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Colombia begins a six-month cease-fire with its last remaining rebel group in hopes of forging peace

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia and the National Liberation Army, or ELN, formally began a six-month cease-fire Thursday as part of a process to forge a permanent peace between the government and the country’s last remaining rebel group.The cease-fire agreement, announced June 9 during talks in Havana, comes amid skepticism among some Colombians that the peace process can fully end an insurgency dating back to the 1960s or halt the alleged involvement of the group’s estimated 5,000 remaining members in drug trafficking. The ELN leadership denies involvement in the drug trade.The agreement also called for the creation of a broadly representative national committee to discuss a lasting solution to the conflict. The first meeting of the National Participation Committee was scheduled for later Thursday.The cease-fire is supposed to suspend attacks between the guerrillas and the Colombian police and military throughout the country, and can be extended next January if progress is m...

Bell says more cost restructuring possible as Q2 net earnings fall almost 40%

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

Following a quarter in which it began cutting 1,300 positions, shuttered six radio stations and closed two foreign news bureaus, BCE Inc. says more cost restructuring could be in store in response to declining ad revenue and regulatory hurdles.The Montreal-based telecommunications and media company reiterated the significance of those challenges on Thursday as it reported its second-quarter earnings and addressed analysts on a conference call.Bell Media faces operating losses across its news divisions, “a prolonged advertising slump with no signs of immediate recovery,” rising content production costs and “a more challenging regulatory environment that has not adapted to the new realities facing media,” said chief financial officer Glen LeBlanc.“This has required us to rightsize our operating cost structure and asset portfolio to align with the expected revenue potential of our media business,” he said.“Going forward, we will need to continu...

Citing spike in hate, Pride orgs call for action, safety plan from Ontario government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

TORONTO — A coalition of Ontario Pride organizations are calling on the province to urgently work with them to develop a proactive safety plan to beat back a rising tide of anti-LGBTQ hate. Leaders from five Pride organizations, from Thunder Bay to Ottawa, say that without more support and consistent levels of funding, their Pride festivals will struggle to survive against what some call unprecedented levels of hate. North Bay Pride’s Jason Maclennan says an “alarming surge in hostility” led the group to treat next month’s Pride event as a protest, not a parade, echoing the festival’s historical roots. He says after getting about $109,000 from the province last year, the festival received no money this year, citing provincial budget cuts to a festival grant program. The groups were joined by NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam who earlier this year tabled a private member’s bill that would, if passed, give the attorney general power to temporarily establish ...

Ethiopia’s Amhara region pleads for help with violent unrest after attempt to disarm local fighters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Authorities in Ethiopia’s Amhara region on Thursday asked the federal government for help, as a local ethnic militia clashed with federal security forces, halting some flights to key cities and leading the deputy prime minister, in an unusually outspoken statement, to call the situation “increasingly grave.”The disturbances are “causing serious economic, social and humanitarian damage,” the regional authorities said in a letter to Ethiopia’s prime minister asking the government to take “appropriate measures.”Ethiopia’s second most populous region has been gripped by instability since April, when federal authorities disarmed the Amhara regional force as part of the recovery from a devastating two-year conflict in the neighboring Tigray region. Authorities last year also tried to dismantle the Amhara militia known as Fano.Both forces had fought alongside federal ones in the Tigray conflict, but now the federal government wants to centralize its security pow...

IDOT announces additional ramp closures to inbound Kennedy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

CHICAGO — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced Thursday that more ramp closures will take place beginning Monday for the ongoing Kennedy rehabilitation project.Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, the following ramps will be closed.Irving Park Road (Illinois 19) ramp to the inbound Kennedy — anticipated to reopen in mid-September.Sacramento Avenue ramp to the inbound Kennedy — anticipated to reopen in mid-September.Webster Avenue ramp to the inbound Kennedy — anticipated to reopen in two weeks.Two current ramp closures are expected to reopen "mid next week" — the inbound Kennedy ramp to Irving Park Road and the Fullerton ramp to the inbound Kennedy.The other current closure, the Wilson Avenue ramp to the inbound Kennedy, is anticipated to reopen in mid-September. Kennedy Expressway construction: What you should know about adjusting to the delays During that time, motorists should follow the posted detours. Additional ramp closures with detours will be required to comp...

