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Stock market today: Surge for Meta powers Wall Street rally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is rising Thursday after Meta Platforms became the latest Big Tech company to blow past profit expectations and reports painted a mixed picture of the U.S. economy. The S&P 500 was 1.1% higher in midday trading and on pace for its first gain in three days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 233 points, or 0.7%, at 33,535, as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was leading the market with a 1.6% gain. Facebook’s parent company was doing the heaviest lifting, and it jumped 14.4%. Not only did Meta beat analysts’ estimates for profit during the first three months of the year, it also gave a forecast for revenue that topped expectations. The majority of companies have been beating forecasts so far this earnings reporting season. Hasbro climbed 11.6%, and Comcast rose 7.8% after they also topped Wall Street’s estimates. But expectations were broadly low coming into this reporting season because of still-high inflation, much higher i...

Grains lower,Livstock higher.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

dCHICAGO (AP) — Grain futures lower Thursday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for May declined 21.50 cents at $6.18 a bushel; May corn was off 11.75 cents at $6.33750 a bushel; May oats lost 11.25 cents at $3.2350 a bushel; while May soybeans was up .50 cent at $14.45 a bushel.Beef and pork were higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.Apr. live cattle rose .15 cent at $1.7442 a pound; May feeder cattle was up .12 cent at $2.0217 a pound; May. lean hogs was off .88 cent at $.7657 a pound.Source

US to open foreign centers in bid to stop migration surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will open migration centers in Guatemala and Colombia for asylum seekers heading to the U.S.-Mexico border, in a bid to slow what’s expected to be a surge of migrants seeking to cross as pandemic-era immigration restrictions end, U.S. officials said Thursday.The migration centers are part of an intense effort to try to prevent thousands of people from making the often-dangerous journey to the southern border when the restrictions end May 11. But it is unclear whether the processing centers and other measures, including expedited processing for asylum seekers and crackdowns on human smuggling networks, will do much to slow the tide of migrants fleeing from countries marred by political and economic strife.The Biden administration, under attack by Republicans eager to paint the border as wide open under his leadership, has repeatedly warned that the end of the pandemic-era immigration restrictions does not mean that migrants should try to com...

India accuses China of violating border agreements

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s defense minister accused China on Thursday of eroding the “entire basis” of ties between the countries by violating bilateral agreements, a reference to a nearly 3-year-old standoff involving thousands of soldiers stationed along their disputed border in the eastern Ladakh region.Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu and “had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations,” India’s Defense Ministry said.Singh told Li that “development of relations between India and China is premised on the prevalence of peace and tranqulity at the borders,” and that all border issues need to be resolved in accordance with existing agreements and commitments, the ministry said in a statement.There was no immediate comment on the talks by the Chinese side.India says the deployment of a large number of Chinese troops, their aggressive behavior and att...

Gap cuts 1,800 corporate jobs amid sales slump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Gap is laying off 1,800 corporate workers, roughly three time the number of headquarters jobs it cut last fall, as the struggling chain cuts costs in a bid to become more nimble.More layoffs at the struggling chain follow similar cuts at large U.S. corporations this year, such as Amazon and McDonald’s, with white collar workers taking the brunt of the head count reductions as economy slows.In a regulatory filing Thursday, the San Francisco-based chain, which also owns Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta, said employees in its San Francisco and New York offices, as well as upper field positions such as regional store managers, will be impacted. Last September, Gap slashed 500 corporate jobs. Executive chairman Bob Martin, who is also interim CEO, said the layoffs will lead to $300 million in annualized savings. The layoffs should be completed by the end of July, according to the regulatory filing. “We are taking the necessary actions to reshape Gap Inc. fo...

Father of rock-throwing suspect also arrested during investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A father of one of the suspects arrested in the deadly rock-throwing crime spree was also arrested during the investigation for obstruction.Mark Edwin Koenig, the father of suspect Joseph Koenig, was arrested on Tuesday when investigators showed up at his house to speak with his son. Joseph was arrested in connection to the death of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell who was killed when a rock hit her while she was driving in Jefferson County. 3 high schoolers arrested in deadly rock-throwing crime spree According to the arrest affidavit, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigators went to a home in Arvada on Tuesday night to detain a homicide suspect.When investigators arrived at the home, they spoke with Mark Koenig and asked if his son was home, to which he said "yes." Investigators told Mark Koenig that they had some questions for his son and to call him to the front door.Since Joseph Koenig is 18 years old, he agreed to speak with the sheriff's off...

Talk show host, former politician Jerry Springer dies at 79: Reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Jerry Springer, the legendary talk show host and former mayor and news anchor, has died, according to a statement from his family shared with multiple outlets. He was 79. Springer passed away peacefully at his home in Chicago Thursday, a spokesperson for his family told WLWT.“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word,” Jene Galvin, a lifelong friend and spokesman for the family, told the outlet. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”Jerry Springer, as seen on the show's 25th Season Spectacular -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)FILE - Jerry Springer attends AOL Build Speaker Speakers at AOL Studios In New York on May 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)...

Owner surrenders dog after it bites 7-year-old girl in Miami Gardens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

Miami-Dade Animal Control removed a dog that attacked a young girl, which sent her to the hospital. The dog’s owner surrendered the animal at around 10 a.m., Thursday. The 7-year-old that was attacked still remains in the hospital with a severe injury. “I’m very, very happy that the dog is gone, but I’m also sad that my granddaughter is in the hospital suffering in pain,” said Carletha Rodgers, the victim’s grandmother. “It’s a bittersweet day.”K’lonie Huges survived a gruesome dog attack Wednesday night at Northwest 207th Street Road.Once the dog was in the back of an animal control van and barked, it had Rogers reliving the moment it all happened.“My granddaughter laying on the ground while he’s attacking her, in pain, crying out yelling, screaming for help,” Rodgers said. The attack took place in Crystal Meadow’s yard, a place where the neighborhood kids like to play.“You hearing him growing like ...

Hollywood PD arrest woman after altercation with school Guardian

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

The Hollywood Police Department officers responded to the scene for emergency assistance after a school Guardian encountered an altercation with a parent outside of a school. Law enforcement officers arrested the person when they arrived on the scene.On Thursday, just after 8:15 a.m., authorities responded to an incident at Stirling Elementary School, located at 5500 Sterling Road, when the Guardian called for backup after a heated argument escalated.Officials said she drove in the wrong direction into the pick-up loop of the school. That was when the interaction between the Guardian and the driver occurred.The Guardian sustained minor injuries and, police said, no students or staff members were harmed.According to the Florida Department of Education, Guardians are armed personnel who aid in the prevention of active assailant incidents on school premises. The Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, named after the man who used his body as a shield to protect students in the Parkland sch...

Timothy Garton Ash on the future of Europe — Eva Kaili back in the spotlight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:15 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Stitcher .st0{fill:#EB8A23;} .st1{fill:#FAC617;} .st2{fill:#612368;} .st3{fill:#3792C4;} .st4{fill:#C33727;} Acast “We have created the best Europe there has ever been” — so says Timothy Garton Ash, this week’s special guest. Meanwhile, former vice president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, is fi...