News for Youse: Wiretaps for texts, Canucks win five in a row, and Bieber goes topless

Report on carbon neutrality  Pressure is growing for the B.C. Liberal government to release an auditor general's report on the province’s carbon neutrality initiative. The decision to withhold the document was made by Speaker Bill Barisoff after the Canadian Press published information in letters from legal, business, and environmental experts criticizing the auditor general’s findings.

Calls for Liberal ministers to step down  Kash Heed, Liberal MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview, has called for two Liberal ministers to remove themselves from cabinet until a controversy surrounding a land deal is formally investigated. In an op-ed published yesterday (March 26), Heed called for Shirley Bond and Pat Bell to step down from their posts.

Fewer people buying homes  An annual survey asking Canadians if they expect to buy a home in the near future has recorded that number’s most significant decline in 20 years. According to the report by the Royal Bank of Canada, only 15 percent of Canadians are planning on purchasing a home in the next two years, down from 27 percent last year.

Wiretaps for texts  The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that police will need a wiretap order to seize text messages from wireless providers. In the past, authorities forced carriers to give up copies of customers’ correspondence. Telus took the case to court, arguing that text messages should be treated as an “electronic conversation”, for which police interception should require more than a general search warrant.

Canucks win five in row  The Vancouver Canucks extended their winning streak to five games last night in a match that saw them defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 1-0. Cory Schneider started in net, also for the fifth consecutive game, and stopped 17 shots for a shutout. The winning goal was scored by Maxim Lapierre, his second of the season.

Gay marriage in court  Today the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments for and against California’s Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples. Yesterday (March 26), the court listened to deliberations on Proposition 8, a separate California law that bans gay marriage. Decisions in both cases are expected in the summer.

Fracking linked to quakes  The controversial oil-drilling method known as fracking has been linked to a series of earthquakes that struck the U.S. state of Oklahoma in November 2011. Three of those quakes registered magnitudes of 5.0 or higher. The study, published by Geology, found that “induced seismicity” can result from wastewater injection activities used in fracking operations.

China trade partners  Xi Jinping’s first trip abroad as the new president of China indicates the economic superpower will increasingly focus on trade with Africa and other developing areas. Xi assumed office in November 2012 and will lead the country for a 10-year term.

Bieber shirtless  Justin Bieber raised eyebrows in Poland yesterday (and then of course around the world) when he walked through an airport topless. Despite sub-zero temperatures, Bieber reportedly chilled shirtless for a while. He then got dressed and boarded a private jet.