Sunday 30 May 2021

Canada: Ontario moves up schedule for 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine


CBC News: The National in Canada shows that Ontario joins the growing ranks of provinces moving to get more people a second dose of vaccine. This as new Canadian evidence shows a first dose offers strong, but far from perfect, protection against the virus.

Canada: Manitoba’s COVID-19 3rd wave worsens


CBC News: The National in Canada shows that Manitoba's dismal third wave of COVID-19 will get even worse before it improves, forcing the province to fly out more critical patients and crack down on rule-breakers.

Canada gets extra shot at delivering AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines


Global News shows that the rush to get shots into arms has sped up in the wake of Health Canada's latest guidelines for soon-to-expire doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Now, tens of thousands of doses that were set to expire on Monday have been deemed good to use until July 1. As Mike Le Couteur reports, the news comes as Ontario and Quebec ease restrictions.

Health Canada extends expiry date for thousands of AstraZeneca-Oxford doses



CBC News shows that the Canadian federal department has extended the expiry date from May 31 to July 1 for specific lots of the vaccine, according to a spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott.

Federal advisory panel: End Canada's mandatory hotel COVID-19 quarantine


Global News shows that a new report by a panel of Canadian experts says fully-vaccinated travellers who test negative for COVID-19 should not have to quarantine. 

It also recommends scrapping the mandatory hotel quarantine for international air travellers arriving in Canada. 

Abigail Bimman looks into the reasons, and reaction, and what it means for the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's upcoming travel plans for the G7 summit.

Canada: Guide to COVID-19 Reopening


CBC News shows that some Canadian provinces are already open with capacity restrictions in place. In the rest of Canada, plans for phased-in reopenings are tied to having a certain proportion of the population vaccinated.

Canadian homeowners get federal incentive to boost energy efficiency


Global News shows that the Canadian federal government is launching a new program to help Canadians renovate their homes to be more energy efficient. 

The country had a similar home energy retrofit program between 2007 and 2012 under former prime minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government, which was widely popular.  

David Akin looks at how the new Canada Greener Home Grants program compares, and how you can apply.

Canada: Expert panel recommends dropping hotel quarantine measures


CBC News shows that the Canadian federal government should end its policy of mandatory three-day quarantine stays in designated facilities for air travelers returning to Canada in favour of letting people come up with their own quarantine plans, says a new report.

COVID-19 variant first detected in India now "dominant" in England


Global News shows that England's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is one of the fastest in the world, which has helped the country greatly reduce infections, while allowing the economy to reopen. 

But now the country is reporting its highest level of infections in almost two months.

As Redmond Shannon explains, the dominance of the B.1.617.2 variant in England could delay the country's final stage of reopening next month.

Tianzhou-2 - China’s first fast docking


SciNews Channel on Youtube shows that the members of the Tianzhou-2 mission describe the docking between the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft and the Tianhe Core Module as "China’s first fast automatic rendezvous and docking." The Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft autonomously docked to the Tianhe Core Module on 29 May 2021, at 21:01 UTC (30 May, at 05:01 China Standard Time). Tianzhou-2 (天舟二号) is the first spacecraft to dock to the Tianhe Core Module (天和核心舱), the first and main component of the China Space Station (中国空间站). 
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Saturday 29 May 2021

Possible UFOs seen swarming US Navy ship


Take a look at how UFO expert Nick Pope discusses new video ahead of Department of National Intelligence announcement to Congress.

A so-called unidentified flying object (UFO) is any aerial phenomenon that cannot immediately be identified or explained. Most UFOs are identified or investigated as conventional objects or phenomena. The term is widely used for claimed observations of extraterrestrial spacecraft, and was coined as an anacronym by Project Blue Book project head Edward J. Ruppelt. Another widely used term for the phenomenon is "flying saucer."

Canadarm2: Space Station's robotic arm hit by orbital debris - See the hole!


VideoFromSpace Channel on Youtube shows that a recent inspection of the the International Space Station's Canadarm2 has revealed that it was hit by orbital debris. See the hole that was created and a time-lapse of the robotic arm in action.

Canadarm2 is part of Canada's contribution to the International Space Station (ISS). This 17-metre-long robotic arm was extensively involved in the assembly of the orbiting laboratory.

Tasks: This Canadian robotic arm lends a helping hand to:

- perform Station maintenance
- move supplies, equipment, Dextre and even astronauts
- perform "cosmic catches" by grappling visiting vehicles and berthing them to the ISS

Friday 28 May 2021

Russia's Silicon Valley - Digital Economy of Modern Russia


Moconomy on Youtube shows episode 9 of Hello World - Bloomberg Businessweek's Ashlee Vance heads to Russia. Russia's technology is advancing.

Science and technology in Russia have developed rapidly since the "Age of Enlightenment."

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Russia produced many notable scientists, making important contributions in physics, astronomy, mathematics, computing, chemistry, biology, geology and geography. Russian inventors and engineers excelled in such areas as electrical engineering, shipbuilding, aerospace, weaponry, communications, IT, nuclear technology and space technology.

The 21st (twenty-first) century is the current century in the Anno Domini era or Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It began on January 1, 2001 (MMI), and will end on December 31, 2100 (MMC). The 21st century is the first century of the 3rd millennium.

Elon Musk's factory in Russia - Technology News


PRO ROBOTS Channel on Youtube shows you the story. Take a look at the PRO Robotics channel and in this issue see some high-tech news. Tesla factory in Russia, when the Roadster will learn to fly, news about Ilon Musk's Cybertruck, autonomous drones and new robots for the military, robot molecules capable of forming tissues and other high-tech news in one video! Definitely take a look at this informative video.

Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Palo Alto, California. Tesla's current products include electric cars, battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, as well as other related products and services. In 2020, Tesla had the highest sales in the plug-in and battery electric passenger car segments, capturing 16% of the plug-in market (which includes plug-in hybrids) and 23% of the battery-electric (purely electric) market. Through its subsidiary Tesla Energy, the company develops and is a major installer of solar photovoltaic energy generation systems in the United States. Tesla Energy is also one of the largest global suppliers of battery energy storage systems, with 3 GWh of battery storage supplied in 2020.

It seems that a typical electric car like a Nissan Leaf (62-kWh battery) would take about 11.5 hours to charge from empty to full at home on a 240-volt Level 2 charger or could get to about an 80% charge in just 45 minutes if using a public Level 3 DC fast charger.

Higher voltage more "powerful." Consider voltage and amp-hours when you research specific batteries and during various cordless tool comparisons. Voltage measures the battery's energy, and amperes measure current. Batteries with higher voltages work with more powerful cordless tools and provide the energy required for most high-torque applications.

