Planet Seattle

Plan ahead: November 21–28, Seattle and nearby cities will host concerts, theatrical performances, hockey games, and holiday events. The lineup includes performances by Polyrhythmics, Jai Wolf, Gwar, and Steve Lacy; The Nutcracker ballet; The Wizard of Oz musical; a Christmas market; and a tree-lighting ceremony. You can also catch a comedy show, visit the Wild Lanterns light festival, or go ice skating. Details and tickets are available at the event links: November 21, November 22, November...

British Columbia has drawn attention on several fronts at once: the province’s resorts dominated a prestigious Condé Nast Traveller ranking, with eleven of Canada’s top fifteen located there, while a tense campaign is underway ahead of the snap election on October 24. Voters will have to navigate 93 electoral districts, and five on Vancouver Island could change political colors. The NDP’s traditional stronghold may swing to the Conservatives, making the coming vote especially...

Residents of key regions in British Columbia gave their communities an average C+ for quality of life: nature and parks scored highly, while housing policy received the lowest marks. Sixteen-year-old musician Richard Lee raised more than $22,000 for BC Children’s Hospital, and Vancouver’s First Christian Reformed Church is marking its centennial as it stands on the brink of leaving its denomination. British Columbia gives its cities a C+: housing falls short, parks save the day Residents of...

A poll found that eight in 10 British Columbians have cut spending because of rising prices, with young people and low-income families hit hardest and groceries accounting for the largest share of cutbacks. Meanwhile, businesses in the province are rethinking what they expect from employees: AI agents are taking on routine tasks, and companies increasingly value “generalists” who can set goals and make decisions. In another alarming incident, a rabid skunk in downtown Vancouver bit several...

This digest covers three stories from British Columbia. In Pender Harbour, the nearly century-old Sundowner Inn is on the market for $2.6 million. The former St. Mary’s Hospital on the water is priced at roughly the same level as a benchmark house in Vancouver. A column in The Tyee takes an ironic look at whether “Green” Pete Fry’s victory in the Vancouver mayoral election foreshadows the provincial election; the author points to the differing political contexts and the absence of a single...

The province stands on the threshold of change: an election race in which the Conservatives hold only a narrow lead over the NDP, multibillion-dollar deficits have become a political norm, and a legal battle over Cowichan Nation land threatens to reshape property ownership and infrastructure. British Columbia: Deficits as the New Political Norm The election campaign in British Columbia promises voters a miraculous rescue of the province’s finances. But, as Rob Shaw’s analysis for Business in...

This digest covers a B.C. Ferries collision with a humpback whale off the coast, BC NDP campaign promises to open new urgent care centres on Vancouver Island, and an expert column arguing that the hospital crisis is being driven by underfunding of long-term care. Canadian ferry collides with humpback whale off British Columbia coast Last weekend, an incident off Canada’s Pacific coast once again drew attention to the challenge of coexistence between large marine vessels and whales. Ferry...

Vancouver residents elected Green candidate Pete Fry as mayor in the 2026 municipal election. He defeated incumbent Mayor Ken Sim by approximately 23,000 votes. The Green Party and COPE dominated all elected bodies—the city council, park board, and school board—while ABC Vancouver won just one council seat. Voters also approved three borrowing plebiscites authorizing $790 million for the 2027–2030 capital plan. Turnout rose to more than 43%, up from 36% in 2022. Official results will be...

Vancouver and all of British Columbia are voting in municipal elections amid record early turnout. The mayoral race is “neck and neck,” with plebiscites on drug policy and involuntary treatment also on the ballot, while CBC examines key campaigns in nine Metro Vancouver cities—from a changing of the guard in Richmond to controversies in Surrey and Delta. Meanwhile, Air Canada is filming an advertisement for its new Airbus A321XLR over the Lower Mainland, promising to expand its long-haul...

Canada news digest: short-track speed skating returns to the arena of its 2010 Olympic triumph, Vancouver heads toward a municipal election with a fractured protest vote, and British Columbia debates secret ballots in union certification. Canadian Speed Skaters Return to the Arena of Their 2010 Olympic Triumph Short-track speed skating in Canada is more than just a sport; it is part of the national identity, built on dramatic finals, milestone medals and tactical schemes with memorable names....

The materials cover different political stories, but their most coherent shared theme is how public discontent becomes a test of power, forcing governments both to seek public support and to maintain control. In France and Italy, this takes the form of mass protests over high prices and problems in education; in the United States, the election campaign shows how politicians try to win voters’ attention through personal image, public events and battles over cultural symbols. The sources describe...

Apple’s first foldable iPhone is testing both whether buyers are willing to pay around $2,000 for a new format and whether the company can turn a technically impressive device into an everyday product. Initial demand has been strong, and the nearly invisible hinge has earned positive reviews. But the high price, camera compromises and unfamiliar way of using the device still make the Duo feel more like an expensive novelty than an obvious replacement for a regular smartphone. The release of...

