Saudi Arabia invests $6 billion in water projects across 60 developing countries
Physical and chemical plate - the right hand of modern laboratory, the perfect combination of safety and efficiencyWade Taylor IV racked up 19 points that included eight in the final 3:22 of the game as No. 22 Texas A&M outlasted Texas Tech 72-67 on Sunday afternoon in the USLBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Texas A&M (8-2) led by as many as 11 points in the first half and by three at halftime before the Red Raiders surged to the front early in the second half. Down 52-49, the Aggies produced an 11-0 surge capped by a jumper by Zhuric Phelps to take a 60-52 advantage with 5:02 to play
ECHL: Tyler Brennan Called Up To Utica CometsTOKYO (AP) — Troops surround South Korea's parliament overnight when the president declares martial law. He accuses pro-North Korean forces of plotting to overthrow one of the world’s most vibrant democracies. Lawmakers voice outrage and vote to end the declaration, and the president lifts the decree before daybreak. President Yoon Suk Yeol spread fear and confusion through South Korea overnight by issuing his sudden edict late Tuesday, the first martial law declaration since more than four decades ago when the country was controlled by a dictatorship. The declaration, the rushed vote by lawmakers to overturn it and the president's lifting of martial law soon afterward were moments of high drama for an unpopular leader who has struggled with political deadlock in an opposition-dominated parliament and scandals involving him and his wife. While there was no direct evidence presented, Yoon raised the specter of North Korea as a destabilizing force. Yoon has long maintained that a hard line against the North is the only way to stop Pyongyang from following through on its nuclear threats against Seoul. Amid the surreal scenes of troops massing around parliament, here are some things to know as this story unfolds: Immediately after Yoon's declaration the military chief called in key commanders for talks. South Korean troops set up barricades and then made their way into parliament. The leader of the main opposition, which controls parliament, ordered lawmakers to return to the building, where they eventually voted to lift the declaration of martial law. Yoon lifted the martial law decree around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Yoon's declaration had been accompanied by an accusation that the opposition was engaged in “anti-state activities plotting rebellion.” But he did not explain what that means, and provided no specific evidence. The vague statement is reminiscent of the heavy-handed tactics of the South Korean dictatorships that ended in the late 1980s. A series of strongmen repeatedly invoked North Korea when struggling to control domestic dissidents and political opponents. The opposition lambasted Yoon's move as un-democratic. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, called Yoon’s announcement “illegal and unconstitutional.” But the sudden declaration was also opposed by the leader of Yoon's own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.” “The people will block the president’s anti-constitutional step. The military must be on the side of the public in any case. Let’s resolutely oppose it,” Kim Dong Yeon, the opposition party governor of Gyeonggi province, which surrounds Seoul, wrote on X. Average South Koreans were in shock. Social media was flooded with messages expressing surprise and worry over Yoon’s announcement. “Martial law? I thought it was deepfake content, but is it really a martial law decree?,” one X user wrote. “I first thought about a war with North Korea when he said he would impose a martial law,” another X user wrote. There were quick claims that the emergency declaration was linked to Yoon’s political struggles. His approval rating has dropped, and he has had little success in getting his policies adopted by a parliament that has been controlled by the opposition since he took over in 2022. Conservatives have said the opposition moves are political revenge for investigations into the opposition leader, who is seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027. Just this month, Yoon denied wrongdoing in an influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife. The claims have battered his approval ratings and fueled attacks by his rivals. The scandal centers on claims that Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee exerted inappropriate influence on the conservative ruling People Power Party to pick a certain candidate to run for a parliamentary by-election in 2022 at the request of Myung Tae-kyun, an election broker and founder of a polling agency who conducted free opinion surveys for Yoon before he became president . Yoon has said he did nothing inappropriate. South Korea became a democracy only in the late 1980s, and military intervention in civilian affairs is still a touchy subject. During the dictatorships that emerged as the country rebuilt from the destruction of the 1950-53 Korean War, leaders occasionally proclaimed martial law that allowed them to station combat soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles on streets or in public places to prevent anti-government demonstrations. Such scenes are unimaginable for many today. The dictator Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea for nearly 20 years before he was assassinated by his spy chief in 1979, led several thousand troops into Seoul in the early hours of May 16, 1961, in the country’s first successful coup. During his rule, he occasionally proclaimed martial law to crack down on protests and jail critics. Less than two months after Park Chung-hee’s death, Maj. Gen. Chun Doo-hwan led tanks and troops into Seoul in December 1979 in the country’s second successful coup. The next year, he orchestrated a brutal military crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising in the southern city of Gwangju, killing at least 200 people. In the summer of 1987, massive street protests forced Chun’s government to accept direct presidential elections. His army buddy Roh Tae-woo, who had joined Chun’s 1979 coup, won the election held later in 1987 thanks largely to divided votes among liberal opposition candidates. AP writers Kim Tong-hyung and Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this story.Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz is not coming back to Congress. The Florida Republican said Friday he has no intention of serving another term in the House now that he is no longer President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Gaetz withdrew as the nominee this week amid growing fallout from the allegations of sexual conduct against him. Gaetz denies the allegations. Gaetz didn't lay out his plans now that he's out of office, saying only, “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch." After Gaetz's withdrawal on Thursday, Trump named former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department. Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump's most contentious picks WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role. He's been helping Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks try to win confirmation in the Senate, where he has served for the last two years. Vance spent part of Wednesday at the Capitol with Rep. Matt Gaetz sitting in on meetings with Trump’s controversial choice for attorney general. On Thursday, Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings over the coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, but he didn't focus exclusively on large religious voter blocs. He and his allies also wooed smaller religious groups, away from the mainstream. He posted a tribute to Coptic church members on social media and met with members of Assyrians for Trump — two smaller Christian communities with Middle Eastern roots. He visited the grave of the revered late leader of an Orthodox Jewish movement. His allies sought votes from the separatist Amish community. While Trump won decisively, the outreaches reflected aggressive campaigning in what was expected to be a tight race. NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with a hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Ukraine's parliament canceled a session Friday over the security threat. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech Thursday that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik, saying it's so powerful that several of them fitted with conventional warheads could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Texas education board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ education board has voted to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools. The approval Friday follows other Republican-led states that have pushed this year to give religion a larger presence in public classrooms. The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education is optional for schools to adopt, but they’ll receive additional funding if they do so. Parents and teachers who opposed the curriculum say the lessons will alienate students of other faith backgrounds. Supporters argue the Bible is a core feature of American history and that teaching it will enrich learning. 2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury has convicted two men of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand each faced four charges related to human smuggling before being convicted on Friday. Patel is an Indian national. Shand is an American from Florida. They were arrested after the family froze while trying to cross the desolate border during a 2022 blizzard. Storm inundates Northern California with rain, heavy snow. Thousands remain in the dark in Seattle HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — Heavy rain from a major storm prompted evacuations from communities near a Northern California river that forecasters say could break its banks Friday, as the storm keeps dumping heavy snow in the region's mountains where some ski resorts opened for the season. The storm reached the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands before moving through Northern California, where several roads were closed due to flooding and strong winds toppled some trees. Forecasters are warning about the risk of flash flooding and rockslides in areas north of San Francisco as the region was inundated by this season’s strongest atmospheric river. Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of ancient Maya WASHINGTON (AP) — Using drones and Google Earth imagery, archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what’s now Belize. The research published Friday in Science Advances shows that long before the ancient Maya built temples, their predecessors were already altering the landscape of Central America’s Yucatan peninsula. The ancient fish canals were used to channel and catch freshwater species such as catfish. These structures were used for around 1,000 years — including during the “formative” period when the Maya began to settle in permanent farming villages and a distinctive culture started to emerge. California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health officials are confirming bird flu in a California child — the first reported case in a U.S. minor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced confirmatory test results on Friday. Officials say the child had mild symptoms, was treated with antiviral medication and is recovering. The child’s infection brings the reported number of U.S. bird flu cases this year to 55, including 29 in California. State officials have said the child lives in Alameda County, which includes Oakland, and attends day care, but released no other details. Brazilian police formally accuse former President Bolsonaro and aides of alleged 2022 coup attempt SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. The findings are to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then.
RADFORD, Va. (AP) — Jarvis Moss scored 15 points and Jonas Sirtautas had a go-ahead three-point play in overtime to help Radford hold off Bucknell 74-70 on Sunday night. Sirtautas gave the Highlanders the lead for good with 2:38 left in the extra period. Moss shot 4 of 13 from the field, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 6 from the line for the Highlanders (9-2). Josiah Harris scored 12 points and added five rebounds. Achile Spadone led the Bison (4-7) in scoring, finishing with 22 points and two steals. Bucknell also got 19 points and four assists from Josh Bascoe. Noah Williamson had nine points. Bascoe's layup with 12 seconds left forced overtime tied at 59. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Tomley shot 7 for 12 (6 for 7 from 3-point range) and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Wildcats (4-4). Blaise Threatt added 21 points and seven rebounds. Boubacar Coulibaly led the Waves (2-6) with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stefan Todorovic added 13 points and Zion Bethea scored 12. Weber State took the lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 33-23 at halftime, with Tomley racking up 11 points. T The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
