Briefs

National News

Murder trial moved to Winnipeg

The trial for the man accused of murdering a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus last July has been moved to Winnipeg. A lack of security at the Portage la Prairie courthouse, where the trial was originally scheduled, was cited as a reason to relocate the trial. The courthouse in Portage la Prairie doesn’t have metal detectors or separate entrances, two features the Crown and the defence felt were necessary in a high profile case like this. The case will continue in Winnipeg on Dec. 10 to set a trial date.

Obese travelers get freebie

The Supreme Court of Canada upheld a ruling requiring all airlines to provide an extra seat, free of charge, to obese people. The court rejected requests from Air Canada and WestJet to appeal the January 2008 decision. The airlines argue they will lose too much money by giving up seats to travelers who require the extra space. The ruling includes other passengers with disabilities who need to travel with an attendant or a wheelchair.

Run, ginger, run

A 14-year-old boy from Vancouver and his Facebook group are being blamed for the widespread beatings of redhead children last Thursday. About 5,000 people joined the “Kick a Ginger” group the boy created, prompting many to kick and punch ginger kids at school. Consequently, the RCMP is investigating the boy. He apologized for any harm he may have caused, insisting that the group was meant as a joke. This all took place during an obviously highly-ineffective national bully awareness week.

Internet throttling not illegal: CRTC
Bell Canada is free to continue slowing down Internet sites following a decision from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The commission found that Bell was not breaking the law because there was no proof that it was trying to manipulate the market or do something anti-competitive. The CRTC will launch a public proceeding to look at whether new laws, stating how much control an Internet provider should have, are necessary.

What it takes to be a Mountie

If you ever want to become a Mountie, you should know that bestiality, drunken belligerence and suicidal thoughts are no-nos. The Canadian Press obtained the questions and procedural assessments for potential RCMP officers through the Access to Information Act. The questions, administered through a polygraph test, also look at previous criminal activity, drug and alcohol use and the candidate’s history with firearms. So, if you’re feeling suicidal because you drunkenly slept with an animal one night, you’re probably out of the running.

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Local News

Caught on tape

Sir Winston Churchill Pub has video they will enter into evidence should Concordia athlete Courtney Bishop take them to court. The bar refused entry to Bishop earlier this month. Although Bishop was told his jeans were too baggy, he felt the refusal was racially motivated. He said he arrived at the bar as the only black team member in a group of about 10 rugby players. Bishop said all the other athletes were allowed in, even though some were wearing ripped jeans. Sir Winston’s spokesperson said the tape shows Bishop arriving alone. She said the bar has not yet disclosed the tape that caught on their security cameras.

Facebook sues Montrealer

A Montreal-based spammer has lost a case against Facebook. The social networking site accused Adam Guerbuez and his company Atlantis Blue Capital of sending millions of unsolicited messages to registered Facebook users. The court ordered Guerbuez to pay $873 million, but they expect payment will be difficult to collect. He has been difficult to locate since the lawsuit was filed.

Morin Heights roof collapse

Weak construction at a grocery store warehouse is being blamed for the roof collapse that killed three employees last winter. The store, Gourmet de Village will have to pay a fine ranging between $5,000 and $20,000 because they put the lives of their employees in danger, according to the report released by the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST) last week. The CSST report concluded that too much snow and ice had accumulated on the roof, that a decorative awning attracted even more snow and the store underwent renovations that had not been professionally inspected. The owners of the store plan to contest the report’s findings.

Younger Kohail brother faces second trial

Saudi Arabian prosecution lawyers have returned to court, asking to have 17-year-old Sultan Kohail tried as an adult. Kohail and his 23-year-old brother Mohamed were involved in a schoolyard fight that left one man dead. The brothers, who lived in Montreal before moving back to Saudi Arabia, were found guilty of murder. Mohamed was sentenced to death by beheading in March 2008. Sultan was sentenced to 200 lashes and one year in prison. Prosecution said the younger brother’s sentence was not severe enough considering the crime. They are looking to have him receive the same penalty as Mohamed. Both brothers and their family maintain their innocence. Canadian MPs are asking the Conservatives to seek clemency for the brothers.

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International News

Joe the Plumber lands book deal

The Ohio man who gained notoriety towards the end of the recent American presidential campaign has secured a book deal with a small Texas-based publisher. Joe The Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream will be co-written with a Christian spirituality author. The book is set to hit shelves on Dec. 1 (yes, next week.) Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, told Fox News he could have gone with a larger, more notorious publisher, “but they don’t need the help. They’re already rich.” What a maverick.

Showing up in style

CEOs of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford, or the “Big Three” as they’re called, flew to Washington to ask for a cut of the national bailout package. Each of the CEOs arrived in private corporate jets; Rick Wagner of GM reportedly flew in a $36 million jet. The companies are asking for $25 billion to avoid going bankrupt. GM and Ford reportedly said flying CEOs on private jets is a non-negotiable, corporate decision. Congress didn’t immediately give the handout. Instead, it asked the Big Three to produce a concrete recovery plan and present it by Dec. 2.

Move to silence Silent Night

A major department store in London, England has been ordered to stop playing Christmas carols. Traditionally, the store enhances its Christmas-themed windows by broadcasting seasonal songs on its outdoor speakers. But this year, council members in the store’s district have deemed the music to be noise pollution.

Five prisoners lose heads in riot

A gang fight in a Guatemala prison has left seven inmates dead, five of whom were beheaded, according to the BBC. The riot erupted after several gang members were transferred from one prison to another. Security officers managed to restore order after about five hours of fighting. Two prisoners later died of gunshot wounds in hospital.

Taxes pay for poker

Prison officials in Edinburgh, Scotland set up a poker ring for inmates behind the back of the country’s Justice Secretary. Officials said money doesn’t change hands between prisoners, but it has been reported that the inmates keep tabs of money won and lost. The secretary has ordered a probe to find out who approved and oversees the daily poker games. “We must end this culture of free bed and board. Prison is a punishment for crimes,” he told the Daily Mail.