Mountain rescuers came to the aid of a woman and her pet parrot in the United Kingdom this week after she became stranded trying to find one of her feathered friends, who was scared off by a peregrine falcon.

The woman was part of a group of parrot owners from Derbyshire walking in Eryri, or Snowdonia, in Wales, on Monday, according to Facebook post from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

However, a peregrine falcon attacked the group, causing one of the parrots to fly off, rescuers said.

“The owner’s tracker showed it to be high on the upper cliffs of Glyder Fawr and she climbed up to retrieve it,” continues the post.

“Unfortunately the parrot decided freedom was great and flew back down to the group unassisted, leaving the owner and her second bird now stuck.”

Rescuers climbed to the base of the cliffs and sent a team member up to make the woman safe, it adds.

“On arrival at the casualty, Jeckyll, the second parrot, perched on her owners’ rucksack, greeted our team member with a ‘Hello,’” reads the post.

Both parrot and owner were then lowered down the cliffs and guided down the mountain, it adds.

The episode is vying for the title of the most unusual animal rescue from mountains in the UK.

In May, rescuers had to bring a dog down from Scafell Pike, the highest peak in neighboring England, using a stretcher.

“Despite being quite a large dog at 33kg it was a joy to carry such a relatively lightweight casualty. The casualty remained cool, calm and positively regal throughout,” reads the statement from the Keswick Mountain Rescue team.

And this was not the first time that rescuers have had to help a dog back down Scafell Pike.

In July 2020, a 121-pound St. Bernard named Daisy needed saving after showing signs of pain in her rear legs and refusing to move.

When British singer Matty Healy grabbed bandmate Ross MacDonald for an onstage kiss during their Malaysia concert on Friday, following a profanity-laden speech slamming the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws, he likely thought it an act of protest and solidarity.

But for many in Malaysia’s LGBTQ community, it was quite the opposite.

The 1975’s concert, which was the headline performance in Kuala Lumpur’s Good Vibes Festival, has sparked a wave of criticism and dismay from the community, who say Healy’s stunt may have done more harm than good to a vulnerable group already under threat in Malaysia’s repressive, conservative society.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia and punishable by fines and up to 20 years in prison. After The 1975’s show, the government canceled the rest of the three-day music festival, citing Healy’s “controversial conduct and remarks.”

LGBTQ activists fear that could be just the start of a larger clampdown – and their anger has been exacerbated by the singer’s flippancy. On Saturday, a day after the concert, Healy joked on Instagram that it’s “not as easy as it looks” to refrain from kissing MacDonald, and posted an image of his name trending on Twitter, the platform recently rebranded as X.

“What Matty Healy did, he thought he was doing something for us, but it’s giving white savior complex,” said Carmen Rose, a Malaysian drag performer. “He thinks we need saving, he thinks we need fixing, when in reality we have queer organizations here already doing the work.”

“If he wanted to advocate for queer rights here, he wouldn’t just fly off and leave the mess behind,” she added. “I don’t think he’s doing it for the community, he’s just doing it for himself … it was a publicity stunt.”

Numerous other queer Malaysians posted similar criticisms online after Healy’s show, calling his actions hollow at best.

“He is totally ignorant to the actual experience of the LGBT community in Malaysia and his performative ‘display’ has put the entire Malaysian queer community in the cross-hairs of an already conservative (government),” one person wrote on X.

The 1975 was scheduled to play in Indonesia and Taiwan next, but have since canceled those shows. The Indonesia festival, We The Fest, shared a statement from the band on its Instagram, which read: “The band never take the decision to cancel a show lightly and had been eagerly looking forward to playing for fans in Jakarta and Taipei but unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows.”

LGBTQ concerns

“I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” he said at the start of a three-and-a-half minute speech that at one point raged against online accusations of inappropriate behavior with children.

Within the context of Malaysia’s conservative society, Healy’s use of profanity and alcohol onstage “builds into the stereotype of how LGBT people are rude, against local norms … are seen as these people who are not within society,” said Thilaga Sulathireh, founder of the Malaysian human rights and transgender advocacy group Justice for Sisters.

