Congressional elections live updates: Republicans win Senate majority
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Republicans win control of the U.S. Senate for the first time in four years; AP Race Call: Republican Deb Fischer wins reelection in Nebraska; AP Race Call: Ted Cruz wins Texas Senate race; Democrats flip House seats in New York; Nevada polls close nearly three hours late; Josh Riley defeats incumbent Marcus Molinaro in New York’s 19th District; Democrats gain a redistricted seat in Alabama; Republicans secure Senate control with at least 51 seats; Nancy Pelosi reelected to a 20th term; Election Day bomb threats deemed non-credible; Election results still pending in over 100 House races.

#Elections #Senate #House #Republicans #Democrats #2024 #Nevada #Texas #NewYork #Abortion

https://apnews.com/live/senate-house-election-updates-11-5-2024


2024 presidential election live updates: Americans head to the polls to choose between Harris or Trump
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Election Day is November 5, 2024; voters choose between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris; polls close in 6 states at 7 p.m. EST; Dixville Notch splits vote 3-3; Missouri judge rules against blocking federal election monitors; Trump votes in Palm Beach, Florida; Harris attends election night party at Howard University; 47 state attorneys general urge peaceful transfer of power; over 82 million early ballots cast; Trump rallies in Michigan and Florida; Harris campaigns in Pennsylvania; concerns of election-related violence in DC; Kamala Harris has ancestral roots in India; AP has been counting votes since 1848.

#Election2024 #Trump #Harris #Voting #DixvilleNotch #EarlyVoting #ElectionViolence #PoliticalUpdates #ApNews #UsPolitics

https://apnews.com/live/trump-harris-election-updates-11-5-2024


Live updates: Harris and Trump debate dominated by tense exchanges in first half
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Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debated on September 10, 2024, in Philadelphia; Trump questioned Harris' race but claimed not to care; Harris criticized Trump for his history of racial division; Trump failed to provide details on his healthcare plan; Trump exaggerated inflation and death tolls in Ukraine; Harris maintained a calm demeanor while Trump displayed aggressive body language; Trump claimed he could broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine; both candidates discussed immigration, crime, and the January 6 Capitol attack; Trump falsely claimed evidence shows he won the 2020 election; Harris highlighted her support from former Trump officials; the debate lacked audience reactions due to rules set by ABC News; the debate is expected to last 90 minutes.

#Harris #Trump #Debate #2024Election #Politics #Ukraine #Nato #Immigration #Crime #Healthcare

https://apnews.com/live/harris-trump-debate-election-2024-updates


Election 2024 live updates: Trump will speak to the press, Harris campaign launches $90 million ad effort
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Trump speaks to the press at his New Jersey golf club; Harris campaign launches $90 million ad effort; Trump claims a Harris presidency will lead to an economic crash; Trump encourages supporters to vote for him early, then calls for ‘one-day voting’; Trump claims Harris will turn the US into a ‘communist-type country’; Trump cites inflated price of grocery items; Trump lays blame over inflation at Harris’ feet; Biden and Harris make first appearance together since he dropped reelection bid and endorsed her; Vance and Walz agree to a vice presidential debate on Oct. 1 hosted by CBS News; Harris gives preview of economic policy speech she plans to deliver in North Carolina on Friday; White House says deals struck to cut prices of popular Medicare drugs; Judge rejects Donald Trump’s latest demand to step aside from hush money criminal case

https://apnews.com/live/election-2024-updates-trump-press-conference-harris-biden


Global tech outage live updates: Flights grounded and offices hit as internet users face disruptions
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A widespread technology outage grounded flights, knocked banks offline, and disrupted media outlets and companies around the world. The outage was caused by a faulty update deployed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to computers running Microsoft Windows. The issue was not a security incident or cyberattack. The outage affected critical infrastructure and emergency operations in New York City, but transit services were unaffected. Maryland courts, offices, and facilities were closed to the public. Brazilian bank Bradesco experienced unstable digital services, while Mass General Brigham canceled nonurgent care visits. About 1,500 US flights were canceled, and some US TV stations couldn't air local news. The outage had little impact on the world economy and was called a historic mistake by CrowdStrike. Some airlines and airports reported disruptions, including delays at Berlin airport and manual check-ins at Hong Kong airport. The outage affected 911 services in some US states and caused disruptions in Canada. The London Stock Exchange experienced disruptions, but trading was not affected. The outage delayed arrivals at the Paris Olympics and caused problems at doctor's offices in the UK. Polish shipping hub Baltic Hub suspended business, and Paris airport experienced delays. Sky News in the UK went off the air but resumed broadcasting later. The outage may be related to a CrowdStrike security tool. The disruptions caused real harm, including deaths, as hospitals and essential services were affected. The outage is still ongoing, with growing disruptions in services at Visa, ADT security, Amazon, and airlines like American Airlines and Delta.

#Technology #Outage #Flights #Banks #Companies #Crowdstrike #Microsoft #EmergencyOperations #911 #LondonStockExchange #ParisAirport #Hospitals #EssentialServices

https://apnews.com/live/internet-global-outage-crowdstrike-microsoft-downtime


Retail sales unchanged in June from May, underscoring shoppers' resilience
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Retail sales in the US were unchanged in June from May, after being revised upward to a 0.3% increase in May, according to the Commerce Department report. Sales at gas stations and auto dealerships weighed down the figure, while online sales rose 1.9% and clothing and accessories store sales rose 0.6%. Department stores posted a 0.6% increase. Control retail sales, which excludes certain categories, rose a solid 0.9% in the month. The report suggests that consumers are still spending, driven by positive real income growth and employment. However, retailers are still seeing value-conscious consumers who are trading down and using credit cards to maintain consumption. Inflation declined 0.1% from May to June, and the Federal Reserve is becoming more convinced that inflation is headed back to its 2% target. The report comes as there has been some upheaval in the retail landscape, with Saks Fifth Avenue agreeing to buy upscale rival Neiman Marcus Group and Macy's terminating its buyout talks with two investment firms.

#RetailSales #UsEconomy #ConsumerSpending #Inflation #Employment #SaksFifthAvenue #NeimanMarcusGroup #Macy's

https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-july-inflation-economy-268b1edeb99a1320ad0b084d58bfeeef


Stock market today: Global stocks are mixed ahead of US retail sales data
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Global stocks are mixed as European markets slip and Asian stocks are mixed ahead of the release of U.S. retail sales data. Germany's DAX lost 0.6% and the CAC 40 in Paris declined 0.8%. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.2% after reopening from a holiday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined 1.6% and the Shanghai Composite index added 0.1%. Some economists have cut their growth forecasts for China after weaker economic data. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5%. Bitcoin rose above $63,000 after former President Donald Trump's chances for election improved. U.S. benchmark crude oil lost 65 cents to $81.26 per barrel. The U.S. dollar rose to 158.45 Japanese yen and the euro rose to $1.0901.

#StockMarket #GlobalStocks #UsRetailSalesData

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-trump-china-2593f3112d7de5e704df65ecdae0dc84


The RNC's first day will still focus on the economy. Here's what to know about Trump's plans
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The first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) is expected to focus on the economy, despite former President Donald Trump providing few details about his plans. Trump has made bold promises about the U.S. economy, but has not provided much information on how his plans would work. The RNC's first day will still prioritize the economy, even after Trump was injured at a rally in Pennsylvania. The article mentions that Trump's plans for the economy have been lacking in detail. It also highlights that the RNC's first day will still focus on the economy, despite the incident at the rally. The article does not provide specific names, numbers, or dates.

#RepublicanNationalConvention #DonaldTrump #UsEconomy

https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-tariffs-project-2025-biden-b7fb80fd689ed773da83c80e52559b4f


Live updates: New details emerge about Trump rally shooting suspect
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Law enforcement officials are working to learn more about the 20-year-old who tried to assassinate Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby rooftop, killing one spectator and critically injuring two others before being shot dead by the Secret Service. The FBI believes the shooter acted alone. The AR-style rifle used in the attack was legally purchased by the gunman's father. The man who was killed at the rally was identified as Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who protected his family during the shooting. President Biden plans to address the nation and has ordered a thorough and swift probe into the attack. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the security failure that allowed the shooter to get close to Trump. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will speak at the Republican National Convention. The shooter's family is cooperating with federal investigators. Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the violence and vowed to leave no stone unturned in the investigation. The FBI is treating the shooting as an attempted assassination and an act of domestic terrorism. The shooter's political leanings are not immediately clear. Bomb-making materials were found in the shooter's vehicle and home. Global leaders have condemned the assassination attempt. Trump is in good spirits and plans to speak at the Republican National Convention. The political rhetoric and online threats have been increasing since the shooting. The military has no records of the shooter serving. House Speaker Mike Johnson called for civility and urged everyone to turn down the rhetoric. The Trump campaign has enhanced security measures and urged staff not to comment publicly on the incident. The FBI is still investigating the motive and has not found any threatening writing or social media posts from the shooter. The Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company is honoring the slain former chief, Corey Comperatore. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $1 million for the victims. President Biden has postponed his trip to Texas and directed an independent review of the security at the rally. The House homeland security chair has sent a letter raising questions about the security failure. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro identified Corey Comperatore as the fatal victim. The shooter's weapon was bought by his father, and investigators are still trying to determine how he obtained it. The FBI has not yet identified any ideology behind the shooting. Trump called for unity and thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers. The shooter was not previously on the FBI's radar. Trump landed in New Jersey and plans to spend the night at his private golf club. Law enforcement officials say the assailant was a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania.

