360º News: International & National briefs
NATIONAL NEWS
A nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier set off for South Korea on November 24. The ship, which carries 75 warplanes and has a crew of over 6,000, left from Tokyo to join exercises with South Korea from November 28 to December 1, reported the Toronto Star. This move comes after an attack on November 23 by North Korea that left two civilians dead.
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All 29 miners trapped in a southern New Zealand mine are believed to be dead as of November 24, reported the London Free Press. The miners were trapped 2.3 km underground for five days. They were in the main tunnel of the Pike River coal mine when methane gas caused an explosion on November 19. The government has vowed to investigate the tragedy.
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In China, another potential mine tragedy had a happier ending. On November 22, 29 miners were rescued after being trapped for more than 24 hours underground. This is a rare piece of good news to come out of China's deadly mining industry: in 2009, over 2,600 people died in coal mine accidents in China, reported the London Free Press.
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This year is currently tied with 1850 as being the hottest year recorded. Three major institutes which track global warming told news agency Reuters that this is part of a warming trend. Current temperatures are approximately 0.8 degrees above pre-industrial levels, and this year's average temperatures are about half a degree above the 1961 to 1990 average.
NATIONAL NEWS
In some distinctly Canadian news, Tim Hortons is now accepting debit as payment for their delicious doughnuts and coffee. This will now be protocol at most of their locations. Furthermore, the Bank of Nova Scotia and Royal Bank of Canada announced they would be the first banks to offer the flash debit option — which means customers would simply pay for their Tim Hortons' treats by waving their card in front of a terminal, rather than punching in their PIN number.
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There have been a number of robberies in Chilliwack, B.C. since September — goat robberies. While some of the goats have been resold, it's also speculated they're being killed for their nutritious meat. However, the owners have come forward to express how the goats are more than moneymakers. "They all have names and personalities," one farmworker, 56-yearold Mel Todhunter, told the National Post. On a more serious note, the farmers have lost a considerable amount of their livelihood and are fearful that the stolen goats are being mistreated or being held inhumanely.
The hard truth: one in seven children are living in poverty in British Columbia, confirmed the BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition in its annual report. Some of their requests to the government in light of this finding are increasing minimum wage, welfare rates and child tax benefits.
— compiled by Jessica Ireland and Erika Faust
A nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier set off for South Korea on November 24. The ship, which carries 75 warplanes and has a crew of over 6,000, left from Tokyo to join exercises with South Korea from November 28 to December 1, reported the Toronto Star. This move comes after an attack on November 23 by North Korea that left two civilians dead.
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All 29 miners trapped in a southern New Zealand mine are believed to be dead as of November 24, reported the London Free Press. The miners were trapped 2.3 km underground for five days. They were in the main tunnel of the Pike River coal mine when methane gas caused an explosion on November 19. The government has vowed to investigate the tragedy.
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In China, another potential mine tragedy had a happier ending. On November 22, 29 miners were rescued after being trapped for more than 24 hours underground. This is a rare piece of good news to come out of China's deadly mining industry: in 2009, over 2,600 people died in coal mine accidents in China, reported the London Free Press.
-----
This year is currently tied with 1850 as being the hottest year recorded. Three major institutes which track global warming told news agency Reuters that this is part of a warming trend. Current temperatures are approximately 0.8 degrees above pre-industrial levels, and this year's average temperatures are about half a degree above the 1961 to 1990 average.
NATIONAL NEWS
In some distinctly Canadian news, Tim Hortons is now accepting debit as payment for their delicious doughnuts and coffee. This will now be protocol at most of their locations. Furthermore, the Bank of Nova Scotia and Royal Bank of Canada announced they would be the first banks to offer the flash debit option — which means customers would simply pay for their Tim Hortons' treats by waving their card in front of a terminal, rather than punching in their PIN number.
-----
There have been a number of robberies in Chilliwack, B.C. since September — goat robberies. While some of the goats have been resold, it's also speculated they're being killed for their nutritious meat. However, the owners have come forward to express how the goats are more than moneymakers. "They all have names and personalities," one farmworker, 56-yearold Mel Todhunter, told the National Post. On a more serious note, the farmers have lost a considerable amount of their livelihood and are fearful that the stolen goats are being mistreated or being held inhumanely.
The hard truth: one in seven children are living in poverty in British Columbia, confirmed the BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition in its annual report. Some of their requests to the government in light of this finding are increasing minimum wage, welfare rates and child tax benefits.
— compiled by Jessica Ireland and Erika Faust