Greater current and higher voltages charge batteries faster, however there is a limit to what they can take.

Charging an electric car takes time. If using a 7kW unit, (could be installed as a home charging station) this takes about 3 to 5 hours to recharge an electric vehicle, according to the RAC. A 22kW point will be faster, typically charging a car in 1 to 2 hours, says the motoring organisation.

How much does it cost to "fill up" an electric car?

Most Canadian provinces have a set cost of electricity and then tax. In New Brunswick, for example, power costs $0.1059/kWh, and then gets a 15 percent tax. Some Provinces have a flat service fee.

Rates can also vary based on if the area is urban or rural. In Ontario, you could also get better rates if charge the car at night or any time on off-peak weekends.

All Level 2 public charging stations, (with the exception of Tesla), use the same plug standard, which means any car from any brand can use any Level 2 station across Canada and the United States. Many Level 2 public charging stations are free-to-use.

A full charge for Tesla will cost about $15. The cost to charge a Tesla Model Y is about $11.47 cents, or 4.7 cents per mile. The cost to operate an electric vehicle is substantially lower than the cost of a conventional gas powered car. It can be even cheaper when you charge your EV with solar panels. 

It seems that fuel costs are lower for an electric car. On average, it costs $300 to $400 per year to charge an electric vehicle. A typical plug-in hybrid costs about $700 per year. By comparison, a gasoline car can cost you $1,000 to $2,500 a year to fill up.

Russia fined Twitter, Facebook and Google for not deleting banned content


WION shows that Russia is increasingly pushing Google, Twitter and Facebook into conformity with the Kremlin Internet crackdown order or risk restrictions inside the country as more governments around the world challenge companies' principles on online freedom.

"Internet Freedom" is really an umbrella term that encompasses digital rights, freedom of information, the right to Internet access, freedom from Internet censorship, and net neutrality.

Some believe that Internet freedom is not really a human right. They think this because putting something like Internet freedom as a human right could weaken what human rights stand for. Going along with this, people pay for, own, and operate these servers and saying someone has a right to them which makes it a claim of entitlement. Some countries limit what their citizens can watch and view on the Internet to varying degrees.

"In June 2012, it was declared a human right by the United Nations Human Rights Council." Some countries have attempted to ban certain sites and or words that would limit internet freedom. "Since the 1990s, European regulators have held American technology firms to higher standards of privacy and competition than American regulators have required them. European regulators have also sought to eliminate from their networks hate speech that is tolerated by the First Amendment but is illegal in Europe."

"Network Neutrality", most commonly called "Net Neutrality", is the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all Internet communications equally, and not discriminate or charge differently based on user, content, website, platform, application, type of equipment, source address, destination address, or method of communication.

With net neutrality, ISPs may not intentionally block, slow down, or charge money for specific online content. Without net neutrality, ISPs may prioritize certain types of traffic, meter others, or potentially block traffic from specific services, while charging consumers for various tiers of service.

Inside Bitcoin's Energy Consumption Problem


Tech Vision Channel on Youtube has the Bitcoin story. See what is going on with the hordes of crypto fanatics, Elon Musk, environmental cost of Bitcoin. 

"Cryptocurrency is a good idea on many levels," read a statement shared on the Elon Musk Twitter feed.

"We believe it has a promising future - but this cannot come at great cost to the environment."

How bad exactly is Bitcoin for the planet? And does Musk’s radical U-turn mark the beginning of the end for the crypto revolution? Take a look at the energy consumption of Bitcoin.

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter almost crashed during 6th flight but survived after anomaly


iGadgetPro Channel on Youtube shows the Mars Helicopter Flight story.

On May 22, 2021 NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter completed 6th flight on Red Planet but almost crashed due to unexpected anomaly. On the 91st Martian day, or sol, of NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter performed its sixth flight. The flight was designed to expand the flight envelope and demonstrate aerial-imaging capabilities by taking stereo images of a region of interest to the west. Ingenuity was commanded to climb to an altitude of 33 feet (10 meters) before translating 492 feet (150 meters) to the southwest at a ground speed of 9 mph (4 meters per second). At that point, it was to translate 49 feet (15 meters) to the south while taking images toward the west, then fly another 164 feet (50 meters) northeast and land.

Telemetry from Flight Six shows that the first 150-meter leg of the flight went off without a hitch. But toward the end of that leg, something happened: Ingenuity began adjusting its velocity and tilting back and forth in an oscillating pattern. This behavior persisted throughout the rest of the flight. Prior to landing safely, onboard sensors indicated the rotorcraft encountered roll and pitch excursions of more than 20 degrees, large control inputs, and spikes in power consumption. The resulting inconsistencies significantly degraded the information used to fly the helicopter, leading to estimates being constantly "corrected" to account for phantom errors. Large oscillations ensued.

Credit: nasa.gov, NASA/JPL-Caltech, NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU, NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/Thomas Appéré

See the detailed explanations of Ingenuity’s 6th flight anomaly here:

Dark Matter findings suggest Einstein’s Theory of Relativity “may be wrong”


BBC News shows that "Dark Matter" is perhaps the most mysterious substance in the universe.  

Little is known about it.  Scientists are pretty sure it exists but don't know exactly what it is.

Yet it is fundamental to their explanation of the Universe. They believe it permeates space and amounts to around 80% of all matter. 

Dark matter does not emit or absorb light but is subject to the effects of gravity.  Because of that, astronomers can measure the way it distorts light from distant stars. 

Now for the first time they have mapped the distribution of dark matter in the Universe.  However the findings have deepened the mystery because they seem to contradict Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, one of the central pillars of modern physics. 

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by science correspondent Pallab Ghosh.

A huge part of the matter in the universe really is: dark matter. You can't really so-called "see" it. But, you could see the effects of its gravity. Experts are thinking about how this matter can really behave.

Scientists can see how dark matter is distributed based on how its gravity affects light. However, when astronomers compared recent data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Telescope to current models, something didn’t really add up.

So-called "Current assumptions" about dark matter physics might not be entirely correct.

Dark matter is a form of matter thought to account for approximately 85% of the matter in the universe and about a quarter of its total mass - energy density or about 2.241×10⁻²⁷ kg/m³.

Dark matter can refer to any certain substance which interacts predominantly via gravity with visible matter (e.g., stars and planets). Hence in principle it need not be composed of a new type of fundamental particle but could, at least in part, be made up of standard baryonic matter, such as protons or neutrons.

