Latest news with #EmergencyAlert
CTV News
an hour ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Tornado warning issued for areas west of Edmonton, thunderstorm watch for city
A funnel cloud west of Drayton Valley at 5:15 p.m. on July 2, 2025. (Credit: @Trenton_WX) A tornado warning has been issued for the Brazeau County near Cynthia and Lodgepole. Radar indicates a potential tornado in the area with a severe thunderstorm moving northeast. Anyone in the area should find shelter immediately in a basement or centrally-located room away from windows. The Watch includes areas from Edson/Drayton Valley and Rimbey northeast through Whitecourt and Barrhead areas. A tornado warning for the Drayton Valley area ended at 5:35 p.m. As thunderstorms move through the area late this afternoon and early this evening, conditions are favourable for the development of a severe storm that could produce a tornado. July 2 July 2, 2025 weather watches and warnings in Alberta. It's important to note that the vast majority of that region will not see a tornado. However, anyone in the watch region should be on alert for severe storms and have a plan in place to find safe shelter if one of those storms develops near you. If a tornado does develop, an Alberta Emergency alert will be sent out to mobile phones in the affected area. Most of central and northern Alberta remain under a severe thunderstorm watch, including the city of Edmonton and surrounding areas. Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of northwest Alberta and areas near Drayton Valley and Red Deer (as of 5 p.m.). Reminder - a watch means 'potential' for storms. A warning means the severe weather has developed or is imminent. We'll continue to monitor the situation and update as the situation develops.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
WW3 fears grow as ALL phones to blast out 'emergency alarm' in system test
As fears mount over the potential of WW3, the UK will test its emergency alarm system for the first time in two years. All UK devices will blast out an alarm tone later this year in a new test of the 'Emergency Alert System'. First launched in 2023, this system is designed to warn the public if there is a danger to life nearby. This latest test comes as the government's security strategy warns that the UK homeland could come under 'direct threat' in a 'wartime scenario'. The renewed testing of the emergency system also comes at a time when escalating conflict in the Middle East has sparked concerns of a wider war between nuclear powers. When it was first tested, the emergency system sent a message to phones which read: 'Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. 'In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. 'Visit for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.' The Emergency Alert System was designed to quickly inform the public of an impending threat. According to the Government, this could include severe flooding, wildfires, or extreme weather events. Once the alert is sent, all phones in the affected area will make a loud siren-like sound, vibrate, and read out the warning. The sound and vibration will trigger even if your phone is set to silent. The government does not need to know your phone number in order to send the message, and all phones will automatically trigger the alert. The next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will occur at some point in the coming year. However, the exact date is yet to be announced. After this year's test, the Emergency Alert System will continue to be tested once every two years. Similar systems are already widely used across a number of other countries, primarily for natural disaster preparation. Japan has one of the world's most sophisticated systems, which combines satellite and cell broadcast technology. This system forms part of a wider scheme called J-ALERT that informs the public in case of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, or missile threats. South Korea frequently uses its national cell broadcast system to alert citizens about issues ranging from weather alerts and civil emergencies to local missing persons cases. The US has a similar system to the UK that utilises 'wireless emergency alerts' to send messages that look like texts with a unique sound and vibration pattern. The announcement of the UK's upcoming emergency alert test comes at a time when more people are growing worried about the threat of war. The latest version of the government's defence strategy, published earlier this week, lays out a chilling warning that the UK is no longer safe from military threats. The report states: 'For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario.' In a foreword to the report, Prime Minister Keir Starmer adds: 'The world has changed. Russian aggression menaces our continent. Strategic competition is intensifying. Extremist ideologies are on the rise. Technology is transforming the nature of both war and domestic security.' At the same time, the world has been carefully watching the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel in the Middle East. After US forces bombed Iran's primary nuclear weapons development facility, the nation's leadership has vowed to strike back if there are further attacks. Amid mounting concerns, a number of European countries have taken measures to improve their citizens' readiness. Earlier this year, the EU issued advice to its nearly 450 million residents to stockpile emergency supplies to last 72 hours. The warning told people across 27 countries to build up a store of bottled water, energy bars, torches, and waterproof pouches for IDs. Citizens could also access a handbook to help prepare against 'various crises, from potential conflict to climate disasters, pandemics and cyber threats.' Likewise, the