Science & Technology – Brandon Sun

President Barack Obama thanks shop workers after he got some Canadian Maple Leaf cookies, seen in display case, during an unannounced visit to a market in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Charles Dharapak

Here's a look at a century of presidential visits

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read 3:03 AM CDT

OTTAWA - It remains to be seen whether the president’s Irish eyes will be smiling in Ottawa this week, but Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau will almost certainly have a more pleasant get-together than the last visit by a U.S. leader to his northern neighbour.

It's been nearly five years since Donald Trump flew to La Malbaie, Que., for a G7 summit — a meeting that was later characterized as ending in "disarray."

A memorable image courtesy of the official Instagram account of then-German chancellor Angela Merkel summed up the talks.

In the photo, Trump sits on one side of a table with his arms crossed, glancing up at those who surround him with a half-smirk. Leaning toward him from the opposite side is a stern Merkel, whose hands are flat on the white tablecloth, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who seems to have Trump’s attention. Shinzo Abe, then prime minister of Japan, is in the centre of the frame with his arms crossed over his chest.

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Sotheby’s hopes for record sale of ancient Hebrew Bible

Ilan Ben Zion, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Sotheby’s hopes for record sale of ancient Hebrew Bible

Ilan Ben Zion, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:57 PM CDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — One of the oldest surviving biblical manuscripts, a nearly complete 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible, could soon be yours — for a cool $30 million.

The Codex Sassoon, a leather-bound, handwritten parchment tome containing almost the entirety of the Hebrew Bible, is set to go on the block at Sotheby’s in New York in May. Its anticipated sale speaks to the still bullish market for art, antiquities and ancient manuscripts even in a worldwide bear economy.

Sotheby’s is drumming up interest in hopes of enticing institutions and collectors to bite. It has put the price tag at an eye-watering $30 million to $50 million.

On Wednesday, Tel Aviv’s ANU Museum of the Jewish People opened a week-long exhibition of the manuscript, part of a whirlwind worldwide tour of the artifact in the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States before its expected sale, on Wednesday.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:57 PM CDT

A member of staff shows the Hebrew Bible

Edmonton zoo says Lucy the elephant won't be moved

Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Edmonton zoo says Lucy the elephant won't be moved

Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 21, 2023

EDMONTON - For the beloved and well-known elephant named Lucy, the Edmonton Valley Zoo says it will continue to be her home for the rest of her life based on medical assessments.

The medical information released by the zoo on Tuesday showed the 47-year-old Asian elephant should not be moved, despite demands from animal rights groups over the past several years that she be transferred to a sanctuary in a warmer climate.

The zoo has been working closely with the animal advocacy group Free the Wild, which co-operated in the assessment, since October.

Gary Dewar, the zoo's director, said the medical report stated that Lucy has "severe breathing issues" and three of four experts believe moving the lone elephant from the zoo could be life-threatening.

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Tuesday, Mar. 21, 2023

The Edmonton Valley Zoo is releasing medical information about an elephant in its care named Lucy after animal rights groups protested for years that she should be moved to a sanctuary. Lucy the elephant with her handlers are shown at the zoo on Thursday, September 17, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Jackson

Canada's digital measures offside: tech industry

James McCarten, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada's digital measures offside: tech industry

James McCarten, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:17 PM CDT

WASHINGTON - A high-tech industry coalition in the United States is urging President Joe Biden to take a hard line against Canada's approach to digital services.

The group says the proposed digital services tax unfairly targets U.S. companies and is offside with international efforts to establish a global standard.

In a letter to Biden, they also complain about two controversial federal bills: the Online Streaming Act, known as Bill C-11, and the Online News Act, or Bill C-18.