Three reports describe different crises: the threat of a wider war around Iran, Egypt’s cautious stance on the conflict in Yemen, and the US trade confrontation with Canada. They share a common theme: governments seek to project resolve but limit their actions when escalation threatens to bring excessive military, economic or electoral costs. Foreign policy is not separate from domestic circumstances here: Saudi Arabia’s security is tied to the risk of being drawn into war, oil prices to...

Air travel in the United States is getting more expensive, primarily because of a sharp rise in jet fuel prices. Passengers are increasingly canceling trips or switching to cars, but airlines do not yet see lower plane occupancy as a reason for concern: they would rather sell fewer seats at higher prices. At the heart of this trend is a shift in the industry’s priorities: instead of maximizing passenger numbers, carriers are looking to increase the revenue from each flight. This helps them...

The launch of the foldable iPhone Duo is not just a test of a new device, but a challenge for Apple’s entire ecosystem. The company is trying to turn the large inner screen into a genuine advantage: developers are adapting their apps, the App Store is introducing a special label, and services are offering new ways to watch, work and multitask. Early reviews, however, suggest that app readiness is uneven. And plans for future generations—from a larger display to a telephoto lens—are a reminder...

These articles focus on investors’ efforts to assess two risks that amplify each other: AI companies’ enormous capital needs and the possibility of a renewed escalation in the conflict around Iran. On the market, this was reflected in sharp swings in technology stocks, a surge in oil prices, and some investors’ shift into government bonds. However, the sources offer different accounts of trading: one describes a sell-off on October 21, while another reports that the market rose the next day...

Three articles describe different crises: Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Egypt’s possible involvement in defending the kingdom, and Donald Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to reach an agreement with Russia. Yet they share a common theme: U.S. allies are increasingly questioning Washington’s readiness to ensure their security, while regional powers and European states are being forced to fill the emerging vacuum themselves. As a result, the familiar model in which the United States served as the...

The first reports on iPhone Duo reveal less a finished revolutionary product than an attempt by Apple to redefine the familiar way people use a foldable smartphone. Before official reviews appear, the device is already being showcased in unboxing videos, while screenshots of built-in apps offer a look at how the company has adapted iOS to a large flexible display. At the same time, discussion of the accessories highlights the design’s compromises: the unusual form factor requires equally...

The Senate race in Kansas is evolving from a predictable Republican contest into an unexpectedly competitive campaign in which party affiliation is no longer the only factor at issue. Trust in the candidates, the cost of living and voter fatigue with political aggression have also moved to the forefront. Democrat Adam Hamilton, pastor of the largest Methodist congregation in the United States, is trying to attract independent voters and moderate Republicans by presenting himself not as a party...

Over the past two days, Venezuelan public opinion has been gripped by a paradox: on the same day in Caracas, a massive opposition march demands that a date for elections be announced, police detain the march’s sound technicians, and at the negotiating table the government and opposition, with Washington mediating, announce yet more “concrete results” — from a review of repressive laws to the release of Venezuelan gold frozen in London. At the same time, in the oil-producing state of Zulia,...

Syria’s southern province of Suwayda is once again at the center of concerns. Warnings are being voiced about a possible resumption of clashes, while Damascus accuses Israel of supporting armed groups. For Jordan, which shares a long border with Syria, this is no distant issue: stability in the neighboring country’s south is seen as part of Jordan’s own national security. Amman is therefore working with Damascus and Washington to cement agreements that could keep Suwayda from sliding back into...

Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said Zulia State had set a new record, producing 115,000 barrels of oil in a single day. She made the announcement while reviewing energy projects and agreements between Venezuela and the United States. Rodríguez said developing the sector should strengthen the economy and raise workers’ incomes. The authorities also plan to expand logistics infrastructure: according to the president, the number of vessels is to increase from 100 to 900. At the same time,...

On Friday, Istanbul will host the first meeting of the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. The meeting was initiated by Ankara and will be chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Talks will take place in a new “R4+E3” format, bringing together four regional countries and three leading European powers. “R4” is a recently formed group comprising Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt; the first three countries signed the...

The main development of the past two days was the conclusion of a third round of talks between the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez and the opposition faction led by Dinorah Figuera, which is backed by Washington. Almost simultaneously, the State Department publicly praised the agreements reached, while the U.S. Treasury Department removed Venezuela from its list of countries that pose risks to American investment. Against this backdrop, the country saw its largest opposition rally in...

King Abdullah II of Jordan reaffirmed that Amman rejects Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and expressed support for Damascus’s efforts to ensure security, stability and sovereignty. He made the remarks at a meeting with Syria’s foreign minister and minister for expatriates, Asaad al-Shaibani, where the two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in energy, transport, trade and investment. The talks also covered regional developments, including the...

