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Thai workers caught up in Hamas attack faced with the dilemma of whether to flee or stay in Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — When Hamas militants stormed into Israeli villages and towns along the border of the blockaded Gaza Strip last month, many Thai migrant agricultural workers shared the fate of hundreds of Israelis who were killed, kidnapped or forced to run for their lives. Since that day nearly a month ago, more than 7,000 of some 30,000 Thais working in Israel have returned home on government evacuation flights. At least 22 are believed to have been abducted by Hamas militants, who rule Gaza. Many more may be missing and 32 have been reported killed. Like many other Thai laborers in Israel, Natthaporn Onkeaw had been his family’s main breadwinner, sending money home regularly after going to Israel to work on a kibbutz in 2021. The 26-year-old was among those abducted by Hamas, said his mother, 47-year-old Thongkun Onkeaw, who lives in a poor rural area in northeastern Thailand near the Laotian border.He was one of the few Thai captives pictured in a photo released by Hamas whose nam...

Crescent Point Energy reports $809.9M Q3 loss due to one-time charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

CALGARY — Crescent Point Energy Corp. reported a loss of $809.9 million in its latest quarter related to non-cash charges in connection with the planned sale of its U.S. assets.The company says the loss amounted to $1.52 per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a profit of $466.4 million or 82 cents per share a year earlier.On an adjusted basis, Crescent Point says its earnings from operations amounted to 59 cents per share, up from 43 cents per share in the same quarter last year.Oil and gas revenue totalled $1.09 billion for the company’s third quarter, up from $970.5 million a year earlier.Average daily production was 180,581 barrels of oil equivalent for the quarter, up from 133,019 a year ago, however Crescent Point noted the third quarter included about 30,800 boe/d of non-core assets which were disposed of subsequent to the quarter.The company also announced it would pay a special dividend of two cents per share on Nov. 22 in addition to its quarterly bas...

Alabama state Rep. Jeremy Gray announces bid for Congress in new Democratic-leaning district

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama state Rep. Jeremy Gray announced Thursday that he is running for Congress, joining what is becoming an increasingly crowded primary field in the new Democratic-leaning district in the Deep South state.Gray, of Opelika, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District. Two other Alabama lawmakers — state Rep. Napoleon Bracy of Prichard and state Sen. Kirk Hatcher of Montgomery — have announced they intend to run. A number of other legislators are considering bids.“It’s been a long time since people in that area had hope and had someone that really understood the issues in that area,” Gray said. “I’ve been a part of bringing resources to that community through legislation and through funding.”Federal judges last month selected new congressional district lines in Alabama after ruling the previous map likely violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The new map sets the stage for potentially flipping one U.S. House of Representa...

Iranian club Sepahan penalized over canceled ACL match after Saudi team’s walkout

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian soccer team Sepahan was penalized with a 3-0 loss and a fine over a canceled Asian Champions League match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, Iranian media reported.The match was called off last month when the Saudi team — featuring former Premier League stars such as N’Golo Kante and Fabinho — walked out at the last minute, apparently over the presence of a statue of a slain Iranian general on the sidelines. Iran’s foreign ministry had earlier said that an agreement had been reached to replay the match, amid concerns that the incident could further strain a recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, longtime rivals who have backed opposite sides in conflicts across the Middle East. But Iranian media reported that the Asian Football Confederation ruled that Al Ittihad should be awarded a 3-0 win and that Sepahan should pay a fine of $200,000. According to the reports, Sepahan was also banned from hosting its next three Asian Champions ...