They warn C-11, which is meant to protect Canadian content providers, could backfire and ultimately increase costs to consumers.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:17 PM CDT

Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez prepares to appear before the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications on Bill C-11 in the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. The bill, also known as the Online Streaming Act, is one of several problematic Canadian initiatives tech leaders in the U.S. want President Joe Biden to raise with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Taylor Swift kicks off US Eras Tour at Super Bowl stadium

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Taylor Swift kicks off US Eras Tour at Super Bowl stadium

The Associated Press 2 minute read Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Taylor Swift opened her U.S. concert series with a three-hour tour of her career.

Swift kicked off the first concert of the 52-date Eras Tour with a six-song set from her album “Lover” on Friday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where the Super Bowl was played a month ago.

“I don’t know how to address the way this is making me feel right now,” Swift, who hasn't toured since 2018, said early in the show.

She ended the concert with a seven-song set from her latest album “Midnights," closing with the song “Karma.”

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Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023

Taylor Swift performs during the opener of her Eras tour Friday, March 17, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Alberta regulator cites company for seismic events

Bob Weber, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Alberta regulator cites company for seismic events

Bob Weber, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 7:42 PM CDT

EDMONTON - The Alberta Energy Regulator has cited an energy company for causing a series of earthquakes, including the largest recorded tremblor in the province's history.

The environmental protection order issued against Obsidian Energy Ltd. Thursday came the same day a scientific paper was published showing those earthquakes were caused by industry activity -- not natural causes, as the regulator initially suggested.

In November, parts of Alberta near the northwestern town of Peace River were rocked by a series of quakes culminating in one that reached a 5.6 magnitude.

Residents reported being knocked to their knees. The earth was pushed upward by more than three centimetres — enough to register on satellites.

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Updated: 7:42 PM CDT

Earthquake and Volcano of the Korea Monitoring Division Director Ryoo Yong-gyu speaks in front of a screen showing seismic waves that were measured in South Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. New research says the largest recorded earthquake in Alberta's history was not a natural event but most likely caused by disposal of oilsands wastewater. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ahn Young-joon

Microsoft inks Xbox game deal with Boosteroid cloud service

London, The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Microsoft inks Xbox game deal with Boosteroid cloud service

London, The Associated Press 1 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2023

Microsoft said Tuesday that it has struck a deal to make Xbox PC video games available on the Boosteroid cloud gaming platform, its latest move to appease antitrust regulators scrutinizing its purchase of game maker Activision Blizzard.

The U.S. tech giant said the 10-year agreement would also include Activision Blizzard titles like the popular Call of Duty franchise if or when the acquisition gets approved.

Microsoft has been announcing new partnerships as it tries to persuade regulators in the U.S. and Europe to allow the $69 billion all-cash transaction to go through.

In recent months, Microsoft has signed similar agreements with Nintendo, Nvidia and Steam as it battles stiff opposition from Sony, which makes the rival PlayStation console and fears losing access to Call of Duty and Activision’s other hit games.

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Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2023

Microsoft President Brad Smith addresses a media conference regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the future of gaming in Brussels, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

‘The Last of Us’ TV adaptation resonates beyond gamers

Karena Phan, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

‘The Last of Us’ TV adaptation resonates beyond gamers

Karena Phan, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Mar. 13, 2023

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the HBO series “The Last of Us,” a fungal infection has taken over Earth, rendering the United States an apocalyptic landscape protagonists Joel and Ellie need to traverse. Fans unfamiliar with the video game, from which the series was adapted, might assume this is just another zombie show packed with action and gore.

However, the story and the characters have subverted expectations and received praise from all corners. “The Last of Us,” whose first season concluded Sunday, has not only won over gamers with high expectations, but also people who don't play video games. The series premiere drew 4.7 million viewers in the U.S., based on Nielsen and HBO data, making for HBO’s second-largest debut, behind “House of the Dragon." HBO said the finale drew a series high of 8.2 million people, despite airing against the Oscars.

“No one could have anticipated this, this reaction and how positive it’s been and how broad it’s been in its reach,” said Neil Druckmann, Naughty Dog co-president and the creator and writer of the video game, whose critically acclaimed first installment was released on Playstation 3 a decade ago.

