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A spring renewal for Canada’s housing market?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

Realtors are expecting Canadians to move off the housing market’s sidelines this spring.They expect potential buyers to start hunting for a home because the Bank of Canada has eased up on interest rate hikes.The quick succession of increases eroded buying power as borrowing costs rose and sent prices falling, discouraging sellers from listing their homes.With Canadian Real Estate Association data showing average prices have dropped 19 per cent from their February peak of $816,578 to $662,437 last month and BMO Capital Markets’ chief economist predicting they will bottom out after falling 20 to 25 per cent, realtors see many edging toward a purchase once more.“We got a flood of buyers in January, in February and we still are getting more and more and we started seeing multiple offers return and bully offers return,” said Michelle Gilbert, a Toronto broker with Sage Real Estate Ltd.“We’ve started getting calls where buyers are just like ‘I thi...

German group sues Facebook owner Meta over death threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A prominent German environmental group said Wednesday that it’s suing Facebook’s parent company Meta over persistent death threats posted on the social network against its staff.Environmental Action Germany, known by its German acronym DUH, says Meta has been unwilling to stop the threats of violence regularly directed at DUH director Juergen Resch and others in a Facebook group with more than 50,000 members.DUH has conducted high-profile campaigns demanding that German cities enforce air quality rules by banning certain heavily polluting vehicles.Meta didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.German lawmaker Renate Kuenast won a case against Facebook last year forcing the company to remove fake quotes attributed to her from its site and pay damages. Facebook is appealing the ruling.The Associated Press

Macron to defend French pension plan on national television

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron will explain how he will seek to overcome tensions prompted by his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, as he speaks on national television for the first time since his government forced through the bill amid mass protests.Macron is expected to back his government on Wednesday, two days after it survived two no-confidence votes at the lower chamber of parliament.The 45-year-old French president repeatedly said that he was convinced the retirement system needed to be modified to keep it financed. His decision last week to use a special constitutional power to push the bill through the legislative process without a vote infuriated many at parliament and across the country.Since then, mostly small, scattered protests are being held every day in cities around France, some degenerating into violence, including in Paris. Dock workers in Marseille on Wednesday blocked access to the city’s commercial port — France’s bigges...

China calls Xi’s Russia visit one of friendship, peace

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China on Wednesday said President Xi Jinping’s just-concluded visit to Russia was a “journey of friendship, cooperation and peace,” and again criticized Washington for providing military support to Ukraine.The trip that ended Wednesday signaled no new progress in ending the bloody conflict between Russia and Ukraine while shoring up President Vladimir Putin’s standing amid growing efforts to isolate him and his government internationally.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated China’s claims that it remains neutral in the conflict and said it had “no selfish motives on the Ukraine issue, has not stood idly by … or taken the opportunity to profit itself.”“What China has done boils down to one word, that is, to promote peace talks,” Wang said at a daily briefing.Wang also accused the U.S. of lacking impartiality and of “fanning the flames” of the conflict by providing defensive weapons to Ukraine to Washington’s own benefit.The U.S...

Sotheby's hopes to sell ancient Hebrew Bible for record $30 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — One of the oldest surviving biblical manuscripts, a nearly complete 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible, could soon be yours — for a cool $30 million.The Codex Sassoon, a leather-bound, handwritten parchment tome containing almost the entirety of the Hebrew Bible, is set to go on the block at Sotheby’s in New York in May. Its anticipated sale speaks to the still bullish market for art, antiquities and ancient manuscripts even in a worldwide bear economy.A member of staff shows the Hebrew Bible "Codex Sassoon", that dates back more than 1,000 years, on display during a media preview of Sotheby's auction, in London, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. The piece has an estimated price of US$30-50 million and will go on auction on May in New York. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)A member of staff shows the Hebrew Bible "Codex Sassoon", that dates back more than 1,000 years, on display during a media preview of Sotheby's auction, in London, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. The piece has an estimated price ...