An Ottawa ringette team says it has lost support from its club after it deemed the team's new name to be inappropriate. The team, officially known as the West Ottawa Ringette Association U19B MacDonald, has unofficially been renamed "the Boobies." Team members say the name is meant to be a fun way to represent them and to bring awareness to breast cancer research. "It made sense to have the team's name because we're all just bubbly, fun and don't really take it too seriously and it kind of helps us play better in a way," said team member Tessa Nadarevic. The team is named after the Red-Footed Booby, a large seabird known in part for its clumsiness - a play on word for the team who currently sits last in the standings. "We're on a solid every game losing streak, but it's okay because we go for the fun of it," said Nadarevic. The team says choosing a team name is something that happens every year with little controversy. This year, it says the West Ottawa Ringette Association (WORA) has taken issue with it. "The reason I was provided was that the word 'booby' could be construed as demeaning, which is unfortunate," said parent Paula MacDonald. "It's not meant to be demeaning and there was no intention to be demeaning. The players are just having fun." MacDonald says the team can't use WORA's logo on any of its merchandise and it will no longer support the team's fundraising goals, including raising money for breast cancer research. "The support for the team was looking at advertising or awareness on the association's web page, helping the community to know that this fundraising initiative is happening, so that won't happen," said MacDonald. "We are also looking to sell merchandise with the logo on it and take the proceeds and donate that to breast cancer awareness, so we'll have to do that on our own." In a statement, the West Ottawa Ringette Association says the new name could be perceived as innapropriate to some and says it wants to maintain a safe and inclusive space for all athletes. "We appreciate the team's desire to give back to a good cause. Their commitment to making a positive impact is commendable and aligns with our organization's values of community and support," the association said. "However, given our focus on nurturing and supporting the development of minor children, we need to be mindful of the impact various elements, including team names and logos, have on our athletes. We believe it is crucial to avoid any names that could be perceived as sexualizing children or drawing unwanted attention to their bodies. Our goal is to maintain a respectful and inclusive space where all athletes feel comfortable and valued." For many of the players, it's their last season together and say they will press on. "My mom had breast cancer a couple of years ago, so it's a way to give back to the community that we spent so much time with and to help people like my mom," said Nadarevic. This story will be updated Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Ottawa ringette team loses club support after new name raises eyebrows Beef prices reach record highs in Canada What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Nov.29-Dec. 1 OC Transpo holds 'dress rehearsal' for Trillium Line on Saturday New plan in the making to free cargo ship stuck in St. Lawrence River Here's a look at the latest holiday movies this season 'We will always be a downtown store': Steve's Music Store moving from Rideau Street after 42 years CTVNews.ca Top Stories Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Pedestrian killed by Via Rail train near Kingston, Ont. Regular rail traffic has resumed with severe delays. Muskoka reacts to major snowfall, hundreds stuck on Highway 11 From road closures, power outages, weather declarations and nonstop shovelling, Muskoka residents were faced with nearly a metre of persistent snowfall on Saturday. Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage young girl with hug and kiss A Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage and reassure a young girl when he hugged and kissed during his testimony at Saskatoon Provincial Court Friday. Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine U.S. dollar U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100 per cent tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Toronto man accused of posing as surgeon, giving four women injections A 29-year-old Toronto man has been charged after allegedly posing as a surgeon and providing cosmetic procedures on several women. Bob Bryar, drummer for rock band My Chemical Romance, dead at 44 Bob Bryar, former drummer for the band My Chemical Romance, has died. He was reportedly 44. 'Disappointing': Toronto speed camera cut down less than 24 hours after being reinstalled A Toronto speed camera notorious for issuing tens of thousands of tickets to drivers has been cut down again less than 24 hours after it was reinstalled. W5 Investigates | 'I never took part in beheadings': Canadian ISIS sniper has warning about future of terror group An admitted Canadian ISIS sniper held in one of northeast Syria’s highest-security prisons has issued a stark warning about the potential resurgence of the terror group. Atlantic Furry fashionista’s turn Halifax street into Maritimes’ cutest runway The annual pet parade, an adored holiday tradition, returned to Halifax on Saturday. 3,500 people without power in New Brunswick after heavy snowfall Roughly 3,500 people in New Brunswick are still without power after wet, heavy snowfall caused trees to come into contact with power lines early Friday morning. Port Elgin, N.B., rallies behind woman's plan to light historic landmark at Christmas Jackie Giles received overwhelming support when she asked her community to help her decorate the historic bridge in Port Elgin, N.B., for Christmas Toronto Toronto man accused of posing as surgeon, giving four women injections A 29-year-old Toronto man has been charged after allegedly posing as a surgeon and providing cosmetic procedures on several women. Why this Toronto man ran so a giant stickman could dance Colleagues would ask Duncan McCabe if he was training for a marathon, but, really, the 32-year-old accountant was committing multiple hours of his week, for 10 months, to stylistically run on the same few streets in Toronto's west end with absolutely no race in mind. It was all for the sake of creating a seconds-long animation of a dancing stickman for Strava. 