“And to see a whole bunch of new people connecting with these characters … and hearing how they interpret the material and what they like or not like, it’s just been really fascinating to me,” said Druckmann, who was also the co-creator, writer and an executive producer on the show.

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Monday, Mar. 13, 2023

This image released by HBO shows Bella Ramsey, left, and Pedro Pascal in a scene from the series

Facebook, Instagram to block news if C-18 adopted

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Facebook, Instagram to block news if C-18 adopted

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023

OTTAWA - Canadians would no longer be able to access news on Facebook or Instagram if the federal government's proposed Online News Act passes in its current form, the parent company behind the two popular social media platforms said.

Meta spokesperson Lisa Laventure shared the decision in an email on Saturday, saying the bill's current provisions would place the company in an untenable position.

"A legislative framework that compels us to pay for links or content that we do not post, and which are not the reason the vast majority of people use our platforms, is neither sustainable nor workable,” she wrote.

Tech giants like Meta and Google have long fought against the proposed law known as Bill C-18, which would require digital giants such as Meta and Google to negotiate deals that would compensate Canadian media companies for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online.

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Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023

ExxonMobil gives up B.C. oil exploration permits

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

ExxonMobil gives up B.C. oil exploration permits

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 10, 2023

VANCOUVER - Environmental groups are celebrating after ExxonMobil relinquished offshore oil and gas exploration permits in British Columbia dating back more than 50 years.

Lawyer Ian Miron with Ecojustice Canada said the company had been dropped from a Federal Court lawsuit filed by the David Suzuki Foundation and World Wildlife Fund Canada last year challenging the Canadian government's continual renewal of the permits.

Miron, who represents the two groups, said the permits formerly held by Exxon covered "really environmentally significant areas" off the B.C. coast.

ExxonMobil spokeswoman Margot Bruce-O’Connell confirmed the company gave up nine permits it held in B.C. but refused to comment further.

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Friday, Mar. 10, 2023

A tanker pulls into an ExxonMobil fuel storage and distribution facility in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Environmental groups are celebrating after ExxonMobil relinquished offshore oil and gas exploration permits in British Columbia dating back more than 50 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-LM Otero

Smart city tech can enable foreign meddling: CSIS

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Smart city tech can enable foreign meddling: CSIS

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Thursday, Mar. 9, 2023

OTTAWA - Canada's intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections.

A newly released report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service urges policy-makers and the technology industry to consider steps that can be taken to address and ease the emerging security threat before "smart city" platforms are widely adopted.

Such systems feature electronically linked devices that gather, analyze, store and transmit information through centralized platforms. In turn, municipalities can use artificial intelligence to efficiently control operations and services, allowing them to change traffic lights at the optimal time, manage energy use or track the location of publicly rented bicycles.

"One of the primary security concerns relating to smart cities is the fact that they necessitate the selection and retention of massive, continuously processed data pools that could be exploited to reveal patterns of individual and societal behaviour," the report says.

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Thursday, Mar. 9, 2023

People carry umbrellas while crossing Robson Street as rain falls in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Canada's intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

'BlackBerry' filmmakers snack on kernels of truth

David Friend, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

'BlackBerry' filmmakers snack on kernels of truth

David Friend, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

TORONTO - When the Canadian filmmakers behind “BlackBerry” set out to make a feature-length movie about the beloved smartphone’s meteoric rise and fall, they weren’t necessarily interested in getting all the facts right.

Even though their project was named after the Waterloo, Ont., invention that forever changed how we communicate, both the director and co-writer say they were less interested in the device itself than the story of the three men who grew a pocket-sized idea into a gargantuan success.

Director and co-writer Matt Johnson said, unlike other major technology companies that have dominated the conversation in recent years, BlackBerry's history hasn't been told in documentaries or TV miniseries.

