Latest news with #EdWhite
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern Manitoba evacuees stream south to escape raging wildfires
(Refiles to remove extra words in first paragraph) By Ed White WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) -As thousands of people fled from areas overwhelmed by wildfires in remote northern Manitoba on Friday, Winnipeg scrambled to find housing and care for the sudden wave of evacuees. The outbreak of fires across much of western Canada's north is due to unusually hot and dry conditions and flames are consuming hundreds of thousands of hectares of tinder-dry forest and bushland. "It's hard on everybody," said school maintenance technician Richard Korte, who had fled to Winnipeg from Flin Flon, a regional centre of 5,000 people on the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border, and wondered where his family would sleep that night. The neighbouring western provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have both declared states of emergency to deal with the spreading fires, which have so far largely hit remote and sparsely-populated areas. Evacuee Chris Schultz was sitting in the cab of his pickup truck with his dog, Stella, and hoped to get a glimpse of friends and relatives arriving at a temporary emergency shelter inside a hockey arena in Winnipeg. Inside the center, his friend Korte had been trying to arrange housing for his family, including his disabled son who needs special supports and cannot stay in an arena. People from northern Indigenous communities are fleeing as fires approach and their few routes to the south are cut off. Some communities have airlifted their most vulnerable people out, but smoke has closed at least one airport. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said about 17,000 Manitobans are fleeing the fires as the weather remains hot and dry. "We need to stay calm," said Kinew in a press conference on Friday afternoon. He praised the help coming from Quebec, other provinces and the U.S., which is sending 125 firefighting staff to Manitoba. "We cannot thank other jurisdictions enough." Flin Flon mayor George Fontaine said on Friday morning that a weather report indicated it was likely that winds would blow the raging fire into the town. "It could be very catastrophic if that happens," Fontaine said on CBC News Network. There are 23 active fires in Manitoba and 14 in Saskatchewan, according to provincial data. The oil-producing province of Alberta also has 51 active fires, and oil companies have been evacuating workers this week. Last year, wildfires devastated Jasper, a tourist town in the Canadian Rockies. In his truck, Schultz said he might break out crying. But he hoped dog Stella would put a smile on the face of some of his fellow evacuees.
Japan Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Manitoba urges thousands to evacuate as Canada wildfires spread
Smoke rises from wildfire WE024 which has prompted a pre-evacuation notice in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada May 27, 2025. Manitoba Government/Handout via REUTERS By Ed White Manitoba declared a state of emergency and urged thousands of people in northern and eastern parts of the province to evacuate on Wednesday, as wildfires spread in Central and Western Canada. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said at a news conference that 17,000 people needed to move quickly, including from the city of Flin Flon. Many will be put up at soccer fields and community centers in Winnipeg and other cities, and federal armed forces were arriving to help transport evacuees, he said. "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory and this will require significant resources and co-operation from all levels of government, Kinew said in a statement. Separately, wildfires in Alberta province have prompted a temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production and forced residents of at least one small town to evacuate. Oil producer Cenovus Energy said it was scaling back nonessential workers at its Foster Creek facility in response to the wildfires in northern Alberta. Cenovus' Foster Creek operation is among a number of oil sands facilities operated by companies with assets in the Bonnyville-Cold Lake region. That region was affected on Wednesday by wildfires spanning 2,900 hectares (11.2 square miles) near Chipewyan Lake, a small community in the northern part of the province approximately 130 km (81 miles) west of the oil sands hub of Fort McMurray. Cenovus said it was closely monitoring the evolving wildfire situation and the staffing measure was a precaution. Alberta government officials said on Wednesday there was no current threat to Chipewyan Lake, but residents have been placed on a one-hour evacuation notice as winds could shift. Another blaze, nearly 1,600 hectares in size, is burning out of control about 7 km north of Swan Hills, also in the province's north. The approximately 1,200 residents of Swan Hills were ordered to evacuate on Monday evening. One oil and gas producer in that area, Aspenleaf Energy, said on Monday it had temporarily halted operations as a precaution and shut in approximately 4,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent production. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Manitoba urges thousands to evacuate as Canada wildfires spread
By Ed White WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Manitoba declared a state of emergency and urged thousands of people in northern and eastern parts of the province to evacuate on Wednesday, as wildfires spread in Central and Western Canada. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said at a news conference that 17,000 people needed to move quickly, including from the city of Flin Flon. Many will be put up at soccer fields and community centers in Winnipeg and other cities, and federal armed forces were arriving to help transport evacuees, he said. "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory and this will require significant resources and co-operation from all levels of government, Kinew said in a statement. Separately, wildfires in Alberta province have prompted a temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production and forced residents of at least one small town to evacuate. Oil producer Cenovus Energy said it was scaling back nonessential workers at its Foster Creek facility in response to the wildfires in northern Alberta. Cenovus' Foster Creek operation is among a number of oil sands facilities operated by companies with assets in the Bonnyville-Cold Lake region. That region was affected on Wednesday by wildfires spanning 2,900 hectares (11.2 square miles) near Chipewyan Lake, a small community in the northern part of the province approximately 130 km (81 miles) west of the oil sands hub of Fort McMurray. Cenovus said it was closely monitoring the evolving wildfire situation and the staffing measure was a precaution. Alberta government officials said on Wednesday there was no current threat to Chipewyan Lake, but residents have been placed on a one-hour evacuation notice as winds could shift. Another blaze, nearly 1,600 hectares in size, is burning out of control about 7 km north of Swan Hills, also in the province's north. The approximately 1,200 residents of Swan Hills were ordered to evacuate on Monday evening. One oil and gas producer in that area, Aspenleaf Energy, said on Monday it had temporarily halted operations as a precaution and shut in approximately 4,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent production.
