New early earthquake warning system activated in B.C.

New early earthquake warning system activated in B.C.

An earthquake early detection system has been activated in British Columbia to provide the public with a few seconds of warning ahead of a potentially harmful tremor. Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said when a strong earthquake is detected, alerts will be transmitted automatically to British Columbians via cellphones, radio and televisions.  The alerts will be sent “seconds to tens … Read more

Wildlife, including Bear 222 and her cubs, dodge flames of Jasper wildfire

Wildlife, including Bear 222 and her cubs, dodge flames of Jasper wildfire

Parks Canada wants everyone to know that despite the wildfire scorching Jasper National Park, Bear 222 is OK. “She looks like a very healthy grizzly bear right now,” the federal agency said on a social media thread. The bear, fitted with a radio tracking collar, has been followed since the blaze began last week. “Grizzly … Read more

Coral reefs are vital lines of defence against hurricanes. But their future is in doubt

Coral reefs are vital lines of defence against hurricanes. But their future is in doubt

The hurricane season is off to a roaring start, with Beryl the earliest Category 5 storm ever to form in the Atlantic Ocean. Beryl has since been downgraded to a Category 4, yet as of Wednesday, it was still expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica. Typically, coral reefs serve as a … Read more

Freeland says Canada welcomes Gaza ceasefire proposal, reiterates calls around hostages, aid

Freeland says Canada welcomes Gaza ceasefire proposal, reiterates calls around hostages, aid

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says a Gaza ceasefire proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday is an “important step,” as parties wait for an official response from Hamas. Freeland was asked about the proposal, which envisions three stages of actions aimed at a permanent end to the Israel-Hamas conflict, at … Read more

Is that Her? OpenAI halting ChatGPT voice after some say it sounds like Scarlett Johansson

Is that Her? OpenAI halting ChatGPT voice after some say it sounds like Scarlett Johansson

OpenAI says it plans to halt the use of one of its ChatGPT voices after some users said it sounded like Scarlett Johansson, who famously voiced a fictional, and at the time futuristic, AI assistant in the 2013 film Her. In a post on the social media platform X Monday, OpenAI said it is “working … Read more

White House confirms reports of Russia’s ‘troubling’ anti-satellite weapon capability

White House confirms reports of Russia’s ‘troubling’ anti-satellite weapon capability

The White House publicly confirmed on Thursday that Russia has obtained a “troubling” emerging anti-satellite weapon but said it cannot directly cause “physical destruction” on Earth. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said U.S. intelligence officials have information that Russia has obtained the capability, but that such a weapon is not currently operational. … Read more

Canadian officials still haven’t seen intelligence linking UN’s Gaza aid agency with Hamas: sources

Canadian officials still haven’t seen intelligence linking UN’s Gaza aid agency with Hamas: sources

The government of Canada did not see any evidence backing up Israel’s claim that staff employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) colluded with Hamas before suspending funding to the agency, CBC News has learned. Government sources tell CBC that Israel still has not shared evidence with Canada to substantiate its claim that 12 employees of … Read more

The Russians are spending big on infrastructure to absorb occupied Ukraine

The Russians are spending big on infrastructure to absorb occupied Ukraine

Armies rarely measure their success by the roads they’ve paved or the rail lines they’ve laid down — but that may be the metric Russia is using in occupied portions of Ukraine, where major infrastructure projects are underway or are being planned. Over the last few months, Moscow-based media have reported on the construction of a new railway line between Rostov-on-Don … Read more

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

The Trudeau government still won’t say if it’s considering imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the wake of travel bans announced by both the U.S. and the United Kingdom in recent days. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said last week that he will recommend EU sanctions as well.  Canada, like its American, British … Read more