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Quebec cracks down on Airbnb after deadly fire as some continue to evade rules

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

MONTREAL — The Quebec government’s crackdown on Airbnb has upended Montreal’s short-term rental market, leading some to welcome the changes and others scurrying to evade the new rules.Last week, following a fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people — including six who were staying in unlicensed short-term rentals — Airbnb said it would remove illegal Quebec listings from its site. The Quebec government has said it would introduce a bill to force other platforms to do the same.Montreal’s tourism promotion agency, Tourisme Montréal, said it welcomes Airbnb’s decision.“At Tourisme Montréal, we often talk about being a harmonious destination; harmony takes different forms in the city, but there’s no harmony when it’s done illegally,” Aurélie de Blois, a spokeswoman for the agency, said in an interview. “There can’t be a healthy industry if it’s based on not respecting laws.”She said 9.5 million visitors are expe...

Chinatowns in Western Canada evolve and renew, both within and outside tradition

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

Every Thursday to Sunday evening, the wait staff at the Ugly Duckling Dining & Provisions restaurant carefully set knives and forks on chopstick rests at each table.The Ugly Duckling, which opened less than two months ago in Victoria’s historic Chinatown, is not a Chinese restaurant.But the fine dining eatery goes out of its way to add touches of Chinese culture to its dining experience. Proprietor and chef Corbin Mathany incorporates Chinese ingredients and techniques in almost every dish. The tasting menu includes dumplings, Chinese buns and steamed custards. The bill arrives pinned to a postcard of Victoria’s Chinatown in 1898, depicting children celebrating Lunar New Year.Developer Robert Fung, whose company, The Salient Group, is renovating two city blocks in Chinatown, insisted on the inclusion of the homages for businesses looking to locate there.“Honestly, at first it felt like a little bit of a restriction,” Mathany said. “It felt a tiny bi...

Big weather change looms for Chicago as a powerful spring storm takes aim on the Midwest with the potential for a significant outbreak of severe weather late Friday into Friday night

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

BIG WEATHER CHANGE LOOM FOR CHICAGO AS A POWERFUL SPRING STORM TAKES AIM ON THE MIDWEST WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK OF SEVERE WEATHER LATE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT----THEN A CLASSIC, NON-STORM HIGH WIND RISK BEGINNING IN SATURDAY'S PRE-DAWN HOURS AND CONTINUING INTO SATURDAY. 50+ MPH WIND GUSTS THREATEN AT THAT TIMENorthbound warm front sweeps across the Chicago area Strengthening south/southwest winds send a flood of milder tropical air into the area and begins a surge in dew points which by late Friday going into Friday night will introduce the most humid air to the city (low 60° dew points) in more than 5 months—since October 11.Low 60-degree dew points bring with them a 'WARMER FEEL" to the air.  Combined with the mid to upper 60° temps predicted Friday, it means Chicagoans are in for the WARMEST FEELING AIR of 2023.But the POWERFUL SPRING STORM responsible for the south winds and warming brings with it growing prospects for clusters of t-storms Friday and...

Daily horoscope for March 31, 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Leo.Happy Birthday for Friday, March 31, 2023:You are energetic and purposeful. You like to focus on what you’re doing. This is a year of change for you, which means you have to stay light on your feet and be willing to let go of things so you can explore new opportunities. Expect to travel.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★Make plans to meet the gang at happy hour today. It’s Friday, and you want to have fun. Enjoy sports events, the entertainment world and playful activities with kids. Accept invitations to socialize. Kick up your heels and enjoy yourself! Tonight: Socialize!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is an excellent day to buy wardrobe goodies for yourself, because you are in a good mood. However, you will also enjoy cocooning at home and pampering yourself with good food and drink. It’s a social day. Why not invite someone over? Tonight: Cocoon.GEMINI(May 21-June 20...

