Czech Republic: At least 15 killed in Prague university shooting

CBS News on Youtube has the story.

At least 15 people were killed in a shooting at a university building in central Prague, Czech officials say. The alleged gunman was "eliminated," police say. CBS News correspondent Elaine Cobbe reports.

Canada will have a flat to down economy next year: Chief Economist

BNN Bloomberg on Youtube has the story.

Beata Caranci, chief economist at TD Bank, joins BNN Bloomberg to share her perspective on Canada's economy following the release of Canada's November CPI. Inflation remained unchanged at an annual pace of 3.1%.  Caranci says the Bank of Canada is likely to cut rates in April of 2024, and predicts 150bp in cuts by the end of 2024.

Canada: Another airline passenger in a wheelchair injured

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

Dec. 20, 2023 - Another passenger who uses a wheelchair says they were injured and humiliated at a Canadian airport. How the USA Supreme Court could decide Donald Trump's political future. Plus, the surge in respiratory illness across the country.

00:00 The National for Dec. 20, 2023

01:00 Airline passenger in a wheelchair injured

04:16 Holiday surge in respiratory infections

06:33 Iceland volcanic eruption begins to wane

06:54 Trump to appeal Colorado ballot ruling

09:52 Gaza health ministry reports 20,000 dead

10:41 Modi addresses assassination plot claims

13:03 Stabbing attack at Quebec restaurant

13:22 Belleville, Ont. officer guilty of assault

15:40 Remains of missing P.E.I. teen found

16:11 Quebec unions threaten unlimited strike

19:20 Police chase in downtown Toronto

19:56 Shortage of EV charging stations

23:09 Boy sends Christmas cards to strangers

25:52 Colorado court disqualifies Trump. Now what?

31:29 How high rents can reshape a city

42:57 12 Days of The Moment

Canada: Toyota recalling 100,000 vehicles in Canada for airbag defect

CBC News has the story.

Toyota says it is recalling one million vehicles — about a tenth of them in Canada and the rest in the USA — over a defect that could cause airbags not to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

A so-called airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of an airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. The purpose of the airbag is to provide a vehicle occupant with soft cushioning and restraint during a collision. It can really reduce injuries between the flailing occupant and the interior of the vehicle.

The airbag provides an energy-absorbing surface between the vehicle's occupants and a steering wheel, instrument panel, body pillar, headliner, and windshield, for example. Modern vehicles may contain up to ten airbag modules in various configurations, including driver, passenger, side-curtain, seat-mounted, door-mounted, B and C-pillar mounted side-impact, knee bolster, inflatable seat belt, and certain pedestrian airbag modules.

Canada: RCMP warns of violent extremism among Canadian youth

CBC News has the story.

The RCMP has arrested five young people on terrorism-related offences in the past six months. Barbara Perry, director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, and Amarnath Amarasingam, assistant professor with the Queen's University School of Religion weigh in.

Canada: Man dead, 6 in hospital after accidental carbon monoxide poisoning at Ontario home

CTV News has the story.

Police say a 25-year-old man is dead from an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a car left running in the garage of a Kitchener, Ontario home.

Six other people who were also in the home were transported to hospital. Neighbours say many of the residents were international students or otherwise new to Canada.

Canada: Ottawa to announce rules requiring all new cars to be emission-free by 2035

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

Canada on Tuesday released final regulations meant to ensure that all passenger cars, SUVs, crossovers and light trucks sold by 2035 are zero-emission vehicles, part of the government's overall plan to combat climate change.

Indian PM makes first remarks about assassination plot claims

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he will 'look into any evidence' that his country planned the assassination of perceived enemies on Canadian and American soil — his first remarks on the matter since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought them out publicly in August.

Canada's population grows 430,000 over 3 months. What's behind the spike?

Global News on Youtube has the story.

There are renewed calls for a change to Canada's immigration policy, as the country's population growth continues to soar. From July to September, Canada came close to breaking the highest population growth rate in any quarter, when it reported 430,635 new residents.

Statistics Canada reported Tuesday the population increase, which reflected a 1.1-per cent growth rate in the third quarter of 2023. That was the highest population growth rate since the second quarter of 1957, when Canada’s population grew by 198,000 people, or 1.2 per cent.

Housing affordability, meanwhile, hit its worst level in more than four decades last quarter, the Bank of Canada said last week. At current building levels, the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation predicts Canada will be short 3.5 million homes, in addition to what’s currently being built, to restore housing affordability by 2030.

Global’s Sean O'Shea has the details.

Canadians visiting Europe will soon need a permit — not a visa

Canadians visiting Europe will soon need a permit (not a Visa).

Global News on Youtube has the story.

Canadians planning to visit Europe next year will have to pay for a travel authorization (not a visa) as the European Union looks to strengthen its border security measures.

Starting in 2024, Canadian passport holders will be required to apply online for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) if they plan to stay in any of these 30 European countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Currently, Canadian citizens can enter Europe without any travel permit or visa and stay for up to three months. However, if their stay exceeds 90 days, a visa is required.

From next year, Canadian travellers will have to fill out a form with their personal information, travel document details, level of education and current occupation, details about the intended stay, as well as any criminal convictions.

Canada: Why bears are feeling more at home near people

Take a look at why bears are feeling more at home near people in Canada.

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

Hundreds of black bears have been destroyed in B.C. this year after wandering into populated areas in search of food. CBC’

Bears are looking for food to eat every day. They are certainly dangerous animals.

Fatal bear attacks in North America have occurred in a variety of different settings. There have been several in wilderness habitats of bears involving hikers, hunters, and campers. Brown bear (Ursus arctos, a subspecies of which is known as the grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis) incidents have occurred in its native range spanning Alaska, Northern Canada, and Western Canada, and portions of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. The locations of black bear wilderness fatal attacks reflect its wider range.

Bears held captive by animal trainers, in zoos or carnivals, or kept as pets, have been responsible for several attacks. There have also been really unusual cases in which a person entered a bear's cage and was then mauled.

Bear attacks are rare in North America. These attacks are for predatory, territorial, or protective reasons. Most wilderness attacks have occurred when there were only one or two people in the vicinity.

The three most frequent species of bear attacks are: the brown bear, the black bear (Ursus americanus), and the polar bear (Ursus maritimus).

Canadian grocery chains report rise in profits as shoppers struggle amid rising costs

Global News on Youtube has the story about the Canadian economy.

Two of Canada’s biggest grocers reported a rise in sales and profits year-over-year in their latest quarterly earnings reports on Wednesday.

According to Metro and Loblaw, sales growth in their pharmacy and cosmetics divisions helped drive profits in the last quarter.

But the increase in profits comes as Canadians are increasingly frustrated with rising costs.

Ahmar Khan breaks down the numbers.

Canada: Moment a plane nearly crash-landed in Toronto

Take a look at The Moment a plane nearly crash-landed in Toronto, Canada.

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the exciting story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

Michael Yaneff livestreamed an Air Canada flight that came dangerously close to crash-landing at Toronto's Pearson Airport on his YouTube channel. Tahmeed Rahim, who was onboard the aircraft, describes his experience from inside.

Canada: How restaurant workers are feeling the pinch of inflation

Here's how restaurant workers are feeling the pinch of inflation.

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

With the cost of everything on the rise, you may have noticed your favourite restaurant has raised its prices - that is, if it's been able to stay open at all. CBC Edmonton’s Mark Connolly met with a local Edmonton restaurateur and some of his staff to see how food and service prices are impacting workers on the front line.

