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Anuja Varghese wins Governor General’s literary award for fiction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

TORONTO — Anuja Varghese has won the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction for her debut short story collection.She took home the $25,000 prize for “Chrysalis,” a collection that blends elements of Hindu folklore with modern diasporic life. The book, published by House of Anansi Press, is also nominated for the Writers’ Trust’s Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers.The Governor General’s Awards, founded in 1936, are among the country’s oldest literary honours. English and French awards are handed out in seven categories with the winners receiving $25,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, which administers the prizes.This year’s non-fiction prize went to Kyo Maclear for “Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets,” a memoir published by Knopf Canada about the author’s discovery that the dad who raised her was not her biological father. Hannah Green won the poetry award for her debut collection, ...

Georgia’s state taxes at fuel pumps suspended until Nov. 29, when lawmakers start special session

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — People in Georgia will keep paying no state taxes on gasoline and diesel, at least until state lawmakers start a special legislative session.Republican Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday extended the fuel tax rollback of 31.2 cents per gallon of gasoline and 35 cents per gallon of diesel until Nov. 29. Georgia’s governor can suspend the collection of taxes during an emergency as long as state lawmakers approve it the next time they meet. That next session had been scheduled for Jan. 8, but will now be Nov. 29. That’s when Kemp called a special session to redraw Georgia’s congressional and state legislative districts after a federal judge ruled some districts illegally diluted voting power of Black people.It’s unclear if Kemp will ask lawmakers to extend the tax break by law during their special session. He could also declare another state of emergency after lawmakers leave and resume waiving taxes until January. Spokesperson Garrison Douglas said he had no...

How LGBTQ+ prospective parents can navigate the adoption process

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

Adoption is one way LGBTQ+ people can fulfill their dreams of becoming a parent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, same-sex couples were four times more likely than opposite-sex couples to adopt a child in 2019.While LGBTQ+ prospective parents can expect a similar adoption process as opposite-sex couples, there are unique considerations involving whom to work with and how to pay for adoption.Knowing whom to turn to during what can be an emotional and expensive process can help LGBTQ+ adoptive parents along the way.CONSIDER THE TYPE OF ADOPTIONOne of the first decisions all prospective parents must make is what type of adoption works best for their family. Options include adoption through foster care — nearly 400,000 children in the U.S. currently await homes — or through an adoption agency. Another option is an independent adoption, which involves working directly with birth parents.Intercountry adoption, or adopting a child from another country, presents obstacles for prospectiv...

MDA reports $9.3M Q3 profit, revenue up nearly 20% from year ago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

BRAMPTON, Ont. — MDA Ltd. reported net income of $9.3 million in its latest quarter, down from $17.9 million a year earlier, as its revenue rose nearly 20 per cent.The space technology firm says the profit amounted to eight cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from 15 cents per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue for the company’s third quarter totalled $204.7 million, up from $172.0 million in the same quarter last year, helped by strength in its satellite systems and robotics and space operations businesses.In its outlook, MDA says it now expects revenue for 2023 to come in between $790 million and $810 million, compared with its earlier guidance for between $785 million and $810 million.It also raised its 2023 guidance for adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to between $165 million and $170 million, compared with $155 million to $165 million. MDA said it expects its 2023 capital expenditures to range between $200 ...

Wintry weather on the way with parts of GTA under freezing rain warning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

The GTA could get its first taste of wintry weather this fall with parts of the region expected to see freezing rain during the Wednesday afternoon commute.A freezing rain warning has been issued to areas north and west of the City of Toronto, including Halton Hills, Milton, Newmarket, Uxbridge Georgina, and northern York Region.“Freezing rain is expected to begin this afternoon before slowly changing to rain this evening,” warns Environment Canada. “The most significant freezing rain is expected over areas of higher terrain.”The weather agency says ice accretion of up to two millimetres is possible, warning some roads and walkways may become slippery. Freezing rain warnings are issued when rain is expected in below zero temperatures. Which areas see freezing rain will be dependent on the temperature when the rain starts to fall.Special Wx Statement UPGRADED to Freezing Rain Warning for Newmarket, Georgina, Uxbridge,Halton Hills, Milton. Gets going around 1pm...

