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Rain brings small ‘reprieve’ in B.C.’s north, but wildfire conditions dire elsewhere

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

The number of active wildfires in British Columbia has dropped sharply to about 400 as cooler weather and recent rain has cut the fire risk, but another hot spell could wipe out those gains as large sections of the province wilt under severe drought.Provincial fire information officer Mike McCulley said the BC Wildfire Service is grateful for rain in B.C.’s north, saying it has allowed for “a small piece of reprieve.”“It really helps us to get a handle on the fires and make some good progress,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “We’ve adjusted our tactics accordingly to try to take advantage of this window.”The service is reporting just 10 new fires in the last 24 hours amid the easing conditions.However, McCulley said this will be short lived.“We will be back into some very intense and dire wildfire conditions and extreme fire behaviour in the southeast part of the province especially, as they received virtually no precipitatio...

7 more people have died amid record highs in Arizona’s most populous county. Here’s what to know

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Another seven heat-associated deaths were confirmed over the last week in America’s hottest big metro, health officials reported Wednesday, amid a blistering heat wave with daytime highs over 110 F (43.3 C) and overnight lows not dropping below 90 F (32.2 C). Maricopa County, the most populous county in Arizona and home to Phoenix, reported that its health department has confirmed 25 heat-associated deaths this year as of Saturday since the first one was recorded in April, with 249 more under investigation.That’s seven more heat-associated deaths for the year since 18 were reported as of July 15, when there were 69 additional deaths under investigation.As of the same time last year, there were 38 heat-associated deaths and 256 more listed as under investigation.The region’s county and city governments, hospitals, schools and nonprofit groups that operate several hundred cooling and hydrating stations across the area are closely watching the confirmed death...

Ocean currents vital for distributing heat could collapse by midcentury, study says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

A system of ocean currents that transports heat northward across the North Atlantic could collapse by mid-century, according to a new study, and scientists have said before that such a collapse could cause catastrophic sea-level rise and extreme weather across the globe.In recent decades, researchers have both raised and downplayed the specter of Atlantic current collapse. It even prompted a movie that strayed far from the science. Two years ago the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said any such catastrophe is unlikely this century. But the new study published in Nature Communications suggests it might not be as far away and unlikely as mainstream science says.The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is a vital system of ocean currents that circulates water throughout the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It’s a lengthy process, taking an estimated 1,000 years to complete, but has slowed even more s...

Jury convicts Green Bay woman of killing, dismembering former boyfriend.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A jury found a Green Bay woman guilty Wednesday of killing and dismembering a former boyfriend and scattering his body parts at various locations. The Brown County jury deliberated less than an hour before convicting Taylor Schabusiness, 25, of homicide, third-degree sexual abuse and mutilating a corpse in the February 2022 killing of Shad Thyrion, 24, news outlets reported.Authorities say she strangled Thyrion at the Green Bay home he shared with his mother, sexually abused him and dismembered his body, leaving parts of it throughout the house and in a vehicle.In his closing argument, Brown County District Attorney David Lasee called the case “bizarre.”“This is strange. This is unnatural — but in no way is it unclear,” Lasee said. “She did cause Shad Thyrion’s death.”Defense attorney Christopher Froelich said the case was “a puzzling, unclear collection of facts.” “Was this an accidental death? Was there intent to kill Shad Thryion? It’s fog...

Public health agency ends probe into Air France passenger that sat in blood-soaked area

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

Canada’s public health agency has ended an investigation opened after an Air France passenger said he sat amid the uncleaned remnants of a previous passenger’s hemorrhage, concluding that nothing was found on board that could spread communicable diseases.The Public Health Agency of Canada had opened the probe citing its mandate to ensure that anything brought into the country on a conveyance does not threaten public health.The agency says its investigation included cooperation with Air France, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and determined that there was “no person or substance on board that could cause the spread of a communicable disease.”RELATED: Public health agency investigates after Air France passenger sat in blood-soaked areaPassenger Habib Battah told The Canadian Press that after boarding a June 30 flight from Paris to Toronto, he noticed a strong manure-like odour and noticed a ...

