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Musk’s X is the biggest purveyor of disinformation, EU official says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A top European Union official said Tuesday that the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, is the biggest source of fake news and urged owner Elon Musk to comply with the bloc’s laws aimed at combating disinformation. Ahead of upcoming elections, Google, TikTok, Microsoft and Meta also have more to do to tackle disinformation, much of it coming from Russia, which is using social media to wage a “war of ideas” against democracy, European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said. Moscow’s disinformation operation “is a multimillion-euro weapon of mass manipulation aimed both internally at the Russians as well as at Europeans and the rest of the world,” she said at a press briefing in Brussels. With elections scheduled in Slovakia and Poland in the coming weeks and a bloc-wide vote next year, big online platforms must address the risk of online meddling, she said. The Kremlin and other malicious actors “will try to use the design features of the...

How climate change could affect where and when people travel

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

Travelers encountered many weather surprises this summer, from wildfires in Europe to knee-deep mud at Burning Man. Indeed, it was the hottest summer on record around the globe, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.“The dog days of summer are not just barking, they are biting,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres in a prepared statement published Sept. 6. “Our planet has just endured a season of simmering — the hottest summer on record. Climate breakdown has begun.”Shifting weather patterns are raising questions about where, when, how and whether tourists will travel.For example, does it still make sense to visit Italy in July, despite high temperatures, large crowds and minimal air conditioning? Or should “peak” travel season move to the more hospitable autumn or spring months?Tourism destinations are starting to take note — and get worried — about the toll climate change could take on this enormous industry.HOT DESTINATIONSEscaping to the Sp...

Cellphone store in Lincoln Park latest target in string of armed robberies

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

CHICAGO — More armed robberies in Chicago overnight as residents on the North and West sides are voicing their concerns.In one of the latest incidents, a cellphone store was targeted in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood.Police said it happened at an AT&T store on the 1700 block of West Fullerton just before 8 p.m. Monday. Two armed males entered the store and stole multiple phones and other devices — as well as money. According to police, the victims in the incident had their hands restrained.The offenders were able to get away in a white SUV and no one was injured.Another string of armed robberies occurred after midnight Tuesday. Police said in the four incidents, two to three male offenders would exit vehicles and demand property from the victims at gunpoint. The incidents happened at the following locations: 3500 North Kimball Avenue400 North Aberdeen Avenue3000 West Carroll Avenue1100 West Van Buren StreetSo far, no one is in custody in any of the robberies.Multiple alder...

'It's just devastating': Families in shock after train hits vehicle, killing 6 in Florida

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) – While briefly off sedation, Guillermo Gama III grabbed his mother’s hand.Doctors say he does not need brain surgery. To his family, these are the glimmers of hope in an otherwise dark time.“We’re extremely blessed and grateful that he’s here with us still,” said Jennifer Cantu, his aunt.Gama, 23, was rushed to Lakeland Regional Health in Florida after the vehicle he was riding in collided with a train in Plant City on Saturday evening.Gama's family was waiting for him to arrive at a quinceañera celebration. He was riding in a car with others planning to go to the party, and he had just texted his family that he was almost there. Then his family heard about an accident and thought Gama was stuck behind it.“When he didn’t answer and he wasn't responding to none of us, we all just kind of felt it inside. My mom, which is his grandma, she took off down there,” Cantu said.Gama is the sole survivor in the crash that claimed the lives of six people: Jose G. Hernande...

Prosecutor shares 'serious concerns' with motion to allow broadcast cameras in courtroom of Delphi murders court proceedings

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. -- Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland has filed a motion opposing a request to broadcast the trial for Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen, citing "serious concerns." Defense attorneys representing Allen filed a motion on Sept. 13 to allow broadcast cameras in courtrooms, citing an amendment to Rule 2.17 of the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct which regulates broadcasting, televising, recording and photographs in courtrooms. Richard Allen files motion to allow broadcast cameras in courtroom of Delphi murders court proceedings The defense referenced an amendment to the rule that would have allowed the judge to allow the broadcasting of the legal process in their courtroom at their own discretion. This amendment took effect in May and would allow broadcasting as long as the means of recordings wouldn't distract participants or affect the dignity of the proceedings. The defense argued that since the Delphi investigation had reached national attention, t...