#Trump #Shooting #AssassinationAttempt #Fbi #SecretService #Rifle #Father #Victim #Biden #Investigation #SecurityFailure #NikkiHaley #Terrorism #BombmakingMaterials #GlobalLeaders #Rhetoric #Military #HouseSpeaker #Campaign #Gofundme #Review #GolfClub

https://apnews.com/live/election-biden-trump-campaign-updates-07-13-2024


Trump says he is fine after being whisked off stage following apparent gunfire at rally
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Donald Trump's campaign said he was "fine" after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd. Trump reached for his neck and there appeared to be blood on his face. He quickly ducked behind the riser as agents rushed the stage. The crowd cheered as he got back up. His motorcade has since left the venue. Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage. President Joe Biden was asked about the incident and responded with a simple "No." House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, that he was praying for Trump.

#DonaldTrump #Rally #Gunfire

https://apnews.com/article/trump-vp-vance-rubio-7c7ba6b99b5f38d2d840ed95b2fdc3e5


U.S. wholesale inflation picked up in June in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
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Wholesale prices in the United States rose by a larger-than-expected 2.6% last month from a year earlier, a sign that some inflation pressures remain high. The increase, the sharpest year-over-year increase since March 2023, comes at a time when other price indicators are showing that inflation has continued to ease. The Labor Department said Friday that its producer price index rose 0.2% from May to June after being unchanged the month before. Excluding food and energy prices, core wholesale prices increased 0.4% from May and 3% from June 2023. The increase in wholesale inflation last month was driven by a sizable 0.6% rise in services prices, led by higher profit margins for machinery and auto wholesalers. The overall prices of goods fell 0.5%, with gasoline prices tumbling 5.8% at the wholesale level. The producer price index can provide an early sign of where consumer inflation is headed. Economists also watch it because some of its components, notably health care and financial services, flow into the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, index. Friday’s wholesale figures follow the government’s report Thursday that consumer inflation cooled in June for a third straight month. As a whole, this week’s price figures, along with other recent data, still suggest a continued slowdown in the inflation that first gripped the nation three years ago, when the economy rocketed out of the pandemic recession, leaving deep supply shortages and sending prices soaring.

https://apnews.com/article/inflation-wholesale-prices-consumer-federal-reserve-rates-6d8e19c4d9a7d75777ac720cfdf0ad53


Biden awards $1.7 billion to boost electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly in eight states
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The Biden administration is awarding nearly $2 billion in grants to help restart or expand electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly sites owned by General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Volvo, and other carmakers in eight states. The Energy Department will issue grants totaling $1.7 billion to create or retain thousands of union jobs and support auto-based communities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia. The grants cover various aspects of the automotive supply chain, including parts for electric motorcycles and school buses, hybrid powertrains, heavy-duty commercial truck batteries, and electric SUVs. The grants are funded by the 2022 climate law and aim to ensure the future of the auto industry is made in America by American union workers. The selected projects are expected to create over 2,900 jobs and retain about 15,000 union workers across all 11 facilities. The grants come as part of President Biden's commitment to electric vehicles and his climate agenda.

#BidenAdministration #ElectricVehicles #Manufacturing #UnionJobs #AutomotiveSupplyChain #ClimateAgenda

https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicle-manufacturing-biden-union-jobs-2acc1ce107dcec60f8596fb7dce6038e


Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice in courtroom for brother's federal sentencing for theft, bribery
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Former Philadelphia labor leader John Dougherty, brother of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, is being sentenced for bribing a City Council member and stealing nearly $600,000 from the union he ran. Dougherty was convicted in December of embezzlement, conspiracy, and other counts. He used the electricians' union funds for personal expenses and arranged for friends and family members to be on the union payroll. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to 14 years and $2.1 million in restitution. Dougherty's influential backers, including his brother, testified about his charitable works and union advocacy. The sentencing is taking place in federal court in Reading, Pennsylvania.

#PennsylvaniaSupremeCourt #JohnDougherty #KevinDougherty #Bribery #Theft #Union #Sentencing

https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-union-leader-dougherty-embezzlement-sentence-af7c11499b98b7ee5e73498052daa2b5


Powell stresses message that US job market is cooling, a possible signal of coming rate cut
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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reinforced a message that the Fed is paying growing attention to a slowing job market and not only to taming inflation, a shift that signals it’s likely to begin cutting interest rates soon. Powell told the House Financial Services Committee that the Fed has an employment mandate in addition to its inflation mandate. The US job market has been cooling, with the lowest three-month hiring pace since January 2021. Powell indicated that the Fed likely wouldn't wait until inflation reached its 2% target before cutting rates. Most economists expect the first rate cut to occur in September.

#FederalReserve #Inflation #InterestRates #Economy #UsJobMarket

https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-powell-interest-rates-economy-e4b649e8c38f757300bc0fa01cee74c2


Stock market today: Wall Street drifts, yields jump and Paris stocks soar as elections drive markets
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U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed close, and yields jumped as elections drive swings in financial markets worldwide. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by 50 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.8%. The CAC 40 index in Paris jumped as much as 2.8% before settling to a gain of 1.1% as results from France suggested a far-right political party may not win a decisive majority in the country’s legislative elections. Treasury yields jumped, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury climbing to 4.46% from 4.39%. The bond market was home to some of U.S. markets’ strongest action. Hopes for rate cuts held after a report showed U.S. last month by more than economists expected. The U.S. government will release the June employment report on Friday. Chewy swung from a big early gain to a loss of 6.6% after a trader named Keith Gill revealed he owned just over 9 million shares of the pet supply company. Spirit AeroSystems rose 3.3% after Boeing said it would buy the maker of fuselages and other airplane parts for $4.7 billion in stock. Meta Platforms edged 0.1% higher after European Union regulators accused it of breaching the bloc’s new digital competition rulebook. In stock markets abroad, Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.1% after a by the Bank of Japan called the “tankan” showed a modest improvement in confidence among the country’s largest manufacturers. Stocks in Shanghai rose 0.9% following mixed economic data.

#StockMarket #Elections #Yields #ParisStocks

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-pmi-tankan-euro-d770743b4d78149fb81a743cd684711a


A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but stirs Democratic anxiety about his candidacy
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President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sparred over the state of the US economy during CNN's presidential debate. Biden's uneven performance crystallized concerns about his age and sparked calls for him to step aside. Trump declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the November election and defended his actions during the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Biden's halting delivery and raspy voice drew attention, and his performance was criticized by prominent Democrats. The debate highlighted the sharp differences between the two candidates on core issues and their personal animus towards each other. The second debate will be hosted by ABC on Sept. 10.

#JoeBiden #DonaldTrump #PresidentialDebate #UsEconomy #DemocraticAnxiety #AgeConcerns #NovemberElection #CapitolInsurrection

https://apnews.com/article/debatehowtowatch-biden-trump-ff14d6659b6ba50e8456d35035222e85


A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but stirs Democratic panic about his candidacy
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President Joe Biden, in a raspy and sometimes halting manner, tried to confront former President Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election. Biden's performance, particularly his delivery, raised concerns about his age and sparked panic among Democrats. Trump countered Biden's criticism with falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration, and his role in the Capitol insurrection. Biden repeatedly tore into Trump, but Trump declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the election. Biden's performance drew immediate criticism from Trump's allies and prominent Democrats, leading to discussions about whether he should continue as the party's nominee. Biden appeared to lose his train of thought at times and fumbled on issues like abortion rights. Trump sought to deflect blame for the Capitol riot and equivocated on accepting the election results. The debate highlighted the sharp differences between the two candidates and their deep hostility toward each other. Concerns about Biden's age were prevalent before the debate, with many Americans questioning whether he is too old to serve as president. Trump allies declared victory in the debate, while Biden supporters expressed disappointment. Biden has no plans to leave the race and indicated he will continue. The debate took place after Biden spent nearly a week preparing at the Camp David presidential retreat. The article includes quotes from various political figures and analysts.

https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9


FACT FOCUS: Here's a look at the false claims you might hear during tonight's presidential debate
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Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed a failing economy and skyrocketing crime under President Joe Biden. Biden misrepresented inflation and gas prices at the start of his term. Trump falsely claimed his presidency gave the U.S. its 'greatest economy in history.' Trump's pre-pandemic economic growth averaged 2.67%, compared to 4% under Bill Clinton. Trump's unemployment rate was low, but labor force participation rate was higher under Clinton. Trump falsely claimed low inflation and gas prices were due to his policies. Biden falsely claimed gas prices were $5 when he took office. Biden inherited a pandemic economy and job recovery began under Trump. Trump made false claims about migrants emptying prisons and causing crime surge. Violent crime is on the way down and migrants are less likely to commit crimes. Trump falsely claimed crime has skyrocketed since he left office. Violent crime is close to its lowest point in 50 years. Trump falsely claimed he was the real winner of the 2020 election. Biden won with 306 electoral votes and over 7 million more popular votes. Trump's claims of widespread fraud were rejected in courts. Trump falsely claimed mass numbers of noncitizens voted in the election. Noncitizens voting is a felony and audits confirm low numbers of illegal voting. Trump misled about his support for Ukraine and falsely accused Ukraine of election interference. Biden misleadingly took credit for the Quad, which was formed under Trump. Foreign affairs topics in the debate may include conflicts with China, Russia, and Iran, and the strength of U.S. alliances.

