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Jordan FM: Regional talks with Syria step toward solution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan’s top diplomat said on Monday that regional talks with Syria are a step in the right direction to end a decade of the war-torn country’s political isolation and bring Damascus back into the Arab fold. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi’s remarks came as Jordan hosted a meeting of envoys from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and Syria. Before the meeting kicked off, Safadi met one-on-one with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad. Damascus is slowly returning to the Arab fold after being ostracized over President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on a 2011 uprising that descended into a yearslong civil war. However, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country in recent years, Syria’s neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement.The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said the meeting on Monday came as a follow-up to talks with Arab Gulf countries, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt held in Saudi Arabia last month and focused on a “Jordanian initia...

Strike over for 120,000 public servants as union inks tentative deal with feds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

OTTAWA — The country’s largest federal public-sector union reached a tentative contract agreement with the government overnight, covering more than 120,000 public servants across the country and bringing them back to work after a 12-day strike. It meant that the majority of Public Service Alliance of Canada workers who had hit the picket lines since April 19 were expected to sign in for duty on Monday morning or at their next scheduled shift.But some 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency employees were still on strike on the day of the federal tax filing deadline, as negotiations over a separate collective agreement continued.“PSAC members held the line together and secured a fair contract that keeps up with the cost of living, increased protections around remote work and creates safer, more inclusive workplaces,” Chris Aylward, the union’s national president, said in a statement. The union said that its Union of Taxation Employees bargaining team would enter a “...

‘Cheers’ bar, ‘Tonight Show’ set among TV history at auction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — When Johnny Carson retired from “The Tonight Show” after 30 years, one man was determined to make the iconic set part of his burgeoning collection of television memorabilia. “I would love to say that I convinced him that I was the best guy for the job, but really, if I’m being honest, I had to convince him to save the set at all,” James Comisar said. “He told me he had the tackiest set in Hollywood and who would ever want to see it?”That set is among a dizzying number of items from Comisar’s collection of props, sets and costumes from beloved television shows that will be sold in early June by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions — from the bar where Sam Malone greeted customers on “Cheers” to the pink confection Barbara Eden wore in “I Dream of Jeannie” to the set from Archie and Edith Bunker’s timeworn living room from “All in the Family.” Other items on the block when online bidding starts Monday are a tunic worn by Superman in the 1950s TV series,...

Water pressure: Indigenous leaders from U.S., Canada still demanding pollution probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

WASHINGTON — Indigenous and tribal leaders from Canada and the U.S. are keeping up the pressure on both countries to investigate toxic mining runoff from British Columbia. They want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier David Eby to agree to a bilateral investigation under a long-standing transborder water treaty. That’s despite last month’s vow by Trudeau and President Joe Biden to seek a deal they say would “reduce and mitigate” pollution in the Elk-Kootenai watershed. Indigenous groups from sides of the border were in Washington, D.C., on Friday to press their case to the International Joint Commission, which oversees transborder water issues. They say they want a bilateral investigation under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty into Elk Valley mining operations they say have been poisoning their watershed for more than a decade. But Trudeau says he believes the negotiations that are already underway are more likely to yield results.“We believe ...

One dead after collision in Brimley and Lawrence East area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

One person has died after a collision that forced a car into a field in the Brimley Road and Lawrence Avenue East area on Monday morning.COLLISION: UPDATEBrimley Rd + Lawrence Av East– One person has been pronounced deceased at the scene– Three ppl transported to hospital, one via emergency run– Intersection is closed for investigation– Any witnesses contact @TrafficServices 416-808-1900^lb— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) May 1, 2023Both Toronto police and fire services arrived on the scene just before 11:00 a.m. after reports of two vehicles involved in a crash where one vehicle went off the road and into a field.One person was pronounced dead at the scene where Toronto fire extracted one driver out of their vehicle. Three people were transported to the hospital with one being transported via an emergency run.The intersection is shut down in all directions for investigation.

Maple Leafs playoff tickets in Florida restricted to U.S. residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

Some bad news for anyone who was hoping to take a trip to Florida to catch the Toronto Maple Leafs in playoff action.Information on the Ticketmaster website for the Maple Leafs round two road games against the Florida Panthers stipulates any orders by individuals who don’t live in the United States will not be accepted.“Orders by residents outside of the U.S. will be cancelled without notice and refunds given,” reads event information on the Ticketmaster purchase page. “Residency will be based on credit card billing address.”There is no explanation from the site as to why Canadians are being restricted, but the move is likely an attempt by the team to preserve home-ice advantage and make sure the local crowd stays on the home team’s side.Toronto is getting a second straight Florida-based playoff opponent after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. Leafs nation was ever-present in the Tampa series with one fan going viral for his reac...

Rising Mississippi River tests Iowa, Illinois flood barriers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The rising Mississippi River tested flood defenses in southeast Iowa and northwest Illinois as it neared forecast crests in the area Monday, driven by a spring surge of water from melting snow.The peak water levels this spring will likely rank in the top 10 of all time in many places, but the National Weather Service said river levels will generally remain well below past records. That should help most towns along the river withstand the floodwaters, though officials will be checking their floodwalls and sandbag barriers closely in the next few days.Officials in towns along the river have said they are optimistic they will escape severe flooding this year, thanks to improved floodwalls and other prevention measures.“Everybody’s plan along the river has been put to the test and everybody is passing right now,” National Weather Service hydrologist Matt Wilson said from the Quad-Cities office.Two minor levee breaks were reported over the weekend near a wildlife r...

UN agency suspends food aid to Ethiopia’s Tigray amid theft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The United Nations food relief agency has suspended aid deliveries to Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region amid an internal investigation into the theft of food meant for hungry people, according to four humanitarian workers.The World Food Program is responsible for delivering food from the U.N. and other partners to Tigray, the center of a devastating two-year civil war that ended with a ceasefire in November. More than 5 million of the region’s 6 million people rely on aid.WFP informed its humanitarian partners on April 20 that it was temporarily suspending deliveries of food to Tigray amid reports of food misappropriation, one of the four humanitarian workers told AP. Three other aid workers confirmed this information. They all insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to a journalist on this matter. Last month, AP reported that the WFP was investigating cases of food misappropriation and diversion in Ethiopia, where a total of 20 mi...

Tom Skilling honored with Order of Lincoln

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Over the weekend, WGN's Tom Skilling was honored with the 2023 Order of Lincoln in Springfield. Since 1964, the Order of Lincoln honors Illinois residents who uplift communities in the state with their work.Skilling was among several receiving the awards announced by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker."What an honor," Skilling said in a Facebook post. "And how amazing to meet so many of our fellow Illinoisans including the Governor and First Lady and members of the Academy from across the state.Other laureates honored included His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Karen HasaraJohn W. Rogers Jr, Jayne Carr Thompson and Paula Wolff.You can watch the entire ceremony on Lincoln Academy of Illinois' YouTube page

Comedian Chris Franjola finds the funny on traveling, being a first time parent, and a bad corporate gig

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:25 GMT

Chris Franjola is a writer/comedian who can currently be heard hosting his highly successful podcast, Cover To Cover With Chris Franjola also he’s a frequent contributor on Heather McDonald’s wildly successful podcast, Juicy Scoop.  He has a SOLD OUT show at Zanies Chicago tomorrow night.