'Disappointing': Toronto speed camera cut down less than 24 hours after being reinstalled A Toronto speed camera notorious for issuing tens of thousands of tickets to drivers has been cut down again less than 24 hours after it was reinstalled. Montreal Canada Post strike threatens holiday fundraising for charities Charities across Canada are bracing for a tough holiday season as the Canada Post workers’ strike disrupts donation drives and fundraising efforts. Buying a home? Here's everything you need to know about Quebec's 'welcome' tax Anyone who has bought a home in Quebec knows the rollercoaster high of making that big, life-changing purchase – and the sudden crash that occurs when the welcome tax bill comes in the mail, alongside its 30-day payment deadline. Immigrants take to the streets to protest against the freezing of immigration programmes In response to the freeze on immigration programmes announced by Ottawa, an organization that defends the rights of immigrants is organising a demonstration in front of the Montreal office of the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration early on Saturday afternoon. Northern Ontario Saultites keep digging as the snow keeps falling Snowfall in Sault Ste. Marie seemed to be delayed this year, but the cruel joke by Mother Nature saw a single dump make up for weeks of fall-like weather. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Man fined $10K for abandoning homemade barge in Lake Nipissing A man from Lavigne, Ont., has been fined $10,000 for abandoning a homemade barge in Lake Nipissing. Windsor Dancing With The Stars in Windsor raises $60K for Easter Seals Windsor city councillor Renaldo Agostino and fitness coach Scott Tousignant were among the local celebrities who competed at the 2nd annual Dancing With The Easter Seals Stars event in Windsor. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Habitat Windsor-Essex marks milestone as it adapts to growing housing crisis Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex is marking a major milestone for the number of homes it has built, repaired or restored over the past 30 years. London 'We have to remain strong': Striking London postal workers hold solidarity rally Dozens of striking postal workers with London local 566 rallied Saturday outside the Canada Post administration building on Highbury Avenue. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Collision closes Wellington Road northbound A two vehicle collision had crews on the scene this morning in the south end of the city. Kitchener One man dead after shooting in Kitchener tiny home lot One man has been pronounced dead after a shooting at 49 Ardelt Ave. around 3:55 p.m. Saturday. SIU invokes mandate after OPP-involved shooting on Highway 401 in Cambridge Highway 401, through Kitchener, was brought to a standstill Friday due to a police-involved shooting. Missing teenager last seen in Kitchener The Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) is searching for a 14-year-old girl who was last seen in Kitchener on Nov. 28. Barrie Muskoka reacts to major snowfall, hundreds stuck on Highway 11 From road closures, power outages, weather declarations and nonstop shovelling, Muskoka residents were faced with nearly a metre of persistent snowfall on Saturday. Snow closes portion of Highway 11 OPP have closed a segment of Highway 11 in South Muskoka due to unsafe driving conditions caused by weather. Muskoka declares significant weather event The District Municipality of Muskoka has declared a significant weather event in response to the snow that continues to fall in the region. Winnipeg Manitoba Métis Federation signs historic self-governing treaty with Canada The Manitoba Métis Federation has signed a self-governing treaty with Ottawa, becoming the first Métis group to do so in the country’s history. City shuts out province with 6-0 win in Winnipeg 150 hockey game The provincial government opened the floodgates to the City of Winnipeg Saturday, falling 6-0 in a match-up 50 years in the making. Animal welfare advocates call for new regulations in online pet sales Animal welfare advocates are calling for new regulations and practices in place for people giving pets away online. Calgary Calgary police seek arson suspect in bitcoin extortion case Calgary police are looking for a suspect in an arson case, connected to an attempt to extort bitcoin from victims. Man hospitalized following back alley assault early Saturday in southeast A man was hospitalized with serious injuries after being assaulted early Saturday morning. Calgary police looking for missing senior Calgary police are asking the public to be on the lookout for a missing senior. Edmonton Here's a list of items that will be GST/HST-free over the holidays Canadians won't have to pay GST on a selection of items this holiday season, the prime minister vowed on Thursday. Fire breaks out in southeast Edmonton business A fire broke out at a trucking company in southeast Edmonton on Saturday afternoon. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after U.S. election An emboldened “manosphere” has seized on Republican Donald Trump ’s presidential win to justify misogynistic derision and threats online. Regina Regina group highlights Addictions Awareness Week As Addiction Awareness Week comes to an end, the Regina/Treaty Status Indian Services (RT/SIS) New Beginnings Recovery Group hosted a one day Round Up to mark the occasion at the Mâmawêyatitân Centre. Mistletoe Market returns to RCMP Heritage Centre The RCMP Heritage Centre was abuzz on Saturday afternoon with artists and Christmas shoppers. Regina's LED volume wall leaving Sask. months after opening Less than a year after an LED volume wall was introduced to the film world in Saskatchewan, the equipment is making its exit from the province. Saskatoon Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage young girl with hug and kiss A Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage and reassure a young girl when he hugged and kissed during his testimony at Saskatoon Provincial Court Friday. One dead, two injured in Sask. highway collision A 61-year-old man was killed and two others were taken to hospital following a collision between an SUV and a truck near Prince Albert on Friday night. Saskatoon temporary smudge location to be taken down While the City of Saskatoon says it granted a temporary permit for smudging and a ceremonial open fire, that expired at 6p.m. Tuesday night. Vancouver Watch: Noisy throng of sea lions frolic near Jericho Beach A large swarm of California sea lions have converged in the waters near Vancouver’s Jericho and Locarno