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☆ Canada, citing potential dangers, warns LGBTQ travelers of US risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Canada, citing the risk of potential dangers, is advising LGBTQ travelers planning trips to the United States to check how they might be affected by recently passed laws in some states, Ottawa said on Tuesday. Anti-LGBTQ demonstrations in the United States last year rocketed 30-fold compared with 2017 and legal moves to restrict LGBTQ rights are on the rise. Canada's travel advisory for the United States now includes a cautionary message for those who consider themselves two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex - or 2SLGBTQI+ for short. The overall risk profile for the United States remains at green, indicating a normal security precautions requirement. The United States is Canadians' top travel destination, and in June residents returned from about 2.8 million trips south of the border.

Persons: Chrystia Freeland, Biden, Ismail Shakil, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: OTTAWA, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Canada, United States, Ottawa, Atlantic Canada, The U.S

☆ Cybercrime set to threaten Canada's security, prosperity - spy agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Organized cybercrime is set to pose a threat to Canada's national security and economic prosperity over the next two years, the national signal intelligence agency said on Monday. Cyber criminals continue to show resilience and an ability to innovate their business model, it said. "Organized cybercrime will very likely pose a threat to Canada's national security and economic prosperity over the next two years," said CSE, which is the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. National Security Agency. But Chris Lynam, director general of Canada's National Cybercrime Coordination Centre, said very few crimes were reported and the real amount stolen last year could easily be C$5 billion or more. Tehran likely tolerates cybercrime activities by Iran-based cyber criminals that align with the state's strategic and ideological interests, it added.

Persons: Kacper, Chris Lynam, David Ljunggren, Tomasz Janowski, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Communications Security, Western, U.S . National Security Agency, Coordination, Soviet Union, CSE, Thomson Locations: Russia, Iran, Canada, Moscow, Tehran

☆ Canadian Olympian Paul dies in car crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam perform in the senior dance free program at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Ottawa January 11, 2014. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 27 (Reuters) - Former Olympic figure skater Alexandra Paul has died at the age of 31, Skate Canada said in a statement. Paul, who represented Canada at the Sochi 2014 Games and finished 18th in the ice dance competition, died in a car crash on Tuesday, Canadian media reported. "It is with a heavy heart that Skate Canada announces the sudden passing of a cherished member of our skating community, Alexandra Paul," Skate Canada said in a statement earlier this week. Paul won a silver medal at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in 2010 and retired from competitive skating in 2016.

Persons: Alexandra Paul, Mitchell Islam, Chris Wattie, Paul, Aadi Nair, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Skate, Canada, Thomson Locations: Ottawa, Skate Canada, Canada, Sochi, Bengaluru

[1/2] Wells Fargo Bank branch is seen in New York City, U.S., March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Wells Fargo (WFC.N) has agreed to pay a $35 million civil penalty to settle U.S. charges that the company overcharged advisory fees, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said on Friday. The SEC said it charged Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC for overcharging more than 10,900 investment advisory accounts more than $26.8 million in advisory fees. Wells Fargo settled without admitting or denying the charges, the SEC said in a statement. Wells Fargo paid affected account holders about $40 million, including interest, to reimburse them for the overcharging, according to the statement.

Persons: Wells, Wells Fargo, Ismail Shakil, Nupur Anand, Susan Heavey, Mark Potter Organizations: Wells, REUTERS, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Services, Financial, Advisors, Thomson Locations: Wells Fargo Bank, New York City, U.S, Wells Fargo, Wells, Ottawa, New York

☆ Canada to start planning how it will make internet giants pay for news
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The Canadian regulator responsible for implementing the country's online news law on Thursday said it will start setting up a framework for negotiations between news organizations and internet giants this autumn, with the aim of initiating mandatory bargaining by early 2025. Both companies have said the law is unworkable for their businesses, and Meta has already ended news sharing on its platforms. Google also plans to block news from search results in Canada before the law comes into effect. The regulator will hold a public consultation regarding the framework for negotiations in autumn, CRTC said in a statement. Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ismail Shakil, Mark Porter Organizations: OTTAWA, Canada's, Google, Facebook, Meta, Canadian Radio, Telecommunications Commission, Thomson Locations: Canada, Ottawa

