man pleaded guilty to possessing fish over the legal limit and possessing fish packed in a way that could not easily be counted. He was caught with 140 pieces of fish from 40 walleye and five northern pike, well over the limit of four walleye and four northern pike. The fisherman admitted that all the fish were his.
The UK faces a prison overcrowding crisis with over 85,000 inmates held in England and Wales, according to figures from the Ministry of Justice. This year has seen the smallest number of jail spaces in relative terms for a decade with just 957 cells free across the country. The criminal justice system is facing a backlog of remand prisoners awaiting trial, which is anticipated to push the total population beyond 94,000 within two years. In December, the government unveiled an emergency plan enabling the use of 400 police cells as overflow accommodation, while building 1,000 more cells labelled “rapid deployment cells”. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, warned that overcrowding reduced prisoners’ access to fresh air, exercise, activities and mental and physical support, undermining their wellbeing and chances of reoffending. Mick Pimblett of the Prison Officers’ Association, described the situation as a “powder keg waiting to blow”, with summer routinely seeing an increase in disorder and assaults coupled with staff shortages.
Russia's foreign ministry has indicated that former President Barack Obama is among 500 US citizens who will face a ban from entry into the country as part of a retaliation against the latest wave of US sanctions against Russia. The ministry also revealed that it has rejected the US's latest request for consular access to a detained Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in March on suspicion of spying.
Prices in Japan's service sector are starting to rise, according to data showing a 3.4% increase in the consumer price index excluding fresh foods in April. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced it was the 20th consecutive month of gains and the first increase in growth rate in three months.
