ShowBiz Minute: Kotto, Ahmed, Alcatraz

"Alien" and "Live and Let Die" actor Yaphet Kotto dies aged 81; Riz Ahmed, Leslie Odom Jr. react to Oscar nods; Alcatraz reopens after year of COVID closure. (March 16)

Latest Stories

  • Nova Scotia student suspended after posting photo online says she's back in class

    AUBURN, N.S. — A Nova Scotia high school student says she's back in class after being suspended for bringing attention to someone wearing a shirt that she found offensive. In an interview Sunday, Kenzie Thornhill said she returned to West Kings District High School in Auburn, N.S., on Friday, following a conversation with the school's principal who told her the local school board had reversed its decision. The 17-year-old Grade 12 student says she was suspended last week after posting a photo online of someone wearing a shirt with lyrics on the back that mimicked the style of "Deck the Halls," with one line reading: “'tis the season to be rapey.” "Knowing people that are (sexual assault) victims, and not liking that at all, I did what pretty much any teen would do with social media and I posted it," said Thornhill. Thornhill said she had also shown the photo to a teacher and hall monitor and was told the issue would be handled. But although the photo only showed the shirt and not the student, said Thornhill, the school board suspended her for five days for violating school rules. She said they told her posting the photo on social media was a form of cyberbullying. "I was being punished for posting this photo, but the kid who did wear the shirt, however, was just told not to wear the shirt again," she said. Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education executive director Dave Jones would not discuss specific details citing privacy. In an emailed statement sent Friday, he said, "the school has revisited the decisions made in recent days related to discipline." Jones also said it was an opportunity to engage with students and to help them feel "safe and supported" and to feel they can report any incident within their school or its community. "Any language that promotes sexual violence is never acceptable or tolerated at our schools, and it was not acceptable in this instance," he said. Thornhill said she wasn't given a specific reason why her suspension was revoked and she's asked her principal to seek an apology from school board officials. "To be made public if that would be OK, but if they can't then just to me would be fine," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • 1 dead, 3 injured following 2-vehicle collision in Brampton

    One person is dead and three others suffered minor injuries following a two-vehicle collision in Brampton Saturday night. Peel Regional Police say they were called to the area of Bartley Bull Parkway and Main Street, north of Steeles Avenue, just before 9:30 p.m. Police said an occupant of one of the vehicles sustained life-threatening injuries and was going to be transported to a trauma centre. However, that person died on scene, Peel police spokesperson Akhil Mooken said. A total of four people were in the two vehicles at the time of the crash. The Major Collision Bureau has taken over the investigation, police say, and there are road closures in the area as they investigate. Witnesses are asked to contact investigators if they have any information including dashcam footage of the incident.

  • North Vancouver RCMP say child dies after skiing accident in British Columbia

    VANCOUVER — North Vancouver RCMP say a child has died after a skiing accident on a local mountain.Police say they were called to Mount Seymour at about 8 p.m. Saturday for reports of a seriously injured 12-year-old.Mounties say the child was injured during a ski accident, but did not specify the nature of the accident.Paramedics took the child to BC Children's Hospital where they were pronounced dead.The BC Coroners Service says it is investigating, and would not be able to provide further details at this time.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is a corrected story. Police previously reported that the child was 11-years-old. They have since reported that the child is 12.

  • You can now apply to isolate on a trip in Yukon's wilderness

    Instead of isolating in a hotel room, Canadian visitors to Yukon can now apply to isolate on a trip in the backcountry. The Wilderness Tourism Association of Yukon (WTAY) came up with the idea after seeing the government approve alternative self-isolation plans for the mining industry and for outdoor outfitters last year. It was approved by Yukon health officials last month. "For the operators that choose to conduct business this summer, this is the way forward," Kalin Pallett, WTAY's president, told CBC's Elyn Jones on Yukon Morning. "There's no community contact at all, unless the trip is more than 14 days." Safety is paramount According to the Yukon government's website, outdoor tourism operators and Canadian clients can make alternative self-isolation plans. Companies have to apply for an exemption by completing an operation plan and submitting it for approval. "Canadian guests are intercepted at the airport by the operator and taken out to the backcountry, as expeditiously as possible," explained Pallett. If the trip is more than 14 days long, they're able to interact with the general public afterwards. "If it's less than 14 days, then they need to exit the Yukon as expeditiously as they arrived," he said. The association came up with a set of management practices for wilderness tourism operators amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pallett said they include a step-by-step guide on how to greet guests and how to get them to the backcountry along an approved travel corridor, and what to do if a guide or client develops COVID-19 symptoms while on the trip. "We are Yukoners, we live here, we raise families here, keeping you safe is paramount. These guidelines do that," he said. Pallett said although WTAY has received blanket approval for all of the outdoor tourism operators who are part of its membership, each operator will need to submit its own operational plan to the government's COVID Response Unit. "I don't anticipate seeing visitors into the territory until probably mid to late June." 'From disastrous to surreal' Pallett said the alternative isolation plan isn't a solution for every outdoor tourism operator in the territory, but it does offer a lifeline to some. "I don't think I can possibly overstate how absolutely devastating [the pandemic] was. I mean, we've got businesses that haven't generated a revenue for well over a year now," he said. Neil Hartling, chair of Tourism Industry Association Yukon, told Yukon Morning that being able to isolate in the backcountry is "one tiny bit of helpful change." But he also noted it only applies to a small number of operators. "I would describe the situation right now as going from disastrous to surreal," Hartling said. Operators are struggling to retain staff as they pursue other lines of work, he said, and they're struggling to get insurance. "It's getting harder, not only expensive, but harder to get," he said. "Insurance wholesalers are moving out of what they would consider riskier markets completely, so there's fewer selling and rates are going up." Pallet believes isolating while on a trip is better than isolating in a hotel because it removes the temptation to violate public health orders by quickly grabbing a coffee or a souvenir somewhere. "They don't have that option, because they're not in town," he said. "So, if anything, I think it's actually keeping Yukoners safe."

