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What are the economic consequences of empty office spaces across Canada?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

More than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, there are still a lot of Canadians who have yet to return to the office full-time.A new survey from Unispace shows people aren’t interested in returning for a variety of reasons.“…half of workers are in the office four or more days a week, but just 31 per cent like being in the workplace this regularly. The disconnect between what employees want and the work set-up on offer is a potential driver, as 41 per cent of employees currently ‘hot-desk,’ or share a workstation with other employees, but 79 per cent suggested they would be more inclined to head into the office if they were given their own assigned desk,” a portion of the survey said. Related Articles:Is converting office buildings into apartments here to stay?Vancouver office vacancy rates spike amid COVID-19, but well below national averageVancouver office space to be converted into apartments and rented as hotel rooms&nbs...

Coach confirms Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi arrived two years ago wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with ”Ici C’est Paris” (This Is Paris) — a favorite cry among Paris Saint-Germain fans — and to chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!”The soccer superstar will leave the team on Saturday not quite so revered.The cheers have been replaced by jeers and boos in recent weeks at the Parc des Princes, where the the World Cup winner will play his final game for the French league champion. Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday that the looming end of the season is also the end of Messi’s time at PSG.Messi will bow out in their league finale against Clermont on Saturday. His contract expires at the end of June.“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of soccer,” Galtier said. “This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”PSG recruited Messi in August 2021 with the ambition to finally win the Champions L...

4 injured in Sweden in incident classed as attempted murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Four teenagers were injured in an incident Thursday in the town of Eskilstuna, west of Stockholm, police said, adding it was unclear what had happened but “several people were involved in a fight that resulted in personal injuries.”Those injured were four boys aged 15, police said in a statement. The case is being classified as attempted murder, but police said they had no information on how serious the injuries were. Two young men have been detained and more people can expected to be nabbed, they added.A large deployment of police was involved in an action near the Munktellarena sports facility in Eskilstuna, some 90 kilometers (56 miles) west of Stockholm, police said. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Swedish broadcaster TV4 said school students were injured in a stabbing and two groups of youths got into a fight. Swedish media say there are several schools nearby. Sweden, a nation of 10 million, has in recent decades seen an increase in violence, chie...

Russian foreign minister set for BRICS meet in South Africa with war in Ukraine on agenda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was meeting in South Africa with counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc of developing nations for discussions Thursday that will start with “an exchange of views” on major geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine, South Africa’s ambassador to the bloc said.Most of the BRICS countries differ sharply from the position of the U.S. and its Western allies on the war. Speaking ahead of the meeting, the South African ambassador, Anil Sooklal, referred to the West’s military aid to Ukraine as one of the things that “fuels the conflict.”“Any endeavor that fuels the conflict does not solve the problem,” Sooklal said when asked for his reaction to Western “attempts” to transfer weapons to Ukraine.“We do not know of any global conflict that has been solved though war,” he said. “All it does is cause more pain and suffering and, as BRICS countries, this is what we are saying: Let’s focus on findin...

Small plane forced to land in cornfield after failed take off in Sugar Grove

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

SUGAR GROVE, Ill — A small plane was forced to land in a cornfield after a failed take off from Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove on Thursday morning.According to the FAA, the single-engine plane made a hard landing after taking off from the airport around 7:30 a.m. The landing gear was reportedly crushed.Two people were on board at the time of the incident and were not injured.Here's a look at the plane that crashed during takeoff from the Aurora Airport. The two people on board were not injured. pic.twitter.com/iQFTQqrmlj— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) June 1, 2023The FAA is investigating the incident.

