Latest news with #B.C.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found 3 Tombs That Were Hidden Beneath the Sand for 3,500 Years
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Egyptian archaeologists discovered three tombs in Luxor from Egypt's New Kingdom. Each tomb came with an inscription to give clues as to the name and position of its inhabitant. Some of the tomb architecture was impressively expansive. Three New Kingdom tombs were recently discovered in Luxor. While that's worth celebrating on its own, it gets even better—researchers found inscriptions in the tombs that help tell the stories of the high-ranking officials that were once buried there. According to a translated statement from Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the three tombs—discovered in the necropolis of Draa Abu El-Naga on the west bank of Luxor—all come from the New Kingdom (1539 to 1077 B.C.). One is from the 19th Dynasty, led by the Ramesside family, and the other two are from the 18th Dynasty. The 19th Dynasty tomb belonged to Amun-em-Ipet—an official who likely worked in the temple or the estate of Amun. While much of the funerary furniture and decorations had faded or been destroyed over time, artistry that was still visible depicted scenes of offering, funerary furniture carriers, and banqueting. The tomb itself was highlighted by a small courtyard that led into the square chamber. The west wall once featured a spot to hold funerary goods, but it was destroyed during later reuse. The two 18th Dynasty tombs were similar in design. One belonged to a person named Baki, who was likely a granary silo supervisor. Baki's tomb is more complex than the one from the 19th Dynasty, with a long hallway-styled courtyard leading to a second courtyard ahead of the main entrance. The tomb then turns and opens into a long chamber with a funerary room. The third tomb belonged to a person called Es, who had a longer list of responsibilities and was known to be a key official in the Temple of Amun in the oasis, the governor of the northern oasis, and a scribe. The tomb closely mirrors that of Baki, and features a small courtyard containing a well, followed by the tomb's main entrance, and then a transverse hall leading to another (incomplete) longitudinal hall. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities, said that experts will continue to study the carvings and hope to gain more information about the tomb's owners. Sherif Fathy, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Archaeology, called the find by a scientific and archaeological achievement that will greatly contribute to attracting more visitors to the region. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
CTV News
4 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Canada's first quarter GDP expands, beating estimates as economy reacts to tariffs
A worker uses an angle grinder on a vessel under construction at Seaspan Shipyards, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, October 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Canada's economy in the first quarter grew faster than expected, data showed on Friday, primarily driven by exports as companies in the United States rushed to stockpile before tariffs by President Donald Trump. But an increase in imports that led to inventory build-up, lower household spending and weaker final domestic demand indicate that the economy was battling on the domestic front. Economists have warned that as tariffs continue on Canada, this trend will persist. The gross domestic product in the first quarter grew by 2.2 per cent on an annualized basis as compared with the downwardly revised 2.1 per cent growth posted in the previous quarter, Statistics Canada said. This is the final economic indicator before the Bank of Canada's rates decision on Wednesday and will help determine whether the central bank will cut or stay pat on rates. Currency swap markets were expecting around 75 per cent chance the bank would hold its rates at the current level of 2.75 per cent, before the GDP data was released. Trump's repeated threats and flip-flops on tariffs since the beginning of the year led to an increase in exports and imports to and from the U.S. Trump imposed tariffs on Canada in March, first on a slew of products and later specifically on steel and aluminum. The GDP grew by 0.1 per cent in March after a contraction of 0.2 per cent in February. The economy is likely expected to expand by 0.1 per cent in April, the statistics agency said referring to a flash estimate. The March growth was primarily driven by a rebound in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction and construction sectors. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the first quarter GDP to expand by 1.7 per cent and by 0.1 per cent in March. The quarterly GDP figure is calculated based on income and expenditure while the monthly GDP is derived from industrial output. The tariffs and the uncertainty around them started showing early signs of impact as the final domestic demand, which represents total final consumption expenditures and investment in fixed capital, did not increase for the first time since the end of 2023, Statscan said. Growth in household spending also slowed to 0.3 per cent in the first quarter, after rising 1.2 per cent in the prior quarter. The first quarter growth was led by a rise in exports, which jumped by 1.6 per cent after increasing by 1.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024. Business investment in machinery and equipments also increased by 5.3 per cent which pushed the quarterly GDP higher. Reporting by Promit Mukherjee; Editing by Dale Smith
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Health
- Globe and Mail
B.C. Supreme Court judge hears opening arguments in constitutional challenge of provincial Mental Health Act
