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Lebanon’s central bank governor ends 30-year tenure under investigation during dire economic crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s embattled central bank governor stepped down Monday under a cloud of investigation and blame for his country’s economic crisis as several European countries probe him for alleged financial crimes.Riad Salameh, 73, ended his 30-year tenure atop the central bank as tearful employees took photos and a band played celebratory music with drums and trumpets.In that same building, his four vice governors, led by incoming interim governor Wassim Mansouri, quickly pivoted to urge fiscal reforms for the cash-strapped country.“We are at a crossroads,” Mansouri said at a news conference. “There is no choice, if we continue previous policy … the funds in the Central Bank will eventually dry up.”Seventy-three-year-old Riad Salameh kicked off his tenure as central bank governor in 1993, three years after Lebanon’s bloody 15-year civil war came to an end. It was a time when reconstruction loans and aid was pouring into the country, and Salameh was widely ce...

Kosovo journalists protest government’s suspension of private television station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s journalists on Monday protested against the government’s decision to suspend a private television station’s operations.Authorities made the move last week because they said there were irregularities concerning the registration of Klan Kosova’s business license that violated the country’s constitution.Scores of journalists and members of civil society organizations gathered in downtown Pristina in front of the main government building to protest the suspension of the broadcaster’s operations.The demonstrators said it was a “politically motivated” action taken by the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. It was the first closure of a media outlet since the end of Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war, they said, holding a banner that read “Democracy dies in darkness.”Last week, Kosovo’s Ministry of Industry and Trade suspended Klan Kosova’s license, after the documentation of its business registration in neighboring North Macedonia showed ...

Westbound 401 express closed, 1 person in critical condition after crash near Hwy. 400

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

One person is fighting for their life after a serious crash that shut down a stretch of Highway 401 during the Monday morning rush.Police tell CityNews the crash involving an SUV and a tractor-trailer happened around 6:45 a.m. in the westbound express lanes west of Highway 400.One person has life-threatening injuries.The westbound 401 express is closed approaching the 400 where all traffic is being forced into the collector lanes.????COLLISION: #WB401 express closed approaching the 400 due to a collision. ????https://t.co/xGrbNN6JMp pic.twitter.com/GuZu1fUDSG— CityNews Toronto Traffic & Weather (@citynews680) July 31, 2023

2 critical after building fire on Northwest Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Two people are in critical condition after a fire at an apartment building on the city's Northwest Side.The fire started on the third-floor of a building located at 2112 North Marmora around 5 a.m. Monday.According to the Chicago Fire Department, firefighters removed two people from the fire. They were both transported to area hospitals in critical condition. Woman killed, 8 others injured in shooting at party on West Side The fire has been struck and is under investigation.

Woman killed, 8 others injured in shooting at party on West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman is dead and eight other women are injured after a group of individuals opened fired in North Lawndale overnight.According to police, the group of women were gathering near the 1500 block of South Keeler Avene around 12:51 a.m. when a black jeep approached, and multiple individuals exited the jeep and began shooting. Police said a total of nine women were stuck by gunfire. A 21-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to the face and was transported to the hospital in critical condition She was pronounced dead a short time after.Another woman, 28, sustained eight gunshot wounds to the torso and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Another woman, 33, sustained a graze wound to the stomach and is listed in good condition. Woman dead after incident in Lake Michigan, found pinned beneath boat: CFD Another woman suffered a graze wound to the right arm and is also in good condition. A 28-year-old woman was also shot in the right knee. She is in good c...

Hundreds of Loretto Hospital workers set to strike Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

CHICAGO — It's full steam ahead for Monday morning, when at least 200 workers at Loretto Hospital on the city's Southwest Side, will walk off the job."The strike will start tomorrow morning," said Erica Bland-Durosinmi, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare, the union representing the workers who are prepared to strike. "We've been at the table … proposals have gone back and forth, but we've been unable to reach an agreement at this time."Mental health workers, radiology technicians and housekeepers make up the bulk of the group. The workers claim they're underpaid and understaffed, which is reflected by the turnover rate at Loretto Hospital — a number that stands at nearly 60%."People don't stay because they're not investing in the staff in a real way," Bland-Durosinmi said. "It’s unfortunate that we’ve gotten here, where management is unwilling to bargain in good faith." More from Bronagh: Local Chicago leaders advocate for immigration, work permit reform Bland-Durosinmi t...

