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Canada Deploys Armed Forces to Tackle Fast-Spreading Wildfires
Canada is sending military forces to British Columbia to combat fast-moving wildfires, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Sunday, as the western province battles flames that have forced the evacuation of more than 35,000 people.
British Columbia announced a state of emergency and banned non-essential travel to make room for evacuees and firefighters, and advised drone operators and those shooting photographs of the fires to keep a safe distance from the rescue personnel.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund expressed optimism after four days of battling “epic” fires. He claimed conditions had improved, allowing firefighters to put “boots on the ground” and drop water to put out the fires that threatened the 150,000-person town.
“Things are looking up. We’re now feeling like we’re moving forward rather than backward, which is fantastic…” Brolund stated to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He did, however, warn of challenging days ahead in containing the McDougall Creek fire.
Forest fires are not unusual in Canada, but the spread of blazes and interruptions highlight the severity of the country’s worst wildfire season on record, which some scientists attribute to climate change.
Other blazes, aggravated by extreme drought, have been reported closer to the border and in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Just across the border in Washington state, firefighters were battling two major fires, the Grey Fire and the Oregon Road Fire, which had charred over 20,000 acres of forest area and damaged over 100 houses.
In Canada, officials urged individuals residing in evacuation zones to leave promptly in order to preserve their lives and avoid firefighters from dying while attempting to save them.
Officials have not yet estimated the overall number of buildings destroyed. Social media videos and photographs showed the damage of structures and automobiles, as well as massive flames devouring large trees.
The Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain pipeline and its expansion project, which runs through the interiors of British Columbia to the Pacific Coast, were unharmed by the fires, a company representative said on Sunday.
The pipeline expansion’s Coquihalla section, southwest of Kamloops, is the closest to a fire zone.
“Underground pipelines are typically buried a few feet below the surface and are protected from fire by the soil and the constant movement of liquid moving through the pipeline,” said the spokeswoman.
The flames have depleted local resources and drew assistance from the federal authorities as well as 13 other countries. At least four firefighters have perished while on the job.
Approximately 140,000 square kilometres (54,054 square miles) of land, roughly the size of New York state, have already been burnt, with smoky cloud stretching as far east as the United States. Due to extensive drought-like conditions, officials predict that the fire season will last until September.
Canada has spent more on battling and suppressing wildfires than on sustaining its firefighting people and programme since 2009.
A wildfire raging 2,000 kilometres to the north in Yellowknife, the capital city of the Northwest Territories, forced the evacuation of nearly all of its 20,000 residents last week.
The fire is currently not projected to reach city borders by the end of the weekend, according to officials, with some rain and cooler temperatures assisting in slowing its progress.
Krista Flesjer, who evacuated from the city with her pets, described the journey as difficult.
“I was afraid of getting caught up in the fires that were coming across the road,” she explained.
Flesjer’s major concern is whether her house, which is only two years old, would survive.
The TransCanada route in British Columbia was closed near Chase, some 400 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. The highway serves as the main east-west conduit for thousands of motorists and lorries travelling to Vancouver, Canada’s busiest port.
Kip Lumquist, who works at a gift shop in Craigellachie, a tourist destination along the route, said she has seen a lot of devastation in the last week.
“It was insane. “We couldn’t see the hills, mountains, trees, or anything for probably two and a half days,” Lumquist explained. “I drive a white car, and when I walked out to get in my car… it was just black.” It’s a disaster for the community.”
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King Charles Could Millions Annually from Renting His Properties
A recent analysis suggests that King Charles might earn over £1 million each year by renting out royal properties to holidaymakers.
The Royal Family’s historic houses and mansions are popular holiday rentals, contributing significantly to the Palace’s revenue.
Pikl Insurance estimates that the royals may earn up to £118,775.85 per month, or around £1,425,310.20 per year, from their holiday rental portfolio. Even after accounting for cancellations, the monarchy is anticipated to generate a net annual income of somewhat more over £1.4 million.
Estimated Annual Rental Income of £1.4 Million
The four primary royal properties accepting public bookings are Balmoral Castle, Castle of Mey’s Captain House, Restormel Manor, and Dumfries House, according to Express.co.uk. Cottages at Balmoral Castle in Scotland are expected to generate £36,798.30 per month after accounting for cancellations.
According to the numbers, the 500-year-old Restormel Manor in Cornwall is the most profitable of them all, earning a solid £47,082 every month. The resort, located in the Fowey Valley, has four booking spaces and six converted barns.
Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, adds an estimated £31,185.63 and offers 25 rooms for booking. The Castle of Mey’s Captain House in the Scottish Highlands is estimated to generate a more modest £3,709.92 per month, despite the fact that the entire property is available for booking.
The analysts stated, “While the Royal Family’s primary role is undoubtedly to serve the nation, it is clear that their properties are also a valuable asset.” These estimates highlight the royal estate’s considerable financial potential and provide an intriguing peek into the monarchy’s corporate operations.”
Royal Family received £86.3 million from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant in the previous fiscal year, according to official numbers released in July.
All revenues from the Crown Estate, which includes royal households, forestry, agriculture, and offshore wind, are paid directly to the Treasury, with a portion of this money, now 12%, returned to the Royal Family to finance their tasks.
