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Northwest Territories under threat by wildfires — and lack of local news

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

Residents of the Northwest Territories are feeling the effect of the news vacuum on Facebook as they flee communities that are under threat by wildfires.But industry observers say the regional media landscape was barren long before Meta — Facebook’s parent company — pulled news content from its platforms in Canada, and that the current situation highlights a long-standing dearth of local news coverage.Up to 50 per cent of Canadians use Facebook to find out what’s happening in cities and towns across the country, Dwayne Winseck, professor of communication and media studies at Carleton University, said Thursday in an interview. Meta’s decision to block news in Canada is irresponsible, especially in times of crisis, he said. “It’s reprehensible.”An emergency situation such as the fires in the Northwest Territories underscores the importance of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in disseminating news, Winseck said. “...

Remaining residents in Yellowknife urged to get out as sprinklers, fire guards set up

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Officials in the Northwest Territories are urging thousands of residents remaining in its capital to leave by noon today before a nearby wildfire could cut off access.The evacuation of Yellowknife was ordered late Wednesday and sprinklers, water cannons and fire guards are being set up to protect the city of 20,000 people.Convoys of vehicles have steadily been leaving for hotels and evacuation centres in Alberta.On Thursday, in additional to commercial planes, about 1,500 people left on evacuation flights.Officials say more flights are scheduled for today that could take about 1,800 people out of the city.They say inmates have already been sent to jails in Alberta and Yukon and there will be a full evacuation of the hospital.Several other communities in the territory, including the town of Hay River, ordered residents out earlier this week.Shane Thompson, the N.W.T.’s environment and communities minister, told a news conference late Thursday that the fire situati...

Feds could spur rental construction with tax incentives, financing: experts

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

OTTAWA — High housing prices have forced many Canadians to accept that they may never be able to afford buying their own home.But what if they can’t afford to rent one?Strong demand for rentals and a shortage of homes are both contributing to soaring rental costs. And that’s making it even more difficult for people to save money for down payment on a home.The asking rent across Canada hit an average of $2,078 in July, up nearly nine per cent on an annual basis, according to data from Rentals.ca and research firm Urbanation released last week.For the first time ever, average asking rents for purpose-built condominiums and apartments rose above $2,000 in July. One-bedroom apartments alone saw a 13 per cent annual increase in the average rent and a monthly rise of 2.5 per cent, bringing July’s figure to $1,850.For most minimum-wage workers, affording these rents with their earnings is impossible. A recent analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found t...

Daily horoscope for August 18, 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Virgo.Happy Birthday for Friday, Aug. 18, 2023:You are deep, passionate, creative and tolerant. You see the positive in situations and have a strong sense of responsibility. This is a year of service. Protect your health and well-being so you can help others. Explore the arts, which you have put off for a long time.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★You are fast acting and direct, and sometimes you have a short fuse. (You know who you are.) Be careful about overreacting today, especially at work, if something suddenly unexpected occurs, especially computer problems or equipment breakdowns. Possibly people will surprise you. Stay chill. Tonight: Health questions?TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Parents should be extra vigilant today, because this could be an accident-prone day for their kids. Meanwhile, social events are unpredictable. They might be canceled or, in turn, you might receive a surprise in...

Commission clears the acquisition of Syneos Health by Veritas, EIM and Patient Square

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Syneos Health, Inc. by Veritas Capital Fund Management, L.L.C (‘Veritas'), Elliott Investment Management L.P. (‘EIM') and Patient Square Capital L.P. (‘Patient Square'), all of the US.Syneos Health isa global contract research and outsourced commercialization organization providing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. Veritas is a private equity fund investing in companies that provide critical products, software and services to government as well as to commercial customers worldwide. EIM is an investment manager company. Patient Square is a dedicated health care investment firm.The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the absence of horizontal overlaps and limited vertical links between the companies' activities in the European Economic Area. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review p...

