The North Shore Writers Festival, taking place at the North Vancouver City Library, will feature a lineup of local authors and poets, including Kung Jaadee, Kevin Chong, Charlie Demers, Sarah Suk, and Sabina Khan. The two-day event includes a traditional welcome, literary trivia, memoir-writing discussions, poetry and cooking panels, and conversations on young-adult fiction and storytelling related to trauma and tenderness. Registration for the festival is free, with events scheduled for April 12 and 13.

Thames Water's sewage discharges in 2023 increased by 109% compared to the previous year, with 16,990 incidents reported. The Environment Agency's data revealed that these spills lasted for an average of 12 hours, with some, like the ongoing incident at Chesham Sewage Treatment Works, lasting nearly 700 hours. Thames Water acknowledged the issue and is committed to reducing untreated discharges, attributing the increase to above-average rainfall. Upgrades at various sites are planned to improve treatment capacity and reduce overflows. The River Chess Association criticized the lack of investment in addressing high groundwater issues. The Environment Agency noted the disappointing increase in spills but recognized the record investment from the water sector.

Portugal has produced some of the greatest footballers, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading as the top international goalscorer with 128 goals in 206 appearances. Other notable players include Pauleta, Eusebio, Luis Figo, and Nuno Gomes. The article details the careers and achievements of these players, highlighting their contributions to the Portugal National Football Team and their respective clubs.

Celtic is reportedly in the market for a new goalkeeper, with potential signings worth around £6m-£7m. Journalist Mark Guidi suggests that the club is prepared to spend significantly to replace retiring goalkeeper Joe Hart. Potential targets include Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher and Trabzonspor's Ugurcan Cakir. This indicates a shift in Celtic's transfer strategy, showing readiness to invest more heavily in new players.

Damon Bradley Jang, a Chinese Canadian theatre artist, has been inspired by his experiences at the Stratford Festival to honor Asian Canadian stories through Fabulist Theatre's production of Dim Sum Diaries: Second Helping. The play, a series of one-acts written by various playwrights, explores Chinese Canadian perspectives and addresses the impact of recent Hong Kong immigration on Vancouver. The world premiere workshop is set to take place at the Nest in Vancouver. The production team includes Mary Littlejohn, Andy Sandberg, and Amanda Wing Chi Lam, with the latter also serving as a cultural consultant. The original play by Mark Leiren-Young, commissioned over 30 years ago, faced controversy for its portrayal of Chinese Canadian experiences. The revival aims to reflect on changes in societal attitudes, especially in the context of anti-Asian hate and discussions about empty homes in Canada.

World Backup Day highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date backups to protect against data damage, disruption, or loss, especially from ransomware attacks. Beyond these well-known benefits, immutable data backups offer protection against data tampering and malicious insiders, ensuring data integrity and trust. The article underscores the need for robust security measures combined with immutable backups to defend against sophisticated cyberattacks, insider threats, and accidental data corruption, while also meeting compliance and data protection regulations.

Chelsea is reportedly leading the race to sign Benfica's star defender Antonio Silva, with club owner Todd Boehly potentially willing to pay the player's €100m release clause. Silva's agent, Jorge Mendes, is pushing for a quick agreement. The 20-year-old has impressed at Benfica, and Chelsea faces competition from Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain. Additionally, Chelsea is also in contact with Napoli's Victor Osimhen for a potential transfer.

Deciphers, an international dance collaboration by Toronto-based Naishi Wang and London-based Jean Abreu, explores the immigrant experience through movement and poetry. Both artists share similar backgrounds, having moved from their native countries to larger cities before immigrating to Canada and the UK, respectively. Overcoming language barriers, they succeeded in their adopted countries and united to create Deciphers, which incorporates elements of Chinese martial arts, Chinese folk dance, Brazilian salsa, and spoken-word poetry. The performance will premiere at the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and will include works by poets Mark Strand and Fernando Sabino. The project was supported by the National Arts Centre and Canada Council for the Arts, with artistic residencies enhancing the collaboration.

Yosef Wosk's book 'Naked in a Pyramid' is a memoir that delves into his unique experiences, including meditating naked inside the Great Pyramid of Giza and traveling to the North and South Poles. The book is a blend of travel observations and personal reflections, revealing Wosk's humility, intellectual curiosity, and efforts to find meaning and comfort others. It challenges stereotypes about the wealthy, showcasing Wosk's dedication to scholarship and engagement with the world. The narrative includes his interactions with notable figures like Elie Wiesel and Fyodor Dostoevsky, making it a compelling and insightful read.

The Governor General of Canada announced the latest Order of Canada appointees, including Steven Point, former lieutenant-governor of B.C., and Chang Keun (C.K.) Choi, a taekwondo pioneer. Point, a member of the Skowkale First Nation and current chancellor of UBC, was recognized for his extensive public service. Choi was honored for his contributions to taekwondo. Additionally, eight B.C. residents were named members of the Order of Canada for their achievements in various fields, including accounting, health services, defence, business, women's health, disability advocacy, public health, and arts and culture.

