Latest news with #environmentalhazards
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
US issues new travel advisory to the most unlikely destination
The State Department has issued an updated travel advisory for Canada amid a period of elevated tensions between the two countries. The advisory follows a steep decline in Canadian tourism to the US and mutual criticism over immigration enforcement and environmental fallout. While Canada remains designated as a low-risk country where only 'normal precautions' are advised, the June update highlights increased environmental hazards and urges travelers to monitor local alerts and follow emergency guidance. The new guidance carries an urgent tone that would have once seemed unthinkable between two countries and marks a rare moment of public friction between the neighboring allies. The relationship has been strained in recent months by political rhetoric and cross-border air quality concerns linked to Canada's record-breaking wildfires. 'In Canada, wildfires are common in forested and grassland regions from May to September,' the US Embassy and Consulates in Canada now cautions. 'In 2024, Canada was affected by record-breaking wildfires affecting all 13 provinces and territories.' American travelers are being urged to stay alert, follow local guidance, and monitor air quality conditions closely. The reminder may sound routine but it comes at a time as the two allies are grappling with a growing sense of mutual unease. Last week, Trump threw a grenade on the tariff negotiations between the United States and Canada with a blistering letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney. The two nations had been trying to settle the tariff war that broke out when Trump returned to office and announced plans to reorganize world trade . Canadian officials had hoped a deal was close, but Trump's latest letter - which he shared to Truth Social on Thursday night - set negotiations back to square one. The letter revealed he would raise tariffs on Canadian products to 35 percent from August 1 - a 10 percent increase on the current levy. Trump said the tariff hike was in part due to the fentanyl crisis and Canada's 'failure to stop the drugs from pouring into our country '. 'I must mention that the flow of fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Canada, which has many tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers ,' Trump wrote in the letter. Carney, who took office this year in a liberal win partly powered by Trump's trade actions and threats to make Canada the 51st state, his back in an online posting. 'Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses,' Carney wrote. 'We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1. Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America. We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries. That came after Trump mentioned fentanyl in his trade letter, and called out Canada for a 'failure' to control it . 'If Canada works with me to stop the flow of fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,' Trump added. 'These tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country,' he added. The latest round of tariffs are in addition to previously imposed sectoral tariffs on steel, copper and aluminum, which came into effect for most countries on June 4 at a whopping 50 percent. The latest travel advisory follows years of quietly simmering friction that boiled over earlier this year when President Trump repeatedly mocked former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, referring to Canada as America's '51st state,' and demoting Trudeau to the title of 'governor.' The introduction of tariffs between the two countries and Trump's hardline immigration policies have also seen Canadian travel to the US plunge by up to 40 percent this spring, as stories of tourists caught in the web of US immigration enforcement made headlines across the border. In response to the spike in travel-related incidents, the Canadian government has since revised its own advisory for citizens visiting the US, bluntly stating that travelers must 'comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities' and warning that visitors 'could be detained while awaiting deportation.' Last month the US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra attempted to tamp down concerns, calling the fears 'unfounded' and the high-profile detentions 'isolated.' But those reassurances did little to stem the unease especially as smoke from Canadian wildfires once again began spilling across the border. The immediate concerns outlined in the new US travel advisory is environmental: smoke, fires, and increasingly unbreathable air. This month, a fresh round of wildfires erupted in Manitoba, sending smoke billowing eastward and triggering air quality alerts from Toronto to Nova Scotia. Americans haven't forgotten what happened in June 2023 when smoke from Canadian blazes shrouded major US cities. The skies over New York City turned an apocalyptic orange, with the city suffering some of its worst air quality on record. In a sharply worded letter, Republican representatives Tom Tiffany, Glenn Grothman, and Michelle Fischbach called on Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman to take more aggressive action. 'We write to you today on behalf of our constituents who have had to deal with suffocating Canadian wildfire smoke filling the air to begin the summer,' the lawmakers declared. The Canadian Embassy, in response, told the BBC that its government 'takes wildfire season very seriously' and emphasized that Canadian communities were facing even more severe impacts.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
US issues new travel advisory to the most unlikely destination amid growing mistrust between longtime allies
The State Department has issued an updated travel advisory for Canada amid a period of elevated tensions between the two countries. The advisory follows a steep decline in Canadian tourism to the US and mutual criticism over immigration enforcement and environmental fallout. While Canada remains designated as a low-risk country where only 'normal precautions' are advised, the June update highlights increased environmental hazards and urges travelers to monitor local alerts and follow emergency guidance. The new guidance carries an urgent tone that would have once seemed unthinkable between two countries and marks a rare moment of public friction between the neighboring allies. The relationship has been strained in recent months by political rhetoric and cross-border air quality concerns linked to Canada's record-breaking wildfires. 'In Canada, wildfires are common in forested and grassland regions from May to September,' the US Embassy and Consulates in Canada now cautions. 