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More Than 100,000 People March In Paris Against Soaring Antisemitism Amid Israel-Hamas War

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PARIS, France (AP) – More than 100,000 people marched in Paris on Sunday to condemn rising antisemitism in the aftermath of Israel’s continuing battle in Gaza against Hamas.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, representatives from multiple left-wing parties, conservatives and centrists from President Emmanuel Macron’s party, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen marched in Paris on Sunday amid heavy security. Macron did not join the rally, but he stated his support for it and urged residents to stand up to “the unbearable resurgence of unbridled antisemitism.”

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, stayed away from the march, declaring last week on X, formerly Twitter, that it would be a gathering of “friends of unconditional support for the massacre” in Gaza.

Paris authorities deployed 3,000 police troops along the route of the protest called by Senate and National Assembly leaders amid an alarming increase in anti-Jewish acts in France since Israel launched its war against Hamas following its Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel.

France has the largest Jewish population in Europe, yet given its Nazi complicity during WWII, antisemitic activities now expose ancient wounds.

Robert Fiel, holding a French flag, stated that demonstrating against antisemitism is “more than a duty.”

paris

More Than 100,000 People March In Paris Against Soaring Antisemitism Amid Israel-Hamas War

“It’s a march against violence, against antisemitism, against all (political extremes) that are infiltrating the society, to show that the silent majority does exist,” said the 67-year-old.

Family members of some of the 40 French people murdered in the initial Hamas attack, as well as those missing or held captive, marched alongside the march’s 105,000 participants, according to Paris police.

Patrick Klugman, a lawyer and member of the “Freethem” organization seeking to free people detained by Hamas and other groups in Gaza, said the march’s high turnout is relevant and symbolic in comforting Jewish communities in France.

“I am very proud of my country because of this mobilisation,” he remarked. “I feel less alone than in the past weeks and days.”

Yonathan Arfi, head of France’s Representative Council of Jewish Institutions, or CRIF, said the march on Sunday heartened him, but the question remains, he told French television BFM at the march, “what will be done (against antisemitism) tomorrow?”

Tomer Sisley, an Israeli-French actor, maintained that the overwhelming show of support demonstrated that the majority of French citizens oppose violence and hatred towards any religious or ethnic minority.

paris

More Than 100,000 People March In Paris Against Soaring Antisemitism Amid Israel-Hamas War

“We’re not Jews, we’re not Muslims, we’re not Christians,” he continued. “We are French and we are here to show that we are all together.”

In the month since the Middle East war began, French authorities have recorded over 1,000 actions against Jews across the country.

Macron promised to prosecute and punish culprits in a message to the French on Sunday.

“A France where our Jewish fellow citizens are afraid is not France,” Macron wrote in the letter published in the newspaper Le Parisien. He urged the country to stay “united behind its values… and work for peace and security for all in the Middle East.”

Macron said he would go “in my heart and in spirit,” but not physically. “My role is to build national unity and to stand firm on values,” Macron said on the sidelines of Armistice Day commemorations to mark the end of World War I on Saturday.

paris

More Than 100,000 People March In Paris Against Soaring Antisemitism Amid Israel-Hamas War

Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right leader, attended the march on Sunday despite heated accusations that her once-pariah National Rally party has failed to shed its antisemitic past despite acquiring electoral respectability.

After joining the march with the party’s president, Jordan Bardella, Le Pen rejected critics, saying she and the party members are “exactly where we need to be.” During the march, she urged other lawmakers to “take a break from fomenting political controversies.”

According to the Interior Ministry, officials have registered 1,247 antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7, about three times as many as in the entire year of 2022.

Although pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been generally prohibited in France, supporters have marched in numerous French towns in recent weeks, including thousands demanding a cease-fire in Gaza at an authorized protest in Paris last Sunday.

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Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

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Trudeau, Montreal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

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Baby Gorilla, Calgary Zoo
The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

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Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

  1. Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
  2. Numbers cannot be repeated
  3. Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
  4. Each play buys 3 lines
  5. Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)

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