  • Man kills self after standoff at Honolulu hotel

    A standoff between Honolulu police and an armed man at a luxury resort ended when the man was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, local media reported Sunday. (Apr. 11)

  • 'You cannot claim any more:' Russia seeks bigger piece of Arctic Ocean seabed

    IQALUIT, Nunavut — Russia wants to stretch out imaginary lines on the ocean floor — and below it — and that has one northern security expert worried about consequences for other Arctic countries like Canada. Last week, Russia filed a submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend a claim to the Arctic Ocean seabed. The UN still has to review the submission but, if it's approved, Russia would have exclusive rights to resources in the seabed and below it, but not in the water. The new submission would push Russia's claim all the way up to Canada's exclusive economic zone, an area 200 nautical miles from the coastline, in which Canadians have sole rights to fish, drill and pursue other economic activities. Philip Steinberg, a political geography professor at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom, estimates Russia's submission expands its original claim by about 705,000 square kilometres. Robert Huebert, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, said Russia's request gets as close to Canada's 200-mile limit as possible. "This is a maximalist submission. You cannot claim any more," said Huebert, an Arctic security and defence analyst with the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. Countries have sovereignty over their zones but can submit scientific evidence to the UN to claim control over the soil and subsoil of the extended continental shelf. Russia's amended submission overlaps with those from Canada and Denmark, but does not extend into the north of Alaska. "In effect, they’re claiming the entire Arctic Ocean as their continental shelf in regards to where their Arctic comes up against Canada’s and Denmark's." Huebert said. The claims from Canada, Denmark (on behalf of Greenland), and Russia already overlap at the North Pole, but the amended claim goes beyond that, Huebert said. "We haven’t seen a country before that’s extended over its neighbours. Here’s a situation where they’re claiming the entire Canadian and Danish continental shelf as part of their continental shelf." Huebert noted there have been recent reports of an increased Russian military presence on the Ukrainian border over the last two weeks. "If the Russians reinvigorate the conflict with Ukraine, that is going to spill into all of this." he said. “I don’t think anyone should assume that Russia will do anything less than pursue its maximum foreign policy interests." Whitney Lackenbauer, a professor at Trent University who specializes in circumpolar affairs, disagrees. "Russia is playing by the rules. And for those of us who are concerned about Russia’s flouting of the rules-based order, I actually take a great deal of comfort in seeing Russia go through the established process in this particular case," Lackenbauer said. He believes Russia's submission signals eventual talks between the three countries to determine the limits of their continental shelves. "Setting out to negotiate where the outermost limits would be was something that was always in the cards," Lackenbauer said. "I’m not worried about Russia’s actions as an Arctic coastal state seeking to determine the outermost limits of its extended continental shelf." Nor is he concerned about potential conflict, since Russia has submitted the required scientific evidence. "You can’t sit on a continental shelf and claim squatter’s rights to it." In a statement, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said Canada "remains firmly committed to exercising in full its sovereign rights in the Arctic" according to international law. The statement also said Russia's revised outer limit "does not establish new rights for Russia over the newly created overlap areas." It said Canada is studying Russia’s revised claim on its outer limits to prepare an appropriate response. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. ___ This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship Emma Tranter, The Canadian Press

  • Canadians should expect 'significant' move in budget for child care, early education: LeBlanc

    Access to national early learning programs and child care have become an "economic imperative" and Canadians should expect a "significant" announcement in the forthcoming federal budget, said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc. "Access to safe early learning and child care, high-quality child care, we think is now an economic imperative," LeBlanc told CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton on Rosemary Barton Live. "It's one social program done properly that has a direct impact on the growth of the Canadian economy." LeBlanc said that rolling out a national child care and early learning program would be difficult because each of the provinces have different mixes of private and public child-care systems. Despite those challenges the government is determined to push the policy forward. "I think Canadians should expect our government to do something very significant in this area because it's critical for the rebuilding of the economy as well as the social fabric of the country," he said. "It, frankly, allows parents to participate in the workforce in a way that's not only good for the economy, but it's also good for families." LeBlanc also said that despite the challenges of rolling out and funding a universal basic income, the Liberal Party was also prepared to consider "any thoughtful policy proposition." "I have a number of my colleagues in caucus who have been working for, in some cases a number of years, on what a universal basic income might look like," he said. WATCH | Expect 'significant' investment in budget for child care, LeBlanc says: While LeBlanc said that a discussion around a universal basic income is a valuable one to have, the economic challenges of rolling out a policy that would cost an estimated $85 billion a year makes it a significant challenge. "That's exactly the challenge, and that's why it hasn't been [implemented]. If it was very easy, some previous governments would have done it," LeBlanc said, noting that he still felt it is "a policy that we think deserves a lot of consideration." Will Mark Carney run for Liberals? The intergovernmental affairs minister also commented on former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney's address to the Liberal convention in which he said he wanted to work to support the party. "I would hope Mr. Carney might, might consider running for the party. He obviously has a huge contribution to make to Canada, to the discussion, to the policy around fighting climate change," LeBlanc said. It was very significant when Carney agreed to speak at the Liberal convention, LeBlanc said, noting that while the former central banker was appointed by former prime minister Stephen Harper, he now appears to be fully in the Liberal camp. "He has an enormous contribution to make to public policy in the country," LeBlanc said. "And the fact that he's chosen to do it with the Liberal Party, I think says something very reassuring about the economic direction of our government."