Chicago Bears gifts boy shot in Highland Park parade shooting special wheelchair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed waist down after being shot in the Highland Park parade shooting last year received a special gift from the Chicago Bears this past week. A device that will make his beach days all the more enjoyable and smoother, Cooper Roberts was gifted a wheelchair that can navigate sand. According to the Chicago Bears, Cooper competes for an adaptive swim team at Shirley Ryan and loves visiting the beach. Cooper's mom Keeley Roberts, said in a statement: "This extraordinarily generous gift from the Bears reflects the organization’s understanding of the importance of this for Cooper. They could have given any gift, but they chose the most meaningful thing that put Cooper 'back in the game' this summer." What to know about Taylor Swift’s Soldier Field concerts The Bears and "Devices 4 the Disabled" joined forces Wednesday at Halas Hall to present Cooper with the wheelchair specifically made for the sand.Bears' quarterback Justin Fields pu...

Taylor Swift fans line up for hours outside Soldier Field for 'Eras Tour' merch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

CHICAGO — The much anticipated 'Eras Tour' is descending upon Chicago this weekend and Taylor Swift mania has officially begun.Swifties lined up outside Soldier Field Thursday morning to be among the first to get their hands on tour merchandise. The first fan got in line at 1 a.m. What to know about Taylor Swift’s Soldier Field concerts Eras Tour merch sales begin at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. Thursday.Taylor Swift fans are lined up outside @SoldierField for Eras Tour merch. First fan got in line at 1 a.m... sales start at 10 a.m. and go til 7p tonight. pic.twitter.com/Nzgi9DJTmU— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) June 1, 2023Skycam9 captured long lines of fans outside of tents where the merchandise will be sold from.“The Eras Tour” is scheduled to be in Chicago June 2 through June 4 and is completely sold-out.

Is your name on the 2023 hurricane list?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

(WKBN) – June 1 may mark just the start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, but this year's hurricane names are already set. The World Meteorological Organization decided on the list of 21 names. When a tropical storm strengthens to wind speeds of 39 mph or higher, it gets a name from the list, starting in alphabetical order.There are 26 letters in the alphabet but only 21 names chosen. The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are all left off because they aren’t common enough to be easily understood in local languages spoken in North America, Central America and the Caribbean (areas all affected by hurricanes).There are six lists of names, which are rotated through and recycled every six years. For example, the list used in 2023 will also be used in 2029.The only time there is a change in the lists is if a hurricane is so costly or deadly that the future use of its name would be inappropriate or insensitive. If this occurs, the name is retired, an...

Dolly Parton takes home three new Guinness World Records

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Dolly Parton has done it again, with Guinness World Records reporting that the star took home three new records and cemented her "legendary status" with the longest span of number-one hits.Information posted to Guinness' website on May 31 said Parton was awarded the titles at an exclusive presentation in Nashville, Tennessee.Guinness said Parton's newest titles include:Longest span of No.1 hits on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) - for her 43 years, 156 days on Billboards Top Country Albums chart, starting with hits from her 1977 album 'New Harvest... First Gathering' through her October 2022 album 'A Holly Dolly Christmas.'Most studio albums released by a female country singer - for Parton's 65 studio albums ranging from 1967's 'Hello, I'm Dolly', to 2022's 'Run, Rose Run.'Most Top 10 entries on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) - for 'Diamonds and Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection', Dolly's 48th Top 10 entry on Billboard's top Count...

NJ mom and daughter who fled war-torn Syria graduate college together

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:56 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (WPIX) -- It is said it's the journey, not the destination, that matters. For Racha Ahmad and her mother, Stani Hajbi, both the journey and the destination were equally celebrated on this day."It feels like our dreams came true," said Ahmad.At the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday, mom and daughter received bachelor's degrees at William Paterson's 200th Commencement, with Ahmad having the honor of serving as commencement speaker."My overall message is hard work and dedication and not wasting time is very important because education, success and working hard and putting a target in your mind — this is what's going to benefit you," said Ahmad. Entire graduating class at California charter school accepted into 4-year universities Their family lived in Syria at the time war broke out in 2011. Three years later, the family sought asylum and went to New Jersey. It wasn't long until Ahmad earned an associate degree at Passaic County Community College, eve...