beaches. Potential unmarked graves identified at former residential school in central B.C. The chief of a First Nation in central British Columbia says potential unmarked graves have been identified at the site of the former Lejac Indian Residential School after nearly two years of geophysical survey work. B.C. Métis Nation votes to withdraw immediately from Métis National Council Members of the Métis Nation British Columbia have voted to leave the national organization, the Métis National Council, effective immediately. Vancouver Island Yuletide festivities help kick off holiday season in Greater Victoria Greater Victoria has a host of yuletide festivities this weekend for residents ready to kick off the holiday season. Supreme Court clears way for B.C. to include other governments in opioid lawsuit B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says a Supreme Court of Canada victory has cleared a "pathway" for governments across the country to go after opioid makers and distributors for damages arising from the opioid crisis. Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay ConnectedCHENNAI: Tamil Nadu will experience extreme hot days during summers and severe flooding during monsoons, warn various studies and experts while the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) corroborates the warnings. In just three years, the number of heat wave days in the region, comprising Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, has jumped from zero to 13, as per IMD data. While 2022 had no heat wave days, 2023 had one day that recorded heat wave conditions. However, this year has recorded as many as 13 heat wave days so far. "The IMD in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority and the local health departments, has started a Heat Action Plan (HAP) in many parts of the country to forewarn about heat waves and issue advisory on measures to be taken during such days,” Jitendra Singh, MoS (independent) for the Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences informed Parliament while disclosing the data. Meanwhile, a report titled 'Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Plan of Tamil Nadu' prepared by Climate Studio and Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management in Anna University has warned that heat wave days are projected to increase by 22 days per year during the near-century (year 2050), 40 days per year during the mid-century (2080) and 55 days per year during the end-century (2100) under SSP2-4.5 scenario (intermediate greenhouse gas emissions). Moreover, the annual mean maximum temperature in the State may rise by up to 0.4 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees Celsius and 1.7 degrees Celsius in the near-century, mid-century and by end-century, respectively, said the report which was released by Chief Minister MK Stalin a few days ago.
VEVES: The dance of life depends on connectednessHoliday shopping gains suggest consumers are feeling more confident in the economy
It's the end of an era for one of the biggest concert tours in history. It's curtains for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. After kicking off last year in Arizona on March 17, the tour will play its final show tonight in Vancouver, Canada. To put that timeline into perspective, a baby conceived on opening night would be celebrating its first birthday this month. There are an endless number of think pieces about Taylor Swift — her music, her fans, her haters, and is actually a fruitless exercise. "There's an obsessive preoccupation to try and understand 'cultural impact' while it's happening," says Lauren Rosewarne, an associate professor and pop culture expert at the University of Melbourne. "I don't think it's possible. It takes time to determine the impact anything has on a culture. "What we do know was that the tour was enormously popular." So how do we quantify one of the biggest concert tours in history? As the dust (and glitter) begins to settle, here's what the numbers say. Let's start with the Australian leg of the tour 4 million — The number of Australians who queued up to buy tickets. When pre-sale tickets for the Australian leg of the Eras Tour went live, more than 4 million Australians hopped online to try their luck, according to Ticketek. The ticketing company confirmed the demand set a new record in Australia. "More than half a billion bot attempts were repelled, which come from scalpers," a Ticketek spokesperson said. Fans battled it out for hours. Some emerged victorious, while some of those who missed out say . 96,000 — Swift's career-biggest crowd at the MCG. When Swift stepped on stage at the , she was performing to the biggest crowd of her career. 96,000 concertgoers packed into the famous stadium that was already sacred ground to cricket and AFL fans — and now, Swifties. "This is the biggest show that we have done on this tour, or any tour, ever," Swift said on stage that night. While the MCG has a capacity of , Swift's set design meant not all the grandstands could be used. Her three shows at the MCG saw Swift perform to a total of concertgoers. According to tour promoter Frontier, it marked a new record for the most tickets sold by one artist at the venue. holds the venue's single-night attendance record after drawing crowds of more than for each of his two shows in 2023. 12,000 — The number of rhinestones one fan glued to her costume. For some fans, securing a ticket to the Eras Tour was just the start of their stress — it was time to plan their outfits. Many Swifties got creative and made their own one-of-a-kind costumes inspired by lyrics or fandom references, while others sewed together recreations of the designer outfits Swift dons on stage. Izzie Peachy told ABC News and set out on creating her own before the Australian tour was even announced. "[I] can safely say I spent over working on it," Ms Peachy said, adding the look involved and upwards of , all individually hand glued and sewn. "I've joked with my family and friends that I'll be buried in it!" $300 million — The amount of money injected into the Australian economy, according to one bank. The seven sold-out shows Swift performed across Sydney and Melbourne generated more than for the Australian economy, . Julie Rynski, NAB's executive for Business Metro and Specialised, said Swift's Sydney shows "created a buzz in the city not seen since before the pandemic". "There's no doubt businesses and consumers have had a difficult last 12 months or so, but despite this, it's clear people are continuing to carefully evaluate and prioritise their spending on