☆ Canada probing Walmart, Hugo Boss over allegations of forced labor in supply chains
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Canada's corporate ethics watchdog on Thursday announced investigations into the Canadian units of Walmart (WMT.N) and Hugo Boss (BOSSn.DE) to probe allegations of Uyghur forced labor in the companies' supply chains and operations. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) said it had published an initial assessment report after complaints filed by a coalition of 28 civil society organizations in June 2022. CORE will also investigate the Canadian unit of fashion firm Diesel, which is owned by Italy's OTB (OTB.L). In March, a U.N. committee said it was concerned about China's treatment of its Muslim minority, including the use of forced labor against Uyghurs. CORE was launched in 2019 to monitor and investigate human rights abuses, mainly by Canadian garment, mining and oil and gas companies operating abroad.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Hugo Boss, Italy's OTB, Ralph Lauren, RL.N, Sheri Meyerhoffer, CORE's Ombudsperson, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Responsible Enterprise, Diesel, Nike Canada, CORE, Thomson Locations: Rosemead , California, U.S, China

☆ Toronto-Dominion Bank's quarterly profit falls as loan-loss provisions rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) logos are seen outside of a branch in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 26, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 24 (Reuters) - Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO) on Thursday reported a drop in third-quarter profit as the Canadian lender set aside more rainy-day funds to cover losses from borrowers who might fall behind on loan payments. The bank reported adjusted net income of C$3.73 billion ($2.76 billion), or C$1.99 per share, in the three months ended July 31, compared with C$3.81 billion, or C$2.09 apiece, a year earlier. ($1 = 1.3538 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta AgarwalOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Wattie, Pritam Biswas, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: Dominion Bank, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Bengaluru

☆ TD expects penalties from US probes on money laundering
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) logos are seen outside of a branch in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 26, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Toronto-Dominion Bank FollowTORONTO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - TD Bank Group (TD.TO) on Thursday said it expects fines and "non-monetary" penalties related to investigations by U.S. authorities over its anti-money laundering compliance program. "The bank is cooperating with such authorities and is pursuing efforts to enhance its Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering compliance program," TD said in the filing. "What I can say ... we are pursuing efforts to enhance our U.S. AML compliance program," he told analysts. The lender scrapped its planned $13.4 billion acquisition of U.S. regional lender First Horizon earlier this year, a move that was cheered by investors amid the U.S. regional banking crisis.

Persons: Chris Wattie, Canada's, Bharat Masrani, TD, Gabriel Dechaine, Denny Thomas, Nivedita Balu, Deepa Babington Organizations: Dominion Bank, REUTERS, Rights Companies, TORONTO, Bank Group, U.S, U.S . Department of Justice, Bank, First, National Bank, DOJ, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Rights Companies Toronto, U.S

☆ Canada's Trans Mountain seeks last-minute route deviation on pipeline expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project has asked Canadian regulators for a route deviation on a 1.3-kilometre (0.8 mile)section of pipeline in British Columbia, months before the 600,000 barrel per day project is due to start shipping crude. In the application TMC said it had encountered "significant technical challenges" micro-tunnelling through hard rock formations and requested to instead adjust the pipeline route and use a conventional open trench. Last week the regulator gave TMC until end of day on Wednesday to provide more information on its request. Now that it is nearing completion, the government has approached Indigenous groups looking at buying a stake in the pipeline. "We are confident that the business case for the Trans Mountain pipeline remains solid," he added, when asked whether the government would have to sell the pipeline for less than it cost to build it.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, We're, Trudeau, Prince Edward Island, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Nia Williams, Bill Berkrot, Sonali Paul Organizations: OTTAWA, Canada Energy Regulator, Canadian, Trans Mountain Corp, TMC, Thomson Locations: British Columbia, Kamloops, Columbia, Burnaby , British Columbia, United States, Charlottetown, Prince, Ottawa