#PresidentialDebate #FalseClaims #DonaldTrump #JoeBiden #Economy #Inflation #GasPrices #UnemploymentRate #ViolentCrime #2020Election #NoncitizenVoting #Ukraine #ForeignAffairs

https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-election-debate-trump-biden-577507522762aa10f6ee5be3a0ced2bb


Consumer confidence in U.S. falls in June
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Consumer confidence in the U.S. fell in June as expectations about the near-term future declined. The Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index dropped to 100.4 in June from 101.3 in May. The measure of Americans' short-term expectations for income, business, and the job market also decreased. However, consumers' view of current conditions improved. The decline in consumer confidence comes despite a strong job market and positive economic indicators. Some big retailers are offering discounts due to cautious spending in the face of inflation. Consumer expectations of a recession in the next year decreased in June after rising for the previous two months.

#ConsumerConfidence #ConferenceBoard #Economy #Inflation

https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-inflation-59ddb80cf0828329e0cf98fb6321f040


Luxury sales are flattening amid a self-inflicted creativity crisis and price hikes, study finds
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A new study by Bain consultancy predicts that global luxury sales of handbags, shoes, and apparel will stall in 2024 due to a creativity crisis and price hikes. The study cites political uncertainty in the United States and economic uncertainty in China as contributing factors. Luxury sales experienced a post-pandemic surge but are now expected to flatten. The study was commissioned by the Altagamma association.

#LuxurySales #CreativityCrisis #PriceHikes #BainConsultancy #AltagammaAssociation

https://apnews.com/article/global-luxury-sales-flattening-inflation-europe-us-32e628674279d4931a1f54cc2fcfa483


Republicans stick to attacking criminal justice system, echoing Trump, after Hunter Biden conviction
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Republicans loyal to Donald Trump are largely echoing the former president’s claim that the Justice Department has treated President Joe Biden’s son with kid gloves while zealously prosecuting Trump. They pressed unsubstantiated or debunked allegations that Joe Biden acted to advance his family members’ foreign business interests. The GOP's argument that Joe Biden is ordering prosecutors to target political opponents has been hurt by the Biden-led Justice Department prosecuting the president's son — with Biden declining to stop the investigation or pardon Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden was convicted on federal gun charges and faces a potential 25 years in prison. He still faces a trial in September in California on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Republicans may be trying to deflect from Trump's own stated intentions to wield the criminal justice system against opponents if he returns to the White House. Trump tried to undercut the Justice Department investigation into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia and issued pardons to a raft of former campaign aides, friends, and donors. Trump has repeatedly declared he is the victim of a “rigged” system and promised to appoint a special prosecutor to target Biden and his family. Trump and allies have suggested that if elected he might advocate the imprisonment of political opponents. Many in Trump’s Republican Party are staunchly against gun control and some of his supporters have questioned whether Hunter Biden should have been tried on the gun charges.

#HunterBiden #DonaldTrump #JoeBiden #RepublicanParty #CriminalJusticeSystem

https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-conviction-republicans-reaction-trump-eb7fe08832905f14dd8c5bd48ef9c716


World Bank boosts forecast: Strength of US economy will support global growth of 2.6% this year
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The World Bank has upgraded its outlook for the global economy, estimating that it will expand 2.6% this year, with the strength of the US economy being a major factor. The bank had previously predicted 2.4% growth for 2024. The US economy is expected to expand 2.5% in 2024, up from the 1.6% predicted in January. However, the World Bank cautioned that global growth remains sluggish, with increased trade barriers and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza posing threats to prosperity worldwide. The bank also expressed concerns about heavy debts and high interest rates in the poorest countries.

#WorldBank #GlobalEconomy #UsEconomy #GlobalGrowth #TradeBarriers #Ukraine #Gaza #Debts #InterestRates

https://apnews.com/article/economy-global-inflation-growth-china-world-bank-c7b22580a44579c418a1cb10b61c2402


Stock market today: Wall Street holds steady ahead of this week's Fed meeting
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U.S. stocks are mixed in quiet trading ahead of a week with several top-tier reports on inflation due, as well as the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting on interest rates. The S&P 500 was 0.1% lower in morning trading, still close to its record set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 7 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 10:20 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% lower. Huntington Bancshares dropped 5.9% for one of the market’s largest losses after it cut its forecast for a key component of profit this year. Other banks also fell afterward, including losses of 3.1% for Citizens Financial Group, 3% for Regions Financial and 2.7% for KeyCorp. Diamond Offshore Drilling jumped 10.4% after Noble agreed to buy its rival in a cash-and-stock deal valued at roughly $1.6 billion. Noble added 4.7% in a signal that traders expect the combination to be a winner. Apple was drifting 0.9% lower ahead of a conference where analysts expect it to offer details about its moves into artificial-intelligence technology. Data on the economy have come in mixed recently, and traders are hoping they will ultimately show a slowdown that’s just right in magnitude. In the meantime, companies benefiting from the AI boom are continuing to report big growth almost regardless of what the economy and interest rates are doing. Treasury yields in the bond market were mixed ahead of reports later in the week that will show whether inflation improved last month at both the consumer and wholesale levels. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve will announce its latest decision on interest rates. Virtually no one expects it to move its main interest rate then. But policy makers will be publishing their latest forecasts for where they see interest rates and the economy heading in the future.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #FederalReserve #InterestRates #Inflation

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-france-euro-44075c1768cc364f995bca495a121b26


Kansas leaders and new group ramp up efforts to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri
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Top Kansas legislators have intensified efforts to woo the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs by offering to let the professional football franchise shape a plan for using state bonds to finance a new stadium in Kansas. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson said in a statement Tuesday that the Legislature would consider the proposal during a special session set to convene June 18. Their actions came as a new Kansas nonprofit group, Scoop and Score, launched a campaign for bringing the Chiefs from Missouri to Kansas. The group started an online petition aimed at the Legislature, sent texts saying the Chiefs “deserve a permanent home in Kansas,” and registered 20 lobbyists to represent it at the Statehouse, including a former House speaker and some of the state's most prominent contract lobbyists.

#KansasCityChiefs #Stadium #Relocation #Kansas #Missouri

https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-new-stadium-proposal-49fbfcc162dfbcf3790aa14c2763fd97


What to know about Boeing's first spaceflight carrying NASA astronauts
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Boeing has successfully launched its Starliner capsule with a crew on board to the International Space Station for NASA. This is the first flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule with a crew on board. The crew consists of a pair of NASA pilots who will test the spacecraft during the test drive and stay at the space station for a week. The launch comes after years of stumbles and delays for Boeing. The article provides a link to the full story for more details.

#Boeing #Nasa #Starliner #Spaceflight #InternationalSpaceStation

https://apnews.com/article/boeing-test-flight-astronauts-space-station-0d773b17baca7c51427371c54d6ac47b


Stock market today: Asian stocks trade mixed after Wall Street logs modest gains
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Asian shares traded mixed as investors weighed recent data highlighting a slowing U.S. economy that offers both upsides and downsides for Wall Street. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 0.9% to 38,490.17. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.4% to 7,769.00. South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.0% to 2,689.50. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped nearly 0.1% to 18,428.62, while the Shanghai Composite dipped 0.8% to 3,065.40.

