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How Doug Ford’s Ontario government mastered the art of the flip-flop

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, this week, Ontario Housing Minister Paul Calandra (new to the job after his predecessor resigned amid scandal in September) announced another reversal of a key government policy. This time, it was massive changes to urban boundaries outside several Ontario cities — changes most of the cities themselves fought against.Richard Southern is a Queen’s Park reporter for CityNews. “I think this is a government obviously hurt badly by the Greenbelt scandal, and very actively trying to prevent any future scandals, and as a result we’re seeing a lot of flip-flopping going on at Queens Park,” said Southern. Coming a week after the government introduced legislation to officially reverse its actions on Ontario’s Greenbelt, and on the heels of reversals of everything from pandemic policy to licence plates, is it a positive thing that this government can admit when it’s wrong and change? Or a worrisome sign that so many of its major initia...

Norwegian police investigate claim by Ingebrigtsen brothers that their father and coach was violent

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

Norwegian police launched an investigation Thursday into allegations by the three Ingebrigtsen brothers that their father, who had been their track coach at the Olympics and other events, was violent and abusive when they were growing up.On Oct. 19, the three brothers — Jakob, Henrik and Filip — published an op-ed in Norwegian newspaper VG saying their father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, “had been very aggressive and controlling” and “used physical violence and threats as part of our upbringing.”Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the Olympic gold medal in the 1,500-meter race at the Tokyo Games in 2021.“Somehow, we have accepted this. We have lived with it, and in adulthood we have moved on. At least we thought so,” the brothers wrote. “In retrospect, we realize that it was naive. But two years ago, the same aggression and physical punishment struck again.“It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”Gjert Ingebrigtsen has denied any wrongdoing.On Thursday, police in Norway opened a probe ...

The number of military suicides dipped in 2022 as the Pentagon works on new prevention programs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of suicides among U.S. military members and their families dipped slightly in 2022, compared with the previous year, as the Defense Department tries to build prevention and treatment programs to address what has been a steadily growing problem over the past decade, The Associated Press has learned.While the total number of deaths decreased overall, suicides among active-duty troops went up slightly, fueled by significant spikes in the Marine Corps and the Air Force. And because the active-duty force is smaller now, the rate of suicides per 100,000 service members inched up, according to U.S. officials.The officials said the suicide rate for the National Guard and the Reserve decreased a bit. The relatively stable numbers across the force come on the heels of a sharp drop in suicides in the Air Force, the Marines and the Navy from 2020 to 2021, and a similar decline for Army soldiers in the first six months of 2022.Officials spoke on the condition of anon...

UK PM Sunak warns against rush to regulate AI before understanding its risks

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

LONDON (AP) — As authorities around the world scramble to draw up guardrails for artificial intelligence, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned Thursday against moving too fast on regulating the rapidly developing technology before it’s fully understood. Sunak warned about acting too quickly even as he outlined a host of risks that AI could bring, from making it easier to build chemical or biological weapons to its use by terrorist groups to spread fear, or by criminals to carry out cyberattacks or fraud. He said AI has the potential to transform life but it should be a global priority to mitigate the risks of human extinction it could bring, similar to pandemics and nuclear war. Governments are the only ones able to keep people safe from AI’s risks, and it shouldn’t be left up to the tech companies developing it, he said in a speech ahead of a summit he’s hosting next week on AI safety. AI developers, who “don’t always fully understand what their models could ...

India ‘exploring all legal options’ after Qatari court sentences 8 Indians to death for spying

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian government on Thursday vowed to explore “all legal options” after a Qatari court handed death sentences to eight Indian employees of a Qatari company on spying charges.According to Indian media reports, the eight men are retired Indian navy officers who worked for the consulting company Al Dahra, advising the Qatari government on the acquisition of submarines.India’s External Affairs Ministry said in a statement it was awaiting the detailed judgment in the case. “We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options,” it said. “We attach high importance to this case and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities.”The statement did not provide further details.Qatar’s government declined to immediately comment on the sentences.Qatari authorities provided New Delhi consular access to the eight Indian n...