  • Hundreds defy Montreal's 8 p.m. curfew in violent, destructive protest

    MONTREAL — Hundreds of protesters set fires and smashed windows through a swath of downtown Montreal on Sunday in defiance of a newly adjusted curfew intended to stem surging COVID-19 case numbers in the city. Police responded with tear gas in a bid to control the crowd, who were purportedly protesting Quebec Premier Francois Legault's decision to roll the city-wide curfew back from 9:30 to 8 p.m. The move, previously replicated in other COVID-19 hot spots across the province, took effect in Montreal and nearby Laval on Sunday. The protest began in relative calm, with a mostly young crowd dancing to music from loudspeakers while lighting fireworks and chanting, "freedom for the young." But the festive atmosphere quickly turned violent as a few protesters lit a garbage fire in Montreal's Jacques Cartier Square, which was met with tear gas from riot police. Police soon rushed the crowd, prompting dozens of protesters to scatter and cause mayhem down the cobblestone streets of Montreal’s tourist district. They lit garbage fires at many intersections and seized projectiles from city streets, hurling them at nearby windows and shattering many. A spokeswoman for Montreal police said she couldn't offer any comment on the protests, describing them as an ongoing situation. She said that more information would become available as things stabilized and police on the scene could file their reports. Marwah Rizqy, a Liberal member of the provincial legislature that represents a Montreal riding, tweeted her disapproval of the protestors' actions. "Chanting freedom while ransacking windows of stores that are already just getting by. It’s disheartening / outrageous," Rizqy tweeted in French. A few protesters were still out on the streets at around 9:30 p.m. throwing glass, breaking city infrastructure and running from police. Sirens rang through the streets as firefighters put out the many small blazes lit along Old Montréal’s alleys and narrow roads. The curfew ostensibly at the heart of the protest was imposed to curb COVID-19 infection rates that have spiked in several regions in recent weeks. Quebec reported 1,535 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, as well as five additional deaths linked to the virus. Hospitalizations jumped by 25 to 608, with 139 patients in intensive care. Health Minister Christian Dube tweeted that the numbers are concerning given that 58 per cent of new cases involve people under the age of 40. "While vaccination accelerates, we must continue to adhere to the measures if we want to defeat this pandemic," Dube wrote. "Let's show solidarity." Legault said last week that he was imposing the health order in Montreal and Laval despite a relatively stable case count as a precaution, due to the heavy presence of more contagious virus variants. Residents in those regions who leave their homes between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. without a good reason could face fines of over $1,000. Legault extended the curfew in Montreal and other red zones from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in mid-March, but said last week that the evolving COVID-19 situation gave him no choice but to reverse course. Legault previously placed Quebec City, Levis, Gatineau and several municipalities in Quebec's Beauce region under the earlier curfew. The government also closed schools and non-essential businesses in those areas, and Legault announced Thursday that the measures would be extended until at least April 18. The province also gave 59,447 doses of vaccine on Saturday, and has currently given a shot to just over 22 per cent of the population. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021 The Canadian Press

  • One dead, seven injured as five-alarm fire sweeps through Montreal apartment building

    MONTREAL — One person was found dead and seven were taken to hospital after a five-alarm fire swept through a low-income seniors housing complex in Montreal Sunday morning. Antoine Ortuso of the Urgences-Sante ambulance service said the death was declared at the scene, but the cause had not yet been established. He says seven people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and other medical problems while five more were treated at the site. Urgences-Sante said it received a call at about 9:20 a.m. and sent five ambulances to the building southwest of the downtown core. The address of the building is listed on a Montreal government website as a 105-unit building that houses low-income seniors. Premier Francois Legault tweeted his condolences to the family of the victim, and added that the ministers in charge of seniors and of housing would work to find new homes for the residents. Dominique Anglade, the head of the provincial Liberal party and legislature member for the riding, also expressed sadness at the event. "This morning, a person died in the fire that raged in my riding," she wrote on Twitter. "My condolences to the loved ones but also to the residents who are especially shaken by what is happening." The fire department first tweeted about the blaze shortly after 9 a.m., asking people to avoid the area. Images from the scene showed firefighters using ladders to evacuate the residents from their balconies as smoke rose from the building. Firefighters posted again about three hours after the initial message to say the fire had been controlled. A spokeperson for Montreal police said the force would likely be called to investigate the death after the firefighters' work is complete, but as of early Sunday afternoon had not yet received the call. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021 Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press

  • Indo-Canadian veterinarians return to B.C. Human Rights Tribunal with discrimination allegations