Rose, the drag performer, echoed this point, criticizing Healy for going “on a rant while intoxicated.” Homophobia already runs so deep in Malaysia that Healy’s attempt at activism might have simply reinforced the public’s negative perceptions toward the community, she said.

“The majority of the country is ultra-conservative. They don’t like us already, and this … gives them more ammunition to discriminate against us and ostracize our community,” she said. “There might be further crackdowns enhanced on the community.”

In Malaysia, a country of nearly 33 million where 60% of the population is Muslim, many gay people are not open about their sexuality. Advocates say Islamic laws have increasingly used to target the Southeast Asian country’s LGBTQ community, with a rise in arrests and punishments ranging from caning to jailing.

In recent years there have been police raids on suspected LGBTQ events, including a 2018 raid on a private residence on suspicion men inside were attempting gay sex. Five men were sentenced to jail, caning and fines, sparking outrage among human rights activists.

Just last year, Rose had helped organize a Halloween party attended by many members of the LGBTQ community – which was raided by the police, who detained a number of participants, she said.

These crackdowns and tightening restrictions mean that “on a daily basis, LGBT in Malaysia live in a state of high levels of stress and anxiety,” said Sulathireh. “There is an increase of self-censorship, there is an increase of desire to seek asylum, and desire to migrate.”

This anxiety had already been running high before The 1975’s concert; Malaysia is currently holding several state elections, and election seasons always see an uptick in homophobia as politicians look to garner votes through anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, said both Sulathireh and Rose.

Many politicians have been calling for “increased restrictions and regulation of LGBT people,” said Sulathireh, who uses they/them pronouns.

They added that while they supported freedom of expression, and it was “fine” for Healy to criticize the Malaysian government, the controversy had come at a bad time – and the musician’s “lack of awareness on the context” had made matters worse.

That’s not to say international musicians can’t speak up about LGBTQ rights in Malaysia. But there’s a way to do it responsibly, that elevates local advocates and seeks to minimize harm done, activists said.

“They would have to work with local organizations and educate themselves on the history here, the current context, how it’s working here,” said Rose. “What they can do is to listen and learn from the locals themselves, because what works in the West does not necessarily work here.”

Other criticisms

Apart from the LGBTQ community’s concerns, Healy has also come under criticism for triggering the cancelation of the festival – which has impacted other local artists and businesses, and could spell trouble for future foreign performers.

Talitha Tan, a Malaysian singer who was slated to perform at the Good Vibes Festival, slammed Healy for his “reckless ignorance, selfishness & inability to adjust or respect different cultures” in an Instagram post on Saturday. She had been planning to dedicate her performance to her recently deceased mother, she said.

“Malaysia’s not perfect. But man, I am shattered,” she wrote. “So yeah, (Matty Healy), I am furious at you and your white privilege, thanks for nothing.”

Rose, too, pointed to the impact to Malaysia’s already-struggling music industry, adding that it was always difficult to get big foreign artists to perform in the country. This incident could well push authorities to tighten rules around foreign performers, making it even more challenging in the future, she said.

British band Coldplay recently came under pressure from a Malaysian Islamic party to cancel an upcoming show in Kuala Lumpur due to the band’s acceptance of gay rights.

And in 2015 religious protesters gathered outside a Selena Gomez concert.

The cancellation of The 1975’s next two shows in Jakarta and Taipei has also been met with disappointment – and some confusion.

Indonesia is also highly conservative, with widespread homophobia and discrimination; there have been multiple incidents over the years of men being publicly caned for gay sex. Last year, the country passed new laws banning cohabitation and sex outside marriage, effectively outlawing same-sex relations.

But Taiwan has long held a reputation as one of Asia’s most progressive places toward LGBTQ people.

In 2019, the island became the first jurisdiction in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage; earlier this year, it passed a bill granting same-sex couples the right to jointly adopt a child neither of them are related to, clearing one of the final hurdles in achieving full marriage equality.

It’s not clear why The 1975 has canceled its concert on the island, which had been scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Editor’s Note: This report contains graphic detail of alleged sexual abuse and violence.

The suit alleges, in part, that the sexual abuse was directed at male players because of their sex “in an effort to ‘break’ them, punish them, control them or ‘get them in line,’” in violation of the Illinois Gender Violence Act.

