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AP PHOTOS: Nearly a week after Maui wildfire, islanders survey aftermath and look ahead to recovery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

The wildfire that swept across Maui nearly a week ago turned one of the nation’s most celebrated island vistas into an ashen moonscape and killed at least 99 people, a number that officials warn could rise by scores as the search continues.The deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century devoured homes and businesses, blackened cars and left only ruins where thriving neighborhoods once stood. In some places, the flames advanced as fast as a car at highway speed — a mile a minute.The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000. When the flames were out and the smoke cleared, all that remained was a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes.Now begins a long recovery as survivors mourn the dead, search teams look for more victims in the charred debris and families try to begin anew.The cause of the wildfire is under investigation. Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing...

Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez produces his best MLB start in 4-1 win over Padres

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

With Grayson Rodriguez’s elite stuff, it’s often said that he throws gas. Monday night, he showed he has plenty left in the tank.The 23-year-old Orioles right-hander posted the best start of his major league career to open a series with the San Diego Padres, allowing a run over a career-high seven innings in a 4-1 victory to continue a run of excellence since rejoining Baltimore’s rotation last month.After consistent struggles in Rodriguez’s first 10 outings prompted the Orioles (74-45) to send their top pitching prospect back to the minors, he has returned with a 3.03 ERA over six starts. He’s pitched into the sixth inning in each after doing so only once while posting a 7.35 ERA in his first big-league stint.The Orioles emphasized improved fastball command during Rodriguez’s return to the minors. Each of the three hits he allowed Monday came on that pitch — including Garrett Cooper’s sixth-inning solo shot, the first home run Rodrigu...

Russia’s central bank makes huge interest rate hike to try to prop up falling ruble

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russia’s central bank on Tuesday made a large interest rate hike of 3.5%, a move designed to fight inflation and strengthen the ruble after the country’s currency reached its lowest value since early in the war with Ukraine. The decision to bring the key rate to 12% was announced after an emergency meeting of the bank’s board of directors was called a day earlier as the ruble declined. The fall comes as Moscow increases military spending and Western sanctions weigh on its energy exports.The Russian currency passed 101 rubles to the dollar on Monday and lingered there Tuesday, losing more than a third of its value since the beginning of the year and hitting the lowest level in almost 17 months.The central bank says demand has exceeded the country’s ability to expand economic output, increasing inflation and affecting “the ruble’s exchange rate dynamics through elevated demand for imports.” “Consequently, the pass-through of the ruble’s depreciation...

German foreign minister scraps Pacific trip after persistent problem with her plane

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister has abandoned a trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji after a problem with her government plane twice forced it to return to Abu Dhabi, delaying her by more than a day.Annalena Baerbock set off from Berlin Sunday on what was supposed to be a nearly weeklong trip, and was scheduled to arrive in Canberra on Monday night. But a mechanical problem with her aging German air force Airbus A340’s landing flaps meant that it had to turn back to Abu Dhabi after a refueling stop there.The aircraft took off again for Australia on Monday night after a test flight was conducted without problems. But the technical problem resurfaced shortly after takeoff and the plane had to return to the Emirati capital again.On Tuesday morning, Baerbock called off the trip.“We tried everything — unfortunately it is not logistically possible to continue my Indo-Pacific trip without the defective plane,” the minister wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thi...

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of HCS Group by ICI 3

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of Haltermann Besitzgesellschaft GmbH, HCS Group GmbH and HCS Holding GmbH and its subsidiaries (“The HCS Group”), based in Germany, by International Chemical Investors 3 S.E. (“ICI 3”), based in Luxembourg. The HCS Group produces and distributes fine and specialized chemicals such as solvents and additives. ICI 3 is a group of chemical and pharmaceutical companies active in fine chemicals, chlorovinyls and chemical compounds. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not raise competition concerns, since there is no overlap of activities, nor links between the activities of the HCS Group and ICI 3 in the European Economic Area . The transaction was reviewed under the simplified merger control procedure. Further information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under case number M. 11195.

Dear Abby: Why are people so rude to me lately? I’m a nice guy.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I am by nature a pretty friendly, jovial kind of person. I take people as I find them and try not to pass judgment on anyone until I get to know them at least a little.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My financial adviser won’t listen to me, but he insists he’s not sexist Advice | Dear Abby: Our teen’s messy breakup has had awkward repercussions for us Advice | Dear Abby: I was annoyed to discover why our friends picked this restaurant Advice | Dear Abby: I had to get rid of my beautiful furnishings because of guests’ stupid comments Advice | Dear Abby: She’s trying to one-up me by being the fun aunt Lately, more and more often, people, even ones I’ve known for years, have begun saying critical and, frankly, rude things to me. I don’t think I have said anything to them that could be construed as offensive. I do know I’m somewhat outspoken and ...

The top seven most expensive home sales in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland, reported the week of July 31

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

A house in Oakland that sold for $1.8 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland in the past week.In total, nine residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.2 million, $792 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of July 31 even if the property may have been sold earlier.7. $465,000, condominium in the 200 block of Lenox AvenueThe sale of the condominium in the 200 block of Lenox Avenue in Oakland has been finalized. The price was $465,000, and the new owners took over the condominium in June. The condominium was built in 1981 and has a living area of 876 square feet. The price per square foot was $531. The condominium features one bedrooms and one bathrooms.Lenox Avenue6. $710,000, condominium in the 300 block of Lee StreetThe 1,003 square-foot condominium in the 300 block of Lee Str...

Cuarta acusación judicial contra Trump: así las reacciones

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

Apenas conocidos los cargos contra el expresidente Donald Trump y 18 coacusados, las reacciones no se hicieron esperar en el mundo político, tanto de uno de los enlistados por la justicia de Georgia como de quienes contienden por la candidatura del Partido Republicano para las elecciones del 2024.El abogado personal de Trump y exalcalde de Nueva York, Rudy Giuliani, respondió a la acusación en su contra por medio de un comunicado distribuido por uno de sus asesores calificándola de “una afrenta a la democracia estadounidense” que “hace un daño permanente e irrevocable a nuestro sistema de justicia”.“Es solo el próximo capítulo de un libro de mentiras con el propósito de incriminar al presidente Donald Trump y a cualquiera que esté dispuesto a enfrentarse al régimen gobernante”, subrayó sobre la acusación que ampara 41 cargos, 13 de los cuales implican directamente al exmandatario.“Los verdaderos criminales aquí son las personas que han presentado ...

Attendance and ticket records keep growing at 2023 Women’s World Cup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — With Matildas’ matches becoming hot tickets, Australia’s run to the Women’s World Cup semifinals and the expanded 32-team format have helped set records for attendance at the tournament.Soccer’s international governing body said Tuesday that 1.77 million tickets have been sold for the tournament being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with a total 1,734,028 attendance for the first 60 games. There were four more to go.The record match attendance for the 2023 edition is 75,784 for three games under a restricted capacity at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, which was built for the 2000 Olympics.FIFA said the average crowd for games across the 10 venues had been 28,900, more than 7,000 above the average for games at the 2019 edition in France and more than 4,000 above the historical average at the eight previous Women’s World Cups.The competition was expanded from 24 to 32 teams for this edition.Australia reached the semifinals for the first time with a 7-6 penalty shooto...

Russia’s central bank raises key interest rate by 3.5% after the ruble hits lowest point since early in war with Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:53:06 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russia’s central bank raises key interest rate by 3.5% after the ruble hits lowest point since early in war with Ukraine.Source