    A group of Indo-Canadian veterinarians offering low-cost services in British Columbia are, for the second time, at the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal with claims that their regulatory college discriminated against them. The group of four complainants allege that the College of Veterinarians of B.C. has engaged in disciplinary processes "which are harsh, disproportionate, unfounded, protracted, unfair and inconsistent with the Veterinarians Act." Dr. Bhupinder Johar, owner and principal veterinarian at the Haney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge, is the lead complainant in the case. "That's what I want to feel like, that I am being treated at par like the other veterinarians," Johar said. "I don't say that they should favour me or favour my friends. I want a fair investigation." The lawyer for the group says the tribunal has accepted the complaint, which was filed in 2017, but the college has applied to have it dismissed. Previous case won in 2015 Johar was also one of the complainants in a similar B.C. Human Rights Tribunal case that a group of Indo-Canadian veterinarians fought and won in 2015. After more than a decade of legal wrangling, the tribunal concluded in that case that the vets had suffered systemic discrimination. In 2017, the college dropped a request for judicial review and apologized. "Having gone through that more than ten-year-long fight, we had a sigh of relief when we got some decision in our favour," Johar said. "But unfortunately, it made no difference with the college." Dr. Johar says he began offering low-cost services as soon as he was licensed to practice in Canada because so many people couldn't afford veterinary care.(Maryse Zeidler/CBC) The college declined to comment on the matter while it was still before the tribunal. In an email, interim registrar Jane Pritchard said that since the 2015 decision the college has implemented a discrimination policy, added public members to its committees and focused on diversity for council and committees, among other measures. 4 vets across southern B.C. Johar has filed the complaint along with Dr. Anil Sharma of the Tranquille Road Animal Hospital in Kamloops, Dr. Jasdeep Grewal with the Alpenlofts Veterinary Clinic in Squamish and Dr. Renu Sood with the Apollo Animal Hospital in Surrey. An amended complaint submitted to the tribunal in 2018 alleges the college was discriminatory in its pursuit of investigations against members of the group, didn't address complaints in a timely manner and didn't take proper procedural steps in relation to disciplinary action against the group. Specifically, the complaint addresses the work of the college's investigation committee, which deals with complaints against veterinarians in B.C. and decides which ones to pursue and refer to a hearing. It alleges that current and former members of the committee have expressed discriminatory views toward the Indo-Canadian vets offering low-cost services. 'Significant mental stress' One investigation against Johar outlined in the complaint was initiated in 2016 when he mailed coupons to prospective clients, which the college prohibited at the time. The complaint says other veterinarians who are not Indo-Canadian had also issued coupons, but the college's disciplinary committee had not pursued them. "The CVBC's lengthy pursuit of this file has caused Dr. Johar significant mental stress and feelings of being harassed," the complaint said. "The CVBC has provided no explanation as to why it is pursuing Dr. Johar and not others." Dr. Johar says the College of Veterinarians of B.C. failed to make changes to prevent systemic discrimination against Indo-Canadian vets who offer low-cost services.(Facebook/Haney Animal Hospital) The complaint notes that each disciplinary matter can cost a veterinarian tens of thousands of dollars to prepare for a hearing, which can result in fines, penalties and other costs. It also says the disciplinary actions often cause mental anguish and damage a veterinarian's reputation. In its response to the complaint, the college says it didn't investigate the other veterinarians for the same offences because by the time it was made aware of them the college was re-evaluating the prohibition on coupons. 'We helped them' Johar says he believes he and his colleagues were discriminated against not only because they are Indo-Canadian, but because their low-cost, high-volume business model undercut the services of established veterinarians they operated near. The choice to offer low-cost services was not just beneficial to business, he says; it filled a gap for many pet owners who couldn't otherwise afford basic services like spaying and neutering. Johar, who trained at the Punjab Agricultural Institute in India and spent four years completing equivalency exams when he moved to Canada in 1999, says it was clear to him that there was a gap in services that he could fill. "Many people did not have money. So we helped them," he said.

  • Pakistani transgender woman finds a niche in tailoring

    As Pakistani transgender woman Jiya measures customers at her tailoring shop in a brand new Karachi market, her eyes gleam with the prospect of a busy Ramadan season and her ambitions to expand. Already, Jiya, 35, who goes by a single name like many trans people in Pakistan, has broken ground by opening a public shop to make clothes for women and transgender women. Many landlords were reluctant to give a shop to a transgender woman, Jiya told Reuters at The Stitch Shop in the southern port city.

  • Testing N95-style masks; Study shows vaccines may help COVID-19 long-haulers: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet

    Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need. Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday. Looking to buy an N95-style mask? You'll want to read this As more dangerous variants of the coronavirus spread, many of us are looking to upgrade our masks. Some of the more popular options are the KN95 respirator, which meets the Chinese standard of 95 per cent filtration efficiency and the KF94, which meets the Korean standard of 94 per cent filtration efficiency. But we've learned not all masks labelled as such are as effective as advertised. We tested 14 KN95 and KF94 respirator brands purchased from Amazon and other big box stores to see how they fared. Read more If you see this logo on a respirator, it means it is not authorized, says Dr. Jay Park. (CBC) Vaccines may improve symptoms for some COVID-19 long-haulers: study Emerging research suggests vaccines may reduce symptoms for some suffering from what's now being called "long COVID," where health problems persist for months after the infectious stage of the illness has passed. A new study out of the U.K., which is still awaiting the peer review process, looked at a small group of such patients and found those who had received at least one dose of the vaccine had "a small overall improvement" in long COVID symptoms and a "decrease in worsening symptoms" when compared to the unvaccinated patients. Read more Emerging research suggests vaccines may reduce symptoms for people suffering from so-called long COVID, or lingering symptoms after a bout of COVID-19.(Evan Mitsui/CBC) Are cheaper eggs just as nutritious as organic or free-run options? Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the differences between the eggs being sold at your grocery store? You're in luck! Marketplace tested 14 different brands of eggs to see if there were nutritional differences between some of the cheapest eggs and some organic options. Read more WATCH | Conventional eggs are just as nutritious as some organic options: What else is going on? Shortage of N.B. health-care providers forces student to pay out of pocket to see gynecologist Professor says structural, attitudinal problems can lead to patients going undiagnosed and untreated for years. Facebook downplays 'old' breach exposing info on 533 million users 3.5 million Canadians believed to be included in social media data breach. It's not just Toronto and Vancouver — Canada's housing bubble has gone national Bully offers with no conditions are popping up in small real estate markets, too. These RH children's bath wraps are a flammability hazard Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and return them to RH to obtain a refund or credit of the purchase price. These Yardworks kids garden tools might be a chemical hazard Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and return them to any Canadian Tire store for a full refund. This week on Marketplace (CBC) From exposing the situation in long-term care homes, to fake online reviews, to tracking your recycling and killing the buzz on popular products such as UV disinfecting devices, we're counting down the top seven "sins" some companies and governments commit against consumers. Find out how not to fall for these top tricks and schemes tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 PM NT) on CBC-TV and CBC Gem. -David Common, Asha Tomlinson, Charlsie Agro and the Marketplace team Marketplace needs your help Got a gripe? Getting the run-around? Fighting the good fight? Tell us about it! You can get in touch with us with your story ideas and tips at marketplace@cbc.ca

  • Grizzly bears prefer walking on gentle slopes at a leisurely pace like humans: study

    VANCOUVER — Grizzly bears seem to favour gently sloping or flat trails like those commonly used by people, which can affect land management practices in wild areas, says an expert who has written a paper on their travel patterns. One of the reasons people encounter bears while hiking could be because they prefer the same routes as humans, said Gordon Stenhouse, a researcher at the Alberta-based Foothills Research Institute. The study recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology could be used by resource-based industries in areas like forestry, oil and gas exploration, especially in Alberta, he said in an interview. "Grizzly bears alter their movement patterns and habitat use in response to a wide range of environmental cues, including seasonal food resources, human recreation — such as hiking, camping, hunting — livestock grazing and road use," the study says. The study was led by Anthony Carnahan, a doctoral candidate at Washington State University. Stenhouse said the study can help understand what areas bears use, how fast they move, how best to conserve those places and avoid conflict with the animals. "Bears will make decisions on lots of factors and certainly, you know, the information shows that bears look for easy routes of travel, just like people do," he said. Changes to the landscape caused by humans raises questions about how bears are affected, he said. "For example, when we harvest the forests and bears walk through there, do they burn a lot more energy or less, or how do they travel?" To study the slopes favoured by bears and the energy expended, scientists at Washington State University’s Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center trained nine captive animals to walk on a treadmill at varying inclinations. The bears ranged in age from two to 15 years and weighed between 91 and 265 kilograms. Researchers measured the bears’ oxygen levels and counted the calories they consumed while walking on the treadmill for about six minutes. The preferred speed was about four kilometres per hour with a 10 per cent incline up or down. However, bears in the Yellowstone National Park fitted with GPS collars ambled at a comfortable rate of about two km/h. Stenhouse said changes in a bear's gait are related to how they forage for food. "Grizzly bears sleep from about midday till five in the morning and they wake up. Then they start moving and as they're moving, they're searching the environment, seeing what food they can find," he said. "They might find a patch of berries or some roots to dig up, and then they keep moving around their home range. Basically, they're feeding as they walk." They might have a burst of energy when they hunt a deer but there are not many of those moments, he added. The data helps understand the movement of grizzly bears, their use of landscape, the energy expended, and the nutrition they need, which is ultimately important for the long-term conservation of the species, he said. "It's probably not your normal thing to be putting a grizzly bear on a treadmill," Stenhouse said. "Some people might laugh and think it's funny, but the overall goal is to allow better management practices and ensure conservation." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. Hina Alam, The Canadian Press

  • Fact or fiction: Debunking 4 common myths about ticks

    There is plenty of misinformation circulating about ticks and the diseases they may carry. Here are four myths debunked, along with tick facts to keep people safe when exploring the outdoors.

  • German president: Buchenwald a reminder of Nazi 'barbarism'

    WEIMAR, Germany — Germany’s president on Sunday marked the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp by reminding his compatriots of the inconceivable atrocities the Nazis committed there during the Third Reich. “Communists and democrats, homosexuals and so-called asocials were incarcerated at Buchenwald. Jews, Sinti and Roma were brought here and murdered,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said during a speech in the nearby German town of Weimar, 76 years to the day after U.S. forces liberated the camp. “With its diversity of victims' groups, Buchenwald represents the entire barbarism of the Nazis, its aggressive nationalism to the outside, it's dictatorship on the inside, and a racist way of thinking,” Steinmeier said. “Buchenwald stands for racial fanaticism, torture, murder and elimination.” Holocaust survivors and their families weren't allowed to gather for anniversary observances this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Survivors from different parts of the world instead attended Sunday's memorial ceremony online. Large-scale commemorations for last year’s 75th anniversary were put on hold due to social distancing requirements. The Buchenwald concentration camp was established in 1937. More than 56,000 of the 280,000 inmates held at Buchenwald and its satellite camps were killed by the Nazis or died as a result of hunger, illness or medical experiments before the camp's liberation on April 11, 1945. “It was a dictatorship, a Nazi leadership that was responsible for the cruelest crimes and the genocide," Steinmeier said. “But it was human beings, Germans, who did this to other human beings.” After his speech in Weimar, Steinmeier went to the site of the former concentration camp, where he laid a wreath with yellow and red flowers for the victims. The Associated Press

