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Biden thanks far-right Italian Premier Meloni for her strong support of Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

By AAMER MADHANI, SEUNG MIN KIM and FRANCES D’EMILIO (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday thanked far-right Premier Giorgia Meloni for Italy’s steady backing of Ukraine, offering a warm welcome to the White House to a leader that his administration saw with some trepidation when she rose to power last year as the head of Italy’s first far-right-led government since the end of World War II. Biden administration concerns about her ideology have been eased by her support for Ukraine and her seeming openness to pull back from Italy’s participation in China’s infrastructure-building Belt and Road Initiative. Her visit came as Italy prepares to take up the presidency next year of the Group of Seven industrialized nations.“Italy and the United States are also standing strong with Ukraine, and I compliment you on your very strong support in defending against Russian atrocities, and that’s what they are,” Bi...

Casino mogul Steve Wynn fined $10M to end Nevada fight over claims of workplace sexual misconduct

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

LAS VEGAS  — Casino mogul Steve Wynn has ended a yearslong legal fight with Nevada gambling regulators that started with claims of workplace sexual misconduct, agreeing to pay a $10 million fine and cut ties to the industry he helped shape in Las Vegas.The Nevada Gaming Commission accepted a settlement Thursday to end the state’s look at allegations that led to Wynn’s resignation from his corporate empire in February 2018. Wynn admitted no wrongdoing.Wynn signed a seven-page document with members of the investigatory Nevada Gaming Control Board on July 17 acknowledging that he had been accused of “failure to exercise discretion and sound judgment” to prevent actions that “reflected negatively on the reputation” of Nevada and its gambling industry.Wynn is now 81 and lives in Florida. He did not attend the hearing held in the state capital, Carson City. His attorney, Colby Williams, called the case the final regulatory matter that Wynn faced stemmin...

Patriots training camp Day 2: JuJu Smith-Schuster emerges, other receivers fade, Matt Judon sits

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

FOXBORO — Four months after signing, the Patriots’ prized free-agent addition finally stepped into the spotlight during Thursday’s training camp practice.JuJu Smith-Schuster led all pass catchers with five targets during team drills, securing two of his three catchable passes. The crown jewel of the Patriots’ rookie class — Christian Gonzalez — batted the other away. Smith-Schuster struck back on the next snap, though, wriggling free from Gonzalez’s tight coverage in the left flat to catch a would-be touchdown.Individually, Smith-Schuster and Gonzalez will be as bellwethers for the Patriots’ offense and defense, respectively. They are two of the 10 most important players on this roster, a fact amplified by the absences of two others at practice: running back Rhamondre Stevenson and edge rusher Matt Judon. As they go, so should the Patriots.By extension, their mixed head-to-head results Thursday should be seen as encouraging, especially for S...

Sell-off begins for Chicago White Sox, who trade pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López to Los Angeles Angels

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López were pivotal additions when the Chicago White Sox began their rebuild in 2016.Late Wednesday, they were the first two players moved in what figures to be a busy sell-off by the trade deadline.The Sox sent Giolito and López to the Los Angeles Angels for switch-hitting minor-league catcher Edgar Quero and left-handed pitcher Ky Bush.“Given this club’s performance over the course of the last several months, it’s apparent that these types of moves have to take place given where we are at and putting us in the best position we can be going forward,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said.“Certainly not where any of us in the organization thought when this year started we would be come the trade deadline. But clearly moves like these in terms of putting ourselves in the best position going forward are essential, and we are certainly pleased to add Bush and Quero.”Giolito and López, both free agents at the end ...

Rapper Quando Rondo is barred from driving, must take drug tests while awaiting trial on bond

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia judge ruled Thursday that rapper Quando Rondo can no longer drive and must undergo drug testing if he wants to stay out of jail while awaiting trial on gang and drug charges. The 24-year-old rapper, whose given name is Tyquian Terrel Bowman, appeared in a Savannah courtroom as prosecutors unsuccessfully asked the judge to revoke the $100,000 bail the rapper posted following his indictment last month.Bowman crashed a car July 19, just a few weeks after bonding out of jail. Prosecutors said emergency responders at the scene of the crash administered Narcan, a drug used to treat opioid overdoses, to Bowman because he showed symptoms of an overdose. Bowman had been ordered to refrain from using drugs as a condition of his bail.Chatham County Superior Court Judge Tammy Stokes said that Bowman can remain free before his trial as long as he follows the additional restrictions she imposed Thursday, news outlets reported.“You are a young man with a career in fr...

