Boris Johnson has set out his vision for a trade deal with the EU, saying there is "no need" for the UK to follow Brussels' rules. The PM called for a Canada-style free trade deal, saying the UK would return to the Withdrawal Agreement if such a deal was not reached. (BBC)
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Brian Cowan, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Early Modern British History, Department of History and Classical Studies
A smog warning is still in effect for the Greater Montreal area Monday as high concentrations of pollutants are expected to infiltrate the air. According to Environment Canada, this could "result in poor air quality, especially in urban areas where pollutant emissions are higher." (CTV)
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Rain lashed parts of Delhi on Tuesday as the air quality remained in the “very poor” category in several areas of the national capital.
The scam, known as "SIM swapping," involves fraudsters moving or "porting" phone numbers to a new device and then gaining access to personal information through apps and other data. Researchers at Princeton University's Center for Information Technology detailed the many ways that SMS two-factor authentication can go wrong, including multiple failings on the part of carriers to vet SIM-swap requests. (WIRED)
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Hurrying to meet a looming court deadline, the federal government has given Canadians two weeks to weigh in on how far to extend access to medical aid in dying. Along with online consultations, federal cabinet ministers will be holding in-person discussions with experts across the country. (CBC)
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Iran promised vengeance after a U.S. air strike in Baghdad on Friday killed Qassem Soleimani, Tehran’s most prominent military commander and the architect of its growing influence in the Middle East. Soleimani, a general who headed the overseas arm of the Revolutionary Guards, was regarded as the second most powerful figure after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Reuters)
Early this morning, an earthquake of 4.0 magnitude, was felt in areas from Rigaud to Montreal to Saint-Bruno, and in parts of eastern Ontario, New York state and Vermont as well. (CBC)
Christie Rowe, from the Faculty of Earth and Planetary Science is available to provide background and comment on the earthquake.
The Queen has agreed to allow Prince Harry and Meghan to move part-time to Canada during a “period of transition” after senior royals had “constructive discussions” Monday. “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family,” the Queen said in a statement. (CTV News)
The Ukraine International Airlines jet, Flight PS752, hurtled into farmland outside of Tehran only minutes after taking off from the capital’s main international airport on Wednesday morning. Fifty-seven Canadians were among the 176 people killed when a Ukrainian passenger plane crashed near Iran’s capital only minutes after takeoff. (CTV News)
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Australia continues to burn after more than a month of raging bushfires, and it doesn't appear the smoke-filled skies will be clearing any time soon. More than five million hectares have burned, 19 people have died, and 21 people are missing. Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. More than eight million more were under an emergency order. (CBC)
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The Dutch high court has just upheld a decision that obliges the Dutch government to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 25% by 2020 to protect the human rights of its citizens. (New York Times)
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Donald Trump became the third U.S. president to be impeached as the House of Representatives formally charged him on two counts on Wednesday, December 18. The first count charges him with abuse of power for allegedly pressuring the president of Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rivals while crucial U.S. security aid was being withheld. The second charges him with obstruction of Congress for stonewalling investigative efforts. (CBC News)
Cyber security breaches at LifeLabs, Desjardins, Capital One, and TransUnion underscore t
Are female-only spaces discriminatory? It was the conversion of an all-female gym into a mixed gym that triggered the debate. This past fall, the Éconofitness Sports Centre in the Old Rosemont borough of Montreal announced that it would admit men as of December 20, 20219. The decision did not suit a segment of the customer base, that has since tried to put pressure on management. (La Presse)