'Astronomically expensive': Canada’s rental market keeps climbing

'Astronomically expensive': Canada’s rental market keeps climbing

CTV News on Youtube has the Canadian economy story.

Vancouver remains the most expensive city to rent, but prices in some smaller Canadian cities have skyrocketed.

CTV News is Canada's most-watched news organization both locally and nationally, and has a network of national, international, and local news operations.

Canadian real estate going into hibernation, CREA numbers suggest

Canadian real estate going into hibernation, CREA numbers suggest

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

The latest numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association show the typical winter market slowdown is happening earlier than usual.

The National is the flagship of CBC News, showcasing award-winning journalism from across Canada and around the world. Led by Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault and Ian Hanomansing, our team of trusted reporters helps you make sense of the world, wherever you are.

Why Global Rice Markets Are In Crisis Mode

CNBC on Youtube has the story.

Global supplies of rice are facing its most significant shortage in two decades, exacerbating food insecurity fears. Rice is a staple food for over half the world’s population. India’s export bans sent shockwaves through markets as some argue the country is using food as a political pawn. America’s $34 billion rice industry must compete against the same market uncertainty while managing droughts, floods and changing temperatures. Watch this video to learn more about how global rice markets influence food security, geopolitics and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

Chapters:

00:00 — Introduction

01:40 — Rice farming

03:08 — Distorted markets

05:04 — Looming threats

07:47 — Policy potential

Produced Edited by: Andrea Miller

Animation: Josh Kalven

Supervising Producer: Lindsey Jacobson

Additional Footage: Getty Images, APTN, Reuters, CCTV

About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.

Boeing 787 becomes largest passenger aircraft to land on Antarctic ice field

CTV News on Youtube has the story.

A Boeing 787 aircraft carrying researchers and supplies successfully landed in a remote part of Antarctica, becoming the largest passenger aircraft to do so, the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) said on Thursday, November 16.

India tunnel collapse: 2nd pipeline "breakthrough" allows food to be sent to trapped workers

Global News on Youtube has the story.

Rescuers in India’s Himalayas said on Monday that they have pushed through a new pipeline to deliver cooked food to 41 workers trapped for more than a week in a collapsed tunnel in the town of Uttarkashi. They said preparations were under way to start vertical drilling to pull them out.

According to authorities, the men have been stuck in the highway tunnel in Uttarakhand state since it caved in early on Nov. 12 and are safe, with access to light, oxygen, dry food, water and medicines already being sent by a smaller pipe.

"We have achieved the first breakthrough which we were trying for the past nine days,” National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation director Anshu Manish Khalko said. “Now, our next work will be to take out the drill bit from the pipe and to re-establish communication with them and figure out if there are any obstructions in between.”

Authorities said the men have been receiving nuts, puffed rice, chickpeas and other dry food through the smaller pipe, but will now also get hot food including rice, lentils, soybeans and peas. Officials have not said what caused the 4.5 kilometer tunnel to cave in, but the region is prone to landslides, earthquakes and floods.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/video/10100454/india-tunnel-collapse-cracking-noises-halt-rescue-operation-for-40-trapped-workers

ChatGPT parent company OpenAI fires CEO

ChatGPT parent company OpenAI fires CEO

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

CBC/Radio-Canada is a Canadian public broadcast service.

OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman was fired by the company's board of directors. In a statement confirming the news, the board said a recent review found Altman was 'not consistently candid in his communications.' Matt Binder, a technology reporter at Mashable, reacts to what he calls shocking news.

Alaska: "Like a hurricane": Moose fight destroys women's yard

"Like a hurricane": Moose fight destroys women's yard

CTV News on Youtube has the story.

Two moose wrought havoc at a home in Homer, Alaska, getting into a bloody fight that caused significant damage to a woman’s yard and car.

The so-called animal: "moose" or "elk" is the only species in the genus Alces. The moose is the tallest and second-largest land mammal in North America, only falling short of the American buffalo in terms of mass. It is the largest and heaviest extant species of deer. Most adult male moose have distinctive broad, palmate ("open-hand shaped") antlers; most other members of the deer family have antlers with a dendritic ("twig-like") configuration. Moose typically inhabit boreal forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of the Northern Hemisphere in temperate to subarctic climates. Hunting and other human activities have caused a reduction in the size of the moose's range over time. It has been reintroduced to some of its former habitats. Currently, most moose occur in Canada, Alaska, New England (with Maine having the most of the contiguous United States), New York State, Fennoscandia, the Baltic states, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

The moose food diet consists of both terrestrial and aquatic vegetation. Predators of moose include wolves, bears, humans, wolverines (rarely), and (while swimming in the ocean) orcas. Unlike most other deer species, moose do not form herds and are solitary animals, aside from calves who remain with their mother until the cow begins estrus (typically at 18 months after birth of the calf), at which point the cow chases them away. Although generally slow-moving and sedentary, moose can become aggressive, and move quickly if angered or startled. Their mating season in the autumn indeed features energetic fights between males competing for a female.

What are extant animals:

Extant describes species that DO exist. Virtually every creature you hear about on Something Wild is extant. Extinct and extant are opposites, leaving extirpation somewhere in the middle. Biologists use extirpated to describe species that no longer exist in a specific region.

Climate Show: Why China’s emissions may soon be falling

Sky News on Youtube has the story.

Tom Heap hears about the green revolution that could soon put China’s emissions in decline, and sees how Portsmouth is tackling the issue of dirty air from shipping.

So-called Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from human activities intensify the (planet earth's) greenhouse effect. This contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2), from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is one of the most important factors in causing climate change. The largest emitters are China followed by the United States. The United States has higher emissions per capita. The main producers fueling the emissions globally are large oil and gas companies. Emissions from human activities have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by about 50% over pre-industrial levels. The growing levels of emissions have varied, but have been consistent among all greenhouse gases. Emissions in the 2010s averaged 56 billion tons a year, higher than any decade before. Indeed, total cumulative emissions from 1870 to 2017 were 425±20 GtC (1539 GtCO2) from fossil fuels and industry, and 180±60 GtC (660 GtCO2) from land use change. Land-use change, such as deforestation, caused really about 31% of cumulative emissions over 1870-2017, coal 32%, oil 25%, and gas 10%.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is really the main greenhouse gas resulting from human activities. It accounts for more than half of warming. Methane (CH4) emissions have almost the same short-term impact. Nitrous oxide (N2O) and fluorinated gases (F-gases) play a lesser role in comparison.

Electricity generation, heat and transport are major emitters; overall energy is responsible for around 73% of emissions. Deforestation and other changes in land use also emit carbon dioxide and methane. The largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions is agriculture, closely followed by gas venting and fugitive emissions from the fossil-fuel industry. The largest agricultural methane source is livestock. Agricultural soils emit nitrous oxide partly due to fertilizers. Similarly, fluorinated gases from refrigerants play an outsized role in total human emissions.

The current CO2-equivalent emission rates averaging 6.6 tonnes per person per year, are well over twice the estimated rate 2.3 tons required to stay within the 2030 Paris Agreement increase of 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) over pre-industrial levels. Annual per capita emissions in the industrialized countries are typically as much as ten times the average in developing countries.

