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‘We’ve been advancing steadily’: A Canadian on the frontlines against the last ISIS enclave

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Around the last pocket of Syria still under ISIS control, airstrikes are constant, the buildings are badly damaged and there are mines everywhere, planted by retreating fighters.

“There’s been a lot of destruction,” said Kyle Town, a Canadian with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces who was recently at the frontlines at Deir ez-Zor.

A 30-year-old sheet metal worker from Thunder Bay, Ont., Town is one of a handful of international volunteers helping free the last patches of Syria from ISIS.

He arrived last summer as ISIS, which once controlled a vast swath of Iraq and Syria, was being corralled near the Iraqi border by U.S.-backed SDF fighters.


READ MORE:
U.S.-backed Syrian force says Islamic State in its ‘final moments’

Six months later, the so-called ISIS caliphate is down to about six square kilometres, and hundreds of foreign terrorist fighters — among them Canadians — have been captured.

Though cornered, ISIS continues to fight.

“They attacked our positions a couple of times,” Town said.

ISIS fighters are using truck-mounted guns and drones, both to find targets for mortars and to drop bombs, but their deadliest weapons are explosive booby-traps, he said.

WATCH: U.S.-backed troops are targeted in deadly north Syria blast






Town suspects that hundreds of ISIS fighters remain around Deir ez-Zor but he also believes many have escaped. “I think they’ve managed to smuggle a lot of their fighters out,” he said.

Those remaining are believed to include foreign fighters and hardcore ISIS members with no intention of surrendering.

He wasn’t sure how much longer the fight to retake the ISIS-held areas would continue. “It could be anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months. It’s hard to say.”

“We’ve been advancing steadily.”

This map shows the Kurdish presence in Syria.

Carter Center/Natural Earth via Reuters

A longstanding interest in radical movements led Town to the Kurds. As they appeared in news reports about the conflict, he read about their plight as a beleaguered minority spread across Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. 

Once he had saved enough for the journey, he flew to Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, and crossed the border into northeast Syria, which is under Kurdish control. “I didn’t have any military background or anything like that,” he said.

His family in Ontario confirmed to Global News that he was in Syria with the Kurdish forces. His mother Jillian Town said she and her husband Craig Town, a former police officer shot in the line of duty in 1991, supported his decision.

“Craig and I both are really proud of Kyle and the courage that he’s shown to stand up in the way that he has to defend his beliefs,” she said.

His grandfather, who traces his Armenian roots to Turkey and Iraq, also confirmed Town was in Syria.

“They were a little bit worried,” Town said of his family. “But they’ve always known how I think about things and they trust me and they were supportive.”

Ash Shafah, where the Syrian Democratic Forces are fighting the last ISIS stronghold, Jan. 7, 2019.

Rojava information Centre

Upon arriving in Syria, Town was trained by the YPG, or People’s Protection Units, which is part of the SDF alliance. It was six weeks of military instruction, history lessons and an introduction to the ideology of the Kurdish armed groups.

That doctrine is based on the ideas of Abdullah Ocalan, the founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, who envisioned a leftist Kurdish state. Ocalan has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999.

Town said he admired the grassroots form of democracy the Kurdish self-administration was building in the hope of being recognized as part of a decentralised Syrian federation, as well as the leading role of women in politics and the military.

“There are a lot of lessons that people around the world can learn from, especially in the West,” he said. “How things are working here is significantly different.”

Booby-trapped Improvised Explosive Device left by retreating ISIS fighters near Hajin, Syria, Jan. 10, 2019.

Rojava Information Centre

But the Kurds are at a critical moment. ISIS has pivoted to a guerilla-style campaign and there is the looming threat of a Turkish invasion and confrontation with Syrian regime forces.

Adding to the uncertainty is U.S. President Donald Trump’s sudden decision to withdraw from Syria. U.S. forces in Deir ez-Zor seemed confused about the issue, Town said.

“It seems pretty disorganized,” he said, adding U.S. troops were learning more from news reports than official channels. “They really don’t know how soon or if they’re going to be completely withdrawn.”

Town’s presence on the Deir ez-Zor front means Canadians were on both sides of the battle. On Jan. 13, the SDF captured an ISIS fighter who identified himself as an Ethiopian-Canadian. The former Toronto resident is believed to have narrated ISIS execution videos.

Ash Shafah, near the last ISIS-controlled pocket in Syria, on Jan. 7, 2019.

Rojava Information Centre

About two dozen Canadians have fought with the YPG and the YPJ, the Women’s Protection Units.

John Gallagher, a former member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was killed in November 2015. Another Canadian, Nazzareno Tassone, died in December 2016. Their photos are featured on a billboard near the main border crossing into Syria’s Kurdish-controlled region, known as Rojava.

The United Kingdom and Denmark have arrested volunteer fighters who have returned home after serving with Kurdish forces, but that has not happened in Canada, although many have had visits from the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

“I’m hoping I won’t have any problems like that coming back,” Town said.

“But I suppose I’ll find out.”

Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca

© 2019 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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