He noted that players were forced to do acts in the nude, and as punishment and initiation rituals they were “physically dry humped” while adding that this all occurred while he and other players – aged just 17 and 18 – were “just trying to fit in” and make their mark in college sports.”

There are also allegations in the lawsuit that upperclassmen would “run” freshman players and sexually assault them. In one particular event described in the suit, a player was also “run” while held upside down with his head underwater in a used ice bath.

“I think that one of the things that was really apparent was the subtle trauma effects in the moment. Obviously, because it was very violent, graphic and dehumanizing, these different acts that we had to do. Realizing how that impacted myself eight or nine years later after college, it is just a really a devastating experience,” Yates continued.

After being asked about former football head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired as a result of the allegations made by former players, Yates cited the longstanding culture at the school and said he believed it was “nearly impossible for the coaching staff to not know what took place,” adding “this was very widespread within the organization.”

Fitzgerald has previously said he was not aware of the alleged hazing. However, the former head coach is being sued by a former player.

“This is an institutional issue, it is bigger than one individual, it was embedded in the culture of every athletic program at Northwestern University, and we want to see them stop it. It’s that simple, you have to have the courage to say if anyone is hazing, you let us know and that individual will be expelled immediately not to condone it, we have to condemn it,” said Yates’ attorney Ben Crump.

Yates added: “What we’re learning is that this is much, much bigger than my individual story and that we want to eradicate this within sports altogether. These sorts of behavior, these sorts of cultures that exist, that have persisted. They’re just not acceptable and we think that by bringing this to light, we can make real change.”

“These steps, while necessary and appropriate, are just the start, and we will be augmenting them in the coming weeks.”

A former Illinois inspector general began conducting the independent investigation in December after an anonymous email address sent a complaint at the end of the 2022 season, according to an executive summary of the investigation made public by the university.

The investigation revealed 11 players, past and present, said hazing was ongoing in the program, said university president Michael Schill.

Previously Fitzgerald’s attorney, Dan K. Webb, pointed to the findings of the investigation.

“As far as we can determine, neither the filed complaint nor the press conference presentations set forth any facts or evidence to support any legal claims against Coach Fitzgerald,” Webb said in a statement.

“As we have stated previously, we will aggressively defend against these and any other allegations with facts and evidence. Further, we intend to move to dismiss the civil suits filed against Coach Fitzgerald and, as appropriate, for sanctions for frivolous filings.”

Bronny James, the older son of NBA star LeBron James, suffered a cardiac arrest during basketball practice at the University of Southern California and was hospitalized Monday, according to a statement from a family spokesperson.

He is out of the intensive care unit and in stable condition, the statement said.

“Yesterday while practicing Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU,” the statement said.

“We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information.

“LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes.”

Bronny, 18, is an incoming freshman for USC’s basketball team after graduating from Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles this spring. The 6-foot-3 combo guard was rated a four-star recruit and shined in the McDonald’s All-American Game in March featuring some of the country’s top high school basketball players.

He averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals his senior year of high school, and joined a USC team seeking to reach the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive time.

“So damn proud of you kid!” his father wrote on Instagram after Bronny committed to attend USC. “I have no words besides I LOVE YOU!!!”

James, 38, will enter his 21st season in the NBA and his sixth season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP has said one of his final goals is to play in the NBA with Bronny, who will be eligible to join the NBA next year.

“My last year will be played with my son,” James told the Athletic in 2022. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”

At the ESPY Awards two weeks ago, James stood on stage alongside his wife, Savannah, and sons Bronny, Bryce and daughter Zhuri, who he described as the “greatest blessing in my life.”

“I’m so proud of these two men standing right behind me tonight,” he said, pointing at his teenage sons. “See, they’re on their own basketball journey. And no matter how far they choose to go, they’re not cheating this game. And that inspires me.”

Cardiac arrest and sports

Cardiac arrest occurs when electrical disturbances cause the heart to suddenly stop beating. It may be fatal if not immediately treated, but it can be reversed by CPR and shocks from a defibrillator, according to the American Heart Association.

Sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes is rare but not unheard of. An examination of NCAA student-athlete sudden deaths between 2004 and 2008 found cardiovascular-related sudden death was the leading cause of death in 45 cases, or about 9 each year, according to a 2011 study.

One of the most well-known cases was Hank Gathers, a star forward for Loyola Marymount University who collapsed and died during a conference tournament game in 1990.

A task force convened by the NCAA released guidance in 2016 recommending universities create and practice an emergency action plan for sudden cardiac arrest.

USC’s medical staff has recent experience with such an incident. Last July, USC freshman forward Vince Iwuchukwu suffered a cardiac arrest during a summer workout. In a video posted to Twitter earlier this year, Iwuchukwu said he felt dizzy during a practice water break and then collapsed.

Athletic trainers, including Jon Yonamine, Erin Tillman and Lauren Crawford, performed CPR on him and shocked him back to life, USC said. Iwuchukwu recovered and ultimately made his basketball debut in January, over six months later.

Head coach Andy Enfield praised the training staff in January.

“They really do an amazing job, not only keeping our players healthy, but when something happens, they do therapy, and when something serious happens like in Vince’s case, they’re ready to respond immediately.”

In January, Damar Hamlin of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of a “Monday Night Football” game and was hospitalized for over a week.

“Prayers to Bronny & The James family as well,” Hamlin wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. “Here for you guys just like you have been for me my entire process.”

In April, Hamlin said his cardiac arrest was caused by commotio cordis.

Commotio cordis can occur when severe trauma to the chest disrupts the heart’s electrical charge and causes dangerous fibrillations.

Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle and appearing to be hit with a helmet in his chest.

He has been cleared to return to football.

Correction: A previous version of this story gave the wrong date for Damar Hamlin’s collapse. It was January 2, 2023.

Two-time NBA all-star swingman Jaylen Brown has agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax contract extension with the Boston Celtics, his agent Jason Glushon told ESPN.

The deal is the richest in NBA history, eclipsing the $276 million contract of Denver’s Nicola Jokić, signed in 2022, according to salary tracking website Spotrac.

Citing sources, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium tweeted that the contract is fully guaranteed.

Last season, Brown, a guard/forward, averaged a career-best 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

The 26-year-old was named to the 2022-23 All-NBA second team. Brown, the 2016 No. 3 overall pick, was eligible for the new contract as a result of making the All-NBA team.

NBA.com: Tracking every new deal of the offseason

In seven seasons in Boston, Brown has helped the Celtics advance to five Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Finals appearance in 2022.

ESPN reported the contract extension begins in the 2024-2025 season and runs through the 2028-2029 season, when Brown will be 32.

His previous contract was a four-year, $106 million deal, according to Spotrac.

UK holiday operator TUI has canceled all flights to the Greek island of Rhodes for the next few days as authorities continue to fight raging wildfires.

The company will also not operate holidays for customers traveling to “impacted hotels” on the island up to and including Sunday, July 30, according to the statement.

Tour operators such as TUI have scrambled this week to evacuate holidaymakers in Greek areas grappling with wildfires. So far, TUI has carried out five repatriation flights which according to the company brought “hundreds of customers” home to the UK.

Return flights from Rhodes to the UK and Ireland are set to continue as scheduled, TUI said, stressing that “the safety and well-being” of its customers remains the “top priority.”

Bailey, who was evacuated to the UK by TUI, stressed that larger tour operators such as TUI have “a responsibility to look after their customers” and she was disappointed by her treatment.

Holidaymakers who have purchased package holidays to Rhodes for dates up to and including July 30 will have have the option to request a full refund or amend their holiday to another destination, according to the TUI statement.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands has issued a warning to all those thinking of traveling to the popular holiday destinations of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia. The Dutch foreign affairs ministry upgraded the color code for the three islands from green to yellow this week, indicating an increased travel risk.

In the travel guidance, travelers are advised to plan their trip “well” and be aware that the security situation in the yellow coded country is different to that of the Netherlands.

A music festival in Malaysia has been canceled after the lead singer of British band The 1975 Matty Healy slammed the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and kissed a bandmate on stage.

