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Asian stocks sink before US Congress votes on deal to avoid debt default

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets sank Wednesday ahead of a vote by Congress on a deal to avert a government debt default, while a downturn in Chinese factory activity deepened, adding to signs global economic activity is weakening.Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney retreated. Oil prices declined.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index edged up less than 0.1% on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tried to line up votes in support of their deal to allow the government to borrow more. Without agreement, officials warn the government will run out of money as soon as next week, which would roil the economy and financial markets.“Any upcoming obstacle to a smooth pass-through of the deal could still trigger some de-risking,” said Yeap Jun Rong of IG in a report.Also Wednesday, an official Chinese survey of manufacturers found activity contracted in May on weak global and domestic consumer demand.The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.6% to 3,204...

DeSantis looks to connect with voters during 1st full day of campaigning in Iowa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis begins his first full day of presidential campaigning on Wednesday with a four-stop blitz through Iowa, trying to prioritize personally connecting with voters while proving he has the mettle to take on former President Donald Trump.The Florida governor has appearances in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Pella and Cedar Rapids, packing in early events in the state whose caucuses kick off the GOP presidential primary voting. From there, he will head to New Hampshire on Thursday and South Carolina on Friday.At his Iowa kickoff event on Tuesday night with wife Casey, DeSantis was initially cautious while addressing an energetic crowd of roughly 500 gathered inside a suburban Des Moines church. But speaking to reporters afterward, he pushed back against Trump in a way he had not before on the national stage. He accused Trump of essentially abandoning “America First” principles on immigration, supporting pandemic-related lockdowns and generally having “move...

Jury selection to begin in trial of former deputy accused of failing to confront Parkland shooter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday in the trial of a former Florida sheriff’s deputy charged with failing to confront the shooter who killed 14 students and three staff members at a Parkland high school five years ago. The attorney for former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson, prosecutors and Circuit Judge Martin Fein are expected to spend several days winnowing through hundreds of prospective jurors to find 50 who say they could serve without prejudice and for the two months the trial is expected to take.From those 50, the attorneys will try next week to agree on a panel of six and four alternates to hear the case. Florida is one of six states that allow six-member juries for trials other than capital murder. The others are Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts and Utah. All other states use 12-member juries in felony trials. Peterson, 60, remained outside a three-story classroom building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schoo...

Changes to food aid in debt bill would cost money, far from savings GOP envisioned

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican attempt to expand work requirements for federal food aid in debt legislation moving through Congress would increase federal spending by $2.1 billion over 10 years — far from the cuts GOP lawmakers had promised.A compromise on the food aid requirements between House Republicans and President Joe Biden as the nation nears a disastrous government default may have backfired for the Republicans, who won the new work requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for some able-bodied recipients in exchange for Democratic demands to drop work requirements for some other, more vulnerable recipients such as veterans and the homeless. An estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released late Tuesday said that while the new work requirements in SNAP would save money, the added benefits pushed by Democrats would cost more — and add almost 80,000 people to the rolls in an average month. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., dismiss...

Nevada Republican governor approves abortion protections in cross-party move

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

By GABE STERN (Associated Press/Report for America)CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada’s Joe Lombardo on Tuesday became one of the first Republican governors to enshrine protections for out-of-state abortion patients and in-state providers, adding the western swing state to the list of those passing new laws to solidify their status as safe havens for abortion patients. The legislation codifies an existing executive order from former Gov. Steve Sisolak last year — who lost reelection to Lombardo — that bars state agencies from assisting in out-of-state investigations that could lead to the prosecution of abortion patients who travel to Nevada. It also ensures medical boards and commissions that oversee medical licenses do not discipline or disqualify doctors who provide abortions. Lombardo, who describes himself as “pro-life” and was endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee, said on the campaign trail that he would respect the will of voters w...

Concert review: With vocal assistance, Janet Jackson crams in the hits at Xcel Energy Center

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

In the time from her 1986 breakthrough “What Have You Done for Me Lately” to her final No. 1, 2001’s “All for You,” Janet Jackson released 38 singles. Nearly every one of them made it into her set Tuesday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center. Or, parts of them, anyway.As she did at Target Center in 2015 and Treasure Island Casino four years later, Jackson went for quantity over quality. She performed shortened versions of her biggest hits and, in several cases, cut them down even further and sang them as medleys.Jackson, who turned 57 two weeks ago, kicked off her nearly two-hour show after a crowd-pleasing opening set from Atlanta rapper/actor Ludacris. She performed on a relatively sparse stage that looked like an open dance floor, with a series of large screens that changed positions through the evening. Her band, which included piped-in backing vocals, stayed mostly tucked away at the back, leaving Jackson and her four agile male dancers the focus of the show.The s...

