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UK homeowners hope Bank of England avoids another rate hike after inflation falls

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Homeowners across the U.K. are hoping that the Bank of England will decide to avoid raising interest rates Thursday for the first time in nearly two years, a decision that would come on the heels of similar action by the U.S. Federal Reserve.Following Wednesday’s news that U.K. inflation fell unexpectedly in August to 6.7%, its lowest level since Russia invaded Ukraine, expectations have grown that the Bank of England will opt to keep its main interest rate unchanged at a 15-year high of 5.25%.Before the inflation figures were released, most economists thought the central bank would raise its key borrowing rate once again by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.5%. That’s because inflation is still way above the bank’s target rate of 2% and higher than in any other Group of Seven major economy. Now, financial markets foresee the decision going either way. Even if there is a rate hike, economists expect the bank to indicate that borrowing rates have pe...

Congo’s president wants the large U.N. peacekeeping mission to start leaving the country this year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Congo’s president wants the world’s second largest United Nations peacekeeping force to move up its departure from the country, starting this December, saying it has failed to rein in conflicts in the country’s east.President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi in an address to the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders on Wednesday accused the 17,000-strong peacekeeping mission of being unable to confront the conflicts in eastern Congo that are “tearing apart” the central African nation.After a quarter-century of peacekeeping efforts, “it’s time for our country to take its destiny fully in hand” and become the leading security force in Congo, he said.Moving up the start of the peacekeeping mission’s “accelerated retreat” by a year, from December 2024, will help ease deadly tensions in the region, said the president, who is seeking a second term at a general election in December.Eastern Congo, far from the capital, has long been overrun by dozens of armed ...

Powerball jackpot climbs to 8th-largest ever after no one wins prize

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - The Powerball jackpot has grown again after no one won the big prize in Wednesday night's drawing. The winning numbers were 16, 27, 59, 62, 63 and the Powerball was 23. There were $2 million winners in Georgia and Texas and $1 million winner in Georgia. The prize has now grown to an estimated $725 million, with a lump sum cash option of $345.7 million. The next drawing will be on Saturday.At this size, the jackpot is now the 8th-largest in Powerball’s history. In February, there was a $754.6 million jackpot won by a ticket in Washington, and in July, a California ticket landed a $1.08 billion prize. Both of those prizes rank among the largest in the game’s history.Here are the 10 largest Powerball jackpots on record:$2.04 billion: Nov. 7, 2022 (California)$1.586 billion: Jan. 13, 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee)$1.08 billion: July 19, 2023 (California) $768.4 million: March 27, 2019 (Wisconsin)$758.7 million: Aug. 23, 2017 (Massachusetts)$754.6 million: Feb. 6,...

Welch nets two goals for Glens Falls in win over Hudson Falls

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Glens Falls and Hudson Falls - one of the Capital Region's premier rivalries - duked it out on the pitch in a Foothills Council girls soccer clash Wednesday night. The Black Bears defended their home turf, knocking off the Tigers 2-1 behind a two-goal effort from junior forward Parker Welch. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The two sides squared off in a non-league game back on Sep. 1 in Hudson Falls, where Glens Falls emerged with a 3-2 victor. The teams returned to league play Wednesday, and Tom Barrows' squad backed that up with their first win in Foothill Council action.But the Black Bears were forced to fight back from an early deficit. In the opening minute of play, Hudson Falls' Clare Gauci chipped a pass ahead to freshman midfielder/forward Brynn Terry, who was set up in a one-on-one situation with Glens Falls goalkeeper Sarah Wolfstich. Terry toe-poked a shot right past Wolfstich, finding ...

Commission approves €44.7 million Polish scheme to support corn producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

The European Commission has approved an approximately €44.7 million (PLN 200 million) Polish scheme to support the corn production sector in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable member states to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.Under the scheme, the aid will consist in limited amounts of aid in the form of direct grants. The purpose of the measure is to support agricultural producers that, in 2022 or 2023, at least once did not receive payments for corn sold to entities purchasing and trading cereals, and that are at risk of losing financ...

