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Yellen says it’s critical to maintain U.S.-China ties after Biden’s dictator remarks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

By SYLVIE CORBET (Associated Press)PARIS (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday that it’s “critical” the U.S. and China maintain a relationship so they can “work together” on global challenges, coming just after President Joe Biden’s remarks calling Chinese leader Xi Jinping a “dictator” drew condemnation from Beijing.Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Yellen said that “with respect to the comments, I think President Biden and I both believe it’s critical to maintain communication … to clear up misperceptions, miscalculations. We need to work together where possible.”“But we have disagreements, and we are also forthright in recognizing we do have disagreements,” she added.Yellen has recently advocated for improving relations between the U.S. and China, arguing cooperation is needed for the sake of maintaining global stability.Biden’s remarks at a fundraiser Tuesday, when he also said China had “real economic difficulties,” opened a new rift just after U.S. Se...

Mike Tauchman makes 2nd appearance in London Series, this time with Chicago Cubs: ‘Hopefully we can give them another show’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

Hours before the New York Yankees’ flight departed for England to play in the first London Series in 2019, outfielder Mike Tauchman was leaving the Triple A team hotel in Scranton, Pa., when his phone rang.The Yankees’ game was already underway, a home finale before embarking on the overseas trip, when Tauchman was told to head back to the hotel and pack his stuff. New York was putting Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list and needed Tauchman to get to New York before the team departed postgame for London ahead of the inaugural two-game series against the Boston Red Sox.Tauchman, a Palatine, Ill., native, quickly called his wife, Eileen, who caught a flight from Chicago to join him on the trip.Reflecting on his 2019 experience ahead of his return trip with the Cubs for a two-game series versus the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday and Sunday at London Stadium, Tauchman laughs at the first memory that pops in his head: a record heat wave. London Stadium’s recorded tem...

2023 NBA draft: How to watch? Who will go No. 1 overall? Will the Bulls have any picks?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

The NBA will host the 2023 draft Thursday night, ringing in one of the most anticipated nights in recent league history as fans and teams await a potentially game-changing first-overall pick.Here are six things to know about this year’s draft.1. Who will go No. 1?This is the easiest answer in this year’s draft. This is one of the most-hyped drafts in recent history for one reason only: French 19-year-old Victor Wembanyama, who has been touted as the clear-cut first overall pick in the 2023 draft.Wembanyama offers a unique meld of talents — a sprawling eight-foot wingspan combined with fluid ball handling and an effortless range from behind the 3-point arc. He went pro at age 14 and began receiving high-level draft interest at 16 as he made a name for himself in the top French league.While Wembanyama’s towering 7-foot-3 height creates a clear advantage around the rim, his slender frame has been a source of concern for his durability against the physical compet...

Moscow court rules US journalist Evan Gershkovich must stay in jail until late August

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow court on Thursday ruled that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich must remain in jail on espionage charges until at least late August, rejecting the American journalist’s appeal to be released.The 31-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested in late March while on a reporting trip. A Moscow court ruled last month to keep him in custody until Aug. 30, but his lawyers had challenged the decision.Gershkovich, wearing a black T-shirt and light blue jeans, looked tense and paced inside a glass defendant’s cage while waiting for the hearing to begin at the Moscow City Court. Then other journalists in the courtroom were asked to leave and the proceedings took place behind closed doors.The ruling was broadcast to reporters, who watched it on two large TV screens in a separate room in the courthouse.While waiting for the judge, Gershkovich smiled and chatted to his parents, who were present. U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy also attended.“Evan continued to show remarkable...

Decisions made after fiery Ohio train derailment will be examined at NTSB hearing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Some of the key decisions made in the aftermath of February’s fiery derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in eastern Ohio will be examined at a hearing Thursday.The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a rare field hearing in East Palestine, Ohio, over the next two days. Thursday’s hearing will focus on the emergency response to the derailment and the crucial decision officials made days later to release the toxic vinyl chloride in five tank cars and burn it to keep those cars from exploding.That decision sent a towering plume of black smoke over the town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and prompted the evacuation of about half of East Palestine’s 5,000 residents. Officials have defended that decision as the best option when faced with the prospect of an explosion that would have sent shrapnel into the town.But residents have been left with many questions about possible lingering health effects even though state and federal officials say tests ...