Austin runner raising money for brain cancer charity in NYC marathon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Montgomery Lax may be the only runner at the New York City marathon this year who has active brain cancer. She is attempting to run the marathon 100 days after ending her chemo treatment in order to raise money for brain cancer research. Lax is running for the American Brain Tumor Association. She got the call on her last day of chemo treatment and was excited to hear she got in. The charity had funded scientific research that led to the current treatment she was taking to stabilize the tumor in the left frontal lobe of her brain. Lax is currently training in the hot Texas sun to be ready for the 26.2 miles in November, but the hard work pales in comparison to what she went through in the past year. She has been forced to deal with a brain cancer diagnosis, allergic reactions to drugs, and even a dog attack. A lot can happen in a year Lax's journey begins about 18 months before the start of the marathon. She was visiting her ear, nose, and throat doctor about sinus ...

Overnight fire damages vacant south Austin home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A fire damaged a vacant home in south Austin overnight Sunday into early Monday morning. First responders started getting calls about the fire around 2:53 a.m. from neighbors who were woken up by it. The home is in the 6800 block of Lunar Drive, which is off of W. William Cannon Drive between South 1st Street and Congress Avenue. Austin Fire Department crews arrived and found the home was vacant and there was heavy fire through the roof. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control within about 20 minutes, according to AFD. Fire damages home on Lunar Drive in south Austin 7/31/2023 (Photo: Austin Fire Department)Fire damages home on Lunar Drive in south Austin 7/31/2023 (Photo: Austin Fire Department)Fire damages home on Lunar Drive in south Austin 7/31/2023 (Photo: Austin Fire Department)Fire damages home on Lunar Drive in south Austin 7/31/2023 (Photo: Austin Fire Department)The cause of the fire is under investigation, and no injuries were reported. AFD s...

Austinites help teach English to Ukrainian students, refugees across the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For more than three years, global nonprofit ENGin has helped teach thousands of Ukrainians to speak English fluently, in an effort to expand cross-cultural connections.Now, the organization aims to connect 100,000 Ukrainian youth with volunteers to help Ukrainians expand their skillsets and build up future opportunities, especially in the midst of the country's continued war. Here in Central Texas, more than 70 Austin-based volunteers are aiding Ukrainians, one language lesson at a time.How was ENGin created?Ukrainian-American Katerina Manoff launched the nonprofit in March 2020, beginning with a single mentorship connection between herself and a Ukrainian teenager. It was during those sessions that Manoff saw the mentee had difficulty maintaining a conversation in English, despite studying the language for more than a decade.It was through that experience that she created ENGin as a means to expand Ukraine's connection opportunities with the Western hemisphere, in ...

I-94 West in Mpls closed while BCA investigates use-of-force incident involving state trooper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:42 GMT

A portion of Interstate 94 West is closed in North Minneapolis during Monday morning rush hour as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates what it is describing as a “use-of-force incident involving a Minnesota State Patrol trooper.”(Screen shot courtesy of 511mn.org)“It happened on I-94 in Minneapolis,” the BCA said in a Tweet. “More information to come.”I-94 West is closed between Interstate 394 and 49th Avenue North, which is exit 226, according to a Minnesota Department of Transportation map. View more traffic info, including cameras, at MN511.org.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Sex-trafficking sting nets 11 arrests in St. Paul, authorities say Crime & Public Safety | Marijuana is legal in Minnesota Aug. 1, here’s what you need to know Crime & Public Safety | 4 dead, 2 injured in separate aircraft accidents in Wisconsin, authorities say Crime & Publ...