Top News Stories –

‘Fart’ in parliament: Row blows up in Canada –
A row has blown up in the Canadian parliament – over the word “fart”. When Conservative MP Michelle Rempel accused the government of treating the province of “Alberta like a fart in the room” over jobs, Green Party leader Elizabeth May took exception. However, it was not the accusations of inaction which riled Ms May. “I heard her say a word I know is distinctly unparliamentary, and I think she may want to withdraw it,” the shocked Ms May said. “The word was f-a-r-t,” she continued, spelling it out clearly so as not to repeat the offending term. Ms Rempel, who has represented Calgary Nose Hill since 2011, became equally incensed. “Is my colleague actually serious? I just gave an impassioned speech about Alberta jobs, and that’s what the leader of a political party has to say? No, I don’t withdraw it.” Ms May was not letting it go, however. “Decorum is important, and respect is important in this place,” she scolded. Unsurprisingly, the row has caused great hilarity on social media – especially in light of the political upheaval taking place just across the border. “With all eyes on Trump’s destruction of US politics and civil society, a silent but deadly political scandal in Canada,” tweeted Josh Greenberg, director of one of Canada’s leading journalism schools. [BBC]
Josh Greenberg tweet

Video of the Day –

STOMP makes rhythm with the Harlem Globetrotters –

Eight performers from the international sensation STOMP took to an outdoor basketball court in New York City’s Greenwich Village with four stars from the world famous Harlem Globetrotters to celebrate the team’s 90th year.

Other News Stories 

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Yemeni Civil War (2015–present), Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
  • The Saudi-led coalition announces a 48 hour ceasefire in Yemen from noon. (Bloomberg) (Reuters, AFP via Breaking News)

Business and economics

• After a software error, Mexicans purchase US$2500 Dell Alienware laptops for just US$33 each. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

• Fire retardant foam floods the streets around a hangar at San José International Airport in Santa Clara County, California, U.S., after a fire alarm malfunction. (BBC)
• 2016–17 UK and Ireland windstorm season
  • The Met Office issues warnings for parts of South East England as Storm Angus prepares to make landfall. (BBC)

Politics and elections

• Bersih 5 rally
  • Tens of thousands of people protest in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down amid an ongoing corruption scandal involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad. (Reuters)

Science and technology

• An Atlas V rocket launches the GOES-R geosynchronous environmental satellite that will cover the Western Hemisphere for weather forecasting. (Florida Today)
• Professor Stephen Hawking predicts that the humanity may suffer annihilation within the next 1,000 years, from causes such as a nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or the threats from artificial intelligence. He also suggested that the only path toward human survival is going to space. (Fox News), (Extreme Tech)

Sports

• In NASCAR, Daniel Suárez wins the season’s final race in the second-tier Xfinity Series, the Ford EcoBoost 300, claiming the season title in the process. The Mexican becomes the first foreign driver ever to win a season championship in any of NASCAR’s three U.S.-based national touring series. (ESPN)

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