Latest news with #deGroot
Winnipeg Free Press
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg cellphone users scratch their heads over tornado alert
Winnipeggers may have received a tornado alert on their phones on Monday — some repeatedly — but it wasn't for them and they were never in any danger. While the Environment Canada emergency alert popped up on the cellphones of many Winnipeggers at about 6:30 p.m. — urging them to 'take immediate cover in a basement or interior room if weather threat approaches' — it was intended for residents in the Rural Municipality of MacDonald, southwest of the city. Some of its communities include Oak Bluff, La Salle, Brunkild and Starbuck. Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Crawford Luke said the alert was sent out when radar screens showed tornado conditions over the municipality. 'The radar looked really good (for a tornado), but we haven't received any reports of damage,' Luke said on Monday. 'A few storm watchers saw some rotation in the clouds, and a funnel cloud was spotted by someone at the airport, but to our knowledge, neither a tornado or funnel cloud did any damage.' An employee at the municipality confirmed no tornado touched down in the area. As to why Winnipeggers also received the alert, when they weren't in danger, Erik de Groot, national program and business development associate director of the Meteorological Service of Canada, said it is because of the locations of cell towers. 'The AlertReady system triggers any wireless towers that serve the zone, under an alert, including those that are outside the alert zone on the edge,' de Groot said. 'Near the edges, and even outside of the alert zone, those towers also will be serving areas outside the alert zone. Wireless devices are not aware if they are inside the alert. They receive the alert from the tower and then sound the alert. So it is possible that a user is outside the alert zone, but connected to a tower (serving) the alert zone. 'Experience has shown this can be 20 (to) 40 kilometres or more. It really depends on the tower.' While some Winnipeggers on social media said they received upwards of five alert messages for the one event, de Groot said people should only receive one alert. 'There may be multiple updates to an alert message, but the phone knows it already received it and will not 'beep' again,' he said. 'It may be possible that people have different applications that are providing different alerts or 'beeping' on any updates.' Bell MTS spokeswoman Jessica Benzinger said it, as the cellphone service provider, does not control the content, timing or frequency of emergency alerts or who gets them. 'These alerts are issued by authorized government agencies like Environment and Climate Change Canada through Canada's public alerting system,' Benzinger said. 'Bell's role is to provide the wireless network that enables alerts to reach compatible devices in the affected area. The messages pass through our network, but we do not control what's sent, how often, or to whom. Factors like location, device settings, and potential re-transmissions, from the alerting authority, may explain why some customers received multiple alerts.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
1News
29-05-2025
- Sport
- 1News
'Toughest times I've had' - de Groot on All Blacks disappointment
Ethan de Groot has to wear a rubber wedding ring due to a dislocated finger which is now fused in place. He also has to use a special pillow to mitigate against a neck bulge between his sixth and seventh vertebrae. A week after tearing a hamstring against the Brumbies in Canberra in late March, he flew to Perth and played the first half in a close defeat to the Force. It is an injury list that would probably sideline most players but the Highlanders loosehead prop and co-captain— who has just re-committed to the franchise and New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2027 — told 1News today that he feels it goes with the job. 'It's all part of it,' he said. 'Being the only All Black in the team, I have to front up every week and be the best that I can.' ADVERTISEMENT Disregard the injuries for a minute and none of it has been easy for de Groot or the Highlanders this season. Dead last on the Super Rugby table, their final match of the season is against the Chiefs in Dunedin tomorrow night, but the bare facts – three victories from 13 matches – don't tell the full story. But for some wayward goalkicking in the derby against the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend – five misses in total – they would have picked up another precious victory and, unfortunately, that has been the story of the southerners' season. 'It's been quite a disappointing season in terms of results,' de Groot said. 'We've lost seven games by under seven points. We've been really close, but it's about closing out games… obviously we're a young group and we're struggling to nail those moments in close games.' Actually, the Highlanders have lost eight matches by fewer than seven points, including their last three against Moana Pasifika, the Hurricanes and Crusaders. All Blacks and Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot talks to 1News about being dropped on last year's tour and the extent of his painful Super Rugby season. