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US-backed Kurdish fighters say battles with tribesmen in eastern Syria that killed dozens have ended

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A U.S.-backed Syrian force declared its operations in eastern Syria completed Friday after almost two weeks of fighting with local tribesmen left dozens of people dead. The Syrian Democratic Forces said the fighting ended with its recapture of areas in Deir el-Zour province that the Kurdish-led force had lost during the battles triggered by the militia’s arrest of a rival U.S.-backed commander. The clashes were among the worst in recent years in the region along the border with Iraq where hundreds of U.S. troops have been based since 2015 to help in the fight against the Islamic State group.Many feared the fighting between the rival Syrian militias that broke out on Aug. 27 would affect the efforts to combat IS. Earlier this week, the SDF took control of the areas it lost during the recent clashes. The SDF said the fighting left 25 of its fighters dead in addition to 29 members of rival groups and tribal gunmen. It said nine civilians were also killed and accused gover...

Germany pulled off the biggest upset of its basketball existence. Hardly anyone seemed to notice

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany pulled off the biggest upset of its basketball existence, and hardly anyone back home seemed to notice.The Germans held on to beat the United States 113-111 in the Basketball World Cup semifinals on Friday in Manila and reach the final for the first time, setting up a game against Serbia on Sunday for the title.But unlike the horn-honking and beer-drinking celebrations that normally accompany German wins in World Cup soccer, the streets of Berlin remained free of fanfare on Friday.The victory was the German national basketball team’s biggest success since winning the 1993 European title and arguably its most spectacular win ever as the team captained by Dennis Schröder defeated the tournament favorites for its first win over the United States.Perhaps the lack of local atmosphere had to do with the game not being shown on regular TV. In order to watch the game, Germans had to use a streaming service.Sunday’s game, however, will be shown on one of the natio...

Air Canada repays $589M in debt used to buy Airbus and Boeing aircraft

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

MONTREAL — Air Canada says it has repaid about $589 million in debt that it used to buy aircraft.The company says it repaid a $462-million loan from Canada’s Export Development Corp. that it used to pay for the purchase of 14 Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The airline also repaid $127 million in a partial repayment of financings supported by the Export-Import Bank of the United States that was used to buy four Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Air Canada says one of its top priorities following the pandemic has been to reduce debt.It says the moves strengthen its balance sheet and provide it with more flexibility to make strategic investments.Air Canada reported a profit of $838 million in the quarter ended June 30 compared with a loss of $386 million in the same period a year earlier.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:AC)The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 2023090812094-64fb469b969b7fbd32a5b7d7jpeg.jpg, Caption: Air Canada says...

Russia summons Armenia’s ambassador as ties fray and exercises with US troops approach

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

The Russian foreign ministry on Friday summoned the ambassador from longtime ally Armenia to protest upcoming joint military exercises with the United States and other complaints, highlighting growing tensions that are straining traditionally close relations.“The leadership of Armenia has taken a series of unfriendly steps in recent days,” the ministry said in a statement, citing the exercises that will begin Monday, Armenia’s provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its moves to ratify the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court, which this year indicted President Vladimir Putin for war crimes connected to the deportation of children from Ukraine.The ministry also complained of remarks by the chairman of Armenia’s parliament that it regarded as insulting to ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is noted for her harsh comments about other countries. About 175 Armenian troops and 85 from the United States will start exercises on Monday foc...

12-year-old girl missing from South Side: CPD

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

CHICAGO -- A missing person's report was filed for a 12-year-old girl who has been missing from the city's Armor Square neighborhood since Tuesday.Alyssa Feng was last seen near the 3300 block of South Shields Avenue on Tuesday. She was seen wearing a brown dress and white shoes. She is described as being 5 foot 3 inches tall and 110 pounds. If found, contant the CPD area one detectives at 312-747-8380.

Chicago to move migrants from police stations to tent camps before winter under mayor's plan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Nearly 1,600 migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. will be relocated from Chicago police stations to winterized camps with massive tents under a plan by Mayor Brandon Johnson, according to a report released Thursday.The relocations will occur “before the weather begins to shift and change,” Johnson said in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times.The tents could hold up to 1,000 migrants, he said, and the camps would provide meals and recreational and educational programming.Sixteen city shelters now house 13,500 migrants, with more arriving every day, at a cost to the city of about $30 million per month the newspaper reported. City considers moving migrants to West Fulton Market building Johnson's administration is working with the state and Cook County to create more shelters to relieve some of the pressure on Chicago, he said.“These families are coming to the city of Chicago. . . . If we do not create an infrastructure where we’re able to support and, quite frankly,...

Friday Forecast: Temps in low 70s, showers ending by evening

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

CHICAGO — Cloudy conditions Friday with light rain/mist. Winds: N 5-10 G15. High: 69. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with decreasing clouds. Winds: NNE 5-10. Low: 58.Saturday Forecast: Mostly sunny, cooler lakeside, NE 5-10 G20. High: 74/70.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Alligator spotted in New Jersey park captured after search

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

MIDDLESEX, N.J. (WPIX) — An alligator spotted lurking in a New Jersey park two weeks ago was finally captured on Thursday, officials said.The alligator was discovered in front of a home in Piscataway around 10 p.m., which is around 400 yards southwest from where the animal was first spotted, according to the Middlesex Borough Police Department.Multiple state departments were brought in to Victor Crowell Park in Middlesex to search for the animal, estimated to be around 4 feet long. The gator was first spotted on Aug. 25 in Ambrose Brook, which prompted the all-hands-on-deck search mission. Mother charged in in 4-decade-old ‘Baby Mary’ cold case Some Middlesex residents said they were hoping to see the animal. Police had urged the public not to approach the alligator and to notify authorities immediately if it was spotted.“You can tell by the people out here. They are excited. We finally made the news for something,” said resident Francis Sweeney.There was also brief speculation th...

IRS cracking down on 1,600 millionaires over back taxes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

The IRS is launching an initiative to crack down on 1,600 millionaires and 75 large businesses it says owe hundreds of millions of dollars in back taxes, the agency announced Friday.The program takes advantage of additional funding for the agency included in the Inflation Reduction Act, which added funding to hire and replace 87,000 employees.The audit rates on people making less than $400,000 per year will not change."The years of underfunding that predated the Inflation Reduction Act led to the lowest audit rate of wealthy filers in our history,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement. “I am committed to reversing this trend, making sure that new funding will mean more effective compliance efforts on the wealthy, while middle- and low-income filers will continue to see no change in historically low pre-IRA audit rates for years to come."The shift in enforcement takes advantage of new artificial intelligence technology the agency described as “groundbreaking,” which can ...

Woman found dead, TCSO homicide investigation underway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman was found dead with “obvious injuries” Thursday night in northern Travis County, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.TCSO said deputies responded to a welfare check call at 5:19 p.m. near the 1700 block of W. Wells Branch Parkway.Officials said detectives were granted a search warrant and searched the home overnight. The investigation remains ongoing as of Friday morning.TCSO said it believed the matter was an isolated incident, and there was currently no perceived threat to the public.Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call the TCSO Tip Line at 512-854-1444 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.TCSO said this case marked its fifth homicide investigation of 2023.