☆ Canada to challenge extension of US softwood lumber duties
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Finished lumber is seen at West Fraser Pacific Inland Resources sawmill in Smithers, British Columbia, Canada February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Jesse Winter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Canada will challenge what Ottawa described as an "unfair, unjust and illegal" extension of U.S. import duties on Canadian softwood lumber products, the trade ministry said on Tuesday. The softwood lumber tariffs are the legacy of a decades-long trade dispute over the structure of Canada's timber sector that could not be resolved when a quota agreement expired in 2015. "For years, the United States has imposed unfair, unjust and illegal duties on Canadian softwood lumber, hurting Canadian industry and increasing housing costs in both countries," Trade Minister Mary Ng said in the statement. "We are prepared to discuss another softwood lumber agreement when Canada is ready to address the underlying issues related to subsidization and fair competition so that Canadian lumber imports do not injure the U.S. industry," a USTR spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Persons: Jesse Winter, Mary Ng, Ismail Shakil, Susan Heavey, Devika Syamnath, Andy Sullivan Organizations: West Fraser Pacific Inland Resources, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Ottawa, U.S . Commerce Department, Canada, Washington, Trade, United, U.S . Trade, Thomson Locations: West, Smithers , British Columbia, Canada, U.S, Mexico, United States, Ottawa, Bengaluru

☆ US antitrust regulator names Henry Liu to head competition unit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Federal Trade Commission seal is seen at a news conference in Washington, U.S., July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Tuesday that Henry Liu, a partner at law firm Covington Burling, would be the new director of the commission's Bureau of Competition. "I'm excited to have Henry at the helm of the Bureau of Competition," Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. At Covington & Burling, where he worked for 14 years, Liu rose to be a partner in litigation and antitrust practices, according to the statement. Liu went to Yale Law School, graduating in 2007, according to his LinkedIn page.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Henry Liu, Covington, Liu, Henry, Lina Khan, R, Guy Cole Jr, Bill Clinton, Diane Bartz, Ismail Shakil, Rami Ayyub, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Competition, Meta's Facebook, Amazon.com, FTC, Big Tech, Justice Department, Albertsons, Covington &, Yale Law School, U.S ., Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, commission's, Covington, Covington & Burling, Washington, Ottawa

☆ Canadian finance minister, who does not own a car, fined for speeding
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland attends a news conference before delivering the federal budget in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, an avid cyclist who says she does not own a car, was fined C$273 ($200) for speeding in her home province of Alberta, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. Cuplinskas did not say when the incident occurred and what the speed limit had been on that stretch of road. The maximum speed limit on Alberta highways is 110 km/hr. "A fact that still shocks my dad is that I don't actually own a car," she told reporters last month.

Persons: Finance Chrystia Freeland, Blair Gable, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Katherine Cuplinskas, Cuplinskas, David Ljunggren, Sonali Paul Organizations: Finance, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Canadian Finance, Counter, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Alberta, Grande Prairie, Peace, Freeland, Toronto, Canada's

☆ Meta putting profit ahead of safety by blocking wildfire news, says Trudeau
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday criticized Meta (META.O) for blocking domestic news from its platforms, saying the Facebook-parent was prioritizing profit over safety as devastating wildfires force tens of thousands to evacuate their homes. "Facebook is putting corporate profits ahead of people's safety," Trudeau told a televised news conference in the Atlantic province of Prince Edward Island, saying the company's actions were "inconceivable." [1/2]A satellite image shows wildfires burning near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada August 16, 2023. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFederal Liberal cabinet ministers last week described the ban as reckless and irresponsible. Some people fleeing wildfires complained to domestic media that the ban prevented them from sharing important data about the fires.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Meta, Trudeau, Prince Edward Island, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, David Ljunggren, Mark Porter, Nick Macfie, Sandra Maler Organizations: OTTAWA, Canadian, Facebook, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS, Federal Liberal, Northwest Territories, Thomson Locations: Canada, Atlantic, Prince, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Cornwall, NWT, Kelowna, Ottawa

