Archives — September 2026

September 29, 2026SMART members who decide to represent their fellow brothers and sisters as local union business managers take on one of the greatest responsibilities in our union. Running for elected office is the lifeblood of our organization; however, being in a local leadership role also has plenty of challenges. For that reason, the SMART Education Department held its New Business Managers class in Ottawa, Ont., during the week of September 21st, 2026. The class focuses on management of the local by looking at all the parts and functions of the local union: leadership, staff, representation, resources, trust funds, organizing and community relationships. In addition to the Education Department, International staff provided valuable insights for attendees. SMART House Counsel Luke Rebecchi, Chief International Representative Dave Bernett, International Representatives Chris Griffey and Bobby Butler, and Communications Specialist Aidan Strickland each taught on topics within their department’s purview.

Dozens of UBTECH industrial humanoid robots carry out training tasks at a smart factory in the Qianwan New Area in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang Province, on March 1, 2025. Photo: VCGChina on Tuesday unveiled a new program aimed at achieving breakthroughs at the frontiers of science and producing major original research achievements in key fields, while also outlining a broader slate of major research missions for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). Analysts said the moves signal a stronger push beyond catch-up innovation toward original breakthroughs at the frontiers of science and technology. Led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the initiative begins with 10 projects focused on questions ranging from the synthesis of new elements and the nature of dark matter and dark energy to microscopic measurements of chemical bonds and creation of synthetic cells, Xinhua News Agency reported. The program will also test evaluation methods better suited to frontier science, with fewer preset targets, less intervention during the research process and less emphasis on papers and short-term results, while giving researchers greater room to fail, according to Xinhua.

AtlanticNova ScotiaNew BrunswickPrince Edward Island Newfoundland and LabradorCalgaryLethbridgeKitchenerGuelphNorthern OntarioSudburyNorth BaySault Ste. MarieTimminsOttawaKingstonBrockvillePembrokeReginaYorktonSaskatoonPrince AlbertTorontoWatchWeatherPeelHamiltonDurhamYorkHaltonNiagaraQueen's ParkToronto City HallIn PicturesVancouverVancouver IslandCanadaLocal SpotlightRoyal FamilyPoliticsNanosPower PlayQuestion PeriodFederal Election 2025WorldMideast ConflictRussia-Ukraine WarWatchLatestCaptured on CameraPoliticsLifestyleConsumerHealthExplainedEntertainmentTechnologyDeception DecodedAutosEnvironmentBusinessInflationReal EstateAutos

Medley, E. A. et al. A systematic review of the placental translocation of micro- and nanoplastics. Curr. Environ. Health Rep. 10, 99–111 (2023). Article Ragusa, A. et al. Plasticenta: first evidence of microplastics in human placenta. EnvironInt 146, 106274 (2021). CAS

Oura, the maker of popular biometric tracking rings, announced Tuesday morning that it would delay its planned $2.2 billion IPO due to market “uncertainty.” The move could affect a number of the company’s sports-connected investors, who might have been in line for a hefty return as part of the process. Early backers include Shaquille O’Neal, Manu Ginobili, Jimmie Johnson and Lance Armstrong. David Shuman, a new investor in the New York Islanders, is the company’s executive chairman, while Elysian Park Ventures, the VC arm of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was also an early backer.

Families separated by 2,000 miles help track down tiny science boat29 September 2026MacNeil familyCastlebay pupil Calum Iain MacNeil and his dad, Donald, found the boat earlier this monthA schoolboy in the Western Isles has found a tiny sail boat which has spent 15 months crossing 2,000 miles of the Atlantic. The craft, which is fitted with a GPS tracker, was launched in June last year from Portland, Maine, in the US, as part of a science project. Shortly afterwards, it came ashore in Newfoundland, Canada. It was put to sea again in June this year by a school attended by the daughter of Gemma MacKinnon, who is originally from the isles. Gemma alerted her family back home that the boat was headed for the Hebrides and Calum Iain MacNeil along with his dad, Donald, found it on a beach near their home in Barra on 7 September. The boat, called Pie on the Tide, was launched as part of a schools science and environment project called the Miniboat Programme. Once it became obvious the craft was heading for Barra, Gemma, who left the isles four years ago, was asked by her daughter's school if she might know anyone who could look out for it.

