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RCMP discontinues search for foreign object downed over Yukon

Published

2 years ago

February 18, 2023

The RCMP says it has ended its search for an unidentified aerial object shot down over central Yukon last Saturday.

The mounties say they searched the highest probability area but could not find the debris.

The RCMP says it is discontinuing search efforts because snowfalls have made it increasingly unlikely the object will be found and the current belief is it’s “not tied to a scenario that justifies extraordinary search efforts.”

The U.S. military said late Friday it had also ended its search for airborne objects shot down near Deadhorse, Alaska, and over Lake Huron on Feb. 10 and 12, respectively.

The U.S. Northern Command issued a statement saying the decision came after the U.S. and Canada “conducted systematic searches” of the area using a variety of tools but did not locate the debris.

The announcements capped three dramatic weeks that saw U.S. fighter jets shoot down four airborne objects — a large Chinese balloon on Feb. 4 and three much smaller objects about a week later — over Canada and the United States.

It remains unclear why China sent a suspected spy balloon into Canadian and American airspace and what it accomplished. The three smaller objects have also not been identified.

Lt.-Gen. Alain Pelletier, deputy commander of the joint U.S.-Canadian air surveillance and defence command known as Norad, had said officials hoped to retrieve the objects to analyze them and get a better understanding of their capacity and origin.

Federal Defence Minister Anita Anand said last week it was too early to tell whether the “cylindrical object” shot down over central Yukon was from China, but said it was “potentially similar” to the Chinese spy balloon destroyed off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4.

— With files from the Associated Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2023.

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Health Canada approves updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

Published

3 mins ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

Health Canada has authorized Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against currently circulating variants of the virus.

The protein-based vaccine, called Nuvaxovid, has been reformulated to target the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron.

It will replace the previous version of the vaccine, which targeted the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron.

Health Canada recently asked provinces and territories to get rid of their older COVID-19 vaccines to ensure the most current vaccine will be used during this fall’s respiratory virus season.

Earlier this week, Health Canada approved Moderna’s updated mRNA COVID vaccine.

It is still reviewing Pfizer’s updated mRNA vaccine, with a decision expected soon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously described the Novavax vaccine as an mRNA shot.

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Endangered North Atlantic right whale spotted entangled in Gulf of St. Lawrence

Published

17 mins ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

HALIFAX – The federal Fisheries Department says an endangered North Atlantic right whale has become entangled in gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The department says the whale was sighted Wednesday by a Transport Canada aerial surveillance team northeast of the Gaspé Peninsula, off Anticosti Island.

Officials say it’s not known what type of gear has entangled the whale or where the gear came from.

Based on observation, experts at the New England Aquarium have confirmed the whale is a female known as Chiminea.

The department says it is continuing to monitor the area and if the whale is located and conditions allow, efforts will be made to disentangle the animal.

Last October, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimated there were 356 North Atlantic right whales left on the planet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Nelly Furtado to perform at Invictus Games opening cermony with Bruneau and Kahan

Published

1 hour ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

VANCOUVER – Canadian pop icon Nelly Furtado has been named one of three headliners for the opening ceremony of the upcoming Invictus Games.

Furtado, from Victoria, will share the stage with alt-pop star Roxane Bruneau of Delson, Que., and American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan.

They’ll be part of the show that opens the multi-sport event in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., in February.

The Invictus Games sees wounded, injured, and sick military service members and Veterans compete in 11 disciplines.

The Vancouver Whistler 2025 Games will be the first of seven editions to feature winter adaptive sports, including alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling.

British Columbia’s Lower Mainland will host the Invictus Games from Feb. 8-16.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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