The important carbon footprint (or greenhouse gas footprint) serves as an indicator to compare the amount of greenhouse gases emitted over the entire life cycle from the production of a good or service along the supply chain to its final consumption. Carbon accounting (or greenhouse gas accounting) is a framework of various methods to measure and track how much greenhouse gas an organization emits.

Philippines: Powerful M6.7 earthquake destroys dozens of buildings in Mindanao, the Philippines

Vulnerability Channel on Youtube has the story.

Nov 18, 2023  МИНДАНАО

Powerful M6.7 earthquake destroys dozens of buildings in Mindanao, the Philippines

Natural disaster 17 November 2023.

Powerful undersea earthquake shook the southern Philippines on Friday, causing ceilings in shopping malls to plunge to the ground as shoppers screamed.

The magnitude 6.7 quake was located 26 kilometers from Burias at the southern tip of the Philippines, the United States Geological Survey said.

Videos posted on social media showed ceilings falling at two large malls as pillars swayed and people cowered and shouted in fear. The SM City General Santos mall and Robinsons GenSan mall announced temporary closures.

Naturals hazards in 2022 have become more frequent. We do not know what awaits us in 2024. How global warming and climate change will affect our Earth. Watch the most current news about natural disasters on our channel.

Canada says India has violated international law, Canada halts in-person services at consulates

Global News on Youtube has the story.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government on Friday of violating international law through its threat to revoke diplomatic status of Canadian officials in that country, saying the move by New Delhi could have far reaching consequences.

His comments came after Canada pulled out 41 diplomats from the country as the tension between the two countries shows no sign of lightening.

As Sean Previl reports, the reduction in staff means consular access is also going to be more limited in the country.

Mexico: Eggs Found In 'Alien Bodies' Displayed

CNN-News18 Channel on Youtube has the story.

Alien Bodies Mexico

Eggs Found In 'Alien Bodies' Displayed In Mexico - Mexico Alien Corpse - N18V

Mexican doctors conducted extensive laboratory studies on the two alleged "non-human" alien corpses revealed last week. The tests were done by Jose de Jesus Zalce Benitez, a forensic doctor with the navy at the Noor Clinic on Monday. Dr Benitez said "no evidence of any assembly or manipulation of the skulls" were found.

The doctors said that the so-called bodies belonged to a single skeleton. Jaime Maussan, a Mexican journalist and longtime UFO enthusiast, presented two tiny mummified bodies with elongated heads and three fingers on each hand. One was described as female, with eggs inside.

The specimens were about 1,000 years old, according to carbon testing carried out by researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Mr Maussan claimed they were not related to any species on Earth.

Indonesia battles forest fires in different provinces

South China Morning Post on Youtube has the story.

Indonesian officials said at least six provinces in the country are battling ongoing forest fires. Authorities dumped large amounts of water from the air to put out fires in the South Sumatra province on September 12, 2023. The nation’s meteorology agency forecasted that Indonesia is likely to experience the most severe dry season since 2019.

Vietnam’s deadliest fire in 20 years

South China Morning Post on Youtube has the story.

A fire that broke out before midnight on September 12, 2023 in a Hanoi residential building took the lives of at least 56 people and injured dozens of others, according to authorities. The death toll made the fire Vietnam’s deadliest in 20 years.

Mexico: 'Alien bodies' put through X-ray machines and CT scans

The Telegraph Channel on Youtube has the story.

Mexican doctors have carried out several laboratory studies on the remains of alleged non-human beings, which were presented in recent days to Mexico's congress.

According to Jose de Jesus Zalce Benitez, director of the Health Sciences Research Institute of the Secretary of the Navy, the studies showed that the alleged bodies belonged to a single skeleton and were not assembled.

Zalce Benitez also said that the laboratory tests have shown that "there is no evidence of any assembly or manipulation of the skulls."

Mexican journalist Jaime Maussan recently showed two tiny mummified bodies he said were "non-human" beings to congress, sparking a controversy between the scientific community and the Peruvian government, who claim that the remains are pre-Hispanic objects.

Libya floods: Up to 20,000 people dead amid catastrophic damage

Channel 4 News on Youtube has the story.

Channel 4 is a British public broadcast service.

International aid is slowly starting to arrive in eastern Libya - amid fears that tens of thousands are buried under mud and rubble.

Entire neighbourhoods in the city of Derna have been washed into the sea, there are shortages of food and drinking water - and relief teams are struggling to reach the worst hit areas because bridges and roads have been washed away.

So many people have died, that hospitals have been turned into makeshift morgues.

Dozens of crocodiles escape in flooded southern China

South China Morning Post Channel on Youtube has the story.

Really more than 70 crocodiles escaped a breeding farm in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on September 12, 2023, when rainfall brought on by Typhoon Haikui caused a lake to overflow, according to authorities. An emergency team has indeed been dispatched but dozens of crocodiles are still missing, as floodwaters pose a challenge to the operation.

Chinese:

YouTube 上的《南华早报》频道有这个故事。

据当局称，2023 年 9 月 12 日，台风海葵带来的降雨导致湖泊泛滥，70 多只鳄鱼逃离了中国南部广东省的一个养殖场。 应急小组已经派出，但由于洪水对行动构成挑战，数十只鳄鱼仍然失踪。

许多 Dozens

鳄鱼 Crocodile

逃脱 Escape

中国南方被洪水淹没 Flooded Southern China

淹 Drown

USA and Google face off in landmark antitrust trial

DW News has the story on Youtube.

DW is a German public broadcast service.

The USA Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general launched an antitrust case against Google in Washington on Tuesday.

The technology giant is accused of unlawfully abusing its dominance in the search engine market in order to maintain its monopoly power.

Over 2000 dead after 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocks Morocco

MSNBC on Youtube has the story.

More than 2,000 people have been confirmed killed and another 2,000 are injured after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Morocco. Priscilla Thompson reports rescue crews are on the ground in hopes to find those trapped in rubble in the Atlas mountain range.

What is Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM)?

What is Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM)?

DW News on Youtube has the story about JAXA and Moon.

There's been a fresh burst of interest in the moon, with three lunar missions launched in the summer of 2023 alone. Though the Russian Luna 25 mission failed, India's Chandrayaan-3 lander succeeded. Japan hopes its SLIM lander will join it on the moon in the months to come.

Does this Harvard scientist have proof of alien life?

'INTERSTELLAR': Does this Harvard scientist have proof of alien life?

Fox News on Youtube has the story.

Harvard's Dr. Avi Loeb joins 'Fox News Saturday Night' to discuss finding hundreds of tiny metal fragments apparently not from our solar system.

An interstellar object is an astronomical object (such as an asteroid, a comet, or a rogue planet, but not a star) in interstellar space that is not gravitationally bound to a star. This term can also be applied to an object that is on an interstellar trajectory but is temporarily passing close to a star, such as certain asteroids and comets (including exocomets). In the latter case, the object may be called an interstellar interloper.

The first interstellar objects discovered were rogue planets, planets ejected from their original stellar system (e.g., OTS 44 or Cha 110913−773444), though they are difficult to distinguish from sub-brown dwarfs, planet-mass objects that formed in interstellar space as stars do.

The first interstellar object which was discovered traveling through the Solar System was 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017. The second was 2I/Borisov in 2019. They both possess significant hyperbolic excess velocity, indicating they did not originate in the Solar System. The discovery of ʻOumuamua inspired the identification of CNEOS 2014-01-08, also known as the Manus Island fireball, as an interstellar object that impacted the Earth. This was confirmed by the USA Space Command in 2022 based on the object's velocity relative to the so-called Sun. In May 2023, astronomers reported the possible capture of other interstellar objects in Near Earth Orbit (NEO) over the years.