S&P/TSX composite down Thursday on broad-based weakness, U.S. markets also lower

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down almost 200 points Thursday amid broad-based weakness led by telecom and utilities stocks, while U.S. markets also moved lower. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 176.17 points at 20,385.47.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 237.40 points at 35,282.72. The S&P 500 index was down 29.34 points at 4,537.41, while the Nasdaq composite was down 77.17 points at 14,050.11.The Canadian dollar traded for 75.75 cents US compared with 75.64 cents US on Wednesday.The September crude oil contract was up US$1.31 at US$80.09 per barreland the September natural gas contract was down 10 cents at US$2.60 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was down US$24.40 at US$1,945.70 an ounce and the September copper contract was down three cents at US$3.88 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Stock market today: Wall Street’s rally runs out of gas as bond yields jump

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell Thursday, taking some air out of Wall Street’s big recent rally, despite fatter-than-expected profit reports from big companies and the latest signals of a resilient economy. The S&P 500 sank 29.34, or 0.6%, to 4,537.41 after touching its highest level in nearly 16 months during the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also flipped from an early gain to a loss and dropped 237.40, or 0.7%, to 35,282.72. The Nasdaq composite fell 77.17, or 0.5%, at 14,050.11. Honeywell International was a heavy weight on the market despite reporting stronger profit for the spring than analysts expected. It dropped 5.7% after its revenue fell short of analysts’ expectations, as did its forecast for earnings in the current quarter. The dip for Wall Street put a halt to a torrid run where the Dow climbed for 13 straight days. It was up as many as 125 points Thursday morning and seemed to be on the verge of tying a win-streak record set in 1897, before it r...

TC Energy splitting into two companies by spinning off liquids business

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

CALGARY — TC Energy Corp. says it will split into two separate companies by spinning off its liquids pipelines business.The Calgary-based pipeline giant says its board of directors has approved the plan, which comes as the result of a two-year strategic review.Following the transaction, TC Energy will focus on natural gas infrastructure as well as nuclear, pumped hydro energy storage and new energy opportunities.The new liquids pipeline business will focus on enhancing the value of the company’s existing 4,900 kilometres of crude oil pipelines.The company says the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024.The new liquids pipeline business will be publicly traded and will be headquartered in Calgary, with an office in Houston, Texas.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:TRP)The Canadian Press

Survivors of Mexico’s worst migrant detention center fire stuck in limbo, unable to support families

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Four months after a fire at an immigration detention center near the United States border, eight badly burned survivors are stuck in their rooms at a Mexico City hotel. They eat in the hotel restaurant and have regular medical check-ups and make calls home.The Mexican immigration agency covers the daily costs and medical care for survivors of the fire that killed 40 migrants. Advocates call that a conflict of interest for an agency whose officials now face criminal charges, including negligence and even homicide, in Mexico’s worst migrant detention center fire.Before the fire, some migrants incurred large debts to the smugglers who were supposed to deliver them to the United States. There, the migrants were supposed to immediately begin working to pay off the debts and support their families.The survivors of the March 27 fire now feel trapped, with no money to move. Seeking U.S. asylum is a lengthy process but the migrants say that none of them want to return to h...

Buying at the deadline: 4 trade targets for the Cubs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:39:01 GMT

CHICAGO — Once gasping for air earlier in the month, the Chicago Cubs have come alive and the idea of them being buyers at the upcoming trade deadline is no longer inconceivable.That became clearer Wednesday night as the Cubs battled back from being down 7-2 going into the 5th inning against the Sox. The North Siders scored eight unanswered runs to win 10-7.After selling at the last two deadlines, buying is the right thing to do — not just for fans but for the upcoming free agent market and beyond. Selling veterans and free agent signings for the third consecutive year could send a bad message to agents and players.You'll remember two years ago when the Cubs traded massive names from their World Series core in Rizzo, Baez and Bryant. Without top brass ever calling it as such, the second rebuild since 2011 actually started on Dec. 29, 2020 when they traded Yu Darvish to San Diego for four prospects.Two years later, the Cubs' farm system has the depth multiple clubs dream about and ar...