A B.C. Supreme Court judge deciding whether the province's Mental Health Act violates the Charter rights of people forced into treatment has heard opening arguments in a challenge that started in 2016. On Thursday, the lead lawyer for the plaintiff laid out the testimony Justice Lauren Blake is set to hear, including from a psychiatric patient who says they were tackled and injected with medication, and another who will tell court they walked into an emergency room, were given drugs and then woke up detained against their will. The case is being brought by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, who say they are not seeking to throw out the ability of the province to detain people who need mental health care. Instead, they are seeking a ruling that the system of treatment patients receive once in custody – or out in the community on extended leave – is 'arbitrary, overbroad and grossly disproportionate.' Under B.C.'s Mental Health Act, people can be committed for treatment against their will if they meet all of several criteria, including that they are a risk to themselves or others, their mental disorder seriously impairs their ability to react appropriately to the environment, and that they require treatment in or through a designated facility. But politicians in B.C. and many other provinces are looking to force more people with addictions and mental illnesses into treatment against their will. Critics decry this practice as inhumane, based on unclear science and not as effective as funding better public health care for people who want treatment for their mental illness. B.C. to introduce involuntary care for people with concurrent addiction, mental disorders, premier says In B.C., the NDP government is creating highly secure units within jails and hospitals to provide more involuntary care for those with concurrent addictions, mental illness and acquired brain injuries. In the wake of the Lapu-Lapu Day attack in Vancouver last month, Premier David Eby pledged to 'modernize' the 30-year-old Mental Health Act, saying 'we need to be able to force people into care,' adding that 'the sensitivity around it has led us to delay doing this modernization of the act that everybody agrees needs to happen.' At the B.C. Supreme Court, Justice Blake is expected to hear from 13 patients or their family members and six experts called by the plaintiff, while lawyers for the provincial attorney-general are expected to call their own involuntary patients and a host of experts to support the current system. The proceedings will break for the summer, and closing remarks are expected in October. On Thursday, Patrick Williams, lead counsel for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, told the court that under the Mental Health Act, involuntary patients are presumed to be incapable of giving, refusing or revoking consent to psychiatric treatment, whether or not they have the capacity to decide for themselves what is best. Plus, he added, they have no ability to review the treatment plan of their caregivers or appoint a substitute decision maker, like in other provinces. B.C.'s experiments in involuntary care face two crucial tests against the evidence and the electorate That means their Section 7 Charter right to a fair process while detained is violated, he argued. 'We say the provisions are procedurally unfair because they deny involuntary patients an ability to seek review of decisions,' said Mr. Williams, flanked by seven other lawyers for the plaintiff. Avichay Sharon, lead counsel for the province, said in his opening remarks that the lawsuit is based on a 'reductionist and overly simplistic conception of liberty simply as freedom from state interference.' Instead, he argued, the current system buttresses – not breaches – the Charter rights of patients because it allows them to stabilize and regain their health and freedom. 'It is not only permissible, but it is also the just and the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do. In some cases, it may be the only thing to do – both for the patient's sake as well as others.' Mr. Sharon said he would call mental-health advocate and public speaker Bryn Ditmars, who has spoken publicly about how a series of seven involuntary hospitalizations eventually helped him overcome psychotic breaks, one of which was violent. The Mental Health Act allows a person diagnosed with a mental disorder who is unwilling to be treated to be detained first for 48 hours. Within that time frame, a second certificate is required to detain the patient for a month. The certificate can be renewed for another month, and then the renewals are good for three months followed by six months at a time.
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Canada wants to kill 400 ostriches. Sadly, it's the right thing to do
On Dec. 31 of last year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency declared an H5N1 outbreak at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C. CFIA had been tipped that some ostriches at the farm had died, so sent investigators out to see what was going on. Indeed, 69 of the bird met their death from the avian flu, which set in motion decisions that continue to reverberate. When it comes to battling this disease, Canada follows guidelines set out by the World Organization for Animal Health. That policy insists that if birds or animals have been infected with the virus and have been part of a larger flock or group, then the most effective way of stamping out the disease and preventing it from spreading elsewhere, including to humans, is to eliminate them all. And in January of this year, that is what CFIA ordered take place – meaning 400 ostriches on the Edgewood farm were effectively placed on death row. They were scheduled to be destroyed by Feb. 1. Earlier this month, a Federal Court judge denied two judicial reviews brought by the farm against the CFIA directive. The farm owners have appealed again. They have received support in their battle from animal-rights activists, Indigenous leaders and some politicians. Some truly big names have also jumped to their defence. B.C. ostrich cull to go ahead despite RFK Jr. intervention Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has become involved. In a call with CFIA president Paul MacKinnon this month, Mr. Kennedy urged Canada to halt the cull in the name of science. He argues there is much to learn from the immune response of the ostriches that survived the flu outbreak. If that wasn't enough, former Oprah Winfrey health expert and now administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz, has jumped into the fray, offering to relocate the birds to his ranch in Florida. The Universal owners have said they want to keep the birds in Canada. So, does CFIA have its head in the sand or what? From a purely scientific standpoint, I would say no. Avian flu is a potentially lethal virus. In November of last year, the B.C. Ministry of Health reported its first case of bird flu in a human – a teenager who fell dangerously ill but eventually recovered. But