SpinLaunch: New technology aims to put a whole new spin on space travel

SpinLaunch: New technology aims to put a whole new spin on space travel

CBS News on Youtube has the story.

A new form of technology is trying to send items into space with an innovative new method. The SpinLaunch aims to reduce the carbon footprint of space travel by using a vacuum chamber to launch objects. Jeff Glor has more.

Webb Telescope Revealed First Ever, Real Image Of Oumuamua

Voyager Channel on Youtube has the story.

In the vast expanse of space, a mysterious visitor captured our imaginations and baffled scientists around the world. But while scientists and astronomers struggled to comprehend what this strange interstellar object was upon its first appearance, NASA’s James Webb Telescope has since changed this narrative. The JWST has broadened our window into the cosmos and has now unveiled the first-ever real image of Oumuamua—the enigmatic interstellar object that sparked controversy and speculation.

ʻOumuamua is indeed the first interstellar object detected passing through the Solar System. Formally designated 1I/2017 U1, it was discovered by Robert Weryk using the Pan-STARRS telescope at Haleakalā Observatory, Hawaii, on 19 October 2017, approximately 40 days after it passed its closest point to the Sun on 9 September. When it was first observed, it was about 33 million km (21 million mi; 0.22 AU) from Earth (about 85 times as far away as the Moon) and already heading away from the Sun.

ʻOumuamua is a small object estimated to be between 100 and 1,000 metres (300 and 3,000 ft) long, with its width and thickness both estimated between 35 and 167 metres (115 and 548 ft). It has a red color, like objects in the outer Solar System. Despite its close approach to the Sun, it showed no signs of having a coma. It exhibited non‑gravitational acceleration, potentially due to outgassing or a push from solar radiation pressure. It has a rotation rate similar to that of Solar System asteroids, but many valid models permit it to be more elongated than all but a few other natural bodies. Its light curve, assuming little systematic error, presents its motion as "tumbling" rather than "spinning", and moving sufficiently fast relative to the Sun that it is likely of an extrasolar origin. Extrapolated and without further deceleration, its path cannot be captured into a solar orbit, so it will eventually leave the Solar System and continue into interstellar space. Its planetary system of origin and age are unknown.

Read more here: https://www.science.org/content/article/mystery-our-first-interstellar-visitor-may-be-solved

Oumuamua: is it asteroid, comet, or alien spaceship?

"Oumuamua", as scientists christened it, was also odd in that it looked like an asteroid but behaved like a comet. Now, a team of researchers says "Oumuamua" was definitely a comet, albeit one with an unusual makeup.

What are the geopolitical implications of India's success in space?

DW News on Youtube has the story.

India has launched its first space mission to study the sun. The Aditya L1 spacecraft will travel to the outermost part of the sun's orbit. Its aim is to record data that will help scientists to understand how massive explosions of solar gases happen, and and how they impact the Earth. The mission is due to take around 5 years.

That means India's last two space missions have been successful. Both missions are different, technically difficult missions. Do they proove that India is now among the leaders in space exploration?

Both China and India are rising military and economic powers. They regularly clash on their shared border, and both countries have very ambitious space programs. Will this rivalry in space change their relationship on the ground?

Some discoveries in space affect the way we live on earth, but how much of space exploration is really about politics, bravado and flexing on the world stage?

India's moon lander performs hop experiment

India's moon lander performs hop experiment

Sky News on Youtube has the story.

India has become the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon, but is the first to touch down on the relatively unexplored lunar south pole.

The country's space agency has successfully tested a lander hop experiment. It means the lander made the soft-landing again on the lunar surface.

Passengers kicked off Air Canada flight for refusing to sit in vomit covered seats

Passengers kicked off Air Canada flight for refusing to sit in vomit covered seats

CTV News has the story on Youtube.

Air Canada is apologizing after two passengers were forced off a plane after complaining they found vomit in their seats.

Mass exodus from Burning Man begins

The mass exodus of more than 70,000 revelers from Burning Man is underway as the mud from torrential rainfall begins to dry.

So-called "Burning Man" is really a week-long large-scale desert campout focused on community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance held annually in the western United States. The interesting name of the event comes from its culminating ceremony: the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy, referred to as the Man, that occurs on the penultimate night of Burning Man, which is the Saturday evening before Labor Day. The event has been located since 1991 at Black Rock City in northwestern Nevada, a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert about 100 miles (160 km) north-northeast of Reno. According to Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey in 2004, the event is guided by ten principles. These stated principles are radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.

At Burning Man, there are no headliners or scheduled performers. Instead, the participants design and build all the art, activities, and events. Artwork at Burning Man includes experimental and interactive sculptures, buildings, performances and art cars, among other media. These contributions are inspired by a theme that is chosen annually by the Burning Man Project. The event has been characterized as "countercultural revelry" and has been described by its organizers as an "excuse to party in the desert".

Chandrayaan-3 Rover Confirms Sulphur On Moon's Surface

Chandrayaan-3 Rover Confirms Sulphur On Moon's Surface

See Vantage with Palki Sharma.

See Firstpost Channel on Youtube.

Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur on the lunar south, in a first. It has also detected a number of other elements on the moon's surface. What does the presence of sulphur mean? What does Pragyan plan on finding next? Palki Sharma tells you. 

Chandrayaan-3 is an interesting science vehicle with ISRO.

Pragyan is sure a lunar rover that forms part of Chandrayaan-3, a lunar mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation. A previous iteration of the rover was launched as part of Chandrayaan-2 on 22 July 2019 and was destroyed with its lander, Vikram, when it crashed on the Moon on 6 September.

Pragyaan Rover is from India. The Moon Mission is exciting to find different elements like Sulphur and Oxygen.

Sulfur (S) is also spelled sulphur. This is a nonmetallic chemical element belonging to the oxygen group (Group 16 [VIa] of the periodic table), one of the most reactive of the elements. Pure sulfur is a tasteless, odourless, brittle solid that is pale yellow in colour, a poor conductor of electricity, and insoluble in water.

Group 16 or VIA of the extended form of periodic table consists of six elements oxygen (O), sulphur (S). selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), polonium (Po) and ununhexium (Uuh)". This family is known as oxygen family. These (except polonium and ununhexium) are the ore forming elements and thus called chalcogens.

Japan releases radioactive water into Pacific Ocean amid protests

DW News on Youtube has the story.

Japan has started releasing treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. 

The plant was damaged in an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. More than 1.3 million litres of water used to cool the nuclear rods will be released over the next 30 years. The International Atomic Energy Agency says the diluted water will have minimal impact on the environment and human health. 

Protests have been held in Japan and other countries. China condemned Japan as irresponsible and has banned some food imports.

India moon landing: Chandrayaan-3 successfully lands on lunar surface

India moon landing: Chandrayaan-3 successfully lands on lunar surface

Global News on Youtube has the story.

The moon received a new visitor from planet Earth on Wednesday as India staked a bold new claim in the global space race.

India’s spacecraft Chandrayaan-3 safely landed on the surface of the moon on Wednesday, closer to the moon’s unexplored south pole.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the landing from South Africa, where he is attending the BRICS summit. He congratulated the whole nation and mentioned that India’s successful moon mission is not just India’s alone, this success belongs to all humanity. He added, “ We can all aspire for the moon, and beyond.”

