News
Heat Waves are Getting More Dangerous in Europe for Tourists
Mary Beth Walsh believed she was used to hot weather as she grew up in Texas. Heat waves are common in her hometown of Dallas, which is now experiencing intense heat waves.
However, the 21-year-old was taken aback by the “unbearable” 98 Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) heat waves she experienced when she traveled to Athens with her companions in mid-June. She told CNN, “It was pretty surprising because I had no idea about the heat waves that were going on until we were there.”
“I always joke around that in August (in the US), I bring my sweatshirt to class because I have such a high heat tolerance,” she said. However, she was living in an apartment without air conditioning, and it was too hot during the day to explore the city. “We didn’t have as much energy as we had anticipated,” she said.
Walking in the intense heat waves felt pretty awful.” Many visitors are aware that Europe will soon experience scorching summers due to the climate problem. According to analysts, record heat waves and wildfires in 2023 caused a decline in interest in travel to the hotter Mediterranean countries, while interest in more moderate places increased.
This trend northward might be exacerbated by recent heat-related fatalities and disappearances in Greece, such as the British TV personality Michael Mosley’s. These events have an impact on travel plans.
Southern European nations, many of which depend on tourism to support their economies, are beginning to face more challenges regarding the travel industry’s and travelers’ ability to adjust to the increasing effects of climate change.
Night Shift
The recent high temperatures have pushed the climate catastrophe to the forefront for several European visitors. “The climate disaster that we had feared would occur in 10 or 15 years has already occurred in certain regions. That’s the terrifying bit,” Roo Clark, 28, of Suffolk, eastern England, told CNN while visiting with his girlfriend on the Greek island of Skyros.
“Five years ago, me and my friends wouldn’t have even spoken about it (climate change), whereas now it’s more of a conversation.” Authorities in Greece have frequently advised visitors not to underestimate the severe heat waves, particularly during the middle of the day. Hiking in hot temperatures has been a common thread connecting recent tragedies nationwide.
According to CNN meteorologists, temperatures in Greece are expected to range from 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (low to mid-30s Celsius) during the next several weeks, a few degrees above the summer norm. However, rain is predicted for one or two days, which will bring temperatures down.
The owner of Greece’s biggest outdoor-focused travel business, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, advised travelers not to dive right into activities. It’s more challenging for those traveling from Canada or northern Europe, which have colder climates. They need time to get used to these circumstances,” he said to CNN.
Trekking Hellas, Sidiropoulos’ vacation firm, now offers some activities during lower temperatures, including dawn and dusk. “Or with torches at night,” he continues.
Infatuated with travel
Certain nations that rely on tourism-related revenue would suffer greatly from climate change’s impact on where visitors choose to holiday. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, Greece’s tourism industry makes up around 20% of the nation’s total GDP, or over 38 billion euros ($41 billion).
In Italy, where the highest degree of warning, level three heat warnings, has just been issued for the cities of Rome, Perugia, and Palermo, according to current data, 10% of the nation’s GDP is attributed to tourism, with one in every eight jobs related to the sector.
Following Europe’s 2023 summer heat wave, which forced thousands to flee wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes, the European Travel Commission (ETC), a nonprofit organization in charge of promoting Europe as a travel destination, reported a 7% increase in expressions of concern about climate change among European travelers.
According to ETC, this followed a drop in interest in southern Mediterranean holiday spots during the summers of 2022 and 2023, as colder places such as the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Denmark became more enticing.
“Travelers are increasingly aware of extreme weather events and their potential impact on their vacations,” Eduardo Santander, CEO of ETC, told CNN, adding that in the future, this could lead to more travelers visiting southern Europe in the spring and late fall rather than the hotter summer months.
Santander said that visitor fears over climate change are often short-lived. “Travelers are concerned after the summer but tend to forget about those events when booking their next holidays in the spring,” he told me.
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News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
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 protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
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. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“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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News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of 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
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:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- 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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