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Ex-school trustee’s defamation case can’t proceed, Supreme Court of Canada says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada says a defamation lawsuit initiated years ago by a school trustee against a teacher’s union president should not proceed. Barry Neufeld, who was a trustee in Chilliwack, B.C., made negative comments in 2017 about how a sexual orientation and gender identity program was being implemented in the province’s schools. Glen Hansman, head of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation at the time, criticized Neufeld’s comments when interviewed by the media, prompting the trustee to bring a defamation claim. Hansman successfully moved to have the claim dismissed under the province’s anti-SLAPP law, which is intended to safeguard debate of public issues. However, the B.C. Court of Appeal reinstated the defamation proceeding, saying a judge erred in assessing whether there was likely a valid defence of fair comment.In its decision today, the Supreme Court restored the original order dismissing the defamation action.This report by The Canadi...

Victoria Day fireworks in Toronto, GTA: Where to watch and what to know

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

What’s Victoria Day without some fireworks? If that has become a tradition for you and your family, you’re in luck.The Ashbridges Bay Victoria Day Fireworks event is being held at Ashbridges Bay Park, in the Lake Shore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue area. Festivities will start at 10 p.m. on Monday, May 21.Event organizers promise this year’s fireworks display will be particularly dazzling, with a presentation of pyrotechnics “that will definitely impress.”The fireworks display is weather-dependent and offers free admission. The show will last 14 minutes and can be seen on the boardwalk from Lower Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Park.Closures will include Coxwell Avenue from Lake Shore Boulevard East to Eastern Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East from Leslie Street to Queen Street East.RELATED: Long weekend forecast: How the weather is shaping up for Victoria DayToronto police said resources will be in place in the area from Friday, May 19, to Monday, Ma...

US, British and French naval chiefs in Mideast transit Strait of Hormuz after Iran tanker seizures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

ABOARD THE USS PAUL HAMILTON IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ (AP) — The Mideast-based commanders of the U.S., British and French navies transited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday aboard an American warship, a sign of their unified approach to keep the crucial waterway open after Iran seized two oil tankers. Tensions in the Persian Gulf have been volatile since Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers collapsed, following the U.S.’ unilateral withdrawal five years ago. The incredibly rare, joint trip by the three navy chiefs aboard the USS Paul Hamilton, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, saw three fast boats of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard approach the vessel at one point.Guardsmen stood by uncovered machine guns on their decks, while sailors aboard the Paul Hamilton similarly stood by loaded machine guns as others shot photographs and video of the vessels. An Associated Press journalist also accompanied the allied naval commanders.While the Guard kept its distance from both the Pa...

Dave Matthews Band has new album ‘Walk Around the Moon’ and perspective: ‘Everything is kind of new’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Ten studio albums done, the Dave Matthews Band finds itself in a good place, maybe even at a new beginning.“The band is really gelled right now,” says singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews. “We’re all, at least for now, shining favorable lights on each other and laughing a lot and enjoying making music together.” The seven members — including new keyboardist Buddy Strong — released the 12-track album “Walk Around the Moon” on Friday — the band’s first studio album since 2018 — and plan a summer tour. “We’ve come to this place in an interesting way, but it wasn’t unnatural,” says Matthews. “We’ve had some good fights that probably would scare people but with the goal being that we could find some common ground. And I think we did.”“Walk Around the Moon” is a varied set, with the tracks veering from small and intimate to brassy and political, with a filthy groove propelling “Break Free,” a nostalgia-tinged and brooding “Monsters” and the band ...

Slovak court acquits businessman in retrial over 2018 murder of journalist

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

PEZINOK, Slovakia (AP) — A court in Slovakia has acquitted for a second time a businessman accused of masterminding the 2018 slaying of an investigative journalist and his fiancée. The Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok near the capital of Bratislava, which handles Slovakia’s most serious cases, ruled on Friday that Marian Kocner was not guilty of murdering Jan Kuciak, who had written about him in the past, and Martina Kusnirova, both aged 27. The crime shocked the country and caused the government to fall. However, Kocner’s associate, Alena Zsuzsova, was convicted of her role in the killings and sentenced to 25 years in prison. The case is not over yet as both the prosecution and the defendants can appeal.Prosecutors had requested life imprisonment for both defendants.The Associated Press

Woman charged with murder of 31-year-old man on Southwest Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder of a 31-year-old man on the Southwest Side.Viviana Noriega, 40, was arrested at her home in the 8000 block of South Knox Avenue.Police allege Noriega participated in the deadly shooting of a 31-year-old man in the 8300 block of South Keating Avenue on April 27, 2021.The victim was identified by the Sun-Times as Kamel Othman and he was shot while driving. 3 men wounded in drive-by shooting on West Side Noriega was charged with first-degree murder.

WATCH LIVE | Chicago Police host gun turn-ins, gift cards for all guns including BB and air guns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's police department is hosting a series of "no questions asked" gun turn-ins this Saturday.The turn-ins will take place in all five of the city's police areas. According to a department press release, all guns turned in will receive a $100 gift card per item. The department will also be accepting BB guns, air guns, and replica guns though those will only be worth a $10 gift card. Man charged in shooting that injured 2 boys outside Chicago library One of the locations will be the People's Church of the Harvest at 3570 W. 5th Ave. where a Friday morning press conference discussing the events is expected to be held.Watch the press conference live within this story beginning at approximately 10 a.m.

Dean's Reviews: 'Fast X'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

Check out Dean's review for the latest film for the Fast Saga franchise, 'Fast X.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Boomers and millennials fight for homes as housing market cools

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

(The Hill) - Prices have cooled in the once red-hot housing market, but competition is heating up between two generations in seemingly perpetual conflict. Millennials entering their prime homebuying years and baby boomers — many of whom are nearing retirement age — are vying for the same homes. A look ahead: Fed hikes and default fears: Here’s what could be next for the housing marketNot all baby boomers are looking for smaller properties to spend their retirement years, and some millennials are encroaching on space in the suburbs, where their older peers would typically downsize.  But most boomers have a key advantage: substantial equity from previous home purchases and higher incomes, which help them avoid the growing costs of a long-term mortgage.“Boomers are not downsizing and Millennials — first-time buyers in particular — are buying later in life. This puts both generations of buyers in head-to-head competition for similarly sized properties,” Jessica...

Consumer group asking law enforcement to step up response after signs AI may contribute to fraud

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:58 GMT

(KXAN) -- Fraud may have hit a crisis level, according to the AARP.“It's not just us. Most Americans in a survey we just produced say the same thing. And we're seeing it in the data,” said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention programs at AARP.“Just what was reported last year to the Federal Trade Commission was $9 billion in losses and we know that's just the tip of the iceberg," Stokes said. Experts worry artificial intelligence, or AI, may make things worse. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission warned AI can be used to produce high quality deep fakes and "turbocharge" fraud and scams, NBC reported. “Very concerned because right now, the scams are so sophisticated that they're almost unrecognizable as scams. When you enter chat GPT and AI it's just that much more unrecognizable,” said Stokes. “But the stories are always the same. It's going to be somebody that's reaching out to you out of the blue, trying to get you into that heightened emotional state. Let that be the si...