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New EU short-term rental rules are an example to the world

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Around 15 years after Airbnb began, EU institutions are in the process of giving their final approvals to the world’s first template on how to regulate our platform and industry. We not only welcome this watershed moment as an opportunity to begin a new chapter in our relationships with governments, but we believe the leadership shown by the EU is an example to the world. When the first Airbnb guests stepped into our San Francisco apartment in 2008, Brian, Joe and I could never have imagined how that experience would blossom into the global community we see today. Fast-forward 1.5 billion guest arrivals, $180 billion earned by hosts, $9 billion paid to authorities in tourism taxes and Airbnb today counts more than 7 million listings in more than 220 countries and regions globally. We are proud of our work with policymakers to help local families share their homes, follow the rules and pay tax.And while the company began in San Francisco, today we see more Airbnb hosts in t...

Officials say a US pilot safely ejected before his F-16 crashed into the sea off South Korea

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A U.S. Air Force pilot safely ejected on Monday before his F-16 fighter jet crashed into the sea off South Korea’s southwestern coast, U.S. and South Korean military officials said.The unidentified pilot was recovered by South Korean maritime forces and was “awake and in stable condition,” the U.S. 8th Fighter Wing said in a statement. It said the pilot was being returned to Kunsan Air Base near the southwestern port city of Gunsan, where he would be evaluated further.The pilot took off from the air base, used jointly by the U.S. and South Korean air forces, on a routine training flight and was forced to eject from the aircraft after experiencing an unspecified in-flight emergency.The 8th Fighter Wing, which is composed of two F-16 squadrons, said the cause of the in-flight emergency is being investigated.“We are grateful for the safe recovery of our Airman by our ROK Allies and that the pilot is in good condition,” Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, the 8th Fighter W...

Philippines military chief voices anger after latest Chinese coast guard incident in South China Sea

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine military chief said Monday he was with Filipino forces aboard a supply boat when it was blasted with a water cannon and surrounded and bumped by Chinese coast guard ships over the weekend in the disputed South China Sea.Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that China was escalating its aggression in the contested waters but said it would not deter Filipino forces from defending the Philippines’ territorial interests in the busy waterway.More than 100 Chinese government and suspected militia ships have swarmed the high seas around the contested Scarborough Shoal, where a long-marooned Philippine navy ship that Brawner visited has stood for decades. He said the Chinese flotilla was much bigger than in previous months.“It’s pure aggression,” Brawner said of China’s high-seas maneuvers. “I witnessed how many times the big Chinese coast guard and militia ships cut our path. They water-cannoned us, then b...

Dak Prescott, Brandon Aubrey help Cowboys pull even with Eagles in NFC East with 33-13 victory

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns, Brandon Aubrey made four field goals to start his career a record 30-for-30, and the Dallas Cowboys pulled even in the NFC East with their 15th consecutive home victory, 33-13 over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.The Cowboys (10-3) weren’t deterred by Jalen Carter’s 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown, winning their fifth consecutive game since a loss at Philadelphia that gave the Eagles a two-game division lead. The Eagles (10-3) lost three fumbles and didn’t score an offensive touchdown as quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had the first fumble, lost consecutive games for the first time since October 2021. While the Cowboys currently hold the tiebreaker with an extra NFC East victory, the Eagles would take the division title on subsequent tiebreakers if they win their remaining four games.Aubrey became the first kicker with two of at least 59 yards in the same game, connecting from 60 yards late i...

Financial district intersection closed to traffic for the next week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

A weeklong closure of another major downtown intersection will force drivers to pack some extra patience starting Monday.The intersection of Bay and Adelaide Streets will be closed until Saturday, Dec. 16 for the installation of TTC streetcar tracks. City officials say they will be monitoring the area and providing traffic agents to help ease congestion resulting from the closure when necessary.Drivers and cyclists are asked to consider alternate routes on Wellington, Front or Dundas Streets. King Street should be avoided as it is a Transit Priority Corridor where through movements for vehicles are prohibited at most intersections.“With various construction projects taking place in the downtown core, drivers are advised to plan their travel and consider public transit, cycling or walking,” the City said in a statement. “To plan essential trips and get updates about the closure, people travelling to the area can use the Road Restrictions map available on the City’s ...

