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Europe is cracking down on Big Tech. This is what will change when you sign on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Starting Friday, Europeans will see their online life change.People in the 27-nation European Union can alter some of what shows up when they search, scroll and share on the biggest social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook and other tech giants like Google and Amazon.That’s because Big Tech companies, most headquartered in the U.S., are now subject to a pioneering new set of EU digital regulations. The Digital Services Act aims to protect European users when it comes to privacy, transparency and removal of harmful or illegal content. Here are five things that will change when you sign on:YOU CAN TURN OFF AI-RECOMMENDED VIDEOSAutomated recommendation systems decide, based on people’s profiles, what they see in their feeds. Those can be switched off.Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, said users can opt out of its artificial intelligence ranking and recommendation systems that determine which Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories and search r...

Triple-Digit Heat Thursday Gives Way to Cooler pattern

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

Arrival of Canadian High pressure to push the hot, humid air well to the south of Chicago. FORECAST temperature departures from normal through the coming weekend into early next week:Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record with thousands of people being evacuated. Heat and drought conditions have contributed to the unprecedented fire season in Canada that have been burning since April.Canadian wildfire smoke drifting into the U.S. has led to a spike in asthma ER visits. CONTINUE READING

‘HERE COMES DIGGINS!’: National Bobblehead Hall of Fame releases Jessie Diggins figurine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

Legendary cross-country skier and Olympic champion Jessie Diggins gets her own bobblehead on Friday.In addition to a bobbling head, the figurine features Diggins, wearing a blue ski suit, sunglasses and a blue headband featuring the U.S. flag, holding her ski poles in triumph as she sprints across a finish line.The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled the first bobblehead of Minnesota native and Olympic cross-country skier Jessie Diggins. (Courtesy of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum)The bobblehead’s base includes replicas of Diggins’ three Olympic medals and the words “HERE COMES DIGGINS!” which Olympic broadcaster Chad Salmela shouted in 2018 as Diggins came from behind to win Team USA’s first gold medal in Nordic skiing at the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.Diggins, an Afton native and a graduate of Stillwater Area High School, won a silver medal (sprint freestyle) and bronze medal (30-kilometer mass start) at the Beijing Olymp...

LIVE: Suspect arrested for possible toilet bomb threat at Americana mall in Glendale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

A suspect was arrested after shoppers were evacuated for a possible bomb threat from a toilet that was mysteriously left at the Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale Thursday night.Police confirmed a male suspect was taken into custody although his identity was not released.The incident was first reported around 8 p.m., according to Glendale police. Officers found the painted toilet around 50-100 feet from the AMC Theater at the shopping center.A note accompanied the toilet stating that the item may be a bomb, police said. A dolly typically used for hotel luggage was also seen nearby, but it's unclear whether that was used to transport the toilet.Authorities evacuated shoppers from the scene. Sky5 video shows the toilet appears to have many images and letters scrawled all across it. The messages on the toilet remain unclear.Shoppers were evacuated for a possible bomb threat after a toilet was mysteriously left at the Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale on August ...

‘Fight or flight was not an option’: band recalls horrifying experience during Cook’s Corner mass shooting 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

What was supposed to be a fun night at the bustling Cook’s Corner biker bar turned deadly on Wednesday when a former police officer targeting his estranged wife opened fire in the packed restaurant, killing three and wounding six more.  The minutes that elapsed between when former Ventura Police Department Sgt. John Snowling began his rampage and when he was killed by police felt like hours to those who were trapped inside the restaurant, according to members of the band that was performing at the establishment on Wednesday night. “Fight or flight was not an option, it was fight or hide,” said Deb Johnson, who is part of the band M Street. “And we didn’t have anything to fight with, so it was more like hide and watch.” Band members Ed Means and Dave Stretch were injured during the shooting but are set to be released from the hospital by Friday.  Witnesses describe chaos during mass shooting at Orange County biker bar According to Mark Johnson – Deb's husband and fel...

