A landmark piece of legislation is expected to pave way for the first G7 country to legalise recreational cannabis
Hello, this is Anna getting you caught up on Friday's news from around the world.
Today's headlines
Canada to make marijuana legal for recreational use by summer
Canada has moved a step closer to legalising recreational cannabis use. Canadian senators passed the Cannabis Act by 56 votes to 30 with one abstention after studying the landmark legislation for six months. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed to making marijuana legal by this summer, becoming the first G7 nation to legalise recreational use of the drug.
Self-proclaimed feminist Justin Trudeau accused of groping a reporter
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a self-described feminist, was accused of groping a female reporter at a music festival nearly 20 years ago, according to Buzzfeed News. The allegation was first published in an editorial in the Creston Valley Advance in British Columbia in August 2000 and has resurfaced online. It came to wider attention this week when photos of the editorial were shared on social media and when Breitbart reported it on Thursday. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, the prime minister's press secretary, Matt Pascuzzo, said Trudeau has always treated women with respect and that he ‘doesn't think he had any negative interactions’ while in Creston.
Trump will skip climate section of G7 summit
US President Donald Trump is planning to depart from this weekend's Group of 7 summit in Canada several hours early, the White House announced Thursday. The White House said Trump would depart mid-morning on Saturday, skipping pivotal sessions on climate change and the environment, with an aide taking his place.
A Saudi fashion show flew dresses down runway via drones
An extremely bizarre fashion show at a Saudi Arabian luxury hotel has gone viral on social media for featuring drones flying dresses on the runway. Videos of the unmanned flying devices carrying the floating dresses along a catwalk at the Jeddah Hilton have been making the rounds on Twitter.
Ikea promises to ban all single-use plastic by 2020
Ikea announced that it will phase out all single-use plastic products from its shops and restaurants by 2020. The Swedish company said it will stop selling single-use plastic products like straws, plates, cups, freezer bags, garbage bags, and plastic-coated paper plates and cups.
Image photo credit: Bared Volsca