Deal that averted TTC strike will cost Toronto $176M

CBC
Sat, July 27, 2024 

A deal signed last month to avert a major transit strike will cost the city $176 million. It provides a 13% wage increase for over 13,000 TTC workers over 3 years. (Michael Wilson/CBC - image credit)


Securing a labour peace between the TTC and its largest union will cost Toronto $176 million over the next three years, and the chair of the transit commission is defending the deal.

The full contract terms of the eleventh-hour agreement struck on June 6 to avert a strike have now been disclosed by the TTC. The deal kept 12,000 frontline workers from walking off the job following weeks of tense talks between the transit agency and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which threatened job action.

The deal sees workers receive a 13.04 per cent pay hike over the term: 4.79 per cent in 2024, 4.25 per cent in 2025 and four per cent in 2026.

TTC chair Jamaal Myers defended the expense to taxpayers and stressed a work stoppage would have cost Toronto's economy millions.

"I think it was a reasonable deal," Myers said. "I think it recognizes the work that (TTC workers) were doing and I think it made sure that the city kept moving. Because I think we all understood, if they were to go on strike, it would have been a disaster for everyone."

The deal will also increase late night premium pay and provides a number of benefit enhancements and increased clothing allowances. The wage increase for workers and other changes will have an immediate impact on the city's 2024 operating budget, increasing costs by over $45 million.

Union gets key job security provisions in agreement

The deal also makes clear promises on job security and contracting out. The city has agreed not to contract out, bus, streetcar, or subway operators for the life of the contract. The same goes for operators of new light-rail trains, which are expected to come online in the years ahead.

The contract also guarantees a set level of 422 Wheel-Trans operators over the life of the deal and promises not to reduce that number.

Coun. Stephen Holyday was the lone vote against ratifying the TTC/ATU contract deal at the agency's last board meeting. He isn't sure how the city will pay for the $176 million agreement.

Coun. Stephen Holyday was the lone vote against ratifying the TTC/ATU contract deal at the agency's last board meeting. He isn't sure how the city will pay for the $176 million agreement. (Alexis Raymond/CBC)

The agreement addresses a key concern of the union that TTC service could be hived off to other regional transit agencies, endangering workers' jobs. The agreement says the TTC will implement cross-boundary service integration on only four routes, but does not specify which ones. The TTC would then have the ability to reallocate that service across the system.

The deal will also see some cleaning services on streetcars that had been contracted out, returned to the ATU at a cost of $2.6 million. That will mean an increase of 42 jobs over the life of the agreement.

Both the ATU and TTC board have ratified the deal.

Deal could impact other negotiations with city unions: Holyday

Coun. Stephen Holyday is a member of the TTC board and was the only member of that group to vote against the new agreement.

Holyday said he isn't sure where the city will find the cash to pay for deal. A combination of fare hikes, service reductions or increased subsidies from property taxpayers could be needed to finance it, he added.

"It's not just the city that has to pay for it," Holyday said. "It is, of course, the citizens of the city."

Holyday said the deal could also influence how negotiations play out between the city and unions that represent its workers. Later this year, Toronto is set to bargain with both CUPE Local 79 and 416, unions that represent over 30,000 workers.

"This is a very large award, and conventional wisdom is that it will help inform other awards in the future," he said.

Last month, Mayor Olivia Chow said the city had factored in negotiation estimates when making this year's budget — as the city's finances are increasingly strained.

"Toronto has a fiscal problem," said Chow, pointing toward an annual deficit.

"But if you consider the economic loss of people not being able to get to work, people not being able to get to their doctor's appointments ... it'll be a huge, huge economic damage."

A spokesperson for Chow said Friday that the mayor is increasing transit service and addressing TTC state of good repair needs because of the upload of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the province.

Arianne Robinson said the TTC deal was within the envelope of funds that was passed by the TTC board.

"As far as future collective bargaining process, Mayor Chow will always negotiate in good faith with the unions that represent city workers, and pursue fair deals that are fiscally responsible," she said.

ATU Local 113 represents about three quarters of all TTC employees, including many frontline roles such as operators, fare collectors, maintenance workers and stations staff. The union did not immediately provide comment on the details of the deal.

Paris Olympics: Canada’s soccer drone scandal highlights the need for ethics education

Lianne Foti, University of Guelph and Kathleen Rodenburg, University of Guelph
Fri, July 26, 2024 at 2:55 p.m. MDT·4 min read

The Canadian women’s soccer team has become the centre of controversy after reports from the 2024 Paris Olympics revealed the team used a drone to observe the New Zealand soccer team’s training sessions. That has led to New Zealand’s team lodging a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee.

Canada’s Olympic committee has since apologized for the incident and removed the head coach of the women’s soccer team, Bev Priestman, from the Canadian Olympic team. Two other team staffers have also been sent home and one has received a suspended prison sentence.

