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What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and how is it celebrated in India and the diaspora?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular. It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer.Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. WHEN IS DIWALI?The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November. This year, Diwali begins Nov. 10 and the festival will be observed on Nov. 12.WHAT ARE SOME HINDU STORIES OF DIWALI?While Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, it is also observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The origin story of Diwali varies depending on the region. All these stories have one underlying theme — the victory...

Rogers reports Q3 net loss on joint venture charge, adjusted profit up from year ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

TORONTO — Rogers Communications Inc. reported a net loss in its latest quarter as it was hit by a charge related to one of its joint venture investments.The cable and wireless company says it lost $99 million or 20 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a profit of $371 million or 71 cents per diluted share a year ago.The results in the most recent quarter included a $422-million loss on an obligation to purchase at fair value the non-controlling interest in one of its joint ventures’ investments.On an adjusted basis, Rogers says it earned $1.27 per diluted share in its most recent quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 84 cents per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue in the company’s third quarter totalled $5.09 billion, up from $3.74 billion in the same quarter last year.Rogers says its net increase in mobile phone subscribers totalled 261,000 for the three-month period, its best quarterly result ever, while its net increase in internet s...

Canadian Tire looks to cut about 3% of workforce as it faces softening demand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

TORONTO — Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd. plans to cut about three per cent of its workforce in its fourth quarter as it faces softening consumer demand.The retailer said Thursday, in addition, the elimination of the majority of current job vacancies will result in a further reduction of three per cent.Canadian Tire said it expects to take a charge of between $20.0 million and $25.0 million in its fourth quarter in connection with the decision, while annualized run-rate savings are expected to be about $50.0 million.“In a more challenging economic environment, we are accelerating efficiency initiatives, prioritizing investments within our Better Connected strategy, and actively managing our resource allocation,” Canadian Tire chief executive Greg Hicks said in a statement.The announcement of the cuts came as Canadian Tire raised its quarterly dividend and reported a loss in its latest quarter, weighed down by a one-time charge related to its deal to buy back the 20 per cent sta...

Five takeaways from the GOP debate in Miami

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

Five Republican White House candidates faced off in Miami on Wednesday in the third GOP presidential debate, a day after the party suffered key losses in states like Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramasamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (R) qualified for the Miami stage — a narrower field than the previous two debates as the party approaches the kickoff of 2024 voting in January. The candidates clashed on stage as they scramble to get closer to former President Trump, who holds a substantial lead over the rest of the field. Trump skipped the event once again and held a rally as counter-programming. Here are five takeaways from the third GOP presidential debate:Haley seen as a threatHaley fielded numerous attacks throughout the night, underscoring her perceived strength among the non-Trump Republicans running for president.She sparred wi...

Sisters, 9 and 14, reported missing from Gage Park: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two sisters, 9 and 14, were reported missing from the Gage Park neighborhood on the Southwest side Wednesday, police said.According to police, nine-year-old Zeilany Perez-Rodriguez was last seen in the 2700 block of West 59th Street Wednesday. She was reported wearing a pink coat, peach sweater, black leggings and purple boots. Man arrested for alleged armed robbery of Illinois casino She is described as being 75 pounds, 4 feet and 5 inches tall with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was reported missing with her 14-year-old sister Maiyaliz Perez-Rodriguez. She was described as being about five feet tall, 120 pounds with dark brown hair and brown eyes. If any information is recovered on their whereabouts contact area detectives at 312-747-8380 or 911.

President Biden headed to Illinois Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

CHICAGO — President Joe Biden will be in Illinois Thursday to boost his reelection campaign.Biden has two stops in Illinois: one in Belvidere at a Stellantis Plant, one of several involved in the most recent auto workers strike. Governor JB Pritzker and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain are also schedule to be there.Biden is expected to discuss how the recent agreement shows his economic strategy.After his stop in Belvidere, he will head to Chicago for private fundraising events.The president will be trying to boost his poll numbers when it comes to economy, which Republicans believe makes him vulnerable. Five takeaways from the GOP debate in Miami Donald Trump is leading Biden in the latest New York Times poll in several areas, including the economy where 59 percent of voters said they trusted the former president compared to Biden's 37 percent.

Judge in Delphi murder case faces deadline to produce transcript of closed-door meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

The Indiana Supreme Court told the judge overseeing the Delphi murder case to provide a transcript of a closed-door meeting last month or explain why it shouldn’t be part of the public record.The same court appointed Special Judge Fran Gull last year to oversee the case after the original judge recused himself.She has until Nov. 16 to file her response to the court’s order. Delphi judge asks Indiana Supreme Court for more time to respond to challenge of how she’s run the case Richard Allen faces two counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge. Indiana State Police announced his arrest in October 2022.Since then, the case has worked its way through the legal system. One of the most recent developments involved an evidence leak attributed to a former associate of one of Allen’s defense attorneys.The leak drew the ire of Gull, who accused Allen’s attorneys—Andrew Baldwin and Bradley Rozzi—of “gross negligence” in handling ...

Tracy Chapman becomes 1st Black songwriter to win CMA's Song of the Year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — History was made at the 57th annual CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday night as Tracy Chapman became the first Black songwriter to win Song of the Year.Luke Combs' recording of Chapman's "Fast Car" helped earn Chapman the nomination — and ultimately the win — 35 years after Chapman's version was released. Presenter Sara Evans read a statement from the notoriously reclusive singer. “I’m sorry I couldn’t join you all tonight,” Chapman wrote. “It’s truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut. Thank you to the CMAs and a special thanks to Luke and all of the fans of ‘Fast Car.’” CMA Awards: The full list of 2023 winners Combs‘ version of “Fast Car" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this summer and took home the first two CMA Awards of the evening, for both song and single of the year.When Combs was asked if he had any words for Chapman, he thanked her and explained what the song means to him."This song has meant, for m...

Tim Scott appears with girlfriend at debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

(The Hill) -- GOP presidential hopeful Tim Scott debuted his girlfriend on the debate stage Wednesday night in a moment that will likely become his most memorable of the evening.As the five candidates on the stage greeted their spouses and families, the South Carolina senator appeared arm-in-arm with a blonde woman as they posed for photos.A source familiar with Scott’s campaign confirmed that the woman is Mindy Noce and that she is, indeed, his girlfriend.Scott’s status as a 58-year-old bachelor has come into focus at several points throughout his campaign. The lawmaker in September confirmed at an Iowa rally that he was dating someone he described as a “lovely, Christian girl.”“I’m very excited. Very excited,” he said to the crowd at the time. Winners and losers from the third Republican debate A Washington Post article a few days earlier had resurfaced discussion about Scott’s marital status. He declined to reveal her name at the time, and the story’s author noted he could no...

Undercover sting, rejected car inspections: How emissions testing fraud impacts Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

Investigative Summary: This summer, KXAN reported on state inspectors in Austin and Kyle, arrested for selling fraudulent vehicle inspection reports. Since then, we learned two Texas Department of Public Safety program inspectors in Dallas, were charged with "organized criminal activity" for helping facilitate fraudulent emissions tests. The Travis County Constable's Office Pct. 3, which tracks and investigates these type of felonies, called "clean scans," estimates five million vehicles were fraudulently inspected last year. Investigators worry that's putting potentially unsafe vehicles on our roads with not enough done by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop it. The agency has known about the problem since at least 2017. The fraud is so pervasive, the Travis County Tax Office has refused, for nearly eight months, accepting vehicle inspection reports for cars subject to emissions testing that are from outside Travis and Williamson counties, KXAN learned excl...