Here is the explanation of "dark matter" in really simple terms. Dark matter is composed of particles that do not absorb, reflect, or emit light, so they cannot be detected by observing electromagnetic radiation. Dark matter is material that cannot be seen directly. We seem to know that dark matter exists because of the effect it has on objects that we can observe directly.

Proving that dark matter exists is certainly a difficult task. Scientists have not yet observed dark matter directly. It doesn't interact with baryonic matter and it's completely invisible to light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, making dark matter impossible to detect with current instruments.

Some people may wrongfully think that there is no dark matter. However, without dark matter, galaxies would lose a large fraction of the gas that forms new stars immediate after the first major star-forming event they experienced.

Dark matter theory is certainly needed to account for the fact that galaxies don't seem to obey the fundamental laws of physics. That led scientists to believe there must be some invisible matter there to create a stronger gravitational pull and really faster stellar motion.

China builds a highway near the Arunachal border


WION shows that China has completed the construction of a highway near Arunachal Pradesh. Reports say it is building villages "inside Bhutanese territory". WION's Palki Sharma tells you how China is building infrastructure to claim disputed lands.

Understanding the U.S.-China Tussle Over Taiwan


Wall Street Journal shows the story: Taiwan has long been a USA-China flashpoint, but its tech and military capabilities have come into sharper focus under the Biden administration. WSJ travels to three places on the island to explain how both superpowers could determine Taiwan’s future.

How China is using automation to reshape its economy


CNBC International shows that China’s economy is facing several risks: an aging population, less working-age people, and rising wages. So how is the country responding to these threats? A big part of the answer is automation. From factories to warehouses, several industries are pushing to automate more of their workforce. CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal spoke to China’s largest retailer, JD.com about its new smart logistics center, and examined what comes next for the world’s second largest economy.

China's Covid vaccine push includes free food and retail items


CNBC Television shows that the Chinese government is trying to get at least 40 percent of its population vaccinated by June. So far, only about 9 percent of the population has been vaccinated. One of the reasons so few have been vaccinated so far is mistrust of the government and its vaccine. Eunice Yoon joins 'The News with Shepard Smith' to report.

China overtakes US as top country for foreign investment


DW News shows that UN figures show China was the largest recipient of new foreign direct investment in 2020, overtaking the US for the first time. The Chinese economy brought in 163 billion dollars in investment as the coronavirus outbreak spread across the world. That compares to the 134 billion attracted by the United States.

Why are Chinese imports & exports surging?


DW News shows that Chinese exports surged by a third to 264 Billion dollars in April from a year ago as global demand for Chinese electronics, medical equipment and clothes rose around the world.

Chinese imports climbed even higher (by more than 43% to 221 Billion dollars). In terms of trading partners, the Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean group, remained the largest, followed by the European Union, the U.S. and Japan. China’s total trade surplus stood at 43 Billion dollars for the month.

China: People flee in panic as 300-metre-high skyscraper wobbles


Guardian News Channel on Youtube shows that one of China’s tallest skyscrapers was evacuated on Tuesday after it began to shake, sending panicked shoppers scampering to safety. The nearly 300-metre (980ft) SEG Plaza in Shenzhen, southern China, inexplicably began to shake at about 1pm, prompting an evacuation of people inside while pedestrians looked on open-mouthed. The building was closed by 2.40pm, according to certain local media reports.

Wednesday 26 May 2021

Beijing suffers from 'hazardous' levels of pollution


WION shows that a sandstorm has landed the Chinese capital into worries. A massive sandstorm has combined with already high air pollution to turn the skies in Beijing an eerie orange.

China Looks to Crackdown on Cryptocurrency Mining


Bloomberg Technology on Youtube - May 21 - Bitcoin resumed its selloff Friday after China reiterated a warning that it intends to crack down on cryptocurrency mining as part of an effort to control financial risks. Claire Ballentine reports.

China extends its cryptocurrency ban to banks


China has banned crypto exchanges and initial coin offerings but has not barred individuals from holding cryptocurrencies.

A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or crypto is certainly a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a ledger existing in a form of a computerized database using strong cryptography to secure transaction records, to control the creation of additional coins, and to verify the transfer of coin ownership. It typically does not exist in physical form (like paper money) and is typically not issued by a central authority. Cryptocurrencies typically use decentralized control as opposed to centralized digital currency and certain central banking systems.

China tightens ban on cryptocurrencies


China banned financial institutions and payment companies from providing services related to cryptocurrency transactions, in the latest blow to digital currencies and their market leader bitcoin.

Strong earthquakes jolt SW China's Yunnan


CGTN shows that a series of earthquakes, the strongest with a magnitude of 6.4, jolted Yangbi Yi Autonomous County in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Friday night, according to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The magnitude-6.4 quake hit with a depth of 8 kilometers at 9:48 p.m., followed by another magnitude-5.0 quake with the same depth at 9:55 p.m.

(Yang Jinghao also contributed to the story.)

Extreme weather in China kills at least 21 in ultramarathon


21 people were killed when extremely cold weather struck during an ultramarathon in rugged Gansu province in northwestern China, sparking public outrage on Sunday over the lack of contingency planning. 21 runners died during the 100-kilometer (62-mile) race on Saturday.

As cold temperatures dropped, runners started reported suffering from hypothermia. Some runners went missing.

A shepherd in northwest China has been credited with saving 6 trail runners from dangerously extreme weather, according to state media. According to China National Radio, Zhu Keming was grazing his sheep near the high-altitude Huanghe Shilin Mountain in Gansu Province when the weather turned sour. He sought refuge in a cave where he had stored some firewood and clothes near the running trail.

China reports rover's first drive on Mars


China certainly said that the Martian rover took a first drive on surface of Red Planet. A remote-controlled Chinese motorized rover drove down the ramp of its landing capsule on Saturday and onto the surface of planet Mars, making China the first nation to orbit, land and deploy a land vehicle on its inaugural mission to the Red Planet.

Planet Mars is certainly the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, being larger than only Mercury. In English, Mars carries the name of the Roman god of war and is often referred to as the "Red Planet."

Sunday 23 May 2021

Canada extends flight ban from India, Pakistan, transport minister confirms


CBC News shows that the Canadian government has extended its ban on incoming flights from India and Pakistan to June 21, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra confirmed Friday. The ban is meant to help control the spread of new variants of the novel coronavirus.

No signs USA-Canada border will reopen soon despite mounting political pressure


Global News shows that the USA-Canada border has been closed for more than a year, with no clear plan or deadline for when COVID-19 travel restrictions will ease. On Thursday, the land border closure was extended another month until at least June 21.