Barrick Gold reports US$368M Q3 profit, up from US$241M a year ago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

TORONTO — Barrick Gold Corp. reported a third-quarter profit of US$368 million, up from US$241 million a year earlier, helped by higher gold prices.The Toronto-based gold miner, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says the profit amounted to 21 cents per share, up from 14 cents per share a year earlier.Revenue totalled US$2.86 billion, up from US$2.53 billion in the same quarter last year.Gold sales amounted to 1,027,000 ounces, up from 997,000 ounces a year ago, while Barrick’s realized gold price for the quarter was US$1,928 per ounce, up from US$1,722 a year ago.Copper sales totalled 101 million pounds, down from 120 million pounds a year earlier, while Barrick’s realized copper price was US$3.78 per pound, up from US$3.24 in the same quarter last year.On an adjusted basis, Barrick says it earned 24 cents per share, up from 13 cents per share a year earlier.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:ABX)The Cana...

UK’s Sunak to discuss AI risks with Kamala Harris at summit before chat with Elon Musk

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

BLETCHLEY PARK, England (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are set to join senior politicians from around the world on Thursday at a U.K. summit focused on containing risks from rapid advances in cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Sunak organized the first-ever AI Safety Summit as a forum for officials, experts and the tech industry to better understand “frontier” AI that some scientists warn could pose a risk to humanity’s very existence.The leaders of the United Nations and the European Union joined talks on the second day of the meeting, held at a former codebreaking spy base near London. It kicked off on Wednesday with an agreement signed by 28 nations, including the U.S. and China, to work toward “shared agreement and responsibility” about AI risks, and a plan to hold further meetings in South Korea and France over the next year. Binding regulation for AI is not among the summit’s goals. Sunak has said that the U.K.’s ...

GTA home sales drop 5.8% in October amid high borrowing costs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

Home sales in the Greater Toronto Area fell 5.8 per cent last month compared with October 2022, with sales of townhouses recording the biggest decline.On a monthly basis, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says last month’s 4,646 home sales were relatively flat over the 4,631 sales in September.The board attributes the year-over-year slide to a lack of affordability and uncertainty associated with high borrowing costs, which has sidelined many would-be homebuyers.The average home price reached $1,125,928, a 3.5 per cent increase from last October. Related: Canadian Real Estate Association cuts forecast for home sales and prices this year Home sales, prices will likely fall in short term but pick up next spring: TD report More Canadians opting for home co-ownership amid affordability crunch: Royal LePage New listings surged 38 per cent to 14,397 in October compared with 10,433 in October 2022, which had marked a 12-year low.TRR...

Woman shot, another hit by car on South Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Two women are hospitalized following a shooting and a hit-and-run on the city's South Side.It happened around 9:10 p.m. Wednesday in the 7900 block of South Paxton. Police said a 24-year-old woman was in an alley when she was shot by a man who then fled the scene on foot.According to police, the woman was in a vehicle at the time of the shooting. She was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.Police said a 23-year-old woman was also in the alley at the time of the shooting and was struck by a red sedan, which fled the scene. She was transported to the same hospital in good condition. Off-duty CPD officer under investigation after shoving 8th grader No one is in custody. Area Two Detectives are investigating.

Mayor Johnson headed to Washington D.C. over migrant crisis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson is joining other mayors in Washington D.C. Thursday to ask federal officials for help with the migrant crisis.It's happening a day after city councilors showed division on purchasing land for a new shelter.Johnson will join mayors from New York, Denver, Houston and Los Angeles to ask for financial assistance with handling migrant housing.Since last year, Chicago has received more than 20,000 migrants from the Texas border — and opened 24 shelters.The handling of asylym seekers has divided Chicago's City Council.Purchasing an abandoned retail property to build a Morgan Park shelter for migrants was derailed by a group of frustrated alderpeople Wednesday, some saying the money spent on migrants could be given to communities in need.The discussion led to a call for a special city council vote regarding whether Chicago should keep its status as a sanctuary city. City Council vote on migrant shelter in Morgan Park temporarily shelved A group of council m...

Thursday Forecast: Temps in low 50s with partly cloudy conditions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Temperatures in mid-50s Thursday with partly cloudy conditions. Winds: SW 10-15 G25. High: 51. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Partly cloudy tonight. Winds: SW 10-15 G30. Low: 41.Friday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, SW 10-15 G30. High: 54.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog