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Fire Destroys Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange Dating To 1600s, Collapsing Its Dragon-Tail Spire

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Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange: Photo Reuters

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A fire blazed through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings Tuesday, destroying roughly half of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange and collapsing its famed dragon-tail spire, while bystanders hurried to assist emergency services in saving priceless paintings and other treasures.

During renovations, the blaze started on the building’s roof, but authorities said it was too early to determine the cause. The red-brick structure, with its green copper roof and distinctive 56-meter (184-foot) spire shaped like four interwoven dragon tails, is a prominent tourist attraction in the heart of the capital, near Denmark’s parliament, Christiansborg Palace.

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Firemen Extinguish Fire: Image Reuters

Fire Destroys Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange Dating To 1600s, Collapsing Its Dragon-Tail Spire

As fire devoured the spire and drove it plummeting down the scaffolding-covered edifice, bells tolled, and sirens screamed. Huge billows of smoke ascended above downtown Copenhagen, visible from southern Sweden, separated from Denmark’s capital by a thin strait.

“A piece of Danish history is on fire,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Instagram, lamenting the loss of “irreplaceable cultural heritage.”

There were ambulances on the scene, but no reports of injuries.

Firefighters pumped water from a nearby canal and sprayed it into the doorway of the Old Stock Exchange’s gilded hall, which hosts gala dinners, conferences, and other events and displays many paintings.

Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said it was “touching” to see how many people came together “to save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building.” Soon after the fire broke out, one man rushed off his bicycle to aid, while public members assisted first responders in transporting large items of art to safety.

Among the pieces on show in the building was a massive 1895 painting by Danish artist P.S. Krøyer, “From Copenhagen Stock Exchange.” No information has been revealed on which works of art were saved from the blaze, although camera footage shows the Krøyer painting being removed.

Brian Mikkelsen, chief executive of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which controls the Old Stock Exchange, was spotted with his team going through a binder containing images of artworks that needed to be conserved. Work was done on the adjoining parliament and national archive building. According to Mikkelsen, rescuers used crowbars and other tools to retrieve valuables and save them from the fire.

“We have been able to rescue a lot,” a moved Mikkelsen told reporters. “It is a national disaster.”

According to Jakob Vedsted Andersen, a Greater Copenhagen Fire Department spokeswoman, the fire started on the roof Tuesday morning and swiftly spread, collapsing parts and damaging around half of the building. He said no other structures were in danger, but it could take firemen 24 hours to clear the situation.

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Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange Gutted: Photo Reuters

Fire Destroys Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange Dating To 1600s, Collapsing Its Dragon-Tail Spire

Tim Ole Simonsen, another fire department spokesman, stated, “The fire started in the part of the building where work has been going on, but that’s all I can say about it.”

René Hansen of the coppersmith firm refurbishing the roof informed TV2 that 10 people were on the roof when the fire alarm sounded.

“After five minutes, smoke began to rise from the floor to the ceiling,” Hansen said.

Tommy Laursen of the Copenhagen police said it was too early to determine what started the fire, but officers would be allowed to access the building in “a few days.”

According to Denmark’s armed services, an army squad of up to 90 members was deployed to seal off the area and “secure valuables.”

King Frederik posted on Instagram that “an important part of our architectural heritage” was being destroyed. He also stated in an email that “this morning we woke up to a sad sight.”

The exchange, built in 1615, is a prime example of Dutch Renaissance design in Denmark. After the Copenhagen Stock Exchange left in 1974, the Chamber of Commerce moved into the building.

The roof, brickwork, sandstone, and spire were all being rebuilt, and Mikkelsen stated that the royal family, government leaders, and other dignitaries would be invited to observe the work later this year.

“That won’t happen now,” he stated.

The structure’s future was unknown, but Engel-Schmidt, the cultural minister, stated on the social media site X that he would do everything he could “so that the dragon spire will once again tower over Copenhagen,” describing it as “a symbol of Denmark’s strong history as a trading nation.”

The adjacent Christiansborg Palace has burned down multiple times, and in 1990, a fire broke out in an annex of the Danish parliament known as Proviantgaarden. However, the Old Stock Exchange remained unaffected.

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Firemen close area: Photo Reuters

Fire Destroys Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange Dating To 1600s, Collapsing Its Dragon-Tail Spire

Police closed a prominent route in Copenhagen and notified the public that the area would be roped off for some time. Several bus routes were redirected, and the Danish media reported massive traffic congestion.

Queen Margrethe, who turned 84 on Tuesday, scaled back her celebrations due to the fire, according to broadcaster TV2. A band from the Royal Life Guard was supposed to perform for the former monarch outside Fredensborg Castle, where she is staying for the spring and summer, but it was canceled.

The Copenhagen fire was similar to the one at Notre Dame in April 2019. The 800-year-old cathedral in Paris also lost its spire. Its rehabilitation is scheduled for completion this year. When Windsor Castle in England caught fire in November 1992, troops and workmen rushed to salvage precious works of art. The fire destroyed the state dining room and other areas of Queen Elizabeth II’s vacation palace.

SOURCE – (AP)

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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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