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Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise after Wall Street rally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday after Wall Street rallied to its best day since June after pressures from the bond market relaxed a bit. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.4% in morning trading to 32,146.33. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% to 7,178.10. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.0% to 2,531.45. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 1.1% to 18,041.53, while the Shanghai Composite slid 0.1% to 3,074.78. A major event of the week for markets is a speech later in the day by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. He is speaking at a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, event that’s been the setting for major policy announcements by the Fed in the past.The hope among traders has been that the Fed has already hiked rates for the final time this cycle and that it will begin cutting rates early next year. But such hopes have been diminishing with each stronger-than-expected report on the economy that’s come in recently.“Shares in Asia appear set to make gains, ...

In Japan’s neighbors, fear and frustration are being shared over radioactive water release

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Seoul office worker Kim Mijeong says she intends to stop eating seafood, as she deeply mistrusts the safety of Japan’s release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea from its crippled nuclear power plant.“We should absolutely cut back on our consumption of seafood. Actually, we can’t eat it,” Kim said. “I can’t accept the Japanese plan because it’s too unilateral and is proceeding without countermeasures.”The International Atomic Energy Agency and many foreign experts already assessed the water discharge will cause negligible impact on the environment and human health. But ahead of the discharge of the wastewater starting Thursday, public fears and frustrations were being shared in its Asian neighbors, where many still bear strong resentment against Japan’s wartime aggression.China summoned Japan’s ambassador in Beijing earlier this week to register its complaints, and a government spokesperson called the discharge plan “extremely selfish and ...

Prince Harry to return to the UK on the eve of first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry is expected to return to the United Kingdom next month to attend a charity awards ceremony on the eve of the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, the charity WellChild said Thursday.Harry, a long-time patron of U.K. charity WellChild, will attend its annual awards ceremony in London on Sept. 7 to mark the achievements of seriously ill young people. He is not expected to be joined by his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.The royal withdrew from the same charity awards ceremony last year, which took place on Sept. 8, the day that Elizabeth, his grandmother, died. She died at Balmoral, her beloved Scottish country estate, at 96 years old after reigning for 70 years. Harry, who had flown in from the United States, flew to Scotland to be with other members of the royal family. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are expected to mark the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death privately at Balmoral. WellChild supports children and young peopl...

North suburban bicyclist critical after hitting back of van

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

GLENCOE, Ill. — A 64-year-old man is in critical condition in the hospital after crashing his bicycle into the back of a Dodge van in the northern suburbs late Wednesday afternoon.According to the Glencoe Department of Public Safety (GDPS), police responded to a vehicle versus bicycle crash around 4:15 p.m. in the area of Sheridan Road and South Avenue.When officers arrived on scene, they found the 64-year-old bicyclist and treated him with life-saving measures before he was taken to Evanston Hospital in critical condition. Beverly’s ‘Bike Whisperer’ teaching kids how to ride bicycles Based on initial investigation, police said the bicyclist was traveling northbound on Sheridan when he hit the back of a Dodge Ram ProMaster. The driver of the ProMaster stayed on scene and cooperated with investigators.The investigation remains ongoing.

Virtual power plants to provide power to ERCOT grid for the first time, PUCT says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Two virtual power plants are now qualified and able to provide power to the Texas electric grid, operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the Public Utility Commission of Texas said in a news release Wednesday.This is a first for the state's electricity market, the release said. The pilot project tests how consumer-owned, small energy devices, like battery energy storage systems, backup generators, and controllable Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers, can act as a resource in the wholesale electricity market, strengthening grid reliability, according to PUCT.“Small energy resources found in homes and businesses across Texas have incredible potential to continue improving grid reliability and resiliency by selling the excess power they generate to the ERCOT system,” said PUCT Commissioner Will McAdams. “It’s a win-win for Texas. Home and business owners get paid for power they supply and consumers in ERCOT get more reliability.”Texans are increasingl...

