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Cirque du Soleil president says AI in entertainment world a low risk to company

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

MONTREAL — The head of Cirque du Soleil says artificial intelligence poses a low risk to the renowned Quebec company, even as debate is emerging about intellectual property protection for artists.Given the strength of the circus company’s brand, Stéphane Lefebvre says he isn’t too worried, arguing that its reputation shields it from AI-driven copying attempts.Artificial intelligence has raised hackles throughout the art and entertainment world, with AI platform users now able to create images, text and music inspired by — and sometimes nearly indistinguishable from — the pros.Recently, a fake duet imitating the voices of Drake and The Weeknd went viral on social media, causing a stir in the recording community.In an interview Tuesday, Lefebvre acknowledged he’s enjoyed experimenting with AI chatbots to tell stories to his kids.He also says Cirque du Soleil is not completely closing the door on the technology for its creative process, but for sees it more as an admi...

Top Toronto mayoral candidates represent one of the most diverse slates in the city’s history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

The slate of top candidates for the Toronto mayoral byelection this year is the most diverse group in the city’s history, but what part does it play in this year’s election?CityNews posed that exact question about whether race, religion, gender plays a part in this the campaign and potentially impact how one will vote to a number of candidates. Here are their responses:Ana Bailão“I think it’s great that we have such a diverse group of candidates. I think that is great that the city is engaged. I’ve been attending many community events from different religions, different ethnic groups. The communities are reaching out to candidates were keep in contact and I think that’s great.We want to truly live by the motto diversity is our strength. And that is making sure that people feel their voices are heard at election time, when somebody is elected mayor, and that they want to participate. And I think the more participation and engagement we have, the be...

Explosion hits Revolutionary Guard base in Iran, killing 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An explosion on Tuesday evening struck a base in Iran belonging to the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, killing two workers, local media reported. There was no word on any damages in the blast.The state-run IRNA news agency said the explosion occurred during a “movement of ammunition” at the Guard base on the outskirts of the city of Damghan, in northern Semnan province.The report offered no other details about the source of the explosion. IRNA added that he incident was under investigation. The semi-official Fars news agency said on its Telegram media channel that two workers at the base were killed and three were wounded in the explosion. It identified the two killed by name but gave no other details.The Guard, whose expeditionary forces operate across the wider Middle East and aid Iranian-allied militant groups such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas group, and Iran’s military have been targeted before, raising ...

Kids Online Safety Act looks to protect children from social media harm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Some lawmakers say social media is harming the country's kids. That's why they are pushing a bipartisan bill to provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online."We lost our son Mason to the viral social media challenge, the choking game," survivor parent Joanna Bogard said."My son was 14 when he was bullied for being black," Social Media Reform Advocate Tracy Kemp said.Parents and advocates shared stories Tuesday on how social media is harming kids."The constant quantification of my worth through likes, comments, and followers, increased my anxiety and deepened my depression," Design It For Us Youth Advocate Emma Lembke said.To stop that in the future, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) are introducing legislation to promote online safety."Our bill aims to reduce the harms," Blumenthal said."Our children are suffering at the hands of big tech," Blackburn said.The bill forces big tech to prioritize care...

US Supreme Court won't take up Indiana's abortion burial law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana law that requires abortion clinics to either bury or cremate fetal remains will remain in effect after the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to consider a lawsuit challenging it.The court gave no explanation for its decision in an order it issued turning down hearings in several dozen cases.That action will leave in place the law first adopted by Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature in 2016 and signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence. Chicago shelter helps rescue several golden retrievers, terriers from ‘living in their own filth’ The Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in November overturned an Indiana judge’s decision that the law infringed upon the religious and free speech rights of people who do not believe aborted fetuses deserve the same treatment as deceased people. The appeals court said the law didn’t require any woman to violate her beliefs as it only applied to hospitals or clinics.The appeals court cited a 201...