French government released a 20-page survival manual detailing how to protect yourself during armed conflict, natural disasters, and industrial accidents such as nuclear leaks. What is the Doomsday clock and what does it mean? What is the Doomsday Clock? The Doomsday Clock was created by the Bulletin, an independent non-profit organization run by some of the world's most eminent scientists. It was founded by concerned US scientists involved in the Manhattan Project, which developed the world's first nuclear weapons during World War II. In 1947, they established the clock to provide a simple way of demonstrating the danger to the Earth and humanity posed by nuclear war. The Doomsday Clock not only takes into account the likelihood of nuclear Armageddon but also other emerging threats such as climate change and advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. It is symbolic and represents a countdown to possible global catastrophe. The decision to move, or leave the clock alone, is made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, in consultation with the bulletin's Board of Sponsors, which includes 16 Nobel laureates. The clock has become a universally recognised indicator of the world's vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies in life sciences. In 2020, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an expert group formed in 1945, adjusted the Doomsday Clock 100 seconds to midnight, the closest we've ever come to total destruction - and it remained there in 2021. That sent a message that the Earth was closer to oblivion than any time since the early days of hydrogen bomb testing and 1984, when US-Soviet relations reached 'their iciest point in decades.' The Bulletin also considered world leaders response to the coronavirus pandemic, feeling it was so poor that the clock needed to remain in its perilously close to midnight position. The closer to midnight the clock moves the closer to annihilation humanity is. How has the clock changed since 1947? 1947 - 48: 7 minutes 1949 - 52: 3 minutes 1953 - 59: 2 minutes 1960 - 62: 7 minutes 1963 - 67: 12 minutes 1968: 7 minutes 1969 - 71: 10 minutes 1972 - 73: 12 minutes 1974 - 79: 9 minutes 1980: 7 minutes 1981 - 83: 4 minutes 1984 - 87: 3 minutes 1988 - 89: 6 minutes 1990: 10 minutes 1991 - 94: 17 minutes 1995 - 97: 14 minutes 1998 - 2001: 9 minutes 2002 - 06: 7 minutes 2007 - 09: 5 minutes 2010 - 11: 6 minutes 2012 - 14: 5 minutes 2015 - 16: 3 minutes 2017 - 2.5 minutes 2018 - 2 minutes 2019 - 2 minutes 2020 - 100 seconds 2021 - 100 seconds 2022 - 100 seconds 2023 - 90 seconds 2024 - 90 seconds
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
The ‘dangerous' phones that WON'T get UK's emergency alert because they're not new enough
BRITS with older mobiles will miss the UK's upcoming test of its Emergency Alert System. The upcoming 2025 drill – which is meant to simulate a genuine emergency, like flooding or fires – will go out to millions of phones across the country. 2 It follows a similar test that took place in 2023, where Android and iPhone devices across Britain issued a 10-second "sound and vibration". The UK Government tests the service to make sure it works properly even when there's no actual emergency. But according to official government guidance, some phones won't be able to deliver the alert. That means those Brits won't just miss out on the drill – but will also miss out on genuine emergency alerts too. This means your old mobile is more dangerous than newer models, as you won't get the Government-issued alerts about "severe flooding, fires, and extreme weather". WHICH PHONES WON'T GET THE ALERTS? For Apple customers, alerts come to any iPhone running iOS 14.5 or later. The following devices are iOS 14.5 compatible, and will get the alert: iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone X iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus iPhone 6s iPhone 6s Plus iPhone SE (1st generation) iPhone SE (2nd generation) Anything newer than the phones on that list will also be able to get the update. That's because they launched with iOS 15 or later. iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit That means these models will also get the alert: iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd generation) iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e If you have an iPhone older than the devices on those lists above, you won't get the alert, according to UK government guidance. These models can't get iOS 14.5 and will miss the alert: iPhone iPhone 3G iPhone 3GS iPhone 4 iPhone 4S iPhone 5 iPhone 5C iPhone 5S iPhone 5s iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus For Android, it's more difficult to give a full list of supported phones. That's because so many different gadget makers produce Android phones. You'll need to make sure that your Android phone is running Android 11 or later. To do that, just go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version. If it's not running Android 11 or later, try updating it in Settings > System > Software Update. And if you can't get Android 11 or later then you may miss out on the emergency alerts. If you have one of these cut-off phones, you should consider upgrading it immediately. SECOND HIDDEN DANGER Of course, that's not the only reason these older mobiles are dangerous. These handsets no longer receive active updates. For iPhone, we're now on iOS 18 and will get iOS 26 later this year – but millions of older mobiles can't get either of those updates. And it's the same story for old Android phones too. WARNING FOR DRIVERS The UK Government issued the following warning for anyone driving during the drill... "When you get an alert, stop what you're doing and follow the instructions in the alert," the Government advice reads. "If you're