Virtual Observer

My flagship mag on Flipboard: Selected news articles, editorials, photos and videos reflecting, commenting or critiquing events and trends affecting individuals, society and humanity around the world. - V

By Valkor

Valkor
Exoplanets
A Second Interstellar Visitor Has Arrived in Our Solar System. This Time, Astronomers Think They Know Where It Came From
Live Science - Rafi Letzter
For the second time ever, astronomers have detected an interstellar object plunging through our solar system. But this time, researchers think they …
October 9
Valkor
Montréal
City councillor of North African descent denied entry into press conference on racial profiling
ctvnews.ca - Basem Boshra
MONTREAL -- The vice-chairman of the city's public security commitee was barred Monday from attending a press conference by Montreal police about …
October 7
Valkor
Music
Ginger Baker, Cream Co-Founder Who Redefined Rock Drumming, Dead at 80
Rolling Stone - Andy Greene
Ginger Baker, the wildly influential and innovative drummer who laid the groundwork for heavy metal and world music and played with everyone from …
Mar 10, 2016
Valkor
News
Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded for Research on How Cells Manage Oxygen
The New York Times - Gina Kolata and Megan Specia
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to three scientists — William G. Kaelin Jr., Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza — for their work on how cells sense and adapt to oxygen
5 days ago
Valkor
Science (India)
China grows a cotton plant on the far side of the moon in a biological first
Digital Trends - Georgina Torbet
China has broken new lunar ground, successfully growing cotton on the moon for the first time. The experiment was part of the Chang’e 4 project, in …
October 6
Valkor
Donald Trump
Judge says New York prosecutors can see Trump's tax returns
Associated Press - By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — With President Donald Trump under siege on Capitol Hill, a federal judge dealt him a setback on another front Monday and ruled that New York City prosecutors can see his tax returns for
October 7
Valkor
Water
NDP Pledge $1.8 Billion For Clean Drinking Water In Indigenous Communities
huffingtonpost.ca - Premila D'Sa
"If this was an issue in Toronto, in Vancouver, in any city around the world, around Canada, there would be no debate." GRASSY NARROWS, Ont. — NDP …
October 5
Valkor
Vancouver Island
Green Party Would Let Indigenous Communities Opt Out Of 'Oppressive' Indian Act
huffingtonpost.ca - Premila D'Sa
The law defines the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the federal government. A Green government would also enshrine the tenets of the …
October 5
Valkor
Education
Ontario Reaches Deal With Education Workers To Avoid Strike
huffingtonpost.ca - Premila D'Sa
The CUPE president says the union side made no concessions. TORONTO — A strike that would have closed hundreds of schools across Ontario was averted …
October 7
Valkor
Cannabis
Ontario And Quebec's Cannabis Retail ‘Nightmare’ Threatens Industry, Experts Fear
huffingtonpost.ca - Daniel Tencer
As stock prices swoon, some marijuana companies are facing a cash crunch. TORONTO — A year after legalization, the honeymoon is over for Canada’s …
October 7
Valkor
Andrew Scheer
Leaders' Debate To Feature All 6 Federal Party Leaders For 1st Time
huffingtonpost.ca - Jon Rumley
The stage is set for a political showdown in English on Monday night. OTTAWA — All six federal party leaders are in the national capital region Monday …
October 7
Valkor
Extinction
Climate Activists Cause Commuter Chaos In Major Canadian Cities
huffingtonpost.ca - Jon Rumley
Protesters blocked traffic as part of a global effort for urgent action. Protesters shut down a handful of bridges across Canada on Monday morning as …
October 7
Valkor
Andrew Weaver
B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver Steps Down, Will Not Run In 2021
huffingtonpost.ca - Premila D'Sa
VICTORIA — B.C. Green Leader Andrew Weaver, who led the party to a historic election breakthrough two years ago, will not seek re-election in the …
October 7
Valkor
Zack Greinke
Tampa Bay Rays jack three homers off Zack Greinke, who makes $9 million more than their entire lineup
Golf Digest - Coleman Bentley
It was a tough Monday for Zack Greinke. OK, OK. It was a tough Monday for everybody, but especially Greinke, who took the mound in game three of the ALDS with a sweep and a potential ALCS berth on the