21 Syrian pro-government militiamen killed in overnight ambush by Islamic State group, reports say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — The Islamic State group ambushed pro-government militiamen in an overnight attack in eastern Syria, killing at least 21 fighters, pro-government media and an opposition war monitor said Wednesday.Sham FM radio reported that the militiamen from the pro-government National Defense Places were ambushed in the village of al-Kawm in the central Syrian desert, between the government-held city of Homs and south of the city of Raqqa, which is under control of U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces. British-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed IS for the attack but gave a higher death toll, saying there were 34 militiamen killed. Different casualty figures are common in the aftermath of such attacks. Syrian officials did not immediately comment on the attack, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility from IS. The attack comes as violence is rising elsewhere in Syria. The opposition-held enclave in the country’s northwest has wi...

Police investigating string of overnight robberies on Southwest Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

CHICAGO —Police are looking for suspects in an overnight robbery spree on the city's Southwest Side.Police said the incidents all happened within an hour-and-a-half of each other starting around 10 p.m. Tuesday night in the 400 block of South Archer. Police said a second incident occurred at 10:41 p.m. in  the 3300 block of South Ashland then again just seven minutes later in the 1600 block of West 35th Street. A fourth incident occurred in the 1400 block of West Taylor around 11:30 p.m.Police said in each incident three men robbed multiple people at gunpoint.In at least three of the robberies, the witness reported seeing the men get away in a silver sedan.No arrest have been made.     

Israel comes under pressure over plight of civilians in Gaza as thousands flee enclave's north

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel came under mounting pressure over the plight of civilians in Gaza from some of its closest allies on Wednesday, as thousands of Palestinians streamed out of the enclave’s north on foot because of dwindling food and water and fear of approaching Israeli forces.Over 70% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have already left their homes, but the number making their way south has quickened recently as Israeli troops battle militants inside Gaza City and the humanitarian situation grows increasingly dire.The Group of Seven wealthy industrialized nations called Wednesday for the “unimpeded” delivery of food, water, medicine and fuel, and for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted such calls, while leaving open the possibility of smaller breaks.But there remains to real end in sight to the war, triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault inside Israel and now in its second month.Israel has said the ba...

'The Legend of Zelda' will be made into a live-action film

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo is developing a live-action film based on its hit video game “The Legend of Zelda,” the Japanese company behind the Super Mario franchise said Wednesday.The film, with financing from Sony Pictures Entertainment as well as its own investment, will be directed by Wes Ball, the American director of the upcoming “Planet of the Apes” film. It’s being co-produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions Inc., which is behind the live-action Spider-Man films and headed by Avi Arad.The move highlights Kyoto-based Nintendo’s strategy to leverage various aspects of its business, including theme parks, merchandising and movies, to boost machine and software sales, and vice versa.That strategy has met success. Its animated film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” released earlier this year, has raked in more than $1.3 billion and drew nearly 170 million people worldwide.President Shuntaro Furukawa, briefing reporters online, said the company was pleased with the success of the Super Ma...

Amber Alert issued for 9-month-old girl from Laredo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:25 GMT

LAREDO, Texas (KXAN) – The Department of Public Safety issued an Amber Alert Wednesday morning for a nine month old girl from Laredo. According to DPS, Delilah Lopez was last seen around 12:45 a.m. Delilah has brown hair and eyes, DPS said. She weighs 15 pounds and is 2 feet tall.The suspect in the case was driving a blue 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan, according to DPS. It has a Texas license plate 3970S52. Delilah Lopez (Photo: Department of Public Safety)Anyone with information is asked to call the Laredo Police Department at 956-795-2800.