Out-Of-Province Canadian Students to Pay 2 Times as Much for Quebec Universities

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On 13 October, the Quebec government announced that beginning next year, students from other Canadian provinces would be required to pay twice the tuition of a Quebec student. This additional money will go directly towards the government to help fund French-speaking universities. “The measures announced will allow us to recover money that will be used to preserve, promote and enhance the French language in the university system,” said Jean-François Roberge, “when tens of thousands of people arrive on the island of Montreal without a mastery of French, it’s obvious it can have an anglicizing effect on the metropolis.” This move comes amid university application season for next fall’s incoming students. “I might end up staying in the province just to avoid paying that extra fee,” said Julia Paquin, a senior in an Ontario high school. Several universities and officials have condemned the measures from the Quebec government, claiming that these policies will be ineffective in protecting the language and end up penalizing the universities themselves. McGill University said, “the measures announced today will have a major, long-term effect on Quebec’s economy.” [CBC] [By Grace Pu]

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Three Neanderthal Gene Variants Associated with Greater Pain Sensitivity 

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Homo Neanderthals, an extinct species of archaic humans that lived in Eurasia approximately 40,000 years ago, contain specific gene variants (alternative sequences of DNA) in their genome that are not found in Homo sapiens. Evidence has shown that these two species of humans have interbred. As a result, modern humans contain up to 9% of Neanderthal DNA varying by location. Although the impacts of the Neanderthal  DNA are still being discovered, researchers at University College London have recently linked three Homo Neanderthal variants in the SCN9A gene to a higher pain sensitivity. The SCN9A gene codes for a protein channel in neurons (brain cells) that detects signals from damaged tissue and relays an impulse to signal pain. A study involving 1,963 Colombians identified three Neanderthal variants of the gene (D1908G, M932L, and V991L) that resulted in participants experiencing a heightened pain sensation from skin pricking after mustard oil exposure. Although the reason behind the difference in pain tolerance is unknown, experts propose that the gene variants may alter the threshold at which a nerve impulse is generated. [Science Daily] [By Michael Yang]

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Cybertrucks Finally Shipping After Unveiling 4 Years Ago

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Elon Musk’s long anticipated Cybertrucks are expected to be distributed at the end of November, but the company is still facing significant barriers with manufacturing. The North American pick-up market was already saturated and dominated by Ford—namely the F150—so it came as a surprise when Tesla’s Cybertruck was announced in 2019. Since then, the company has faced issues with mass production due to the irregular shape of the body. Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, said, ”I think the Cybertruck looks like it does for a combination of many reasons, partly aero[dynamics] . . . but actually most of it is to reduce investment.” He stated that the angular design would allow Tesla to make the truck’s roof from one piece of metal, reducing manufacturing costs, but would make it “hard to scale.” An auto analyst commented that production was probably held back by “casting,” the new method Tesla is using to mould metal, as opposed to the commonplace technique of using pressing machinery. Musk stated that there were “enormous challenges in reaching volume production,” but that “this is simply normal” because of the new technologies. The company is aiming to produce 250 000 units a year, but it does not expect to reach these rates until 2025. [Financial Times] [By Justin Wei]

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120 Premature Babies at Risk in Hospitals of Gaza 

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On 11 October, the only power plant in Gaza stopped producing electricity, as the supply of gas required to keep it running was cut off by the Israeli government. Generators became the sole source of energy in the hospitals of Gaza, exacerbating the devastating conditions Palestinians have been living in. Their access to food, water, and electricity has been limited to scarce amounts. Yet, 120 newborn babies in incubators within the hospitals of Gaza require a controlled environment led by the supply of gas, which is now on the brink of depletion as a result of the blockade. Without the fuel of the incubators, premature babies have a significantly increased chance of underdevelopment and death. With the increase in severity of the attacks made by Israel, hospitals have been facing an appalling lack of medicine. The crossings of Gaza were used to import food, medical supplies, and gas. Almost all crossings have been closed off by the Israeli government causing the innocent civilians of Gaza to suffer from the lack of basic human necessities. [AlJazeera] [By Salena Fatima]

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76 Gay People Arrested in a Birthday Party Raid in Nigeria

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Nigeria’s paramilitary recently arrested 76 gay people for attending a birthday party in Northern Nigeria. A total of 59 men and 17 women were arrested, and 21 confessed to being homosexual. The agency also stated that party organizers were planning to also hold a gay wedding, which is illegal in Nigeria.

Homosexuality is viewed as unacceptable in Nigeria, and an anti-gay law was erected in 2014 despite it being criticized internationally. The anti-gay law in Nigera includes 14 years for those convicted and bans same-sex relationships, same-sex marriage, and joining gay rights groups.

Buhari Saad, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) spokesperson for the Gombe state states that he raided the party after receiving a tip-off. The NSDC also states that the organizer of the party was planning to wed another man, who is still at large. [CNN] [By Yolanda Zhou]

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