This is not the first time in history that an incident like this has occurred. Further reports indicate this incident is part of a broader pattern, suggesting that Canada’s national soccer teams have a history of using drones and other spying techniques to observe opponents’ training sessions. Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue recently revealed that the men’s team also attempted to use drones to spy on other teams at the recent Copa América championship in the United States.

This practice highlights the urgent need for comprehensive ethical education and stricter regulations to prevent such breaches in sports.
Unethical behaviour in sport

The “win at all costs” mentality pervasive in sports competitions has driven several organizations to commit similar infractions.

In the 2019 “Spygate” scandal in English football, Leeds United’s then-manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted to sending a staff member to spy on Derby County’s training sessions.

During the 2007 Women’s World Cup in Wuhan, China, Denmark officials requested FIFA investigate after discovering men with cameras at a closed training session. Despite the Danish team’s complaints, FIFA chose not to take further action.

That same year, the New England Patriots’ “Spygate” scandal involved the organization videotaping the New York Jets defensive signals during a game, resulting in significant fines and the loss of draft picks.

Similarly, the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal from 2017-2018 involved the use of a camera system to record and steal signs from opposing teams, leading to heavy penalties and the firing of key personnel. Additionally, in 2018, Barcelona Football Club faced accusations of hiring a company to create fake social media accounts to criticize players and opponents.

These ethical breaches, driven by the intense pressure to succeed in professional sports, are just the tip of the iceberg. What sets the Canadian soccer scandal apart is that it occurred on the world stage, causing reputational damage, not only to women’s soccer and soccer overall, but also to the Canadian Olympic team.

This incident raises questions about Canada’s commitment to ethical standards in sports, potentially impacting the nation’s international reputation and trust in Canadian athletes.

These kinds of incidents can damage a country’s image and credibility. Recall the outrage when Russian figure skating judges rigged the results during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Lack of ethical sensitivity

Unless foundational changes are made, these infractions will continue to persist.

What is often lacking in competitive sports is ethical sensitivity among its participants. This includes the inability to interpret a particular situation as an ethical issue and a lack of awareness of the possible actions and their effects on the concerned parties.

The prevailing approach to unethical behaviour in sports often involves investigating, fines and firing personnel. That is quickly followed by forgetting about the incident. However, this pattern of actions fails to address or rectify the underlying causes of unethical conduct in sports.

There are several reasons why sports infractions continue despite the significant consequences. Business management and psychology experts have explained how the ability to recognize and correctly evaluate ethical dilemmas is essential for making good ethical decisions.

They identify that the degree of moral intensity — how personally invested one feels — as well as organizational barriers and cultural norms, determines the likelihood of recognizing unethical behavior.
Comprehensive ethics education

Several factors in professional sport culture numb our moral intensity. In competitive sports, the pressure to succeed and the culture surrounding it can often cloud a person’s ethical judgment, leading to decisions that prioritize winning over ethical considerations. The drive to win overshadows the ethical implications of certain behaviours.

There are also cultural norms embedded in sport organizations that can make certain competitive behaviours seem acceptable, even if they border on unethical.

In addition athletes and coaches might believe their actions are unlikely to cause harm. That is particularly so if the immediate reward, such as winning a game, diminishes the perceived ethical implications. Additionally, in sports, the focus on team success can create a sense of distance from those who may be harmed by unethical actions.

There is a crucial need for comprehensive ethics education. This education should empower sports professionals to navigate ethical quandaries, enhance their decision-making skills and understand the incentives and organizational pressures that can impair their judgment.

With national pride, coaching careers and athletes’ futures on the line, it is crucial we truly embrace and teach the values that embody good sportsmanship.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organisation bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Lianne Foti, University of Guelph and Kathleen Rodenburg, University of Guelph

Read more:


The chaotic history of the Olympics in Paris, where one games nearly ended the movement – and the other helped save it


Before there was diving and relays, there was the Poetry Olympics


Politics, security and the Seine: where the Paris Olympics’ flashpoints will be

Canada Olympics drone scandal, explained: Why women's national team coach is out in Paris

Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY
Updated Fri, July 26, 2024 


The Canadian Olympic Committee removed women's national soccer team coach Bev Priestman at the Paris Olympics on Thursday amid stunning allegations of using drone surveillance to spy on the opposition.

Two staff members — assistant Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi — were also sent home before Priestman was suspended by Canada Soccer for the tournament. It all marked a steep fallout after the Canadian website TSN reported Canada's men's and women's teams had used drones to spy on opponents for years.

Canada, the reigning gold medalist, beat New Zealand 2-1 on Thursday in its Olympic opener. Priestman, Mander and Lombardi did not coach in the game.

"The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team Head Coach Bev Priestman from the Canadian Olympic Team due to her suspension by Canada Soccer," the COC statement said. "Assistant coach Andy Spence will lead the Women's National Soccer Team for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."