the things or experiences they truly value," Ms Rynski said in a statement. However, assigning a dollar figure to so-called "Swiftonomics" varies depending on who you ask. Research from valued the national economic impact of the Eras Tour at . On the other hand, believes Swift only helped grow Australia's economy by . "This is going to cause some bad blood in my house," he wrote at the time. Now let's look at the tour on a global level The Eras Tour fever that gripped Australia during a sweltering February was replicated wherever Swift and her travelling circus went next. For those who missed out on tickets, there were an endless number of videos on social media to watch on loop, with Swift performing the same routine captured from thousands of angles. Fans who did get tickets passed on valuable information, from how to tweak your phone's camera settings to get the best content, to strategies on which songs to dip out to in order to game plan a bathroom break. "Taylor Swift's relationship with her fans is certainly unique," Dr Rosewarne says. "Very few artists have been able to not only cultivate but maintain relationships with fans and, further still, create and foster a fan culture where Swifties would claim there exists a genuine community. "That is certainly unique and obviously a result of Swift being a celebrity who came to fame at the same time that social media became a dominant force in our culture." 149 — The number of tour dates performed around the world. Since beginning in March last year, there were a total of 149 tour dates overall around the world. The Eras Tour travelled to 50 cities across 19 countries, spanning five continents, with stops in Mexico, Brazil, Japan, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, just to name a few. Swift was meant to play more than 150 shows, but had to cancel three performances scheduled in Vienna . Several politicians and government officials requested the tour be brought to their countries or cities, including and the . Even took to social media platform X with a post stuffed full of song references when it was looking likely his homeland would be snubbed altogether. "It's me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you. So, don't make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon." Mr Trudeau's pitch seemed to work, with Swift ending the tour in Canada with nine shows across Toronto and Vancouver. 3 hours — How long Taylor Swift performed on stage each night. Each time Swift took to the stage, she would perform for more than 3 hours. Her gargantuan set list comprised of more than 40 songs grouped into 10 eras from her discography: , , , , , , , and . "I decided to create the longest, most ambitious show I'd ever even attempted," Swift writes in The Eras Tour Book. "My goal was for every fan to leave that show knowing I gave them absolutely everything I had." In May this year, the show was revamped and six songs were cut to make room for yet another era following the release of . Each show also included two surprise songs from Swift's back catalogue, with some performances even including mashups. $1.93 billion — The estimated amount of money the tour generated. In October 2024, estimated that the Eras Tour had grossed $US1.93 billion ($3 billion), though Swift has never confirmed these figures. By that estimate, it makes the Eras Tour the highest grossing tour in history, putting Swift ahead of , , and . But Forbes' figure was only calculated off the financial income of 121 shows. With Swift performing a total of 149 shows, that estimate could likely be higher. The 'spin-offs' era It is a truth universally acknowledged that fangirls feel deeply, spend willingly and are mocked relentlessly. "Ridicule exists because we live in a sexist society where things that girls and women enjoy are widely considered trivial and culturally insignificant," Dr Rosewarne says. "What many fans find appealing in Swift is a sense of authenticity — that this isn't someone striving to fit society's concept of 'cool', but rather is redefining the label to include her cat lady, tea-drinking, often dorky self. "This, of course, is an appealing message particularly for her young, female fan base." So it was no surprise when Swift capitalised on the success of the Eras Tour to create a series of spin-off products to make the tour more accessible — and make more money as a result. 3 — The number of albums released during the tour. In case you missed it, since 2019 Swift has been re-recording her first six studio albums in order to own her masters. During the tour, the shows became somewhat of a press conference as Swift regularly made announcements — and some were vastly bigger than others. In May, 2023 Swift announced during one show that would be released in July. In August, she announced onstage that would drop in October, exactly nine years since it was first released. Then, at the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, as Swift accepted the 13th Grammy of her career, she announced a brand new album — . When the album was released in April, fans were surprised to learn it was in fact a double album, with including a total of 31 songs. As for ... fans are still waiting for that one to drop. $402 million — The amount of money the concert movie grossed at the global box office. In October last year, , hit theatres worldwide. An adult ticket cost movie goers $19.89 (a nod to her album 1989) with a child's ticket costing $13.13 (Swift's favourite number). With a run-time of 2 hours and 43 minutes, the concert movie cost $US15 million to make. But it went on to gross more than $US261 million at the global box office, making it the most successful concert film of all time. It dethroned by grossing nearly double at the box office, with the 2009 Michael Jackson concert film, , currently in third place. 814,000 — The number of concert tie-in books sold in a single weekend. On Black Friday, Swift released , a 256-page volume featuring 500 on-stage and behind-the-scene images. The book marked the launch of Swift's own publishing house and smashed sales upon release. The Associated Press reported The Eras Tour Book sold 814,000 copies over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to Circana, which tracks 85 per cent of the print market. However, some fans spotted typos and grammatical mistakes within its pages, with popularising the phrase "The Errors Tour Book". The only bigger non-fiction launch was the first volume of Barack Obama's presidential memoir, , which sold 816,000 copies in its first week on shelves in 2020. Despite the huge sales, the book will never become a New York Times bestseller because it is sold exclusively through Target. "A title sold exclusively by a single vendor does not qualify for tracking," the Times confirmed to . Plenty happened offstage as well Even when the Eras Tour wasn't on the road, Swift still dominated the headlines. Her romance with a particular NFL player created a frenzy among fans thanks to sounding like a love story taken straight from her teenage hits. Meanwhile, her endorsement of a specific presidential hopeful got as much news coverage as the highly anticipated Trump vs Harris debate. 