This was India's second attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon and comes less than a week after Russia's Luna-25 mission failed to accomplish the same goal. 

Chandrayaan-3 is certainly the third Indian lunar exploration mission under the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan programme. It consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, similar to those of the Chandrayaan-2 mission. The propulsion module carried the lander and rover configuration to lunar orbit in preparation for a powered descent by the lander.

Chandrayaan-3 was launched on 14 July 2023. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 5 August, and the lander touched down in the lunar south pole region on 23 August 2023 at 18:02 IST, making India the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon, and the first to do so near the lunar south pole.

The Moon is certainly Earth's only natural satellite. Its diameter is about one-quarter of Earth's (comparable to the width of Australia), making it the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet. It is larger than all known dwarf planets in the Solar System. The Moon is a planetary-mass object with a differentiated rocky body, making it a satellite planet under the geophysical definitions of the term. It lacks any significant atmosphere, hydrosphere, or magnetic field. Its surface gravity is about one-sixth of Earth's at 0.1654 g—Jupiter's moon Io is the only satellite in the Solar System known to have a higher surface gravity and density.

The Moon really orbits Earth at an average distance of 384,400 km (238,900 mi), or about 30 times Earth's diameter. Its gravitational influence is the main driver of Earth's tides and very slowly lengthens Earth's day. The Moon's orbit around Earth has a sidereal period of 27.3 days. During each synodic period of 29.5 days, the amount of the Moon's Earth-facing surface that is illuminated by the Sun varies from none up to nearly 100%, resulting in lunar phases that form the basis for the months of a lunar calendar. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, which means that the length of a full rotation of the Moon on its own axis causes its same side (the near side) to always face Earth, and the somewhat longer lunar day is the same as the synodic period. Due to cyclical shifts in perspective (libration), 59% of the lunar surface is visible from Earth.

Lunar Orbitor Chandrayaan 3 - How it Works

Lunar Orbitor Chandrayaan 3 How it Works #3d

AiTelly on Youtube has the story.

Presenting the Billion Dollar Question: Why did, it require 40 days, for the Chandra yaan-3 Lunar Exploration mission to reach the Southern pole of the Moon?

In contrast, China's Chang'e 2, launched in 2010, only took four days to cover the distance between Earth and the Moon.

The Soviet Union's Luna-1, the pioneering unmanned mission that came close to the Moon, accomplished the journey in a mere 36 hours.

Even Apollo 11's command module, Columbia, which carried three astronauts, reached the Moon in just slightly over four days.

Well, the I S R O program, has a budget of just $75 million , which is the main reason they have to use the ingenious method to lower cost by implementing the gravitational pull of the moon and the earth, to get to it's destination because of it's Less powerful rockets.

The Chinese Chang e 2 cost around $219 Million, adjusted to inflation, it's over $316 million

The Soviet Union Luna 1 in the 1960s cost around $200 million, when adjusted to inflation.

The estimated cost of the Soviet Union, Luna program in 1964 was , 6 to $10 billion.

And the most Ambitious program, Apollo 11! cost a staggering $25 Billion, during the 1960s and when adjusted to present-day, inflation it’s around $200 Billion.

Chandrayaan-3 is certainly the third Indian lunar exploration mission under the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan programme. It consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, similar to those of the Chandrayaan-2 mission. The propulsion module carried the lander and rover configuration to lunar orbit in preparation for a powered descent by the lander.

Chandrayaan-3 was launched on 14 July 2023. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 5 August, and the lander touched down in the lunar south pole region on 23 August 2023 at 18:02 IST, making India the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon, and the first to do so near the lunar south pole.

Canada: Heat is a lot worse in cities. Here's how to fix them

CBC News: The National has the story about Heat and Climate Change.

With more extreme heat waves expected in the future, some communities are finding ways to become more heat resistant.

Canada wildfires: Latest forecast shows higher-than-normal fire activity will continue into fall

Global News has the story.

Canada is likely to see higher-than-normal fire activity across much of the country well into the fall, according to officials who say B.C., Ontario and parts of the north could see that potential last until the end of September.

Officials with Natural Resources (NRC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) painted the grim forecast on Friday, while saying that Canadians should continue to prepare for longer and tougher fire seasons in the years to come.

Kyle Benning looks at the firefighting efforts across the country and the situation heading into the fall.

Canada: Montreal's new LRT fails test of inaugural morning rush

CBC News: The National has the story.

A switch problem forced Montreal’s new light rail transit system to shut down during the morning rush hour on its first official day of operation.

So-called "LRT" is a transportation system based on electrically powered light rail vehicles (LRV) that operates on a track in a dedicated right-of-way (meaning separated lanes). They are designed to deliver rapid, reliable, and indeed safe transportation services. 

Depending on the project, in the event of a schedule delay, some LRTs have the ability to change the traffic lights to green as they approach, so they can move even quicker along the route.

Food packaging is Canada's next plastic waste target

Global News has the story.

As plastic bags and ring carriers are slowly phased out in grocery and liquor stores across Canada, the federal government has put the call out to grocery owners, governments and everyday Canadians to weigh in on how it will implement changes to plastic food packaging. 

Ottawa put out a request for input on a what's called a pollution prevention planning notice for plastic packaging that comes into direct contact with food.

Sean Previl reports on what the government is asking for, and how it could impact Canadians' pocketbooks at the grocery store.

Refugees forced to sleep outside after arriving in Canada

CBC News: The National has the story.

Refugees and asylum seekers say they are being forced to sleep outside because of a lack of housing and adequate shelter space in Toronto. According to city officials, up to 45 per cent of newcomers who call the shelter intake system get turned away.

What's driving political polarization in Canada?

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

Investigative journalist Justin Ling joins Power and Politics to discuss a new report that tracks the growing political polarization in Canada, how it's impacting young Canadians and what it means for the nation's politics.

Canada: Staff shortages, surgery backlogs plague health-care system, report says

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

A new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information highlights a continued post-pandemic crisis in the health-care system. Staff shortages, lack of primary care, surgery backlogs and lack of data sharing continue to hinder the health system.

Surge of new COVID-19 cases in Canada due to EG.5 sub-variant

Global News on Youtube has the story.

A rapidly rising Omicron subvariant called EG.5 has been circulating in Canada and other countries, raising concerns of a new wave of COVID-19 infections. 

Experts say EG.5 presents similarities to other COVID-19 variants and sub-variants and is able to sneak past immune defences. Symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches. 

The latest advice from public health officials remains to get vaccinated, and take other precautions such as masking, regular hand washing etc.

Canada seizes Russian cargo plane, plans to give it to Ukraine

Global News on Youtube has the story.

Canada has ordered the seizure of a Russian cargo plane that has been grounded at Toronto Pearson International Airport since the start of the Ukraine war.

It is the first physical asset of Russia that will be captured by Ottawa under the asset forfeit law and the second under Canada’s overall sanctions regime.

The plane had arrived from China, flying through Russia and Alaska to deliver a shipment of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests but was unable to depart after Canada – like many other countries – closed its airspace to Russian aircraft in response to the Ukraine war.

Sean O’Shea has more on the seizure and the government’s plan to give the plane to Ukraine.

In Canada: "India rice ban" - Here's what the restrictions on all non-basmati rice exports means for Canada

CTV News has the story on Youtube.

