newsblocspot: January 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Cone Snails Use Insulin as a Weapon

Snails release insulin into the water to make fish hypoglycemic and easy to catch.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/167DTiT

Daybreak January 31: Laila Biali

Chris dela Torre speaks to Juno-nominated jazz artist Laila Biali about her upcoming album, House of Many Rooms.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1vlcdCs

P.E.I. government approves special warrants to cover storm damage

The P.E.I. government has approved special warrants of $9 million to cover the cost of bridge and road repairs from a heavy and fast moving rainstorm in December.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1uMJ9xI

Why Some Geckos Don't Stick

Some sticky-footed geckos have lost their grip in certain environments

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/167DQni

Helium balloon flight across Pacific ends safely in Mexico

Two pilots in a helium-filled balloon landed safely off the coast of Mexico early Saturday after an audacious, nearly 11,200-kilometre-long trip across the Pacific Ocean that shattered two long-standing records for ballooning.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1DqGnDx

Plateau water main break shuts down 2 thoroughfares

Plateau-Mont-Royal water main break Jan 31 2015

City workers are scrambling to clean up a water main break before the area near Laurier Metro turns into a skating rink.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySKMKX

Stolen car crashes through Winnipeg hotel

Winnipeg police are looking for suspects after a stolen vehicle crashed through Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg South — a hotel on Pembina Highway.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1DqGnDv

DNTO comes face-to-face with 'sickness'

Whether you're under the weather yourself, or supporting a loved one, illness puts you to the test - and has the capacity to transform your life. This week, DNTO takes a look at the creative ways Canadians confront sickness and walk the road to recovery.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/167DQnb

Sexual Cannibalism - When Dates Become Dinner

Mantids will deceptively use sexual scents when extremely hungry, if interested in a meal instead of a mate.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/165atB9

Ancient Planets

Astronomers have discovered a solar system more than 11 billion years old.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/167DQ6N

Prince Albert police investigating man's death as homicide

Prince Albert police started out with a call about a weapon Friday night and are now investigating a man's death as a homicide.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySGtiA

Sobeys clerk celebrated for walking senior customer home

A photo of a Halifax grocery store employee carrying a senior lady’s groceries and helping her walk home on some icy sidewalks has gone viral.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySGq6u

Oldest Known Snake Fossils

150 million-year-old fossils push back the orgin of snakes by tens of millions of years

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/167DSLY

This years' flu season

It hit hard and it hit early, but it's not over yet. Dr. Brett Belchetz tells us what made this season so sickening.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1yYetic

Downed wires on Pitts Memorial cause outages, close roads

Downed power lines closed a section of Pitts Memorial Drive overnight Friday.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1yYet1I

Jimmy Sebulime, recipient of Black History Ottawa's Community Builder Award

His story is one with tragedy, but that doesn't stop him from doing extensive community work. Black History Month kicks off today with an opening Ceremony at 2pm at Ben Franklin Place.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1yYesLh

Veteran Winnipeg police beat cop returns to Main Street

A veteran Winnipeg police officer, Const. Kevin Birkett, is back walking the Main Street beat where he started his career 30 years ago.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1yYesuO

Jonathan McMurray: regaining memory through music

Jonathan McMurray woke up in hospital with no idea who he was. Not his name, not his parents - nothing at all. His entire life had been erased. Except music.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/165asNo

Author Alan Bradley's tips to tackle sickbed boredom

When Alan was directed to spend a year away from sunlight, he had to find a secretive and unusual way to entertain himself.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/165asx3

Sissi Says Egypt Faces Long, Tough Battle Against Militants

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said on Saturday that the country faces a long, hard battle against militancy, days after one of the bloodiest attacks on security forces in years. "This battle will be difficult, strong, evil and will take a long time," said Sissi in comments broadcast on state television after meeting Egypt's top military officers. Sissi’s remarks come three days after militants claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that killed at least 27 on Thursday in some of the worst anti-state violence in months, after commemorations around the anniversary of the 2011 uprising turned deadly this week. Egypt's government faces an Islamist insurgency based in Sinai and growing discontent with what critics perceive as heavy handed security tactics. His remarks also come a few days after more than 25 anti-government protesters were killed Sunday in Cairo and Alexandria as protesters marked the anniversary of a deadly 2011 uprising that ousted long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1zk91Xw

The Superbowl

Arguably the greatest sporting event in North America. Tomorrow, the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots...and it's promising to be a great game.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySw9az

Jason Dyck, University of Alberta researcher, reveals truth behind wine study

A University of Alberta researcher is coming out with the truth behind a viral story about wine as a replacement for the gym.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySw6vk

Raquel D'Apice responds to viral Goodnight Moon blog post

The mother who wrote a viral blog post questioning the interior design in the popular children's book Goodnight Moon is surprised by some of the reaction she's gotten.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySw9ao

Winterlude 2015

Denise Leblanc of Canadian Heritage says this year includes a kilt skating party and beer tasting. Of course, the ice carvings, Beaver Tails and other snowy fun will be on the program.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySw6ve

Sholom Glouberman: fighting for patient rights

As a health insider with a lot of connections, Sholom Glouberman figured it would be a breeze once he was admitted. So he thought.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/165aqoN

Making downtown Ottawa sustainable

A group in Ottawa wants to make the city's downtown eco-friendly.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1Hy6n5O

ISIS deadline passes without prisoner swap for hostages Kenji Goto, Muath al-Kaseasbeh

The fates of a Japanese journalist and Jordanian military pilot remain unknown, several hours after the deadline set by the Islamic militants holding them captive passed with no word on a possible prisoner swap ISIS demanded by ISIS.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1ySqZex