The absence of a familiar narrative gave him and his team a "blank slate" to draft their own versions of former co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie.

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Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023

Canada's first lunar rover to search for water

Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada's first lunar rover to search for water

Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023

EDMONTON - The Canadian lunar rover could soon help reveal the moon's dark side.

The country’s first moon rover is set to put the Canadian Space Agency at the forefront of space exploration, helping in the global search for frozen water on the celestial body.

NASA says the moon takes about 27 days to complete a full rotation on its axis as it orbits earth, leaving the same side visible from the ground at all times. As a result, the far side remains little understood and unexplored.

“That has always piqued everybody’s imagination: What is on the other side of the moon?” said Gordon Osinski, the principal investigator for the Canadian Lunar Rover Mission.

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Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023

The country’s first-ever moon rover, seen in an undated handout image, is set to put Canada at the forefront of space exploration, helping in the global search for frozen ice on the celestial body. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Alberta, 2022 Canadensys Aerospace Corp., *MANDATORY CREDIT*

B.C. firm walks back talk to commercialize cocaine

The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

B.C. firm walks back talk to commercialize cocaine

The Canadian Press 6 minute read Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

VICTORIA - A British Columbia company that received federal approval to produce and sell cocaine has revised its original statement that outlined plans to commercialize the controlled substance.

Adastra Labs issued a clarification Friday that said the Langley, B.C., company is "not currently undertaking any activities with cocaine," and its amended Controlled Drug and Substances Dealer’s Licence does not permit the firm to sell cocaine to the general public.

Adastra Labs CEO Michael Forbes said in the original statement on Feb. 22 that the company would "evaluate how the commercialization of this substance fits" with the firm's business model. That reference was removed in the latest statement.

Health Canada approved Adastra Labs' licence amendment to allow the production, sale and distribution of cocaine on Feb. 17. Under the licence, Adastra cannot produce more than 250 grams of cocaine in 2023.

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Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a Liberal party fundraising event at the Hotel Fort Garry in Winnipeg, Thursday, March 2, 2023. Trudeau says he is

Betting on social media as a news destination for the young

David Bauder, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Betting on social media as a news destination for the young

David Bauder, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

NEW YORK (AP) — If young people are spending so much time on social media, it stands to reason that's a good place to reach them with news.

Operators of the News Movement are betting their business on that hunch. The company, which has been operating for more than a year, hopes to succeed despite journalism being littered with years of unsuccessful attempts to entice people in their 20s to become news consumers.

The brainchild of former Dow Jones executives, the News Movement is using a staff of reporters with an average age of 25 to make tailored news content for sites like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

“You really have to stay humble and stay open to different trends and ideas,” said Ramin Beheshti, president and a founder of the organization with former Dow Jones CEO Will Lewis. “We've built a newsroom that reflects the audience that we're trying to go after.”

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Friday, Mar. 3, 2023

Kiki Sideris, a reporter for The News Movement (TNM), a social media news operation re-imagined for Gen-Z consumers, use her phone to produce a TikTok video on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in New York. TNM uses a staff of reporters with an average age of 25 to make tailored news content for sites like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

SpaceX launches US, Russia, UAE astronauts to space station

Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

SpaceX launches US, Russia, UAE astronauts to space station

Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX launched four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Thursday, including the first person from the Arab world going up for an extended monthslong stay.

The Falcon rocket bolted from Kennedy Space Center shortly after midnight, illuminating the night sky as it headed up the East Coast.

Nearly 80 spectators from the United Arab Emirates watched from the launch site as astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi — only the second Emirati to fly to space — blasted off on his six-month mission.

Half a world away in Dubai and elsewhere across the UAE, schools and offices broadcast the launch live.

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Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023

More provinces ban TikTok on government devices

Emily Blake and Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

More provinces ban TikTok on government devices

Emily Blake and Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

Saskatchewan and three Atlantic provinces became the latest jurisdictions Wednesday to ban the use of the TikTok social media app on government-owned devices.