Nolan Jones hits first home run with Rockies, but Kyle Freeland roughed up early in loss at Arizona

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

PHOENIX — Nolan Jones hit his first big league home run, but that was all of the offensive fireworks the Rockies could muster Tuesday night at Chase Field.Zac Gallen pitched six shutout innings, Ketel Marte and Evan Longoria homered in the first inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 5-1.Gallen (7-2) is 6-0 with a 0.66 ERA in six starts at Chase Field this season. He gave up five hits and two walks and struck out seven to win for the first time in three starts and lower his season ERA to 2.72. The right-hander hasn’t allowed a homer in 63 innings — dating to his second start of the season.Corbin Carroll also homered and scored twice for Arizona, which handed the Rockies their fifth consecutive loss away from Coors Field.Jones hit his first homer of the year in the ninth for Colorado against reliever Kevin Ginkel, while rookie Ezequiel Tovar had three of the Rockies’ eight hits.Ryan McMahon was 1 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts and saw his home run str...

CIF NorCal softball regionals: Tuesday’s results, semifinal matchups

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.CIF NorCal softball regionalsDivision ITuesday’s first roundNo. 1 Hollister 2, No. 8 Oak Ridge 0No. 4 Whitney-Rocklin 9, No. 5 Archbishop Mitty 3No. 2 St. Francis 10, No. 7 San Ramon Valley 0No. 3 Central-Fresno 2, No. 6 California 1Thursday’s semifinalNo. 4 Whitney-Rocklin (22-7) at No. 1 Hollister (28-3), 4 p.m.No. 3 Central-Fresno (27-5) at No. 2 St. Francis (27-3), 4 p.m.Division IITuesday’s first roundNo. 1 Willow Glen 5, No. 8 Casa Grande 2No. 4 Bullard 4, No. 5 Monterey 3No. 2 East Nicolaus 6, No. 7 Vacaville 4No. 3 Notre Dame Salinas 9, No. 6 Inderkum 2Thursday’s semifinalNo. 4 Bullard (27-5) at N...

SF Giants limited to one run in loss to Pirates after 14-run explosion

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have rarely lost when wearing their creamsicle-colored City Connect jerseys, and losses have been even fewer and further between no matter what they’ve been wearing over the past two weeks. But neither their lucky jerseys or the power of momentum could prevent a 2-1 loss to the Pirates on Tuesday.Here are some takeaways.No City Connect magicA day after a 14-run explosion, the Giants’ bats went quiet. They did not lack opportunities against erratic Pirates starter Johan Oviedo, who walked as many batters (five) as he struck out.Michael Conforto delivered an RBI single after back-to-back walks to Mike Yastrzemski and J.D. Davis in the first, but the Giants were unable to repeat the winning formula. Yastrzemski and Davis drew consecutive free passes again with only one out in the third but were left stranded, and Blake Sabol fell victim to the same fate after drawing a leadoff walk in the second.All in all, the Giants took ball four seven times Tu...

CIF NorCal baseball regionals: Tuesday’s results, semifinal matchups

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:52 GMT

CIF NorCal baseball regionalsDivision ITuesday’s first roundNo. 1 Valley Christian 7, No. 8 Clayton Valley Charter 3No. 4 Cardinal Newman 2, No. 5 Whitney-Rocklin 1No. 3 Franklin-Elk Grove 5, No. 6 Hollister 4No. 2 De La Salle 6, No. 7 Buchanan-Clovis 0Thursday’s semifinalsNo. 4 Cardinal Newman (28-1) at No. 1 Valley Christian (30-3), 4 p.m.No. 3 Franklin-Elk Grove (30-4) at No. 2 De La Salle (25-5), 4 p.m.Division IITuesday’s first roundNo. 8 Bellarmine 11, No. 1 Kingsburg 6, 10 inningsNo. 4 St. Ignatius 3, No. 5 Granite Bay 2No. 3 Casa Grande 6, No. 6 Live Oak 0No. 2 Pleasant Valley-Chico 6, No. 7 Rio Americano-Sacramento 0Thursday’s semifinalsNo. 8 Bellarmine (21-12-1) vs. No. 4 St. Ignatius (18-12) at St. Ignatius Sports Complex, 4 p.m.No. 3 Casa Grande (24-5) at No. 2 Pleasant Valley-Chico (22-3), 4 p.m.Division IIITuesday’s first roundNo. 1 Carmel 3, No. 8 Pioneer-Woodland 1No. 5 Oakmont-Roseville 3, No. 4 Liberty-Madera 2No. 6 Arcata 5, No. 3 Chico 3No. 2 Ce...