Bridge: Sept. 21, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

Marty Bergen is a writer and teacher who recently entered the ACBL’s Hall of Fame. He is a champion player, semi-retired from competing now. He may be best known as an influential bidding theorist and the originator of “Bergen raises” and other innovative treatments. As today’s deal shows, he is no slouch as declarer.Bergen played at four hearts, and West led the king of diamonds. Bergen played low from dummy, won the next diamond and, looking a few tricks ahead, ruffed a diamond. He drew trumps and led a spade.LAST DIAMONDWest played low, and when dummy won, East signaled with the seven, suggesting a doubleton. Bergen then ruffed dummy’s last diamond and led another spade. West took the ace and was end-played: He had to take his ace of clubs, and Bergen had the rest.The deal arose in a team match, and at the other table, the declarer at four hearts neglected to ruff any diamonds in his hand. Then West retained some exit cards and could avoid the end pl...

Word Game: Sept. 21, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — ABUNDANCE (ABUNDANCE: uh-BUN-dense: An ample quantity.)Average mark 24 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 31 or more words in ABUNDANCE? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — REPINES rein repine resin rinse ripe ripen rise risen erne peen peer perse pier pine preen pries seen seep seer seine seiner sere sine sire siren sneer snip snipe sniper spier spin spine spire spreeTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at k...

Ask Amy: Their dogs have stolen my life, and I want it back

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

Dear Amy: I am 82 years old, in fairly good shape, independent, and retired from a nursing career.My children are adults. My son and one of my daughters each have a dog. I am the official dog-sitter, and it clouds my happiness.I don’t want to be selfish, but I want peace in the years I have left.I have been visiting one dog every day for the past six years while my daughter is at work. She is afraid the dog will be lonely!I have also visited my son’s dog very often. He and my daughter both travel a lot for leisure, and here I am, ready to watch the little critters.My question is: How do I stop the run-up sitting and get my life back?Please, help me!– Helpless in MontanaDear Helpless: Six years of daily visits? So the dog won’t be lonely?Sigh.I assume that at one point, many years ago, you agreed to this. Perhaps you even enjoyed your daily commitment for a while, or pretended that you did.You are 82. One of the privileges of age is the right to live your life the way you...

Harriette Cole: Is it a bad idea to hang out with this man so I can meet his friends?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: Since moving to a new city for work, I’ve had trouble meeting people. A former classmate who lives in the same area asked me out for dinner, and I went.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I abandoned my home, and now I’ve come back to a huge mess Advice | Harriette Cole: A random man was staring in my window, and I’m upset the police let him go Advice | Harriette Cole: Her dress made me upset, and it didn’t even stick to my wedding theme Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I keep my employee from leaving? Advice | Harriette Cole: It was a bad moment on Zoom. How can I smooth things over? It was clear to me that he was hoping for more than friendship, but I’m not romantically interested in him. Nevertheless, I’m considering spending more time with him to see if he’ll invite me to join his circle of friends. That way I’ll know people other th...

AIPAC Targets Black Democrats — While the Congressional Black Caucus Stays Silent

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:08 GMT

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the country’s most influential pro-Israel lobbying group, is recruiting candidates to challenge progressive members of the Congressional Black Caucus in primaries next year.The CBC has been silent on the AIPAC bid to challenge at least three of its members who are part of the so-called Squad, a loose group of progressive representatives. According to media reports and The Intercept’s investigation, the only incumbents AIPAC has targeted so far in this election cycle are CBC members.The CBC’s silence on the electoral challenges reflects the divide among Democrats on Israel — with progressives increasingly willing to buck Capitol Hill orthodoxies and speak up for Palestinian rights — and fundraising dynamics among caucus members. AIPAC has endorsed more than half of CBC members. The AIPAC-backed members of the caucus, some 31 lawmakers, have received a previously unreported total of at least $3.6 million from AIPAC since February 2022, acc...