Here's what to know about the drone allegations:

USWNT: 2024 Paris Olympics - Women's soccer group stage action

USWNT: Team comes out swinging at Paris Olympics but leaves 'a lot of room for improvement'
Canada drone surveillance surfaces at the Olympics

According to TSN, Lombardi was caught by French police retrieving a drone that had been flying over the training facility for the New Zealand national team. French police investigated and found additional video of New Zealand's practices, as well as text messages between Lombardi and Mander indicating that Mander was aware of Lombardi's actions.
Canada Olympic drone timeline, investigations

It's unclear when the surveillance started. TSN reported it could trace back prior to a match against the United States on Nov. 15, 2019. The U.S. won the game, 4-1.

The spying has been consistent ever since, according to the report published Thursday, with instances in 2021, '22 and '23. That includes the buildup to the 2021 CONCACAF match between the men's team and Honduras, which stopped practice in Toronto after noticing a drone flying overhead, the report said.

"I’d imagine there’s probably a lot of people in Canada that fly drones," John Herdman, then the coach of Canada's men's national team, said at the time.

"When a big team like Honduras turn up, I’m sure people are probably interested in what they’re doing when they come into our country," Herdman continued. "So I know for sure we won’t be heading into people’s countries too early because with drones these days, people can obviously capture footage. You’ve got to be really careful."

Jesse Marsch, current coach for the men's national team, was not implicated in the reporting.
What Bev Priestman said about Canada drone scandal

It wasn't immediately clear how much Priestman knew about the scandal.

FIFA and Canada Soccer launched investigations into the spying allegations Wednesday. Canada Soccer intends to make its findings public.

"I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program," Priestman said Thursday in a statement, announcing the decision to voluntarily withdraw from coaching against New Zealand, prior to the COC decision. "In the spirit of accountability, I do this with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld."
When does Canada play next?

Canada's next game is scheduled for Sunday, July 28 against France. Canada and France are both 1-0 in Group A play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada Olympics soccer scandal: Why Bev Priestman is out as coach

Canada’s men’s and women’s soccer teams have reportedly been using spying drones for years

Andrew Joseph
Thu, July 25, , 2024

Dec 5, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Overview of B.C. Place Stadium renamed "Christine Sinclair Place" for one night only, in honor of the Canada captain's final international outing. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports


The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris haven't even had an opening ceremony yet, and we're already dealing with a potential cheating scandal.

According to a report from New Zealand media, the New Zealand women's national soccer team caught Canada using a drone to spy on the squad's Monday practice session in Saint-Etienne -- the site of Thursday's Group A match between the two sides.

French police have been stationed at the various practice facilities to be on the look out for drones during team sessions and spotted the drone during the Football Ferns' session. With this Canada-New Zealand incident, a member of the Team Canada support staff was detained by police.


New Zealand made a formal complaint to the IOC integrity unit. And Canada didn't deny the accusation, blaming a "non-accredited" staffer for going rogue with the drone. The Canadian Olympic Committee also issued an apology in its statement.


Canada -- the No. 8 ranked team by FIFA -- would have been considered heavy favorites against 28th-ranked New Zealand. But we'll have to see what sanctions -- if any -- are taken against Canada as group play opens.

Update: The Canada Olympic Committee reviewed the incident and uncovered that another drone was used to spy on New Zealand's July 19 practice session.

Team Canada sent home two staff members, and Canada women's soccer head coach Bev Priestman will sit out Thursday's match. She issued a statement:


“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada. This does not represent the values that our team stands for,” Priestman said. “I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program. Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday. In the spirit of accountability, I do this with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.”

Update: According to a new report from TSN's Rick Westhead, Canada's men's and women's soccer teams have been using drones to spy on opposing programs for years, including during the women's gold medal run at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

SPACE

Retired Astronaut Admits Boeing's Starliner Has Trapped Crew in Space

Sharon Adarlo
Sat, July 27, 2024


Air Lock

With two NASA astronauts still stranded in space for weeks, officials at the space agency have insisted that the troubled Boeing Starliner, plagued with technical issues, can take the two explorers back to Earth.

So, why haven't they already?

An unnamed retired astronaut tells The Atlantic the obvious truth that NASA has been dancing around since the beginning of this space boondoggle: it's just too risky right now.


"Of course they don’t feel comfortable putting them in the vehicle," the retired astronaut told the magazine, referring to the Starliner, which transported the astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) back in June and is meant to return them back home. "Otherwise they would have put them in it already."
Expect Delays

No date has been set for a return trip, with the earliest date now pushed back to August. To explain away the delay, NASA officials have said repeatedly that they want to test and troubleshoot the Starliner capsule before committing to a return trip.

The trouble started when helium leaks were discovered on Starliner prior to takeoff. They opted to launch anyway, and on its journey toward the ISS, it started experiencing additional leaks and malfunctioning thrusters.

Boeing has gotten the brunt of the negative press, not least because the company's airplanes have been in the news for falling doors and other quality control issues, casting a pall over its space efforts as well.

But NASA shouldn't escape scrutiny, the Atlantic article argues, and the space agency has been less than forthcoming with issues surrounding the Starliner, which has been ill-fated from the start of its development with various technical issues and aborted launches.
Boys Club

For its part, NASA is eager to have a second option for ferrying astronauts into space beyond the more battle-tested Dragon capsule manufactured by SpaceX.