'Probably Haunted': Sign outside Massachusetts property makes mysterious claim

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – When moving into a new home, it’s customary that the previous occupants move out. But that’s not necessarily the case at one spacious property for sale in Millbury, Massachusetts, at least according to a sign posted on the lawn.“Probably Haunted,” reads the sign, which is situated directly above the listing agent’s placard.(Erika Kristal Eucker/Media Realty)The property’s online listing, on the other hand, makes no mention whatsoever of any paranormal activity at the address. But it does mention that the property was originally built as a single-family home in 1850 before being converted for use as a funeral parlor around 75 years ago.“If you're a homeowner looking for a home with extraordinary presence and space, this could easily be converted back to a single-family home,” reads a description of the home, which is currently listed for $769,000. A real estate agent hid 'Michael Myers' in every photo of this New Hampshire home Listing agent Erika Kristal Eucker, with M...

Must-see video shows sharks swimming near fisherman: 'The guy fishing has no idea'

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

CALADESI ISLAND, Fla. (WFLA) - Nurse sharks were seen crowding a fisherman's boat Monday morning at Caladesi Island in Florida. Drone operator John Yanchoris captured "awesome footage" of "lots" of nurse sharks swimming near a fisherman and his boat. Yanchoris said he saw the spectacular sight around 9 a.m. "The guy fishing in the video has no idea what is behind him," Yanchoris said in an email to Nexstar's WFLA. Travis Kelce jersey sales increase nearly 400% after Taylor Swift attends Chiefs game: report National Geographic described nurse sharks as "slow-moving bottom-dwellers and are, for the most part, harmless to humans." They can grow up to 14 feet and have "very strong jaws filled with thousands of tiny, serrated teeth, and will bite defensively if stepped on or bothered by divers who assume they're docile," the publication added.Yanchoris is a former firefighter who has done drone work for local fire departments, according to a description on his YouTube channel. He al...

FDNY deaths deaths from 9/11 illnesses now equal those killed in the attack

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) - It's a number that nobody wanted to see repeated, but 343, the number of New York City firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11, is now the number of FDNY employees who have lost their lives from illnesses related to that fateful day and its aftermath. The FDNY commissioner and union leaders alike said that number will only grow with time, which is why they also said it's imperative that resources to care for first responders from 9/11 stay fully funded.At a late morning news conference at his headquarters, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York (UFA) President Andrew Ansbro joined the leader of the city's other major firefighters' union, Jim Brosi of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA), to mark the milestone.They said the situation is tragic for their union members in general, but it feels all the more heartbreaking for the families of the recently departed."His life and his retirement was cut short," Ansbro said about Firefighter Rober...

Austin nonprofits discuss how to spend millions to address homelessness

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are getting a better idea how the City of Austin plans to distribute millions of dollars to nonprofits to combat homelessness. Recently, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, or TDHCA, awarded nearly $65 million to Austin community groups addressing homelessness.Tuesday morning Austin Mayor Kirk Watson along with the Austin Downtown Alliance and other community leaders held a panel to discuss the plan.“There is a lot going on in different ways with what we are doing with homelessness,” said Mayor Watson.He urged a multi-faceted approach to combat homelessness in Austin.“Too often, we make it more simple than it really is. It’s not as simple as this or that.”Panelists included Chris Baker, Executive Director with The Other Ones Foundation, Jo Kathryn Quinn, President & CEO of Caritas of Austin and Kirkpatrick Tyler, Chief of Government & Community Affairs of Urban Alchemy.Mayor Kirk Watson and panelists at "Issues & Eggs," a series of brea...

Travis County commissioners to revisit Central Health's budget Tuesday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:32:30 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The back and forth over what Central Health should be charging you and what services should be provided with that money continues this week. The board overseeing Travis County's health district took another pass at its budget Monday after Travis County commissioners questioned their first proposal, but several Central Health Board of Managers members expressed frustration about why they had to return to the table. "When the commissioner's court says you have the money to do this, it's an extremely myopic view of our whole equity plan," said Dr. Manuel Martin, a member of the board.The budget right now includes movement toward Central Health's seven-year plan, which includes major investments in staff, facilities and other projects aimed to provide more equitable health care to the people in Travis County struggling the most. Central Health staff said it's been increasing its reserves to build out that health care system with the goal of meeting the dema...