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Senior Iran Revolutionary Guard Officials Killed In Syria Strike Blamed On Israel

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Senior Iran Revolutionary Guard Officials Killed In Syria Strike Blamed On Israel

Five senior members of Iran’s security forces were killed in a suspected airstrike on Syria’s capital.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard condemned Israel for the attack, which it said killed its military advisers as well as several Syrian personnel.

Israel has not responded. For years, it has conducted strikes against Iranian-linked sites in Syria.

Such attacks have increased since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7, when Hamas launched attacks on Israel.

Iran’s foreign ministry described the attacks as a “aggressive and provocative” conduct by Israel, urging international parties to condemn them.

iran

Senior Iran Revolutionary Guard Officials Killed In Syria Strike Blamed On Israel

Senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a powerful military, political, and economic force, have been active in Syria since the civil conflict began in 2011, assisting President Bashar al-Assad’s administration in combating massive uprising against his authority.

Saturday’s strike occurred in the Mazzeh neighbourhood, southwest Damascus, home to a military airfield, the UN headquarters in Damascus, embassies and restaurants.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported that the assaults killed the IRGC’s Syria intelligence commander and deputy, as well as other Guard officers.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based campaign group, reported that 10 persons were killed in the strikes, including Revolutionary Guard leaders.

According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, a military source stated that while some of the missiles were intercepted, the attacks, which targeted a residential structure, killed and injured some civilians. Buildings were also destroyed, the report stated.

iran

Senior Iran Revolutionary Guard Officials Killed In Syria Strike Blamed On Israel

According to AFP, a resident reported seeing “explosions” in the western Mazzeh neighbourhood and “a large cloud of smoke”.
“The sound was similar to a missile explosion, and minutes later I heard the sound of ambulances,” he said.

The BBC has not confirmed the videos showing a big cloud of smoke and wrecked buildings.

A senior IRGC commander was killed last month in what appears to be an Israeli air attack near Damascus.

The Middle East has been on high alert since October 7, when Hamas launched an offensive on southern Israel, killing around 1,300 people, mostly civilians, and taking 240 prisoners back to Gaza. More than 132 captives are said to be still detained on the area.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 24,900 people have died in Gaza since Israel’s military operation began. Israel claims its land and air operations in Gaza are focused at defeating Hamas.

The conflict has generated fears of a bigger war spreading throughout the region, particularly between bitter enemies Israel and Iran, and comes amid a succession of overlapping crises.

Iran supports the Palestinian organization Hamas, which Israel is targeting. It has been carrying out targeted operations over the border in Syria for some years now, attacking weapons supplies bound for its Iran-backed opponent, Hezbollah, or assassinating key players in that supply chain. It is also exchanging fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

iran

Senior Iran Revolutionary Guard Officials Killed In Syria Strike Blamed On Israel

Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria are also threatening US soldiers in the region, while the US and UK have targeted the

Houthis, another Iran-backed group in Yemen, for assaulting ships in the Red Sea.

This week, Iran and Pakistan exchanged attacks, heightening fears of a larger clash.

On Tuesday, Iran admitted to carrying out a missile and drone assault in south-western Pakistan, killing two children, claiming it was targeting an “Iranian terrorist group” in Pakistan.

Days later, Islamabad retaliated, firing strikes it claimed were targeting “terrorist hideouts” in south-east Iran, killing nine individuals.

Despite both sides’ claims that they were targeting extremist bases in each other’s countries, Iran and Pakistan removed their ambassadors from their respective capitals.

However, after consultations, diplomatic relations were restored.

Iran has bombarded targets in Pakistan, Syria, and Iraqi Kurdistan.

Turkey has also bombed Kurdistan, while Jordan has attacked drug smugglers across its border with Syria.

The US is still targeting ISIS in Syria while defending itself against drone strikes by Iran’s proxies in that country and Iraq.

There is no unifying policy underlying these attacks, other than the tired pretence of “acting in national self-defense.”

SOURCE – (BBC)

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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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