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: The latest Omega Speedmaster blends modern design and mechanics with the watch's enduring space legacy – recalling a time when courage and curiosity took humanity to new heights
When space was still a dream for most, Omega was already ticking among the stars. In 1962, Nasa astronaut Wally Schirra strapped an Omega Speedmaster CK2998 to his wrist for the Sigma 7 mission, unknowingly launching Omega's legacy into the cosmos. Nasa took notice. By 1964, engineers were searching for a timepiece tough enough for the Gemini and Apollo missions. Cue James Ragan, a Nasa engineer who tested contenders from top watchmakers under extreme conditions: crushing pressure, cosmic-level heat, bone-chilling cold, high-G shocks, and more. Only one survived – Omega's Speedmaster ST 105.003. On March 23, 1965, the Speedmaster ST 105.003 made its first journey into space on the wrists of astronauts Virgil 'Gus' Grissom and John Young during the Gemini 3 mission – marking its debut as Nasa's official chronograph for manned missions. Just a few months later, Ed White wore the same model during America's first spacewalk. Advertisement Omega Speedmaster 310.30.42.50.01.001. Photo: Handout When the original Omega Speedmaster was introduced in 1957, it was built with advanced protective technologies of the time – such as the sealing power of O-ring gaskets and the innovative 'Naiad' crown. These features made it a remarkably robust chronograph, hermetically sealed against the elements and water-resistant to a depth of 200 feet. Its Hesalite crystal also offered a crucial benefit: shatter resistance. In the high-stakes environment of space, the last thing an astronaut needs is shards of glass floating inside a spacecraft. Durability wasn't just a feature – it was a necessity. To become Nasa's official space chronograph, contenders were tested under extreme conditions: crushing pressure, cosmic-level heat, bone-chilling cold, high-G shocks and more. Photo: Handout Today's Speedmaster Moonwatch, Ref. 310.30.42.50.01.001, continues that legacy. Its asymmetrical case design – first seen in the fourth-generation Speedmaster – adds extra protection for the crown and pushers, while the twisted lugs offer a distinctive and elegant silhouette. The watch retains the iconic black anodised aluminium bezel with its heritage 'Dot over 90' detail, a tribute to the second generation design. Its black step dial features the 'Professional' inscription, Luminova for visibility, and a classic logo. The caseback proudly states its Nasa flight qualification and Moon legacy, now updated with 'Co-Axial Master Chronometer' since 2021.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Canadian agriculture minister to tackle China, US trade issues
By Ed White WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) -Canada's new agriculture minister, Heath MacDonald, said in an interview on Thursday that tackling trade issues with China and the United States are his most pressing priorities. The two-front trade war with the world's largest economies has stressed out farmers in Canada, a major canola, wheat and pork exporter, and impacted spring planting plans. MacDonald was sworn in on Tuesday and said trade issues are "center stage" after speaking with Canada's canola industry and provincial agriculture ministers. Canada faces tariffs from China on Canadian canola meal and oil, as well as peas, pork and seafood products. It is also bracing for an anti-dumping ruling from China on Canadian canola seed exports. About half of Canada's canola exports, also known as rapeseed, go to China. "It's front and center and it will be front and center from me towards the prime minister's office," MacDonald said of the Chinese situation. Canada's agriculture industry is also affected by tariffs on some products from the Trump administration, such as steel and aluminum used in agricultural machinery. There is also a long-simmering dispute over Canada's dairy supply management system, which restricts imports and protects Canadian production. MacDonald said he hoped to meet with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins as soon as possible and to work with American congressional representatives and agriculture officials from states that benefit from cross-border agricultural trade. He reiterated Prime Minister Mark Carney's position that the Canadian supply management system is off the table in trade negotiations. "I think supply management is extremely important to Canada. It's certainly important to my home province and I'll do everything I can to ensure that it stays as is," said MacDonald. MacDonald is from Prince Edward Island and was a member of the House of Commons agriculture committee. He was finance minister of the PEI provincial government. His immediate predecessor in the agriculture portfolio was Kody Blois, a young farmer from Nova Scotia, who was dropped from Carney's cabinet in a surprise to many in Canada's agriculture industry. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