A sweeping ban from India on rice exports prompted panic buying across Canada. While shortages have been noted at some grocery stores, experts say stockpiling is unnecessary.

Big Canadian cities facing affordability, health-care and housing issues

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

Canada's big city mayors are in Toronto, where they will meet to discuss the most pressing municipal issues such as housing, affordability and health care. They say they need more support from the federal and provincial governments.

Canada's debt load now highest of G7 countries

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

Canadian households are really more in debt than those in any other G7 country, and the amount they owe is now more than the value of the country's entire valuable economy. Seventy-five per cent of the amount Canadians borrow went to mortgages or secondary properties.

Toxic 'forever chemicals' are turning up in Canadians' blood samples

It seems that so-called toxic 'forever chemicals' are turning up in Canadians' blood samples.

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

Health Canada and Environment Canada released a report on the science on PFAS, chemicals found in various consumer products — cosmetics, diapers, menstrual products, food packaging, carpets, furniture and clothing. Both departments propose listing the human-made chemicals as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

Immigration drives Canada's population to 40M

Immigration drives Canada's population to 40M

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

Canada's population has hit 40 million people. The historic pace of the increase is being driven by immigration and the need for workers, but it's also causing the already dire housing crisis to get even worse.

Canada Protest: Deportation Threat To Over 700 Indian Students

Canada Protest - Deportation Threat To Over 700 Indian Students

India Today on Youtube has the story.

Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal in a letter written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, demanded that Students should not be deported and given work permits considering their visas.

Over 1000 people still unaccounted for in Hawaii

DW News has the story.

The governor of the USA state of Hawaii says over a thousand people are still unaccounted for. The wildfires on Maui have claimed 99 lives, officially. But search teams still have a huge area to cover. Many describe the scene as a war zone.

Firefighters say they have about 85 percent of the wildfires that begin almost one week ago now under control. Hawaiii's governor says crews expect to find between 10 and 20 more bodies per day, over the next ten days.

Hawaii fire victims demand to know why warning system failed

DW News has the story.

In Hawaii, anger is growing over authorities' response to the deadliest fire in the US in more than a century. So far the confirmed death toll stands at 93, but more victims are expected to be found as emergency crews search burnt-out buildings. Many residents on the island of Maui say they received no warning despite the siren system in place.

At least 96 killed, hundreds missing in Hawaii wildfires

MSNBC shows the story.

Local officials now say 96 people have died in the wildfires ripping through the town of Lahaina. NBC News' Dana Griffin reports.

2023 is Canada's worst wildfire year ever. Is this the new normal?

Is this the new normal? 2023 is Canada's worst wildfire year ever.

CTV News on Youtube has the story.

Marieke deRoos with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre discusses the state of wildfires in Canada.

It seems that beginning in March 2023, and with increased intensity starting in June, Canada has been affected by an ongoing, record-setting series of wildfires. As the worst wildfire season in recorded Canadian and North American history surpassing the record held by the 2020 California wildfires, all thirteen provinces and territories have been affected, with large fires in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. On June 25, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre declared the 2023 wildfire season was the worst in Canada's recorded history, surpassing the 1989, 1995, and 2014 fire seasons.

As of August 11, 5,650 fires had burned 13,475,670 hectares (33,299,106 acres), about four percent of the entire forest area of Canada and more than six times the long-term average of 2.14 million ha (5.3 million acres) for that time of the year. Of the 1,121 active wildfires, 729 were really deemed "out of control". International aid has certainly helped reduce the impact of the fires.

Smoke emitted from the wildfires has caused air quality alerts and evacuations in Canada and the United States. By late June it had crossed the Atlantic reaching Europe.

A lot of the forest fires are started by humans.

What's driving up car prices to record levels in Canada?

Global News has the story.

Buying a car is tougher than ever, as both new and used car prices are higher than ever. 

The average price of a new vehicle in Canada is now roughly $62,000, while a used one costs about $39,000 according to Auto-Trader. 

Touria Izri explains what's fuelling high prices and low supply, how long some drivers have to wait to get a new automobile and what's created the pothole the auto industry is struggling to steer out of.

Bear claimed to be "human in disguise" waves at zoo-goers

The Telegraph on Youtube has the story.

A bear that became a social media celebrity after visitors claimed it looked like a “human in disguise” has been filmed appearing to wave at zoo-goers. 

Some 20,000 visitors are heading to Hangzhou Zoo in eastern China every day - an increase of almost a third - since the sun bear, known as Angela, went viral.

Footage has now emerged of the bear standing on its hind legs waving its right paw to the people gathered around its enclosure.

The so-called sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a species in the family Ursidae (the only species in the genus Helarctos) occurring in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is the smallest bear, standing nearly 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder and weighing 25–65 kg (55–143 lb). It is stockily built, with large paws, strongly curved claws, small, rounded ears and a short snout. The fur is generally jet black, but can vary from grey to red. The sun bear really gets its name from its characteristic colorful orange to cream-coloured chest patch. Its unique morphology—inward-turned front feet, flattened chest, powerful forelimbs with large claws—suggests adaptations for climbing.

The most arboreal (tree-living) of all bears, the sun bear is an excellent climber and sunbathes or sleeps in trees 2 to 7 m (7 to 23 ft) above the ground. It is mainly active during the day, though nocturnality might be more common in areas frequented by humans. Sun bears tend to remain solitary, but sometimes occur in twos (such as a mother and her cub). They do not seem to hibernate, possibly because food resources are available the whole year throughout the range. Being omnivores, sun bears' diet includes ants, bees, beetles, honey, termites, and plant material such as seeds and several kinds of fruits; vertebrates such as certain birds and deer are also eaten occasionally. They breed throughout the year; individuals become sexually mature at two to four years of age. Litters comprise one or two cubs that remain with their mother for around three years.

The range of the sun bear is bounded by northeastern India to the north then south to southeast through Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam in mainland Asia to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia to the south. These bears are threatened by heavy deforestation and illegal hunting for food and the wildlife trade; they are also harmed in conflicts with various humans when they enter farmlands, plantations, and orchards. The global population is estimated to have declined by 35% since the 1990s. The IUCN has listed this species as vulnerable.

Canadian cities relax public drinking laws in parks

CBC News: The National has the story.

Toronto has launched a pilot project to allow public drinking in 27 parks, following similar moves by Edmonton and Vancouver, but it has sparked concerns for safety and a lack of public sober spaces.

August 2023: Canada’s unemployment rate rises to 5.5%

Global News has the stories.

In tonight's top story: Data from Statistics Canada shows that Canada's unemployment rate rose in July for the third consecutive month, ticking up slightly to 5.5 per cent — a 0.1 increase over the previous month. As Mike Drolet explains, it's another sign of Canada's already-troubled economy is struggling to keep up with a booming population. 

A Russian court has added 19 more years to the jail term that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is already serving, convicting the opposition activist of extremism on Friday. As Mike Armstrong reports, Navalny is calling on Russians not to lose the will to resist the government.

Three months after fighting erupted between Sudan's armed forces and a paramilitary group, both sides are being accused of committing atrocities that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Redmond Shannon reports. 

Plus, it's been nearly three weeks since Ottawa's light-rail transit system was shut down, after a recent inspection found an increased risk of derailment. As Mackenzie Gray reports, it's just the latest in a flood of issues that have infuriated Ottawa commuters since the line first opened in 2019.