Remotely operated vehicles join subsea search for missing Titanic submersible

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

The United States Coast Guard says two more remotely operated vehicles have joined the search for a submersible that lost contact with surface vessels on Sunday as it was diving to reach the wreck of the Titanic with five people aboard.The First Coast Guard District in Boston confirmed this morning on Twitter that the French ROV L’Atalante was being prepared to enter the water about 700 kilometres southeast of Newfoundland.Meanwhile, the coast guard also confirmed that the Canadian vessel Horizon Arctic had deployed an ROV that reached the ocean floor and was searching for the Titan, a carbon-fibre and titanium submersible operated by U.S.-based OceanGate Expeditions.The search has intensified as the company has stated that the minivan-size submersible has an air supply that can last four days, which means the supply could run out as of today.American authorities say “banging sounds” have been detected in the search area, though the cause remains unclear.Recordings...

Foes of Myanmar’s military regime applaud new US sanctions, but want action to block gas revenues

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Opponents of Myanmar’s military government applauded fresh financial sanctions imposed by the United States on the Southeast Asian nation but called Thursday for further measures to pressure its ruling generals to restore peace and democracy. The U.S. Treasury Department announced Wednesday it was imposing the sanctions on Myanmar’s Defense Ministry and two state-owned banks, the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and the Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank.The move freezes any assets of the sanctioned entities that are in the United States or controlled by a U.S. person. It also prohibits all transactions by U.S. persons or carried out within or transiting the United States that the targeted entities would benefit from. That would make it difficult to carry out transactions through financial institutions involving U.S. dollars.The sanctions are the latest by the Biden administration against Myanmar’s military-installed government, after army overthrew the elected civilian g...

Tornadoes tear through northwest Texas town, killing 4 people and causing widespread damage

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

MATADOR, Texas — A line of severe storms produced what a meteorologist calls a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail in northwest Texas, killing at least four people and causing significant damage around the town of Matador.A supercell developed about 8 p.m. Wednesday near Amarillo before striking Matador, killing four people, injuring nine and causing widespread damage, said senior forecaster Matt Ziebell with the National Weather Service in Lubbock.The storm later produced 109 mph (175 kph) winds at Jayton in addition to the 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) or larger hail, according to Ziebell.“That is certainly rare to see all at the same time, killer tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail,” Zeibell said.Wednesday “was definitely a rare combination of high-end wind shear and storms of extreme instability,” according to Ziebell.There were widespread power outages across the region, with more than 900 customers w...

Tropical Storm Bret barrels toward eastern Caribbean at near-hurricane strength

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A hurricane watch was issued for St. Lucia as Tropical Storm Bret barreled toward the eastern Caribbean Thursday at near-hurricane strength.The storm was located about 200 miles (320 kilometers) east of Barbados on Thursday morning and was moving west at 15 mph (24 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), just below the 74 mph (119 kph) winds of a Category 1 hurricane.Airports, businesses, schools and offices were closing in St. Lucia and Dominica as forecasters warned of torrential downpours, landslides and flooding.“Protect your lives, property and livelihoods,” urged St. Lucia Prime Minister Philip Pierre.A tropical storm warning was in effect for Dominica, St. Lucia and Martinique, while a tropical storm watch was issued for Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The storm was expected to start affecting islands in the eastern Caribbean late Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.Andre Joyeux, director of...

Bank of England rate hike is bigger than expected. That means pain for borrowers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:11:50 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England raised borrowing costs Thursday by more than anticipated as it seeks to combat stubbornly high inflation, a move that will hit borrowers hard.In a statement, the bank said its nine-member Monetary Policy Committee decided to lift its main interest rate by half a percentage point to a fresh 15-year high of 5%. The increase, which was the bank’s 13th in a row, was somewhat of a surprise, with most economists predicting a smaller quarter-point hike.The committee warned of further increases to come.“If there were to be evidence of more persistent pressures, then further tightening in monetary policy would be required,” it said.Clearly rate-setters have been spooked by the failure of inflation in the U.K. to come down as fast as predicted. Figures on Wednesday showed U.K. inflation unexpectedly holding steady at 8.7%, fueling concerns over the outlook for prices after predictions for a modest decline to 8.4%.“There has been significant upside news ...