11.4 million — The number of likes on an Instagram post endorsing Kamala Harris. In September, just under a month out from the 2024 US presidential election, Swift endorsed Democratic nominee . "I've done my research, and I've made my choice," Swift wrote in the lengthy caption of an Instagram post which garnered 11.4 million likes. The accompanying image was a portrait from her TIME Magazine Person of the Year shoot where she posed with one of her cats as a subtle jab at "childless cat ladies" comment. After remaining apolitical during the 2016 election and endorsing neither or , Swift said publicly during the 2020 election that she was voting for . As we know, former US president Trump ended up winning the 2024 election, with his running mate JD Vance to become vice-president. 87 — Travis Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs number. When the tour kicked off all those months ago, Swift was still with her long-term partner, actor . After six years together, the pair broke up in April 2023, right about the time the Eras Tour began. Swift was then briefly entangled with The 1975 frontman , who many believe was the inspiration to multiple songs on . Then, last summer, Kansas City Chiefs tight end started courting the pop star by attending one of her shows, with his phone number crafted on a friendship bracelet. The pair began hanging out, with Kelce attending Swift's shows, and Swift attending Kelce's football games. Fast forward to February of this year, and — after months of dating — the Kansas City Chiefs became back-to-back Super Bowl champions, with Kelce and Swift celebrating with a kiss on the field. 4 — How many times Swift has won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Swift made history at the Grammys during her Eras Tour era when she became the first and only artist to win Album of the Year four times. She took home the award for , and had also won for (2010), (2016) and (2021). Swift shared the previous record of three wins with , and . "I would love to tell you that this is the best moment of my life," Swift said on stage. "But I feel this happy when I finish a song or when I crack the code to a bridge that I love or when I'm shotlisting a music video or when I'm rehearsing with my dancers or with my band or getting ready to go to Tokyo to play a show. "All I want to do is keep being able to do this." The term "cultural phenomenon" gets thrown around haphazardly — but can it be applied to the Eras Tour? "Did it change our culture? I think that's much harder to determine," Dr Rosewarne says. "Success and cultural impact are, I'd argue, two different things. "Of course, we will have other artists who have enormous success — that's inevitable." Related stories Music Arts, Culture and Entertainment Analysis by Leigh Sales Pop Related topics Entertainment Music Music Industry Pop Culture United States
Article content We’ve seen the high profile arrest recently of a Burlington woman, Denise Tisor, for allegedly selling fake Taylor Swift tickets. A recent news release from the Toronto Police Service stated that Tisor allegedly sold fraudulent tickets worth $70,000 and is now facing a raft of charges. Recommended Videos If the accusations are proven true, for every Denise Tisor, or Denise Blackhawk as she allegedly went by on Facebook, there are countless other scammers using legit services to try to take advantage of fans — be it for Taylor Swift or other in-demand acts. When Melissa bought her Taylor Swift tickets in August 2023, those tickets didn’t actually exist — or if they did, they wouldn’t end up in her hands when the big day came a couple of weeks ago. Less than 45 minutes before the concert was to start, Melissa found herself on the phone with a customer service representative from StubHub, the secondary market reseller. Like many disappointed fans, Melissa wasn’t one of the lucky ones able to secure tickets when they went on sale via Ticketmaster. While Ticketmaster couldn’t provide tickets, StubHub offered the promise of a night with Taylor Swift for an inflated price. The catch was the tickets wouldn’t be delivered until the day of the show, at least that’s what the email said. Five weeks before the show, a confirmation email arrived that confirmed the tickets would be delivered as promised. “We wanted to inform you that your Taylor Swift order, will be fulfilled in time for your event!” the email read. The email went on to say that for security reasons, all tickets were being released within 72 hours of the event. On the night of the show, the best StubHub could do was to offer other tickets that were not nearly as good. StubHub said they tried but were unable to contact the seller. The only two options on the table, take the new seats that were not nearly as close to the stage or take a refund and go home disappointed. While a verbal offer for financial compensation was made on the phone that night, StubHub later reneged on that offer, saying there was no record of that offer. “StubHub is committed to providing fans with a secure and seamless ticketing experience — our FanProtect Guarantee ensures that every order is 100% backed,” StubHub said in a statement. “In the rare case of an issue, we will strive to find an equivalent or better ticket or provide a full refund. If a seller is found in violation of our policy, they can be penalized with fees up to double the cost of the ticket sold and removal from the platform.” Recommended video StubHub insists that just 0.2% of all orders in North American within their network are fraudulent. They also state that since people selling fraudulent tickets won’t be paid, there is no incentive to make the attempt. Yet clearly some people still do and for every 1 million ticket orders, 2,000 are problematic. Perhaps it’s time to enforce the existing law. The seller of fraudulent tickets could also be charged under Ontario law. For that matter, perhaps StubHub could be, too. Ontario’s Ticket Sales Act, 2017, makes it is illegal to sell