the risk it poses to the human population is real and deadly serious. Then there is the threat it poses to Canadian farmers, including the $6.8-billion domestic poultry industry. The federal government reports that 14.5 million birds on more than 500 farms have been affected by the H5N1 virus since 2022, including more than 8.7 million in B.C. This includes birds that have died from the virus or have been 'depopulated' – in other words, euthanized - by CFIA. The virus has also spread to cattle and other animals in North America, although in far fewer numbers. While I'm admittedly not an expert on pathogenic avian-influenza viruses, it seems to me that allowing a domestic poultry flock known to have been exposed to the H5N1 virus to subsist and therefore potentially allow the disease to persist, mutate and spread, would be a mistake. With 8.7 million birds dead, B.C. farmers assess avian flu toll and worry about the future The U.S. hasn't always been consistent in using this 'stamp out' approach. It paid the price late last year when avian flu infected poultry farms, resulting in the deaths of millions of birds and causing the price of eggs to spike. Canada did not see the same escalation in egg costs because we protected our flocks through culling. Of course, Canada's policy is not a cure-all. If it was, it would have stopped the spread of the disease already. But it's arguably the best method of preventing the virus from causing greater harm. It also offers the best hope of a farm returning to disease-free status and protecting Canada's export markets in the process. Mr. Kennedy's brainstorm is to just let the disease run its course and let the feathers fall where they may. I don't want to underestimate the psychological, emotional and financial toll this situation has taken on the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms. The idea of watching 400 of their ostriches killed through yet-to-determined means would be gut-wrenching, and the $3,000 per bird the government offers in compensation would hardly seem sufficient. If Dr. Oz is willing to take the birds to his ranch, and they can be shipped safely, that would seem to be a better option than putting the birds to death. But otherwise, granting a stay of execution based purely on emotional grounds would set a terrible precedent, pose a danger to the country and would likely lead to worse decisions on this front down the road.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Newly discovered 'ghost' lineage linked to ancient mystery population in Tibet, DNA study finds
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A 7,100-year-old skeleton from China has revealed a "ghost" lineage that scientists had only theorized about until now, a new study finds. Researchers made the discovery while studying ancient skeletons that could help them map the diverse genetics of central China. The DNA of this ghost lineage individual, an Early Neolithic woman who was buried at the Xingyi archaeological site in southwestern China's Yunnan province, also holds clues to the origins of Tibetan people. "There likely were more of her kind, but they just haven't been sampled yet," study co-author Qiaomei Fu, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, told Live Science in an email. Fu and colleagues detailed their analysis of 127 human genomes from southwestern China in a study published May 29 in the journal Science. Most of the skeletons that they sampled were dated between 1,400 and 7,150 years ago and came from Yunnan province, which today has the highest ethnic and linguistic diversity in all of China. "Ancient humans that lived in this region may be key to addressing several remaining questions on the prehistoric populations of East and Southeast Asia," the researchers wrote in the study. Those unanswered questions include the origins of people who live on the Tibetan Plateau, as previous studies have shown that Tibetans have northern East Asian ancestry along with a unique ghost ancestry that has mystified researchers. The oldest person the researchers tested was found to be the missing link between Tibetans and the ghost' lineage. Related: 'Mystery population' of human ancestors gave us 20% of our genes and may have boosted our brain function At the Xingyi archaeological site in central Yunnan, dozens of burials were discovered that dated from the Neolithic period (7000 to 2000 B.C.) to the Bronze Age (2000 to 770 B.C.). Beneath all the other burials, archaeologists found a female skeleton with no grave goods. Carbon dating revealed she lived about 7,100 years ago, and isotope analysis of her diet showed she was probably a hunter-gatherer. But genomic analysis of the woman, who has been named Xingyi_EN, was a surprise: her ancestry was not very similar to East and South Asians but was closer to a "deeply diverged" Asian population whose genes contributed to the ghost population only seen in modern Tibetans. A "ghost population" refers to a group of people who were not previously known from skeletal remains but whose existence has been inferred through statistical analysis of ancient and modern DNA. The mystery ancestry seen in Xingyi_EN does not match Neanderthals or Denisovans, both well-known ancient populations that did contribute some "ghost" DNA to humans. Rather, Xingyi_EN is evidence of a previously unknown lineage that diverged from other humans at least 40,000 years ago, according to the researchers, and has been named the Basal Asian Xingyi lineage. RELATED STORIES —Ancient jawbone dredged off Taiwan seafloor belongs to mysterious Denisovan, study finds —DNA from mysterious 'Denisovans' helped modern humans survive —Now-extinct relative had sex with humans far and wide For thousands of years, the lineage was separated from other human groups, meaning there was no admixture — interbreeding that would mix their DNA. "The possible isolation allowed this ancestry to persist without apparent admixture with other populations," Fu said. But at some point, Xingyi_EN's relatives did interbreed with other groups of East Asian ancestry, mixing DNA. "The mixed population has lasted for quite a long time and contributed genes to some Tibetans today," Fu explained. However, these results should be taken with caution, the researchers noted in the study. Given the genetic evidence comes from just a single person, further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between Xingyi_EN and the Tibetan ghost lineage.
