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New Zealand’s economy dips into recession as higher interest rates bite

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s economy has dipped into recession as higher interest rates take their toll, new figures released Thursday show.Gross domestic product fell by 0.1% in the March quarter, following a revised 0.7% fall in the previous quarter, Statistics New Zealand said. That fulfils the nation’s definition of a recession, which is at least two consecutive quarters of negative growth.The slowdown comes after New Zealand’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate 12 straight times to 5.5% as it tries to tame inflation. The rate is at its highest level since 2008, making it more expensive for people to borrow money for homes, cars and other purchases. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has indicated it doesn’t plan to raise the rate any further for now and that its next move will be a cut.The downturn in growth was in line with economists’ expectations, and the currency was little changed, with one New Zealand dollar trading ...

Stock market today: Asia shares mixed after Fed holds rates steady and hints of hikes ahead

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady. Data from China showed consumer and factory activity weakened in May and record-breaking unemployment among young people in cities rose as an economic rebound following the end of anti-virus controls slowed. Consumers, uneasy about possible job losses, have returned to shops and restaurants less quickly than expected.In Japan, machinery orders for April, released Thursday, showed the first growth in three months. Trade figures for May showed a deficit for 22 months in a row, as import costs rose with the rising energy and other prices. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 erased morning gains to finish little changed, down less than 0.1% at 33,485.49. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.2% to 7,175.30. South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.4% to 2,608.54. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.6% to 19,723.65, while the Shanghai Composite edged up nearly 0.7% to 3,250.06. In...

NATO debates ways to boost ties with Ukraine as war against Russian invasion drags on

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO defense ministers gathered Thursday to discuss future relations with Ukraine as Russia’s war on the country thwarts its hopes of joining the world’s biggest security alliance soon.The ministers were also due to take part in a separate meeting at NATO headquarters of the U.S.-led Ukraine Contact Group — the forum Ukraine’s supporters routinely join to try to drum up weapons and ammunition to help Kyiv fight the Russian invasion.The NATO meeting comes just under a month before U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts gather for a summit in Lithuania in a symbolic show of support for Ukraine. They are expected to underscore their determination to act should Russian President Vladimir Putin try to expand the war westward.NATO agreed in 2008 that Ukraine would join the organization one day, but did not set a date for it to start membership talks.As the war ground on, Ukraine applied for “accelerated accession” to NATO on Sept. 30. With its Crimean Peninsula anne...

Greece finds no more survivors after sinking of migrant boat. Hundreds are still feared missing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

KALAMATA, Greece (AP) — Rescue workers transferred the bodies of dead migrants to refrigerated trucks as a major search continued Thursday for possible survivors of a sea disaster in southern Greece. Hundreds of people are still feared missing.At least 78 bodies have been recovered after a fishing boat crammed with migrants seeking to make it from Libya to Italy capsized and sank a day earlier in deep waters off the Greek coast.Rescuers saved 104 passengers — including Egyptians, Syrians, Pakistanis, Afghans and Palestinians — but authorities fear that hundreds of others may have been trapped below deck. If confirmed that would make the tragedy one of the worst ever recorded in the central Mediterranean.Authorities revised the confirmed death toll from 79 following an overnight count of the bodies.“The survivors are in a very difficult situation. Right now they are in shock,” Erasmia Roumana, head of a United Nations Refugee Agency delegation, told The Associated Press after meeting...

Dear Abby: My husband’s only response is screaming or a death stare

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 40 years. When I married “Hugh,” I thought he was the nicest man I had ever met. We have two grown children of whom we are both very proud.Hugh was laid off 19 years ago and said he was going to take “a little time off.” Abby, he has never gone back to work.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: He gets mad if I say his driving scares me Advice | Dear Abby: My wife is secretive about her meals out, and it makes me suspicious Advice | Dear Abby: This shoplifting incident may be the last straw for my marriage Advice | Dear Abby: How do I tell her I’ve been secretly cleaning her house? Advice | Dear Abby: Our poker wives’ group has been hijacked by a pious new member I retired four years ago and got a little part-time job in a local shop in town. I do the housework, and our neighbor does our yard. Hugh goes to the grocery store, and that...

