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Gimme shelter: Cost-of-living crisis squeezes Europe’s housing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

Are you a 30-something professional looking to settle down and buy your first home in a friendly, welcoming European city?Think again.Rising real estate prices have turned home ownership into an increasingly unachievable dream for many Europeans — an issue compounded by the cost-of-living crisis, which has hit city residents and poorer households especially hard.“The increase in housing prices is tremendous, and it’s even more severe in cities, especially large cities,” said Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, director of the OECD’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities. “And it’s no longer just impacting the poor, but also the middle class.”House prices and rents have increase steadily since 2014, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when — unlike previous economic downturns — the demand for housing surged, as extended lockdowns and the rise in teleworking kept people confined to their homes.Right as the economy began to recover in 2022,...

John Kerry’s dream interviews: Paul McCartney, Elton John and The Boss

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry would love to grill some of the world’s top musicians in his dream interview, he told POLITICO.“I’d like to hear from one of our global premier musicians, as to how they keep on being creative and moving forward with hope in the midst of all this chaos,” Kerry said in an interview with POLITICO’s Power Play podcast. Kerry, who is currently in Dubai for COP28, sat down with POLITICO’s Anne McElvoy to discuss the summit, climate goals and fossil fuels on this week’s podcast.But he also said that, given the chance to stand on the other side of the microphone, he would choose to interview some of music’s most popular names from the 1960s, 70s and 80s as guests, including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen.“We’d have a great time,” he said.

Wrongful death lawsuit filed in connection to former NFL player Glenn Foster, who died in 2021 after police arrest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

(CNN) — The estate of former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr. has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against officials in Pickens County, Alabama, in connection with his 2021 death, a family attorney said Wednesday.Foster, 31, died in December 2021 at a medical facility north of Tuscaloosa two days after he was taken into police custody, authorities said at the time.He had been arrested in the small town of Reform in Pickens County after officers allegedly saw him driving recklessly, the Reform Police Department told NOLA.com at the time.The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims members of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and Pickens County Jail are responsible for Foster’s death. The lawsuit also names the county as a defendant.CNN has reached out to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the county for comment on the lawsuit.The lawsuit lists seven counts including wrongful death; negligent training, supervision and discipline; and violation of substantive due proc...

Senate impasse over border policy continues to threaten aid to Ukraine and Israel

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

(CNN) — A partisan clash between Senate Republicans and Democrats over border policy continues to threaten the effort to send badly needed foreign aid to key US allies as time and money are running out for Ukraine.Senate negotiators are vowing to continue to try to reach a deal, after Republicans blocked foreign aid from advancing Wednesday evening in protest over the package’s lack of changes to border and immigration policy. The impasse among negotiators has taken on a renewed sense of urgency as the 2023 congressional calendar is drawing to a close.The Senate has struggled for weeks as it tied immigration and border security policy – one of Congress’ historically most divisive issues – to a legislative package for sending aid to key US allies, among them Israel and Ukraine. Republicans’ insistence on changes to border policy have led to increased tension on Capitol Hill, including a classified briefing earlier this week that devolved into a closed-door shouting match.Lawmak...

Four to watch: Struggling rookie, two veteran skill players among keys

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

Poor Al Michaels.The switch from NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” to Amazon Prime’s “Thursday Night Football” has spelled a major downgrade in quality of games for the legendary broadcaster, and this week’s matchup between the Patriots and Steelers could be among the season’s worst.Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is injured with a high ankle sprain, meaning Mitch Trubisky is slated to start. And Patriots starter Mac Jones was finally permanently demoted for backup Bailey Zappe last week.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots might need help from practice squad based on injury report New England Patriots | Devin McCourty finds fault in Patriots organization for Mac Jones’ struggles New England Patriots | Patriots free-agent addition will be shut down for 2023 season New England Patriots | Callahan: The Steelers are who the Patriots should have been New Englan...