Tucker Carlson called woman ‘yummy,’ leaked video shows 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson called a woman "yummy" and made other inappropriate comments on the set of his popular show, newly revealed footage shows. “If we're going to talk about sex, I'd love to hit some of the fine points of technique. But, you know, but it's your show. It's totally up to you,” Carlson is seen saying on the video, leaked to Media Matters for America, saying to Piers Morgan, another top pundit on Fox. “We can certainly talk about your sexual technique, especially after your tanning testicles last week," Morgan replied, referring to a special Carlson had recently produced for Fox Nation on masculinity and manhood. Tuesday Morning going out of business, set to close all its stores including those in Illinois, Indiana In another leaked video, Carlson is seen in conversation with someone off camera saying "You wouldn't. Okay? I'm not, you know what, I'm not qualified on that score. I will say, I thought his girlfriend was kind of yummy.”Carlson clarifies t...

DPS has made 12K traffic stops since APD partnership started, council briefing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The leaders of the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety briefed city council Tuesday about how the now month-long partnership between the two departments is going. Ultimately, APD Chief Joseph Chacon said he is open to shifting the partnerships strategy, but also said the locations APD has asked DPS to patrol are the ones with highest 911 calls and have been identified using data. PREVIOUS: Nearly 200 arrests made since patrols started in Austin, DPS "We follow the lead of Chief Chacon, we're not in charge, this is his operation," said DPS Director Steven McCraw. For the first time, we've learned roughly how many people have been brought to Austin. McCraw said 80 troopers and roughly 20 special agents are in Austin as part of the partnership. It's the first time those numbers have been made public. The director also said DPS has made just under 12,000 traffic stops since the partnership began roughly a month ago in the county. Typica...

Austin Community College starts cybersecurity degree to meet local demand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Community College is starting a new cybersecurity degree program this fall, as local job demand is expected to rise. The college's Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity program aims to meet Central Texas' anticipated job demand, ACC said. This will be the college's fourth bachelor's degree program. It will start in fall 2023 with up to 60 students. ACC said the program is designed for professionals with a related associate degree, people transitioning to a four-year degree or people in the workforce. It will have face-to-face, hybrid and distance education class options. ACC said cybersecurity is "one of the most in-demand careers in Central Texas," with 44% growth expected in the next 10 years. Texas Labor Market Information data shows demand for information security analysts in Texas is expected to increase nearly 50% from 2020 to 2030.“ACC is committed to working with local industry partners to ensure we prepare more individuals to respond to this va...

Elgin ISD adding metal detectors to all of its campuses following violent incidents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) - According to Elgin ISD, metal detectors have been ordered for usage at all of its campuses. In a statement sent to KXAN, the district said the metal detectors are handheld and no installation is necessary. The district has not sent out a letter to parents yet, but said one is in the works. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘I don’t feel comfortable’: Elgin ISD parents have safety concerns after fight, district says no weapons involved This comes about a week after a fight broke out last Monday at the high school. Parents of Elgin High School students said they saw a video of a fight at school and heard a knife was used.Elgin ISD and Elgin Police said there was no weapon. In a letter, the district also explained that reports of a gun at school last Monday and Tuesday were not true.The district is also hosting a Safety Symposium and Community Forum on May 10. The district's website said it will be a panel presentation with a question and answer session at the Elgin High Scho...

Tim Walz signs law to improve safety conditions at oil refineries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill into law Tuesday that aims to improve the safety conditions for workers at oil refineries.Authored by Minnesota Sen. Judy Seeberger, the bill requires a percentage of contracted employees to be trained through a registered apprenticeship program in an effort to prevent accidents.The call for more worker training was emphasized by Seeberger in March when a St. Paul Park Marathon refinery spilled around 20,000 gallons of hot asphalt and sent two contractors to the hospital.“The safety of our communities and our workers is our highest priority, and this legislation is critical to making sure that those who are working in high hazard environments have the best training possible to prevent the risk of accidents,” said Seeberger, a Democrat who represents Afton and Cottage Grove, in a news release.According to a statement from Marathon, the two workers were released the same day and there were no environmental impacts to the area.“Workers in our oil refineries ...