The moves came pending the results of a threat assessment by the federal government.

In a news release, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador said the decision was based on several risk factors, including TikTok's data collection methods and the legal regime governing the information collected.

“The security of our networks and data is top priority, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure its integrity," Sarah Stoodley, the province's minister of digital government and service said. "This is a proactive step to safeguard the people and data we protect."

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Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023

The TikTok startup page is displayed on an iPhone in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. The Saskatchewan government is banning the use of TikTok on government-owned devices pending the results of a threat assessment by the federal government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Hate your signature? Try plastic surgery for autographs

Leanne Italie, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Hate your signature? Try plastic surgery for autographs

Leanne Italie, The Associated Press 5 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

NEW YORK (AP) — Doctors, lawyers, celebrities: There's a new cosmetic surgery, of sorts, for which they're all signing up.

By that, we mean handing over money to hire a calligrapher for a fresh take on writing one's own name in cursive. With a pen or another writing implement. On paper.

A corner of TikTok, Instagram and other social media is dedicated to signature design, and it's keeping practitioners busy.

Priscilla Molina in Los Angeles does a minimum of 300 custom signatures a month, offering packages that include up to three ways to sign, limitless drafts or a new set of initials. She charges between $10 to $55, using the motto: “Where originality meets legacy.”

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Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

Priscilla Molina creates a custom signature in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Molina designs a minimum of 300 custom signatures a month, offering packages that include up to three ways to sign, limitless drafts or a new set of initials. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Retro rock tale 'Daisy Jones' among March streaming picks

David Friend, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Retro rock tale 'Daisy Jones' among March streaming picks

David Friend, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

Here's a roundup of standout TV series and films debuting on subscription streaming platforms in March:

“Daisy Jones and the Six”

Rock ‘n’ roll dramas set in the 1970s seem a dime a dozen and yet this adaptation of the bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid proves there’s still gas left in the tank. Set beneath the palm trees of Los Angeles, the limited series traces the decade-long rise of a fictional rock band — from their creaky formation to their chart-topping infamy. Actress Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley and daughter of the late Lisa-Marie Presley, plays the title character, a fiery yet talented singer-songwriter whose solo dreams take an unexpected turn when she’s recruited into the flailing rock act the Six. Her partnership with the band's lead singer Billy Dunne, played by Sam Claflin, creates instant sparks, both good and bad. "Daisy Jones" recalls the love triangles of Fleetwood Mac and the fictional origin stories of "Almost Famous" and "That Thing You Do!" and it's so invested in its own authenticity that there's a full-length album by the band set to hit streaming services for the show's release. (Prime Video, March 3, episodes weekly)

"The Big Door Prize"

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Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

China says TikTok ban reflects US insecurities

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

China says TikTok ban reflects US insecurities

The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. government bans on Chinese-owned video sharing app TikTok reveal Washington’s own insecurities and are an abuse of state power, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

The U.S. government “has been overstretching the concept of national security and abusing state power to suppress other countries’ companies," Mao Ning said at a daily briefing. “How unsure of itself can the U.S., the world’s top superpower, be to fear a young person's favorite app to such a degree?”

The White House is giving all federal agencies, in guidance issued Monday, 30 days to wipe TikTok off all government devices. The White House already did not allow TikTok on its devices.

TikTok is used by two-thirds of American teens, but there’s concern in Washington that China could use its legal and regulatory powers to obtain private user data or to try to push misinformation or narratives favoring China.

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Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

Canada banning TikTok on government-issued phones

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada banning TikTok on government-issued phones

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

OTTAWA - The federal government is banning TikTok from government-issued mobile devices days after federal and provincial privacy commissioners began investigating the social media platform.

A statement from Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said the application will be removed from mobile devices on Tuesday.

The decision follows a review by the chief information officer of Canada, who determined that TikTok "presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security."

