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US imposes sanctions on 2 Turkey-backed Syrian militias and the groups’ leaders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two Turkey-backed Syrian militias and the groups’ leaders accused of human rights abuses in Syria’s northwestern, opposition-held enclave.The groups are operating in the town of Afrin, which has been under Turkish-backed opposition forces since 2018, following an Ankara-backed military operation. That offensive pushed Syrian Kurdish fighters and thousands of Kurdish residents from the area. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned The Suleiman Shah Brigade and The Hamza Division, as well as their leaders, Mohammad Hussein al-Jasim, Walid Hussein al-Jasim, and Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr. The Suleiman Shah Brigade was accused of abductions and extortion of residents, especially Afrin’s Kurdish residents, to force them to abandon their homes and flee or to “pay large ransoms for return of their property or family members”. The Treasury said The Hamza Division was also involved in r...

Weekend need to know: Canadian National Exhibition, Jonas Brothers, cultural festivals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

It’s the unofficial mark of the end of summer in Toronto – the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is returning to Exhibition Place for two-and-a-half weeks.Cultural festivals continue in the city, such as a weekly Indigenous food and vendor market, RastaFest, and the Latin Sparks Festival.The Jonas Brothers are also performing at Rogers Centre for their latest tour.There is a scheduled subway closure on Line 2, additional services are being added to public transit for those heading to the CNE, and road closures continue in and around the city. Scroll below for details.Here’s what’s going on this weekend:Canadian National ExhibitionThe Ex is back in town!Get ready for dill pickle cotton candy, a Pink Floyd exhibit, and the first ever CNE drag performance for the next couple weeks.The CNE is known for the interesting foods that make an appearance at the event every year.This year, people can try a watermelon burger (a traditional burger and instead of buns, it’...

Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs to 7.09% this week to highest level in more than 20 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in more than 20 years, pushing up borrowing costs for homebuyers already challenged by a housing market that remains competitive due to a dearth of homes for sale.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 7.09% from 6.96% last week. A year ago, the rate averaged 5.13%.It’s the fourth consecutive weekly increase for the average rate and the highest since early April 2002, when it averaged 7.13%. The last time the average rate was above 7% was last November, when it stood at 7.08%. High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already unaffordable to many Americans.The latest increase in rates follows a sharp uptick in the 10-year Treasury yield, which has been above 4% this month and climbing. The yield, which lenders use to price rates on mortgages and other loans, was at...

New Jersey shutters 27 Boston Market restaurants over unpaid wages, related worker issues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — State labor officials have temporarily shut down more than two dozen Boston Market restaurants in New Jersey after finding multiple violations of workers’ rights, including more than $600,000 in back wages owed to 314 employees.A stop-work order was issued Tuesday by the Department of Labor against 27 restaurants across New Jersey. The state also imposed nearly $2.6 million in penalties against the firm.The Associated Press sent an email seeking comment to Boston Market’s corporate office in Golden, Colorado, on Thursday. There are 31 Boston Market restaurants in New Jersey and 310 nationwide, according to its website.The company has requested a hearing challenging the state’s findings, labor officials said, but a hearing date has not yet been scheduled.State officials say the investigation began in November, when a worker at a restaurant in Mercer County filed a complaint with the labor department. Since then, nearly three dozen additional complaints have...

NDP calls on feds to give study permits to institutions with ‘credible’ housing plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced a plan to address student housing shortages on Thursday.The party is calling on the federal government to allocate student permits to post-secondary institutions that demonstrate they have a credible and affordable housing plan.The proposal comes as the number of international students enrolled in Canada skyrockets, putting more pressure on housing shortages.Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that the federal government is reconsidering international student flows, particularly since some students have been victims of fraud. “Landlords are asking for a whole year’s worth of rent as a deposit,” Singh said. “What student can come up with that type of liquidity? It’s impossible.”Singh is also calling on the federal government to establish a funding model to get more student housing built, which would see the federal government, provinces and territories and p...

Dogs that bit, injured young girl were under muzzle order: Newmarket animal services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

Animal services in Newmarket had prior concerns about the three dogs that mauled and severely injured a nine-year-old girl, placing the animals under a muzzle order following an incident last year.York Regional Police responded to a call for an animal complaint at an address on Jackson Court around 6 p.m. on July 27.Investigators said a man and his 9-year-old daughter had attended a residence to view puppies for sale when three dogs rushed out of the house and attacked the girl, who was bitten and seriously injured.She was rushed to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The girl has been released and continues her recovery at home, police said.Newmarket animal services attended the residence, and the three dogs were euthanized. Ben Worthington, Animal Services Manager, tells CityNews that a muzzle order was issued following a dog-on-dog incident on September 19, 2022.RELATED: Toronto issues warning to dog owners after more than 200 incidents so far this year“...

Missing 19-year-old woman with reported high risk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 19-year-old woman reported missing Friday morning is considered high risk and a ward of the state, police said.Audrey Stone, who also goes by Max, was last seen at her home in the 1300 block of North Laramie Avenue around 4:53 a.m. Teen, 15, critical after shooting in Palatine: police Police say she is a ward of a state and is described as being five feet and six inches tall and 160 pounds, blonde with a faux hawk hairstyle.If anyone recovers any information on her whereabouts, contact area five detectives at 312-746-6554.

Illinois ranks #2 for most spam calls received

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

(STACKER) — Nearly everyone gets spam calls, but while some will tolerate this seemingly inescapable event, others will raise the alarm by complaining to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).Unwanted calls are the most common complaint to the FCC. So far this year, people in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have reported more than 41,000 unwanted calls.Tally up the total by state, break it down per capita, and the Land of Lincoln lands in second place for the most spam calls received so far this year. Colorado took the top spot. See the full list below. Illinois Lotto jackpot climbs again for Thursday’s drawing: $21.5 million Spam calls come in many forms, including robocalls that use automatic dialing software to quickly call a list of numbers and send a pre-recorded message or use an artificial voice to make their pitch. The robots are busy, too—the FCC notes that robocallers make about 4 billion calls a month.Robocalls have become such a nuisance that many ...

Florida student group may need to remove 'Black' from its name

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

(NewsNation) — A student organization at Tallahassee Community College is grappling with a naming predicament due to a new Florida law.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266 into law in May. It aims to prohibit colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.According to BBC World Services, the new law prohibits student-led organizations that advocate for DEI from receiving state or federal funding.Now, the Black Male Achievers may need to remove “Black” from its official title or risk losing its funding. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling leaves colleges looking for new ways to promote diversity Student Tyler Soto told BBC that the group is working out possible new names, such as "Male Achievers" or "Scholar Male Achievers."According to NBC Miami, DeSantis said, ‘‘This has basically been used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda and that is wrong.” He added, “In fact, if you look at the way this has actually been i...

Uptown Theater's Upcoming Productions & Plans To Eradicate Racism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:24 GMT

The Black Ensemble Theater Company is known for its productions portraying African-American culture, musicians and performers. They've got a world premiere, an anniversary, and plans to further their mission all coming up! Here with more on all of this - Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor.  blackensembletheater.org4450 N Clark StFacebook: @BlackEnsembleTheaterInstagram: @blackensembletheaterTwitter: @blackensembleYouTube: @BEtheater"A Taste of Soul" starts performances August 26Daytime Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.