But even setting aside the Starliner, NASA 's relationship with SpaceX, headed by mercurial tech billionaire Elon Musk, has had its own fair share of headaches.

While SpaceX missions into space have been successful, the commercial space outfit has seen death and injuries to personnel, not to mention Musk's purported drug use and inappropriate relations with women staff.

One of those female staff members, a flight attendant, sued Musk for exposing his penis to her, resulting in a $250,000 payout to quiet down the scandal.

There's been no answer from NASA on these issues, but with American dollars being used for these missions, there's no question that the space agency needs to be more transparent.

More on Boeing Starliner: Boeing's Starliner Stuck at the ISS Until at Least August, NASA Admits

Still no return date for Starliner but final tests underway, NASA and Boeing say

NASA says astronauts stuck at space station until troubled Boeing capsule can be fixed

NEWS WIRES
Thu, July 25, 2024 



NASA has yet to fix a return date for its two astronauts at the International Space Station, who have now been stuck there for more than a month due to technical issues with the Boeing-manufactured Starliner capsule intended to bring them back to Earth. The new spacecraft experienced thruster failures and helium leaks upon docking at the ISS in early June. The US space agency says it is also reviewing backup return options including using SpaceX's Dragon capsule.

Already more than a month late getting back, two NASA astronauts will remain at the International Space Station until engineers finish working on problems plaguing their Boeing capsule, officials said Thursday.

Test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were supposed to visit the orbiting lab for about a week and return in mid-June, but thruster failures and helium leaks on Boeing's new Starliner capsule prompted NASA and Boeing to keep them up longer.

NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said mission managers are not ready to announce a return date. The goal is to bring Wilmore and Williams back aboard Starliner, he added.

“We'll come home when we're ready,” Stich said.

Stich acknowledged that backup options are under review. SpaceX's Dragon capsule is another means of getting NASA astronauts to and from the space station.

“NASA always has contingency options," he said.

(AP)


Boeing capsule astronauts remain at Space Station with no return date, NASA says

LEAH SARNOFF
Thu, July 25, 2024 

Boeing Starliner's first astronaut-crewed capsule, which launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5, remains docked at the station with no official return date, NASA said Thursday.

"We don't have a major announcement today relative to a return date," NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said during a joint press conference with Boeing officials.

PHOTO: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams walk at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, on the day of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 1, 2024. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

"We're making great progress, but we're just not quite ready to do that," Stich added.

MORE: Boeing's Starliner launches its 1st astronaut-crewed flight after several delays

What was initially planned to be an eight-day mission, has now spanned over 50 days, with veteran NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams' return to Earth delayed until at least August, according to officials.

Thruster failures that caused issues on the launch trip to ISS and helium leaks on the Starliner capsule have led to continued delays, according to Boeing.

PHOTO: Boeing Starliner spacecraft prepares to dock with the International Space Station for the first time on June 6, 2024. (NASA via AP)

The Aerospace giant has been testing the capsule's propulsion system in White Sands, New Mexico, to identify the cause of the issues, according to Stich, who said analysis of the findings will be done this weekend.

In order to get the go-ahead for a return mission, NASA must review Boeing's engineering, which may not happen until the first week of August, Stich said.

MORE: Boeing's Starliner has 5 'small' helium leaks as astronauts' ISS mission is extended: NASA

On June 11, Boeing officials said the capsule was experiencing five "small" helium leaks as its first astronaut-crewed flight test continued.

PHOTO: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams wait for liftoff inside the Boeing Starliner capsule at Space Launch Complex 41, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (NASA via AP)

Helium is used to pressurize the spacecraft's reaction control system (RCS) maneuvering thrusters, allowing them to fire, according to Boeing.

"Our focus today is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner," Stich said of the astronauts. "I think we're starting to close in on those final pieces of the flight rationale to make sure we can come home safely and that's our primary focus right now."

Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the commercial crew program at Boeing, was asked if there were any regrets about the mission.

"I think the only thing we'd do differently, is we would not have been so empathic about an eight-day mission," Nappi said of the repeated delays. "We kept saying 'eight-day minimum mission,' I think we all knew it was going to go longer than that, it's my regret that we didn't just say 'we're gonna stay up there until we get everything done we want to go do.'"

ABC News' Gina Sunseri contributed to this report.

Boeing capsule astronauts remain at Space Station with no return date, NASA says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

HALF OF FIVE EYES

Australia, NZ, Canada call for ICJ response from Israel, Gaza ceasefire

Lewis Jackson
Fri, July 26, 2024 

Israeli military troops prepare near the Israel-Gaza border


By Lewis Jackson

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia, New Zealand and Canada on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and asked Israel to respond to a United Nations court which last week ruled its occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there were illegal.

"Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community," the leader's statement said.

"The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end."

