Monday, April 28

At least 11 people were killed on Saturday night in a car ramming attack in Vancouver, Canada, during a festival celebrating Filipino culture.

The incident took place during a celebration of Lapu Lapu Day, a day designated to celebrate Filipino culture. The government of Canada's westernmost province, British Columbia, established the day in 2023 to honor the country's Filipino immigrant population, but Lapu Lapu Day is celebrated across the world.

The name honors Datu Lapu-Lapu, the chief of the Filipino island of Mactan, who killed Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan upon his arrival in the Philippines in 1521. The day is always celebrated on April 27, as that was the day that Lapu-Lapu killed Magellan over 500 years ago-- it stands as a symbol of resistance against colonialism, and he is known a renowned hero in the Philippines.

Unfortunately, what was a celebratory event in Vancouver turned into a day of mourning and sadness after yesterday's attack. Food trucks and local vendors were scattered around the streets, and officials reported that tens of thousands of people attended the festival.

Then, at just past 8:00 in the evening, a car came plowing through the crowd, mowing over innocent civilians. Panic followed, and police rushed to the scene. The car came to a hard stop after smashing into two food trucks that were situated on the street, and locals quickly surrounded the culprit before he was taken into custody by police.

11 people were killed and dozens of others were injured in the attack. Sadly, several victims are still in critical condition at local medical centers, and it is possible that the death toll could rise in the coming days.

The attacker has been identified as a 30-year-old named Kai-Ji Adam Lo, and he will be charged with second degree murder. Police have confirmed that they believe he was in a deteriorated mental state, establishing that terrorism was likely not the cause of the attack.

Upcoming Events:

• World Day for Safety and Health at Work (Monday, April 28)

• International Jazz Day (Wednesday, April 30)

• World Tuna Day (Friday, May 2)

• Ridván Ends (Friday, May 2)

• World Press Freedom Day (Saturday, May 3)

• Kentucky Derby (Saturday, May 3)

Fact of the Day (Today): Comets actually smell like rotten eggs due to the hydrogen sulfide in their coma.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): All the problems are stuck between mind and matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. (Mark Twain)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Decimate (verb, DESS-uh-mayt) - Decimate can mean both “to destroy a large number of (plants, animals, people, etc.)” or “to severely damage or destroy a large part of (something).”

In a Sentence: The bay’s lobsters have been decimated by disease.