"While the risks of using this application are clear, we have no evidence at this point that government information has been compromised," Fortier said in the statement, adding the ban is a precautionary measure that brings Canada's policy in line with international partners.

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Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

AI learns to outsmart humans in video games – and real life

Matt O'brien, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

AI learns to outsmart humans in video games – and real life

Matt O'brien, The Associated Press 6 minute read Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

Speed around a French village in the video game Gran Turismo and you might spot a Corvette behind you trying to catch your slipstream.

The technique of using the draft of an opponent's racecar to speed up and overtake them is one favored by skilled players of PlayStation's realistic racing game.

But this Corvette driver is not being controlled by a human — it's GT Sophy, a powerful artificial intelligence agent built by PlayStation-maker Sony.

Gran Turismo players have been competing against computer-generated racecars since the franchise launched in the 1990s, but the new AI driver that was unleashed last week on Gran Turismo 7 is smarter and faster because it's been trained using the latest AI methods.

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Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

This image released by Sony Interactive Entertainment shows a scene from the video game Gran Turismo Sophy. Grand Turismo players have been competing against computer-driven race cars since the franchise launched in the 1990s, but the new AI driver that was unleashed last week on Grand Turismo 7 is smarter and faster because it's been trained using the latest AI methods. (Sony Interactive Entertainment via AP)

Althea Therapy wins Black Pitch Contest

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Althea Therapy wins Black Pitch Contest

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023

HAMILTON - A Black entrepreneur from Hamilton, Ont., has won the nationwide Black Pitch Contest.

Micheline Khan's company, Althea Therapy, helps people get access to culturally responsive mental health professionals and resources, with a goal of destigmatizing therapy and improving mental health outcomes for underserved communities.

Khan says she is grateful for the opportunity and the funds will be used to "grow and scale" her business.

She was one of five Black finalists from across Canada vying for the $25,000 grand prize, which is funded by the non-profit Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses of Canada Society.

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Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023

Micheline Khan is shown in a handout photo. Khan, a Black entrepreneur from Hamilton, Ont., has won the nationwide Black Pitch Contest.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Micheline Khan **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Climate change pushing Yukon plants north: study

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Climate change pushing Yukon plants north: study

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023

WHITEHORSE - As climate change pushes some plants northward, a new study suggests several unique species in Yukon and Alaska could have nowhere to go.

The scientific paper, published late last month in the journal Diversity and Distributions, used models to predict how 66 plant species with origins in Beringia, an area where glaciers did not form during the last ice age because of dry conditions, could respond to changes in temperature and precipitation from now until 2040.

It found more than 80 per cent would shift north under immediate warming, moving more than 140 kilometres on average by 2040. More than 60 per cent of species were projected to experience habitat reductions, with some expected to lose nearly all suitable habitat within the next two decades.

"Overall, if you look at the big picture, our backyard is shrinking, not just for plants, but for other species as well," said Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, co-director of the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada’s northern boreal mountains program and one of the study's authors.

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Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023

As climate change pushes some plants northward, a new study suggests several unique species in Yukon and Alaska could have nowhere to go. Snow-covered hills in the Porcupine River Tundra in the Yukon Territories, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rick Bowmer

B.C. First Nation reclaims narrative around school

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

B.C. First Nation reclaims narrative around school

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. - Once it was the site of a building for the former Alberni Indian Residential School, one of the most notorious such institutions in British Columbia and a place linked to suffering and abuse of Indigenous children.

Now the former Peake Hall is a basketball court, and a scene of joy.

"It's because we want children to be happy there and play there," said Tseshaht First Nation Elected Chief Councillor Wahmeesh. "The survivors talked about how great it was to see them dance on that site previously."

That same reasoning is why the Tseshaht Nation on Vancouver Island is adamant the Canadian government pay for the demolition of Caldwell Hall, one of the last remaining buildings at the site, and fund the construction of a replacement community facility.

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Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023

March 23, 2023