The leaders also said Israel needed to hold extremist settlers accountable for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians, reverse its settlement program in the West Bank and work towards a two-state solution.

Israel's embassy in Australia on Thursday said it condemned acts of violence against Palestinian communities.

Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its settlements there are illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible, its strongest findings to date on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The leader's statement called on Israel to "respond substantively" to the ICJ.

Israel's foreign ministry last week rejected the ICJ opinion as "fundamentally wrong" and one-sided, and repeated its stance that a political settlement in the region can only be reached by negotiations.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem - areas of historic Palestine which the Palestinians want for a state - in the 1967 Middle East war and has since built settlements in the West Bank and steadily expanded them.

Israeli leaders argue the territories are not occupied in legal terms because they are on disputed lands, but the United Nations and most of the international community regard them as occupied territory.

The joint statement, the second since February, expressed concern about escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah and said the risk of a wider regional war made a ceasefire in Gaza all the more urgent.

The statement came hours after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson in SydneyEditing by Alasdair Pal and Sharon Singleton)



Australia, Canada and New Zealand leaders urge ceasefire in Gaza to end ‘catastrophic’ situation

Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent
Fri, July 26, 2024 

Anthony Albanese has joined with his Canadian and New Zealand counterparts to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP


The prime ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand have declared that a ceasefire in Gaza is “needed desperately” and urged Israel to “listen to the concerns of the international community”.

In a strongly worded joint statement issued on Friday, the three leaders said they were “gravely concerned about the prospect of further escalation across the region”, including between Hezbollah and Israel.

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, joined with Justin Trudeau of Canada and Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to warn that further hostilities would “put tens of thousands of civilians in Lebanon and Israel at risk”.

Related: Labor seeks to avoid controversy over Palestine at NSW conference amid grassroots pressure

They said an escalation of conflict across Israel’s northern border with Lebanon would have “disastrous consequences” for both countries, and that “only makes a ceasefire in Gaza more urgent”.

Friday’s statement urged “all involved actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate”.

It also included some strong language directed at Israel in the wake of last week’s international court of justice ruling that the continued occupation of territory Israel seized in 1967, including the West Bank, was illegal under international law.

“We call on Israel to respond substantively to the ICJ’s advisory opinion, and ensure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record expansion of settlements in the West Bank which are illegal under international law, and work towards a two-state solution,” the three prime ministers said.

To date, the Israeli government has labelled the ICJ ruling as “not legally binding” and “blatantly one-sided”.

Friday’s statement reflects shared concerns among Australia, Canada and New Zealand regarding the toll of the war in Gaza and the risk of escalation across the Middle East.

These countries are all members of the Five Eyes western intelligence alliance, along with the US and the UK.

Related: The bombshell legal ruling that made it impossible for Australia to delay sanctions against Israeli settlers

It was the third time the prime ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand have issued a joint statement about developments in the Middle East.

In December, the same leaders pressed for “a sustainable ceasefire”. In February, they spoke out against the prospect of an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza.

The new statement on Friday described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and said the human suffering was “unacceptable” and “cannot continue”.

The three prime ministers said they remained “unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas for the atrocities of October 7 and ongoing acts of terror”, urging the group to “lay down its arms and release all hostages”.

The prime ministers said Israel “must listen to the concerns of the international community”, noting that the protection of civilians was “paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law”.

“Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end,” the statement said.

The prime ministers said they stood fully behind “the comprehensive ceasefire deal” that was outlined by the US president, Joe Biden, in late May and subsequently endorsed by the UN security council.

They called on all parties “to agree to the deal” and warned that any delay in securing a ceasefire would “only see more lives lost”.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, heard a similar message from the US vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, in Washington on Thursday.

Albanese, Trudeau and Luxon reiterated that they were “committed to working towards an irreversible path to achieving a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders”.

“This is the only realistic option to achieve a just and enduring peace,” they said.

The president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, criticised the statement. He said any attempt to pressure Israel “to end the war unilaterally only serves to embolden Hamas and prolong the war”.

But the leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt, said the government must take action beyond issuing statements calling for a ceasefire deal.

Bandt called on the Australian government to impose sanctions on the Israeli government “as Netanyahu sees no consequences and the slaughter continues”.


Canada calls for Israeli response to ICJ advice on occupied Palestinian territory

Laura Osman
Fri, July 26, 2024



OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for Israel to "respond substantively" to the top United Nations court's recent advisory opinion that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and that it should end.

The International Court of Justice's non-binding opinion released last week was an unprecedented, sweeping condemnation of Israel's rule over the lands it captured 57 years ago.

Trudeau responded to the court's advice as part of a joint statement from Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Friday, calling for the reversal of settlements in the West Bank.

The statement, released by the Prime Minister's Office, calls on Israel to "ensure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record expansion of settlements in the West Bank which are illegal under international law, and work towards a two-state solution."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the non-binding opinion last week, and insisted the territories are part of the Jewish people’s historic homeland.

