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China’s plans to build a new embassy near the Tower of London stall amid local opposition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

LONDON (AP) — China’s plans to build a new embassy near the Tower of London have stalled following local opposition to what would be the biggest diplomatic compound in Britain.The borough of Tower Hamlets, the local government council in London responsible for the area, blocked the project in February, citing concerns about the increased risk of terror attacks, protests and traffic in an area visited by millions of tourists each year.Chinese authorities had until Thursday to appeal the decision to the U.K. government but did not, Tower Hamlets said.“If the applicant wanted to appeal through the public inquiry procedure then they would have already needed to have given notice to us as the local planning authority,’’ Tower Hamlets said in a statement. “We haven’t received any such notification from the applicant.”China’s plans called for comprehensive redevelopment of a 5.2-acre site that was home to the Royal Mint from 1811 to 1968, demolishing some of the existing buildings and rest...

Rent hit a new high in July as students prepped for school, buyers sidelined: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

TORONTO — A new report says Canada’s average asking rent reached a new record in July.Data from Rentals.ca and research firm Urbanation says the average asking rent totalled $2,078 in the month.That total is 8.9 per cent higher than a year earlier, making it the fastest pace of growth over the past three months.Between June and July alone, the average asking rent rose 1.8 per cent, the most rapid month-over-month increase in the last eight months.Compared to July 2021, the average asking rent increased by 21 per cent, adding $354 per month on average.Rentals.ca and Urbanation attributed the rise to a surge in post-secondary students signing leases before the fall, unprecedented levels of population growth and homebuyers holding off on purchases as interest rates have risen.“Canada’s rental market is currently facing a perfect storm of factors driving rents to new highs,” said Shaun Hildebrand, president of Urbanation, in a news release. “These include the peak season for lease...

Russia and Ukraine trade aerial attacks as Zelenskyy makes another move against corruption

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia fired missiles at western Ukraine that killed an 8-year-old boy, local officials said, and drones that Russian officials blamed on the Ukrainian military targeted Moscow for a third straight day but reportedly didn’t cause significant damage.Also Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the firing of all the heads of regional military draft boards, part of his crackdown on corruption since the outbreak of Russia’s war in Ukraine more than 17 months ago.The missile that killed the boy struck a house In western Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Polish border, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general.But Ukrainian air defenses frustrated Russia’s daylight attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Debris from intercepted missiles fell on residential areas of the city, including the premises of a children’s hospital, without causing casualties, local authorities said.Falling wreckage...

UEFA chief Ceferin to travel to Greece for talks with PM after deadly fan violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin will visit Greece next week to meet with the country’s prime minister in the wake of an attack in Athens by Croatian fans that left one man dead.Ceferin will meet on Aug. 16 with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Representatives of the country’s four major clubs — AEK Athens, Olympiakos, PAOK and Panathinaikos — as well as government sporting officials have been invited to attend the discussions, government officials said.A Champions League qualifier between AEK and Dinamo Zagreb was called off Tuesday after scores of Croatian supporters wielding wooden clubs and metal bats attacked bystanders outside AEK’s Opap Arena.One AEK fan, 29 year-old Michalis Katsouris, died at the scene from a stab wound, while 10 others were injured.More than 100 people were arrested — mostly Dinamo fans — and have been charged with murder, membership of a criminal gang and other offenses.On Friday, clashes broke out in front of court buildings in ...

Man dies after car flips in attempt to flee shooting on South Side: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

CHICAGO -- A man is dead after a car flipped in attempt to flee a shooting with an eight-year-old boy inside on the South Side Thursday night .According to police, the 26-year-old man was sitting in a parked vehicle with an eight-year-old boy near the 100 block of East 86th Street around 11:58 p.m. when three individuals shot at him and fled east in a black sedan. The man attempted to flee but crashed into an unoccupied car causing his vehicle to flip over in the 8300 block of South State Street. Killer of Indian Head Park teen dies in prison He was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition and was pronounced dead shortly after. The eight-year-old boy was transported to Comer Children's Hospital in good condition and no apparent injuries. There is no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Flash drought, invasive grasses, winds, hurricane and climate change fuel Maui's devastating fires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

Hawaii went from lush to bone dry and thus more fire-prone in a matter of just a few weeks — a key factor in a dangerous mix of conditions appear to have combined to make the wildfires blazing a path of destruction in Hawaii particularly damaging.Experts say climate change is increasing the likelihood of these flash droughts as well as other extreme weather events like what's playing out on the island of Maui, where dozens of people have been killed and a historic tourist town was devastated. At least 55 people died in fires on Maui. Residents had little warning “It's leading to these unpredictable or unforeseen combinations that we're seeing right now and that are fueling this extreme fire weather,” said Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia's faculty of forestry. “What these ... catastrophic wildfire disasters are revealing is that nowhere is immune to the issue.”Here's a look at the Maui fires, and what's behind them:FLA...

Two dead after murder/suicide in Georgetown, sheriff's office says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Two people are dead after a murder/suicide in Georgetown on Thursday, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter.At approximately 5 p.m., WCSO responded to a residence in the 500 block of Vaughn Street in Georgetown after a 911 caller said two people were shot, according to a news release from WCSO.Officials arrived on the scene and found one man and one woman dead, the release said.According to the investigation, WCSO said it was an isolated murder/suicide incident. The names of those involved were not provided, as officials needed to notify next of kin.There was no danger to the public, and the incident remained under investigation Thursday, WCSO said.

Austin Public Libraries closed Friday; cooling centers impacted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin-Travis County EMS said Thursday all Austin public libraries would be closed on Friday, impacting cooling center locations across the city. ATCEMS said the libraries will be closed for staff training. Because of the closure, only one of the libraries will be available as a cooling center. The Terrazas Branch Library will be available as a cooling center from 12 to 8 p.m. on Friday, ATCEMS said. According ATCEMS, the libraries will reopen on Saturday.Here is a link to a map of the cooling centers that will be open on Friday.

New eatery opens at former TJ's Cafe location in Colonie

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Hey Chef Bar & Grill has opened at 1133 Central Avenue in Colonie. It's in the former TJ's Cafe building. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! TJ's Cafe closed in July 2022 after almost 26 years. The closure is due to pandemic-related issues including the rising cost of goods, supply chain issues, staff shortages and exhaustion.The Hey Chef menu includes fries, skewers, salad, wings, noodle soup bowls, rice bowls, fried rice, seafood, bubble tea, and more. You can view the full menu on the Hey Chef website. Caribbean restaurant opening on Wolf Road in Colonie For the grand opening, the restaurant has specials on snow crab legs, Miller Lite drafts, Yuengling drafts, and glasses of wine every day from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hey Chef is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.The eatery is open for both dine-in and take-out...

Schenectady, Rotterdam residents indicted on murder charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:47 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three people, one from Schenectady and another from Rotterdam, were indicted on murder charges related to the fatal shooting of Dominique Green on July 27. Maliek Fredericks (25, Schenectady), Shaliza Dhanraj (26, Rotterdam), and Nyqwaun Monroe (25, New York City). Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On Thursday, July 27, police responded to a report of a gunshot victim on Prospect Street near Greenkill Avenue. Police say Green was found dead at the scene. All three suspects are charged with second-degree murder and three counts of first-degree acting in concert burglary. Monroe also faces second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Fredericks faces an additional criminal possession of a firearm charge. ACSO: Rochester man accused of stealing rental car from Albany International Airport All three defendants are currently held at the Ulster County Jai...