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Europe’s sweeping rules for tech giants have kicked in. Here’s how they work

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 GMT

By KELVIN CHAN (AP Business Writer)LONDON (AP) — Google, Facebook, TikTok and other Big Tech companies operating in Europe must comply with one of the most far-reaching efforts to clean up what people see online.The European Union’s groundbreaking new digital rules took effect Friday for the biggest platforms. The Digital Services Act is part of a suite of tech-focused regulations crafted by the 27-nation bloc — long a global leader in cracking down on tech giants.The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and stop the spread of harmful content that’s either illegal or violates a platform’s terms of service, such as promotion of genocide or anorexia. It also looks to protect Europeans’ fundamental rights like privacy and free speech. Some online platforms, which could face billions in fines if they don’t comply, already have made changes. Here’s a look at what has changed:So far, 19. They include eight social media platforms: Facebo...

What to do during boil water advisories

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With Imperial Beach and Coronado’s Silver Strand residents impacted by a boil water advisory Thursday, it's a good reminder to know what to do during this type of situation.A boil water advisory, usually issued by local health officials, indicates that there is bacteria in your community's water and that you should use bottled water or boil tap water, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The CDC provided tips for the following actions: drinking, handwashing, bathing and showering, brushing teeth, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning, caring for pets, garden and houseplants.DrinkingUse bottled or boiled water for drinking and cooking food.Bring water to a full rolling boil for one minute if no bottled water is available. For locations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes. Once the water is done with boiling, allow the water to cool before use.Even if you have filtered water, boil it.Do not use ice and water from any appliance connected to you...

A motorcyclist died in a crash after a New York City police sergeant threw a cooler at his head

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man fleeing New York City police officers on a motorcycle died Wednesday after a sergeant hurled a plastic picnic cooler at his head from close range, causing a violent crash, authorities said.The sergeant, Erik Duran, was suspended without pay just hours after the death of Eric Duprey, 30, in the University Heights section of the Bronx, police said.Surveillance video viewed by The Associated Press showed Duprey driving the gas-powered motorcycle on a sidewalk toward a group of people, including the sergeant, who was not in uniform.As he approached, the video shows Duran pick up a red object — the picnic cooler — and throw it. Duprey is struck hard. He loses control, then is tossed toward a tree as the motorcycle veers into the street. The bike smashes into a metal barricade before coming to rest against a parked car.Duprey was pronounced dead at the scene minutes after the crash, which happened around 5:30 p.m.Police said Duprey tried to flee on a friend’s m...

Italian leader tones down divisive rhetoric but carries on with pursuit of far-right agenda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 GMT

ROME (AP) — When Giorgia Meloni was running to become Italy’s first far-right head of government of the post-war era, she steeped her winning campaign in the sharply ideological rhetoric of national sovereignty, “traditional families” and fear of migrants.Since taking office in September, Premier Meloni has toned down the bombast reflected in the slogans she shouted last year at a rally in Spain for a far-right ally — “ Yes to natural families! No to LGBT lobbies!” But her government and her party’s lawmakers are still pursuing multiple far-right policies, including refusing to allow the names of some same-sex parents’ to be on their children’s birth records, broadening restrictions on surrogate pregnancies and even seeking to ban foreign words from government documents.Her administration’s fervor now finds expression in policies promoted by ministries and in legislation pushed by lawmakers from her Brothers of Italy party, the political group wit...

Spanish soccer president faces general assembly amid reports he will resign for kissing a player

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The president of the Spanish soccer federation faces an emergency meeting of its general assembly on Friday amid media reports that he will hand in his resignation following an uproar for kissing a Women’s World Cup champion.Luis Rubiales is expected to stand before representatives of Spain’s regional federations, clubs, players, coaches and referees in Madrid at noon local time and local media say he is stepping down.The federation has refused to comment on repeated requests from The Associated Press for confirmation of Rubiales’ decision to go that was reported late Thursday.Rubiales, 46, is under immense pressure to leave his post since he grabbed player Jenni Hermoso and kissed her on the lips without her consent during the awards ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday in Sydney, Australia.FIFA, soccer’s global governing body and organizer of the Women’s World Cup, opened a disciplinary case against him on Thursday. Its disciplinary...

AP WAS THERE: A 1953 CIA-led coup in Iran topples prime minister, cements shah’s power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 GMT

EDITOR’S NOTE — In August 1953, a CIA-backed coup toppled Iran’s prime minister, cementing the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for over 25 years before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The coup, carried out by allied members of its military and security forces, came after then-Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh had nationalized the country’s oil industry. At the time, Iran’s Abadan refinery was the largest in the world and a key supply for Britain, which backed the coup to regain its access. For the Americans who pushed it forward with millions of dollars in bribes, weapons and other encouragement, the coup represented what Washington at the time saw as the best chance to halt any expansion by the Soviet Union into the Middle East. At the time of the coup, the public had no idea about the CIA’s role in the putsch. That changed in the years after. Kermit Roosevelt Jr., a grandson of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, led the CIA plot from Iran and l...

A CIA-backed 1953 coup in Iran haunts the country with people still trying to make sense of it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Seventy years after a CIA-orchestrated coup toppled Iran’s prime minister, its legacy remains both contentious and complicated for the Islamic Republic as tensions stay high with the United States. While highlighted as a symbol of Western imperialism by Iran’s theocracy, the coup unseating Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh — over America’s fears about a possible tilt toward the Soviet Union and the loss of Iranian crude oil — appeared backed at the time by the country’s leading Shiite clergy. But nowadays, hard-line Iranian state television airs repeated segments describing the coup as showing how America can’t be trusted, while authorities bar the public from visiting Mossadegh’s grave in a village outside of Tehran. Such conflicts are common in Iran, where “Death to America” can still be heard at Friday prayers in Tehran while many on its streets say they’d welcome a better relationship with the U.S. But as memories of ...

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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:41 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...