The records also cover a period of jubilation, including the coronation and festivities surrounding the King and Queen’s crowning in May of last year.
News
Man Creates Candy Cane Car to Spread Christmas Cheer
In a delightful display of holiday spirit, a local resident in North Providence, Maine, has transformed his vehicle into a candy cane delight that is capturing hearts and spreading Christmas Cheer.
Over the past 15 years, Dave Clayman has transformed a simple 1991 Toyota Camry into a rolling holiday icon that captivates everyone who encounters it.
It’s wrapped in $3,000 worth of reflective tape, the same kind used on trailer trucks. Whether parked at a mall or cruising down the highway, you can’t miss it with its candy cane decorations.
This whimsical project started with an unusual idea. When an old exercise bike landed in Clayman’s possession, he mounted it on top of his car instead of letting it gather dust in his garage.
“There’s nothing like working out in the fresh air,” Dave said. That quirky addition quickly drew eyes, inspiring him to keep going.
The car features homemade rockets built from trash cans and salad bowls, candy cane-themed hubcaps, and candy cane lights dangling from the mounted exercise bike.
The Candy Cane Car cost Clayman $3,000
To top it off, it boasts a PA system and a custom horn, making it a true sensory experience.
The candy cane car has now become a local landmark every Christmas. Parked outside Clayman’s house, it’s a favourite backdrop for people snapping photos or simply stopping to admire it.
Some visitors even share stories of seeing the car as a child, reminiscing about how it’s been a beloved part of their neighbourhood for years.
“When people see it, their mood amplifies,” Clayman explained. “If they’re happy, they become happier. If they’re upset, well, they sometimes get angrier.” But for the most part, he estimates that over 96% of people love the festive car, particularly around Christmas.
Clayman said he used to wear a Santa costume when riding in his festive car for years. A few years ago, he bought a Grinch costume and never looked back.
“It’s like a state of euphoria. Every time I get behind the wheel and people see it,” he said. “Anything that people are in a better mood, it seems to make you in a better mood. It’s a labor of love you got to be committed to it.”
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Senate Approves Social Security Fairness Act, Heads to Final Vote
(VOR News) – On Wednesday, the United States Senate Social Security passed a measure with a vote of 73-27, indicating that the legislation, which is co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins of Maine, is likely to be implemented before the end of the year.
The law may be beneficial to personnel working in the public sector in Maine, including teachers, firefighters, and other workers.
The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal two restrictions that lower the amount of Social Security payments paid to public employees.
These regulations would be eliminated with the passage of the act. A provision known as the Windfall Elimination Provision makes it impossible for public employees who are currently receiving pensions to continue receiving them.
The Government Pension Offset, as it is commonly referred to, is designed to limit the amount of money that can be paid to the surviving spouses of recipients who are also receiving government pensions.
This problematic situation impacts Social Security benefits.”
In November 2024, the Social Security Administration reported that more than 2 million individuals, including more than 20,000 in the state of Maine, had their Social Security benefits reduced as a result of the Windfall Elimination Provision,” Collins stated in a statement that was released by her department.
In November 2024, the Government Pension Offset had an impact on more than 650,000 individuals, with more than 6,000 of those individuals residing in the state of Maine, according to the previously mentioned line of reasoning.
A vote of 327 to 75 was necessary for the measure to be approved by the House of Representatives the previous month. On Wednesday, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader of the Senate, announced that he intended to work rapidly in order to deliver the act from the House of Representatives to the president’s desk.
As indicated by Schumer, who was speaking on the floor of the United States Senate today, “Passing this Social Security fix right before Christmas would be a great gift for our retired firefighters, police officers, postal workers, teachers, and others who have contributed to Social Security for years but are now being penalised because of their time spent serving the public.”
In the beginning, the measure was supported by two individuals: Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, and Collins, a Republican. During her speech in support of the proposal, which was made on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, Collins stated that the idea will have a significant impact on a number of individuals, including teachers in the state of Maine.
These advantages are the direct result of the effort that they put forth. During the course of her remarks, Collins asserted that the punishment in question was both unreasonable and unacceptable.
This will strain Social Security’s already shaky budget.
In a recent examination, it was discovered that the Windfall Elimination Provision was one of the primary problems that contributed to the difficulties that the teacher workforce in Maine is experiencing, which experts are referring to as a crisis.
A poll that was conducted and released by the non-profit organisation Educate Maine found that teachers in each and every county in the state of Maine identified the provision as a hindering factor in the process of recruiting new teachers.
According to the findings of the study, “this federal policy that reduces social security payouts is a disincentive,” which implies that it is detrimental to teachers who take on additional work and discourages people from switching careers in order to become teachers.
Sharon Gallant, a retired educator who worked in Gardiner for a total of 31 years, is one of the educators that are now employed there. Prior to beginning his career as a teacher in the public school system, Gallant was employed in the business sector. He made a little contribution to the Social Security system during the entirety of this time period.
“When you move into public education, you are faced with a certain degree of punishment,” according to her statement.
In letters that Gallant sent to Collins and to Sen. Angus King of Maine, who is an independent, he urged both of them to support the concept. She stated that even if it is unsuccessful, Maine will still have a difficult time recruiting teachers because of the clause that deters them from employment.
She made the observation, “If this does not pass, then it is just another reason not to enter public service.”
SOURCE: FR
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