  • Jordanian prince makes first public appearance since arrest

    AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan's Prince Hamzah on Sunday made his first public appearance since he was placed under house arrest last week, reciting Quranic verses together with King Abdullah II at the graves of their forefathers. The gesture appeared to be an attempted show of unity on a major Jordanian holiday. Abdullah has attempted to signal in recent days that the situation is under control. But Sunday's staged event left it unclear whether the king and his popular half brother have truly put aside their differences. The conflict had escalated into the most serious public rift in the ruling family in decades, although Hamzah has denied any wrongdoing. Hamzah joined members of the Jordanian royal family marking the centenary of the establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan, a British protectorate that preceded the kingdom. The royal palace released a photo and video with Abdullah and Hamzah joining other dignitaries at the grave of their father, the late King Hussein, and the late King Talal, their grandfather. A photo and video showing the family together reciting the opening chapter of the Qur’an appeared to be aimed at sending a message of unity at a sensitive time for the kingdom. The chapter, known as the Fatiha, is traditionally recited at people's gravesides. It was the first time that Hamzah was seen in public since he was placed under a form of house arrest on April 3 following accusations that he was involved in a “malicious plot” to destabilize the kingdom. In statements leaked to the media, Hamzah denied the accusations and accused the country's government of corruption and incompetence. Hamzah has said his actions are out of love for the country. But his past criticism of government policies, and more recently, his outreach to powerful tribal leaders critical of the government, have been seen as threats to the king. Abdullah subsequently said authorities had thwarted an attempt at sedition involving his half brother and some 18 suspects, while saying he was angry and in shock. Abdullah also suggested there was continued control over Hamzah's movements, saying the prince was “with his family at his palace, under my care.” Authorities have imposed a sweeping gag order on any coverage of the royal dispute in a sign of how sensitive they are to how it is perceived. The gag order and the king’s willingness to sanction his own brother also reaffirmed what Jordanians understand as their “red line” — an absolute ban on criticizing the monarch or the royal family. Sunday's appearance by Hamzah indicated that he was safe, but it remained unclear whether he had come voluntarily or been released from the restrictions on his movement. Hamzah, wearing a suit, traditional headdress and blue surgical mask, joined his relatives in prayers but did not comment in public. His whereabouts after the ceremony were not immediately known. There also has been no sign that authorities have released up to 18 other detainees, including members of one of the powerful tribes on which the monarchy has historically relied. Even before the palace drama, Jordan was grappling with an economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, with one in four people out of work. Longstanding complaints about corruption and misrule have fueled scattered protests in recent months. At the same time, the region’s strategic landscape is shifting as powerful Gulf states pursue closer ties with Israel, potentially undermining Jordan’s role in the Middle East peace process. The United States, along with regional allies, have all rallied behind the king. Jordan has long been seen as a relatively stable western ally in the Middle East in a turbulent region. But the past year of the coronavirus has rocked the country’s largely tourism-dependent economy. Abdullah and Hamzah are both sons of King Hussein, who ruled Jordan for nearly a half-century before his death in 1999 and remains a widely beloved figure. Abdullah had appointed Hamzah as crown prince upon his succession but stripped him of the title in 2004 and gave his eldest son the title instead. Jordan has a large Palestinian population, including more than 2 million refugees from past wars with Israel and their descendants. The monarchy has granted most of them full citizenship but has historically viewed them with suspicion. Its main base of support is powerful tribes from east of the Jordan River, who dominate the security forces. For decades, the monarchy has cultivated close ties with the U.S. and other Western nations, which it has used to press for the creation of a Palestinian state including the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war. That strategy has hit a wall in recent years as the peace process has ground to a halt. Israel and Jordan made peace in 1994 and maintain close security ties, but relations have soured amid a series of recent diplomatic spats. At the same time, Gulf countries have been cultivating closer ties with Israel over their shared antipathy toward Iran, relations made public last year when the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations with Israel in a U.S.-brokered deal. Saudi Arabia has at times appeared to be weighing a similar move. ___ Federman reported from Jerusalem. Josef Federman And Omar Akour, The Associated Press

  • Sask. residents aged 51 now eligible to get COVID-19 vaccine at drive-thru clinic in Regina

    Age eligibility for the drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Regina expanded again Sunday morning. The clinic was previously eligible to people from 52 to 54 years old. But as of 8:30 a.m. Sunday, 51-year-olds are also able to get their dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic, the Saskatchewan Health Authority says. The drive-thru site, located on the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. grounds, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and doses are administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone 55 or older can receive their immunization by booking an appointment online or by calling 1-833-727-5829. But anyone younger than 51 years old will not be vaccinated at this time, the SHA says. The expanded eligibility comes a day after Saskatchewan reported a new record of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in a single day. According to the Saskatchewan government, 12,615 doses were administered Saturday. More from CBC News:

