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Federal government releases new draft regulations on clean electricity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

OTTAWA — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault released draft regulations Thursday that are designed to clean Canada’s electricity grid in an affordable way by 2035.The regulations would drive up the cost of energy slightly, but federal officials say that would be offset by the savings expected to come from moving away from fossil fuels. The government has set a target of making the electricity grid net-zero by 2035, and the regulationsare meant to help guide the way.Environment and Climate Change Canada estimates the national average household energy bill will increase by $35 to $61 per year if the regulations are adopted, but by 2040, only two per cent of that increase will come as a result of the regulations.The government plans to cover up to half of the cost of the regulations through tax credits, low-cost financing and other funds, which could mean even less cost is passed onto consumers, Guilbeault said at a press conference in Toronto. The minister also said he expect...

Quebecor’s Freedom Mobile purchase pushes it to big earnings gains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc. says its purchase of Freedom Mobile drove a big boost in earnings last quarter as the company added more than 1.8 million customers through the acquisition.The Montreal-based telecommunications company reported that net income climbed 10 per cent to $171.3 million in the three months ended June 30 from $156.3 million in the same period a year earlier.Quebecor said revenues in its second quarter jumped 25 per cent to $1.40 billion from $1.12 billion the year before. On an adjusted basis, income from continuing operations rose to 79 cents per share last quarter compared to 68 cents per share a year prior, beating analyst expectations of 72 cents per share.In early April, Quebecor’s Videotron entered the national wireless market through its purchase of Freedom Mobile from Shaw Communications Inc., a condition of Rogers Communications Inc.’s acquisition of Shaw imposed to ease competition concerns surrounding the merger.The vast majority of the compa...

Indigenous people in northeast Nicaragua say armed settlers are pushing them off their land

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Indigenous communities in northeast Nicaragua are under growing pressure from armed assailants who use kidnappings and killings to push people off their land, according to community leaders, advocates and a regional human rights court.A leader of the Mayangna people, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals from the government of President Daniel Ortega, said his people suffer “a continuous colonization” from the land invaders. The attackers, referred to locally as “colonos,” occupy their land to engage in commercial agriculture, ranching and timber harvesting.The Mayangna, along with the Miskito, occupy Nicaragua’s northeast region along the Caribbean Sea, living primarily in the vast tropical forest of the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve.The Mayangna leader accused Ortega’s government of protecting the settlers. “The colonos come and forcibly settle in our territories, where our way of life is: the hunting, fishing and rotational agriculture,...

Another Threshold candle recall? Target recalls 2.2 million products over burn and laceration risks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s time to check your candle supply again. According to a Thursday notice from federal regulators, Target is recalling 2.2. million candles due to laceration and burn hazards.The recall impacts Threshold-branded glass jar candles sold in multiple sizes and various scents — including frosted vanilla cupcake, rose petal & lotus, blue agave & cactcus and pumpkin spice, among others. According to Thursday’s notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the jars of these candles can break during use, risking burns and lacerations. Target has received 19 reports of candle jars breaking or cracking during use for this recall, the CPSC said, resulting in one minor injury.Consumers with the recalled Threshold products should “should immediately stop using” them, Thursday’s notice said. The candles can be returned to any Target store or by mail for a full refund.The products under recall can be identified by size, scent and item numbers...

Quebec power utility studies possible reopening of Gentilly-2 nuclear reactor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s hydroelectric utility says it is studying whether to reopen the province’s only nuclear power generating station.Hydro-Québec says that as demand for electricity rises in the province, it is looking into restarting the Gentilly-2 reactor in Bécancour, Que., on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River about halfway between Montreal and Quebec City.The Hydro-Québec facility was shut down in 2012 by the provincial government after it reached the end of its service life and needed refurbishment.But the utility says it would be “irresponsible” to exclude nuclear power as an option for meeting the growing energy needs of the province, adding that it is studying the current state of the facility.Hydro-Québec says the utility’s new president and CEO, Michael Sabia, has affirmed his openness to different options for generating power in light of the strong demand.Gentilly-2 opened in 1983, operating with a CANDU reactor designed to produce up...