Vancouver author Bong Serrano has written 'Batangas: My Sky and Earth,' a book celebrating his Filipino roots and sharing emotional stories from his childhood. The 426-page book, which took nearly eight years to write, includes a wide range of experiences and a glossary of Tagalog terms. It is dedicated to Serrano's late brother Boying and reflects on their family life in Batangas, Philippines. Serrano's parents, Crispina and Cayo, are central figures in the book, which also highlights the Filipino value placed on education. The book offers insights into Filipino life before the digital age and is intended for the diaspora, particularly Filipino Canadians. A portion of the book's proceeds will be donated to the Ateneo de Manila Scholarship Fund.

Thames Water reported a 109% increase in sewage discharges in 2023, with 16,990 incidents, largely attributed to above-average rainfall. The Environment Agency's data highlights prolonged spills, with some lasting up to 700 hours. Thames Water is upgrading treatment sites to handle higher sewage volumes and reduce untreated discharges. The River Chess Association criticizes the lack of investment in sewage infrastructure, while the Environment Agency notes ongoing investments but expects improvements to take time.

Sophie Dow's latest stage project, Agrimony, explores the emotional masks people wear through a blend of contemporary dance and live music. Collaborating with composer Laura Reznek, the performance features dancers wearing masks representing various animals to symbolize different aspects of fear and response. The project, which began as a small dance film in 2018, has evolved into a full-scale production, incorporating songs from Reznek's 2021 album Agrimony. The show will be performed at Harbourfront Centre Theatre and later in Vancouver, offering a unique visual and audible experience that reflects on authenticity and emotional healing.

High Wycombe aims to become one of the best-connected towns in the Thames Valley by 2050, as per Buckinghamshire Council's new long-term strategy. The council acknowledged historical constraints due to the town's hilly topography but has developed a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) to support the High Wycombe 2050 Transport Strategy. The plan focuses on investment and infrastructure improvements to enhance accessibility.

Jillian Christmas, the new poet-in-residence at the Vancouver Art Gallery, explores the transformation of grief into joy through her residency titled 'Toward Delight.' Christmas, an Afro-Caribbean Canadian poet, emphasizes the importance of joy-building, especially for marginalized communities. Her project, GOOD Grief, includes a community grief altar and aims to normalize discussions about grief. The gallery's director of public engagement, Sirish Rao, and CEO Anthony Kiendl, support her initiatives, highlighting the role of art in healing and community engagement. Christmas's work has already resonated with youths, showcasing her deep understanding of language and the power of spoken-word poetry.

Veteran choreographer and dancer Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg presents her new production, Pants, at the Firehall Arts Centre, exploring gender expression through comedy and dance. The performance features various characters, all portrayed by Friedenberg, highlighting the nuances of gendered physical language. Collaborators include movement director Kate Franklin, dramaturg Joanna Garfunkel, and lighting designer James Proudfoot. Influenced by figures like Boy George and David Bowie, Friedenberg emphasizes the importance of recognizing and creating space for diverse gender identities.

Consultant radiologist Dr Neil Graham was suspended for 12 months by a tribunal after being found guilty of sexual harassment in 2017. The incident occurred while he was employed by the Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which dismissed him in July 2020. The tribunal in Manchester reviewed evidence from 2017 and 2019, although not all allegations were proven. Tribunal chair Julian Weinberg declared Dr Graham's fitness to practise impaired due to his misconduct.

The author recounts their experience of getting an 'Open Water' diving certification. They chose P.A.D.I., the world's largest recreational diving membership, and found a local center, Saigon Rainbow divers. The author describes the extensive e-learning required before entering the water, emphasizing the dangers of diving. They detail their pool training with an instructor named Chris and the subsequent open water training in Nha Trang with another instructor, Stephane. The author struggled with some aspects of the training but ultimately succeeded. The article concludes with the author expressing the joy of diving and the newfound ability to dive with friends, specifically mentioning a dive with Jazz, a rescue diver who encouraged the author to get certified.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the United States, cybersecurity and a potential cyber arms deal are key topics. Experts discuss the improbability of major cyber attacks, the challenges of reaching a cyber agreement, and the need for the U.S. to defend free speech against Chinese censorship. Rogier Creemers highlights the mutual recognition of worst-case scenarios but notes ongoing tensions. Charlie Smith emphasizes the importance of U.S. efforts to dismantle China's Great Firewall and promote internet freedom. The article calls for strategic actions to counter Chinese censorship and cyber threats, including financial support for circumvention tools and pressure on U.S. companies to resist Chinese censorship demands.