Company NewsUpdated: September 29, 2026 at 9:45a.m. EDTPublished: September 29, 2026 at 8:53a.m. EDTThe logo of AutoCanada Inc. is shown in an undated handout image. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - AutoCanada Inc. (Mandatory Credit) EDMONTON — AutoCanada Inc. is launching a strategic review of its collision repair business. The company says it believes the value and growth potential of the company’s collision operations may not be fully reflected in its share price. AutoCanada CEO Samuel Cochrane says the company is exploring how to best unlock the embedded value for AutoCanada shareholders and position the business to accelerate growth. The company says alternatives being considered may include a potential sale of all or part of the business, but added that it could make no assurance the review would result in any deal. Latest updates on company news hereAutoCanada’s dealership operations segment operates 61 franchised dealerships in Canada, representing 23 automotive brands across eight provinces, as well as three independent used vehicle dealerships. The review of the collision operations business comes as AutoCanada works to sell the remains of its U. S. dealership portfolio.

Sidney Crosby has had quite the career. If healthy, he may get a chance to break one more Penguins record.

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AMC - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday. The company traded as high as $3.40 and last traded at $3.2950, with a volume of 72509881 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.94. Get AMC Entertainment alerts:Key AMC Entertainment NewsParamount’s 30-Film Promise Puts AMC Back in the Box Office ConversationHere are the key news stories impacting AMC Entertainment this week: Positive Sentiment: AMC announced a potential refinancing package totaling approximately $3.97 billion: $2 billion of first-lien notes due in 2031, an $850 million first-lien term loan, and a conditional $1.12 billion second-lien term loan. The transaction could replace or extend existing obligations and reduce near-term refinancing pressure. AMC Entertainment Plans $3.97 Billion Refinancing

Quantum entanglement captures one of the strangest differences between everyday physics and the quantum world. In an entangled system, particles such as photons become linked so deeply that their properties cannot be fully described independently. Instead, the system must be treated as a whole. That idea clashes with the classical expectation that each particle should possess its own separate physical reality, a feature of quantum mechanics that famously troubled Albert Einstein. Yet entanglement is now considered one of the essential ingredients for emerging quantum technologies, including advanced communication, computing, and information transfer.

ADVERTISEMENTVancouver WatchSPONSORED: Your Morning Vancouver business headlines from BNN Bloomberg. September 29, 2026 at 10:51a.m. EDT

Have you ever felt breathless during a stressful situation and wondered if it was a sign of something more serious? Symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness and feeling like you can't get enough air can go hand in hand with stress and anxiety, but determining the root cause of those symptoms can be tricky. Though they may be easy to write off as no big deal, getting proper diagnosis and treatment for the cause of symptoms is essential to good health. We spoke with David Zisman, MD, Site Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Weston Hospital and Director, Interstitial Lung Disease program at Cleveland Clinic Florida, about the connection between anxiety and breathing problems. Can Anxiety Cause Shortness of Breath? When you feel anxious, your body activates its "fight-or-flight" response. Your heart rate increases, your muscles tense, and your breathing may become faster and shallower. This change in breathing can create the uncomfortable sensation that you are not getting enough air. "Anxiety can worsen shortness of breath," explained Dr. Zisman. "And if you're short of breath, you get anxious, which can lead to more shortness of breath and more anxiety.

SaskatchewanFor more than four years, American Bill Delzell has been trying to figure out the identity of the photographer who captured San Francisco history in the 1960s. Now he's hoping a Sask. company will be able to develop 75 rolls of unprocessed film to crack the mystery. Film Rescue developing photos that may help reveal unknown photographer's identityJanani Whitfield · CBC News · Posted: Sep 29, 2026 12:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 29Listen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. An unknown photographer snapped this image of San Francisco in the 1960s, along with countless others that show a turbulent time of protest against war and racial injustice. An American man has been trying to uncover the identity of the photographer for more than four years. (Submitted by Speaklocal)American photographer Bill Delzell has spent more than four years consumed by a mystery. Now, he can feel himself inching toward a conclusion.

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers have won the Stanley Cup… in the virtual world, at least. With the 2026-27 NHL season officially getting underway on Tuesday, EA Sports has revealed its Stanley Cup champion pick through its annual season simulation.

New research finds even four drinks a week may shrink brain volume and hurt language skills, challenging beliefs about light drinking. New research suggests even light alcohol consumption could negatively affect brain health, challenging the long-held belief that a glass of wine a day may keep dementia away. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found four drinks a week may be linked to smaller brain volume and declining language skills. Scripps News Medical Contributor Dr. Omer Awan said the findings are nuanced. "It's not saying that alcohol causes dementia. That's an important point that I want viewers to understand. But what it is saying is that alcohol is one among many modifiable factors that can elevate your risk for having dementia," Awan said. Awan said research on light and moderate drinking remains mixed, but the evidence is shifting. RELATED STORY | What you call ‘moderate’ drinking may be riskier than you think"There's a stronger and a growing body of evidence that now suggests that even small amounts of alcohol can harm you. "He noted the American Public Health Association has stated clearly that alcohol has no health benefits.