News
Thousands in Hawaii Flock to Watch Lava Ooze from Volcano
The world’s largest volcano in Hawaii erupted with rivers of glowing lava on Wednesday, attracting thousands of awestruck onlookers who clogged a highway that the flow could soon bury.
Mauna Loa awoke from its 38-year slumber on Sunday, sending volcanic ash and debris into the sky. A major highway connecting towns on the Big Island’s east and west coasts became an impromptu viewing point, with thousands of cars jamming the highway near Volcanoes National Park.
Anne Andersen left her overnight shift as a nurse on Wednesday to witness the spectacle, fearing that the road would soon be closed.
“It’s Mother Nature showing us her face,” she said as the horizon was filled with gas from the volcano. “It’s quite exciting.”
Gordon Brown, a visitor from Loomis, California, could see the bright orange lava from his rental house’s bedroom. So he went out with his wife to get a better look.
“We just wanted to get as close to this as possible.” “And it’s so bright that it blows my mind,” Brown explained.
The lava was tumbling down the slope slowly and was about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the Saddle Road highway. It was unclear when or if the road, which runs through old lava flows, would be covered.
The road cuts the island in half and connects Hilo and Kailua-Kona. If Saddle Road becomes impassable, people traveling between them would have to take a longer coastal road, adding several hours to their drive time.
According to Ken Hon, chief scientist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, at the current flow rate, the lava could reach the road in two days, but it will most likely take longer.
“As the lava flow spreads out, it will most likely obstruct its progress,” Hon predicted.
Kathryn Tarananda, 66, of Waimea, set two alarms to ensure she didn’t oversleep and miss the sunrise against Mauna Loa’s eruptions.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. Incredibly, we live in this place. “I consider myself extremely fortunate to be an islander.”
Mauna Loa erupted last in 1984. The current eruption is the 34th recorded since written records began in 1843. Because Kilauea, its smaller neighbor, has been erupting since September 2021, visitors to the national park were treated to the rare sight of two concurrent eruptive events: the glow from Kilauea’s lava lake and lava from a Mauna Loa fissure.
The natural forces on display impressed Abel Brown, a visitor from Las Vegas. Later in the day, he intended to take a close-up helicopter tour — but not too close.
“If you get close to it, there’s a lot of fear and trepidation,” Brown said. “The closer you get, the more powerful and frightening it becomes.”
Officials were initially concerned that lava flowing down Mauna Loa would threaten the South Kona community, but scientists later assured the public that the eruption had migrated to a rift zone on the volcano’s northeast flank and was no longer a threat.
Along Saddle Road, where people were watching the wide stream of lava creep closer, the smell of volcanic gases and sulfur was strong.
Gov. David Ige issued an emergency proclamation to allow responders to arrive quickly and, if necessary, to limit access.
Ige, who has dealt with numerous volcano eruptions during his eight years as governor, believes it is impossible to divert Mauna Loa’s molten rock away from the highway.
“There is no physical or technological way to change the path of the lava,” Ige said at a press conference. He recalls wishing he could do that in 2018 when Kilauea erupted and poured lava across homes, farms, and roads.
“But, as we saw in that event, Mother Nature’s and Madam Pele’s power overwhelms anything we can do,” Ige said, referring to the Hawaiian deity of volcanoes and fire.
Ige stated that if lava does cross the highway, the Hawaii National Guard could assist in planning alternatives and attempting to establish bypass routes.
According to Hon, lava crossed the Mauna Loa Observatory access road Monday night and cut power to the facility. It is the world’s most advanced station for measuring heat-trapping atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The federal government is looking for a temporary alternate location on the Hawaiian island and is considering flying a generator to the observatory to restore power so that measurements can be taken again.
Meanwhile, scientists are attempting to quantify the gas emitted by the eruption.
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.
Related News:
Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO
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.
Related News:
Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland
Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland
News
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!)
-
Politics2 weeks ago
Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video
-
Business4 weeks ago
Canada CBC News CEO Catherine Tait Recalled to Parliamentary Committee
-
Celebrity4 weeks ago
Shaun White’s Proposal To Nina Dobrev Was Romantic Gold
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Apple Launches The IPhone Into The AI Era With Free Software Update
-
News3 weeks ago
Pro-Khalistanis Sikhs Attack Hindu Temple in Brampton
-
Food4 weeks ago
Starbucks Is Making A Popular Add-On Free Of Charge