Agreeing to agree: Everyone must come to consensus at COP28 climate talks, toughening the process

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — It’s the killer detail in international climate talks: Consensus.With nearly 200 nations of different sizes, economies, political systems, resources and needs, they all have to find common ground if they are going to save the one common ground they share — planet Earth.Consensus is frequently used to weaken efforts to curb climate change and experts say that’s by design, dating back to oil interests and the first United Nations climate negotiations. Some veteran politicians would like to change it, while others embrace it as the only fair way to get things done.“Whatever decision is taken can only be as strong as what the least ambitious (nations) are prepared to accept,” said climate talks historian Joanna Depledge of Cambridge University. “And we’ve seen that over the years.”U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, said the practice of requiring near-unanimity could be fatal: “A small, self-interested minority of states cannot ...

Stock market today: Asian shares mixed after Wall Street hits 2023 high

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Asian shares were mixed on Monday after Wall Street reached a 20-month high ahead of a week that includes essential U.S. inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s final rate decision of the year.U.S. futures were lower and oil prices rose to recover some of their sharp losses in recent months.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng sank 2% to 16,012.42 and the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.6% to 2,952.57. In China, leaders agreed at an annual planning meeting last week to boost spending to accelerate the world’s second-largest economy, though details of policy changes were not provided. Despite the Chinese economy expanding by around 5% this year, in line with government targets, the recovery following the lifting of strict COVID-19 restrictions was short-lived, and a slowdown is expected next year. Data released on Saturday showed China’s consumer prices in November experienced their steepest fall in three years, in another sigh of weakness.Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 1.6% to 32,817.61 while...

As Ohtani fallout continues, clarity on Blue Jays’ final offer emerges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

A weekend that began with gleeful flight tracking ended with frustration and conspiracy theories for the many Blue Jays fans who hoped Shohei Ohtani would choose Toronto.In between, erroneous reports placed Ohtani on a plane to Toronto and had him signing with the Blue Jays, but it turned out the two-way star was at home in Southern California all along. Under those circumstances, the disappointment at seeing Ohtani choose the Los Angeles Dodgers was even greater.Every version of the story ends with Ohtani as a Dodger, so the pain will likely persist for Blue Jays fans. Yet it’s hard to fault Ohtani for choosing an iconic franchise with a loaded farm system and 11 consecutive playoff appearances, especially when the Dodgers also offered a record shattering deal: $700 million over 10 years, including heavy deferrals.As for how close the Blue Jays came to landing Ohtani, that’s a question only the two-time MVP himself can really answer, but sources familiar with the negotiation say th...

Sunday Forecast: Clearing skies, colder

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Sunday Night: Clearing skies and colder. WNW 5-10 mph. Low 26Monday: Mostly sunny by the afternoon & seasonal temps. High 38Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for a dry week ahead and temps stairstep back to 40 by Tuesday with partly sunny skies. Into the low 40s with mostly sunny skies on Wednesday. In the mid to upper 40s on Thu/Fri with some increasing clouds late Friday. A chance of showers is back in the forecast on Saturday with mostly cloudy skies and temps in the lower 40s. 

Theater review: Jungle Theater’s ‘Dinner for One’ a touching take on a European TV tradition

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

It started with a skit.About a century ago, English writer Lauri Wylie crafted a comedy sketch for a stage revue. At a palatial home, a wealthy woman conducts a dinner party, assisted by her butler. No guests are present, each presumably having passed, but the butler nevertheless steps into each character as they toast their host, growing increasingly inebriated and informal.A 1963 version for German TV has become a New Year’s Eve tradition in Scandinavian and German-speaking countries, where folks have annually gathered around the tube to watch that butler stumble and slur his way through the slapsticky sketch.It may not sound like the kind of source material from which an enjoyable and ultimately touching hour of theater could emerge, but the Jungle Theater is presenting just such a show. “Dinner for One” is the brainchild of the company’s artistic director, Christina Baldwin, and she’s teamed with the production’s two actors — Sun Mee Chomet and Jim Lichtscheidl — to ...