Some officials say both countries should allow quarantine-free, cross-border travel for fully-vaccinated people, with one USA lawmaker pushing for both governments to provide a "vision" for how it can be reopened.

But as Jackson Proskow explains, neither government is showing signs of budging soon.

Manitoba Premier urges USA President to send unused vaccines to Canada


CBC News shows that Premier Brian Pallister is calling on USA President Joe Biden to send unused vaccine doses north of the border.

Debate on whether Canadian students should return to classroom amid COVID-19


Global News shows that most school-aged children in Alberta will return to in-person learning after the May long weekend, though the province remains in the grips of its third COVID-19 wave.

Ontario's top doctor, Dr. David Williams, says he'd like to see schools in that province return soon as well. 

As Heather Yourex-West reports, with one month left until summer break, many are questioning whether the benefits of reopening schools are worth the risk.

Canadians crossing border for vaccine not exempt from quarantine, says Ottawa


CBC News shows that the Public Health Agency of Canada says that crossing the USA border for a vaccine doesn't exempt people from completing the mandatory 14-day quarantine when they return to Canada.

Majority of Canadians support COVID-19 vaccine passports for concerts, travel: Ipsos poll


A poll conducted exclusively for Global News by Ipsos found that a majority of Canadians supported using COVID-19 vaccine passports in order to travel, attend university or go to a concert.

The poll found 72 per cent in favour of such a tool when flying on a plane, while 67 per cent supported using them to attend indoor concerts or attend post-secondary education. 

However, support for mandatory vaccines has dropped compared to a month ago, with only 63 per cent supporting the idea. It also showed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had lost some support but 54 per cent of Canadians still approved of the federal government's response to the pandemic.

USA v Canada: Who won the vaccine rollout?


The BBC's Ritu Prasad and Holly Honderich take a look at the vaccine rollout in their respective countries - from Canada's race to catch up on jabs to the odd vaccination incentives in the USA. 

So what's the final Covid grade for these North American neighbours?

Confusion over whether Canadians can get a vaccine in USA


CTV News shows that Canadians hoping to cross the border for the sole purpose of getting a COVID-19 vaccine will be turned away, according to USA Customs and Border Protection.

Many Canadians stuck in limbo over 2nd vaccine dose


CBC News: The National in Canada shows that as Canada delivers more first doses of COVID-19 vaccines, many Canadians are frustrated over the lack of information about when they’ll get a second dose - leaving them in a state of limbo.

Coronavirus Crisis: When Will Second Covid Wave In India End?


India Today shows that according to a 3-member panel of scientists set up by the central government, India’s second wave of Covid-19 will decline by July this year. Experts predict that a third wave can be expected after six to eight months.

India Cyclone: 127 missing after vessel sinks: Navy


CGTN shows that some 127 people were missing on Tuesday after a vessel adrift off Mumbai's coast sank during Cyclone Tauktae, the Indian navy said as two ships and helicopters were deployed to assist in the search. 

The vessel was carrying 273 people when it started drifting on Monday as strong winds battered India's western coast, sending huge waves crashing onto its shores and turning roads into rivers.

The Indian factory making 6,000 syringes a minute


BBC News shows that one of the world's biggest syringe makers has ramped up production because of the huge demand for Covid vaccines. 

Rajiv Nath, who heads India's largest syringe factory, says it is now making around 6,000 syringes a minute.

But he says that's still not enough given that the world needs 10 billion syringes to vaccinate just 60% of the population.

He believes co-ordination between the vaccine makers, governments, the World Health Organization and syringe makers will be "very, very critical" going forward.

Video by Anshul Verma

'Black Fungus' declared an epidemic in India


WION shows that the Govt of India has asked states to declare Black Fungus an epidemic. 7,250 cases have been reported in 13 states & UTs. At least 219 people have lost their lives. What measures are being taken? WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

India's uncounted COVID-19 fatalities?


DW News shows that confirmed infections and deaths in a devastating second wave have dipped below record levels in India. But there's concern that many cases are not being reported, particularly from a surge in vast rural areas. These regions lack adequate testing and healthcare infrastructure. DW's Nimisha Jaiswal visited a village near the city of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, where there has been a spike in deaths caused by fever.

Has India passed its COVID-19 peak?


ABC News (Australia) shows that India has reported over 250,000 new coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours, and more than 4,200 deaths.

Dr Ambarish Satwik is a vascular surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram hospital in Delhi.

He says it appears as though COVID infections are beginning to ease.

India’s COVID Crisis Is Making Oxygen Scammers Rich


VICE News shows that with a record number of COVID deaths a day, largely due to a massive oxygen shortage, scammers in India are thriving in the black market, while people are left to their own means to find cylinders of oxygen for their loved ones in critical condition.

India: Covid 2nd Wave Passed The Peak, India Needs Death Audits: AIIMS Chief Randeep Guleria


NDTV shows that AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria says while cases continue to fall in the western and central parts, the east and south of India remains a cause of concern. He also says that each state needs to conduct death audits to understand why more people are dying in the second wave of Covid.

NDTV brings you unbiased and comprehensive coverage of news and entertainment programmes in India and abroad.

COVID-19 cases spilling over from India sees Nepal grappling with infection surge


Some countries have committed to sending help to COVID-19-stricken Nepal, as the South-Asian nation grapples with hundreds dying daily due to infections.

The COVID-19 virus cases are spilling over from India sees Nepal grappling with infection surge.

How SpaceX Build Their Rockets So Fast?


Futurity Channel on Youtube shows that SpaceX handles two-thirds of NASA’s launches (including many research payloads). It is interesting how Elon Musk manages to get his SpaceX employees to build successful rockets so quickly.

Since June 2010, rockets from the Falcon 9 group have launched 114 times, with 112 successful launches.

It seems that SpaceX is currently the only privately owned company that successfully delivers humans to the international space station.

It seems that the SpaceX flights are as cheap as $62 million, roughly two-thirds the price of a rocket from United Launch Alliance, a competitor.

How exactly does SpaceX manage to build their rockets so fast? 

It sure takes exceptional engineering.

Their rockets are all made with innovative technology. Some cost-saving options have been chosen, such as stainless steel (which costs about $3 per kilogram). Take a look at the full video for more explanations.