Israeli troops carry out an hourslong ground raid into Gaza before an expected wider incursion

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops and tanks launched an hourslong ground raid into northern Gaza overnight into Thursday, the military said, striking several militant targets in order to "prepare the battlefield" before a widely expected ground invasion after more than two weeks of devastating airstrikes.The raid came after the U.N. warned that's it's on the verge of running out of fuel in the Gaza Strip, forcing it to sharply curtail relief efforts in the territory, which has also been under a complete siege since Hamas' bloody rampage across southern Israel ignited the war earlier this month.The rising death toll in Gaza, which soared past 7,000 on Thursday, according to Palestinian officials, is unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Even greater loss of life could come if Israel launches an expected ground offensive aimed at crushing Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and survived four previous wars with Israel.The Health Ministry in Hamas-rule...

LIVE: Llano ISD delays start by 2 hours Thursday due to weather

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

LLANO, Texas (KXAN) – Due to the rain moving through Llano County Thursday morning, the Llano Independent School District is delaying the start of classes by two hours, according to a Facebook post by the Llano County Office of Emergency Management. Flash flood risk continues The OEM said buses will run two hours later than normal. The county's Facebook page is also providing updates on flooded roads and other weather conditions in the area. This is a developing story.

6 months to arrest repeat suspect, APD sex crimes unit explains delay

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — "You're asking me to say I've put it off for this long, but the reality is I have not had time," Austin Police Detective Andrea Mittel said during her testimony at a bond hearing for a man accused of multiple sex assaults.Detective Andrea Mittel started working on the APD sex crimes unit in January. (KXAN photo/Brianna Hollis)"So you didn't have time in six months to take what you believe to be a violent individual off the streets, you're telling me you were that overworked?" the suspect's attorney said. Mittel responded, "Yeah, we're low."Dublas Vasquez is the suspect referenced in Mittel's testimony. He is accused of assaulting a woman at his West Campus home near the University of Texas in March 2023, while out on bond for another sex assault charge from last year, police said.He wasn't arrested in connection with the March West Campus incident until September. Hundreds of Austin Police Department detectives have to work patrol shifts in addition to working on the...

Gophers football vs. Michigan State: Keys to game, how to watch and who has edge

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

MICHIGAN STATE vs. MINNESOTAWhen: 2:30 p.m. SaturdayWhere: Huntington Bank StadiumTV: Big Ten NetworkRadio: KFAN, 100.3 FMWeather: 33 degrees, flurries, 6 mph south windBetting spread: Minnesota, -7Records: Minnesota (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) got back into the Big Ten West race with a 12-10 win over Iowa last Saturday. Michigan State (2-5, 0-4) dropped its fifth straight game last weekend, a 49-0 beat down by No. 2 Michigan.History: Before a 34-7 win in East Lansing in 2022, the Gophers had lost five straight games to the Spartans dating to 2010. Minnesota is 18-30 all-time against Michigan State.Key matchup: Athan Kaliakmanis vs. Spartans secondary. The Gophers QB and his pass catchers have yet to fully click this season and this Michigan State’s secondary can be beat. With health concerns in the U backfield, Minnesota might need to rely more on an efficient passing game.Who has the edge?Gophers offense vs. Michigan State defense: The Spartans have lost all five games since head coach Mel...

Fields Foods Lafayette Square store up for sale

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:11:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The Fields Foods' flagship store in Lafayette Square is officially up for sale.According to FOX 2's partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the store is listed for more than $4 million. Fields Foods began closing its St. Louis area stores earlier this summer after receiving a number of lawsuits over unpaid rent and owed taxes. Multiple people reported dead, injured in Maine shootings The grocery chain shut down its remaining stores last month. The Lafayette Square building has been on the market for a few weeks now, but there have been no offers.A hearing on Fields Foods late city taxes is scheduled for December 6.