#AsianStocks #WallStreet #Nikkei225 #S&p/asx200 #Kospi #HangSeng #ShanghaiComposite

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-inflation-fed-2c7a03d4e187731032538fd95bf57031


Stock market today: Wall Street cleaves between winners and losers on report showing slowing economy
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U.S. stocks were split among winners and losers after a report suggested the job market is cooling, the latest signal of a slowing economy that offers both upsides and downsides for Wall Street. The S&P 500 ticked up by 0.2%, though more stocks within the index fell than rose. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 140 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%. Wall Street wants the job market and overall economy to slow to help get inflation under control and convince the Federal Reserve to cut rates, which would ease the pressure on financial markets. The number of U.S. job openings at the end of April dropped to the lowest level since 2021. Worries about a slowing economy have hit the price of crude oil, raising the possibility of less growth in demand for fuel. Dividend-paying stocks and some Big Tech stocks drove the market higher. The S&P 500 rose 7.94 points to 5,291.34. The Dow gained 140.26 to 38,711.29, and the Nasdaq added 28.38 to 16,857.05.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #JobMarket #Economy #Inflation #FederalReserve #CrudeOil #DividendpayingStocks #BigTechStocks

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-inflation-3fa48a6ed288b4b0da9a939d171d0b60


Stock market today: Wall Street drifts after latest signal of a slowdown as Nvidia, GameStop leap
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The S&P 500 was 0.3% higher in morning trading, coming off its sixth winning month in the last seven. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 27 points, or 0.2%, as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.7%. U.S. stock indexes are drifting in mixed trading Monday that's quiet overall, but some big names are making big moves underneath the surface.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #Nvidia #Gamestop

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-inflation-e9180b8b37c8181b5d0911bd743af08a


Hungary's Orbán stages 'peace march' in show of strength ahead of EU elections
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Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stages a 'peace march' in Budapest, Hungary, ahead of the European Parliament elections. Tens of thousands of supporters gathered to show their support for Orbán, who has been in power for 14 years and is the EU's longest-serving leader. Orbán has focused his campaign on the war in Ukraine, portraying his opponents as warmongers. He called for his party to 'occupy Brussels' and transform Europe's approach to support for Ukraine. Critics argue that his appeals for an immediate cease-fire would benefit Russia. Orbán's party is expected to gain the most seats in the EU legislature, but a political newcomer, Péter Magyar, has built a significant movement in the last three months. Orbán's right-wing populism and anti-war rhetoric still resonate among many Hungarians. He has criticized EU and NATO partners for assisting Ukraine and advocated for a Trump victory in the US election. Orbán believes a Trump victory would lead to a 'transatlantic peace coalition' to end the fighting in Ukraine.

#Hungary #ViktorOrbán #PeaceMarch #EuElections #UkraineWar

https://apnews.com/article/hungary-orban-peace-march-ukraine-6f3bf3ba7e776182dbcbb62b6b8eaa22


Stock market today: Wall Street drifts as yields ease on cooler economic data
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U.S. stocks are drifting following mixed profit reports from big U.S. companies and signals that the economy may be cooling. The S&P 500 was 0.3% lower in early trading and has been generally pulling back since setting a record last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 300 points, or 0.8%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% lower. Salesforce was the main reason the Dow fell more than the rest of the market and tumbled 18.1%. Kohl’s fell even more, 25.8%, after reporting a surprise loss for the latest quarter when analysts were expecting to see a profit. Best Buy topped forecasts even though its sales fell short last quarter, and its stock rose 11.3%. Foot Locker ran 25.4% higher after likewise reporting better-than-expected profit despite ringing up sales below analysts’ forecasts. Yields fell Thursday after a couple reports showed the U.S. economy isn’t quite as strong as expected. The hope on Wall Street is that the economy can cool down, but not by too much, so that the Federal Reserve can hit a precise landing where it gets high inflation under control without causing a bad recession. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.56% from 4.62% late Wednesday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for Fed action, fell to 4.93% from 4.98%.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #Yields #EconomicData

https://apnews.com/article/stocks-market-rates-yields-inflation-dcdd2123ae17ec18072e5028f159eed9


Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists in the city's biggest national security case
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A Hong Kong court has convicted 14 pro-democracy activists, including former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong, and Raymond Chan, in the city's biggest national security case. The activists were among 47 democracy advocates prosecuted for their involvement in an unofficial primary election, accused of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong's government and topple the city's leader. Two former district councilors, Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau, were acquitted. The verdicts come under a law imposed by Beijing that has severely limited free speech and assembly in Hong Kong. The security law is seen as a means to crush political opposition, but Beijing and Hong Kong governments claim it has brought stability to the city and protected judicial independence.

#HongKong #ProdemocracyActivists #NationalSecurityCase #UnofficialPrimaryElection #Beijing #FreeSpeech #Assembly #PoliticalOpposition #JudicialIndependence

https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-security-law-verdict-5b8e7ac1100342db642040985bc417b2


Hong Kong police arrest 6 people accused of violating the city's new national security law
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Hong Kong police have arrested six people accused of publishing seditious social media posts, in what are the first publicly known arrests under the city’s new national security law. The arrests were made under the new security law introduced in March, which has expanded the government’s power to deal with challenges to its rule. The law punishes treason and insurrection with up to life imprisonment and imposes harsher penalties for sedition offenses. The arrested individuals, aged between 37 and 65, used a social media page to anonymously publish the posts starting in April. The posts aimed to provoke hatred against the central government, the Hong Kong government, and the city's judicial institutions, and incite netizens to organize or participate in illegal activities. The police statement did not provide further details on the social media page or the content of the posts. The introduction of the new security law has raised concerns about the erosion of Hong Kong's freedoms. Since its implementation, Hong Kong authorities have severely limited free speech and assembly, leading to the arrest, silencing, or self-exile of many activists. The Beijing and Hong Kong governments argue that the law has restored stability following the 2019 anti-government protests.

#HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #Arrests #Sedition #SocialMedia

https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-article-23-security-law-first-arrests-85606b3a413ca82d002353214f1eb044


706 people named Kyle got together in Texas, it wasn’t enough for a world record.
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706 people named Kyle gathered in Texas in an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of people with one name, but fell short. The current record is held by a town in Bosnia that gathered 2,325 people named Ivan in 2017. Last year, the Gathering of the Kyles in Kyle, Texas had 1,490 participants. Kyle is ranked 416th among male names in the US, while Ivan is ranked 153rd.

#WorldRecord #PeopleNamedKyle #GatheringOfTheKyles #Texas

https://apnews.com/article/world-record-people-named-kyle-6e444cd9dfd9b69f647d817b0afc1899


MLB is expected to investigate David Fletcher for gambling on sports, AP source says
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Major League Baseball is expected to investigate former Angels player David Fletcher for gambling on sports with a bookmaker who also took bets from Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, according to a person familiar with the situation. Fletcher placed bets with Mathew Bowyer, an alleged illegal bookmaker in Southern California. MLB's gambling policy prohibits players and team employees from wagering on baseball, even legally. Fletcher was a teammate of Ohtani's during the Japanese two-way sensation's six years with the Angels. Fletcher is currently with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers.

#Mlb #DavidFletcher #Gambling #Sports #Investigation

https://apnews.com/article/sports-betting-david-fletcher-ippei-mizuhara-mathew-bowyer-b96335e92117be5995447210c657329e


Stock market today: Dow finishes above 40,000 to cap Wall Street’s latest winning week
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished above the 40,000 level for the first time, rising 134.21 points, or 0.3%, to 40,003.59. The S&P 500 added 6.17 points, or 0.1%, to 5,303.27, just 0.1% shy of its record. The Nasdaq composite slipped 12.35 points, or 0.1%, to 16,685.97. Reddit jumped 10% after announcing a partnership with OpenAI. GameStop dropped 19.7% after announcing it expects to report a loss of up to $37 million. AMC Entertainment also issued shares to wipe out some debt. Renaissance Technologies, the hedge fund founded by Jim Simons, revealed it bought shares of both GameStop and AMC Entertainment. Treasury yields ticked higher, and stock indexes around the world were mixed. Some economists caution that optimism about the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates may be going too far. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.41% from 4.38% late Thursday. The two-year yield edged up to 4.82% from 4.80%.

#DowJonesIndustrialAverage #S&p500 #NasdaqComposite #Reddit #Openai #Gamestop #AmcEntertainment #RenaissanceTechnologies #JimSimons #FederalReserve #TreasuryYields #InterestRates

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-china-inflation-7f8c98dcc72882199b0688b693a3a7e6


Retail sales were unchanged in April from March as inflation and interest rates curb spending
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Retail sales in the US were unchanged in April compared to March, falling well below economists' expectations. The data from the Commerce Department showed that sales rose 0.9% in February but fell 1.1% in January. Excluding gas prices and auto sales, retail sales fell 0.1%. Online business dropped 1.2%, while electronics stores saw a 1.5% increase in sales. Home furnishings stores experienced a 0.5% decline, and clothing and accessories stores saw a 1.6% gain. The retail sales figure does not include travel and lodging. The report comes as inflation continues to impact consumer spending and interest rates make taking on debt more burdensome.