Erdogan says Putin may visit Turkey in April for power plant inauguration

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday (29 March) his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin may visit Turkey on 27 April for the inauguration of the country's first nuclear power reactor built by Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom."Maybe there is a possibility that Mr Putin will come on April 27, or we may connect to the inauguration ceremony online and we will take the first step in Akkuyu," Erdogan said in televised comments on private broadcaster ATV.Turkey will load the first nuclear fuel into the first power unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and officially grant it nuclear facility status on April 27, Erdogan said in an earlier announcement on Wednesday.The Kremlin on Monday denied Turkish reports that Putin was planning to visit Turkey.The Kremlin said on Saturday (25 March) that Putin and Erdogan discussed during a phone call the successful implementation of joint strategic projects in the energy sector, including the construction of the Akkuyu nucle...

Miss Manners: The misbehaving neighbors invited me to a party. What should I have done?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I moved to a new neighborhood. While we have acquainted ourselves with most of the neighbors and will stop for a brief chat when we see them outdoors, we would not consider any of them to be friends yet at this stage of the game.The neighbors directly next door to us have done some inconsiderate things such as blocking our driveway, asking our afternoon visitor to move his car so they could park their trailer on the street (which is not even legal in our city), allowing their contractors to walk all over our freshly laid sod in the front yard, etc. We have, with gritted teeth, remained polite through it all, but they are definitely not people we would eventually like to be friends with.Three days ago, while we were outside building our new deck, the wife called across from her deck, saying, “We are having a retirement party for Doug tomorrow starting at 4:30. Please drop by. All of his co-workers will be stopping in.”Miss Manners, I was ...

Dear Abby: My crabby boyfriend might be surprised that this was the last straw

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been in a relationship with my partner (we’re both male) for more than four years. He argues nonstop about everything from politics to why the squirrel outside ran across the street. Daily, I hear him complain about everything, from the news to the grocery list, laundry, you name it.A friend of mine will be in town this weekend. He invited my partner and me to a football game. When I shared this with my partner, he immediately declined, complained about the invite and said he’d rather stay home.I’ve had it up to here with his negativity, and I have decided to end this relationship.I’m not happy with this, and I have decided that if my out-of-town friend wants me to start a new life with him, I would be all for it. I’d rather be happy and not have to deal with this. Life is too short. Your thoughts?DONE WITH IT IN COLORADODEAR DONE: If you are not happy with your partner, level with him about it. If counseling would improve things, ...

Md. fire marshal sounds alarm over dramatic spike in fire deaths in 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

If the trend doesn’t end, Maryland is on track to see one of its deadliest years in decades when it comes to fires.At least 40 people in the state have died so far this year in fires, which is more than double what Maryland saw during this same period last year, according to State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci.“The fires are burning hotter, they’re burning faster, and the toxic gases that they’re producing are killing people much more quickly,” Geraci told WTOP.He said the numbers are concerning, especially when comparing deaths in the first three months of this year to the total 51 deaths in 2020. That year had the lowest number of fire deaths seen in the state.“The things that are in furniture now, the flammability of furnishings, open floor settings, all contribute to that fire spread and that rapid fire spread and growth,” said Geraci.More Maryland NewsMore Local NewsHe said many of the synthetic materials in furniture are to blame for the rapid s...

A.V. Rockwell breaks down her Sundance winner ‘A Thousand and One,’ now in theaters

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

Hear our full conversation on my podcast “Beyond the Fame.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'A Thousand and One' (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); It earned the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, joining an exclusive club of winners this decade that includes “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Fruitvale Station,” “Whiplash,” “Minari”...

Dodgers begin season at home against the Diamondbacks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:42 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles; Friday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (0-0); Dodgers: Dustin May (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -191, Diamondbacks +160; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers open the season at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks.Los Angeles had a 111-51 record overall and a 57-24 record in home games last season. The Dodgers pitching staff averaged 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings while giving up 3.2 runs per game in the 2022 season.Arizona had a 74-88 record overall and a 34-47 record on the road last season. The Diamondbacks averaged 7.6 hits per game in the 2022 season with 2.8 extra base hits per game.INJURIES: Dodgers: Alex Reyes: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Pepiot: 15-Day IL (oblique), Jimmy Nelson: 15-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Hudson: 15-Day IL (knee), Gavin Lux: 60-Day IL (knee), Tony Gonsolin: 15-Day IL (ankle), Walker Buehler: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Treinen: 60-Day IL (sh...