driving or riding when you get an alert, do not read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding. "Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. "If there's nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency. "It's illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding." Picture Credit: Unsplash Tech giants use software updates to close dangerous security loopholes. These loopholes can be used by hackers to break into your devices and accounts – so updating your phone is the easiest way to stay safe. But if you can't update your phone, then you can't receive the latest security fixes – leaving you exposed to known loopholes that criminals can exploit. So missing out on emergency alerts isn't the only reason to upgrade your old (and sadly, dangerous) mobile. WHY ELSE MIGHT YOU MISS THE ALERT? Having a phone that is too old isn't the only reason why you might miss out on the alert. The UK Government says that you won't get the alert if your phone is turned off, connected to a 2G or 3G network, or Wi-Fi only. And you might also miss alerts if your phone is in airplane mode. You can also turn alerts off, so you'll want to check your settings to make sure that the feature is on. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Emergency Alerts and make sure that the alert toggles are in the green "on" position. And on Android phones, just search for Emergency Alerts in your phone's search bar, and then toggle them on. They should be on by default anyway. WHAT WILL THE ALERT SOUND LIKE? Sadly there's no confirmed date for the 2025 alert test just yet. But when it happens, the Government says: "Your mobile phone or tablet may make a loud siren-like sound, even if it's set on silent". It may also vibrate and read out the alert. "The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds," government advice explains. The alert will also include a phone number or link to the Government website for more info. When the 2023 test alert was issued, it said: 'Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. 'In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. "Visit for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.'
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
New rules for motor vehicle aggregators notified in Chandigarh
Chandigarh: With the Chandigarh administration notifying the 'Chandigarh Administration Motor Vehicles Aggregators Rules, 2025', the aggregators may provide pooling facilities to riders whose details and KYC are available. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These riders shall be travelling along the same route but with varied stoppages from one point to another under a virtual contract through the app. The rules further stipulate that female passengers seeking to avail themselves of ride pooling shall also be provided the option to pool only with other female passengers. The pooling facilities shall be available within certain kilometres of detour from the route assigned to be undertaken for a destination specified by the first rider in such a vehicle. The Chandigarh Administration may, by way of notification, relax the detour specifications to provide accessibility in urban agglomerations and areas beyond the limits of municipal corporations, stipulate the rules. Special emphasis is laid on the safety of the riders. For this, the rules stipulate ensuring the appropriate functioning of the Global Positioning System (GPS) installed in the vehicle and providing efficient resolution for any issues that may develop in its functioning. The aggregator shall ensure the installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and an Emergency Alert System in vehicles registered in other states also for the safety of passengers as per MoRTH guidelines. Additionally, the aggregator must ensure that the driver plies the vehicle on the route assigned on the app. In non-compliance with the same, a mechanism should be developed wherein the app device indicates the fault to the driver, and the control room of the aggregator immediately communicates with the driver regarding the same. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To ensure the safety of women employees and drivers, the aggregator should introduce mechanisms to protect their rights, in compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The aggregator must enforce a mechanism on the app to ensure that the identity of the driver undertaking a trip is the same as the one enlisted with the aggregator, requiring verification every time a trip is accepted. Regular spot checks of vehicles should be integrated with the aggregator by personnel authorised by such an aggregator. The rules also aim to regulate fares. The taxi fare shall be notified by the Chandigarh Administration from time to time. The minimum fare chargeable to customers availing themselves of aggregator services shall be for a minimum of 3 kilometres to compensate for dead mileage and the distance travelled and fuel utilised for picking up the customers. The aggregator shall not be permitted to charge more than the taxi fare fixed by the Chandigarh Administration from time to time. However, the aggregator can charge a fare up to 20% lower than the taxi fare fixed by the Chandigarh Administration under intimation to the office of the State Transport Authority, UT Chandigarh. The driver of a vehicle integrated with the aggregator shall receive at least 80% of the fare applicable on each ride, and the remaining charges for each ride shall be received by the aggregator.
The Onion
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Onion
FEMA Head Under Fire After Accidentally Playing Porn On Emergency Alert System
The post FEMA Head Under Fire After Accidentally Playing Porn On Emergency Alert System appeared first on The Onion.