#UsRetailSales #Inflation #InterestRates #CommerceDepartment #ConsumerSpending

https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-april-economy-inflation-422c54d68a519b9beb05bfe9813b0ab5


Stock market today: Wall Street rises as it cruises toward the close of another winning week
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U.S. stocks are heading toward the close of another winning week with some more modest gains. The S&P 500 was 0.4% higher in early trading and on track for a third straight winning week following a mostly miserable April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 128 points, or 0.3%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% higher. The S&P 500 has returned within 0.4% of its record after coasting through relatively quiet trading following big gains at the end of last week. Revived hopes that the Federal Reserve may deliver cuts to interest rates this year drove the gains. So did a flood of stronger-than-expected reports on profits from big U.S. companies. Gen Digital jumped 14.7% after joining the parade and reporting better profit for the first three months of 2024 than analysts expected. Novavax more than doubled and shot 134.1% higher after announcing a deal with Sanofi that could be worth more than $1.2 billion. The agreement includes a license to co-commercialize Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, with some exceptions. Novavax also reported a slightly smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. They helped offset a drop of 9.7% for Akamai Technologies, which topped expectations for profit but fell short for revenue. The cloud-computing, security and content delivery company also lowered some of its financial forecast for the full year. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher but were relatively calm overall. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.48% from 4.46% late Thursday.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #S&p500 #DowJonesIndustrialAverage #NasdaqComposite #FederalReserve #InterestRates #Profits #GenDigital #Novavax #Sanofi #Covid19Vaccine #AkamaiTechnologies #TreasuryYields

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-china-japan-rates-1a3e7073797351d722d4d9f4085504ce


Police clear pro-Palestinian protest camp and arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor's hearing is canceled
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Police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University and arrested 33 demonstrators. The crackdown led to the cancellation of a hearing by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Tensions have been rising in protests against the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the US and Europe. Police also broke up an encampment at the University of Massachusetts, arresting about 130 people. Since April 18, over 2,600 people have been arrested on 50 campuses in protests against the war. Other schools have allowed protests to continue, while some have cracked down due to disruptions and safety concerns.

#Propalestinian #Protests #GeorgeWashingtonUniversity #Arrests #IsraelhamasWar

https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-george-washington-encampment-eac5c1cc396551bee1b110b48a94aefd


Stock market today: Wall Street starts slow on Wednesday, threatening its four-day winning streak
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Wall Street started slow on Wednesday, threatening its four-day winning streak. Futures for the S&P 500 slid 0.2% before the bell, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked down less than 0.1%. Uber tumbled 7.4% after reporting a loss in its most recent quarter. Reddit jumped 11% in premarket after posting a smaller loss than expected. In Europe, Germany's DAX rose 0.4% and the CAC 40 in Paris jumped 0.9%. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 lost 1.6%. The dollar rose to 155.44 Japanese yen from 154.50 yen. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.8% and the Shanghai Composite index gave up 0.6%. U.S. benchmark crude oil fell $1 to $77.38 per barrel. The euro dropped to $1.0747 from $1.0755. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 edged 0.1% higher, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1%.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #S&p500 #DowJonesIndustrialAverage #Uber #Reddit #Germany'sDax #Cac40 #Tokyo'sNikkei225 #HongKong'sHangSengIndex #ShanghaiCompositeIndex #CrudeOil #Euro

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-yen-96b2fdde58cd0d9e7556b140cdfa6882


Google, Justice Department make final arguments about whether search engine is a monopoly
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Google's preeminence as an internet search engine is an illegal monopoly propped up by more than $20 billion spent each year by the tech giant to lock out competition, Justice Department lawyers argued at the closings of a high-stakes antitrust lawsuit. The government and Google made their closing arguments in the 10-week lawsuit to U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who must now decide whether Google broke the law in maintaining a monopoly status as a search engine. Much of the case has revolved around how much Google derives its strength from contracts it has in place with companies like Apple to make Google the default search engine preloaded on cellphones and computers. Evidence showed that Google spends more than $20 billion a year on such contracts. Google responds that customers could easily click away to other search engines if they wanted, but that consumers invariably prefer Google. Mehta has not yet said when he will rule, though there is an expectation that it may take several months.

#Google #JusticeDepartment #Antitrust #SearchEngine #Monopoly

https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-closings-trial-monopoly-aa1c5b9f859e9428aec15bb0a61bcaa8


Yellen says threats to democracy risk US economic growth, an indirect jab at Trump
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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen argues that a fractured democracy can have destructive effects on the economy, indirectly referencing Donald Trump. Yellen uses economic data to illustrate how disregard for democratic processes and institutions can lead to economic stagnation. Her remarks serve as a warning to business leaders who may overlook Trump's disregard for democratic norms in favor of his economic policies.

#JanetYellen #DonaldTrump #Democracy #Economy

https://apnews.com/article/yellen-treasury-federal-feserve-democracy-a14d6154d292f0f5bee34b29a9976eab


'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Stereophonic' lead Tony Award nominations, shows honoring creativity's spark
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The musical 'Hell's Kitchen' and the play 'Stereophonic' have each earned 13 Tony Award nominations. The nominations also saw a record number of women nominated for best director. Other notable shows include 'The Outsiders' with 12 nominations, a revival of 'Cabaret' with nine nominations, and 'Appropriate' with eight nominations. The Tony Awards celebrate creativity in the theater industry.

#TonyAwards #Broadway #Musical #Play #Nominations

https://apnews.com/article/tony-nominations-2024-5a34692b23991e09e68b3c88bb310bef


Stock market today: Asian benchmarks mostly climb despite worries about US economy
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Asian shares mostly rose despite worries about the economic outlook and inflation in the US and the rest of the world. The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged. Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.8%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.4%. South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.1%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 2.3%. The Shanghai Composite rose 1.1%. Wall Street was lower with concerns about high inflation and a weak economy. Facebook's parent company dropped 10.6%. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1%. The Nasdaq composite sank 0.6%. The US economy slowed to a 1.6% annual rate in Q1 2024. Treasury yields rose. Benchmark US crude edged up to $83.94 a barrel. Brent crude gained to $89.41 a barrel.

#StockMarket #AsianBenchmarks #UsEconomy #Inflation

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-economy-earnings-4775e405f59a664add5dd9daf995dcd5


The summer after Barbenheimer and the strikes, Hollywood charts a new course
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Hollywood is entering a new summer movie season after the strikes and the success of films like 'Barbie' and 'F9'. The industry has learned to pivot quickly and is releasing films through the pandemic. The fallout from the strikes led to the loss of big summer titles like 'Mission: Impossible 8' and 'Captain America: Brave New World', but also resulted in the release of films like 'The Bikeriders' and 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. The summer of 2023 saw a box office of $4 billion, the first time since 2019. This summer, there are 32 wide releases and over 40 movies opening in 500+ theaters. Notably, only two of them are Marvel movies. Family films, horrors, and thrillers are also part of the summer lineup. Streamers are also releasing big summer movies, including 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' and 'The Instigators'. The movie business remains unpredictable, but following taste and instincts is paramount.

https://apnews.com/article/2024-summer-movie-preview-dd4640580b4d32cb235996eb69665ea9


Insider Q&A: Trust and safety exec talks about AI and content moderation
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Alex Popken, a former trust and safety executive at Twitter, discusses AI and content moderation. Popken left Twitter in 2023 after a decade at the company. She is now the vice president of trust and safety at WebPurify, a content moderation service provider. Popken was the first employee at Twitter dedicated to moderating the platform's advertising business. She emphasizes the importance of AI in content moderation and the need for human oversight. Popken also discusses the challenges of moderating content at scale and the role of technology companies in addressing harmful content. She highlights the need for collaboration between technology companies, governments, and civil society to create effective content moderation policies. Popken believes that transparency and accountability are crucial in building trust with users and ensuring the responsible use of AI in content moderation.

#Ai #ContentModeration #Twitter #Webpurify

https://apnews.com/article/alex-popken-webpurify-twitter-ai-content-moderation-28e540b1021d6bb7ecd5fe7584db2976


The Latest | 3 wounded in Jerusalem in car attack
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Israeli police said a car slammed into pedestrians in Jerusalem, wounding three people lightly. Footage of the incident showed a car plowing into three ultra-Orthodox Jews. Palestinians have carried out periodic attacks on Israeli cities and towns since the country’s war against Hamas began on Oct. 7. Over the weekend, a funeral in the West Bank commemorated 14 Palestinians killed during an Israeli raid on the Nur Shams refugee camp. The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, at least two-thirds of them children and women. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $26 billion aid package on Saturday that includes around $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Israeli authorities said they had arrested a suspect in the killing of a 14-year-old Jewish West Bank settler. The teen’s disappearance earlier this month sparked rampages by Israeli settlers in a number of Palestinian communities. Three people were injured when a car ran them over in the neighborhood of Romema, northeast of the city center. Police said they were searching for the two attackers, who they said had exited the vehicle with a submachine gun and fled the scene.

https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-04-22-2024-979b85863a6899acc2d4cbb09e423225


Climate change concerns grow, but few think Biden's climate law will help, an AP-NORC poll finds
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A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that 45% of adults in the United States say they have become more concerned about climate change over the past year. President Joe Biden’s signature climate change policy, the Inflation Reduction Act, was intended to address some of those fears, investing billions in incentives for consumers and businesses to move toward clean energy sources. About one-quarter of Americans say tax credits for renewable energy projects such as wind power have benefited people like them so far, with similar numbers for incentives for companies to manufacture clean energy technologies in the U.S. rather than abroad, tax credits for individuals to add solar panels to their homes, or subsidies and tax credits for energy-efficient appliances like heat pumps. Generally, U.S. adults also aren’t confident the IRA will have an impact even in more time. The poll found that only between 23% and 35% of U.S. adults say the law’s key components will eventually help address climate change. Biden still has an advantage over his opponent, former President Donald Trump, when it comes to climate change generally. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults and two-thirds of Democrats have “a lot” or “some” trust in Biden on climate change. But one of Biden's major pitches for the IRA — that it will help the American economy and U.S. workers — doesn't seem to be resonating. According to the poll, only about 2 in 10 Americans say the law has done more to help the U.S. economy, while about one-quarter think it's done more to hurt the economy, and about half think it either made no difference or don't know enough to say. Broadly, a majority of Americans say the federal government is currently doing “too little” to address climate change.

