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Stock market today: Asian shares are lower after central bankers say interest rates must stay high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday after leaders of major central banks said they need to keep interest rates high to fight persistent inflation despite fears that might tip the global economy into recession.Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul retreated while Tokyo and Sydney advanced. Oil prices declined.U.S., European and Japanese central bankers meeting in Portugal said Wednesday that with hiring still strong in major economies, they have yet to extinguish upward pressure on prices. “Policy hasn’t been restrictive enough for long enough,” said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.“The end of hiking interest rates is not in sight yet,” said Carl B. Weinberg of High-Frequency Economics in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.1% to 3,185.56 while the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo gained 0.4% to 33,340.66. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong sank 0.9% to 18,995.31. The Kospi in Seoul gave up 0.1% to 2,560.67 while Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 advanced less than 0.1% to 7,203.30. ...

Safety concerns dominate Norfolk Southern railroad CEO’s job since Ohio derailment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Norfolk Southern’s CEO has spoken often of safety and better service since he took the job over a year ago, but it’s safety that has dominated discussions after one of his trains derailed and caught fire in February in Ohio, creating towering black smoke, forcing evacuations and raising environmental worries.Alan Shaw has said his plans include adding more trackside detectors to help spot mechanical problems. He also has hailed work with unions to improve safety — something labor leaders say Norfolk Southern hasn’t done much of since it began overhauling operations in 2019.“That interaction and that engagement with our craft colleagues is really important to me,” Shaw said in an interview with The Associated Press at the railroad’s Atlanta headquarters last week, a day before federal hearings on the East Palestine derailment began. “I need all 20,000 voices at Norfolk Southern pushing for safety. And that’s what you’re going to see.”In the interview,...

Recapping the revolt in Russia, through the words of 4 presidents and a mutinous warlord

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Civil war. An evil that must be stopped. Fratricide. A bug about to be squashed.The dramatic weekend rebellion by a mercenary warlord in Russia that challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin was punctuated by dramatic language from the key protagonists — and some long silences — as the world held its collective breath at the biggest challenge to Putin’s rule of more than two decades.Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin incited a rebellion against Russia’s military leaders and sent his troops toward Moscow but aborted his mutiny when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko brokered an agreement that included exile for the warlord in Belarus. Though short-lived, the revolt rattled Russian power circles, tarnished Putin’s aura of complete control and gave Ukrainians hope that Russian infighting could help them.Many questions remain unanswered about how Prigozhin managed to get 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Moscow with little resistance. But a lot o...

Here’s why you better get used to a smoky stubborn summer in much of America

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

The only break much of America can hope for anytime soon from eye-watering dangerous smok e from fire-struck Canada is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from a southern heat wave that has already proven deadly, forecasters say.And then the smoke will likely come back to the Midwest and East.That’s because neither the 235 out-of-control Canadian wildfires nor the stuck weather pattern that’s responsible for this mess of meteorological maladies are showing signs of relenting for the next week or longer, according to meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center. First, the stuck weather pattern made abnormally hot and dry conditions for Canada to burn at off-the-chart record levels. Then it created a setup where the only relief comes when low pressure systems roll through, which means areas on one side get smoky air from the north and the other gets sweltering air from the south. Smoke or heat. “Pick you...

Trump’s GOP support dips slightly after his indictment over classified documents, AP-NORC poll finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s criminal indictment on charges of mishandling government secrets appears to have dented his popularity among Republicans — but only slightly —- according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.Sixty percent of Republicans now have a favorable view of Trump, down slightly from April, when 68% of Republicans said they had a favorable view of the 2024 GOP presidential front-runner. The poll found 38% of Republicans have an unfavorable view of Trump, an uptick from 30% in April.The dip suggests some Republicans could be growing weary of Trump’s never-ending legal drama after he became the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted on federal criminal charges. Trump, who was also indicted on separate charges in New York this spring, pleaded not guilty this month to 37 felony counts accusing him of improperly storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Flo...