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian defense minister on military cooperation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military issues and the regional security environment, state media said Thursday as the country celebrated the 70th anniversary of an armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War.The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim and Shoigu talked Wednesday in the capital, Pyongyang, and reached a consensus on unspecified “matters of mutual concern in the field of national defense and security and on the regional and international security environment.”The report did not specify what was discussed. KCNA also said Kim took Shoigu to an arms exhibition that showcased some of North Korea’s newest weapons and briefed him on national plans to expand the country’s military capabilities. Photos from the exhibition showed Kim gesturing while talking to Shoigu as they walked near a row of large missiles mounted on launcher trucks.In a rare case of diplo...

Mutinous soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger’s president

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Mutinous soldiers claimed to have overthrown Niger’s democratically elected president, announcing on state television late Wednesday that they have put an end to the government over the African country’s deteriorating security. The soldiers said all institutions had been suspended and security forces were managing the situation. They urged external partners not to interfere.The announcement came after a day of uncertainty as members of Niger’s presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. It was unclear where the president was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned. “This is as a result of the continuing degradation of the security situation, the bad economic and social governance,” air force Col. Major Amadou Abdramane said on the video. Seated at a table in front of nine other officers, he said aerial and land borders were closed and a curfew was imposed until the situation stabili...

Survivors of pilot whale pod that beached on the Australian coast are euthanized after rescue fails

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Survivors of a pod of almost 100 whales that beached on the southwestern Australian coast were euthanized Wednesday after a second day of frantic, but unsuccessful efforts to rescue them, authorities said.The pod of long-finned pilot whales stranded themselves Tuesday on Cheynes Beach east of the former whaling station of Albany in Western Australia state, south of the capital Perth.Despite the efforts of wildlife officers and volunteers, 52 stranded whales died on the beach.The remaining 45 were euthanized Wednesday after efforts to lead them to deeper water failed. The survivors continually returned to the shallows, the Western Australia Parks and Wildlife Service said in a statement late Wednesday.“Sadly, the decision had to be made to euthanize the remaining whales to avoid prolonging their suffering,” the service said.“It was a difficult decision for all involved, however the welfare of the whales had to take precedence,” it added.The service thanked hun...

'Coolest' highs in 2.5 weeks return to Central Texas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Today's triple-digit high was our 35th of the year and our 19th consecutive day of a high at 100º or hotter in Austin, the 5th longest stretch ever.You probably noticed the hazier sky today thanks to Saharan dust. This will stay with us to wrap-up the work week, but will slowly fade during the weekend returning our sky to a brilliant blue by early next week. Generally air quality remains okay as this dust is suspended higher in the sky, but sunsets will look extra pretty tonight.Dust from Africa overhead for a few daysWe're forecasting a brief "cool-down" of sorts with high temperatures falling to 102º on Friday. The last time highs were as low as that was back on July 8th when we began this recent stretch of 100º+ heat. 2023 AUSTIN WEATHER DATA This cool-down will come with a further decrease in afternoon dew points making for a relatively dry afternoon heat on Friday, compared to what we've had.The high just won't leaveYou can thank high pressure moving a little...

Swimming now allowed at Hamilton Pool Preserve

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:52:54 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Hamilton Pool Preserve said visitors were now allowed to get into the water from the beach after it was closed due to high bacteria levels.“Only a very limited portion of the pool is available for water access due to the problem of falling rocks,” Travis County Parks said. “As always, whether swimming will be allowed depends on factors beyond our control, such as bacteria levels and recent rain.” PREVIOUS STORY: Water access at Hamilton Pool Preserve currently not allowed Park officials said water access was never guaranteed with a reservation. TC Parks said even when swimming is not allowed, the preserve would remain open for hiking; however, reservations are still required.