#ClimateChange #Biden #ClimateLaw #Poll

https://apnews.com/article/america-ap-norc-poll-climate-change-election-f9943ab6a37674ef2345f4041618cf5e


How immigrant workers in U.S. have helped boost job growth and stave off a recession
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The influx of immigrant workers in the United States has helped boost job growth and prevent a recession. The availability of immigrant workers has filled the labor shortage and allowed companies to continue adding hundreds of thousands of jobs each month. The immigration boom was a surprise, with the actual number of net immigration in 2023 being 3.3 million, compared to the estimated 1 million. The new immigrant arrivals have allowed the U.S. to generate jobs without causing inflation, as the supply of workers has increased. Economists estimate that monthly job growth could be twice as high this year without exerting upward pressure on inflation. Immigrant workers have been crucial in industries such as dairy farming in Maine, where they make up half the staff. Overall, the contribution of immigrant workers to the U.S. economy has helped solve the puzzle of strong job growth despite aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

#Immigration #Jobs #Economy #Wages #Gdp #Trump #Biden

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-jobs-economy-wages-gdp-trump-biden-9d468330973502761647c961162917c5


New study calculates climate change's economic bite will hit about $38 trillion a year by 2049
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A new study by Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research predicts that climate change will reduce future global income by about 19% in the next 25 years compared to a fictional world that's not warming. The economic cost of climate change is estimated to be around $38 trillion a year by 2049, with the financial cost potentially doubling by 2100. The study shows that the poorest areas and those least responsible for heating the atmosphere will be the most affected. The damages caused by climate change are mainly driven by average warming and overall temperature increases, which harm crops and hinder labor production. The study also reveals that countries with historically lower greenhouse gas emissions per person and less financial ability to adapt to warming weather will experience the biggest financial harms. The world's poorest countries are projected to suffer a 61% bigger income loss than the richest ones. The study concludes that emission cuts will only produce small changes in income reduction over the next 25 years, but cutting carbon emissions now will pay off in the second half of the century. If carbon pollution is curbed and warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, the financial hit will stay around 20% in global income. However, if emissions increase in a worst-case scenario, the financial impact could be closer to 60%. The study highlights the importance of taking action to mitigate climate change and the potential economic benefits of doing so.

#ClimateChange #EconomicImpact #GlobalIncome #EmissionCuts #GreenhouseGasEmissions

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-damage-economy-income-costly-3e21addee3fe328f38b771645e237ff9


Iran fires air defense batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
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Iran fired air defense batteries near Isfahan following a drone-and-missile assault on the country. It is unclear if the country was under attack, but tensions have remained high since Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza and its strikes in Syria. Air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which is home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats. The sound of blasts was reported, and state television described all sites in the area as 'fully safe.' Commercial flights in Tehran and across western and central regions were grounded. Several small drones were shot down, and explosions were heard in Baghdad.

#Iran #Isfahan #AirDefense #Explosions #Israel #Hamas #Syria #F14Tomcats #Drone #Missile #Tehran #CommercialFlights #Baghdad

https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-mideast-tensions-4-19-2024-a7ccbae2e2844bab089e8e4377a24ddb


Armenian victims group asks International Criminal Court to investigate genocide claim
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A human rights organization representing ethnic Armenians has submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court arguing that Azerbaijan is committing an ongoing genocide against them. Lawyers for the California-based Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) have submitted a communication urging the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan to look into alleged atrocities. The evidence includes the testimony of more than 500 victims and witnesses. The court will now consider the evidence and decide whether to open an investigation. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at odds over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, and are already facing off in a separate legal case stemming from that conflict. The CFTJ's request comes amid two weeks of proceedings between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the International Court of Justice, where each country has accused the other of violating a racial discrimination treaty.

#Armenia #Azerbaijan #Genocide #InternationalCriminalCourt #HumanRights #Nagornokarabakh

https://apnews.com/article/armenia-azerbaijan-genocide-claim-international-court-4331781a6213e82a78b9ce152ed8d27c


Stock market today: Wall Street drifts in mixed trading following a four-day losing streak
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The S&P 500 was 0.1% lower, coming off its fourth straight loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 117 points, as of 9:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% lower. Elevance Health climbed 4.2% after raising its profit forecast for the full year. Homebuilder D.R. Horton rose 3.5% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Equifax dropped 8.2% after reporting weaker revenue for the latest quarter than expected. Yields in the bond market are rising, putting pressure on stocks. Traders are now forecasting just one or two cuts to rates this year, down from expectations for three cuts at the start of the year. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62% from 4.59% late Wednesday. The two-year Treasury yield rose to 4.97% from 4.94%. Comerica rose 2.7% after giving better-than-expected profit forecasts for 2024. Alaska Air took a $162 million hit in its most recent quarter after grounding its entire Boeing 737 Max fleet, but it projected better-than-expected profits for the current quarter. Las Vegas Sands dropped 6.9% despite reporting better results than expected. Indexes in Europe were moving only modestly, while South Korea's Kospi jumped 2%.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #Trading #S&p500 #DowJonesIndustrialAverage #Nasdaq #ElevanceHealth #DrHorton #Equifax #BondMarket #TreasuryYield #Comerica #AlaskaAir #LasVegasSands #Europe #SouthKorea

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-shares-rates-treasury-c8cc2e5f5ac2b5cd47143dd2ee0920ea


Biden is seeking higher tariffs on Chinese steel as he makes an election-year pitch to union voters
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President Joe Biden is calling for a tripling of tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum to protect American producers from cheap imports. The current tariff rate is 7.5% for both steel and aluminum but could climb to 22.5%. The Biden administration also promised to pursue antidumping investigations against countries and importers that try to saturate existing markets with Chinese steel. The move is largely symbolic as China accounted for just 2.1% of U.S. steel imports last year. Higher tariffs could increase the costs of cars, construction materials, and other goods for U.S. consumers. Biden's turn toward protectionism echoes the playbook of his predecessor, Donald Trump. The first step to the higher tariffs is the completion of a review of Chinese trade practices.

#Biden #China #SteelTariffs #UnionWorkers

https://apnews.com/article/biden-china-steel-tariffs-union-workers-0399b0450b67086ca86edc43ac45e5e9


New leader of Jesse Jackson's civil rights organization steps down less than 3 months on the job
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The Rev. Frederick Haynes III, a Dallas pastor, has resigned as the head of the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the civil rights organization founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson. Haynes, who took over the leadership role less than three months ago, cited 'challenges that continue to exist' as the reason for his resignation. Rev. Jackson announced in July that he would step down from the organization and introduced Haynes as his successor. Haynes, who was formally installed as president and CEO in February, expressed his admiration for Rev. Jackson and his intention to collaborate with Rainbow PUSH in the future. Rev. Jackson, who has faced health issues and has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, has not commented on Haynes' resignation.

#JesseJackson #RainbowPushCoalition #FrederickHaynesIii #Resignation #CivilRights #Chicago

https://apnews.com/article/jackson-chicago-dallas-pastor-civil-rights-3cf14917c9264948494c50aee974e6b2


Massachusetts official warns AI systems subject to consumer protection, anti-bias laws
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The Massachusetts attorney general has issued an advisory cautioning developers and business users of artificial intelligence that they must comply with state laws governing data privacy as well as consumer and anti-discrimination protections. The advisory emphasizes that existing state consumer protection, anti-discrimination, and data security laws still apply to emerging technologies, including AI systems. Falsely advertising the usability of AI systems, supplying a defective AI system, and misrepresenting the reliability or safety of an AI system could be considered unfair and deceptive under the state's consumer protection laws. Misrepresenting audio or video content for the purpose of deceiving others or engaging in fraud could also violate state law. The advisory aims to encourage companies to ensure that their AI products and services are free from bias before entering the market. Regulators also emphasize the importance of transparency in disclosing when consumers are interacting with algorithms. The advisory notes that the state's anti-discrimination laws prohibit the use of AI technology that discriminates against individuals based on protected characteristics. AI developers, suppliers, and users must also safeguard personal data used by AI systems and comply with data breach notification requirements.

#ArtificialIntelligence #ConsumerProtection #Antidiscrimination #DataPrivacy #Massachusetts

https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-consumer-protection-massachusetts-attorney-general-b0d2ff3addba47204cab2a49ebdd3092


NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station
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NASA has confirmed that a cylindrical object that crashed through the roof of a home in Naples, Florida, on March 8, 2024, was a chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station. The object, weighing 1.6 pounds (0.7 kilograms) and measuring 4 inches (10 centimeters) tall and roughly 1 1/2 inches (4 centimeters) wide, was a metal support used to mount old batteries on a cargo pallet for disposal. The pallet was jettisoned from the space station in 2021, and while the load was expected to burn up on reentry into Earth's atmosphere, this piece survived. The homeowner, Alejandro Otero, discovered the object after returning from vacation and finding it had ripped through his ceiling and damaged the flooring. No injuries were reported.

