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Stock market today: Global markets lower ahead of what traders hope will be a final Fed rate hike

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets were lower Wednesday after Wall Street hit a 15-month high ahead of what traders hope will be the Federal Reserve’s final increase in this interest rate cycle.London and Paris opened lower. Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Oil prices retreated.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index rose 0.3% on Tuesday after companies reported bigger profits than expected.On Wednesday, investors expect the Fed to raise its key lending rate by 0.25 percentage points to a 22-year high. They hope the U.S. central bank can manage a “soft landing,” extinguishing inflation while avoiding a recession.“There remains a risk that (Fed chair) Jerome Powell could maintain a more hawkish slant than markets would like,” Tim Waterer of KCM Trade said in a report. “With the labor market remaining tight, the Fed chairman will likely want to keep all options open for further tightening.” Meanwhile, traders waited to see how China’s ruling Communist Party will car...

Women’s World Cup rematch pits United States against ailing Dutch squad

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The United States and the Netherlands meet again on the Women’s World Cup stage — with smaller stakes than the 2019 title game won by the Americans — and the Dutch team collecting injuries at a terrible time of the tournament.The Netherlands will most likely be without forward Lineth Beerensteyn, who was hurt early in her team’s 1-0 victory over Portugal to open the tournament, when they play the Americans on Thursday in New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington.The Americans are the two-time reigning World Cup champions and Netherlands coach Andries Jonker said on the eve of the match “we would need a miracle” for Beerensteyn to be ready to play.”And if that doesn’t happen, then she won’t participate,” he said.The Netherlands came to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand already missing leading scorer Vivianne Miedema, who ruptured her ACL while playing for Arsenal in December. The forward is the Netherlands’ leading s...

Japan automaker Nissan reports profit rise despite China stumble, outlines Renault alliance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Nissan and Renault have formally redefined their French-Japanese auto alliance into a more equal one in cross-shareholdings, both sides said Wednesday.The disparity between the holdings has long been a cause of friction in the alliance, set up in 1999. At the start, Nissan, based in the Japanese port city of Yokohama, had been on the verge of bankruptcy.Under the latest terms, which still need regulatory approval expected by the end of the year, Nissan Motor Co. will invest 600 million euros ($663 million) in Ampere, Renault’s electric vehicle and software entity in Europe. Renault Group and Nissan will retain cross-shareholdings of 15% in each other, and Renault will transfer 28.4% of its Nissan shares into a French trust, so that voting rights of both sides will be capped at 15% of the total, they said in a statement.“The agreements that have been signed today allow us to step into the next chapter of the alliance,” said Jean-Dominique Senard, chairman of the alliance...

In the news today: New wildfires in B.C., Trudeau to shuffle cabinet

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…B.C. wildfire crews grapple with new blazesWildfire crews in B.C. have tamed a pair of wildfires in the province’s Cariboo region, but continue to grapple with stubborn blazes burning out of control elsewhere. The B.C. Wildfire Service says firefighters aided by heavy equipment and aerial support tamed the Branch Road wildfire, which is now considered “being held” at under 14 square kilometres. The service also says it doesn’t expect the Townsend Creek wildfire to grow any more, held at about 27 square kilometres, a blaze that spurred an evacuation alert on July 8 that remains in place. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to shuffle cabinetPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting ready to shuffle his cabinet today as he readies the team that will likely lead the Liberals into the next election.A swearing-in ceremony will take place at Rideau H...

A guide to how Paris will welcome fans and stage 32 sports at the first post-pandemic Olympics

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The Olympics is on track to be back in business with millions of visitors coming to Paris for the 2024 Games.The French capital has the expert experience to stage the event and welcome guests for the first Olympics of the post-pandemic era.That should be a relief after a chaotic lead-in to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and uncertainty from postponing the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 with no guarantee it would eventually happen one year later. It did, but in almost entirely empty venues.Organizers, athletes and fans preparing for competitions in Paris — and regional French cities like Lille and Marseille, plus the far-away surfing venue of Tahiti in the South Pacific — can be confident the show will go on.Here’s a look at what we can expect from the 2024 Paris Olympics:WHAT ABOUT TICKETS?About 10 million tickets were made available for the Paris Olympics with 329 medal events in 32 different sports spread across 18 different days of competition.Close to 7 million have alrea...