And finally, a herd of goats in Canada has come back year over year since 2018 to help clear land for firefighters in Lethbridge, Alta. But experts warn that using modern day mammals as mowers may only help in specific situations. Jamie Mauracher explains.

Canada lost about 6,000 jobs in July, a sign of a slowing economy

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

See cbc news about unemployment and Canada's economy.

The latest StatsCan jobs numbers show Canada had about fewer jobs last month, a sign the economy is slowing down, according to at least one economist.

53 people confirmed dead in Hawaii as death toll expected to rise

NBC News on Youtube has the story.

hawaii maui Lahaina

Officials have confirmed that 53 people are dead with more expected in Maui as the wildfire continues to burn across the island. NBC's Steve Patterson shares more from Kahului.

2nd Nuclear Fusion breakthrough could "pave way for future of clean power"

CBS News on Youtube has the story.

In December 2022, California scientists achieved a major breakthrough - a nuclear fusion reaction that produced more energy than was used to create it. Scientists have done it again and this time their results produced even more energy. Professor Peter Hosemann, chair of nuclear and mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, joins CBS News to discuss the implications of this accomplishment.

So-called "Nuclear Fusion" is certainly a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei, usually deuterium and tritium (hydrogen variants), are combined to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles (neutrons or protons). The difference in mass between the reactants and products is manifested as either the release or absorption of energy. This difference in mass arises due to the difference in nuclear binding energy between the atomic nuclei before and after the reaction. Nuclear fusion is the process that powers active or main-sequence stars and other high-magnitude stars, where large amounts of energy are released.

A nuclear fusion process that produces atomic nuclei lighter than iron-56 or nickel-62 will generally release energy. These elements have a relatively small mass and a relatively large binding energy per nucleon. Fusion of nuclei lighter than these releases energy (an exothermic process), while the fusion of heavier nuclei results in energy retained by the product nucleons, and the resulting reaction is endothermic. The opposite is true for the reverse process, called nuclear fission. Nuclear fusion uses lighter elements, such as hydrogen and helium, which are in general more fusible; while the heavier elements, such as uranium, thorium and plutonium, are more fissionable. The extreme astrophysical event of a supernova can produce enough energy to fuse nuclei into elements heavier than iron.

1st time ever:

In December 2022, researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California reached a historic milestone: they really got more energy out of a fusion reaction than they put in.

2nd time ever:

A breakthrough fusion experiment has produced a net gain in energy for only the second time ever and with improved performance over the first successful attempt.

Canada: BC wildfires: Firefighters "counterintuitively" starting fires to bring situation under control

Global News on Youtube has the story.

The fire danger remains high, if not extreme, across B.C. as the province continues to deal with an unprecedented fire season.

In the past 24 hours more than 30 new fires have sparked.

With the situation critical in the province, firefighters are using all the tools at their disposal, including starting new fires to bring the situation under control.

The practice may seem “counterintuitive,” but helps rid the forest of the fuel to spark new fires. Elissa Carpenter explains.

Pakistan express train derails - Dozens Killed

BBC News on Youtube has the story.

BBCNews

At least 30 people have been killed and 100 injured when an express train derailed in southern Pakistan. 

Several carriages of the Hazara Express overturned near Sahara railway station in Nawabshah.  The train was travelling from Karachi to Rawalpindi.

Rescue teams freed survivors from the twisted wreckage and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

Railway Minister Saad Rafiq said initial investigations showed the train was travelling at normal speed and they were trying to establish what led to the derailment.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Caroline Davies in Pakistan.

‘Poison in every puff’: Canada to require health warnings on individual cigarettes

Read more about it here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/01/canada-cigarette-health-warnings-tobacco-industry

Canada:

‘Poison in every puff’: Canada to require health warnings on individual cigarettes

The first-of-its-kind measure is part of a sweeping new set of tobacco regulations to tighten controls over the industry

Individual cigarettes in Canada will now carry warnings such as “poison in every puff” and “cigarettes cause impotence” in what the government says is an effort to make it “virtually impossible to avoid health warnings altogether”.

The measure, the first of its kind in the world, is part of a sweeping set of new tobacco regulations coming into effect on Tuesday that will see tight controls phased in over the next two years.

“Tobacco use continues to kill 48,000 Canadians each year. We are taking action by being the first country in the world to label individual cigarettes with health warning messages,” said Carolyn Bennett, who was minister of mental health and addictions when the rules were first announced. (Bennett was shuffled out of cabinet last week after announcing her departure from federal politics.)

Canada's economy is slowing down, new StatsCan data shows

Canada's economy is slowing down, new StatsCan data shows.

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

The latest GDP numbers released Friday by Statistics Canada indicate that Canada's economy is slowing down. The economy expanded by 0.3 per cent in May, but advanced data for June suggests that month is on track for a 0.2 per cent contraction.

Violent crime in Canada spikes to highest level since 2007

Violent crime in Canada spikes to highest level since 2007.

CBC News on Youtube has the story.

In a report released Thursday, Statistics Canada researchers found that violent crime rose by five per cent in 2022, reaching its highest point since 2007.

Invasive “vampire fish” on killing spree in Great Lakes

Invasive "vampire fish" on killing spree in Great Lakes

Global News on Youtube has the story.

The sea lamprey is an invasive species living in Canada's Great Lakes that had been kept under control for decades — until now. 

The lampreys have experienced a surge in numbers, and it could have a devastating ecological and economic impact on the country’s biggest lakes.  

Global's Erica Vella explains how the pandemic fuelled a population spike among the “vampire fish” and what's being done to stop them.

Canada eliminated from the 2023 Women's World Cup

Canada eliminated from the 2023 Women's World Cup.

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

Australia has eliminated Canada from the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The crushing 4-0 loss comes as the team battles Soccer Canada for more support.

Hundreds flee B.C. town as 2 wildfires merge over the Canada-USA border

Hundreds flee B.C. town as 2 wildfires merge over the Canada-USA border.

CBC News: The National on Youtube has the story.

An out-of-control, fast-moving wildfire has crossed from Washington state into British Columbia, fusing with an existing fire and threatening the town of Osoyoos. Hundreds have already been ordered out, and thousands more could follow.

Wave of labour disputes hits Canada

CTV News is following the latest developments in several labour disputes across the country of Canada.

Woman knocked over by out-of-control suitcase left on escalator

Woman knocked over by out-of-control suitcase left on escalator.

South China Morning Post on YouTube has the story.

A woman was knocked over by an unattended suitcase which fell down an escalator at a metro station in eastern China’s Zhejiang province.

A so-called "escalator" is a moving staircase which carries people between floors of a building or structure. It consists of a motor-driven chain of individually linked steps on a track which cycle on a pair of tracks which keep the step tread horizontal.

Escalators are often used around the world in places where lifts would be impractical, or they can be used in conjunction with them. Principal areas of usage include department stores, shopping malls, airports, transit systems (railway/railroad stations), convention centers, hotels, arenas, stadiums and public buildings.

Escalators have the capacity to really move large numbers of people. They have no waiting interval (except during very heavy traffic). They can be used to guide people toward main exits or special exhibits and may be weatherproofed for outdoor use. A non-functional escalator can function as a normal staircase, whereas many other methods of transport become useless when they break down or lose power.

‘Curious’ worker ignites foam, causes huge warehouse fire in China

‘Curious’ worker ignites foam, causes huge warehouse fire in China

South China Morning Post on Youtube has the story.

