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Wildfire battles continue with heat, air quality alerts over most of Canada

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

The battle against hundreds of wildfires continues, as almost every jurisdiction in Canada remains under either heat or air quality warnings from the federal government.The day after what was supposed to be National Clean Air Day, dozens of alerts remain in place for unseasonable heat or smoky air quality that kept millions of Canadians coughing and squinting. And forecasts suggest that air quality risks for the GTA, the Niagara region and southwestern Ontario will only increase through the end of the week.Wednesday saw one of Canada’s worst days in history for air quality.Environment Canada’s air quality health index listed Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., as the worst in Canada, with a very high-risk warning. The agency dropped special air quality statements for those areas early Thursday morning.Residents in those cities were encouraged to limit outdoor activities, and those most vulnerable to the smoke were told to avoid them altogether.School boards in Ottawa and the Toro...

Budweiser brewer renews with FIFA to 2026 despite World Cup stadium beer ban in Qatar

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Budweiser will still be the official World Cup beer through the 2026 tournament in the United States, after brewer AB InBev renewed with FIFA on Thursday despite a troubled time with men’s 2022 World Cup host Qatar.Two days before the tournament began in Qatar, World Cup organizers withdrew a longstanding promise to let fans at stadiums buy beer with alcohol.The move blindsided the brewer whose Budweiser brand has been the World Cup beer since the 1986 tournament.FIFA seemed unable to protect AB InBev under pressure from Qatar in a dispute which seemed a potential breach of contract issue for soccer’s world body. The conservative Muslim nation signed up to honor FIFA’s commercial partners when it started bidding to be host in 2009. Though sales of Budweiser dropped in stadiums, the global publicity over the dispute arguably boosted the brewer and left little doubt which brand was tied to the World Cup.A renewal for the 2026 World Cup seemed a done deal even durin...

Police say 23 Fiorentina, West Ham soccer fans detained around Europa Conference League final

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech police detained 23 West Ham and Fiorentina soccer fans for their behaviour in connection with the Europa Conference League final in Prague, authorities said Thursday.One person is suspected of attacking a police officer, two others of hooliganism. The rest are suspected of committing various misdemeanours, including using flares and other pyrotechnics at various places in the Czech capital, police said.Police didn’t give details about the detained fans. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said only that as far their numbers the Italians “won.”Police previously said Fiorentina fans attacked West Ham supporters in a bar in downtown Prague ahead of Wednesday’s final. Three West Ham fans and one police officer were injured in the incident while 16 people were detained.Other incidents were reported by media between police and West Ham fans using flares while celebrating the 2-1 victory in Prague’s Old Town.Police estimated some 35,000 fans arrived in Prague. Only about 10,0...

Malaysia, Singapore slam comedian for 'offensive' joke over MH370 plane disappearance

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian officials on Thursday condemned a Singapore-born stand-up comedian who mocked Malaysia and made fun of the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 during a skit in the United States.Jocelyn Chia posted her act on social media, sparking outrage in Malaysia and prompting Singapore officials to quickly apologize. Chia made crude remarks about Malaysia, which she said lagged far behind Singapore after the two separated in 1965.She joked about Malaysian airplanes not being able to fly, drawing gasps from the audience. Chia continued: “Why? Malaysian Airlines going missing not funny, huh? Some jokes don’t land."Flight MH370 was carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it vanished on March 8, 2014, and is presumed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean.Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said Chia's act “showed a total lack of sensitivity and empathy” toward Malaysians and the victims’ families.“This vide...

Dean's A-List Interview: Rapper turned actor, Toby Nwigwe in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts'

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

Rapper turned actor, Toby Nwigwe sits down with WGN Entertainment reporter Dean Richards to talk about his special big break in the Transformers franchise.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Massive sports complex opens in southwest Travis County

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

SPICEWOOD (KXAN) — A massive sports complex is opening in southwest Travis County.The Bee Creek Sports Complex features five synthetic turf fields that can host a wide variety of athletic events and competitions.The $28 million project was funded by Travis County’s 2017 park bond package.Following five years of construction, the state-of-the-art athletic facility is now finished.A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday within the complex, which is located at 4440 Bee Creek Road.Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard says the 70-acre complex was built through an agreement with the City of Lakeway.“This is our first ball fields, really west of I-35,” she said. “I'm excited that Travis County is able to have this.”The facility’s fields are built for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and flag football.All five fields are equipped with LED Musco lighting, designed to meet ‘dark-sky friendly’ standards.The complex also includes a playground, team meeting facility, ...

Lineup announced for Malta's summer concert series

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Town of Malta has announced the lineup for its summer concert series. The concerts take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! LineupJuly 5: Motion BlurJuly 12: Mark Gamsjager & The Luster KingsJuly 19: Big MedicineJuly 26: Annie & the HedonistsAugust 7: Special kids concert with Jumpin' Jamie from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.August 9: Grand Central StationThe concerts are free and open to the public. They take place on the front lawn of the Malta Community Center at 1 Bayberry Drive. Lineup for East Greenbush’s ‘Music in the Park’ series You can check out more musical performances in the Capital Region, both local and mainstream bands, under the Concerts and Performances tab on the NEWS10 website.

St. Jude giving away a new home, tickets on-sale today

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - It is time once again for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.The organization is giving away a beautiful home in Dardenne Prairie, valued at $700,000. The home has a four-bedroom, 2.5-bath, three-car garage, and more. Baby killed in buggy crash in Missouri Ozarks Tickets go on sale Thursday. All proceeds will go towards St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.To find more information about the St. Jude Dream Giveaway, click here.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars, Five Points Jazz Festival, Denver Greek Fest and more things to do in Denver this week

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

Free music: Five Points Jazz, Indigenous metal and moreFriday and Saturday. This weekend is a dream for lovers of local music — especially the free, high-quality kind. The 20th Five Points Jazz Festival, this year being produced by the city, features 40 bands playing free, family-friendly sets on 10 stages along Welton Street between 25th and 29th streets. Look for local food and drink, artisan vendors and more. Noon-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood (artsandvenuesdenver.com/events-programs/five-points-jazz-festival).Billed as “Denver’s only youth music festival” (check: true), the 9th Youth on Record Block Party finds the kids-music nonprofit hosting diverse live performances 1-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. Food, vendors, free swag, kids activities and more are planned. Free at La Alma-Lincoln Park in Denver (youthonrecord.org).Finally, the reliably excellent Levitt Pavilion has a pair of shows in the form of Friday, June...

Artificial intelligence taking a more visible role in homebuying process

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:40:52 GMT

LAS VEGAS — Artificial intelligence will play a bigger role in helping consumers buy and sell homes, as it moves from behind the scenes to front and center in a whole range of areas, according to members of a panel at the annual conference of the National Association of Real Estate Editors in Las Vegas.Zillow, the country’s largest real estate portal, began offering “natural language” searches on its mobile app to bring up more precise results. Rather than setting filters across a limited set of criteria, like the number of bedrooms and ZIP Code, consumers can speak or type what they want.For example, a consumer could search for a three-bedroom house with a brick exterior built in the 1950s or 1960s with a large backyard near a public park in Denver.“Artificial intelligence will have a tremendous benefit to the real estate industry,” said Jasjeet Thind, senior vice president of AI and Analytics at Zillow, on Wednesday.Zillow has been deploying mac...