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A Gate Is Installed On A Mount Fuji Trail To Control Crowds, But Governor Says More Measures Needed

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Mount Fuji | AP news Image

TOKYO – Before the climbing season opens on July 1, Japan’s Mount Fuji will have a crowd-control gate installed halfway up the mountain. However, the governor of Yamanashi, one of the two prefectures that house the mountain, said more steps are required to manage crowding on its lower slopes.

Completed as part of a new set of regulations, Yamanashi is implementing this year to address mounting issues with overcrowding, the ecology, and safety on the mountain, which is the gate.

The newly installed gate will lock out those who have not reserved an overnight stay at a hut along the Yoshida trail, which most climbers use, between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m., primarily to prevent “bullet climbing” or hurrying to the summit without enough rest, which is seen as a serious safety risk. There will be a daily maximum of 4,000 climbers permitted to use the trail.

fuji

Mount Fuji | AP news Image

A Gate Is Installed On A Mount Fuji Trail To Control Crowds, But Governor Says More Measures Needed

“The limitations that will go into effect this year are steps to address the issues that are endangering the lives of climbers,” Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki stated at a Tokyo news conference. This year, he said, climbers are predicted to outnumber those on the trail last year—137,236.

“A big catastrophe like people falling in a domino effect could result from overcrowding close to the summit,” he said.

Climbers now have to make bookings and decide between a day walk and an overnight stay at one of the various huts along the route. Hiking is charged at 2,000 yen (about $12.70), with an optional conservation payment of 1,000 yen (about $6.35).

At the gate, halfway up the mountain in an area known as the fifth station, where the Yoshida route starts, climbers receive a QR code to scan with their cellphones. Ten stations are spread around the mountain.

Though issues still exist lower down, Nagasaki expressed confidence that the new measures will reduce congestion on the highest reaches of Mount Fuji.

fuji

Mount Fuji | AP News Image

A Gate Is Installed On A Mount Fuji Trail To Control Crowds, But Governor Says More Measures Needed

He promised to promote conventional climbing routes from the foot of the mountain and to reduce overtourism on the lower levels and their surrounds, perhaps by building a mountain railway to the fifth station, which is already accessible by automobiles and buses.

Part of the mountain is located in Shizuoka prefecture, which has yet to adopt hiking regulations. On June 10, it started an online registration system, where climbers enter their climbing schedules and are urged not to climb after 4 p.m.

Long a representation of Japan, Mount Fuji used to be a destination for pilgrims. Tens of thousands of people climb to the top these days to see the sunrise. But a big worry now is the mountains of garbage left behind, including food and plastic bottles.

fuji

Mount Fuji | AP news Image

A Gate Is Installed On A Mount Fuji Trail To Control Crowds, But Governor Says More Measures Needed

After tourists started converging the area to take pictures of the mountain appearing to sit on the roof of a convenience store, a social media trend known as “Mount Fuji Lawson” that disrupted businesses, traffic, and local life, the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi recently installed a huge black screen along a sidewalk to block the view of Mount Fuji.

Thanks in part to the depreciating value of the yen, overtourism has also become a major issue for other well-liked tourist spots like Kyoto.

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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