New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance means it won’t play a role in Australia’s submarine plans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s longstanding commitment to remaining nuclear-free means it won’t play a role in Australia’s plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, the leaders from both countries said after meeting Wednesday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made his first official visit to New Zealand since becoming leader last year and emphasized the growing closeness between the neighboring countries, including plans to make travel easier at the border. But that closeness and alignment on many geopolitical issues won’t extend to the so-called AUKUS deal for the submarines that was brokered by Australia, the United States and Britain. Some observers worry that New Zealand’s defense efforts risk becoming marginalized by the nation being left out of the deal. “I think there is no question that we have a different position around nuclear, in terms of nuclear propulsion is also covered by New Zealand’s nuclear-free arrangements...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set to make major changes to cabinet Wednesday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting ready to shuffle his cabinet today as he readies the team that will likely lead the Liberals into the next election.A swearing-in ceremony will take place at Rideau Hall this morning for what is expected to be the most significant change since 2021. Jeni Armstrong, a political instructor at Carleton University, says the shakeup will likely focus on critical issues including housing and the rising cost of living. She says Trudeau will be looking for good communicators who can resonate with Canadians on those files.Four ministers have announced they won’t be seeking re-election, including Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, who is stepping down from cabinet. The others are Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett.Murray’s announcement is a reversal from last month, when she told reporters that she would be the Liberal cand...

B.C. firefighters bolstered by international help work to tame dozens of wildfires

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

Wildfire crews in B.C. have tamed a pair of wildfires in the province’s Cariboo region, but continue to grapple with stubborn blazes burning out of control elsewhere. The BC Wildfire Service says firefighters aided by heavy equipment and aerial support tamed the Branch Road wildfire, which is now considered “being held” at under 14 square kilometres. The service also says it doesn’t expect the Townsend Creek wildfire to grow any more, held at about 27 square kilometres, a blaze that spurred an evacuation alert on July 8 that remains in place. The Cariboo Regional District issued a new evacuation alert on Tuesday covering a 320-square-kilometre area around Anahim Peak, northwest of Williams Lake, B.C. The alert concerns 30 parcels of land, but the regional district did not specify how many residents the alert may affect. More than 450 active fires are burning across B.C., most caused by lightning, and this year’s wildfire season has burned almost 15,000 ...

‘Old boys’ club’: Employees question how Regina rebrand was approved

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

REGINA — Federal government employees expressed relief that Prairies Economic Development Canada was not involved in a disastrous rebrand that saw Saskatchewan’s capital city criticized for sexualized slogans.Messages in a group chat obtained under freedom of information laws show federal employees were shocked by Tourism Regina’s campaign. All names of employees have been redacted.“There were so many people involved in choosing that. How did no one stop it? Oh my,” one person wrote in a message.Experience Regina was launched in March with the agency posting phrases on social media that seemed to make light of the Saskatchewan capital’s name rhyming with female anatomy. The tourism agency posted an array of slogans on its social media accounts, including “We are the city that rhymes with fun.” Its website also had “show us your Regina” written above a block of Instagram posts.The backlash was swift and immediate. It made news around the world.“You know it is bad when it is in a New ...

Daily horoscope for July 26, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:03:00 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Scorpio.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, July 26, 2023:You are a confident, passionate person who enjoys the good things in life. You’re insightful and humorous. Others enjoy your company. Simplicity is the key to your life this year. Work to create a solid foundation. Take charge of your health, especially with exercise. Stay grounded.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★★This is an excellent day to discuss how to divide or share something, perhaps an inheritance or something to do with jointly-held property. You have the mental energy to make this happen, in addition to which, you will treat all sides fairly. Tonight: Discussions.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★This is a lively, energetic day! Enjoy dynamic discussions with partners and close friends, as well as members of the general public. It’s a great day to schmooze! Accept invitations to party, as well as to enjoy the arts, the entertain...