#Nasa #SpaceStation #SpaceJunk #Florida #Home #Debris

https://apnews.com/article/space-station-debris-florida-home-8c5cd89b0d9db0f5c274ab9ed1f0713c


McCormick gets Trump's endorsement in Pennsylvania's Senate race despite awkward history
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Former President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick of Pennsylvania, urging his supporters in the state to "go out and vote for him" in one of the year's most hotly contested Senate races. This endorsement comes two years after Trump helped sink McCormick in Pennsylvania's Senate GOP primary, creating an awkward history between the two men. McCormick, a former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, is trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who is seeking his fourth term. McCormick had sought Trump's endorsement in 2022 but refused to say the 2020 election was stolen, leading to Trump endorsing another candidate and repeatedly criticizing McCormick on the campaign trail.

#DonaldTrump #DavidMccormick #PennsylvaniaSenateRace #Endorsement

https://apnews.com/article/trump-mccormick-endorsement-senate-pennsylvania-casey-d8f09864dc6f02f967ad56981dfa1e7d


Chase Elliott ends 42-race winless streak with overtime victory in NASCAR Cup race at Texas
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Chase Elliott ended a 42-race winless streak by winning the NASCAR Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Elliott pulled ahead and cleared Ross Chastain on the first lap after the second restart in overtime. The race ended on the 16th caution after Elliott had taken the white flag for the 276th lap in a race scheduled for 267 laps. It was the fifth win this season for Hendrick Motorsports and the 306th win for NASCAR's winningest team. Elliott's victory in the No. 9 Chevrolet was his first since Talladega in October 2022. Denny Hamlin, who was racing all-out with Elliott, got loose on the outside going into Turn 4 and crashed into the wall, bringing out the 14th caution and sending the race to overtime. Brad Keselowski finished second, William Byron finished third, and Harrison Burton was wrecked within a half lap in the first restart in overtime. Ford is still winless this season with its new Mustang. The next race is at Talladega.

#ChaseElliott #Nascar #TexasMotorSpeedway #HendrickMotorsports #DennyHamlin #BradKeselowski #WilliamByron #HarrisonBurton #Ford #Talladega

https://apnews.com/article/nascar-texas-chase-elliott-f2b94b76acf211090a66b1c357f0a8e7


A healthy US economy's secret ingredient: Immigrant workers, eager to fill jobs
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The influx of foreign-born adults in the United States has helped solve the mystery of how the economy has managed to prosper and add hundreds of thousands of jobs despite the Federal Reserve raising interest rates to fight inflation. Immigrants, whether living in the US legally or not, have filled the labor shortage and increased the supply of available workers, driving economic growth and creating more job openings. The availability of immigrant workers has eased the pressure on companies to raise wages and pass on higher labor costs to customers, resulting in lower inflation. Immigrants accounted for a record 18.6% of the labor force in 2023. However, the role of immigrants in the economy has become a contentious issue in the election-year debate over the control of the nation's Southern border.

#UsEconomy #ImmigrantWorkers #Jobs #Inflation #LaborShortage #Wages #SouthernBorder

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-jobs-economy-wages-gdp-trump-biden-fbd1f2ec89e84fdfaf81d005054edad0


U.S. stocks soar above global markets, giving investors solid path for growth
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U.S. stocks have been outperforming global markets in 2024, continuing a trend of strong growth. The S&P 500 is up 10% for the year, compared to just 4% for developed markets outside the U.S. Since 2019, the S&P has gained 48%, while other developed markets have only seen a 10% increase. Earnings per share growth is the main driver of this trend, with earnings for the S&P 500 nearly 47 times that of the broader global market over the last 17 years. Earnings growth for companies in the S&P 500 is expected to jump 11% in 2024. The U.S. economy's consumer-driven nature, strong consumer spending, and a solid jobs market have contributed to steady earnings growth for U.S. companies. Stock buybacks and the dominance of big tech companies in the S&P 500 have also skewed growth for the benchmark index. The strong economic data in the U.S. bodes well for investors focused on earnings growth. In contrast, weak consumer spending and lackluster income growth could continue to hamper China's economy.

#UsStocks #GlobalMarkets #S&p500 #EarningsGrowth #ConsumerSpending #JobsMarket #StockBuybacks #BigTechCompanies #China'sEconomy

https://apnews.com/article/off-charts-global-markets-89ac7ec845b64e2e4cd41d6fb57f33d4


Stock market today: Wall Street falls after hot inflation report burns hopes for a June rate cut
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U.S. stocks are sinking on worries that what seemed like a blip in the battle to bring down inflation is turning into a trend. The S&P 500 was 1.2% lower in a wipeout where nine out of 10 stocks in the index fell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 514 points, or 1.3%, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.2% lower. Treasury yields also leaped in the bond market, raising the pressure on the stock market, after a report showed inflation was hotter last month than economists expected. The fear now is that inflation may be stuck after February and March’s inflation reports all came in hotter than expected. Traders sharply cut back on bets that the Fed could begin cutting rates in June. They now see less than a 19% chance of that, down from nearly 74% a month ago, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool. Real-estate stocks in the S&P 500 fell 4.2% for the biggest loss by far among the 11 sectors that make up the index. The hope on Wall Street is that the resilient U.S. economy could help prop up profits, even if it does diminish hopes for rate cuts.

#StockMarket #Inflation #InterestRates #FederalReserve #Economy

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-interest-china-7ca5eb565702bbae5d2049a18d950123


Stock market today: Wall Street holds steadier after last week's bumpy ride
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U.S. stocks are holding steadier after a roller-coaster end to last week left them a bit shy of their records. The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in early trading, coming off a stretch where a 1.2% drop immediately flipped to a 1.1% gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 51 points, or 0.1%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was basically flat. The focus has been on interest rates and when the Federal Reserve will lower them to ease pressure on the economy and financial system. This upcoming week has several flashpoints that could further swing expectations. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said recently he still expects cuts to interest rates this year, but the central bank first needs additional confirmation inflation is heading toward its target of 2%. Traders now see roughly a coin flip’s chance of the Fed cutting interest rates at its meeting in June, down from a better than 70% probability a month ago. Cuts to interest rates not only make borrowing easier for U.S. households and companies, they also encourage investors to pay higher prices for stocks and other investments. Stock prices have already leaped in part on such expectations. Critics say stock prices already look expensive given their huge run of more than 20% from November into March. This week will bring the start of the latest earnings reporting season. Delta Air Lines, JPMorgan Chase and other banks will headline the earliest days of the reporting period, and analysts are expecting companies across the S&P 500 to deliver a third straight quarter of growth from the prior year.

#StockMarkets #InterestRates #FederalReserve #S&p500 #DowJonesIndustrialAverage #NasdaqComposite #JeromePowell #Inflation #EarningsReportingSeason

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-earnings-812eda3ed641e66e438a6d59944ea43f


Pepiot strikes out a career-high 11 in Rays' 3-2 victory Rockies
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Ryan Pepiot struck out a career-high 11 batters in six shutout innings as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. Pepiot, who came to the Rays in an offseason trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, topped his previous high of nine strikeouts. He allowed three hits and didn’t walk a batter. The Rays gave him the lead with two runs in the second and another in the third. Dakota Hudson allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings for Colorado. Shawn Armstrong got the save for the Rays. Zach Eflin starts the opener of a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

#RyanPepiot #TampaBayRays #ColoradoRockies #Mlb

https://apnews.com/article/tampa-bay-rays-colorado-rockies-score-e2f97ad9831c418d608714b5dc48a806


Yellen says US-China relationship on 'more stable footing' but more can be done to improve ties
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U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and highlighted the improvement in relations since her visit to China last year while recognizing that major differences remain. Yellen emphasized mutual cooperation and the need for further efforts to improve the U.S.-China relationship. The meeting with Li focused on the broader U.S.-China relationship after discussing trade and economic issues in the first two days of Yellen's visit. Yellen's visit to China started in one of China's major industrial and export hubs before she arrived in Beijing. The talks aimed to address American concerns about manufacturing overcapacity in China and create a structure for dialogue between the two nations. Yellen's message of mutual cooperation suggests that the U.S.-China relationship is on a more stable footing, but there is still work to be done to improve ties.

