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MPs want big tech held responsible for misinformation spread online by foreign actors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

OTTAWA — A parliamentary committee is calling on Canada to hold tech giants accountable for publishing false or misleading information online, especially when it is spread by foreign actors. That was among 22 recommendations the House ethics committee made in its study of foreign interference by China and Russia.Bloc Québécois MP and committee vice-chair René Villemure says Canada needs to take a firm position on this similar to the European Union, which has a digital misinformation law that curbs hate speech and propaganda.The federal Conservatives were the only party to disagree with that recommendation, saying it will endorse censorship online. But Villemure says holding social media companies such as Meta and Google accountable has nothing to do with freedom of expression. The committee began its study in 2022 before public allegations that China tried to meddle in the last two federal elections. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023.The Canadian Press

Why fall’s arrival hasn’t shaken off the impact of B.C.’s ‘exceptional’ drought

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

Climate geoscientist Joseph Shea didn’t have to go far to find evidence of what he calls “exceptional” hot and dry weather in British Columbia this year.He says he was still gathering raspberries in his garden in Prince George in central B.C. last week as temperatures neared 20 C, at a time when the historical average maximum is about 9 C. “That was kind of fun to pick raspberries, but it has been a really dry fall,” said Shea.An atmospheric river did bring some much-needed rain to parts of southern B.C. last week, and seasonal cool weather has also finally arrived, along with some early snow. But experts say the province has yet to escape the repercussions of hot, dry weather in spring, summer and fall. River levels remain dire, almost half of the province’s water basins continue to suffer drought impacts, and hundreds of wildfires still burn — some deep in the parched ground — as the worst fire season on record drags on.They say the protracted conditions sh...

Police investigating homicide after locating remains of Ontario man missing since 2018

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

York Regional Police are investigating a homicide after officers discovered the human remains of a Richmond Hill man missing for over five years.Authorities said 30-year-old Kevin Bonada Rosas was last seen at his Elmwood Avenue residence in Richmond Hill on June 21, 2018. He was reported missing by his family five days later, on June 26, 2018.Rosas’ disappearance was deemed suspicious, and the homicide unit assumed control of the investigation in April 2021.In an update from police, a spokesperson said human remains were found buried in the yard of the man’s residence on Elmwood Avenue on June 5, 2023. A forensic examination determined that the remains were Rosas, and his death is now considered a homicide. Investigators would not reveal the cause of death. There is currently no information on a suspect or suspects. Police continue to appeal to members of the public for information into this case.

Music Review: Poppy grows up and goes dark pop-y with genre-blending album ‘Zig’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

Not quite dark pop, not quite techno, not quite any genre at all, Poppy’s fifth studio album, “Zig,” is rather a mix of several different styles and an example of how far she’s come since her debut five years ago.“Zig” strays far from Poppy’s old bubblegum pop sound for those who remember her 2017 debut, “Poppy.Computer,” which followed her earliest introductions to the cute-but-strange, pseudo-AI Poppy character — first discovered via surreal performance art YouTube videos in 2015. The bleach-blonde android is nowhere to be seen in “Zig,” but that’s not a surprise — she’s been gone for some time now.Poppy’s style and sound started to shift with her second album, 2018’s “Am I a Girl?” which started to take a heavy metal turn, followed by the even darker “I Disagree” in 2020. She scaled it back for the more alternative “Flux,” and now she’s back with “Zig,” the evolved combo of her past works. Backed by synths and elec...

NHL rescinds ban on rainbow-colored Pride tape, allowing players to use it on the ice this season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

NHL players will be allowed to use Pride tape this season after all with the reversal of a ban that sparked a backlash around hockey and among LGBTQ+ advocates in sports.The league, players’ union and a committee on inclusion agreed to give players the option to represent social causes with stick tape during warmups, practices and games. The move announced Tuesday rescinds a ban on rainbow-colored Pride tape for on-ice activities that was provided to teams earlier this fall as guidance for theme nights.“We are so very grateful to everyone who believes hockey should be a safe, inclusive and welcoming space for all,” the makers of Pride Tape said on social media. “We are extremely happy that NHL players will now have the option to voluntarily represent important social causes with their stick tape throughout season.”Pride nights became a hot-button issue in hockey after six players chose not to participate in pregame warmups last season when their team wore rainbow-themed jersey...