In written submissions, Israel said the questions put to the court fail to address Israeli security concerns. Israeli officials have said the court's intervention could undermine the peace process, which has been stagnant for more than a decade.

“The Jewish people are not conquerors in their own land — not in our eternal capital Jerusalem and not in the land of our ancestors in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office last week, using the biblical terms for the West Bank.

“No false decision in The Hague will distort this historical truth and likewise the legality of Israeli settlement in all the territories of our homeland cannot be contested.”

The court said Israel had no right to sovereignty in the territories, was violating international laws against acquiring territory by force and was impeding Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

It said other nations were obliged not to "render aid or assistance in maintaining" Israel’s presence in the territories.

The statement by Canada, Australia and New Zealand did not promise any particular action or changes to their own policies or relationships with Israel.

"Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community," the statement reads.

The court's advice was released as Israel faces increasing global criticism for the deaths and suffering of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end," the countries said in the statement.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, and said they stand behind a proposed deal outlined by United States President Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.

"We call on parties to the conflict to agree to the deal. Any delay will only see more lives lost," they said.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand say Hamas must lay down its arms and release all Israeli hostages, and that they see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza and an eventual two-state solution.

Israel's ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, said calling for a two-state solution at this time doesn't coincide with the reality in the region or offer practical help to Palestinians.

The end of the hostilities in Gaza is contingent on Hamas releasing more than 100 hostages, laying down arms and no longer using Palestinian civilian shields, he said in a statement Friday.

"Israel will continue to defend itself against hostile attacks on seven fronts, all directed by Iran through its proxies in the region," Moed said in the statement.

"We call upon Canada, as a nation that values international law and institutions that uphold it, to do all it can to prevent those who try to disrupt global order from achieving their goals."

The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched a terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7 that killed an estimated 1,200 people. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

In the joint statement, the three countries expressed concern about the prospect of the conflict escalating and expanding as a result of attacks on Israel by Iran and the Houthis, and the unstable and increasingly hostile situation at the Lebanese border between Israel and the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2024.

— With files from The Associated Press

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press

Up next

Canada calls for Israeli response to ICJ advice on occupied Palestinian territory

Laura Osman

Fri, July 26, 2024 at 2:41 p.m. MDT·4 min read

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for Israel to "respond substantively" to the top United Nations court's recent advisory opinion that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and that it should end.

The International Court of Justice's non-binding opinion released last week was an unprecedented, sweeping condemnation of Israel's rule over the lands it captured 57 years ago.

Trudeau responded to the court's advice as part of a joint statement from Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Friday, calling for the reversal of settlements in the West Bank.

The statement, released by the Prime Minister's Office, calls on Israel to "ensure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record expansion of settlements in the West Bank which are illegal under international law, and work towards a two-state solution."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the non-binding opinion last week, and insisted the territories are part of the Jewish people’s historic homeland.

In written submissions, Israel said the questions put to the court fail to address Israeli security concerns. Israeli officials have said the court's intervention could undermine the peace process, which has been stagnant for more than a decade.

“The Jewish people are not conquerors in their own land — not in our eternal capital Jerusalem and not in the land of our ancestors in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office last week, using the biblical terms for the West Bank.

“No false decision in The Hague will distort this historical truth and likewise the legality of Israeli settlement in all the territories of our homeland cannot be contested.”

The court said Israel had no right to sovereignty in the territories, was violating international laws against acquiring territory by force and was impeding Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

It said other nations were obliged not to "render aid or assistance in maintaining" Israel’s presence in the territories.

The statement by Canada, Australia and New Zealand did not promise any particular action or changes to their own policies or relationships with Israel.

"Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community," the statement reads.

The court's advice was released as Israel faces increasing global criticism for the deaths and suffering of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end," the countries said in the statement.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, and said they stand behind a proposed deal outlined by United States President Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.

"We call on parties to the conflict to agree to the deal. Any delay will only see more lives lost," they said.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand say Hamas must lay down its arms and release all Israeli hostages, and that they see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza and an eventual two-state solution.

Israel's ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, said calling for a two-state solution at this time doesn't coincide with the reality in the region or offer practical help to Palestinians.

The end of the hostilities in Gaza is contingent on Hamas releasing more than 100 hostages, laying down arms and no longer using Palestinian civilian shields, he said in a statement Friday.

"Israel will continue to defend itself against hostile attacks on seven fronts, all directed by Iran through its proxies in the region," Moed said in the statement.

"We call upon Canada, as a nation that values international law and institutions that uphold it, to do all it can to prevent those who try to disrupt global order from achieving their goals."

The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched a terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7 that killed an estimated 1,200 people. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

In the joint statement, the three countries expressed concern about the prospect of the conflict escalating and expanding as a result of attacks on Israel by Iran and the Houthis, and the unstable and increasingly hostile situation at the Lebanese border between Israel and the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2024.

— With files from The Associated Press

UK

Court allows university to clear Gaza protest camp

17 hours ago
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Victoria Scheer
BBC News Online

BBC/Thomas Macdougall
Sheffield University said it had requested protesters to leave on several occasions

A university has been given legal powers to evict a pro-Palestinian encampment from its campus.

