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Online News Act: Google withholds AI chatbot as Meta runs ads opposing new law

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

OTTAWA — Tech companies are continuing to push back on the Liberal government over its Online News Act, with Google withholding its new artificial-intelligence chatbot from Canada and Meta running ads opposing the law.A Google spokesman said the company is working through regulatory uncertainty in Canada related to Bard, an AI-driven online conversational tool seen as a competitor to the popular ChatGPT from OpenAI.Bard currently links to news, which will be subject to regulations in Canada now that the Online News Act, formerly known as Bill C-18, has become law. In order to comply with the law, both Google and Meta have stated they would remove news links in Canada before the law comes into effect by the end of the year.The law will force global tech players to enter into agreements with Canadian news outlets to compensate them for content shared or otherwise repurposed on their platforms.Last week Google expanded Bard to the European Union after resolving regulatory concerns ther...

S&P/TSX composite lower Monday on energy, telecoms; U.S. markets rise

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

TORONTO — Weakness in energy and telecoms helped Canada’s main stock index tick lower after a mixed day of trading Monday, while U.S. markets rose as earnings season rolled forward. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 35.28 points at 20,226.79.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 76.32 points at 34,585.35. The S&P 500 index was up 17.37 points at 4,522.79, while the Nasdaq composite was up 131.25 points at 14,244.95.South of the border, “Everybody’s warming up for earnings season,” said Pierre-Benoît Gauthier, assistant vice-president of investment strategy at IG Wealth Management.U.S. earnings for the second quarter were off to a positive start Friday as major banks stepped over the low expectations set by investors and analysts, said Gauthier. “I think that people are seeing that expectations have been so low for the Q2 numbers, that there’s going to be some easy beats in there because the U.S. economy is just not as bad as feared,” he said.That opti...

Lindsay Lohan gives birth to her first child, a boy

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

Lindsay Lohan has given birth to her first child.The “Parent Trap” star and her husband, financier Bader Shammas, are the parents of a “beautiful, healthy son” named Luai, her rep told The Associated Press in a statement Monday.“The family is over the moon in love,” the statement said.Lohan, 37, gave birth in Dubai, where the couple lives, according to Page Six. Her son’s exact birth date was not released.Luai is an Arabic name that means “shield” or “protector.” Lohan announced her pregnancy in March in a photo posted to Instagram of a white onesie emblazoned with “Coming soon.” She has lived overseas for several years and has been married to Shammas since last year.The “Freaky Friday” actor was once a tabloid mainstay, but now keeps a lower public profile. She has returned to acting, starring in Netflix’s “Falling for Christmas” last year, and is starring in the streaming service’s upcoming romantic comedy “Irish Wish.”The Associated Press

Abortion in Iowa is legal again, for now, after a judge blocks new restrictions

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge on Monday temporarily blocked the state’s new ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, just days after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the measure into law. That means abortion is once again legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy while the courts assess the new law’s constitutionality.The new law prohibits almost all abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant. The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the measure in a rare, all-day special session last week, prompting a legal challenge by the ACLU of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic. Judge Joseph Seidlin held a hearing on the matter Friday, but said he would take the issue under advisement — just as Reynolds signed the bill into law about a mile away.Abortion providers said they scrambled last week to fit in as many appointments as possible ...

Biden still concerned about judicial overhaul as he extends invite to meet with Israel’s Netanyahu

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with him in the U.S. this fall, the White House said, even as he expressed ongoing concern about Netanyahu’s controversial plans to overhaul his country’s judicial system.Monday’s phone conversation between the U.S. and Israeli leaders came one day before Israel’s figurehead president Isaac Herzog is set to visit to the White House and as Netanyahu’s government pushes forward with the judicial changes that have sparked widespread protest in Israel. The Biden administration declined to say whether Biden would host Netanyahu at the White House — as the Israeli leader has hoped — or in New York on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly. White House visits are typically standard protocol for Israeli prime ministers, and the delay in Netanyahu receiving one has become an issue in Israel, with opponents citing it as a reflection of deteriorating relatio...