'In 2024, Canada was affected by record-breaking wildfires affecting all 13 provinces and territories.' American travelers are being urged to stay alert, follow local guidance, and monitor air quality conditions closely. The reminder may sound routine but it comes at a time as the two allies are grappling with a growing sense of mutual unease. The State Department has issued an updated travel advisory for Canada, warning American citizens to be aware of worsening wildfire conditions across all 13 provinces and territories. Pictured, a haze blankets Toronto during an air quality warning earlier this week Last week, Trump threw a grenade on the tariff negotiations between the United States and Canada with a blistering letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney. The two nations had been trying to settle the tariff war that broke out when Trump returned to office and announced plans to reorganize world trade. Canadian officials had hoped a deal was close, but Trump's latest letter - which he shared to Truth Social on Thursday night - set negotiations back to square one. The letter revealed he would raise tariffs on Canadian products to 35 percent from August 1 - a 10 percent increase on the current levy. Trump said the tariff hike was in part due to the fentanyl crisis and Canada's 'failure to stop the drugs from pouring into our country '. 'I must mention that the flow of fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Canada, which has many tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers,' Trump wrote in the letter. Carney, who took office this year in a liberal win partly powered by Trump's trade actions and threats to make Canada the 51st state, his back in an online posting. 'Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses,' Carney wrote. While multiple countries have received tariff letters last week, Canada has become a thorn in Trump's side during his second term 'We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1. Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America. We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries. That came after Trump mentioned fentanyl in his trade letter, and called out Canada for a 'failure' to control it. 'If Canada works with me to stop the flow of fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,' Trump added. 'These tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country,' he added. The latest round of tariffs are in addition to previously imposed sectoral tariffs on steel, copper and aluminum, which came into effect for most countries on June 4 at a whopping 50 percent. The latest travel advisory follows years of quietly simmering friction that boiled over earlier this year when President Trump repeatedly mocked former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, referring to Canada as America's '51st state,' and demoting Trudeau to the title of 'governor.' The introduction of tariffs between the two countries and Trump's hardline immigration policies have also seen Canadian travel to the US plunge by up to 40 percent this spring, as stories of tourists caught in the web of US immigration enforcement made headlines across the border. In response to the spike in travel-related incidents, the Canadian government has since revised its own advisory for citizens visiting the US, bluntly stating that travelers must 'comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities' and warning that visitors 'could be detained while awaiting deportation.' Last month the US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra attempted to tamp down concerns, calling the fears 'unfounded' and the high-profile detentions 'isolated.' But those reassurances did little to stem the unease especially as smoke from Canadian wildfires once again began spilling across the border. The immediate concerns outlined in the new US travel advisory is environmental: smoke, fires, and increasingly unbreathable air. This month, a fresh round of wildfires erupted in Manitoba, sending smoke billowing eastward and triggering air quality alerts from Toronto to Nova Scotia. Americans haven't forgotten what happened in June 2023 when smoke from Canadian blazes shrouded major US cities. The skies over New York City turned an apocalyptic orange, with the city suffering some of its worst air quality on record. In a sharply worded letter, Republican representatives Tom Tiffany, Glenn Grothman, and Michelle Fischbach called on Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman to take more aggressive action. 'We write to you today on behalf of our constituents who have had to deal with suffocating Canadian wildfire smoke filling the air to begin the summer,' the lawmakers declared. The Canadian Embassy, in response, told the BBC that its government 'takes wildfire season very seriously' and emphasized that Canadian communities were facing even more severe impacts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Springfield courthouse not coming soon enough for employees
SPRINGFIELD — During heavy rains, Hampden County Register of Probate Rosemary Saccomani is forced to line the window in her office with buckets to catch the water that seeps through. While not the chief concern for employees of the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse, the persistent leaks leave her and her staff with a feeling of neglect by state officials. Known by many in the legal community as the 'sick courthouse,' the building has high rates of certain illnesses, like Lou Gehrig's disease, also called ALS, which led employees to conclude there were environmental hazards lurking in the walls and vents in the building. An outbreak of mold in 2021 forced the temporary closure of the courthouse and prompted several large departments to relocate indefinitely. A series of environmental studies and voluntary health surveys found that, aside from a slightly higher rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among 226 respondents, the little data an environmental consulting firm could gather in 2023 showed normal to less-than-normal frequencies of other types of cancers. Mental health and heart disease were reported as 'slightly higher than local prevalence rates.' Surveys included questions about employees' health concerns and diagnoses, alcohol and tobacco use, physical activity and the number of hours they typically worked in the building. Of neurological disorders, such as ALS, which killed at least five employees who worked in the same part of the building, four respondents or their proxies reported diagnoses of ALS and one with neuropathy. Analysts also reported a number of limitations. 'The study was limited by data which was self-reported and could not be verified for accuracy. The identity, employment status and time spent in the courthouse could not be verified. The health experience of the 226 respondents cannot be compared to the population of non-respondents, limiting extrapolation to the entire employee/occupant population,' a November 2023 report said. The report says respondents disclosed depression and anxiety rates as slightly above average; stroke and heart disease was reported at slightly higher than local prevalence rates; no cancer cluster was detected; asthma was reported as slightly higher than the reference data (18% versus 16.6%); and reports of breast and lung cancer were lower than the national average. Many employees remain skeptical of the results and are disappointed over the glacial pace of the siting and construction of a new courthouse. 