Saturday 22 May 2021

Covid-19 Vaccines: The Ultimate 2021 Guide to Every Vaccine

Take a look at this informative unique guide to vaccines. It provides unbiased information on the top 5 vaccines and a bit more. Get a better understanding of what is available out there. See the guide here: https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/covid-19-vaccine-ultimate-guide/


Thursday 20 May 2021

EU agrees to open borders to fully vaccinated travelers


CBC News shows that European Union ambassadors approved a proposal to ease restrictions to allow fully vaccinated travelers back into the bloc.

Push for vulnerable Canadians their 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose


Global News shows that urgency is growing to get the most vulnerable Canadians fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as the supply of vaccines continues to grow as more shipments arrive.

While nearly all elderly Canadians living in long-term care homes have been fully vaccinated for some time now, there is still a large population living in community settings that have yet to receive two doses.

As Mike Le Couteur reports, less than 10 per cent of all seniors have received both vaccine doses.

Canada: Ontario latest province to lay out COVID-19 reopening plans


Ontario is the latest province in Canada to announce its gradual "reopening plan." The stay-at-home order is since early May.

Restrictions on the USA-Canada border were extended. That border will reopen at some point in time.

Ontario has announced a 3-step plan to reopen the province, starting with outdoor recreational amenities.

As of May 22, outdoor recreational amenities (like golf courses and tennis courts) will be allowed to reopen, the government said.

Outdoor limits for social gatherings and organized public events will be expanded on Saturday, which will allow these amenities to be used by up to 5 people. These amenities include driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and skate parks. No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted.

The Canadian government said step 1 of the 3-tier plan will likely begin on the week of June 14.

Read all the details about the Ontario re-opening plan here:

Bank of Canada: Rapid increase in home prices not normal


CBC News shows that the Bank of Canada warns Canadians the recent spike in home prices are 'not normal' and imbalances in the market could leave the economy more vulnerable to shocks. CBC senior business correspondent Peter Armstrong and president of Realosophy Realty John Pasalis discuss what can be done to cool the hot housing market.

Bitcoin Price at May 21, 2021: 40,410 USD and "Overnight Crash" of Cryptocurrencies


Sky News Australia shows that Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have recorded stunning falls in value overnight as panic selling kicks into high gear.

Sky News contributor Peter Switzer said he had trouble explaining the rise and fall of Bitcoin and labelled it one of the "most speculative" forms of punting.

"I can see Bitcoin surviving all this but given the fact that China basically said they don’t want to deal with businesses that are using bitcoin," he said.

Bitcoin fell below the US$40,000 mark on Wednesday to a 3 month low. Prices of varius other digital coins also fell much. This happened after China imposed fresh restrictions on transactions involving cryptocurrencies.

It seems that the news from China caused Bitcoin to fall as low as US$38,514, for a 9% fall.

Bitcoin Price at May 21, 2021: 40,410 USD

The cryptocurrency fell nearly 40% from a record high of $64,895 hit on April 14.

It is also interesting that every industry has an "energy usage." Bitcoin's energy use is actually less than banking sectors and gold sectors. It is easy to criticize Bitcoin's energy usage, but these critiques are rarely used for other traditional industries.

It is interesting that energy usage analysis can be done in real time with resources such as the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index. It shows rising energy usage beginning in late-2020, as bitcoin's price skyrocketed.

It is estimated that the global energy consumption of the banking system is 238.92 TWh per year.

See the full report about Bitcoin's energy use here:

Wednesday 19 May 2021

Canada seeing worst inflation in a decade, new data shows


CBC News: The National in Canada shows that new data from Statistics Canada showed inflation is worse than it’s been in a decade with the cost of many products up almost 3.5 per cent compared to last year, with fuel prices driving the spike.

Tuesday 18 May 2021

Canada Goose vs Hawk


See the Goose parent's reflexes to protect the young ones. You could watch this video slower to see what happened.

Cat Takes a Huge Leap Into Owner's Arms


This amazing cat is a good jumper: See Cat Takes a Huge Leap Into Owner's Arms.

Cobra Chickens - Everything About Raising Geese


Take a look at people that have been raising geese on a farm for years. Learn about raising geese the right way.

Geese near Fast Food


Geese can walk on pavement. Primarily because a goose is a grazing animal and grazers walk as they graze. Their legs are positioned to their bodies farther forward than either duck or swan legs. They can, therefore, "walk and graze on dry land."

Geese are certainly grazing birds that eat a variety of different items. They eat roots, shoots, stems, seeds, and leaves of grass and grain, bulbs, and berries. They also eat insects and Canada Geese can submerge their heads in water to graze on aquatic plants.

Geese at lake near apartment buildings


Canada Geese spend about as much time on land as they do in water. Canada Geese like Shoreline Property. These birds like lake access. Habitat exists for a variety of wildlife at the lake.

Geese Relax at Lake


Geese are especially attracted to manicured lawns with lake access. They like to eat new grass shoots and prefer an unobstructed view. They also like easy access into and out of the lake.

Duck Drop on Queens Quay Toronto


A mother duck showing her ducklings how to jump in the water. Humans give a push for the birds to jump into the water.

30 Canada Geese Goslings - May 16, 2021


"50 Ducks In A Hot Tub" on Youtube has the funny goose video. Over 30 Canada Geese Goslings this year, it looks like 5 or 6 families have made the yard their home to raise their families. Looks like they are not too worried about humans.

Be careful about picking up a gosling. Goose parents might have a problem with it. Many Canada geese are here.

New dinosaur species found in Mexico


WION shows that Paleontologists have identified a new species of dinosaur after a specimen from about 72 million years ago was found in northern Mexico.

India's COVID Surge: New cases drop for the first time in 25 days


WION shows that India's daily infections have dropped below 300,000 for the first time in 25 days. Has India's deadly second wave touched its peak? Palki Sharma has the answers.

India Covid crisis leaves Covax scheme 140 million doses short


BBC News shows that Covax, the international scheme to ensure equal access to coronavirus vaccines, is 140 million doses short because of India's continuing Covid crisis.

The Serum Institute of India (SII), the largest single supplier to the Covax scheme, has made none of its planned shipments since exports were suspended in March.

The UN children's agency Unicef buys and distributes vaccines for Covax. It is urging leaders of G7 nations and EU states to share their doses.

India's COVID cases decline but crisis far from over


DW News shows that India reported a decline in new coronavirus cases on Monday but daily deaths remained above 4,000. Experts warned the figures could be much higher due to a lack of testing, especially in rural areas.

Meanwhile, international efforts are underway to help the country. Germany has sent an oxygen generation plant that is able to provide 400,000 litres of oxygen a day.