Harriette Cole: We went on one date, and he’s so gross every time I see him

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: The other day I ran into a guy with whom I had gone out on a date once, more than 30 years ago. Every time I see him, he acts like a lascivious lech. He is horrible. I do my best to keep my distance.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I learned that my new friend used to badmouth me. What should I do? Advice | Harriette Cole: Was it rash to choose this job over my boyfriend’s objections? Advice | Harriette Cole: What does it mean that my boyfriend’s sister called me by this name? Advice | Harriette Cole: Our guest walked through a closed screen door. Is it our problem? Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m ashamed to tell people I forgave my childhood friend Years ago, when he met my husband, he told him that I was almost his. That is not the case.This time I saw him when I was picking up my daughter and her friends from the train. I was friendly but distant. Apparently, the...

Miss Manners: The bride told me to lie to her fiance about why I can’t be ‘best woman’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My best friend since childhood is getting married in about six months’ time. We were a couple from the ages of 14 to 21, and now we are in our mid-20s.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: How do I tell them I won’t serve the fancy dessert they brought? Advice | Miss Manners: They come to my house and yell at my dog Advice | Miss Manners: Why are parents miffed at me? They’re the ones who spell the kids’ names wrong. Advice | Miss Manners: She’s so rich, but she never gives us anything Advice | Miss Manners: She wants to turn our music festival into a get-drunk weekend It was an amicable breakup: I joined the Navy, and he wanted to settle down. No romantic feelings remain on either side.He asked me to attend his wedding as his “best woman.” I, of course, accepted. I bear no ill will toward him or his future bride and only wish to see him happy...

‘Who’s gonna believe an 11-year-old boy?’: Victim of clergy sex abuse speaks out

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

A nightmare has haunted WTOP anchor Dan Ronan for decades. The recurring dream has plagued him for most of his life.“I’m being chased out of the parking lot,” 63-year-old Ronan told WTOP’s DMV Download podcast. “I’m being chased through that parking lot on a dark evening. And he’s chasing me and he’s … screaming at me. And before he would catch me, I would wake up sweating and crying and shaking.”In 1971, Ronan was sexually assaulted in Chicago, Illinois, by Father Thomas Gannon — a respected priest and professor who went on to teach sociology at Georgetown University between 1983 and 1986. Ronan was in the sixth grade at the time, and didn’t tell a soul about the assault for nearly 50 years.“I kept it in and I said, ‘Who’s gonna believe an 11-year-old boy?’ If those circumstances happened nowadays? Yeah, with the [2017] #MeToo movement. They’ll start an investigation. But in 1971, no way. So I...

El grupo Evergrande de China se declara en bancarrota

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

(CNN) — El Grupo Evergrande de China, que alguna vez fue el segundo desarrollador inmobiliario más grande del país, se declaró en bancarrota en Nueva York este jueves.La empresa asediada tomó grandes préstamos y dejó de pagar su deuda en 2021, lo que provocó una crisis inmobiliaria masiva en la economía de China, que sigue sintiendo los efectos.Evergrande solicitó la protección por bancarrota del Capítulo 15, que permite que un tribunal de bancarrotas de EE.UU. intervenga cuando un caso de insolvencia involucra a otro país. La bancarrota del Capítulo 15 tiene como objetivo ayudar a promover la cooperación entre los tribunales estadounidenses, los deudores y los tribunales de otros países involucrados en procedimientos de bancarrota transfronterizos.Evergrande no respondió de inmediato a la solicitud de comentarios de CNN.¿Qué es Evergrande?: 5 cosas que debes saber sobre los problemas del conglomerado chino que está al borde del abismoEvergrande Group anuncia plan para reestru...

Braves host the Giants on 5-game home win streak

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:43 GMT

San Francisco Giants (64-57, second in the NL West) vs. Atlanta Braves (78-42, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Friday, 7:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Alex Cobb (6-4, 3.62 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 110 strikeouts); Braves: Spencer Strider (13-4, 3.81 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 217 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -224, Giants +184; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves, on a five-game home winning streak, host the San Francisco Giants.Atlanta is 78-42 overall and 40-20 at home. The Braves have a 61-7 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.San Francisco has a 64-57 record overall and a 29-29 record on the road. Giants pitchers have a collective 3.94 ERA, which ranks ninth in MLB play.Friday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Olson leads the Braves with 43 home runs while slugging .615. Ozzie Albies is 16-for-45 with a double, four home runs and 14 RBI over the past 10 games.Wilmer Flores lead...