Technology

OpenAI says a ChatGPT account connected to the B.C. shooter was flagged last year and banned in June 2025; staff considered but did not make a law enforcement referral at the time. OpenAI has contacted the RCMP after the Feb. 10 shooting and investigators say they are reviewing electronic devices and online activity as part of an ongoing probe.

OpenAI says it banned the account linked to the Tumbler Ridge shooter in June 2025 and later provided information to the RCMP after the February shooting.

NASA completed a second wet dress rehearsal for Artemis 2 on Feb. 19, with fuel tanks filled and hydrogen levels reported within allowable limits; the four-person crew entered quarantine on Feb. 20 and the mission is on track for a possible March 6 launch.

Ontario Shipyards plans a scholarship at Mohawk College in memory of Justin Smith, a 29-year-old steel supervisor who died in January; the provincial Ministry of Labour is investigating his death.

Wayne Gretzky told CBC he wants Canada to win gold at the Milan Olympics and said he considers himself a true Canadian. He also spoke about recent tensions between Canada and the United States and mentioned his friendships with political leaders.

An archdiocese youth initiative called "The Path of Beauty" is offering free short introductions to about a dozen Milan churches during the Winter Olympics, with visits scheduled through March 15.

Nintendo has listed Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen for pre-order on the Nintendo eShop, priced at £16.99/$19.99 each and scheduled for release on 27 February. The digital downloads are reported to include the Sevii Islands and online features such as trading and battling.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt told CBC Radio that Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court defending Meta against allegations its platforms were designed to addict and harm young users, and Haidt said his team has collected internal Meta studies suggesting the company knew about those harms.

NASA completed a second wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission that reached past T‑minus 30 seconds twice without exceeding ground safety limits for hydrogen leaks, and the next launch opportunity is in early March.

A Reddit user reported that a fenced garden behind the blacksmith in Stardew Valley is accessible and that placing a Super Cucumber in a hidden box there yields a decorative statue tied to a larger in‑game riddle.

Fintrac will embed financial crime experts with Peel Regional Police to help trace extortion-related funds; Peel reported 476 extortion incidents last year, including 190 targeting businesses.

A Globe and Mail opinion contends a lawsuit alleging Meta harmed young users highlights gaps in parental oversight, and notes Mark Zuckerberg testified in Los Angeles that Meta denies engineering its platforms to target children.

The University of Toronto and Ericsson launched a strategic partnership on Feb. 18 to advance research into wireless communications and to develop related talent; the agreement followed a national request for proposals and builds on collaborations dating back to 2013.

The Eganville Leader has been sold to London Publishing Inc. and the Aylmer Express and will keep publishing after months of uncertainty, its long-time owner Gerald Tracey said.

Users and researchers say AI is increasingly used to write dating profiles and messages, while major apps and third-party tools add AI features; how widely these tools are used and their long-term effects remain unclear.

The article reports that after the U.S. Genius Act passed on July 18, 2025, Bitcoin's market price fell by about 40% to under US$70,000 and monthly Bitcoin transactions declined while stablecoin transactions rose, according to the authors.

Mark Zuckerberg testified Wednesday in a Los Angeles civil trial where plaintiffs allege Meta designed social platforms that harmed young users; Meta denies the accusations and the case is ongoing.

Nintendo issued a 1.9.0 update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that adds Thai text support on Nintendo Switch 2 and includes general gameplay fixes that apply to both console generations.

Mark Zuckerberg will testify in a trial in which a plaintiff alleges Meta's platforms addicted and harmed her; the case is being treated as a bellwether that could influence many similar lawsuits.

Prime Minister Mark Carney launched Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to boost domestic defence production and create more than 125,000 jobs.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded the 2009 "endangerment finding" that supported federal greenhouse gas rules, removing vehicle emissions standards; environmental groups and commentators have warned of health and political consequences. Farm Credit Canada has secured $5-billion in investor commitments for farming and food innovation over the next four years.

New Mexico lawmakers unanimously approved legislation creating a bipartisan special committee to investigate allegations tied to Zorro Ranch; the committee will begin Tuesday and aims to deliver interim findings by July 31.

Companies in Nigeria and Kenya are assembling electric vans locally from Chinese-made kits, while operators use lease and pay-as-you-drive financing to lower upfront costs and run costs.

The snowy owl was assessed as threatened while its population, about 14,000 birds, is reported to be falling by more than 30% per decade. A formal federal listing under the Species at Risk Act requires additional study and consultations that can take two years or more, and consultations are currently underway.

Toronto police said a large march took place in North York as part of a global day of demonstrations supporting protests in Iran; participants called for an end to repression and some urged the return of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi.

Tens of thousands marched down Yonge Street in Toronto on Feb. 14, 2026, in solidarity with protests in Iran, carrying pre-1979 flags and photos of those killed; police closed roads and warned of major traffic and transit delays.

Toronto police expected about 200,000 people to march on Yonge Street in solidarity with protests in Iran, and authorities closed roads that could cause significant traffic and transit delays.

NASA ran a partial-fill confidence test of the SLS core stage on Feb. 12 to check replaced seals, and engineers will examine the results before scheduling a second wet dress rehearsal as March remains the earliest potential launch window for Artemis II.

Former President Donald J. Trump released a statement calling for mandatory voter ID and criticizing Democratic leaders; he said he will present legal arguments in the form of an executive order.

Montreal-based coach Kavita Ajwani describes 2026 dating as a confusing, low-trust environment shaped by apps and AI, and she says many people are leaning back toward in-person interactions and organic meetings.