Saturday, December 16, 2023

News roundup, 16 Dec 2023

- The IDF managed to kill three of the hostages they were trying to rescue. The victims were reportedly shirtless and waving a white flag; given that that flag is internationally recognized as a sign of non-aggression, opening fire on people waving one would be considered a war crime if they were actually shooting at the enemy. Not sure what international law says about shooting your own civilians who are waving such a flag, but I imagine Israeli law has something to say about it.

- Manitoba Public Insurance is ordering some of its employees back to the office for two to three days a week. Well, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is pleased, anyway...

- Wab Kinew has expressed willingness to accept refugees from Gaza. While this is laudable, there are some who fear that once Palestinians leave their territories, they'll never be allowed back and Israel will be able to permanently annex said territories.

- A former PPC candidate has been ordered by a BC court to stop calling himself an engineer. He does have an engineering degree but is not licensed to practice.

- It seems that one of the founders of the rabidly socially conservative lobby group Moms for Liberty behaved in a way that's inconsistent with the group's values by engaging in a threesome with her husband and another woman. Oh, and her husband is being investigated for sexual assault.

- A cardinal has been convicted in a Vatican court of embezzling tens of millions of euros and sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison. I guess he'll have to say rather a lot of Hail Marys as well.

- The only runway at Tuvalu's only airport has been damaged, apparently by heavy rains, and all flights are cancelled until further notice. This is a problem for foreigners in the country, especially as there is no network like Interac or Cirrus - it's an entirely cash-based economy, and visitors are expected to bring enough cash to cover their stay. So if your stay is unexpectedly extended...

- A British boy who was 11 years old when he was abducted in Spain in 2017, has been found alive and is being returned to the UK.

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