October 7
Valkor
Technology
Apple Warns iPhones May Suddenly Fail—New Fix Now Available
Forbes - Zak Doffman
Another hardware issue has hit Apple, with a “no power” warning from the Cupertino giant that millions of users persisting with its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s models may experience a hardware component failure,
October 5
Valkor
Atlantic Canada
Shag Harbour Incident continues to fascinate small N.S. fishing village
ctvnews.ca - Reporter
The Shag Harbour Incident continues to fascinate witnesses, UFO hunters, conspiracy theorists and anyone who loves a good mystery. Exactly 52 years …
October 5
Valkor
Explainer: Why the UK's Brexit proposal falls short for the EU
Reuters UK - John Chalmers
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain’s latest proposal for an agreement on the terms of its divorce from the European Union has been widely rebuffed in Brussels because it does not meet the objectives of the Irish
October 5
Valkor
Hong Kong
"Very dark day": Hong Kong suspends business, transit following protests
Axios - Rashaan Ayesh
Activity in Hong Kong was on pause Saturday after a ban on face masks, used by protestors to conceal their identities from the government, prompted …
October 5
Valkor
Toronto, ON
Nuit Blanche 2019 takes over Toronto: Here’s what you need to know
ctvnews.ca - Phil Tsekouras
Toronto is set to transform into a massive art installation Saturday night as more than 300 artists and nearly 90 art projects take over the city. The …
October 5
Valkor
North Korea
U.S.-North Korea nuclear talks have broken off: North Korea negotiator
Reuters
A motorcade carrying North Korean delegation heads for Villa Elfvik on the island of Lidingo off Stockholm, Sweden, October 5, 2019. REUTERS/Anna Ringstrom STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Working-level nuclear between
October 5
Valkor
Culture
Rule of Capture Combines Legal Thriller and Dystopian Sci-Fi
WIRED - Geek's Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Geek's Guide to the Galaxy. Geek's Guide to the Galaxy Culture Christopher Brown’s first novel, Tropic of Kansas, is about a charismatic CEO …
October 5
Valkor
United Kingdom
Brexit delay: EU leaders consider 14-month delay to avoid no deal
express.co.uk - Joe Barnes, Brussels Correspondent
EUROPEAN leaders could demand Brexit is delayed until 2021 after it emerged Boris Johnson will beg Brussels for an extension if he fails to secure a …
October 5
Valkor
Stock Markets
Kitchener Market celebrates 150 years
ctvnews.ca - Spencer Turcotte
The Kitchener Market is celebrating its 150th anniversary on Saturday. It's located in the area bounded by King, Frederick, Duke and Scott streets. The …
October 5
Valkor
Vaping
U.S. vaping illnesses top 1,000, death count is up to 18
ctvnews.ca - Mike Stobbe
NEW YORK -- The outbreak of U.S. vaping-related illnesses has surpassed 1,000 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that …
October 3
Valkor
Andrew Scheer
Andrew Scheer Says Dual Citizenship Is ‘Not A Big Deal In Canada’
huffingtonpost.ca - Ryan Maloney
The Conservative leader faced questions Friday about taxes and the U.S. draft. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer attempted Friday to distance himself …
October 4
Valkor
News
Bernie Sanders had a heart attack
CNN - By Deanna Hackney, Caroline Kelly
(CNN) — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack, his campaign confirmed on Friday after he departed Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas. "I want thank
October 4
Valkor
Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll, Oscar-nominated, pioneering actress, dies
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Diahann Carroll, the Oscar-nominated actress and singer who won critical acclaim as the first black woman to star in a non-servant role in a TV series as “Julia,” has died. She was 84.
October 4
Valkor
Justin Trudeau
Election 2019: Trudeau defends use of two planes
ctvnews.ca - Sarah Turnbull
OTTAWA - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has come out in defence of his campaign team’s decision to travel from coast to coast with two planes, one for …
October 3
Valkor
North America
US wins World Trade Organisation fight to impose up to US$7.5 billion in sanctions on Europe
South China Morning Post - Bloomberg
The World Trade Organisation has given US President Donald Trump the go-ahead to impose tariffs on as much as US$7.5 billion worth of European …
October 2