News for Youse: City unveils cultural plan, Vij's wins, Senate suspensions, Peru revives UFO department

Cultural economy  Vancouver city staff made a presentation to council yesterday on a cultural plan setting out strategic directions for the next five years. There are 56 city-owned cultural spaces and 25,000 cultural workers in the region, according to the report.

Posters oppose rapists  Someone has put up posters on UBC's Point Grey campus declaring: "Don't be a Rapist! Someone alone is NOT an invitation for you to rape or assault!" It comes after a reported four sexual attacks since school reopened in September.

Flu shot or masks  CBC Radio has reported that an arbitrator's ruling means B.C. health workers must get flu shot or wear a mask.

Transit harassment  Two SFU students, Alexa Dredge and Katie Nordgren, have generated a lot of discussion after creating the Harassment on TransLink website. It features stories from people who've faced gender-based or sexual harassment on the Greater Vancouver transit system.

Transit cops seek new union  CKNW Radio has reported that transit police have formed the Transit Police Professional Association to represent them after launching a raid on the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union.

Internet voting frowned on  The Independent Panel on Internet Voting's preliminary report has concluded that online balloting is "not feasible" for the 2014 municipal elections.

Vij's food truck named best new restaurant  Vij's Railway Express, created by Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala, has won enRoute magazine's people's choice award as the best new restaurant in Canada. 

Senate vote on suspensions  Members of Canada's Senate may vote today on whether or not to suspend Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy, and Pamela Wallin without pay. It comes in the wake of scandals regarding housing allowances and travel-expense claims.

Germany summons U.S. ambassador  Germany has upped the ante in its dispute with the Obama administration by summoning the U.S. ambassador. It came after Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone had been bugged, prompting her to call President Barack Obama to demand if the U.S. was responsible.

Campaign grows for Chinese journalist  The Guangdong-based New Express newspaper has published a second front-page editorial demanding the release of muckraking reporter Chen Yongzhou. The South China Morning Post has reported that other media figures in China have also called upon police to free Chen, who's been charged with libel for calling for the investigation of an official.

French, UN launch campaign in Mali  The BBC has reported a "large-scale operation" in Mali by French and UN soldiers in response to a suicide bomb attack at a UN base in that country.

Peru revives UFO department  The Telegraph has reported that Peru's air force has reinstated a department to research unidentified flying objects.

Weird Canucks statistics  After Vancouver's first 11 NHL games, Brad Richardson leads the team in shooting percentage and captain Henrik Sedin is tied for the team lead in penalty minutes. The Canucks face off against the Devils at 4 p.m. in New Jersey.