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Talks between Serbia and Kosovo break down again. The EU says their hopes of joining are at risk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Kosovo and Serbia on Thursday failed yet again to make progress in talks aimed at improving their long-strained relations, and the European Union’s top diplomat warned that the lack of progress could hurt their hopes of joining the bloc.EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who supervised the talks in Brussels, blamed the latest breakdown on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s insistence that Serbia should essentially recognize his country before progress can be made on enforcing an agreement they reached in February.Serbia and its former province of Kosovo have been at odds for decades. Their 1998-99 war left more than 10,000 people dead, mostly Kosovo Albanians. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008 but Belgrade has refused to recognize the move.“Unfortunately, after quite a long meeting, Prime Minister Kurti was not ready to move forward on … a credible process,” Borrell said. “He insisted instead on formalizing de-facto recognition as the first step....

Federal government removing GST on new rental builds, source says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce today that Ottawa is removing the GST on construction of new rental apartment buildings, according to a senior government source.The source spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss matters that were not yet public.The change would lower the cost of labour and materials for homebuilders, and is one of the components of an affordability announcement Trudeau is set to make in the afternoon.The news will close out the Liberal caucus retreat in London, Ont., where MPs gathered to strategize their approach for the return of Parliament next week.Most of the party’s 158 MPs are at the three-day retreat, where Trudeau says his focus is hearing what constituents are telling members.The Liberals have seen slumping poll numbers that suggest Canadians believe the Conservatives would do a better job dealing with affordability and housing concerns.

S&P/TSX composite up more than 200 points, U.S. stock markets also rally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points as strength in base metal stocks helped lead in a broad-based rally and the price of oil reached US$90 per barrel, while U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 202.44 points at 20,481.38.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 230.03 points at 34,805.56. The S&P 500 index was up 31.12 points at 4,498.56, while the Nasdaq composite was up 109.64 points at 13,923.23.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.01 cents US compared with 73.80 cents US on Wednesday.The October crude contract was up US$1.60 at US$90.12 per barrel. The October natural gas contract was up four cents at US$2.72 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$2.30 at US$1,930.20 an ounce and the December copper contract was up three cents at US$3.82 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise returns to the Capitol after his blood cancer diagnosis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, returned to the U.S. Capitol on Thursday for the first time since being diagnosed with a blood cancer known as multiple myeloma and told reporters his chemotherapy treatment is underway. “It’s kind of a few months process. They don’t know yet how long it’s going to be — four months, six months — but they want to continue to evaluate and say, ‘OK, how’s he doing? How’s the treatment?’ The treatments are going well so far,” said Scalise, who was taking precautions to protect his immune system and wore a face mask and stood back from reporters as he entered the Capitol building.The Louisiana congressman, 57, said he would be able to receive some of the chemotherapy treatment in Washington and continue his work in Congress, where he was limiting his in-person interactions. Scalise’s cancer diagnosis comes at a fraught moment for House Republicans, who are trying to avert a g...

Alex Murdaugh makes his first appearance in court since his murder trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — Alex Murdaugh appeared publicly for the first time since his murder trial at a Thursday state court hearing over the slew of financial crimes allegedly committed by the disbarred South Carolina attorney.The man found guilty this March of fatally shooting his wife and youngest son in June 2021 got a fleeting break from the maximum-security prison where he is serving a life sentence without parole. The prosecution and defense agreed Thursday that some of the 101 total charges brought against Murdaugh will be heard at a trial beginning the week of Nov. 27.Murdaugh sat in an orange jumpsuit, occasionally whispering with his lawyers, as he learned how he will spend the week after Thanksgiving.It won’t be long before Murdaugh finds himself back in another courtroom. A federal hearing over a similar bevy of charges is scheduled next Thursday in Charleston. There, Murdaugh is expected to plead guilty to theft and wire fraud — possibly marking the first time he wi...

Water bead kit recalled after infant death in Wisconsin: Report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- A water bead kit has been recalled as a safety hazard after the death of an infant child in Wisconsin this year, reports said. Consumer Reports recalled the Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity kits that ae exclusively sold at Target. CPSC announced that the water beads can pose ingestion, choking and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child's body resulting in many injuries, including death. Latest Recalls CR urges parents to take action and if purchased the kit then take the product back to a Target store or signing up to receive a mailing package at Recall of Ultimate Water Beads (chuckleandroar.com).Consumer Report says to keep water beads in a secure container and out of reach of children. For more information, visit: Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits Recalled - Consumer Reports

Man critical after shot while driving scooter: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- A man is in critical condition after he was shot while driving a scooter in West Englewood Thursday morning, police said. According to police, the 35-year-old man was riding a scooter near the 6900 block of South Justine Street around 9:54 a.m. when an unknown individual approached him on foot and fired shots. The offender displayed a firearm and shot the man in the stomach and left leg. Police search for man who allegedly sexually assaulted woman in Logan Square apartment Police said the man was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.The suspect fled eastbound in an alley. There were no other inured reported and there is no one in custody at this time. WGN is investigating the incident and will update as more information is recovered.

Chicago considering first city-owned grocery store

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Johnson has announced that Chicago has partnered with the Economic Security Project to work on a pathway toward opening a city-owned grocery store.The non-profit will provide technical assistance to the city.“All Chicagoans deserve to live near convenient, affordable, healthy grocery options. We know access to grocery stores is already a challenge for many residents, especially on the South and West sides,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.Food deserts have been a cause for concern on the South and West Sides after departures of Walmart, Aldi and others. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 63.5% of residents in West Englewood and 52% of residents in East Garfield Park live more than half a mile from their nearest grocery store.“The City of Chicago is reimagining the role government can play in our lives by exploring a public option for grocery stores via a municipally owned grocery store and market,” said Ameya Pawar, Senior Advisor at Economic Security Projec...

Would Pence dine alone with a woman if he had a female VP?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

(NewsNation) — Former Vice President Mike Pence’s dining habits sparked headlines in 2017, after one of his comments during a 2002 interview was unearthed during his first year in the role.That comment? Pence said he would not dine privately with any women other than his wife Karen, or even attend events with alcohol without her. “I remember I said, ‘Well, I promised her that I wouldn’t dine alone with a woman that’s not my wife.’ It wasn’t very controversial until after I became vice president,” Pence told NewsNation host Leland Vittert during a town hall appearance on Wednesday night. Pence on gender-affirming care: ‘We love you but wait’ After Pence said he would consider having a woman as a running mate, Vittert asked again about Pence and his potential VP's dining arrangements, should he win the nomination.“How would that work out if you had a female vice president?” Vittert asked.“That’s a very clever question, it really is," Pence responded. "Let me say, it’s a promise...

Here's how to help: Relief for deadly Morocco quake and Libya floods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- At least 5,100 people are dead after the collapse of two dams released a flood in Libya and almost 3,000 are reported dead after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco. The number of deaths in Libya was likely to increase since teams are still collecting bodies with at least 9,000 people are missing. At least 30,000 people in Derna were displaced.Of the 2,122 deaths reported as a result of the earthquake in Morocco, 1,351 were in Al Haouz, a region with a population of around 570,000, according to Morocco’s 2014 census.UNICEF estimated that roughly 100,000 children “have been impacted by the powerful earthquake.” About one-third of the population in Morocco is children.Several organizations in the Chicagoland area and worldwide have dedicated their efforts to provide ample assistance amid the humanitarian crisis, here are just a few: Donation sites: Morocco Earthquake Relief (hhrd.org)Middle East | Donate Now | Islamic Relief USA (irusa.org)Libya Floods Response | Zakat F...