Mice spotted scurrying across hotel room during Nurse Blake's interview with WGN

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

What's worse than seeing a mouse? Seeing TWO of them.Blake Lynch, known on social media as 'Nurse Blake,' is a touring comedian, content creator and licensed nurse. He joined WGN Morning News Tuesday to discuss why he started making videos and his upcoming comedy tour — which will be in the city on Sunday at the Chicago Theatre.During the interview, there was a small distraction. TWO MICE. SEE ALSO: Chicago ranked 'rattiest' city in the USWGN viewers spotted the mice running across the hotel floor behind Lynch and were fast to notify the TV station, expressing their concern for him.But everyone can rest assured, Nurse Lynch is OK. He even told WGN that after the interview, the hotel upgraded him to a suite!Watch the video in the player above

For a second straight year, a Bulls 1st round pick faces the same challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

CHICAGO — The Bulls' 2020 first round draft pick didn't get what he might have hoped for on Monday.But if Patrick Williams is looking for an example of what to do in order to get what he's ultimately hoping for, he needs only to look at a teammate.On Monday, the Bulls chose not to exercise the rookie-scale contract extension for the forward as he prepares for the 2023-2024 season. Because of that, Williams will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season, putting pressure on him to perform over the next 82 games. Yet to see an example of how to make that happen and get a new contract from the Bulls, he needs only to look at Coby White's situation from a year ago. The 2019 Bulls' first round draft pick was also not given a rookie-scale contract extension by the front office of executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley. Remember, White was the last first round pick of the John Paxson-Gar Forman era that ended in the spring of 2020.Playing m...

California DMV suspends permits for self-driving taxis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The California Department of Motor Vehicles has suspended the permits and vehicle deployment for Cruise's driverless taxis, citing "an unreasonable risk to public safety."The suspension is effective immediately. The DMV said its autonomous vehicle regulations "provide a framework to facilitate the safe testing and deployment" of autonomous vehicle technology on California's public roads. "When there is an unreasonable risk to public safety, the DMV can immediately suspend or revoke permits," the DMV said. Las Vegas woman left U2 concert to take $50K from ‘sugar daddy’s’ hotel safe, police say The DMV notified Cruise of the suspension on Tuesday and provided the company with the steps needed to reapply to reinstate its suspended permits.The company's permits can be reinstated, but only after Cruise "has fulfilled the requirements to the department's satisfaction," the DMV explained. The DMV said the suspension does not impact Cruise's permit for testing with...

A wonderful wet week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The rest of this afternoon and early evening will be wet at times. Much of the precipitation will be widely scattered. Highs will rise to mostly the low to mid 80s.Much of this morning's rain fell in the western Hill Country where several gauges in Gillespie, Mason, Llano, and San Saba Counties measured more than one inch. Two gauges measured more than 1.5" ... one 6 miles northwest of Harper and another one outside of Mason. Live, updated rain totals An upper-level low moved from California Monday to the northern Baja Peninsula today. It's providing a rich supply of Pacific moisture. High pressure in the Gulf of Mexico is sending moisture to Central Texas. It's exactly the weather conditions many of you have longed to see.The result will be additional showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, then again tomorrow.Today's flash flood threatYou are encouraged to stay weather aware tomorrow night into Thursday morning. This is when the upper low tracks closer to Texa...

Turnout tracker: How many people have voted in the November 2023 election?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With early voting underway, KXAN is keeping track of how many Texans have voted in the Nov. 7 constitutional amendment election.Every voter who shows up to the polls in Texas will get to vote on 14 proposed amendments to the state constitution, from lowering property taxes to increasing the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices. KXAN Voter Guide: What you need to know ahead of the November 2023 election In addition, several local cities, counties and school districts will appear on the ballot.Early voting runs from Oct. 23 through Nov. 3. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.Turnout is typically much lower in off-year elections than in presidential or midterm elections. For example, 67% of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 46% in the 2022 gubernatorial election. A constitutional amendment election in November 2021 saw turnout of just 8.75%.There are more than 17.7 million people registered to vote i...