Activists set up outside the University of Sheffield's students' union in May to protest against what it said was the university's "complicity" in the Israel-Gaza war due to its links with arms firms.

The university said it had requested protesters to leave on several occasions due to health and safety concerns and the disruption caused to staff and students.

On Friday, a possession order was granted by a judge at Sheffield County Court.

The hearing was told the group, called the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine (SCCP), did not have permission for the encampment and had been trespassing.

The university said it had allowed the camp to remain "in the interests of freedom of speech", but said requests concerning health and safety had "largely been ignored".

It added that there had also been disruption to university events and damage to buildings on the site, alongside "misleading AI-generated audio and footage".

The SCCP said their encampment, which was set up on 1 May, had been a "place of inspiration, growth, love and safety" for those "heartbroken" by the Israel-Gaza war which followed the Hamas attack on Israel in October.

That attack saw about 1,200 people killed and more than 250 kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza.

Israel subseqently launched air attacks and then a sustained ground offensive.

More than 39,170 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The SCCP said since the establishment of the camp on the University of Sheffield campus, it had been a central hub for activism and had hosted protests, sit-ins, workshops, religious observances and community dinners.

As part of their protest, the SCCP called on the university to sever its ties with arms manufacturers and to boycott Israeli companies and institutions.

The SCCP accused the university of "prioritising its profits over basic morality" and said it had not acknowledged its demands or agreed to a meeting.

BBC/Lucy Ashton

The encampment as pictured outside the students' union building on the campus on 8 May

On Friday, Judge Mark Gargan gave the university the right to regain control of campus land, saying there were no less intrusive measures to clear the camp.

He added that there had been no evidence to show the university had been motivated by the protesters' religious beliefs.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, a spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The camp has been outside of our Students’ Union building since 1 May and is raising a number of health and safety concerns, as well as causing ongoing disruption to university activities and our community.

"As a result, we sought to obtain a possession order. This has been granted today (Friday) and requires the protesters to draw the camp to a close.”

This is not the first time a court has granted possession orders in relation to protest encampments.

Similar cases involved the University of Bristol and the University of Nottingham, as reported by the BBC earlier this month.

The SCCP said it was "disheartened" by the outcome of the hearing, but said members remained "steadfast in their commitment to raising awareness and advocating for Palestinian liberation".

One member said: "The university’s decision to evict us does not erase the 87 days that we have spent in this space, organising together, eating together and learning from each other.

"It has made me proud to witness the dedication of the students, staying up night after night, tirelessly organising events on behalf of the SCCP and going out of their way to make the wider community feel welcomed and included."

The university had taken legal action against "persons unknown" as it had been unable to identify protesters.

The SCCP said the decision by members to not defend themselves in court was reached based on fears that named defendants would face high legal fees and "potentially severe disciplinary measures".

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Majority of Britons think Western politicians increase risk of WW3 - poll

44% of Brits though the actions of politicians were actively increasing the risk of a third world war, and only 6% thought they decreased the risk, found the survey.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

JULY 27, 2024 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community meeting(photo credit: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community)


The majority of the British blame Western politicians for global instability and the increasing risk of WW3, a YouGov poll found this week.

44% of Brits though the actions of politicians were actively increasing the risk of a third world war, and only 6% thought they decreased the risk, found the survey, which was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

The survey, which was carried out on 2,533 adults Britons across 17-18 July, also found women to be more concerned than men about the role of politicians in causing global conflict. Only 3% of women felt politicians were lowering the risk, as to 8% of men.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a messianic, anti-Jihad Islamic community. Ahmadi Muslims from more than 100 countries have gathered to hear their Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, in London, who has been warning of the risk of a new world war breaking out, according to the community.
Urgent calls to deescalate global tensions

The Caliph is set to deliver several talks over the course of three days to 40,000 Ahmadi Muslims who have gathered to watch at a 200 acre farm just outside of London.

(credit: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community)

“We must urge our leaders and politicians to step back from the precipice because there is no doubt that if a global war erupts, it will be unlike anything the world has ever seen," Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said previously.

“Many countries have acquired state-of-the-art weapons that have the deadly capacity to kill thousands upon thousands of people with just one strike. It will not just be us who endure the pain and who grieve, rather, our children and future generations will suffer for our sins and their lives will be destroyed through no fault of their own.”

'Olympics sabotaged' and 'La Farce!'

FM "ENVIRONMENTALISTS & ANARCHISTS NOT TERRORISTS"

BBC


On the front of the iWeekend huge plumes of blue, white and red smoke blow into the air over the River Seine as the Paris 2024 Olympics formally kicks off with its opening ceremony. "Let the Games begin," it headlines. The paper's main story focuses on the hunt for saboteurs who launched an attack on France's rail network affecting hundreds of thousands of travellers.