The on-stage incident at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Friday night prompted the country’s Ministry of Communications to cancel the rest of the three-day event.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia and punishable by fines and up to 20 years in prison.

In an expletive-laden speech during the band’s headline performance on Friday, captured in a video shared widely on social media, Healy said, “I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”

“Unfortunately, you don’t get a set of loads of uplifting songs because I’m f***ing furious. And that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government. You are young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive,” he said addressing the audience. Healy added that the band considered canceling the show but decided against it to not disappoint the fans.

“If you want to invite me here to do a show, you can f*** off. I’ll take your money, you can ban me, but I’ve done this before and it doesn’t feel good,” Healy says in the video before bassist Ross MacDonald walks up to him and kisses him on stage.

‘Performative’

The Good Vibes Festival said in a statement following the incident, “We deeply regret to announce that the remaining schedule of the Good Vibes Festival 2023, planned for today and tomorrow has been canceled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by UK artist Matty Healy from the band The 1975.”

“This decision adheres to the immediate cancellation directive issued at 1:20 pm [local time], 22 July 2023, by the Ministry of Communications and Digital. The Ministry has underlined its unwavering stance against any parties that challenge, ridicule, or contravene Malaysian laws,” the festival’s statement added. “We sincerely apologize to all of our ticket holders, vendors, sponsors, and partners.”

Communications Minister Fahmi said Malaysia was committed to supporting the development of creative industries and freedom of expression, Reuters reported.

“However, never touch on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that are against the traditions and values ​​of the local culture,” he said, according to the agency.

Healy’s actions sparked controversy online, with some fans complaining that the band’s actions will result in a further crackdown on artistic expression and make it more difficult for music artists to perform in Malaysia in the future.

Members of Malaysa’s LGBTQ community have also criticized Healy’s actions, with some calling it “performative” and warning that it could lead to further discrimination.

It’s not the first time The 1975 frontman has sparked controversy – Healy drew criticism earlier this year for appearing to do a Nazi salute on stage during a song called “Love it If We Made It”, as he sang lyrics that are critical of Kanye West.

In 2019, Healy kissed a male fan during a concert in Dubai, in defiance of the region’s anti-LGBT laws.

Healy later posted on Twitter: “Thank you Dubai you were so amazing. I don’t think we’ll be allowed back due to my ‘behaviour’ but know that I love you and I wouldn’t have done anything differently given the chance again.”

Thousands of marchers arrived in Jerusalem Saturday, the culmination of a five-day walk from Tel Aviv to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to weaken the powers of Israel’s courts.

The demonstrators arrived the day before Israeli lawmakers begin debating what could become the first element of the plan to be voted into law.

The arrival of the march comes as the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, prepares to begin on a bill that would strip the Supreme Court of the power to declare government decisions “unreasonable,” removing one of the few checks on the government in a country that has no written Constitution.

Netanyahu is pressing on with his plans after pausing them earlier this year in the face of widespread protests and international pressure.

The reasonableness bill is one part of the package and requires two more Knesset votes to become law. It could pass as early as Monday. Other proposals include giving the government a greater say in appointing judges.

Netanyahu and his allies call the measures “reforms” and say they are required to rebalance powers between the courts, lawmakers and the government. Opponents of the plan call it a coup say it threatens to turn Israel into a dictatorship by removing the most significant check on government actions.

There are suggestions that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, is trying to delay the vote after more than 1,000 Air Force reserve officers threatened to stop volunteering if the bill passed.

Such a move could impact Israeli military capabilities amid a surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence and with the country regularly bombing Iranian-linked targets in Syria.

The reservists signed an open letter warning against the changes.

“Legislation that allows the government to act in an extremely unreasonable manner will harm the security of the State of Israel, will cause a loss of trust, is a violation of my consent to continue risking my life – and will lead with deep sorrow and no choice but to suspend my volunteering of service in the reserves,” the letter said.

Amid Israeli media reports that Gallant was pushing for a delay, his office released a brief statement Friday night saying the defense minister “is working in every way to bring about a broad consensus, prevent damage to Israel’s security and keep the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] out of the political controversy.”