A warehouse storing EPE foam burst into flames after a worker ignited highly flammable foam rolls with a lighter in southern China’s Guangdong province.

Expanded polyethylene is an interesting product.

(Polyethylene foam) Expanded polyethylene (aka EPE foam) refers to foams made from polyethylene. Typically it is made from expanded pellets ('EPE bead') made with use of a blowing agent, followed by expansion into a mold in a steam chest - the process is similar to that used to make expanded polystyrene foam.

EPE foams are low density, semi-rigid, closed cell foam that are generally somewhere in stiffness/compliance between Expanded polystyrene and Polyurethane. Production of EPE foams is similar to that of expanded polystyrene, but starting with PE beads. Typical densities are 29 to 120 kg/m3 (49 to 202 lb/cu yd) with the lower figure being common. Densities as low as 14 kg/m3 (24 lb/cu yd) can be produced.

Base polymer for EPE foams range from Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to High-density polyethylene (HDPE).

Expanded polyethylene copolymers (EPC) are also known - such as 50:50 (weight) materials with polystyrene. Though other properties are intermediate between the two bases, toughness for the copolymer exceeds either, with good tensile and puncture resistance. It is particularly applicable for re-usable products.

EPE foams were first manufactured in the 1970s.

Production of the PE beads is usually by extrusion, followed by chopping, producing a 'pellet'. Autoclave expansion is the most common route the bead foam. Butane or pentane is often used as a blowing agent (before 1992 CFCs may have been used). Depending on the specific process uses the beads may be cross-linked either by electron beam irradiation (see Electron beam processing), or by the addition of a chemical agent such as Dicumyl peroxide.

How easily does butane ignite? The Effects of Butane Exposure are interesting. Butane is highly flammable and can ignite easily through static electricity, open flames, or other ignition sources. As a combustible gas, butane concentrations anywhere between 1.6% and 8.4% can provide an explosive mixture with air.

An alternate route (JSP Process) to the beads uses carbon dioxide as a blowing agent which is impregnated into the pellets in an autoclave at a temperature close to the plastic's crystalline melting point. The pellets are foamed by "flashing" into the (lower pressure) atmosphere to expand.

Finally molding is done by steam chest compression molding; usually the low pressure variant of the process is used, though the high pressure variant may be used for HDPE based EPE foams.

Orangutan understands 72 words! Extraordinary Animals on Earth!

BBC Earth on Youtube shows: Azy the Orangutan communicates with his tutor via symbols and can even use verbs!

The world is an amazing place full of stories, beauty and natural wonder. At BBC EARTH, you will find 50 years worth of astounding, entertaining, thought-provoking and educational natural history content.

So-called "Orangutans" are really great apes native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. They are now found only in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, but during the Pleistocene they ranged throughout Southeast Asia and South China. Classified in the genus Pongo, orangutans were originally considered to be one species. From 1996, they were divided into two species: the Bornean orangutan (P. pygmaeus, with three subspecies) and the Sumatran orangutan (P. abelii). A third species, the Tapanuli orangutan (P. tapanuliensis), was identified definitively in 2017. The orangutans are the only surviving species of the subfamily Ponginae, which diverged genetically from the other hominids (gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans) between 19.3 and 15.7 million years ago.

The most arboreal of the great apes, orangutans spend most of their time in trees. They have proportionally long arms and short legs, and have reddish-brown hair covering their bodies. Adult males weigh about 75 kg (165 lb), while females reach about 37 kg (82 lb). Dominant adult males develop distinctive cheek pads or flanges and make long calls that attract females and intimidate rivals; younger subordinate males do not and more resemble adult females. Orangutans are the most solitary of the great apes: social bonds occur primarily between mothers and their dependent offspring. Fruit is the most important component of an orangutan's diet; but they will also eat vegetation, bark, honey, insects and bird eggs. They can live over 30 years, both in the wild and in captivity.

Orangutans are certainly among the most intelligent primates. They use a variety of sophisticated tools and construct elaborate sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage. The apes' learning abilities have been studied extensively. There may be distinctive cultures within populations. Orangutans have been featured in literature and art since at least the 18th century, particularly in works that comment on human society. Field studies of the apes were pioneered by primatologist Birutė Galdikas and they have been kept in captive facilities around the world since at least the early 19th century.

Which is smartest of the apes? Deemed some of the smartest apes on the planet, orangutans are exceptional creatures with expressive faces. Overall, the species considered most intelligent among the ape species, apart from humans, are orangutans. A few methods and ideas build this foundational thought on which species are the smartest.

More facts:

Which is smarter: gorilla or chimp? Though the chimpanzees are smaller in size they have bigger brains than the mountain gorillas hence making them more intelligent than the gorillas. This makes the chimpanzees more clever and tricky animals than the mountain gorillas.

Difference between apes and monkeys? The easiest way to distinguish between a monkey or an ape is to see if it has a tail. Almost all monkeys have tails, while apes do not. Also take note of the primate's body shape, size, and other physical attributes. Apes are generally larger with wider chests and almost naked faces.

Apes are generally more intelligent than monkeys, and most species of apes exhibit some use of tools. While both monkeys and apes can use sounds and gestures to communicate, apes have demonstrated higher ability with language, and some individual apes have been trained to learn human sign languages.

African Gray Parrots are thought to be one of the most intelligent species on the planet, rivaling even apes. Some researchers have suggested that these parrots have a reasoning ability akin to a three- or four-year-old human child.

What is the friendliest primate to humans? Bonobo apes are kind to strangers. According to the study, bonobos will go out of their way to help strangers - even when there is no guarantee of any payback.

Gorillas are the largest apes (not monkeys!) and the strongest primate, known for their impressive strength. These powerful animals weigh up to 200 kg, and can lift almost 2,000 kg - 10 times their body weight.

Which animal has the lowest IQ? Ostriches. The bird species dominate the list of animals with low intelligence, including the ostrich, despite being the largest bird. Ostriches have small brains that weigh only 26.34 grams, making up about 0.015% of their body weight.

Which animal has 32 brains? Leech: Leech is an annelid. Leech's external and internal segmentation do not correspond to each other. If the internal body is examined, it can be seen that the body is divided into 32 parts or segments which have their own corresponding brain.

Who would win in a fight: orangutan vs gorilla? Gorillas are far better fighters and far more capable of inflicting fatal trauma on enemies. An orangutan might escape a gorilla by climbing trees, but that is not going to defeat the gorilla.

Humans have bodies that are genetically and structurally very similar to those of the Great Apes and so we are classified in the Great Apes sub-group which is also known as the hominids (Family Hominidae).

Pound for pound, humans are definitely the weakest apes. Muscle fibers come in two varieties, fast-twitch and slow-twitch. The fast twitch muscles act faster (obviously) and exert more force in less time.

Which rarest great ape on earth could soon go extinct? Tapanuli orangutans. Less than 800 Tapanuli orangutans remain confined to the small mountainous region of Batang Toru in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

An unarmed human could not beat a chimpanzee in a fight. This may work for the biggest, strongest humans, but certainly not the average ones.

Who wins in a fight: a baboon or a chimpanzee? A chimpanzee is much stronger than a baboon given that a chimpanzee is much larger, sometimes even twice as large, since only a handful of baboons weigh more than about 50 pounds, while a chimpanzee weighs about 70 to 100 pounds.