Feds, N.W.T., extend affordable housing agreement by $18M over 5 years

The federal and Northwest Territories governments have set aside $18 million over the next five years to extend the Investment in Affordable Housing agreement.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1Hy6lLh

Egyptian Court Bans Hamas' Armed Wing as Terrorist Organization

An Egyptian court on Saturday banned the armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas and listed it as a terrorist organization. Hamas is an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood which the authorities have also declared a terrorist group and have repressed systematically since the army ousted one of its leaders, Mohamed Morsi, from the presidency in 2013. The ruling came days after the country faced some of the bloodiest attacks on security forces in years. During Morsi’s one-year presidency, militants in Sinai kidnapped 7 soldiers and killed 16 others. "The court ruled to ban the Qassam Brigades and to list it as a terrorist group," said judge Mohamed al-Sayid of the special Cairo court which deals with urgent cases. The court case was based on allegations that the Qassam Brigades, staged terrorist attacks to support the Brotherhood, and carried out a bombing and shooting operation which killed 33 security personnel in the Sinai Peninsula in October of 2014. "We reject the Egyptian court's decision against the Qassam Brigades. It is a political, dangerous decision that serves only the Zionist occupation," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. Egyptian officials say weapons are smuggled from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip into Egypt, where they end up with militant groups fighting to topple the Western-backed Cairo government. Militants based in Egypt's Sinai region, which has a border with Gaza, have killed hundreds of police and soldiers since Morsi's political demise. The insurgency has spread to other parts of Egypt, the most populous Arab country. On Thursday night, four separate attacks on security forces in North Sinai were among the worst in years. Islamic State's Egyptian wing, Sinai Province, claimed the killing of at least 30 soldiers and police officers. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who toppled Morsi in July 2013, brought a degree of stability to Egypt and the economy had started to recover from frequent political violence since a popular uprising four years ago that overthrew veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Then signs of discontent emerged in the past week. More than 25 people were killed last weekend when security forces fired at protesters angered by what many perceive as a police state re-established by Sissi since Morsi's fall. Egyptian officials say the Brotherhood, Islamic State group, al-Qaida and Sinai Province, previously called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, share the same ideology. The Brotherhood says it is committed to peaceful activism despite facing one of the toughest crackdowns in its history. Militant attacks in Sinai, while far from Cairo and tourist attractions, have hurt government efforts to project an image of stability to win back foreign investors and tourists. On Saturday, a sniper wounded a soldier in a village in central Sinai, security sources said. In northern Sinai, militant gunmen killed a Christian man suspected of cooperating with Egyptian authorities.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1CLnL2q

Moose Jaw fire leaves $70K in damages

Moose Jaw police have made an arrest but have not laid a charge after the second storey of a house was found in flames early Saturday morning.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1wN2TkA

School hides student mural of 2 boys kissing after complaints

A school northeast of Edmonton is deciding what to do next after a student’s mural featuring two young men kissing was covered up.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/16b26Vx

Hollis Street apartments evacuated after firearm call

Halifax Regional Police have a man and woman in custody after an incident downtown Saturday morning that may have involved a firearm.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1CLnGfb

P.E.I. RCMP Chief Supt. Craig Gibson moving on

Former P.E.I. RCMP Chief Supt. Craig Gibson

RCMP Chief Supt. Craig Gibson shares what he has found makes policing unique in P.E.I.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1uMruX8

Men to perform Vagina Monologues-style play in Kamloops

While the well known play the Vagina Monologues is usually performed by women, a Kamloops performance will see a version with a mostly male cast.

from CBC | Latest News News http://ift.tt/1uMruWZ

Von Weizsaecker, German President Who Challenged Holocaust Attitudes, Dies at 94

Richard von Weizsaecker, the German president who challenged German attitudes about the Holocaust by arguing that the country had been liberated by the 1945 Nazi defeat, died Saturday, the current president's office said. He was 94. A member of one of Germany's most distinguished aristocratic families, von Weizsaecker also presided over the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, 11 months after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He was most remembered for a landmark speech in May 1985 marking the 40th anniversary of the end of World War Two in which he urged Germans to come to terms with responsibility for the Holocaust. He stirred some controversy at home by saying Germany had been liberated by the Third Reich's downfall. "All of us -- whether guilty or not, whether young or old -- must accept the past. We are all affected by its consequences and liable for it. Anyone who closes his eyes to the past is blind to the present. The 8th of May was a day of liberation. It freed us all from the system of National Socialist tyranny," he said. Von Weizsaecker, a conservative Christian Democrat who had served as a Wehrmacht officer during the war, became West Germany's president in 1984 and left office a decade later. More than any predecessor, he used the largely ceremonial post to serve as the "conscience of Germany" and spoke out often about the country's special responsibility after the war. A tall, lean man, von Weizsaecker had a patrician air that contrasted with the burly and more earthy Helmut Kohl, the then-Christian Democratic leader who was chancellor, or head of government, throughout his presidency. After a career in law and business, he entered politics in 1969 and in 1981 became mayor of West Berlin. His statesmanlike speeches helped raise West Germany's standing in the eyes of the wartime allied powers, easing concerns about unification later. He drew criticism for having served in Hitler's army, where he was promoted several times and in 1944 awarded the Iron Cross. The young lawyer also defended his father Ernst, who served in the Nazi foreign ministry from 1938 to 1943 and was a member of the SS, at the Nuremberg trials in 1948-49. Defending himself, von Weizsaecker said: "Guilt, like innocence, is always a matter for the individual." As an officer, he said, he had acted according to his principles, and refused to instruct his troops to carry out orders which came from top Nazis if he found them "inhumane". No cause of death was given. No information on survivors was immediately available.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1HxRUa1