Weekly News Recap: August 1, 2025

Weekly News Recap: August 1, 2025

A Saskatchewan licence plate with an abbreviation for Chappell Roan's new song The Subway was featured in a teaser video for the track, which is about a break up so bad it makes you want to run away and start a new life in Saskatchewan. (@chappellroanfandemonium/TikTok, Will Heath/NBC)

If a five-year-old could draw a pop star, it would be me. -- Chappell Roan

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • VIDEO: This Ancient Indian Dance Will Hypnotise You (YouTube) All of these stories are amazing but the Kathakali dance is the bomb. "Discover the vibrant spirit of India through four incredible stories that celebrate its rich culture, tradition, and heart."

  • VIDEO: Giant snails eating cucumber (YouTube) No matter how you might feel about snails, this video is adorable. "In this video, two snails are enjoying a piece of cucumber together while I clean their terrarium."

  • Nation Flags Made From That Country’s Most Iconic Cuisine (Moss & Fog) #VeryCreative and cool. "Flags of the world are fascinating. The history, the design, the colors, the associations. But rarely do flags tell more of a national story than these food-infographic-flag pieces. Created by ad agency WHYBIN\TBWA for the Sydney International Food Festival way back in 2015, they are wonderfully simple yet informative and delicious looking."

  • Archaeologists Discover a 2,400-Year-Old Skeleton Mosaic That Urges People to “Be Cheerful and Live Your Life” (Open Culture) Even in ancient times, inspirational posters could be found. "In 2012, archaeologists discovered in Southern Turkey a well-preserved mosaic featuring a skeleton savoring a loaf of bread and a pitcher of wine, surrounded by the Greek words 'Be cheerful and live your life.' Dating back to the 3rd century BCE, the mosaic likely adorned the dining room of a wealthy villa in the ancient Greco-Roman city of Antioch."

  • Chappell Roan's new single mentions Saskatchewan. So do these tracks (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY "In her latest single, The Subway, American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan curses out in post-breakup frustration that she's had enough and is moving to Saskatchewan. While the concept of the Prairie province as an escape might be uncommon, what isn't is how many times it gets mentioned in song. It happens far more than you'd think and we've compiled some of the most memorable mentions."

  • VIDEO: Toronto Zoo to take in blind baby moose after province approves transfer from Ottawa (CBC) TORONTO STORY #WhatACutie "The Toronto Zoo will soon become home to a blind baby moose who was rescued near Ottawa earlier this month. The two-month-old baby moose, now named Cedar, was found by an animal rescue group on a rural road in Hawkesbury, Ont. Cedar was brought to Holly's Haven Wildlife Rescue, where he spent the last three weeks getting professional veterinary aid and care."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. A Calgary couple's journey from doo-wop to dedicated philanthropy (CBC) CALGARY STORY We shared their recent gift to the Glenbow a few weeks back. They are an amazing couple! "The names Al Osten and Buddy Victor might be familiar to many Albertans. Visitors to the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre in southeast Calgary, or the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton where their names adorn plaques throughout the museum, have seen the impact of their generosity firsthand. The Calgary couple's contributions to initiatives across the province have been far-reaching. And after Victor died in 2023, Osten is continuing that legacy of giving."

  2. Water Trapped in Earth’s Mantle: The Surprising Discovery That Could Alter Our Planet’s Future (Daily Galaxy) "Could there be an ocean buried deep beneath our feet, hidden some 700 kilometers below the Earth’s surface? If the recent discoveries from scientific teams in Brazil and Botswana are to be believed, this might not be as far-fetched as it seems. The findings suggest that a vast amount of water could be trapped in minerals deep within the Earth’s mantle, radically reshaping what we know about the planet."

  3. VIDEO: Worried about 'wasting' sunny days during the summer? Sunshine guilt isn't uncommon (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #4MonthsOfSummer I love getting out into the sun. "Around half past noon on a Tuesday in late July, Casey Blustein zipped a tennis racket into his backpack and made the quick walk to the waterfront tennis courts at Vancouver's Kitsilano Beach. He had an hour for lunch and wasn't about to spend it near his desk when the temperature had hit a prime 25 C."

  4. VIDEO: A drone, a rental truck and a curly red wig: how Chappell Roan's viral Sask.-focused teaser was produced (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY Dang! I was hoping she was coming to Saskatchewan. "The video opens on a Saskatchewan licence plate, features canola fields and grain bins, and ends just as the moving van drives past the "Welcome to Saskatchewan: Land of Living Skies" border sign. The video left some wondering if Roan actually came to the province to film the teaser for The Subway single. Unfortunately for fans, the answer is no."

  5. Weston family wants to buy Hudson's Bay charter for $12.5 million and donate it: docs (MSN) CANADIAN STORY At least that bit of history will be preserved. "The royal charter that formed Hudson's Bay about 355 years ago could soon be getting a new home. The Canadian Museum of History announced Wednesday that Wittington Investments Ltd., a private Canadian holding company for the Weston family, wants to buy the document for $12.5 million and donate it to the Quebec institution."