The average monthly income of workers in Venezuela’s private sector is about $500, while public-sector employees earn roughly $300, including bonuses, according to a study by Datanálisis. Wages need to rise, but financing an increase through unbacked money creation—as happened in August 2022—could trigger currency devaluation and accelerate inflation. The article’s author argues that wage growth should therefore be supported by increased output and productivity, or by actual government...

Israeli leaders repeatedly point out that their positions on Mount Hermon are about 35 kilometers from Damascus. This is more than a military detail; it is a political signal: Israel is demonstrating its ability to threaten any target on Syrian territory. Benjamin Netanyahu, in effect, regards Syria after the fall of the Assad regime not as a potential front, but as an active one. Israel is also seeking to preserve sources of instability in the country, backing armed groups in Suwayda and,...

After U.S. special forces seized Nicolás Maduro in January, Caracas and Washington went in a matter of months from sanctions confrontation to an oil partnership that Venezuelan and Latin American commentators are already calling a “protectorate.” Over the past two days, local media have focused on three flashpoints: an oil deal with a controversial business partner, the lifting of sanctions on the Rodríguez siblings, and the question of who will allow the country to hold elections, and...

Imagine building a fort in your backyard out of boards and old boxes. Now imagine that it isn’t a game, but a real home—and you have to live in it through the winter, when the rain pours down. Almost a hundred years ago, hundreds of people in Seattle lived this way. Their settlement was called Hooverville, and it lasted for a full ten years because its residents refused to give up and knew how to stick together. How it all began: when the jobs suddenly disappeared In 1929, the Great Depression...

Imagine you want to redo a room, but you don’t want to throw away the favorite umbrella over your bed. What do you do? First, you’ll have to prop it up, then move out all the furniture, and then build the room again. That’s roughly what the city of Seattle did with an entire basketball arena. This story began with a big celebration, continued with a sad farewell to a beloved team, and ended with the city learning how to protect its treasures. A celebration and a hat-shaped roof In 1962, Seattle...

Imagine a big green hill beside a lake. Children fly kites on it, while enormous rusty towers stand nearby, like sculptures made by giants. This is Gas Works Park in Seattle. A hundred years ago, a noisy, smoky factory stood here, and the ground beneath it was soaked with tar and oil. How did it become a safe place for picnics again? With help from microbes invisible to the naked eye. What was here before In 1906, a gas plant was built on the shore of Lake Union. It made fuel gas from coal, and...

Imagine a train that doesn’t run on two rails, but on one wide concrete “track,” like a gymnast balancing on a beam. It appeared in Seattle in 1962, when the city hosted a major world’s fair. At the time, it seemed like the transportation of the future—and soon, trains like this would carry people all over the city. But things turned out quite differently, and the story is a lot like the debates taking place in cities today. A City That Decided to Show the Future The World’s Fair opened in...

Imagine: You’re 17, you can’t see, and you decide to move to the other side of the country. Not because anyone is waiting for you there, but simply because that city is the farthest one from home on the map. That’s exactly what the future great musician Ray Charles did. He chose Seattle. There, in the Central District, on Jackson Street, he found his first real musical family. The Street Where the Music Played Until Morning In the late 1940s, Jackson Street was a special place. It had lots of...

Imagine you built an entire street out of blocks, then accidentally knocked it all down. What would you do? Build it again—and make it even better. That’s more or less what Seattle did in 1889. Only the blocks were bricks and stones, and the builders came from all over the world. The Glue That Boiled Over On June 6, 1889, carpenter Victor Clermont was heating glue in his workshop. The pot overheated, and wood shavings caught fire. The wind fanned the flames, and most of the buildings in the...

Imagine a high bluff overlooking the sea. Once, barracks stood here, soldiers marched, and army buildings filled the grounds. Now you might spot a bald eagle along the trails, while the wind rustles through the treetops. This is Discovery Park in Seattle, one of America’s largest urban parks. Let’s find out how wildlife took root on a former military base—and how a lighthouse learned to work without a person. A ship, a fort, and a new plan The park’s name dates back to 1792. That year, English...

Imagine that there is a huge hill in front of your house, and you decide to get rid of it. Not with shovels or machines, but with ordinary water—as if you were washing away a sandcastle with a hose. It sounds like a fairy tale, but that is exactly what happened to one hill in Seattle, a city in the northwestern United States. People washed it into the sea, and the earth became new shoreline. Let’s take a look at how this was even possible. A City Hindered by a Hill At the end of the nineteenth...

Imagine a huge, gleaming crystal in the middle of a city, with a ribbon of books inside it slowly rising upward like a mountain trail. This is not fantasy but Seattle Central Library, which opened in 2004. It was designed to change along with the books and the people who use it. Let’s take a closer look at how this unusual building works and why it is considered an engineering breakthrough. A Building That Doesn’t Like Rearranging When the architects began the project, they asked themselves a...