Cyclone Tauktae batters India's Gujarat state as hundreds of thousands told to evacuate


Global News shows that India is evacuating thousands of people from low-lying areas along its western coast as a powerful cyclone, Cyclone Tauktae, has thus far killed at least six people and is expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning in the state of Gujarat. 

Cyclone Tauktae, which formed in the Arabian Sea, has already brought lashing rain and winds that damaged houses and uprooted trees to parts of western and southern India.

The storm wreaked havoc in the busy coastal city of Mumbai, forcing the commuter train system to shut down due to floods and high winds. 

Global's Ross Hull reports.

Canada: How can Ontario avoid a fourth wave of COVID-19


CTV News shows how Dr. Peter Juni, a member of Ontario's science advisory table, reacts to the Ford government extending stay-at-home restrictions.

WHO urges wealthy countries to donate COVID-19 vaccines to COVAX


CGTN on Youtube shows that speaking at a regular briefing on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged rich countries "to reconsider" vaccinating children and adolescents and to "instead donate vaccines to COVAX." He noted that at present, only 0.3 percent of vaccine supply is going to low-income countries, adding that "trickle down vaccination is not an effective strategy for fighting a deadly respiratory virus."

Greyhound shuts down in Canada for good


CBC News: The National in Canada has the story. After a century of bus service across the country, Greyhound will no longer be operating in Canada, leaving few transportation options for some communities.

Canada’s vaccination campaign ramps up


CBC News: The National in Canada has the story. Canada's vaccination drive is kicking into high gear as millions more doses are set to flood into the country. This week, Canada expects another 5 million doses - its biggest single shipment yet. Over 18 million doses have already been administered.

The Big Shift: Is Canada ready for the EV revolution?


Global News shows that the electric vehicle revolution is in full swing, but is Canada ready to become a major player? For The New Reality, Mike Drolet goes inside a Quebec plant that’s leading the way in electric vehicle production and finds out whether our power grids are ready for the big shift.

COVID-19: How much protection is in the 1st dose of vaccine?


CBC News: The National in Canada has the story. 2 infectious diseases doctors answer viewer questions about COVID-19 vaccines, including how much protection people get from the first dose and how variants may change that.

What will Canada do with 655,000 doses of AstraZeneca?


Global News has the story about Canada and vaccinations. This week on The West Block: guest host Mike Le Couteur speaks with Canada’s Procurement Minister Anita Anand about what the government plans to do with the 655,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses that were delivered last week. This comes after many provinces put a pause on administering first doses of this particular vaccine following concerns of blood clots.

Jessica Mudry, associate chair of the School of Professional Communication at Ryerson University, and Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist with the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, joined Le Couteur for a discussion around how the government is communicating the science of COVID-19 - and what can be done better.

Canada to stay the course on mask guidance


Discussions of mask wearing are here. A relief to millions of USA Americans, the Center for Disease Control is telling its fully vaccinated citizens they can shed the mask. But when will Canadian officials follow suit? Nigel Newlove reports.

Canada: Ontario says they need 11M vaccine doses to reach 'two dose summer' goal


CTV News shows that the Ontario government has said it will need about 11 million doses to meet it's goal of fully vaccinating everyone by Sept. 22.

Canada to receive 4.5 million Pfizer, Moderna doses this week


CBC News takes a look at when will there be enough vaccine supply for Canadians to get their second dose? Procurement Minister Anita Anand says 'once we get to a situation where we can move up the timing of the second doses, we will do so.'

Pandemic threatens to delay Canadian citizenship for hundreds of thousands


CBC News: The National in Canada has the story. CBC News has learned that more than 100,000 immigrants to Canada are part of a backlog caused by the pandemic. They're waiting to take their citizenship test, and the delay is causing them problems.

Canada: Manitoba reports highest COVID-19 infection per capita rate in Canada as hospitals are strained


Global News shows that Manitoba has now surpassed Alberta to become Canada's worst COVID-19 hotspot, as the province sees the country's highest active infection rate per capita.

Over the last week, 232 of every 100,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the province and it is now putting a serious strain on its hospitals and intensive care units. 

Brittany Greenslade reports on how the province got here and what's being done to get it under control.

AztraZeneca-Oxford developer: 'Canada is acting on hearsay, not facts'


CTV News shows how Sir John Bell from Oxford University gives his insight on whether Canada is making a mistake by avoiding the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Monday 17 May 2021

What If You Ate an Alien?


This alien video is pretty interesting. "What If" Channel on Youtube asks: Are we alone in this universe? Is there intelligent life out there? Or are they living among us? Humans have wondered about aliens for centuries. But, have you ever thought about the most important question of them all? Do you think this little green man tastes like chicken? Uh, I don't know if aliens will want to make contact after seeing this video. You've embarked on a galactic journey in search of extraterrestrial life. In the future, technology has advanced, allowing us to travel thousands of light-years away. We can finally explore the faraway planets in our galaxy. As you reach the first planet, your stomach rumbles in pain. You've been without food for days. The planet is barren and arid. There isn't anything around to eat. Except for this guy, an alien greeting you at the entrance of your spaceship. Houston, we have a problem, and you're going to kick our butts for this one. Why would you want to eat an alien in the first place? Would it be unethical? And, would they be safe to eat?

Sunday 16 May 2021

Tornado in Wuhan, Hubei - Hundreds of houses destroyed


Vulnerability on Youtube shows the video of the Natural Disaster in China on 14 May 2021. An Awful night for China! Hundreds of houses are destroyed by the tornado in Wuhan, Hubei.

Tornadoes have been recorded on all continents except Antarctica and are most common in the middle latitudes where conditions are often favorable for convective storm development. The United States has the most tornadoes of any country, as well as the strongest and most violent tornadoes. A large portion of these tornadoes form in an area of the central United States popularly known as Tornado Alley. Canada experiences the second most tornadoes. Ontario and the prairie provinces see the highest frequency, particularly with southward extent. Other areas of the world that have frequent tornadoes include significant portions of Europe, South Africa, Philippines, Bangladesh, parts of Argentina, Uruguay, and southern and southeast Brazil, northern Mexico, New Zealand, and far eastern Asia.

Cyclone Tauktae destroys houses and causes huge waves and hurricane in Kerala, India


Vulnerability on Youtube shows the Natural Disaster on 15 May 2021. Cyclone Tauktae destroys houses and causes huge waves and hurricane in Kerala, India.

Kerala is a state on the southwestern Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Canara, and Travancore. Spread over 38,863 km squared, Kerala is the twenty-first largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33,406,061 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census, Kerala is the 13th-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also certainly the official language of the state.

