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Stock market today: Global shares mostly slip ahead of speech by Fed’s Powell

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mostly lower in muted trading Wednesday ahead of a speech by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that might point the way for future interest rate policy. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.2% to 6,971.37 and Germany’s DAX lost 0.3% to 15,108.60. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up less than 0.1% to 7,413.84. The future for the S&P 500 was down less than 0.1% while that for the Dow industrials was unchanged. Powell is due to address a conference in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday. Last week, investors took comments he made to suggest the Fed may finally be done with hiking interest rates this time around. Inflation has been moderating since peaking in the summer of 2022, and a recent jump in Treasury yields may be acting like a substitute for more rate hikes.Since then Fed officials have indicated more increases might still be needed if inflation does not abate further. The Fed’s main interest rate is now at its highest level since 2001, above 5.25%. ...

Williamson County approves $884 million in road and park improvements

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Voters in one of the state’s fastest growing counties approved two propositions Tuesday totaling $884 million in road and park improvements. ELECTION DAY BLOG: Texans vote on 14 state constitutional amendments, local propositions 38 road projects were on Proposition A in Williamson County. Some projects of note in the $825 million bond program were the widening of Ronald Reagan Boulevard from RM 3405 to Sun City Boulevard. Another big project includes improvements at FM 1431 and Highway 183.As reported by KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes in October, Williamson County voters historically have passed similar measures. Voters approved bonds in 2000, 2006, 2013 and 2019 elections. Election Results According to an interview in October, Williamson County Communications Director Connie Odom said much of these projects are to help the county accommodate the rapidly growing number of drivers on its roads.“In certain cases, then they can bypass downtown ...

Daily horoscope for November 8, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions after 11:30 p.m. EST today (8:30 p.m. PST). The Moon is in Virgo.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023:You are imaginative and progressive, plus, intense and serious. You’re courageous, ambitious and sometimes eccentric. This is a powerful year for you, because you are receiving recognition for your efforts. You might win awards, kudos and promotions. You will certainly receive acknowledgement from your peers. Bravo!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Interruptions to your job or something related to your health or your pet might occur today. Stay on your toes. Meanwhile, you have wonderful opportunities to negotiate shared property, inheritances, wills and estates, as well as insurance issues. Things will go your way because you’ll be effective and persuasive! Tonight: Avoid financial squabbles.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★This is a mildly accident-prone day for your kids, so be vigilant. Meanwhile, social occasions are up fo...

Kazakhstan and Hungary reaffirm commitment to enhance ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed gratitude to Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban for his significant contribution to the rapprochement between Kazakhstan and Hungary during a Nov. 2 meeting, reported the Akorda press service, writes Dana Omirgazy in International.“Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to Kazakh land! In Kazakhstan, you are well known and respected because you are Kipchak [one of Turkic tribes] by origin. We can say that you have come to the homeland of your ancestors. Thank you for accepting my invitation to visit Kazakhstan on an official visit and for taking part in the anniversary summit of the Organization of Turkic States. Undoubtedly, this visit will give new impetus to cooperation between the two countries. I am confident that today’s negotiations will be fruitful,” said Tokayev.During the meeting in a narrow format, the sides discussed the state and prospects for the development of Kazakh-Hungarian relations with a focus on strengthening political ...

Harriette Cole: I’m staggered by my boyfriend’s rule for living together

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am 22, and I am dating a 30-year-old man who is a residence life coordinator at a dormitory for a large Midwestern university.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: How can I extract myself from my teen romance? Advice | Harriette Cole: She told a lie about me that broke our friendship. How do I deal with this? Advice | Harriette Cole: Nobody is doing anything about my abusive boss Advice | Harriette Cole: The trait that got me this far isn’t working anymore Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m seeing a huge red flag in my new marriage A part of his benefits is that he has an apartment attached to the dorm, so if the residence assistants need him, he is there. This apartment does not have any rent attached to it.I was about to move in with him when he told me that I needed to pay $1,000 a month to him as “rent.” I was shocked when he told me this. I have full knowledge...

Miss Manners: My wife rebuked cinema patrons who walked in front of us. Who was rude?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When we go to the movie theater, my wife and I like to stay seated through the credits, reading them and reflecting on what we’ve seen. This puts us in a small minority.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: The host seemed put out by the guests’ sober dress. Were they rude? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I have done something about this shopper’s bad behavior? Advice | Miss Manners: How do I keep my wife’s art off our walls without a blowup? Advice | Miss Manners: Three years after disappearing, she sent me a rude email Advice | Miss Manners: Must I tell these nosy people about the tragedy of my fiance? When we followed this practice today, the group next to us wanted to leave. The seats to their left were empty, giving them a clear path to the aisle, but they decided to come past us instead.“Go the other way; it’s clear, and we’re trying to re...

Dear Abby: I hope this gift surprises them into better behavior

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

DEAR ABBY: For years, we have given generous gifts to our six out-of-town grandchildren and received almost no thanks or acknowledgment. It hurts my feelings because I devote a lot of thought, in addition to money, to choosing something special for each of them.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I like to video people who are behaving badly Advice | Dear Abby: The rest of the book club is appalled by the woman I invited Advice | Dear Abby: My sister-in-law always has ‘other plans.’ Should I stop asking? Advice | Dear Abby: I haven’t told my wife what I know. Should I stick around? Advice | Dear Abby: I just wanted to sit in their house for a few hours, and they wouldn’t let me in Obviously, they don’t care, but when we have just sent checks, not knowing what they read, wear or want, our checks are always cashed. It’s the same with gift cards.This year, we will send gi...

G7 nations announce a unified stance on Israel-Hamas war after intensive meetings in Tokyo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Top diplomats from the Group of Seven leading industrial democracies announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday after intensive meetings in Tokyo, condemning Hamas, supporting Israel’s right to self-defense and calling for “humanitarian pauses” to speed aid to desperate civilians in the Gaza Strip. In a statement following two days of talks, the nations sought to balance unequivocal criticism of Hamas’ attacks against Israel and “the need for urgent action” to help civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave. “All parties must allow unimpeded humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter, and access for humanitarian workers,” said the statement, hammered out by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy. “We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement and the release o...

Double shooting in NE Miami-Dade leaves 1 dead, another in critical condition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) units responded to a double shooting, leaving one adult male dead and another in critical condition. The scene unfolded with a grim discovery as first responders located two gunshot victims, but the assailant remains unknown.One of the victims succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by MDFR. The second victim, with a gunshot wound to the torso, was swiftly transported to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital in critical condition.Authorities have yet to release any information about the shooter as the investigation is ongoing.If you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Labour frontbencher quits in protest at Keir Starmer’s position on Gaza cease-fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:56 GMT

LONDON — A Labour frontbencher quit his post Tuesday night over U.K. opposition Leader Keir Starmer’s refusal to call for a cease-fire in the war between Hamas and Israel.Shadow Work Minister Imran Hussain sent a letter of resignation to Starmer saying it had “become clear that my view on the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza differs substantially from the position you have adopted.” Starmer has aligned Labour with the U.K. government, United States and European Union in calling instead for humanitarian “pauses” in the fighting, but he is under mounting pressure from some parts of his party to go further.Hussain, the MP for Bradford East since 2015, said he wished to be “a strong advocate for the humanitarian cease-fire,” adding: “It is clear that I cannot sufficiently, in all good conscience, do this from the front-bench given its current position.”While Hussain stressed that he “unequivocally condemned” Hamas’...