  6. People assume I can't be a doctor because of my disability (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "It was the first day of a new rotation. I entered the ward wearing scrubs, my stethoscope draped around my neck and my hospital ID clipped to my shirt. Indistinguishable, I thought, from any other medical student. As I approached the nursing station in my wheelchair, a nurse I hadn't met before looked up and asked, 'Are you here for an appointment?' I paused, momentarily caught off guard. 'No,' I replied. 'I'm the new medical student starting today.' Her face changed instantly; an apology, an explanation. She said she hadn't meant anything by it, she had just seen my wheelchair first and assumed I was a patient."

  7. VIDEO: Why does a fire truck cost $2 million? (The Hustle) "Emergency vehicles didn’t start out as the custom builds driving down our streets today. Back in the 1950s, they were largely just trucks outfitted with special add-ons — ladders, pumps — to differentiate them from the vehicle that might deliver your furniture. Family-owned businesses sprung up across the country to serve a region’s specific needs, and competition kept prices low."

  8. VIDEO: Ontario officially cancels $100M Starlink contract, won't say cost to taxpayers (CBC) ONTARIO STORY I love Doug Ford's comments: 'People encouraging economic attacks on Canada will not receive contracts.' "Ontario has officially cancelled its $100-million contract with Starlink, but the province refuses to say how much it cost taxpayers to get out of the deal."

  9. VIDEO: Bench bumps draw quizzical looks on the Granville Street Bridge (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY What the heck? "Vancouverites taking a stroll or bike ride over the Granville Street Bridge can now do so with ease, with its new bike lanes and walking paths. But as CBC’s Kier Junos reports, a couple of new benches on the bridge are turning heads and not because they’re pretty."

  10. VIDEO: Survey suggests employees 'upset' about return to office, prefer flexible work (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "As more and more employers order their workers back to the office, employees say they like the flexibility to work from home — and some returning to corporate workplaces aren't so happy about being forced to return. According to new data from the Angus Reid Institute, three in five Canadians would prefer to spend the majority of their time working from home, while 79 per cent say they'd want a schedule that allows for some remote work. The numbers also show that 51 per cent of employees who said they'd been ordered back to the office more days a week were either upset or very upset."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. 5 Effective Examples of Leadership Development Programs to Inspire Your Organization (Small Business Trends) Great examples. Thanks to ViTreo's Head of Research, Ken Kempcke, for sharing these.

  2. I’ve Been Thrifting for Years—These Are the 6 Home Decor Gems I Never Skip (AOL) I am no home decorator so these tips are helpful.

  3. Cool Uncle Tricks: How to Balance an Egg (Art of Manliness) You're welcome.

  4. VIDEO: Why Don't Liquids Splash In a Vacuum? (YouTube) Very nerdy. Very cool.

  5. VIDEO: How to Spot Fake AI Photos | Hany Farid | TED (YouTube) How do you know if that shocking photo in your feed is real, or just another AI fake? Digital forensics expert Hany Farid explains how he helps journalists, courts and governments find structural errors in AI-generated images, offering four practical tips everyday individuals can use when facing the internet’s war on reality. (Recorded at TED2025 on April 10, 2025)

  6. The Best Way To Take a Nap, According to Experts (Mental Floss) Nappacino? Napwheel? You will have to read on to find out.

  7. The 100 Best Podcasts of All Time (Time) Great list. Many of my faves: 99% Invisible, Criminal, The Daily, Dan Carlin's Hardcore History, Fresh Air, In Our Time, Song Exploder, This American Life, Throughline, Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and WTF with Marc Maron. But also, many that I really want to listen to: Articles of Interest, Decoder Ring, Ear Hustle, and Ologies With Alie Ward

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. UNHCR Canada welcomes $1 million donation from The Slaight Family Foundation to protect women and girls in South Sudan (UNHCR) CANADIAN STORY "UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply grateful to The Slaight Family Foundation for a generous $1 million donation to support women and girls displaced by conflict in South Sudan. This two-year grant will help restore and expand essential services that have been severely impacted by global funding cuts."

  2. Million-dollar donor behind Okotoks water feature revealed (Western Wheel) OKOTOKS STORY "A new water feature in Ethel Tucker Centennial Park was an immediate hit when it was turned on after a grand opening on Wednesday. The splashy addition to the park was funded by a private donation, and the donor’s identity was kept secret until the opening [...] It will be known as the Hartley Hub after being built with a million-dollar donation from the Robert R. Hartley and Lillian P. Hartley Foundation."

  3. Holy Name Medical Center receives historic $75M donation (NJBIZ) "Holy Name Medical Center has received a historic $75 million gift to help support future growth and expansion of services for the Teaneck-based health system. The Douglas M. Noble Family Foundation of Paramus provided the gift."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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