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Live updates | Israeli warplanes strike targets as US seeks more time to free hostages

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

By The Associated PressIsraeli warplanes are striking targets across Gaza as the U.S. says a delay in Israel’s expected ground offensive in the besieged Hamas-ruled territory would allow more time to negotiate the release of hostages. Fears of a widening war have grown as Israel struck targets in the occupied West Bank, Syria and Lebanon and traded fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.Two aid convoys arrived in the Gaza Strip over the weekend through the Rafah crossing from Egypt. Israel said the trucks carried food, water and medical supplies. Israel has not allowed in fuel, which is critically needed for water and sanitation systems and hospitals.The war, in its 17th day Monday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Health Ministry said Monday that at least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed and 15,270 wounded. In the occupied West Bank, 96 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 wounded in violence and Israeli raids since Oct. 7.Mor...

Boy hit, killed by trolley

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A boy was hit and killed by a trolley Sunday night in Chula Vista, police said.The collision happened around 10:15 p.m. near Naples Street and Industrial Boulevard. Man, 21, stabbed on trolley near La Jolla Trolley service in the area was temporarily delayed while authorities conducted an investigation.No further information was immediately available.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Ontario to reverse urban boundary expansions for several communities

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

Ontario’s new housing minister says the province is reversing its moves to expand some urban boundaries.Paul Calandra says he is changing course on modifications to official boundaries for Ottawa, Hamilton and numerous other cities.“In reviewing how decisions were made regarding official plans, it is now clear that they failed to meet this test. In response, as soon as I am able, I will be introducing legislation that would reverse the official plan decisions for Barrie, Belleville, Guelph, Hamilton, Ottawa and the City of Peterborough, the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as Wellington County,” Calandra said in a statement on Monday.Calandra says the previous housing minister’s office was too involved in changes for those plans. Related: Ontario will not compensate Greenbelt developers, housing minister says Doug Ford shuffles cabinet again as latest minister resigns How Dou...

Autoworkers add key Stellantis pickup truck plant to strikes, shutting down big profit center

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

The United Auto Workers union has once again escalated its strikes against big Detroit automakers, this time adding a factory that makes Ram pickup trucks for Stellantis.The union says that 6,800 members walked out Monday morning and shut down the Sterling Heights, Michigan, Assembly Plant, a huge profit center for the company.The newest strike action comes just three days after union President Shawn Fain reported progress in talks with General Motors and Stellantis but said the companies will have to make better offers. No progress was reported with Ford, last week said it had the best offer of the three.The union went on strike Sept. 15 at one assembly plant from each company. About 40,800 workers are now on strike against all three automakers. The strikes, now in their sixth week, cover seven assembly plants and 38 parts warehouses.In its statement, the union said that offers from Stellantis, formed in the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Groupe, lag Ford and G...

Turkey’s president submits protocol for Sweden’s admission into NATO to parliament for ratification

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has submitted a protocol for Sweden’s admission into NATO to Turkey’s parliament for ratification, his office said Monday.Erdogan had been delaying ratification of Sweden’s membership, accusing Stockholm of being too soft on Kurdish militants and other groups he considers to be security threats. Turkey also was angered by a series of Quran-burning protests in Sweden.All 31 NATO allies must endorse Sweden’s membership. Turkey and Hungary are the only two allies that have yet to ratify it.A brief statement from the presidential communications directorate said Erdogan had signed the protocol on Sweden’s NATO accession, which was then submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. It was not immediately known when Sweden’s membership would come to the floor.Sweden welcomed the move.“Glad to hear that Turkish President Erdoğan has now handed over the ratification documents to the Turkish Parliament,” Swedish Prim...

CP NewsAlert: Crown drops bail violation charge against convoy organizer Tamara Lich

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

OTTAWA — The Crown has dropped a criminal charge against “Freedom Convoy” organizer Tamara Lich that alleged she violated her bail conditions last summer.More coming.The Canadian Press

First Quantum says Cobre Panamá deal with government in Panama now law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

TORONTO — First Quantum Minerals Ltd. says the bill enacting its mining concession contract for its Cobre Panamá copper mine has become law.The mining company says the enactment marks the final step in revising the legal framework for the mine in Panama.First Quantum chief executive Tristan Pascall says the company is committed to the obligations of the contract and to responsible stewardship of the mine.The company and Panama’s government reached a deal in March to end a dispute over profit sharing at the mine.The 20-year agreement includes substantially higher payments to Panama and has a 20-year extension option.With publication in Panama’s official gazette, the company says payments to cover taxes and royalties up to the end of 2022 of about US$395 million and certain amounts for 2023 corporate tax instalments, withholding taxes and quarterly royalty payments will be due within 30 days.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2023.Companies in t...

Outcome of key local races in Pennsylvania could offer lessons for 2024 election

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

Local elections in Democratic strongholds at both ends of Pennsylvania next month could show how voters feel about progressive candidates and issues such as abortion and crime ahead of the 2024 election.Philadelphia will get a new mayor, and Allegheny County — where Pittsburgh is the county seat — will see a new executive. Voters there will also decide whether to reelect the district attorney with backing of another party, after his long career as a Democrat.The Nov. 7 results in Pennsylvania’s two biggest population centers will set the electoral stage for 2024, when the state will be a prime presidential battleground, with candidates taking lessons about how Democrats see crime into the next election cycle and the strength of progressives in local races.PHILADELPHIA MAYORIn Philadelphia, Democrat Cherelle Parker, a former state legislator who has had a long political career in the state, will face Republican David Oh, a former City Council member. Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney...

More Canadians struggling with monthly mortgage payment: Angus Reid survey

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

A new study says the number of Canadians struggling with their monthly mortgage payment is on the rise, along with worries of potentially higher payments when it comes time to renew with their bank.Data released Monday by the Angus Reid Institute shows 15 per cent of mortgage holders say they find the financial aspect of their mortgage “very difficult,” up from eight per cent in March and 11 per cent in June.The survey says that despite expectations the Bank of Canada will hold its key interest rate steady at five per cent when it announces its next decision Wednesday, the current level has 79 per cent of respondents worried or very worried they will face higher payments when it comes time to renew their mortgage.Those with variable-rate mortgages were less likely than respondents on fixed-rate mortgages to find their monthly payments easy to handle at the moment, but those with variable-rate loans were also less likely to be “very worried” about what their n...

‘Not even tired’: 99-year-old Hamilton man completes CN Tower climb for 3rd time

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:47 GMT

A 99-year-old Hamilton man climbed 1,776 steps to the top of the CN Tower over the weekend, his third time pulling off the accomplishment in support of charity.Walter Decker was joined by his son, grandson and two great-grandsons at the United Way ClimbUP on Saturday, where he raised more than $3,000 for people struggling to meet basic needs from housing and food to mental health supports.Decker, who turned 99 last week, said he first began stair climbing more than 10 years ago as a distraction from his grief after his wife passed away, which he said made him “lost.”“It took my mind off the grieving process,” he said in an interview. “A lot of people grieve in different ways and they cope with it in different ways.”Since then, Decker has been climbing up the steps of the Hamilton Escarpment three times a week, which he said amounts to between 700 and 1,200 steps. He also does 30 to 50 pushups each morning when he wakes up.“Other than that, n...