A Netherlands court sets a sentencing date for a man convicted in Canada of cyberbullying

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — A court in the Netherlands said Thursday that it would rule in two weeks on the sentence for a man convicted in Canada in a notorious cyberbullying case.Judges at the Amsterdam District Court have to convert the 13-year sentence a Canadian court gave to Aydin Coban, who was convicted last year of crimes that included the extortion and harassment of Canadian teenager Amanda Todd.Coban was serving an 11-year Dutch sentence for the cyberbullying of more than 30 other victims when he was sent to Canada to stand trial in the Todd case. He was extradited on the condition that he served any Canadian sentence in a Dutch prison. The Amsterdam court now must adapt the sentence by the British Columbia Supreme Court to conform with the sentencing norms of the Netherlands.Coban blackmailed the 15-year-old Todd to expose herself in front of a webcam. She took her own life in 2012 after recounting her ordeal in a YouTube video watched by millions around the world.Earlier this year...

Police in St. John’s have closed the airport after finding suspicious package

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

The international airport in St. John’s, Newfoundland, has been reopened following an investigation into the discovery of a suspicious package.The airport’s social media account on X, the platform formally known as Twitter, says the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has resolved the situation, and the airport is once again open for operations.The R-N-C’s X account noted that patrol officers initially took control of the situation, and then utilized a specialized unit to make the area safe.Police are expected to provide an update later this morning.Due to the interruption in service at the airport, travellers may see a slight delay.Airport officials are urging passengers to contact their airline directly for flight information.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2023.The Canadian Press

Former UK leader Boris Johnson returns for second day of COVID-19 inquiry testimony

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns Thursday for a second day of testimony in Britain’s public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic, where he is expected to be grilled about how he dealt with the latter stages of the crisis.Johnson, who is testifying under oath, admitted Wednesday that he made mistakes in grasping the extent of the pandemic and that his advisers failed to sound a “loud enough klaxon of alarm” about the virus.“I was not being informed that this was something that was going to require urgent and immediate action,” he said, adding that the “panic level was not sufficiently high.”His remarks came after weeks of testimony by other ministers, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who said they sought to raise the alarm inside the government. Hancock argued that thousands of lives could have been saved by putting the country under a lockdown a few weeks earlier than the eventual date of March 23, 2020.The United Kingdom went on to have one of ...

Chinese navy ships are first to dock at new pier at Cambodian naval base linked to Beijing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Chinese naval vessels have become the first ships to dock at a new pier at a Cambodian naval base that the United States and some international security analysts say is destined to serve as a strategic outpost for Beijing’s navy.The docking of the two ships, which received little publicity, coincided with an official visit to Cambodia this week by China’s top defense official, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong.News of at least two Chinese ships docking at the Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand came out indirectly, through a Facebook post on Sunday by Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha. It said he visited the base to see preparations for Cambodian navy training and to inspect progress on infrastructure construction, but did not mention China by name. He also posted photos showing Cambodian officials with Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian, and reviewing Chinese sailors. At least two warships could be seen in the photos, one wh...

Offensive woes sink Siena men's basketball against Bryant

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:05:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Siena men's basketball shot just 27% from the field including only 1-17 from three in a 67-51 setback vs. Bryant Wednesday night at MVP Arena. Saint Rose students protest college closure, demand answers Daniel Rivera led four in double figures with 20 points, seven rebounds and six of 13 total blocks for Bryant (6-4), which entered play ranked ninth nationally in blocks (6.4) and 25th in field goal percentage defense (.382). Preseason All-America East selection Sherif Gross-Bullock added 14 points for the Bulldogs who shot 53% in the second half to overcome a 5-25 night from three and 8-20 overall performance from the free throw line.Giovanni Emejuru posted his first collegiate double-double scoring 16 of his 18 points in the second half while adding a career-high 15 rebounds for Siena (2-7, 1-1). Freshman guard Michael Evbagharu added his second double-double of the young season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.The Saints started cold, missing their fi...