Naturals hazards in 2021 seem to have become more frequent. We do not know what awaits us in 2021. Global warming and climate change will certainly affect our Earth. Take a look at natural disaster news.

Flu Vaccine How It Works and Why It’s a MUST Thing to Do

This website has some pretty interesting information about the Flu Vaccine, Flu Vaccine Effectiveness, Flu and COVID-19 and Vaccine Side Effects. Check it out here: https://www.tomorrow.io/weather/blog/flu-vaccine/

Flu season certainly lasts for quite a while, and as it comes on each year, you want to do your best to avoid getting it. While some people only experience mild symptoms, things can be a lot more severe for others, and you never know how things may turn out for you. Additionally, it’s quite contagious, which means getting it can pose a problem for your loved ones too.

Vaccination is one of the proven ways to avoid a flu scare. Information on vaccines can seem to be spread far and thin. Thankfully, all you need to know is below, and you can be a big help by sharing all of this with those you value the most, as you aim to protect yourself and others.

Vaccination is the solution to end the Covid-19 pandemic in the world, as well.




Cyclone Tauktae Heads Towards Indian Shores; Alert Sounded In 5 States


India Today shows that Cyclonic storm Tauktae has intensified into a "very severe" cyclonic storm, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday morning. Cyclone Tauktae is likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around early morning on May 18.

The storm lay centered about 150 km southwest of Panjim-Goa, 490 km south of Mumbai, and 730 km south-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat). 

The IMD has said there is likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Mumbai on Monday. An orange alert has been issued for Mumbai and red alert for Raigad district in Maharashtra.

Cyclone Tauktae: Gale-force winds, heavy rainfall and high tidal waves swept the coastal belt of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa as Cyclone Tauktae hurtled northwards towards Gujarat on Sunday, leaving 6 people dead, damaging hundreds of houses, uprooting electricity poles and trees and forcing evacuation in low-lying areas.

China spacecraft makes successful landing on Mars


DW News shows that China has landed a spacecraft on Mars. This is the latest step in its ambitious space program. The Chinese rover will stay in its lander for a few days of tests before  exploring the Red Planet. The rover has yet to send back any images from Mars, but here's the story of how it got there - and what the mission aims to find out.

The name Tianwen means "Heavenly Questions" or "questions to heaven" or "quest for heavenly truth", and comes from the long poem of the same name written by Qu Yuan (c. 340-278 BC), a poet of ancient China.

Tianwen-1 (TW-1; simplified Chinese: 天问; traditional Chinese: 天問 ) is certainly an interplanetary mission by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to send a robotic spacecraft to Mars, consisting of an orbiter, deployable camera, lander and the Zhurong rover. The spacecraft, with a total mass of nearly 5 tons, is one of the heaviest probes launched to Mars and carries 13 scientific instruments.

The scientific objectives of the mission relate to the geology of Mars, the current and past presence of water, the internal structure of the planet, identification of minerals and rock types on the surface, as well as characterization of the space environment and atmosphere of Mars.

At 23:18 UTC, on 14 May 2021, the Tianwen-1 lander successfully landed in the preselected landing area in the southern part of the Mars Utopia Planitia. The planet landing phase began with the release of the protective capsule containing the lander/rover. The capsule made an atmospheric entry followed by a descent phase under parachute, after which the lander used retro-propulsion to soft-land on Mars.

The lander had a "treacherous journey" through the Martian atmosphere.

This is certainly a major triumph for China's space ambitions, and the culmination of years of hard work.

This is a key event for the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation.

This is the China's first rover landing on another planet.

The icy area of Mars known as "Utopia Planitia" was formed by the violent impact of an asteroid about 4 billion years ago. Past space probes have discovered large amounts of frozen water under the surface here.

Friday 14 May 2021

Covid: The race to vaccinate the world


BBC News shows that more than a billion Covid-19 vaccines have gone into arms around the world. 

Take a look at how 5 countries - the UK, the US, Canada, India, and Chile - are faring in their vaccination efforts, and what it means for ending lockdowns.

A devastating hurricane hits China! The wind sweeps everything away in Wuhan, Hubei


Vulnerability on Youtube shows the Natural Disaster on 11 May 2021. A devastating hurricane hits China! The wind sweeps everything away in Wuhan, Hubei.

Naturals hazards in 2021 seem to have become more frequent. We do not know what awaits us in 2021. It seems that global warming and climate change affects our Earth.

May 14, 2021 - Tornadoes Hit Suzhou & Shanghai, China


Disaster Compilations on Youtube shows that on the evening of the 14th, extreme weather such as thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes occurred in Wuhan and Jiangsu. Among them, a level 9 tornado broke out in Caidian District, Wuhan, causing 6 people to lose contact and 41 people seeking medical treatment; Shengze Town, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province was hit by a tornado, resulting in 1 death and 21 injuries.

Worst Natural Disasters in Human History


The Infographics Show on Youtube shows what are the worst disasters that ever happened.

Our planet is a living planet, and the only known celestial body to have both a fully functioning climate system and active plate tectonics. But, all that moving and shaking makes the Earth a potentially dangerous place to call home. Natural disasters happen. See the worst natural disasters in human history.

10 Most Dangerous Natural Disasters


Factnomenal on Youtube shows the most dangerous natural disasters! Crazy weather can come and go but sometimes weather can create natural disasters. From a storm to landslides and tornadoes, this list has everything!

Top 10 Most Dramatic Footage of Natural Disasters Caught on Camera


You really never know when disaster is going to strike. Sometimes cameras capture the drama and devastation. See the most extraordinary footage of adverse natural events caught on camera. WatchMojo on Youtube counts down the Top 10 Most Dramatic Footage of Natural Disasters.

The Dangers of Flash Flooding


The Weather Channel on Youtube shows what flash flooding actually looks like. See the new Immersive Mixed Reality (IMR) - they place themselves in the middle of the action and show the immense dangers of this natural disaster.

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over certain ice sheets or snowfields.

Filming a Raging Forest Fire - North America


Discovery on Youtube shows that a camera crew takes to the air to capture the true power of the forest fires that struck Ontario, Canada in 2011, destroying 1.5 million acres of pine forest. See the North America sights.

Why there's a ring of natural disasters around the Pacific


Vox on Youtube explains that the belt of volcanic activity is called the Ring of Fire.

The Ring of Fire is a band of volcanoes and frequent earthquakes that runs from New Zealand, up through Eastern Asia, across the Bering Strait and all the way down to the Southern tip of Chile. Volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis appear around the boundaries of the several, fast moving, tectonic plates that make up the region. When the plates collide, they create areas of volatility. 

