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Dearth of skilled workers, funding dents tech adoption by manufacturers: Survey

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

MONTREAL — A shortage of skilled workers and funding is hurting manufacturers’ ability to take up new technology, according to a new survey.In a poll by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, 40 per cent of respondents have yet to start or are just beginning a digital transformation.One third of those surveyed pointed to a dearth of skilled workers as a key hurdle to adopting fresh tech.Dennis Darby, who heads the trade organization, says small businesses need help through tax credits that lower investment risks and offset the cost of employee training.“We need more targeted government support for these companies to help accelerate technology adoption in our manufacturing sector or risk our economic competitiveness and standard of living,” Darby said in a release.The industry group is calling for a 10 per cent federal investment tax credit matched by all provinces — it’s already available in Atlantic Canada and the Gaspé Peninsula — as well as more vocational training...

Cyclist critically injured after being struck by vehicle in Toronto’s east end

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

A cyclist has been rushed to hospital after he was struck by a vehicle in the city’s east end.Toronto police were called to the area of Finch Avenue East and Pharmacy Avenue just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday.Police say the man’s injuries are life-threatening.The driver remained at the scene.

Minnesota governor signs bill to legalize marijuana, effective this summer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) — Surrounded by dozens of cheering people in green clothes, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults.“This has been a long journey with a lot of folks involved,” Walz said.Among them was one of the first governors in the U.S. to openly support marijuana legalization.“For me personally, it’s very wonderful to see a dream of yours over 20 years ago finally happen today, and I’m still alive to see it,” said Jesse Ventura, Minnesota’s governor from 1999-2003.Under the new law, cannabis will be legal by Aug. 1 to possess, use and grow marijuana at home. Possession of cannabis flower will be limited to 2 pounds (0.9 kilos) at home and 2 ounces (56 grams) in public. Other possession caps include 800 milligrams of THC in gummies and other edibles and 8 grams of cannabis concentrate.Retail sales at dispensaries w...

Police identify Hamilton couple fatally shot by landlord

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

Hamilton Police identified the young couple fatally shot by their landlord in a dispute over the weekend.Investigators were called to the apartment building in Stoney Creek around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, and found two deceased victims. A 27-year-old female and a 28-year-old male were both tenants at the residence.Sgt. Steve Bereziuk described the couple as “truly innocent victims.” The 57-year-old suspect is a landlord who lived in a unit above the tenants.In a news release, Hamilton Police confirmed the landlord was killed in an exchange of gunfire with an officer after barricading himself inside the unit.The suspect’s identity has not been revealed.With the family’s permission, police identified the couple as 27-year-old Carissa MacDonald of Stoney Creek, formally of Huntsville, Ont., and 28-year-old Aaron Stone of Hamilton.A police spokesperson said the families of both victims are requesting privacy at this time. Investigators have interviewed seve...

Ex-Trump White House official Peter Navarro to go on trial in September in Jan. 6 contempt case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Trump White House official Peter Navarro will stand trial in September on contempt of Congress charges filed after he refused to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta set a Sept. 5 trial date during a court appearance on Tuesday in Washington.Navarro was charged last year with one contempt count for failing to appear for a deposition before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack and a second charge for failing to produce documents the committee requested. He has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys declined to comment after Tuesday’s hearing.A former economics professor, Navarro served as a White House staffer under former President Donald Trump and later promoted his baseless claims of mass voter fraud. Navarro has argued that Trump invoked executive privilege, barring him from cooperating with the committee.Navarro was the second Trump aide to face criminal ch...

Moscow drone attack exposes Russia’s vulnerabilities, fuels criticism of military

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

A drone attack that targeted Moscow on Tuesday exposed glaring breaches in its air defenses and underlined the capital’s vulnerability as more Russian soil comes under fire amid expectations of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.The attack, which lightly damaged three apartment buildings, angered Russia’s hawks, who scathingly criticized President Vladimir Putin and the military brass for failing to protect the heart of Kremlin power more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the front line.Five of the eight drones that took part in the raid were shot down, the Defense Ministry said, while three others were jammed and forced to veer off course. Some Russian media and bloggers alleged a larger number of drones were involved, but those claims couldn’t be verified.The attack followed a May 3 drone strike on the Kremlin that lightly damaged the roof of the palace that includes one of Putin’s official residences. Other drones have crashed near Moscow in what Russian authoritie...

Government amending Atlantic Accords to include offshore wind energy, spur production

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

OTTAWA — Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says new legislation will let Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador tap into the potential of offshore wind power development.He introduced changes to laws implementing the Atlantic Accords today that would expand the mandates of each province’s offshore petroleum boards to include renewable energy. The proposed amendments would enable the development of offshore wind farms by allowing for government regulation.Wilkinson says the worldwide market is forecast to attract a trillion dollars of investment by 2040.The federal government signed a deal with Germany last summer to create a clean energy corridor, aiming to send hydrogen to Europe beginning in 2025.Renewable sources of electricity, such as wind, are needed to produce green hydrogen.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2023.The Canadian Press

US says ‘the time is now’ for Sweden to join NATO and for Turkey to get new F-16s

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

OSLO, Norway (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday the “time is now” for Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden joining NATO but said the Biden administration also believed that Turkey should be provided with upgraded F-16 fighters “as soon as possible.”Blinken maintained that the administration had not linked the two issues but acknowledged that some U.S. lawmakers had. President Joe Biden implicitly linked the two issues in a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.“I spoke to Erdogan and he still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden. So let’s get that done,” Biden said.Still, Blinken insisted the two issues were distinct. However, he stressed that the completion of both would dramatically strengthen European security.“Both of these are vital, in our judgement, to European security,” Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference in the northern Swedish city of Lulea with Sweden’s Pri...

Lollapalooza 2023 aftershows announced

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

CHICAGO — The slate of Lollapalooza 2023 aftershows was released on Tuesday.Carly Rae Jepsen kicks things off at the Metro on Tuesday, Aug. 1.Some other notable shows are Thirty Seconds To Mars, Slyvan Esso, and Portugal. The Man.Tickets for the aftershows go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.Lollapalooza will be held at Grant Park in downtown Chicago from Thursday, Aug. 3 to Sunday, Aug. 6. Full schedule of aftershows Headliners include Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Odesza, Lana Del Rey, Karol G, The 1975 and Tomorrow X Together.

MedWatch Daily Digest: Scientists explore the link between sugar and Alzheimer's disease

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:57:02 GMT

For Tuesday, May 30, WGN's Dina Bair has the latest on new information, including the following: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch The link between sugar and Alzheimer's High blood sugar levels have long been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. But the specific cellular mechanisms behind this link were unclear until now. A study by researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina looked at KATP channels, which are present in brain cells and change with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found disabling those channels prevented the formation of brain-damaging plaques caused by high blood sugar. It paves the way for new treatments that target specific channels. Human metapneumovirus virus on the rise A deadly virus shot up to record levels this spring. It's called Human metapneumovirus or HMPV.The virus can have the same effects as the flu and Covid but it won't appear in those tests. It can be detected at the hospital, but no vacci...