High school football: Los Gatos rolls in opener as AJ Minyard throws five TD passes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

LOS GATOS — Jaylen Thomas juked past a bevy of defenders for one of his two touchdowns. Henry Masters intercepted a pass and made sure he’d take it back for a pick-six. Scott Garwood found the end zone three times.And then there was quarterback AJ Minyard, who was precision-like while leading Los Gatos to a 45-14 season-opening victory at home over Soquel on Thursday.The senior completed 16 of 21 passes for 249 yards and five touchdowns as the Wildcats put the game away in the second half after a competitive opening two quarters.“I was a little nervous,” Minyard said. “But we worked all summer and I had nothing to really be nervous about. I trust my guys. I trust my receivers. I trust my coaches with the play calls. Can’t really complain.”Los Gatos scored on its opening series when Minyard threw a 10-yard pass to Garwood for a 7-0 lead.The Wildcats put themselves in position to expand the margin to two touchdowns after Nate Goldsbury scooped...

Langeliers homers twice, Gelof hits tiebreaking shot as A’s beat White Sox

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

By Andrew SeligmanThe Associated PressCHICAGO — Luis Robert Jr. reached high above the center field wall to snag a potential home run and launched a long drive an inning later.Even though their star delivered with his glove and bat, the Chicago White Sox lost again. This time, to the team with the worst record in baseball.Shea Langeliers homered twice, Zack Gelof hit a tiebreaking two-run drive in the seventh inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the White Sox 8-5 on Thursday night.CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 24: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Oakland Athletics hits a home run in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 24, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) Robert did his part, robbing Brent Rooker of a homer and smacking a 444-foot drive.“Every loss is difficult, but tomorrow’s another day and we’ll try to win,” Robert said through an interpreter.It’s been a particularly rough week for the White Sox, who have los...

Man arrested with 11 freshly-cut catalytic converters in Oakley

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

(KRON) -- Two men were arrested in Oakley on Thursday, and one of them was driving a car containing 11 catalytic converters, the Oakley Police Department said. Oakley officers were called to the 900 block of Stonegate Circle at 1:45 a.m. Thursday morning by a witness who claimed to see three or four people stealing catalytic converters. The subjects fled before officers arrived. They were driving a white Dodge Magnum. Over $85K in stolen goods recovered from Bay Area flea markets, 2 arrested Later that morning, another resident called police to report a handgun in the middle of the road at Vintage Parkway and Piper Lane. The gun was determined to be a Glock-style ghost gun, and it was on the same path that the Dodge believed to have fled in. At about 1 p.m. Thursday, the same Dodge Magnum was seen in the area of Concannon Drive and Vintage Parkway. Officers detained the driver, who was identified as 22-year-old Jorge Espiritu-Gonzalez of Antioch. Another subject, 21-year-old Carl...

Todo lo que debes saber sobre el programa ETIAS y los impuestos turísticos en Europa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

(CNN) — Se acerca la hora: a partir de 2024, ya no será gratis viajar a Europa.El programa de exención de visados ETIAS permitirá entrar a los países de la Unión Europea a partir de US$ 7,70.Como su nombre indica, no se trata de un visado, sino de un sistema para que las personas de países que no necesitan visado para entrar en Europa registren previamente sus visitas. Los que actualmente necesitan visado para entrar seguirán necesitándolo.Aunque muchos ciudadanos estadounidenses parecen escandalizados por la medida, quizá les sorprenda que el sistema ETIAS siga el modelo del programa de exención de visado ESTA, introducido en 2009 por Estados Unidos. Y, por supuesto, los ciudadanos de muchos países necesitan visados “reales” para viajar a los países de la Unión Europea, lo que supone un proceso largo y costoso.El ETIAS se sumará a la miríada de tasas de alojamiento y “turísticas” que ya se cobran en toda Europa. Esto es lo que hay que saber sobre ellas...

The countdown to Max Verstappen’s likely 3rd straight F1 title begins at the Dutch GP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:24 GMT

The countdown to Max Verstappen’s likely third straight Formula One title begins on Sunday at the Netherlands Grand Prix, the first of 10 races remaining in a season which the Dutch driver has overwhelmingly dominated.With a lead of 125 points over his nearest rival and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, he can even afford to ease up a bit as F1 returns from its mid-season break.But that’s not in Verstappen’s mentality.At his home track in Zandvoort, he will be eyeing a ninth straight win to equal Sebastian Vettel’s F1 record from 2013 and 11th overall this season. That would move Verstappen closer to his own F1 record of 15 wins from last year and onto 46 overall. Despite being only 25 years old he is already fifth all-time for wins, with Alain Prost, (51) and Vettel (53) within his sights this year.Verstappen’s near-faultless driving, allied to the fastest car, means some observers are even touting Red Bull to win every remaining race this year.“Honestly...