The Ring of Fire certainly sees more natural disasters than anywhere else on Earth, but what makes it particularly dangerous is that few countries are prepared.

5 Natural Disasters That May Happen in 2021


See 5 Natural Disasters That May Happen in 2021.

A natural disaster is certainly a major adverse event resulting from various natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, and other certain geologic processes.

Natural disasters 2021: In one night, flooding destroyed over 500 vehicles in Medea, Algeria, Africa


PAINFUL EARTH on Youtube shows the Natural Disaster of 4 May 2021. In one night, flooding destroyed over 500 vehicles in Medea, Algeria, Africa.

Severe flash floods since 2 May have engulfed parts of northern Algeria. In the provinces of Medea, Batna and Msila.

Floods caused by heavy rainfall damaged houses, roads and infrastructure in Medea province. In the municipality of Beni Slimane, where a medical building and dozens of cars were damaged.

As a result of flooding in the municipality of Daira de Magra. Civil Protection Services rescued trapped motorists in Ain Khadra municipality.

15 Craziest Natural Phenomena Recorded On Camera


The wonderful world is full of crazy and unpredictable natural phenomena. See crazy, real-life amazing natural events. From the most common natural disaster to curiously colored ice crystals, here are the 15 Craziest Natural Phenomena Recorded On Camera.

Vila Velha, Brazil: 8 March 2021: Floods and shopping centre destroyed


Take a look at this natural disaster 8 March 2021. The shopping centre is destroyed and the buildings are flooded in Vila Velha, Brazil

It seems that earth cataclysms have become more frequent in 2021.

Vila Velha is a coastal city in Espírito Santo, Brazil. It lies across from Vitória, the state capital. Its population was 501,325 (2020) and its area is 210.23 km².

12 Dam Failures Caught on Camera


MAD LAB on Youtube shows that when a dam bursts in movies it might be a mesmerizing spectacle, but in real life everything is a little different. You are now looking at the largest, most technologically advanced dam in the world, with a length of 2,335 m 7600 ft, and even this miracle of engineering was unable to hold out against the enormous pressure of the water behind it! Here are 12 of the most massive dam failures caught on camera.

Record breaking space jump - free fall faster than speed of sound


Watch the record breaking space jump from 24.2 miles (38.9 km) above the surface of earth by 'Felix Baumgartner'.

The video features the recording from the on-board camera, giving a true and absolute experience of the jump.

It also features a free fall which breaks the sound barrier (speed of sound) at 846 miles/hr or 1361.5 km/hr without the use of any heavy machinery.

Australians with COVID-19 left in India as repatriation flight takes off bound for Darwin


ABC News (Australia) shows that about half of the 150 seats on the flight leaving New Delhi tonight are left empty after more than 40 people tested positive to the virus, meaning they and their close contacts cannot fly.

ABC News provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad, including the latest coronavirus pandemic updates.

Doctors in India warn against using cow dung as Covid-19 therapy


South China Morning Post shows that as India struggles with a second coronavirus wave, some have turned to cow dung "therapy" to ward off and cure Covid-19. Doctors have warned against the practice, saying there is no evidence it effectively fights the virus and that it could spread other diseases.

India Coronavirus Crisis: 5 Glimmers Of Good News


India Today shows that amid the gloom, there’s a glimmer, for certain data suggests that the deadly second wave of Covid-19 might lose its steam soon. India’s effective reproduction value (R), an indicator of how fast the infection can spread, has dropped to pre-second wave levels. 

Karnataka is still reeling under a massive covid but there is a respite in New infections.

Dr Reddy's has administered the first dose of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine in Hyderabad. Watch 5 Glimmers Of Good News In India's Covid Fight on India Today.

India: Ganga Covid Scare - Hundreds Of Bodies Float In Holy River


India Today shows the story about bodies floating in the Ganga river. More than 70 bodies have been recovered from the river in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Local reports claim more than 100 bodies have been dumped into the river.

The discovery of bodies has triggered panic over the spread of Covid-19 through Ganga river water. See the India Today exclusive.

The river - Ganges or Ganga is a trans-boundary river of Asia which flows through India and Bangladesh. The 2,525 km river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is the third largest river on Earth by discharge.

The Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus. It is a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs. It is worshipped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically, with many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Pataliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Kashi, Patna, Hajipur, Munger, Bhagalpur, Murshidabad, Baharampur, Kampilya, and Kolkata located on its banks or the banks of tributaries and connected waterways. The main stem of the Ganges begins at the town of Devprayag, at confluence of the Alaknanda, which is the source stream in hydrology because of its greater length, and the Bhagirathi, which is considered the source stream in Hindu mythology.

Johnson: Indian Covid variant could jeopardise June reopening


Guardian News shows that the Indian Covid variant could pose a threat to England's roadmap out of lockdown, Boris Johnson warned, as he announced second vaccine doses for the over-50s would be accelerated to combat its spread. 'The race between our vaccination programme and the virus may be about to become a great deal tighter,' the prime minister said. While he insisted the planned easing of restrictions on 17 May would go ahead as planned, Johnson said, 'This new variant could pose a serious disruption to our progress.'

India COVID-19 cases above 24 million as mutant spreads across region


Al Jazeera English shows that India’s surge in COVID-19 infections has spilled over to its neighbours.
It is making South Asia the epicentre of the latest coronavirus wave.
Al Jazeera's Florence Looi reports.

India's Covid Variant Looms Over Pakistan's Eid Celebrations


NBC News shows that Pakistanis appears to be engaging more with Covid vaccinations as the potential spread of a new variant from India coincides with the Eid al-Fitr holiday.  NBC News' Mohammed Abbas reports.

The black fungus nightmare facing India’s coronavirus patients


South China Morning Post shows that India is reporting a sharp increase in the number of rare so-called "black fungus" infections, or mucormycosis, among patients who survived Covid-19. The fungal infection is caused by exposure to a mould commonly found in soil and plants. But the current outbreak is afflicting post-Covid-19 patients with diabetes, who have been treated with steroids that compromised their immune systems.

Volunteers step up amid India's rising COVID-19 death toll


ABC News shows that KhalsaAid, a Sikh-led nonprofit, is one of the volunteer groups helping to deliver oxygen and other crucial supplies. Many Indians say the government’s response has been a catastrophic failure.

Tackling the Indian Covid variant as cases double in a week


BBC shows that Local and regional restrictions to tackle the Indian Covid variant cannot be ruled out, the government has said, as it expressed concern over the speed of the variant's spread in England. This is the story of 14 May 2021.