Yankees’ Domingo Germán throws perfect game against A’s, the 24th in MLB history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

By MICHAEL WAGAMANThe Associated PressOAKLAND — Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees pitched the 24th perfect game in major league history Wednesday night, retiring every Oakland batter in an 11-0 victory over the Athletics.It was the first perfect game since Seattle Mariners ace Félix Hernández threw one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15, 2012. There were three that season — but none since until Germán finished the first no-hitter in the big leagues this year.He joined Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998) and David Cone (1999) as Yankees pitchers to throw perfect games. Larsen’s gem came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.“So exciting,” Germán said through a translator. “When you think about something very unique in baseball, not many people have an opportunity to pitch a perfect game. To accomplish something like this in my career is something that I’m going to remember forever.”Coming off a pair of terrible starts, Germán (5-5) struck out nine ...

Vacaville police search for hit-and-run driver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

(KRON) -- The Vacaville Police Department is asking for the community's help with finding a hit-and-run driver. VPD said an elderly woman was found in the street in the area of Yosemite Circle and Plumas Court at about 6:00 a.m. Tuesday. Blood was pooling around the victim when she was found by her neighbor. The woman was hospitalized and has serious injuries. KRON ON is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Police determined that the incident was a hit-and-run crash. VPD is asking anyone who has video footage of the area at the time of the crash, has seen someone with vehicle damage, or has any other information to contact the department at (707) 469-4747.

Report: Nearly 1/3 of SF office space is vacant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – San Francisco’s office vacancy rate just hit a new high. It’s the latest example of how the economic situation in the city keeps on crumbling.According to real estate brokerage firm CBRE, the leading firm that tracks commercial retail space, about one-third of the office space in San Francisco is not being used right now. Experts say it is going to be a long road to recovery for downtown.CRBE says the average office vacancy rate in San Francisco has climbed post-pandemic.19% in 202127% in 202229.4% in the first quarter of 202331.8% in the second quarter of 2023“The biggest factor is people are not coming to the office. People want to come in when their colleagues are there, or what is the point of coming to the office to sit on Zoom meetings all day?” said CBRE Director Colin Yasukochi.  $100K a year is low-income in the Bay Area, according to new report Yasukochi says most companies favor the hybrid work model, and enticing workers into the city five d...

Gary Bettman urges fans to boo him, honors David Poile to kick off NHL draft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman brought one of the league’s most beloved general managers with him to the stage Wednesday night to kick off the draft.That may have helped keep the traditional booing of Bettman a bit quieter than usual. David Poile, the longest-tenured and winningest general manager in league history, is retiring Friday after overseeing the startup of the Nashville Predators as an expansion franchise in 1997. Bettman then told fans they weren’t booing him up to their usual standards. “You can do better than that,” Bettman said. As the boos grew louder, the commissioner said, “Now you’re talking.”Bettman then introduced Nashville captain Roman Josi and retired Predators legend Pekka Rinne, an eighth-round pick in 2004, to present a gift. They brought out a blue Gibson guitar for Poile.“You’re the reason this place is called Smashville, so from the bottom of our heart thank you very much,” Josi said to the man who brought h...

Zavala homers twice, drives in 4 runs as the White Sox beat the Angels 11-5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Seby Zavala had his second two-homer game of the season and drove in four runs to help the Chicago White Sox break out of an offensive slump with an 11-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.The White Sox scored in each of the first five innings to build a 9-2 lead. Chicago had 17 hits, including three apiece from Andrew Vaughn and Zach Remillard.Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jiménez also went deep. Lucas Giolito (6-5) struck out nine, going seven innings for the fourth time this season.Los Angeles’ Brandon Drury had three hits, including a solo shot in the seventh, and drove in three runs. Hunter Renfroe also homered in the seventh.Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout had back-to-back triples in the first inning. It is the first time in 19 years Angels’ teammates have done that in the opening frame. Zavala was mired in a 4-for-35 slump before breaking out of it. The catcher — who is batting .168 on the year —provided the go-ahead hit with a s...