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Explosion Kills 2 People at Rainbow Bridge U.S.-Canada Border Crossing

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Explosion Kills 2 People at Rainbow Bridge

A speeding vehicle on the American side of a U.S.-Canada border crossing near Niagara exploded up Wednesday, killing two people.The explosion prompted federal authorities on both sides to close border checkpoints.

The two people discovered deceased were inside the exploding truck. The FBI’s Buffalo field office says it is investigating the Rainbow Bridge explosion, which connects the two countries over the Niagara River.

However, according to a preliminary inquiry, there is no evidence of terrorist participation, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. She stated that law enforcement was not aware of any threats to the region and that the inquiry is ongoing. She stated that the vehicle was destroyed and that fragments of it were extensively spread.

“The world is watching to find out what happened here,” she told reporters. “Based on what we know at this moment, and again anything can change, there is no sign of terrorist activity.”

“The FBI is coordinating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation,” according to a statement on X. “As this situation is very fluid, that’s all we can say at the time.”

Explosion Kills 2 People at Rainbow Bridge

According to a preliminary inquiry, there is no evidence of terrorist participation, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. She stated that law enforcement was not aware of any threats to the region and that the inquiry is ongoing. She stated that the vehicle was destroyed and that fragments of it were extensively spread.

“The world is watching to find out what happened here,” she told US Today reporters. “Based on what we know at this moment, and again anything can change, there is no sign of terrorist activity.”

According to a witness, Mike Guenther, a vehicle was rushing toward the crossing from the US side of the border when it swerved to miss another automobile, crashed into a fence, and exploded.

“All of a sudden, he went up in the air, and then it was a ball of fire like 30 or 40 feet high,” Guenther told the channel. “I never saw anything like it.”

President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland were both briefed on the explosion. According to The White House, Biden and his colleagues are closely monitoring developments.

rainbow bridge

At 3:07 p.m. Wednesday, the US Federal Aviation Administration ordered a halt to foreign planes coming and departing from Buffalo Niagara foreign Airport. According to CNN, the groundings will be in effect until Friday afternoon.

Law enforcement officers barricade the Rainbow Bridge’s entry on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls, New York. A vehicle exploded at a checkpoint on a bridge near Niagara Falls, closing the border crossing between the United States and Canada.

In a statement on X, the Canada Border Services Agency stated that it is “aware of an evolving situation at Rainbow Bridge.”

“We are in contact with our counterparts in the United States about this.” “The FBI is leading the ongoing investigation,” according to the statement.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated on Wednesday afternoon that his staff and the NYPD “have been closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Buffalo following an explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, and we’ve already sent NYPD officers upstate to support efforts on the ground.”

Meanwhile, international flights at Buffalo Niagara International Airport have been canceled. Southwest Airlines, which has 14 daily departures from Buffalo’s airport to six cities, issued a travel advice for customers who wished to change their Wednesday flights due to probable difficulties, according to spokeswoman Chris Perry.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon informing travelers that while Buffalo and Niagara Falls Airports are “fully operational,” there would be additional security procedures.

“In the response to the incident that is unfolding at the Rainbow Bridge, the NFTA is increasing security system-wide,” the statement said. “Cars coming into the Buffalo Airport will undergo security checks and travelers can expect additional screenings.”

They recommended tourists to “allow time for these additional precautions in addition to holiday travel.”

Rainbow Bridge

What is the Rainbow Bridge?

The Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge is an arch bridge that connects the American city of Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The bridge is accessible by automobile, foot, or bicycle.

Rainbow Bridge, built in 1941 to replace the Falls View Bridge, which collapsed in 1938, is one of numerous bridges that span the river downstream from the falls. The Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge is an arch bridge that connects the American city of Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The bridge is accessible by automobile, foot, or bicycle.

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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, Canada

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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