Netanyahu announced earlier in the year that he was firing Gallant for calling for a delay to the overhaul, but the dismissal was quietly shelved and never took effect.

In addition to the march to Jerusalem, anti-overhaul demonstrations are scheduled to take place Saturday night around the country for the 29th week in a row.

Women’s World Cup 2023: Live scores, fixtures, results, tables and top scorers

South Korea forward Casey Phair on Tuesday became the youngest ever player to appear at the World Cup – just 26 days after celebrating her 16th birthday.

The US-born teenager came on as a 78th minute substitute in South Korea’s 2-0 loss to Colombia in Sydney, beating the record of Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days old at the 1999 Women’s World Cup.

The Group H clash Tuesday also saw another record broken – the 22 years and 256 days between Phair and South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi is the biggest age gap between teammates in Women’s World Cup history, according to FIFA.

Phair is the first player of mixed heritage to be selected for a Korean World Cup squad, according to Reuters. After announcing her selection, South Korea coach Colin Bell said it was his duty to protect the teenager from the glare of publicity.

South Korea next face Morocco in Adelaide on Sunday.

Norman Whiteside is the youngest player to appear at the men’s World Cup, representing Northern Ireland in 1982 at age 17 and 41 days.

Smoke from more than 1,000 wildfires burning across Canada has wafted over the northern US, bringing poor air quality and pollution that threaten residents’ health to northern US cities including Chicago, Illinois, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit, Michigan, are now among at least three major US cities that are ranked in the top 20 most polluted cities in the world, according to global pollution tracker IQAir.

The smoke has drifted over the Great Lakes region, in particular, as about 1,090 active fires blaze throughout Canada, more than 670 of which are considered “out of control,” according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. That’s up from more than 880 fires there last week.

The bulk of the country’s wildfires are burning in British Columbia, where more than 460 fires are ongoing, the agency reports.

In the US, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued air quality alerts for millions of people across Michigan and parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

The blanket of hazy skies follows a belt of Canadian wildfire smoke which stretched across the US last week, triggering air quality alerts for more than a dozen states from Montana to Vermont, with some smoke reaching as far South as Alabama.

The smoke is expected to shift eastward through the Great Lakes region through Tuesday and disperse by Wednesday – just as the upper Midwest is forecast to see some of its hottest temperatures so far this year. Minneapolis could reach 100° and Chicago will be in the upper 90s.

The EPA in Illinois has declared an “Air Pollution Action Day” through Tuesday due to the “persistent” wildfire smoke causing elevated air pollution in the region. Similar advisories have been declares in Michigan and Wisconsin.

The city is recommending that those with chronic respiratory issues limit their activities outdoors and is advising against strenuous activity for children, teens, seniors, people with heart or lung disease, and pregnant people.

“All Chicagoans may also consider wearing masks, limiting their outdoor exposure, moving activities indoors, running air purifiers, and closing windows,” the city said in a release Monday.

Wildfire smoke is packed with tiny pollutants – known as particulate matter – that can infiltrate the lungs and blood stream if inhaled. Particulate matter can commonly cause difficulty breathing and eye and throat irritation, but has also been linked to more serious long-term health issues such as lung cancer, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Canada suffers worst fire season on record

The US is likely to see the downwind effects of Canada’s prolonged wildfires as the country continues to experience its worst fire season on record.

Almost 29 million acres of Canadian land have been scorched so far this year, according to the national fire center. Smoke from the blazes this summer have so far touched the American South and traveled across the Atlantic and into Europe.

The crisis has elicited a flood of international support, as fire and emergency response personnel have deployed to the country from nations including the US, Australia and Brazil. At least two Canadian firefighters have died while battling the flames.

Hard-hit British Columbia will receive federal assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces, Public Safety Canada announced last week.

Hundreds of British Columbia’s fires have been ignited by lightning strikes from thunderstorms, according to the British Columbia Wildfire Service. Some of those thunderstorms were “dry,” producing insufficient amounts of rain to help quench any fires – a dangerous prospect in a province experiencing severe drought.

As the human-driven climate crisis intensifies, scientists expect wildfire seasons will increase in severity, especially as droughts and heat become more common and more severe across the world.