☆ Microsoft took down a string of embarrassing travel articles created with 'algorithmic techniques.' But it says AI isn't the problem.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Microsoft took down a string of embarrassing and offensive travel articles last week. The company said the articles were not published by "unsupervised AI" and blamed "human error." Last week, Microsoft took down a string of articles published by "Microsoft Travel" that included a bizarre recommendation for visitors to Ottawa to visit the Ottawa Food Bank and to "consider going into it on an empty stomach." "This article has been removed and we have identified that the issue was due to human error," a Microsoft spokesperson said. Based on the examples I found, whatever human controls Microsoft had in place were so minimal as to be functionally useless.

Persons: Paris Marx, isn't, Lucia Moses, Kai Xiang Teo Organizations: Microsoft, Morning, Ottawa Food Bank, MSN, CNET Locations: Ottawa, Montreal, Canada, Anchorage, Tokyo

☆ Canada considering foreign student visa cap to address housing shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The Canadian government, under pressure over the rising cost of housing, could consider capping foreign student visas, which have rocketed in recent years, new Housing Minister Sean Fraser said on Monday. Official data show there were more than 800,000 foreign students with active visas in 2022, up from 275,000 in 2012. Canada is a popular destination for international students since it is relatively easy to obtain a work permit. Fraser, who was immigration minister before taking up his job last month, said the sharp rise in the number of students was putting pronounced pressure on some housing markets. Asked whether a cap could be imposed on the number of foreign students, he said, "I think that is one of the options that we ought to consider."

Persons: Sean Fraser, Fraser, We've, Prince Edward Island, Justin Trudeau, David Ljunggren, Josie Kao Organizations: OTTAWA, Canadian, Conservative Party, Liberal, Thomson Locations: Canada, Atlantic, Prince

☆ Canada PM Trudeau blasts Meta for blocking news during wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday blasted Meta (META.O) for banning domestic news from its platforms as wildfires rage, saying up-to-date information during a crisis is crucial. Trudeau's comments represent the latest government attack on Meta, which this month started blocking news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for all users in Canada in response to a new law requiring internet giants to pay for news articles. Some people fleeing wildfires complained to domestic media that the ban prevented them from sharing important data about the fires. "It's time for us to expect more from corporations like Facebook that are making billions of dollars off of Canadians," Trudeau said. Reporting by Ismail Shakil; Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Prince Edward Island, Trudeau, Meta, Ismail Shakil, David Ljunggren, Mark Porter Organizations: OTTAWA, Canadian, Facebook, Federal Liberal, Thomson Locations: Atlantic, Prince, Canada

☆ Canada PM Trudeau says focusing on kids and future after separation from wife
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Canada's Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accompanied by his wife Sophie Gregoire and his children Ella-Grace, Xavier and Hadrien watch the election coverage on a TV, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 20, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said he is focusing on his children and the future in the first comments he has made since announcing earlier this month he and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, were separating. At the end of last week Trudeau returned from a vacation with his family and his wife in the Pacific province of British Columbia. "I really, really want to thank Canadians for having been so incredibly gracious and incredibly generous in respecting our privacy and our space," Trudeau added. Trudeau, 51, and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, 48, were married in May 2005 and have three children, Xavier aged 15, Ella-Grace, 14 and Hadrien, 9.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Sophie Gregoire, Ella, Grace, Xavier, Hadrien, Carlos Osorio, Monday, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Trudeau, Sophie, Steve Scherer, Ismail Shakil, Sandra Maler Organizations: Canada's Liberal, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Pacific, British Columbia

Alberta, the country's main oil and gas producing province, paused approvals on Aug. 3 of new renewable electricity generation projects over one megawatt until Feb. 29, chilling investment in the fast-growing industry. The pause is necessary to address concerns about renewables' reliability and land use, said a spokesperson for Alberta's utilities minister. A second company has paused design work on its first Alberta project, Dye added. Along with domestic firms, foreign companies like Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKa.N) BHE Canada, EDF Renewables and Enel Green Power generate renewable power in Alberta. The pause directly affects 15 projects in the approvals queue, the government spokesperson said.

