Prairie Post

5 things you absolutely must know today

1. Anti-government protests rock Turkey

What began a week ago as a sit-in protest over the government’s plan to demolish a central-Istanbul park has grown into the biggest protests in over a decade in Turkey. The protests have now spread across the officially secular country as a response to what people say are impositions of conservative Islamic values that infringe on personal freedoms.  Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains defiant on giving in to the protesters’ demands while demonstrators show no signs of slowing down. [BBC]

2. CRTC intervenes on behalf of cell phone consumers 

The CRTC has implemented new rules for cellphone companies that will take effect in December. The Canadian telecommunications regulatory agency will impose rules that allow cell phone subscribers to cancel their three-year contracts without penalty after two years and to unlock their cellphones three months after buying them. Other stipulations include caps on extra data charges at $50 a month and international data roaming charges at $100 a month. The new code comes after months consumer and industry consultations. [CBC]

3. Man accused of VIA Rail terror plot unable to find lawyer

The Montreal man accused of plotting to bomb a Via Rail train appeared on video in a Toronto court today to say he cannot find a lawyer that agrees that the Qu’ran can be used as a reference in his defence. 30-year-old Chiheb Esseghaier also told the court he does not recognize the authority of the Criminal Code of Canada in judging him. Esseghaier and another suspect, Raed Jaser of Toronto, were arrested in April after their plan to attack a Via train running between Toronto and New York City was discovered. Authorities stated that there was no imminent threat to the public at the time of the arrests. [CBC]

4. Idle No More movement plan more national protests this summer

National Chief Shawn Atleo said the degree of First Nations unrest over the summer depends on Stephen Harper and concrete changes to ancient treaty rights. In an interview with the Canadian Press, the leader of the Assembly of First Nations said expressions of good faith and implementations of commitments given in January from the federal government are needed to prevent conflict. [Globe and Mail]

5. Experienced storm chasers among victims killed in latest Oklahoma tornado

Three veteran storm chasers were among 14 people killed by tornadoes that swept through central Oklahoma on Friday. Tim Samaras, founder of the tornado research company, Twistex, was killed along with his son Paul Samaras and Carl Young in El Reno, Oklahoma on Friday while following a tornado. The storm chaser starred in a  National Geographic Channel documentary, Storm Chasers, and appeared on the Discovery Channel as well. Friday’s storm comes in the wake of the May 20 tornado that killed 24 people, including 10 children in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore.  [CNN]

Palmer does the social media for Spectator Tribune. Follow him on Twitter. @palmerfritschy