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Turkey’s central bank hikes interest rates again in further shift in economic policies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s central bank raised its key interest rate by 5 percentage points Thursday, another large but expected hike that signals a continued push toward more traditional economic policies under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The bank hiked its policy rate to 30%, saying it has kept up the “monetary tightening process” to combat rampant inflation and control price instability. Its statement said inflation in July and August was “above expectations,” hitting 58.94% last month.It takes Turkey into a more typical economic approach after critics blamed a series of rate cuts set by Erdogan for making a cost-of-living crisis worse. Turkish households were left struggling to afford rent and basic goods as inflation surged.Erdogan has long argued that lowering interest rates helps fight inflation, a theory that runs contrary to traditional economic thinking. The Turkish central bank started cutting rates in late 2021 under pressure from Erdogan.Central banks around the ...

US applications for jobless benefits fall to lowest level in nearly 8 months

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in eight months last week as the labor market continues to show strength in the face of elevated interest rates.U.S. applications for jobless claims fell by 20,000 to 201,000 for the week ending Sept. 16, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the lowest figure since the last week of January.Jobless claim applications are seen as representative of the number of layoffs in a given week.The four-week moving average of claims, a less volatile measure, fell by 7,750 to 217,000.Overall, 1.66 million people were collecting unemployment benefits the week that ended Sept. 9, about 21,000 fewer than the previous week. Matt Ott, The Associated Press

A Swedish prosecutor says a 13-year-old who was shot in the head, is a victim of a bloody gang feud

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A 13-year-old boy from the suburbs of Stockholm who was found dead in woods near his home earlier this month, is the latest victim of a deadly gang war in Sweden, a prosecutor said Thursday.Milo, who was only identified by his first name, had been shot in the head in a chilling example of “gross and completely reckless gang violence,” prosecutor Lisa dos Santos said. He is believed to have been shot in Haninge, south of Stockholm. She declined to give further details due to the ongoing investigation.Swedish media, which have published photos of Milo with the permission of his family, said the body had been moved to the woods after the boy — who was not known to the police — was killed. He was reported missing on Sept. 8 and his body was found by a passer-by three days later.Criminal gangs have become a growing problem in Sweden in recent decades, with an increasing number of drive-by shootings, bombings and grenade attacks. Most of the violence is in...

Pay dispute between England women’s international players and FA appears to be resolved

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Players from the England women’s team appear to have reached an agreement with the country’s soccer federation regarding a dispute over bonuses and commercial structures.England captain Millie Bright said at a news conference on Thursday that the players “feel really confident moving forward about the structure we now have in place” with the Football Association. Exact details of the agreement have yet to be officially announced.In a statement released before the recent Women’s World Cup in Australia, the England squad expressed disappointment at the dispute having not been resolved before the tournament and said the players had decided to pause talks with the intention of revisiting them.Players from teams at the World Cup were due to receive individual payments directly from FIFA for the first time, ranging from $30,000 to $270,00 depending on what stage of the tournament they reached.England players didn’t receive any payments from the FA, reportedly because the gov...

Poland is done sending arms to Ukraine, Polish leader says as trade dispute escalates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s prime minister said his country is no longer sending arms to Ukraine, a comment that appeared aimed at pressuring Kyiv and put Poland’s status as a major source of military equipment in doubt as a trade dispute between the neighboring states escalates.Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in an interview late on Wednesday that Poland is no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine. He made the comment as his populist party faces pressure from a far-right party in a national election on Oct. 15. The far-right party, Confederation, says Poland is not getting the gratitude it deserves for arming Ukraine and accepting its refugees.“We are no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine because now we will arm ourselves with the most modern weapons,” Morawiecki said in an interview on Polsat, a private television broadcaster. The prime minister then spoke of a military modernization plan underway, spurred by fears of Russian aggression in the ...