Northwestern football adds another coach for 2023 season

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — As he prepares to lead a college football team for the first time, David Braun is going to have a little more help by his side for the 2023 season. The coach joining his staff has plenty of experience at the college level and has enjoyed success in a new professional league recently..@NUFBFamily has officially announced the hiring of Skip Holtz as a special assistant to interim head coach David Braun..Holtz will still continue his role as head coach of the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/r0O3vtSkxr— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) August 3, 2023On Thursday morning, Northwestern confirmed the hiring of Skip Holtz as a special assistant to the head coach as Braun gets ready to lead the program on an interim basis. He's taking over for the 2023 season for Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired in the wake of a hazing scandal that's erupted over the last month. Holtz is the head coach of the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, whic...

Worst queso scenario: Truck spills nacho cheese on Arkansas highway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – A truck carrying nacho cheese crashed on an Arkansas highway Tuesday afternoon, leaving a cheesy mess across the roadway.Officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation said the accident took place around midday, after a truck carrying the cans of cheese merged into the same lane as a wrecker truck hauling an 18-wheeler on Interstate 30 near Prescott. Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 92,000 vehicles over fire risk No one was injured, though the accident left behind quite the mess.On Tuesday evening, officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation posted two pictures to social media showing the interstate covered in spilled cans of nacho cheese."Taco Tuesday, anyone?" the department joked.The crash scene was cleared the same day and traffic began moving normally by the evening, according to officials. Driver whose car vaulted over tow truck speaks out Drivers on the other side of the country, meanwhile, faced a similar situation earlier t...

Pence selling 'Too Honest' merch, quoting Trump from indictment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

Former Vice President Mike Pence's 2024 campaign is hoping to capitalize on his presence in the latest federal indictment against former President Trump in the form of new merchandise.Pence's campaign is selling T-shirts and hats that read "Too honest," a nod to a quote from the 45-page indictment against Trump over his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election, which included pressuring his vice president to reject the results.The indictment highlights a Jan. 1, 2021, call during which Trump berated Pence after learning he had opposed a lawsuit seeking a ruling on the vice president’s authority to reject electoral votes. When Pence said there was no constitutional basis for him to reject the votes, Trump replied, “You’re too honest.”Pence recounted the same conversation in his memoir, released last year.The Washington Examiner first reported on the new merchandise, which will be available later Thursday.The former vice president, who is running against Trump for the...

Passengers restrain man accused of injuring Delta flight attendant

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — A New Orleans man is in custody and accused of battery after an encounter with a flight attendant at the Louis Armstrong International Airport. According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the plane was on the ground around 4 p.m. Wednesday when 39-year-old Nelson Montgomery injured himself with a sharp object.Deputies said Mongomery then grabbed a flight attendant, who suffered two cuts, possibly caused by the same sharp object. She was treated on the scene.Officials report Montgomery was overpowered by several passengers and held down until police arrived.Montgomery was treated at a local hospital for his non-life-threatening injuries. He was booked into the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's on charges of aggravated battery, disturbing the peace, and simple battery.Authorities have not released any details regarding a possible motive.There have been over 1,000 cases of unruly passengers on U.S. flights already this year, according to the FAA. A...

As I-35 project awaits federal approval, some Austin City Council concerns remain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With the Texas Department of Transportation poised to receive a final verdict from the federal government on its Interstate 35 expansion proposal this month, some Austin City Council members still have reservations about the project.Council members Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, José “Chito” Vela and Ryan Alter shared a joint statement on Austin City Council's public message board Monday. In it, the three acknowledged their approval of new highway capping opportunities incorporated into the project that could add greenspace and affordable housing to the corridor."We are pleased that TxDOT has modified their plans to deepen the highway between Dean Keeton and 45th Street, creating the opportunity for a 7.5 acre cap between 38th ½ Street and Airport," the message read in part. "This will create new opportunities for greenspace and affordable housing, and minimize the negative impact of the highway on the surrounding neighbors." RELATED: When will I-35 road construction start in...