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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. homebuilders ramped up construction in April to the fastest pace in nearly seven and a-half years. That could signal newfound momentum for an economy that has struggled in recent months. The Commerce Department says housing starts last month increased 20.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.14 million homes. That pace ranks as the fastest clip since November 2007.
WACO, Texas (AP) — A report says Texas law enforcement warned weeks ago of growing animosity between rival motorcycle gangs. The feud erupted into violence at a Waco restaurant that resulted in nine deaths. WFAA-TV in Dallas says a memo dated May 1 cautioned authorities about increasing violence between the Bandidos and the Cossacks, two of the gangs involved in Sunday's deadly brawl.
LONDON (AP) — British police say they've arrested seven men in connection with the big Easter weekend jewel heist in London, when thieves broke into a vault containing safety-deposit boxes. More than 200 police raided 12 addresses in north London and Kent. Police say bags containing a significant amount of high-value property were recovered at one of the addresses.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to visit an inter-Korean factory park just north of the two Koreas' heavily fortified border on Thursday. Meanwhile, a group of female peace activists, including Gloria Steinem and two Nobel laureates, have arrived in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang for a march across the Demilitarized Zone on Sunday.
VIENNA (AP) — In Vienna, Austria, it looks like gay is here to stay, as far as pedestrian traffic lights are concerned. Instead of the usual stick man, the lights show couples — a man and a woman, two women or two men. The lights were originally going to be taken down in June, but officials now say they will remain.
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