Plane debris falls into backyard of Far Northwest Side home

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department responded to a non-criminal case on the City's Far Northwest Side Monday afternoon where a plane part appeared to fall from the sky.According to police, officers responded to a home in the 4700 block of North Chester near Lawrence Avenue and Cumberland Avenue, where plane debris had fallen into the backyard, slightly damaging the home.After officers arrived, the debris was moved out in front of the home into the street, where it was claimed by O'Hare International Airport management, and taken from the scene.No injuries have been reported from the incident.It is unclear at this time what type of debris was found, and whether it came from an aircraft that was landing or departing from O'Hare International Airport. Suburban grandparents charged with murder in death of 5-year-old granddaughter No other information is available at this time.

Cook County prosecutor publishes list of 'unreliable' cops

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

Word has circulated for years around Cook County courthouses of a list containing the names of cops who are deemed so unreliable prosecutors refuse to call them as witnesses. Some still work as police officers. Others have since retired. Now, Cook County state’s attorney Kim Foxx has released the names.There are roughly 180 law enforcement officers on the Cook County State’s Attorney’s “Do Not Call List." There are the names of well-known rogue cops who have faced lawsuits - including Chicago cops Reynaldo Guevara and Ronald Watts – but there are also officers who work for suburban departments including Maywood, Dixmoor, Hickory Hills, Chicago Heights, Crestwood and others. Several Cook County sheriff’s police officers are also included. PREVIOUS: ‘They can right their wrong’: Misconduct claims mounting against former Chicago detective “The culture that allowed disreputable law enforcement officers to testify in court propelled Cook County’s reputation as the wrongful conviction c...

Police identify man shot, killed in west Austin parking lot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police identified the man killed Saturday morning in the parking lot of a west Austin apartment complex, and they're now offering a reward to anyone who can help catch the shooter. The Austin Police Department shared Monday the victim's name is Jarod Mason, 45. Investigators said he died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. They added they now believe "multiple suspects left the scene in a vehicle" after the shooting, according to a news release. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? During a briefing with reporters Saturday morning, a police spokesperson said officers responded at 6:40 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing several gunshots at an apartment complex in the 3500 block of North Capital of Texas Highway.When officers arrived, they said they found a man in his 40s lying next to a vehicle with trauma to his body. Life-saving measures were performed, but APD said the man was pronounced dead at 6:58 a.m.APD homicide detectives began...

Mayor Kirk Watson discusses new $5.5 billion city budget, what it means for Austin

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Sunday evening, City of Austin Interim City Manager Jesús Garza released his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. DETAILS: Austin interim city manager puts forward $5.5 billion budget The budget forecasts a combined projected increase of 2% in local fees for the typical ratepayer.Austin’s 2022-2023 budget totaled $5 billion, and the 2021-2022 budget was $4.5 billion.Monday morning, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson sat down with KXAN's Tom Miller to talk about how the budget breaks down and what it will mean for residents. Below is a transcription of their conversation: The transcription has been edited for grammatical clarity. Budget breakdownTom Miller, KXAN: The city manager is calling for a half-billion-dollar increase, which would bring the budget up to $5.5 billion.Mayor Kirk Watson: The budget will be $5.5 billion. And that is an increase from the last budget. Part of the way that happens, of course, is that you have to look at t...

APD searches Pflugerville field for 2nd time in relation to murder suspect Raul Meza

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department did a follow-up investigation in a field Monday in Pflugerville in connection with the case of a man accused of multiple murders. APD said the investigation was off Farm-to-Market Road 1825, the same area APD, Pflugerville Police and the FBI searched July 12 in relation to a case connected to Raul Meza Jr. APD said it couldn't provide any details about the investigation since it is ongoing. TIMELINE: What we know about Raul Meza's criminal history Meza, 62, is in Travis County Jail and faces two murder charges, a capital murder charge and a charge for unauthorized use of a vehicle after confessing to the murder of his roommate, 80-year-old Jesse Fraga, the arrest affidavit said.APD said it believes Meza is connected to "multiple murders" and is looking into eight to 10 cold cases in which he could be involved.Meza also told detectives he was responsible for the 2019 killing of 66-year-old Gloria Lofton, according to an arrest affidavit....