Persons: Todd Korol, Danielle Smith, Smith, Justin Trudeau's, Jorden Dye, Dye, Pembina, Grant Arnold, Arnold, BluEarth, Dan Balaban, Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Business Renewables, THE, THE ALBERTA WAY, EDF Renewables, Companies, Pembina Institute, Renewables, U.S . Alberta Utilities Commission, Greengate, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Thomson Locations: Rocky, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Rights WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, U.S, Calgary, THE ALBERTA, THE ALBERTA WAY Alberta, Berkshire, Canada, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Ottawa

☆ British Columbia residents on high alert as wildfires force state of emergency
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Chris Helgren | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Pat Kane Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies City of Yellowknife FollowKELOWNA, British Columbia, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Thousands of British Columbia residents were on high evacuation alert on Saturday after rapidly intensifying wildfires forced the western Canadian province to declare a state of emergency. By Friday, an out-of-control fire in southern British Columbia grew more than hundredfold in 24 hours and forced more than 2,400 properties to be evacuated. "This is an historic wildfire season for British Columbia," Eby told a briefing. "The state of emergency declaration ... communicates to people across the province the seriousness of the deteriorating situation," Eby said. The escalation in British Columbia comes as the northern Canadian city of Yellowknife evacuated most of its roughly 20,000 residents due to a large approaching blaze.

Persons: Pat Kane, Daniel Eby, Eby, Ismail Shakil, Denny Thomas, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Thomson Locations: Yellowknife, Fort Providence, Northwest Territories, Canada, City, KELOWNA , British Columbia, British Columbia, Canadian, Kelowna, Vancouver, British, West Kelowna, New York, Northwest, Ottawa

Aug 18 (Reuters) - A massive wildfire in Canada's western province of British Columbia prompted more evacuation orders early on Friday, as firefighters race against advancing flames to move all residents from the remote northern city of Yellowknife to safety. The evacuation orders were issued after wildfires that were discovered on Tuesday jumped Lake Okanagan, sparking spot wildfires in Kelowna. The massive fire to the northwest of Yellowknife only advanced by around one kilometer on Thursday, officials said, held back by winds. It is now about 15 km away from the city and authorities expect the fires to reach the outskirts of Yellowknife by the weekend. Officials in British Columbia, which has suffered unusually intense blazes this year, warned residents to prepare for extreme fire conditions.

Persons: Nobody, Tebbia Teoncey, Jennifer Gauthier, Mike Westwick, Bowinn Ma, Dan Whitcomb, David Ljunggren, Ismail Shakil, Denny Thomas, Stephen Coates, Sharon Singleton Organizations: British Columbia, REUTERS, Yellowknife, City of, Emergency Management, Thomson Locations: British, Yellowknife, Kelowna, Vancouver, Kelowna ., Northwest Territories, Edmonton , Alberta, Canada, British Columbia, City, City of West Kelowna, Ottawa

Companies Meta Platforms Inc FollowOTTAWA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The Canadian government on Friday demanded that Meta (META.O) lift a "reckless" ban on domestic news from its platforms to allow people to share information about wildfires in the west of the country. Meta started blocking news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for all users in Canada this month in response to a new law requiring internet giants to pay for news articles. Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez earlier said the ban meant people did not have access to crucial information. Canadians can use Facebook and Instagram to access content from official government agencies, emergency services and non-governmental organizations, the spokesperson added. Meta says users do not come to its platform for news and forcing the company to pay for content shared on its platforms is unsustainable for its business.