Four-bedroom home sells for $1.6 million in Danville

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

20 Barcelona Court – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the first block of Barcelona Court in Danville has a new owner. The 2,397-square-foot property, built in 1969, was sold on June 1, 2023. The $1,600,000 purchase price works out to $668 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an attached garage, as well as a pool in the backyard and two parking spaces. The unit sits on a 10,000-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently been sold:A 2,397-square-foot home on the 200 block of Dolcita Court in Danville sold in May 2023, for $1,765,000, a price per square foot of $736. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In April 2023, a 1,903-square-foot home on Franciscan Drive in Danville sold for $1,675,000, a price per square foot of $880. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On La Velle Court, Danville, in August 2022, a 1,853-square-foot home was sold for $1,800,000, a price per square foot of $971. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2...

Cunningham leads Phoenix against Washington after 21-point game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

Phoenix Mercury (2-6, 1-5 Western Conference) at Washington Mystics (5-4, 2-3 Eastern Conference)Washington; Friday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Phoenix takes on the Washington Mystics after Sophie Cunningham scored 21 points in the Mercury’s 83-69 loss to the Seattle Storm.Washington finished 22-14 overall a season ago while going 12-6 at home. The Mystics shot 43.9% from the field and 33.8% from 3-point range last season.Phoenix finished 15-21 overall last season while going 4-14 on the road. The Mercury averaged 16.5 points off of turnovers, 8.5 second chance points and 13.9 bench points last season.INJURIES: Mystics: Myisha Hines-Allen: out (knee).Mercury: Skylar Diggins-Smith: out (personal).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Las Vegas hosts Seattle following Wilson’s 21-point outing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

Seattle Storm (2-6, 2-3 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (8-1, 4-0 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Aces -18.5; over/under is 168.5BOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas hosts the Seattle Storm after A’ja Wilson scored 21 points in the Las Vegas Aces’ 93-80 win against the Chicago Sky.Las Vegas finished 15-3 in Western Conference play and 13-5 at home during the 2022-23 season. The Aces averaged 14.6 points off of turnovers, 8.9 second chance points and 12.9 bench points last season.Seattle finished 10-8 in Western Conference games and 22-14 overall during the 2022-23 season. The Storm allowed opponents to score 78.4 points per game and shoot 43.4% from the field last season.INJURIES: Aces: None listed.Storm: None listed.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Minnesota visits Los Angeles after Hamby’s 23-point performance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

Minnesota Lynx (2-7, 1-3 Western Conference) at Los Angeles Sparks (5-4, 4-4 Western Conference)Los Angeles; Friday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles hosts the Minnesota Lynx after Dearica Hamby scored 23 points in the Los Angeles Sparks’ 79-61 victory against the Dallas Wings.Los Angeles went 7-11 at home and 6-12 in Western Conference action during the 2022-23 season. The Sparks averaged 79.4 points per game last season, 39.5 in the paint, 17.8 off of turnovers and 10.2 on fast breaks.Minnesota went 14-22 overall last season while going 8-10 in Western Conference play. The Lynx averaged 82.4 points per game while allowing opponents to score 83.9 last season.INJURIES: Sparks: Layshia Clarendon: out (foot), Jasmine Thomas: out (knee), Katie Lou Samuelson: out (personal).Lynx: Diamond Miller: out (ankle), Natalie Achonwa: out (personal).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Boris Johnson repeatedly misled UK parliament, inquiry finds

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:53 GMT

LONDON — Boris Johnson committed a “serious contempt” of parliament and repeatedly misled lawmakers over his knowledge of the Partygate scandal, a cross-party group of MPs concluded.In a highly damning report on the former prime minister’s conduct, the House of Commons privileges committee recommended Johnson be effectively banned from the parliamentary estate.It said had Johnson not already quit as an MP, he would have faced a 90-day suspension from the House — the second-longest such punishment ever recommended for a member of parliament.In key developments Thursday:— Johnson dismissed the committee as a “kangaroo court” in a 1,600-word blast and took direct aim at the “political agenda” of committee chairman Harriet Harman.— The ex-prime minister was taken to task for pre-emptively attacking the committee’s findings, and accused of “seeking to undermine the parliamentary process.”— MPs will find out this morning when the...