Northern Ireland’s top police officer apologizes for ‘industrial scale’ data breach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Northern Ireland’s top police officer apologized Thursday for what he described as an “industrial scale” data breach in which the personal information of more than 10,000 officers and staff was released to the public.The incident is particularly sensitive given the delicate security situation in Northern Ireland, which is still trying to overcome decades of sectarian violence known as “The Troubles.” Twenty-five years after a peace agreement largely ended the violence, many police officers continue to shield their identities because of continuing threats from dissident elements of the republican and unionist communities.Chief Constable Simon Byrne told reporters that dissident republicans claim to be in possession of information about police officers circulating on WhatsApp following the incident, and that authorities are “advising officers and staff about how to deal with that and any further risk they face.”“An early worst-case scenario that we have been dealing with...

At least 6 Turkish soldiers killed in attacks by Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq, Ankara says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s defense ministry said on Thursday that a spate of attacks the previous day and overnight by Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq killed at least six Turkish soldiers. The attacks prompted retaliatory airstrikes that left four members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, dead on Thursday, according to a social media post shared later by the ministry.The violence is the latest in a monthslong escalation between Turkey and Turkish-backed groups on one side, and Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria on the other.Ankara considers the PKK — which has waged a decadeslong insurgency within Turkey — and allied Kurdish groups in Syria and Iraq as terrorist organizations. It claims members of the PKK regularly find sanctuary in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. There was no immediate comment from Iraq’s central government in Baghdad. Earlier, authorities in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region said two separate Turkish drone strik...

3 in custody after 2 teens injured in Hoffman Estates shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Three people are in custody after a shooting left two teenagers injured in Hoffman Estates.Authorities received a 911 call around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday advising that a person had been shot in the 1700 block of Queensbury Circle and a vehicle had fled the scene.Upon arrival, officers found a 17-year-old boy on the lawn with a gunshot wound to the chest and leg. He was transported to Lutheran General Hospital and is listed in stable condition.According to police, other officers respnded to local area hospitals to check for any potential gunshot victims. While at the hospital, a vehicle was dicovered with multiple bullet holes in the parking lot. Man, 21, found beaten to death in Gage Park home ID’d Police said officers then located an 18-year-old man with a gunshot graze wound to the back, who was reported to be the passenger in the vehicle. The teen was treated and released from the hospital.According to police, three people are in custody and charges are pend...

Odds of a 'strong' El Niño grow again: Will you feel it locally?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – As the months go on, El Niño grows stronger over the Pacific. On Thursday, national forecasters gave it a larger than 95% chance of lasting through early next year. "Given recent developments, forecasters are more confident in a 'strong' El Niño event," National Weather Service forecasters said. The odds of a historically strong El Niño are now a 2 in 3 chance. This El Niño is expected to continue strengthening until it reaches its peak sometime in winter. That’s when the climate pattern can have the biggest effects on weather around the country. What a ‘historically strong’ El Niño means for winter The southern third to half of the United States, including California, is likely to be wetter this winter. (Exactly where that dividing line falls varies from year to year.) Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Ohio Valley tend to be dry and warm.Hawaii also often sees below-average rain during an El Niño fall, winter, and spring season.But El Niño's ...

Who is cutting the tails off these horses -- and why?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

KEN CARYL, Colo. (KDVR) — Megan Morrison loves to spend time with Eleanor, her 5-year-old Holsteiner and partner in equestrian contests. "Just a peace, the calm that they bring," said Morrison, who participates in hunter/jumper competitions.But recently, she was shocked to find that her horse's tail had been cut. Colorado teen among sick at World Scout Jamboree in South Korea The condition of a horse’s tail can affect a rider's standing in competition, so Morrison carefully cares for Eleanor’s appearance. “We all want a nice full, long tail, especially with a hunter/jumper discipline that I do," she said. Jumpers are judged objectively and scored based on the fastest time and fewest faults on a course. Hunters are judged subjectively, based on rider and horse ability and style. When Morrison visited Colorado's Ken Caryl Equestrian Center this week, she discovered that someone had cut a large portion of Eleanor’s tail off during the night.Horses rely on their tails“Horses, they com...