Persons: Meta, Pascale St, Onge, Pablo Rodriguez, Chris Bittle, Ollie Williams, David Ljunggren, Josie Kao Organizations: OTTAWA, Canadian, Meta, Facebook, Transport, Liberal Party, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Thomson Locations: Canada, Yellowknife

☆ Canada imposing sanctions on Russian individuals, entities over human rights violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Plastic letters arranged to read "Sanctions" are placed in front the flag colors of Canada and Russia in this illustration taken February 28, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Canada is imposing sanctions on 15 Russian individuals and three entities in what Ottawa said was a response to rising levels of human rights violations and violence faced by political opponents and critics in Russia, the foreign ministry said on Friday. The sanctioned individuals and entities are senior officials of the Russian government, judiciary and investigative committee, as well as federally funded courts, the ministry said in a statement. Reporting by David Ljunggren and Ismail Shakil in OttawaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, David Ljunggren, Ismail Shakil Organizations: REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Thomson Locations: Canada, Russia, Ottawa

☆ Microsoft has pulled an AI-written travel guide, which told tourists to visit the Ottawa Food Bank if they are hungry
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft has pulled an AI-written travel article that recommended the Ottawa Food Bank as a tourist attraction for the city. "Consider going into it on an empty stomach," wrote the article on the food bank. that recommended the city's food bank as a top tourist attraction. The now-deleted article — which was previously published on Microsoft Start — suggested attractions like "The Winterlude Festival, National War Memorial, and Ottawa Food Bank, and many more." The Ottawa Food Bank was the third attraction on the list and included a caption that said, "Life is already difficult enough.

Persons: Jeff Jones, Microsoft's, Paris Marx Organizations: Microsoft, Ottawa Food Bank, Morning, MSN, Tech, CNET, Gizmodo Locations: Ottawa

☆ Ford, partners pick Canada for $900 mln battery materials plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Ford logo is seen on the grill of an E-transit concept vehicle at the Ford Halewood transmissions plant in Liverpool, Britain, December 1, 2022. The consortium includes South Korean partners EcoProBM (247540.KQ) and SK On Co Ltd, according a statement from the ministry. The factory will eventually produce 45,000 tonnes of cathode active materials (CAM) per year for Ford EVs. Ford in a separate statement described the materials as high-quality Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) for rechargeable batteries that are targeting greater performance and improved EV range. Germany's BASF SE (BASFn.DE) is also building a battery materials factory there.

Persons: Phil Noble, EcoProBM, Ford, Lisa Drake, EVs, Francois, Philippe Champagne, Steve Scherer, Jane Merriman, Mark Porter Organizations: Ford, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Ford Motor, South, SK, Co, Ford EVs, Reuters, General Motors Co, BASF, Volkswagen, Fiat, Chrysler, Detroit, Thomson Locations: Liverpool, Britain, Becancour, Quebec, North America, Ontario, St, Lawrence, Canada

☆ Paul Vieira — Reporter, Ottawa Bureau at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Paul Vieira | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Paul VieiraPaul Vieira covers Canada for The Wall Street Journal, and is based in Ottawa. He writes about what’s transpiring in the U.S.’s northern neighbor with an eye toward the broader global context. Besides following Canadian politics in the capital, he focuses on economic and social policy, U.S.-Canada relations and the country’s eccentricities. Paul joined the Journal in 2011, after stints over a 15-year period at Toronto’s Globe and Mail and National Post newspapers. He is a graduate of Western University in London, Ontario, and earned his journalism degree at Metropolitan Toronto University, formerly known as Ryerson.

Persons: Paul Vieira Paul Vieira, what’s, Paul Organizations: Canada, The Wall Street Journal, Toronto’s Globe, Mail, National Post, Western University, Metropolitan Toronto University, Ryerson Locations: Ottawa, U.S, Canada, London , Ontario

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