Jack Rabinovitch dead at 87 after fall at home last week

by  • 

Jack Rabinovitch, the distinguished businessman who created the prestigious Scotiabank Giller Prize literary award, is dead at age 87. Mr. Rabinovitch died Sunday afternoon in Toronto, his daughter Elana confirmed. The prize, the foremost honour in Canadian literature, was named in memory of his wife, Doris Giller. It was established in 1994, a year after her death from cancer.  An obituary posted on the website of Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel, which handled funeral arrangements, said Rabinovitch died as a result of a “catastrophic fall” at his home last week. Obituary

Stoney-faced Chinese FM and an unwanted kiss on the air

by  • 






Nobody smiles when they are seen publicly with a North Korean official and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is no different. It is said he was tough on the North Korean FM Ri Yong-ho, who was grinning like a fool. Smile or no smile, the Chinese have much to answer for after their long support of this nasty little haven of tyranny. Then, when is an unexpected kiss on the cheek also entirely unacceptable? In this case a dope in the crowd tried to kiss the broadcaster in Montreal. Wrong of course. The zero-tolerance spin taken by the CBC however seems to foreclose on a lot of good unexpected kisses. Context is everything. Below that, the quite heart-wrenching case of a woman who says she was entrapped into voting illegally in the US. Now she is being deported. And finally, a visit to Her Majesty’s Royal Mail Train Tunnels under London. Who knew?

Man whacks other car with baseball bat as rage rules road

by  • 

Police are reporting that on Thursday two men became involved in a shouting match from the driver’s seat of their vehicles as they drove west on Lake Shore Boulevard West. When traffic stopped at Strachan Avenue, one of the men (seen above) got out and struck the passenger-side mirror of the other man’s vehicle with a baseball bat. He then got back into his car, a white Acura, and was last seen travelling north on Strachan Avenue

Woman on sidewalk struck by car at Keele and Annette

by  • 

A woman said to be in her 60s was struck and seriously hurt by a vehicle that careered onto the sidewalk after right-of-way collision at Keele St.and Annette Ave. Sunday. As seen in photos sent to Twitter by InsideToronto a silver car heading northbound on Keele Street and a red SUV eastbound on Annette Street slammed together at the corner. The SUV veered into the pedestrian. Several other persons have minor injuries.

More than 118,000 view woman hitting dog on subway

by  • 

Video on YouTube shot by a poster identified as Roxy Haung showing an unknown woman with a small dog has been viewed more than 118,000 times in 24 hours. The woman is clearly upset with the animal and slaps it several times. A man who intervened with the woman is more or less told to mind his own business. TTC personnel are called and the woman is spoken to but the staff concluded the dog was okay. Tonight CP24 says that the OSPCA has been called by police about the matter. TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said the incident occurred on a Line 2 train at 4:21 p.m. as it entered St. George Station. TTC staff stopped the train and a supervisor eventually escorted the woman off of the train, Ross said.  The YouTube video is intense.

Police find $17,000 ring lost along carnival parade route

by  • 

CP24 reports that Toronto police bicycle officers were able to find a $17,000 engagement rings which had been lost Saturday along the route of the Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade on Saturday.  PC Quinton Malfara said he and some other officers were approached by members of a bachelorette party who said a woman in their group lost an expensive engagement ring. The cycle cops swung into action and in due course one of them spotted the ring. “It was a combined effort between me and my colleagues and also some of the members of the bachelorette party,” he said. Chief Mark Saunders is quoted as telling parade-goers “That’s the stuff we do.”

Recalling Caribbean music history as 50th parade wraps up

by  • 

Thousands have taken part in the 50th Caribbean Carnival Grande Parade along the waterfront. It is the culmination of a summer marathon once known as Caribana. The event continues to draw lovers of Caribbean music and fun from all across North America. The CBC’s Ieva Luos has written a thoughtful and entertaining story containing historic examples of the music and performances off YouTube. Worth a read

 

UN approves sanctions worth $1 billion against North Korea

by  • 

The UN Security Council unanimously approved tough new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday including a ban on exports worth over $1 billion US — a huge bite in its total exports, valued at $3 billion last year.U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley praised the new sanctions, telling council members after the vote that it is “the single largest economic package ever levelled against the North Korean regime.”

FOX ANCHOR SUSPENDED

Eric Bolling, host of the shows The Fox News Specialists and Cashin’ In, has been suspended from the American cable network following a Huffington Post article alleging he sent lewd photos to co-workers. According to a statement from Fox News to the CBC, an investigation into allegations against the television host is underway.

Lowlights and highlights mark Trudeau Saturday in Victoria

by  • 

A buss for the bride
Whoops

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Victoria for a meeting with indigenous leaders but while he waited, Mr. Trudeau went kayaking. The PM took a spill trying to get aboard and quipped that he was glad the national media were present to record the moment. A higher tone was set with the arrival of newlyweds Heiner and Michelle Gruetzner, perhaps looking for that contradiction in terms, a selfie with Justin. Trudeau kissed the bride twice, presumably once on each cheek.