70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way is crowned on eve of Minnesota State Fair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

For the 70th time, a new Princess Kay of the Milky Way was crowned Wednesday on the eve of the Minnesota State Fair.During an evening ceremony at the fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, Emma Kuball, a 19-year-old college student from Waterville, was named the top ambassador of Minnesota’s dairy producers.Kuball represents Rice County and is the daughter of Nate and Shannon Kuball. She attends the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.Emma Kuball, a 19-year-old college student from Waterville, representing Rice County, was crowned the 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony Aug. 23, 2023 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. (courtesy of the Minnesota State Fair)Ten county dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay title.Makenzie Alberts of Pine Island, representing Dodge County, and Megan Ratka of Cold Spring, representing Stearns County, were selected as runners-up.Alberts, Kuball and Ratka were also named scholarship winners. Gracie Ash of Mi...

Organizers hold Burdett Birth Center public forum 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Zanetta Graham became a mom at Burdett Birth Center in 2017 and wishes everyone could have the same experience as her. Graham says black women suffer from a maternal mortality rate that is three times higher than white women but Burdett made her feel seen, heard and comforted.“I cannot tell you how much that really eased my anxiety and how good that felt as a person of color to go and see where I am going to be giving birth, this really really intimate experience,” said Graham. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! But that kind of birthing experience could come to an end under a proposal to close the facility.“There’s already a crisis. Our lives are already in danger. We are already underserved. We are already mistreated. That closing would just exacerbate that issue that already exists and that breaks my heart,” said Graham.Graham shared her experience at a public forum held by the Save Burdett Birth Center Co...

St. Louis jail death is a surprise to oversight board

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS – FOX 2 has learned of a police investigation into a St. Louis Justice Center death Sunday. It happened two days before this week’s hostage crisis, but was kept secret until FOX 2 was able to uncover it.We’ve confirmed that St. Louis police and the Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the inmate death of 32-year-old Carlton Bernard. His mother says she’s struggling to get answers.Rev. Darryl Gray, the chairman of the Detention Facility Oversight Board, was shocked he had to learn about it from us.“It is alarming,” Gray said. “We can’t even find out that someone has died in their custody.”Court records show Bernard has been locked up since June on a third-degree assault charge. His mother hired Clayton attorney Mark Pedroli, who told us, “32 years old is far too young to die in the custody of the government. Like all in-custody deaths deserve, Mr. Bernard’s death will be investigated vigorously by my law firm.”Bernard died two days prior to Tuesday’s hostage crisis. ...

Doors locked at 7 urgent care facilities across metro area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Multiple urgent care facilities spanning downtown St. Louis to St. Peters have locked doors, and it may have to do with people leaving the healthcare industry.Tonya Graham has walked Olive Street during her lunch hour for the last week. She passes by a closed-up urgent care."It was tiresome," Graham said. "It was wear and tear on my body."Graham just left the medical field after 25 years as a medical assistant."I want to do something where I don't have to be on my feet all the time," Graham said.She said the pandemic was a driving force behind her exit. ‘Surprise’ donation to help Francis Howell schools tackle student lunch debt "Watching sick people go through stuff. You meet people, you help them with stuff, the next minute they're sick – a lot of it is due to COVID," Graham said.Graham is not the only one. There's a mass exodus of people leaving the medical field.The FOX Files confirms at least seven different urgent care locations, spanning two different companies,...

After recent drownings, crowd sizes drop at Rockford Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:31 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Rockford Beach Park in House Springs has experienced a slew of issues since the start of the season. Despite temperatures that feel like triple digits, warnings from officials could be paying off, with an apparent drop in crowds at the dangerous waters.Two drownings and several water rescues have been recorded at Rockford Beach this season.High Ridge Fire Chief John Barton said there haven’t been any rescues or deaths at the beach since the last reported drowning on Aug. 12.From across the river, the view from the bluff is pretty steep, while rapid waters await below. It's been part of the biggest problems plaguing the park since the season began. With parking lots that once overflowed, the park was almost empty on Wednesday afternoon.“Every time we’ve been here, it’s usually had a lot of people,” said visitor Nicole Bianchino. “With this heat wave going on, sometimes the AC, cold drinks, and staying inside just doesn’t help or work.”Those who own the dangero...