Storefront Vacant Report reveals NYC is in a retail leasing crisis

The Department of City Planning’s recent Storefront Vacancy Report brought rare clarity to the city’s retail leasing picture — a situation which many, Realty Check included, has called a crisis.

As DCP Director Marisa Lago put it, the research shows that “the reasons for storefront vacancies are complex and varied.”

In not allocating blame solely to greedy landlords demanding unaffordable rents, her report was a dramatic break with the views of many elected officials and city agency heads.

The study of 24 areas comprising 10,000 storefronts found that the city’s average retail vacancy rate jumped to 9 percent from 7.6 percent in 2008 to 2009.

If 9 percent seems low, it’s important to note that the DCP survey included data from all five boroughs — including in neighborhoods where empty stores are relatively scarce.

Vacancies in bustling Jackson Heights, for example, were a scant 5.1 percent.

Such strong retail districts offset the highly visible dark storefronts on, for example, parts of Canal Street and Broadway in the West 50s.

Relative calm in Idlib on third day of ceasefire

Powerful rebel group Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham says it will not withdraw 20km – although it accepts ceasefire.

There has been relative calm in northwest Syria on the third day of a conditional ceasefire.

It comes after a truce was brokered during peace talks in Kazakhstan, following weeks of air strikes and bloodshed in Idlib province, the last remaining rebel-held area.

But the most powerful rebel group Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham says it does not want to withdraw 20 kilometres, although it accepts the ceasefire.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reports from Gaziantep on the Turkey-Syria border.

Edinburgh arts festival offers performers counselling

Festival organisers unroll new measures to help performers deal with mental health issues.

Some performers at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe are taking the trauma of their past to the stage, sharing their deepest, darkest secrets with the audience through song and dance.

To help cope with mental health issues, the festival is offering meditation workshops, talks from psychologists and first aiders to support artists who might feel overwhelmed.

Al Jazeera’s Charlie Angela reports from Edinburgh.

Hong Kong gov't warns protests pushing city to 'dangerous edge'

Hundreds of people blocked major roads after a largely peaceful protest earlier.

Hong Kong’s government has warned that illegal protests are pushing the territory to what it is calling an “extremely dangerous edge”.

Hundreds of people have blocked major roads after a largely peaceful protest earlier.

Activists are angry over a proposed extradition law and the police response to the protests.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas reports from Hong Kong.

Flying Frenchman crosses English Channel by hoverboard

Franky Zapata reached speeds of 160 kph, flying just a few metres above the waves.

A French inventor has crossed the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard.

Franky Zapata’s hoverboard is powered by kerosene which he carries in a backpack.

He took off from Sangatte near Calais and reached Dover in just over 20 minutes – but he had to stop for fuel.

Al Jazeera’s Paul Brennan reports.

Japan finmin Aso says closely watching yen moves 'with urgency'

TOKYO, Aug 27 (Reuters) – Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday he was monitoring currency moves “with a sense of urgency” after a recent spike in the yen, while declining to comment on specific foreign exchange levels.

Aso made the comments at a regular news conference when asked about the Japanese currency’s appreciation to a seven-month peak below 105 yen to the dollar, caused on Monday by worries over the Sino-U.S. trade war.

“Currency stability is important,” Aso said. (Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)

Firemen battling forest fire in Johor's Iskandar Puteri

Malaysian firefighters are battling to extinguish a forest fire in Johor’s Iskandar Puteri district that has caused two nearby schools to be closed.

The fire at Kampung Pekajang started burning last Friday. Dry weather and strong winds allowed the fire to spread, engulfing about 100ha of the forest.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Yahaya Madis said around 80 firemen had been fighting the fire, and since Sunday, they had extinguished the fire at 45 per cent of the area.

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Zimbabwe cricketers not giving up after ICC suspension

Country’s national team is fighting to stay alive after International Cricket Council suspends its cricket board because of alleged government interference.

Zimbabwe cricketers say they are willing to play for free in an effort to keep the sport alive in the country.

The International Cricket Council has suspended the nation’s cricket board because of government interference, denying it much-needed funding.

The current suspension is the latest setback for the men’s and women’s game.

Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports from Harare.

FDA Approves New Device To Treat Idiopathic Scoliosis

One of the most common spinal deformities affecting children and adolescents during growth is idiopathic scoliosis. External bracing is a standard treatment for idiopathic scoliosis among children and adolescents. It is estimated that 6,800 patients in the U.S. each year will develop progressive curvatures that do not respond to bracing.

A first of its kind device to treat pediatric patients with progressive idiopathic scoliosis has won the FDA nod. The device, called The Tether – Vertebral Body Tethering System, developed by Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (ZBH), is intended to be used in children and adolescents to correct idiopathic scoliosis that has not responded to external bracing.

Commenting on the approval, Capt. Raquel Peat, Ph.D., director of the Office of Orthopedic Devices in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said, “For children and adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis that does not respond favorably to bracing, treatment options have been limited to fusion surgeries. Today’s approval provides access to a new treatment option that could improve quality of life for patients with idiopathic scoliosis.”

Now, here’s the list of drugs approved by the FDA in July 2019.