  • Hot real estate market sparks warnings to potential buyers as complaints to regulator double

    As home sales in the province continue on a dizzying trajectory, the province's real estate watchdog and regulator are warning buyers to be wary of what they may be getting into. The Real Estate Council of B.C. (RECBC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate said that in the first three months of 2021, they have seen an increase in inquiries and complaints. Calls to the regulator were up 42 per cent over the previous year, while complaints, such as how offers were made and accepted, were double the number received in the same period in 2020. "Buying a home is one of life's biggest financial decisions. There are potential risks at the best of times, but with the added pressure and stress of the current market conditions, those risks are amplified," Micheal Noseworthy, superintendent of real estate, said in a statement. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says sales in the region have continued at a record-setting pace. Residential home sales covered by the board totalled 5,708 in March 2021, up 126.1 per cent from March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and up 53.2 per cent from February of this year. Rural and suburban areas have experienced the biggest spikes. For the past two weeks, Jay Park has been in the middle of the buying frenzy. He and his partner are trying to upgrade from their one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom condo or townhouse in Vancouver. "I wish we had done this a month or two ago," he said. A condo tower under construction is pictured in downtown Vancouver in February 2020.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck) Park put an offer on a $1-million condo, $4,000 above asking price. "To entice the [seller], we put in a subject-free offer, but it wasn't successful," he said. "They accepted $110,000 over asking price that was also subject-free." The hot market has led to bidding wars. Some would-be buyers have even lined up outside for days to try to get a jump on a property. Erin Seeley, the CEO of the council, is warning buyers to do their research and be aware of risks before making an offer. "It's really important that buyers have engaged with their lender before they're making offers so they know how to stay within a reasonable budget," she said. Seeley said some of the complaints the council has heard from buyers is that they weren't aware the seller has a right to take an early offer. "And the seller was really in the driver's seat about setting the pricing," she said. Demand continues to outstrip supply for housing in cities like Vancouver.(Rafferty Baker/CBC) Aaron Jasper, a Vancouver realtor, advises clients to avoid cash offers and to include finance clauses even if it may mean they lose a deal. "There's a lot of frustration among buyers, feeling pressure to take some risk," he said. "You're better to be delayed perhaps a year getting into the market as opposed to being completely financially ruined." Jasper also says realtors are limited in the advice they can give to clients on legal matters, home inspections, potential deficiencies with homes, and financing. 'Caught up in the craziness' Other tips from the council include seeking professional advice before making a subject-free offer or proceeding without a home inspection, and speaking to a professional to determine how market conditions may be affecting prices. Meantime, people like Jay Park say they are still keen to buy. Park has more viewings scheduled and is optimistic. "It's a very exciting time for us, but I also don't want to get caught up in the craziness and make a purchase that's above our means."

  • The latest numbers on COVID-19 in Canada for Sunday, Apr. 11, 2021

    The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Sunday April 11, 2021. There are 1,052,539 confirmed cases in Canada. Canada: 1,052,539 confirmed cases (70,619 active, 958,633 resolved, 23,287 deaths).*The total case count includes 13 confirmed cases among repatriated travellers. There were 7,262 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 185.81 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 50,881 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 7,269. There were 38 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 237 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 34. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 61.27 per 100,000 people. There have been 28,875,724 tests completed. Newfoundland and Labrador: 1,029 confirmed cases (14 active, 1,009 resolved, six deaths). There were four new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 2.68 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of nine new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is one. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 1.15 per 100,000 people. There have been 226,346 tests completed. Prince Edward Island: 162 confirmed cases (six active, 156 resolved, zero deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 3.76 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of two new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 130,175 tests completed. Nova Scotia: 1,764 confirmed cases (43 active, 1,655 resolved, 66 deaths). There were eight new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 4.39 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 32 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is five. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 6.74 per 100,000 people. There have been 446,506 tests completed. New Brunswick: 1,713 confirmed cases (149 active, 1,531 resolved, 33 deaths). There were 19 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 19.07 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 72 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 10. There was one new reported death Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of three new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is zero. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.05 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 4.22 per 100,000 people. There have been 274,425 tests completed. Quebec: 324,848 confirmed cases (12,371 active, 301,740 resolved, 10,737 deaths). There were 1,754 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 144.28 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 9,890 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 1,413. There were 13 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 53 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is eight. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 125.22 per 100,000 people. There have been 7,494,471 tests completed. Ontario: 382,152 confirmed cases (30,999 active, 343,622 resolved, 7,531 deaths). There were 3,813 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 210.39 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 23,594 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 3,371. There were 19 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 103 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 15. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.1 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 51.11 per 100,000 people. There have been 12,879,408 tests completed. Manitoba: 35,104 confirmed cases (1,259 active, 32,896 resolved, 949 deaths). There were 135 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 91.28 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 752 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 107. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 11 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.11 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 68.8 per 100,000 people. There have been 608,766 tests completed. Saskatchewan: 35,983 confirmed cases (2,381 active, 33,149 resolved, 453 deaths). There were 236 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 202.01 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 1,660 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 237. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 17 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.21 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 38.43 per 100,000 people. There have been 696,057 tests completed. Alberta: 159,719 confirmed cases (13,687 active, 144,020 resolved, 2,012 deaths). There were 1,293 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 309.53 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 8,360 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 1,194. There were five new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 18 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is three. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.06 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 45.5 per 100,000 people. There have been 3,809,874 tests completed. British Columbia: 109,540 confirmed cases (9,709 active, 98,336 resolved, 1,495 deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 188.61 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 6,509 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 930. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 32 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is five. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 29.04 per 100,000 people. There have been 2,274,469 tests completed. Yukon: 74 confirmed cases (zero active, 73 resolved, one deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of zero new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 2.38 per 100,000 people. There have been 8,647 tests completed. Northwest Territories: 43 confirmed cases (one active, 42 resolved, zero deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 2.21 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of one new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 16,498 tests completed. Nunavut: 395 confirmed cases (zero active, 391 resolved, four deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of zero new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 10.16 per 100,000 people. There have been 10,006 tests completed. This report was automatically generated by The Canadian Press Digital Data Desk and was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • Pentagon chief declares 'ironclad' US commitment to Israel