The (cold) drugs don’t work

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, a recent FDA review found that one of the most most popular active ingredients in over-the-counter cold medications, phenylephrine, is basically useless when taken orally. And that, in general, it failed to outperform a placebo.Mina Tadrous is a pharmacist and the host of the I’m Pharmacy podcast at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. He says that ineffective drugs may remain on shelves in part because the vetting process focuses more on safety than efficacy.“[Phenylephrine] continues to be very safe, but the question is, does it work? And I think most of the data is pointing to it probably does not,” says Tadrous.So how has this drug been approved and available for decades when evidence shows it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to? Why did it take us so long to realize it? Which medications actually will relieve congestion? And what should you do when the first cold of the fall hits your household?You ...

South Korean lawmakers vote to lift hunger striking opposition leader’s immunity to arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In a surprise outcome, South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament on Thursday voted to pass a motion submitted by the government that allows the potential arrest of the country’s leading opposition figure, Lee Jae-myung, who faces a widening investigation over corruption allegations.Lawmakers voted 149-136 in favor of lifting Lee’s immunity to arrest, reflecting growing divisions within the opposition Democratic Party over his legal problems as the country approaches a general election.The vote allows the Seoul Central District Court to hold a hearing on a request from prosecutors for an arrest warrant for Lee, who has been the liberal Democratic Party’s chairperson since August last year.It was not immediately clear when the hearing would take place or whether the court is likely to grant an arrest warrant after Lee was hospitalized Monday during a weekslong hunger strike in protest of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol’s domestic and foreign policie...

9 armed robberies conducted in hour on North Side: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

CHICAGO -- Nine armed robberies were committed within an hour on the city's North Side overnight, police said.In the first incident reported by police around 12:50 a.m., a 68-year-old man was walking near the 1900 block of West Wolfram Street when he was approached by six male offenders. The individuals demanded the man to hand over his belongings. The man complied and before the individuals fled one person struck the man.According to police, three armed robberies took place close to 1:00 a.m. In all incidents, victims were approached by four individuals, demanding their belongings. Two individuals were armed. Romeoville suspect dead after shooting in Oklahoma Police said a 32-year-old woman was walking near the 2800 North Lincoln Avenue when she was approached by the individuals who demanded her belongings. The woman complied and one of the offenders struck her on the head before leaving. The offenders entered a dark colored sedan and fled.In another incident, a 53-year-old man w...

Shake Shack testing recipe tweak for select items, including fan-favorite

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

(KTLA) – Shake Shack is testing recipe adjustments to a few of its menu items, including the fan-favorite crinkle-cut fries.On Monday, the restaurant chain announced that it would be using a new frying oil from Zero Acres Farms, a food company focused on creating healthy and environmentally friendly cooking oil, at two locations in New York City. McDonald’s to phase out self-serve soft drink fountains The Zero Acre oil will be used to fry Shake Shack’s “Crinkle Cut Fries, 'Shroom Burger, Shack Stack, Veggie Shack, Chicken Shack, Chicken Bites and new limited-time Hot Menu items,” a news release said.The Zero Acre oil is made with rain-fed sugarcane plants.“We're excited to further elevate the taste of their fries, chicken, and other menu items with cleaner frying in Zero Acre oil,” Jeff Nobbs, co-founder and CEO of Zero Acre Farms, said in a statement.“This partnership combines the deliciousness that Shake Shack is known for with the health and sustainability focus of Zero Acre, a...

Time running out for Florida winner of $1.5B Mega Millions ticket to claim cash option

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:33 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Time is running out for the person who hit the $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot on a ticket sold in Florida in July to claim the cash option.According to Florida Lottery rules, winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize with the annual payment option. However, those wishing to receive the cash option must claim it within 60 days after the drawing.For the $1.58 billion jackpot that was sold in Florida on Aug. 8, the winner has until Oct. 7 to claim the cash option and until Feb. 4, 2024, to claim the annual payment option. $5 million lottery scratch-off ticket sold at Florida Walmart As of Wednesday afternoon, Florida Lottery officials told Nexstar's WFLA that the winner has not claimed their prize.The winning numbers for the Aug. 8 Mega Millions drawing were 13-19-20-32-33 with a Mega Ball of 14. The winning ticket was purchased at Publix in Neptune Beach, according to lottery officials.The current Mega Millions jackpot is worth $205...