Dunkin’s newest item sounds like something Taco Bell would offer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – After establishing itself as a global leader in the coffee-and-doughnut space over the last 70-plus years, Dunkin’ is finally ready to take the next logical step in its menu’s evolution.They’re adding tacos.Dunkin’s new Breakfast Tacos will be available at locations nationwide as of Wednesday morning, the chain announced earlier the same day. The new items are the latest to join Dunkin’s existing menu of breakfast fare, which includes doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, hash browns and a “wake-up wrap” served in a folded tortilla, which already looks a whole lot like a breakfast taco."These tacos are undoubtedly one of the tastiest savory items we've launched at Dunkin',” said Jill McVicar Nelson, Dunkin's Chief Marketing Officer, in a press release. “We're thrilled for guests to try them and discover their new favorite meal to fuel their day, whether they're looking for a delicious breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack."Dunkin's new breakfast tacos come with eggs, che...

Mix of clouds and sun as warming trend continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A little less rain and little more warmth expected today compared to the gray weather that took hold of most of the area yesterday.Morning clouds and pockets of drizzle will thin some by midday allowing for a little more sunshine to peek through this afternoon. High temperatures will return to the 80s with noticeable winds gusting 20-25 mph.Tomorrow will look and feel about the same - morning clouds with a few pockets of drizzle, afternoon sunshine and 80s.Timing of our next cold front looks to get pushed a little later into the morning Friday, meaning less of a threat overnight but more impacts to Friday's morning commute.A cold front will move southeast across the area beginning just before sunrise Friday and continuing through early afternoon. A few isolated strong to severe storms are possible - mainly in the Hill Country - in the early morning hours on Friday.Overall, rainfall totals look minimal with most of us not favored to see more than a quarter of an inch...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Is It Cheating if My Husband is Flirting With Chat AI?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Alexis, and it's very interesting and about what constitutes cheating. Here's the email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hey Jaime! Recently, my husband started being more secretive with his phone and occasionally giggling, smiling, and smirking while writing a message. I felt a little worried, only to discover he's been sending flirty messages to chatGPT, an artificial intelligence. He insists that it's okay because it's not a real person, but I'm still uncomfortable with it. What should I do? Would this bother you? ThanksAlexisI knew eventually that AI app was going to get someone in trouble. I think it's kind of funny that he's flirting with a computer. Maybe he can use some of what he's learning with his wife, Alexis. At least I hope that's what he'll do. I do understand her being uncomfortable though. Why use your best lines on a computer....use them on...

Dunkin' debuting new breakfast tacos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Starting on Wednesday, Dunkin' will be debuting its first-ever breakfast tacos. The tacos will come with scrambled eggs, melted sharp cheddar cheese, fire-roasted corn, and a drizzle of tangy lime crema. The tacos can be ordered with or without crumbled bacon toppings as well. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Dunkin' says the tacos are designed to be eaten on the go and are debuting just in time for spring. “Our culinary team has expertly crafted these Breakfast Tacos with the vibrancy of spring in mind, delivering a taste sensation that can be enjoyed any time of the day - not just for breakfast,” said Jill McVicar Nelson, Dunkin's Chief Marketing Officer. “These tacos are undoubtedly one of the tastiest savory items we've launched at Dunkin'. We're thrilled for guests to try them and discover their new favorite meal to fuel their day, whether they're looking for a delicious breakfast or a mid-after...

Ask Amy: Widow is caught in a “parent trap”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:50 GMT

Dear Amy: I have never seen a question like this in any advice column.I am a widow, and have been dating a widower for approximately six years.We have a very happy relationship. We have helped each other tremendously over the years to heal from our losses.The issue is my boyfriend’s daughter, “Marcia.” She is a 34-year-old nurse (I am also a nurse) and she has had a difficult time moving forward after the loss of her mother seven years ago.I believe grief counseling would help her a lot, but I’m not sure she ever went.She will not accept our relationship. I am invisible to her. She refuses to believe her father can find happiness with anyone other than her mother, and has verbalized this to others.She told her father that she felt I was “replacing” her mother.I wonder if seeing her father happy is a problem for her. (My children love him and are so glad to see me happy again.)She has a very immature demeanor and has gotten pretty much whatever she wanted since she was very you...