    TEL AVIV, Israel — U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday declared an “enduring and ironclad” American commitment to Israel, reinforcing support at a tense time in Israeli politics and amid questions about the Biden administration's efforts to revive nuclear negotiations with Israel's archenemy, Iran. Austin's first talks in Israel since he became Pentagon chief in January come as the United States seeks to leverage Middle East diplomatic progress made by the Trump administration, which brokered a deal normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states. By coincidence or not, the defence secretary arrived as Iran reported that its underground Natanz nuclear facility lost power just hours after starting up new advanced centrifuges capable of enriching uranium faster. If Israel caused the blackout, it would further heighten tensions between the two nations, already engaged in a shadow conflict across the wider Middle East. Iran called it an act of “nuclear terrorism,” but did not immediately blame anyone directly. After meeting with Defence Minister Benny Gantz in Tel Aviv, Austin said he had reaffirmed “our commitment to Israel is enduring and ironclad." Austin made no mention of Iran. Gantz, in his own remarks while standing beside Austin, said his country views the United States as a “full partner” against threats, “not the least, Iran.” Neither official took questions from reporters. “The Tehran of today presents a strategic threat to international security, the entire Middle East and to the state of Israel,” Gantz said in his prepared statement. “We will work closely with our American allies to ensure that any new agreement with Iran will secure the vital interests of the world and of the United States, prevent a dangerous arms race in our region and protect the state of Israel.” Yoel Guzansky, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think-tank , said Austin's visit is important in part because it is the first by a member of President Joe Biden's Cabinet. “They want to show that they did come here with clean hands and they want to listen,” Guzansky said. “They want to listen to Israel’s worries and perhaps other partners’ worries about the negotiation about Iran.” Austin is steeped in the finer points of Middle East defence and security issues. He served four years as head of U.S. Central Command, capping a 41-year Army career that included commanding U.S. forces in Iraq. Flying overnight from Washington, Austin arrived in Tel Aviv in the tense aftermath of the country's fourth inconclusive election in the past two years. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin last week gave embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the difficult task of trying to form a new government. The key backdrop to Austin’s visit is the Israeli government’s concern about the Biden administration's attempt to work out an arrangement to reenter the Iran nuclear deal, which in Israel’s view is fatally flawed. Netanyahu has for years described Iran as an existential threat to his nation due to Iran's alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapon and its support for militant groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Netanyahu, leading a state with its own secret nuclear weapons program, has accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons to use with its ballistic missiles. Iran has maintained its nuclear program is peaceful. Netanyahu has also kept up his criticism of the Iran nuclear deal, which, if followed, strictly limits Tehran’s ability to enrich and stockpile uranium, blocking it from being able to make a weapon. “History has taught us that deals like this, with extremist regimes like this, are worth nothing,” Netanyahu said last week. Last week, an Iranian ship said to be acting as a Revolutionary Guard base off the coast of Yemen was struck by an explosion. Iran blamed Israel for the blast. In addition to repeated assurances by Republican and Democratic administrations that the United States will endeavour to preserve Israel's qualitative military edge over its regional adversaries, Washington for years has invested heavily in helping Israel develop missile defence technologies. Iron Dome is one of the most-touted successes in Israel missile defence. It is a mobile anti-rocket system developed to intercept short-range unguided rockets. It has shot down more than 2,000 projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip since it was deployed a decade ago. The U.S. Army recently bought two Iron Dome batteries at the request of Congress to counter cruise missiles. There are questions in Israel about U.S. intentions in shifting military priorities away from the Middle East in order to focus more intensively on China and Russia as more significant threats to U.S. security. Iran is the central source of concern by Israel and by support groups in the United States. The Jewish Institute for National Security of America, or JINSA, argued in a report last week that such a shift in U.S. priorities would “send the wrong” signal as the Biden administration begins indirect talks with Iran on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal with international powers. President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. “With reduced defensive capabilities and perceived American retrenchment from the region, Tehran and its proxies will only be incentivized to pursue even more dangerous actions to destabilize its neighbours,” the JINSA report said. Michael Makovsky, the president of JINSA and a former Pentagon official, said Austin's visit is especially timely, given the Biden administration's moves toward engaging Iran on its nuclear program. "Embracing and strengthening Israel sends a pointed signal to Iran, which will only enhance a credible military option against Iran and U.S. leverage in the talks,” Makovsky said in a statement. ___ Associated Press writers Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Robert Burns, The Associated Press