- The World Health Organization is condemning Israel's raid on the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. The WHO says they have lost contact with their employees at the hospital. Meanwhile Trudeau is getting lambasted by Jewish leaders for calling on the Israelis to exercise "maximum restraint", despite the fact that he also condemned Hamas for their use of human shields. On this issue, you're supposed to go Manichean or bust, baby. The pro-Palestinian folks aren't happy with him either; in Vancouver, a mob of around 250 protesters surrounded a restaurant where Trudeau was dining; among other things, a protester was arrested for allegedly punching a cop and attempting to gouge her eyes.
- An American journalist, Catherine Herridge, has been called to testify in a civil suit by a Yanping Chen, a scientist who was investigated by the FBI, though never charged. Herridge is refusing to identify her sources; Chen's lawyers are asking the judge to hold Herridge in contempt. Now Herridge worked for Fox News at the time, so she's probably a scumbag, but forcing a journalist to reveal their sources is extremely problematic.
- The new speaker of the US House of Representatives is very, very well connected with the fundies. Not a good scene. Meanwhile, in the upper house, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, tried to challenge Teamsters leader Sean O'Brien to a fistfight (O'Brien was testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee at the time). I'm guessing that was done to demonstrate his masculinity to his base...
- The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the government's plan to ship asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful, saying it leaves people open to human rights breaches. For their part, the Rwandans are not happy that they're not being treated as a safe country. I believe that questioning whether Rwanda is safe has some historical foundations, though.
- A pop-up homeless shelter is in the works for Winnipeg, to be used when the wind chill is below -10 and regular shelters are full. Better than nothing, but the amount of need is enormous. Potentially better news, in the long run, is the fact that the city's Executive Policy Committee has moved the proposed zoning changes a step closer to approval. St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes is not happy, of course.
- The Conservatives are hoping to make gains in northern Ontario. Even Timmins-James Bay is said to be in play; all I can say is if the people of that riding toss out Charlie Angus in favour of some slack-jawed loogan, they'll deserve what they get.
- Indian novelist Arundhati Roy was invited to speak at the Munich Literature Festival, but will be unable to leave India to attend, due to her pending prosecution for comments she made about Kashmir some 13 years ago.
- Winnipeg police are investigating a "suspicious circumstance" in Michaëlle Jean Park. I actually saw them there as I was riding home from work yesterday; they had a large drone that they appeared to be preparing to launch. They're also investigating a double stabbing at Main and Mountain.
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