"La farce" headlines the Daily Mail which also focuses on the rail attacks and torrential rain putting a "damper" on the opening ceremony. It writes the first opening ceremony to be held outside a stadium "backfired spectacularly with 320,000 spectators, VIPs, celebrities and athletes getting drenched". A new biography of the Princess of Wales is also teased on its front page with a picture of Catherine beaming.


"Olympics sabotaged" says the Times as it warns French authorities are braced for further attacks as they try to identify who was responsible for the arson attacks on the high-speed rail network's fibre optic cables at strategic points in the countryside. Spy agencies are trying to find out if a foreign state such as Russia was behind it, it writes. Meanwhile, Team GB's flagbearers Tom Daley and Helen Glover pose for a picture.

The Daily Mirror writes "chaos at the Olympics" as the tabloid too focuses on the French railways being "crippled by a string of arson attacks". It pictures huge crowds at the capital's Gare du Nord railway station, but it says the chaos did not stop the ceremony wowing crowds in the rain with a flotilla of nations and Lady Gaga performing.


On the front of the Daily Telegraph, flagbearers Daley and Glover recreate the famous scene from the Titanic on Team GB's barge along the Seine. The broadsheet reports hard-left agitators are suspected of carrying out the attack, as well as suspicion falling on Russia. It writes that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was also affected - he flew to France instead of catching the Eurostar as planned because of the disruption. The paper's chief sport writer describes the opening ceremony as "miraculous" despite it ridding itself of a stadium and being staged on a river.

Lady Gaga is surrounded by pink feathers as she performs at the opening ceremony. But the FT Weekend's main story headlines "Reeves to stall hospital and road projects" as it reports on the chancellor seeking to fill an estimated £20bn fiscal hole she attributes to the previous Conservative government. The paper observes the delay to big capital projects will be "awkward" for Labour who promised a "building boom" but the chancellor has insisted all public spending must be paid for.


"The greatest show on earth" says the Daily Express as it too uses the image of red, white and blue smoke blowing into the air from a bridge. The tabloid's reports the chancellor's claims of a £20bn black hole in Britain finances being labelled a "con". It quotes shadow treasury minister Laura Trott saying: "This is nothing but a con designed to mask Labour's broken promises on tax rises."

The chancellor is also set to announce millions of public sector workers are likely to receive an above inflation pay rise, the Guardian says. It writes Ms Reeves is expected to accept the recommendations of public sector pay bodies for pay rises on Monday - in a move estimated to cost up to £10bn.



Many of Saturday's papers lead on the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. "La farce" declares the Daily Mail, which calls the arson attacks on the French rail network "humiliating". The paper says the decision to hold the event partly on the Seine "backfired spectacularly" because of torrential rain. "Wet the games begin" is the headline on the Sun, which says the downpour did not dampen French spirits. The Daily Telegraph praised the "kaleidoscopic boat procession" and said the display befitted Paris's billing as "the city of lights".

The front pages also focus on efforts to track down those who caused the rail disruption in France. The Times says "left-wing militants and Russia" are among the suspects. The iWeekend says Russian agents are being "closely monitored" by European intelligence agencies. The Daily Mirror says a malicious state is a likely culprit. The paper's defence editor, Chris Hughes, says the attacks are "straight out of the playbook" of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

The Eiffel Tower became a dazzling spectacle during a light show



Reports about the chancellor's forthcoming announcement about the state of the public finances also feature in many of the papers. The Financial Times says Rachel Reeves is set to delay a number of hospital and road projects. Officials tell the paper that she will use her speech on Monday to argue that she inherited "unfunded" projects. The Treasury has declined to comment on the article.

The Guardian says the chancellor will probably use the statement to confirm pay rises above inflation for millions of public sector workers. The Telegraph says it understands Ms Reeves will also point to the spiralling cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels. It expects the bill to be up to £10bn a year.

In its editorial, the Daily Mail accuses Labour of "taking us for fools". It says if the chancellor claims she is flabbergasted by the state of the public finances, she is either guilty of "extreme negligence or being dishonest". The paper says the bleak assessment is being used to pave the way for some "very painful tax increases".

The Olympic cauldron floats in sky in the shadow of the Louvre Pyramid



The Daily Express carries a similar warning from the former chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. He is quoted as saying Ms Reeves is "laying the groundwork for hiking up taxes". He is also sceptical that Labour is only now finding out about the government's finances. He says "the books have been open" since the Office for Budget Responsibility was set up 14 years ago. A Labour source says the Conservatives "spent taxpayers' money like no tomorrow because they knew someone else would have to pick up the bill".

The Guardian reports that a strategy for playing the Radio 4 panel show, Just a Minute, could help people with dementia. It highlights an academic study that suggests the best way to succeed at the game is to let go of your ambition to win. It says the show's rules - avoiding repetition, deviation and hesitation - cause "cognitive overload", which is also experienced by those with dementia. The paper quotes one of the most successful panellists, comedian Paul Merton, who says he avoids "brain fry" by focusing on keeping the show enjoyable, rather than trying to be victorious.