speculative tickets, meaning tickets people don’t already have in their possession. “No person shall make a ticket available for sale if the ticket is not in the person’s possession or control,” the law states. Penalties for breaking this law range from fines starting at $10,000 and rising to jail time of up to two years less a day. Despite the law being on the books, it’s not really enforced and that is the real problem, say industry insiders. Ticketmaster has invested in new technology and adopted new techniques, such as the verified fan system, to try to stop or slow scalping on the secondary market. It’s had some effect, but each step they make, the unscrupulous sellers using platforms like StubHub, SeatGeek or others try to find ways around them. One thing that would be easy to do would be to apply the law stopping sellers from listing seats they don’t have. While that is harder to do once a big show is on sale, it’s easier to do when tickets are being sold on the secondary market before they are even officially on sale. Before tickets for the Oasis show in Toronto at Downsview were even on sale via Ticketmaster, they were already listed for sale on secondary market sites. The same happened this past week with Post Malone and his show that takes place next March. People who are listing seats before the concert tickets are even available should be prosecuted and so should the platforms allowing that. This simple act would end the practise of speculative ticket selling, at least for the pre-sale time. The law could also be updated to require that any reselling platform verify the ticket exists. Many of the major resale platforms already do that with sports like baseball, hockey or basketball but refuse to do so for the lucrative concert market. We will never completely be rid of scalpers, or the secondary ticket market as they now call it and I’m not sure we want to be. These services provide a valuable service for people who buy tickets to an event and then can’t go, and they also help those who didn’t get tickets but want them. That said, we have to stamp out fraud, which is clearly happening. If the industry doesn’t clean up its own mess, then government will have to.Ja Morant Gets Real On The Impact Of Derrick RoseLucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for coining the term ‘ Divyangjan ' and inspiring differently-abled persons to excel in all fields by respecting their sentiments. He was speaking at an event to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities . Affirming his govt's commitment to the welfare of differently-abled persons, the CM said that whenever Divyangjans were given the opportunity, they demonstrated exceptional talent and capabilities. Giving the example of Ashtavakra, Mahakavi Surdas, physicist Stephen Hawking, and Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya to highlight that Divyangjans are in no way less than any other person, the CM said, "Individuals, when provided with a platform and the support of society, have contributed to the nation, the world, and humanity through their talent, proving they are in no way lesser than others. International Day of Persons with Disabilities serves as a platform to inspire society to adopt this inclusive approach and celebrate the capabilities of Divyangjans." The CM said that there was a need to expand educational institutions for visually impaired, deaf, and other differently-abled children. The state, he said, was already home to two prominent Divyang universities, Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya University in Chitrakoot. In addition to these facilities, he said, there was also the need for trained teachers, adequate honorariums, and the use of technology to empower these institutions. Stressing the importance of determination and dedication, the CM said that when there was a will to work, lack of funds was never a barrier. A person preparing quietly would have the results to speak for their talent, he said. Highlighting the efforts made by his govt for differently-abled persons in the state, the CM said, "In 2017, the pension for differently-abled individuals was a mere Rs 300 and was often delayed for months. Today, the amount has increased to Rs 1,000 per month, benefiting 11 lakh differently-abled people. The pension is directly transferred to beneficiaries' accounts. Families affected by leprosy are now provided with a monthly pension of Rs 3,000, further demonstrating the govt's commitment to inclusivity and support for the marginalised," he said. The CM also related the story of Ramchandra Gupta from Kanpur, who, despite being a divyang, became a model of self-reliance by running a large centre for children. He also spoke about the success of divyang athletes at the Paris Paralympics, highlighting their talent and determination. "All govt buildings must have ramps for the divyangs, and Rs 40 crore has been allocated for free travel on Transport Corporation buses for differently-abled individuals. Financial support is being given to divyang couples, with Rs 15,000 where the husband is divyang, Rs 20,000 where the wife is divyang, and Rs 35,000 for both. Grants of Rs 20,000 are also available for shop construction, and Rs 10,000 for operating shops, kiosks, or handcarts," the CM said. In addition to these measures, the CM said that there were increased grants for differently-abled persons for surgeries and financial support for cochlear implants for hearing-impaired children. Already, 24 such surgeries were successfully conducted this year. The state is also supporting the operation of several institutions, including pre-primary and daycare centres, as well as shelter homes and training centres in cities such as Meerut, Bareilly, and Gorakhpur. The CM said that in addition to this, the state govt was also working to uplift backward classes and girls. The budget for the backward class welfare department has increased from Rs 1,295 crore in 2016-17 to about Rs 2,800 crore now. The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, which has seen a rise in funding from Rs 107 crore to Rs 160.16 crore, benefits 7.58 lakh students against 5.19 lakh students earlier. Additionally, Rs 300 crore has been allocated for scholarships for backward-class students. The post-matric scholarship and fee reimbursement programme has also expanded, benefiting 19.80 lakh students with Rs 2,070 crore, compared to 11.13 lakh students in 2016-17. The CM also extended his greetings on the birth anniversary of India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, and for National Advocates Day.