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT It has clearly been a difficult season in which their set piece has been exposed and their defence occasionally over-run – notwithstanding the efforts of their outstanding midfielder and co-skipper Timoci Tavatavanawai and lock Fabian Holland. And the end is in sight with the table-topping Chiefs in town. 'In terms of tomorrow night, the whole year we've spoken about our team motto – 'inspire the south' – and this is our last opportunity to try to do that,' de Groot said. Asked about his All Blacks' ambitions – head coach Scott Robertson will name his first squad of the year on June 23 and de Groot is a near certainty to be in it – the 26-year-old said: 'It's always in the back of your mind all year round. 'You have to put your best foot forward every game. Your spot is never guaranteed in the All Blacks — that's just the nature of the beast. 'I feel I'm getting through a heap of work in terms of making a heap of tackles and a lot of ball carries. 'I've played a lot of minutes as well. Nothing can prepare you for the first Test match of the year, it's a whole other level in terms of physicality and pressure. I've got one last chance to put my hand up for selection. I think I'm trending in the right direction.' ADVERTISEMENT Ethan de Groot in action for the All Blacks against Argentina in Wellington last year. (Source: Photosport) And yet, de Groot probably felt the same way last year on the end-of-year tour before being very publicly dropped by the All Blacks coaches for an off-field indiscretion. The full story has never been revealed and de Groot, who missed the win over England at Twickenham, plus the next two Tests against Ireland and France, was clearly hurt by it. 'It was probably one of the toughest times I've had on tour,' he revealed. 'Obviously, I hurt my neck [against Argentina at Eden Park in August] and was coming back from that and had my stuff-up in Japan. I put a lot of pressure on myself and my family and there was a lot of speculation about what happened. I broke curfew and that was a mistake by me. 'Moving forward, it has probably taken a bit of time to get over that. I probably started the season a bit angry, a bit 'that wasn't fair' or whatever. For me it's about moving on and getting over it.' That has been a theme for him this year, but there has been satisfaction, too, in taking responsibility and leading from the front. ADVERTISEMENT 'I like that pressure of being a leader. You have to walk the talk. We have guys in our team who don't have a hell of a lot of experience. 'I've been in teams where I've been at the pinnacle – which is the [World Cup] final. Just trying to lead and being like the great players I've been around has been a big part of my growth.' He added: 'The way I see it is this is our last game… the body can be sore… I just hope we have a good crowd and get the performance that we deserve. 'I know I'll just have to do my job and just get stuck into it.'
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
De Groot ready for battle after unscheduled week off
Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot got an unexpected rest last weekend and has freshened up for his head-to-head battle with Crusaders tighthead Fletcher Newell. The loosehead was a late scratching for the Chiefs' game. The burly bookend tweaked his ankle leading into the match and though he tried to push through, he could not quite get there. The Highlanders were well-beaten 46-10 in Hamilton. Their playoff prospects are teetering. But a win against the Crusaders in Dunedin tomorrow night would help lift the camp. "Yeah, the mood is just we want to get better and we know our game is capable of it," de Groot said. "It's just about getting the belief back into the group that our game works, and when we stick to that plan we put ourselves in spots to win games." Asked about the scrum and how it is going, de Groot took a second to consider — and his answer suggested there was plenty to work on. "It's a funny one. "We've got some young hookers in the middle of our scrum and hookers are a big part of our scrum. "It's probably just a change of mindset around getting our [tight] five and preparing accordingly throughout the week. "This weekend is going to be no different. It's going to be a tough battle up front, especially against their pack. "It's an All Black tight-five, pretty much. They've got some quality players in their pack so, yeah, it's definitely a team that we pencil in and this is the Southern derby we're after." De Groot's contest with Newell will have a big impact on how the scrum contest plays out. "Yeah, it's always a big one against me old mate Fletch. "He's been doing some big shifts for the Crusaders. We've scrummed together and we've scrummed against each other, so we kind of know each other's traits. "I know it'll be a tough battle." The Highlanders posted a memorable 32-29 win in the fixture last season, but they have won only two of the past 12 games against their great rivals.
