News
From the heart of Prince Edward County, I’m Patrick Lewis with your County FM
News.
Russia v Ukraine, CBC – A U.S.-Russian peace proposal has been drafted that
would see Ukraine give up parts of eastern Ukraine and partially disarm. Several
Pentagon officials are in Kyiv today to push peace efforts. Meanwhile, most
European countries are cool to any plan that doesn’t involve them.
Meta will Pay, AP – Spanish legacy media companies in Spain scored a victory
against social media giant Meta after a Madrid-based court ordered today that it
must pay news outlets nearly half a billion euros in damages. According to a court
statement, the mercantile court No. 15 of Madrid ruled that Mark Zuckerberg’s
social media giant had exercised an unfair market advantage by extracting
personal data of internet users in violation of European law and using it to create
more effective advertising.
The parent company of Instagram and Facebook will have to pay 481 million
(C$778 million) in damages to 81 Spanish media outlets which brought the suit to
court.
Volunteer Army, CTV – Faced with rising threats from competing states and
climate change, the top military minds in the Canadian Armed Forces are drafting
a plan to bolster the nation’s defences by creating a civil force made up of 300,000
volunteers.
The unclassified document was distributed by the Strategic Joint Staff, the internal
group that provides military advice and analysis to Chief of Defence Staff Gen.
Jennie Carignan. The details are outlined in a document with the title CDS/DM
PLANNING DIRECTION – DEFENCE MOBILIZATION PLAN. An ominous warning
is embedded in the opening lines: It states that “Rising threats fueled by
accelerating technologies present urgent simultaneous and unparalleled
challenges to Canada’s ability to defend itself. Global security has been
dramatically affected by the rise of strategic competition among states combined
with the growing frequency and intensity of natural disasters linked to climate
change.” The Plan sets a target of boosting the number of reservists from 30,000
to 100,000 and recruiting 300,000 volunteers to join a supplementary force.
AI Dangers, AP – They’re cute, even cuddly, and promise learning and
companionship — but artificial intelligence toys are not safe for kids – That is
according to children’s and consumer advocacy groups who are urging parents
not to buy them during the holiday season. These toys, marketed to kids as young
as 2 years old, are generally powered by AI models that have already been shown
to harm children and teenagers, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Thats according to
an advisory published today by the children’s advocacy group Fairplay and signed
by more than 150 organizations and individual experts including child psychiatrists
and educators. Fairplay says AI toys can displace important creative and learning
activities. The group said they promise friendship but also disrupt children’s
relationships and resilience.
Bla Bla’s Bread Fix, CTV – The deadline to claim a slice of a $500-million class-
action lawsuit settlement over bread price-fixing is quickly approaching.
Canadian shoppers have until Dec. 12 to submit a claim for a share of the
settlement, which comes after Loblaw Companies Ltd. and its parent company
George Weston Ltd. were accused of participating in a yearslong and industry-
wide scheme to fix the price of bread. Anyone who purchased packaged bread –
including bagged bread, buns, rolls, bagels, naan, English muffins, wraps, pita and
tortillas – from the grocery giant between Jan. 1, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2021 is
eligible. Claims can be submitted online and no proof of purchase is necessary.
Those who submit a claim could receive $50 or more by e-transfer or cheque. You
must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian resident to be eligible.
Sports
The Napanee Raiders will be at the PEC Community centre tonight for the first of
their back-to-back games against the Pirates.. Then the two teams will head back
to Napanee for tomorrow nights game at the Best and Bash Arena.. Both games
start at 7:30
In the NHL Tonight… The Washington Capitals will be in Montreal, the Columbus
Blue Jackets will visit Toronto, The Edmonton Oilers are headed to Tampa Bay,
The Dallas Stars are in Vancouver and the Ottawa Senators will be in Anaheim.
Winnipeg Jets centre and captain Adam Lowry has signed a five-year contract
extension worth $25 million. The contract carries an average annual value of $5
million. Lowry has served as team captain since the beginning of the 2023 season,
and has spent all 12 of his NHL seasons playing in Winnipeg.
“That’s your County FM News, I’m (Patrick Lewis) – With news from across the
County and Around the World on the Voice of the County – 99.3 County FM”