'I understand that the state wants to follow the correct protocols for the request for proposals from developers, (but) it seems lost on them that we're still working here,' Saccomani said. The Department of Capital Management and Assets published a request for proposals on June 30, which will remain open for three months as consultants market the development both locally and nationally, according to an email sent to Springfield stakeholders by Trial Court Administrator Thomas G. Ambrosino. Saccomani noted a recent $10 million line-item veto by Gov. Maura Healey affecting the Trial Court has halted any major facility upgrades, including the construction of new courtrooms for the Family and Probate Division. 'One area of the fourth floor now looks like a quasi-construction site,' she said. 'For these reasons and more, we feel like things are not happening quickly enough.' Earlier in her tenure, Healey made $106 million available for startup costs for a new courthouse — a move heralded by employees and local lawmakers who were frustrated by inaction following strong rhetoric from the previous administration. But more than two years later, state officials have yet to even identify ground to break. 'We thought with the change in the administration, things would move quicker,' said Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, Hampden County Register of Deeds and among the lead plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit filed in 2021 over the mold flare-up. Coakley-Rivera, along with Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni, evacuated employees on the same day in August 2021. Most employees of both divisions have yet to return to the courthouse. Coakley-Rivera's employees relocated to Westfield City Hall and to offices in the basement of the 'little State House' on Dwight Street in Springfield, while Gulluni commandeered office suites at Tower Square on Main Street. Asked whether she felt the courthouse was safe for return, she said: 'Absolutely not,' citing a high percentage of employees calling out sick and coughing incessantly while they were there. 'Ever since we moved, that stopped. Very few sick calls now and very little coughing,' she said. With dozens of employees one floor down from Saccomani, Hampden County Clerk of Courts Laura S. Gentile said she and several of her employees suffer from dry eyes, repeated infections and sinus problems. 'I don't have any direct causation, but my staff says if they're away from the building for a number of days, all those symptoms stop,' said Gentile. She added that she has faith that the Trial Court is trying to move as quickly as possible, but DCAMM 'isn't really the speediest.' For example, the agency changed its strategy a year into the first request for proposals cycle and rethought its original plan to construct a state-owned building. State officials instead decided to invite private developers to build a new courthouse to lease to the state for up to 60 years. DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke said in 2024 that the revised plan would save the state time and money. But it reset the clock in the short-term. The project is still several years away from being completed. Rank-and-file employees at the courthouse were reluctant to talk about the courthouse, but one spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the topic. 'People say their allergies are worse and make comments that they feel like crap when they enter the building. But I think everyone knows it's a state building, and nothing will happen,' the longtime employee said. Read the original article on MassLive.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Zawya
Jeddah Mayoralty warns of maximum fines for sewage discharge violations
JEDDAH — The Jeddah Mayoralty has warned against the violation of discharging sewage into rainwater drainage networks, causing environmental hazards. This is a serious environmental violation for which the perpetrator will be slapped with a maximum fine of SR20 million. The mayoralty emphasized that this illegal practice harms infrastructure, negatively impacts the environment and public health, and causes blockages and congestion in drainage networks. The Jeddah mayoralty clarified that penalties are not limited to financial fines only, but also include a number of regulatory measures against violators, most notably: Immediately stopping the discharge; addressing the environmental damage resulting from the discharge; paying compensation; and referring the case to the Public Prosecution. The mayoralty called on all establishments and individuals to adhere to environmental regulations and instructions and to report any violations through official communication channels. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Stanislaus County farmers raise concerns over industrial operations in agricultural zones
CERES – Farmers in Stanislaus County expressed concern over industrial operations happening in agricultural zones. They are worried about environmental hazards from the potential dumping and trucking operations that could impact their land and livelihoods. Almond farmer Christine Gemperle said she had to build a fence after her neighbor moved in and started a trucking operation, dumping asphalt onto her property. "Somebody was driving on our road here, and they were dumping asphalt on the property next door. And I think they thought my road was actually their road, and they had just bought the property and were moving, I guess, moving in stuff. And I said, 'You can't use this road. This is private property.' And the guy didn't care," Gemperle said. CBS13 reached out to Stanislaus County regarding the status of that operation. "There is an open code enforcement case on this property," the county said in a reply. "The site does not have a use permit or a home occupation business license to allow the parking of trucks on-site." But Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa said the current language for industrial operations isn't firm enough to provide severe enough consequences to deter this type of activity. "We've been increasing the fines, but we have to stay within the lawful limit," Chiesa said. "We can't just say we're going to get $10,000 fines a day because it's written in the state code, and we're trying to work through all that." Chiesa said the county is actively working on rewriting the language to stop industrial activity from happening in agricultural zones. "The last thing I want is soil contaminated with asphalt," Gemperle said. The county and local farmers said this isn't the only property where this is happening. In 2024, the county had 21 code-related complaints and opened 13 code enforcement cases. All were on industrial operations happening in agricultural areas.