Saudi Gazette
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
5.2-magnitude earthquake hits California near San Diego
SAN DIEGO — A 5.2 earthquake rattled San Diego, California, and the surrounding area on Monday afternoon, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake struck at 10:08 local time (18:00 GMT) with an epicenter in Julian, California. The resort town is located in the Cuyamaca Mountains about an hour north-east of San Diego. Around two hours after the earthquake, Perette Godwin, a spokeswoman for the City of San Diego, told the BBC there had been no reports of structural damage or injuries. The San Diego sheriff's office also said it had not yet "received any reports of injuries or major damage caused by the earthquake," but said it was a "developing situation". California Governor Gavin Newsom's office posted on X shortly after the quake that he had been briefed on the situation. The USGS continued to report smaller aftershocks in the region in the hour after the quake. The National Weather Service, meanwhile, said a tsunami was not expected. In the moments before it struck, emergency alerts issued by the USGS ordered residents to take shelter as far away as Los Angeles. "Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself," the alert read. Kevin Manaugh was eating breakfast when he received an alert, and quickly took shelter under a door frame. "Sure enough, the quaking started to happen," Manaugh said. "I've lived in San Diego most of my life, I was born here, and this is probably the worst quake that I've ever felt." "It was a bit shocking," he continued. "Everything shook, it shook a lot. It rattled around and lasted maybe three seconds, and then it was over." Though his house suffered no damage, Manaugh said he would likely prepare in case another earthquake struck. "Between this and the wildfires in Los Angeles, it made me think that it's probably a good idea to have an evacuation bag," he said. Earthquakes are notoriously difficult to predict, but the alert's lead time - about 15 seconds for Manaugh - was enough to take action. "The way they were able to predict that, it gave me time to get to a point of safety," he said. The USGS uses seismographs and other sensors buried in the ground throughout California to make a "lightning fast" detection when the earth starts to move, said Robert de Groot, a team lead for the agency's ShakeAlert system. The sensors convey data to a processing center, which helps scientists determine the strength and potential scale of the quake. "We use about a second's worth of data to determine what is going on," de Groot said. USGS data is quickly distributed to Google and various earthquake apps to help warn residents. In the case of larger quakes, like the one that struck Southern California on Monday morning, officials send a notification through the wireless emergency alert system to ensure it reaches anyone who could be in harms way. On Monday, that included de Groot, who felt the earthquake in Pasadena, 130 miles north of the epicenter. He saw the alert, and quickly took cover under a table until the rattling stopped. "Nobody likes the ground shaking," he said, "even though earthquakes are my day job." — BBC
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fake painkillers are circulating in the Netherlands, authorities warn after man dies
Dutch authorities are warning people against ordering prescription painkillers online after a 30-year-old man died in Amsterdam after taking counterfeit oxycodone. The pills were bought online without a prescription, according to the Trimbos Institute, a Dutch scientific research agency. They did not contain oxycodone – which is prescribed for patients with severe pain – but rather nitazenes, which are synthetic opioids that are much stronger than oxycodone, morphine, or fentanyl. The drugs are so potent that only a few milligrams can cause fatal breathing problems, according to Trimbos. The effects also last longer, raising the risk of an overdose. Related What the EU drugs agency chief is most worried about in 2025 Police in Amsterdam are still trying to identify where the man who died got the fake oxycodone. But his death is one of several health crises tied to synthetic drugs in the Netherlands recently. The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) said multiple people have received emergency medical care after taking pills that were sold online as oxycodone but turned out to contain nitazenes. The drugs are sold online and on social media, the inspectorate said. They look like oxycodone and typically have original-looking packaging – making them 'almost indistinguishable' from the real thing, it added. Related From cannabis to cocaine: What are the most commonly used illicit drugs in the EU? 'This shows how dangerous it is to order prescription drugs online,' IGJ chief inspector Henk de Groot said in a statement. 'It may look real, but you have absolutely no idea what you are buying'. The warning comes amid an uptick in the availability of nitazenes and other synthetic opioids in parts of Europe, according to the European Union Drugs Agency, which described them as an 'important emerging threat'. Related 'Missing piece of the jigsaw': Glasgow hopes safe injection site will curb overdose deaths Trimbos urged people to avoid buying pain medication online and said people should call for emergency help if they begin feeling unwell after taking oxycodone. Meanwhile, IGJ said people can report websites selling prescription medicines to investigators. 'For drugs, go to your doctor and pharmacy,' de Groot said.