#JanetYellen #UschinaRelationship #China #Trade #Economics

https://apnews.com/article/treasury-yellen-china-economics-trade-cbeef6b23ffb6c6cf6cb11dab25ed08b


Winning Powerball jackpot ticket worth $1.3 billion sold in Portland, Oregon
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A Powerball player in Oregon has won a jackpot worth more than $1.3 billion, ending a winless streak that had stretched more than three months. The single ticket matched all six numbers drawn: 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and the red Powerball 9. The jackpot has a cash value of $621 million if the winner chooses a lump sum. The winning ticket was sold in Portland, Oregon. The winner has a year to claim the top prize. The $1.326 billion prize ranks as the eighth largest in U.S. lottery history. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 292.2 million. The drawing was delayed and took place in the Florida Lottery studio. Powerball is played in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

#Powerball #Lottery #Jackpot #Oregon

https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-lottery-bbc041bf14b984c38d9f66803394d398


Tennessee hires Marshall's Kim Caldwell as the Lady Vols' 4th coach in NCAA era
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Tennessee has hired Marshall coach Kim Caldwell as the fourth head coach in the NCAA era of the Lady Vols' program. Caldwell, who won the 2024 Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year award, will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday. She replaces Kellie Harper, who was fired after five seasons at Tennessee. Caldwell has a winning track record, including leading Glenville State to the 2022 Division II national title. Tennessee athletic director Danny White said Caldwell is the ideal person to restore the Lady Vols' program to national prominence.

#Tennessee #LadyVols #KimCaldwell #Ncaa #Basketball

https://apnews.com/article/lady-vols-coach-kim-caldwell-d8f236c83e786609c7dd90a6d53539a7


Many cancer drugs remain unproven 5 years after accelerated approval, a study finds
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A study has found that most cancer drugs granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not demonstrate clinical benefits within five years. Between 2013 and 2017, 46 cancer drugs were granted accelerated approval, but only 43% demonstrated a clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. The accelerated approval program was created in 1992 to speed access to HIV drugs and now 85% of accelerated approvals go to cancer drugs. The program allows the FDA to grant early approval to drugs that show promising initial results for treating debilitating or fatal diseases. However, drug companies are expected to do rigorous testing and produce better evidence before gaining full approval. The study raises concerns about whether cancer patients understand the uncertainty surrounding drugs with accelerated approval. Congress recently updated the program, giving the FDA more authority and streamlining the process for withdrawing drugs when companies don't meet their commitments.

#CancerDrugs #Fda #AcceleratedApproval #ClinicalBenefits #ConfirmatoryTrials #HivDrugs #DrugCompanies #Congress

https://apnews.com/article/cancer-drugs-fda-accelerated-approval-d5adffd124e0d038a8fd0357ced59546


Top-ranked Korda cruises to T-Mobile Match Play final and will face Maguire
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Nelly Korda, the top-ranked player, defeated Narin An 4 and 3 in the semifinals of the T-Mobile Match Play, putting herself one match away from her fourth straight LPGA Tour victory. She will face Leona Maguire in the final. Korda is aiming to become the first LPGA Tour player to win four consecutive starts since Lorena Ochoa in 2008. The record is five consecutive wins, set by Nancy Lopez in 1978 and matched by Annika Sorenstam in 2004-2005. Korda has taken seven weeks off and a victory this weekend would be her third consecutive in a scheduled event. Maguire, who has a 3-1 record against Korda in team matches for Europe in the Solheim Cup, described Korda as the best in the world right now and expects a tough battle in the final. The temperature during the tournament was 42 degrees Fahrenheit, but the winds were reduced to a breeze and temperatures were in the 60s for the afternoon play.

#NellyKorda #NarinAn #LeonaMaguire #LpgaTour #TmobileMatchPlay #Golf

https://apnews.com/article/lpga-tmobile-match-play-korda-36b05870a1579d85d222a84b8a283885


A Russian drone attack kills 4 people and wounds 12 in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city
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A nighttime Russian attack using Iranian-designed drones killed four people and wounded 12 in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Three first responders in Kharkiv were killed when Russia struck a multistory building twice in quick succession, local authorities said. Another 14-story building was hit by a drone, killing a 69-year-old woman. Ukrainian soldiers shot down 11 of the 20 drones Russia launched against Ukraine during the night. Some 700,000 people in Kharkiv lost power last week after a massive missile attack hit the city’s thermal power plant.

#Russia #Ukraine #DroneAttack #Kharkiv

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kharkiv-drones-23d1922a82fd8ac605b5f95d6d69291a


Beneath the calm, Hong Kong's new security law drives deeper, quieter changes
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Life in Hong Kong appears unchanged on the surface after the new national security law took effect. The law, enacted in 2020, drew protests and arrests, but this time there have been no arrests or newsroom raids. However, beneath the calm, the law is driving deeper and quieter changes in the city. Critics argue that the law is eroding Hong Kong's freedoms and autonomy, while supporters believe it is necessary for maintaining stability and national security. The impact of the law is still unfolding, and its long-term effects on Hong Kong's political and social landscape remain uncertain.

#HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #Protests #Arrests #Freedom #Autonomy

https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-new-security-law-impact-ca4e181da02e5eed23a8f31dbcc1cef1


Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground following surprisingly strong US jobs report
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Stocks on Wall Street posted solid gains following a strong US jobs report. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8%. Technology companies, including Nvidia and Alphabet, contributed to the rally. The gains were broad, with every sector in the S&P 500 finishing in the green. The US added a surprisingly strong 303,000 workers to their payrolls in March, fueling consumer spending and earnings growth. The job market has also sparked concerns about inflation, but Friday's report showed that wages rose modestly, putting less upward pressure on inflation. The bond market signaled concern about interest rates staying higher for longer, but the stock market accepted the strong jobs report as good news. The S&P 500 rose 57.13 points to 5,204.34, the Dow added 307.06 points to 38,904.04, and the Nasdaq gained 199.44 points to 16,248.52.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #UsJobsReport #S&p500 #DowJonesIndustrialAverage #TechnologyCompanies #Nvidia #Alphabet #Inflation #BondMarket

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-cdeea722367b960f1a87b0b3d287fedd


Stock market today: Wall Street rises toward records as it prepares for Friday's jobs report
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U.S. stocks are rising Thursday and climbing back toward record heights, as Wall Street makes its final moves ahead of a jobs report that could shake the market on Friday. The S&P 500 was up 0.7% in early trading and sitting just below its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 250 points, or 0.6%, as of 9:40 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% higher. Conagra Brands climbed 4.1% after the company behind such food brands as Birds Eye and Duncan Hines reported a milder drop in revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Levi Strauss jumped 16.3% after its latest quarterly results likewise topped expectations. One of the big reasons the U.S. stock market stormed more than 20% higher from November through March was the expectation that the Fed would cut its main interest rate several times. But Fed officials have said they need to see additional proof inflation is heading down toward its 2% target before acting, a message Chair Jerome Powell reiterated. Wall Street is looking for the job market to cool enough to remove upward pressure on inflation, but not so much that it throws too many people out of work and causes a recession. Treasury yields were holding relatively steady in the bond market and gave up earlier gains following the release of the jobless claims report. The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.32% from 4.35% late Wednesday. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Europe after rising in much of Asia.

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-c044d61408190a1a283ecbe3959272c1


NASA wants to come up with a new clock for the moon, where seconds tick away faster
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NASA is working on developing a new clock for the moon that takes into account the difference in gravity, which causes time to move slightly faster on the moon compared to Earth. The White House has instructed NASA to collaborate with international agencies to create a moon-centric time reference system. On the moon, time moves 58.7 microseconds faster every day. The new clock will provide a frame of reference for timekeeping on the moon.

#Nasa #Moon #Timekeeping #Clock

https://apnews.com/article/moon-time-apollo-faster-space-gravity-0ed02d33a53bc39f58cf46f95a816bf6


Stock market today: Global shares drop after Wall Street sinks on rate worries
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Global shares mostly declined after Wall Street had its worst day in weeks. France's CAC 40 edged up 0.1% in early trading, Germany's DAX rose 0.3%, and Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 0.6%. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slid 0.8%, Sydney's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1.3%, South Korea's Kospi dropped 1.4%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.1%, and the Shanghai Composite fell 0.2%. Worries are growing that the turbulence in Wall Street might spread to Asia. China has set a target of around 5% economic growth this year. Moody's Ratings report says China's slowing economy will aggravate difficult business conditions for Japanese manufacturers. Traders have reduced their expectations for how many times the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year. In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude added 4 cents to $85.19 a barrel. The U.S. dollar rose to 151.71 Japanese yen from 151.54 yen.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #GlobalShares #RateWorries #EconomicGrowth #FederalReserve #EnergyTrading #UsDollar

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-ae64cbb7a42eb0b9d050a09da68d7c7b


Romania and Bulgaria partially join Europe’s Schengen travel zone, but checks at land borders remain
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Romania and Bulgaria have partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone, allowing free access for travelers arriving by air or sea from both countries. However, land border checks will remain in place due to opposition primarily from Austria over illegal migration concerns. The Schengen Area, the world’s largest free travel zone, now includes 25 of the 27 EU member countries. Austria vetoed Romania and Bulgaria’s admission into the Schengen zone in 2022 but allowed Croatia full accession. Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 and Croatia in 2013. The lifting of border control is expected to facilitate operations at Bulgaria’s four international airports and positively impact the tourism sector. However, concerns have been raised about long queues at the EU’s land borders and the impact on trade in the bloc’s single market, as well as the health and safety of drivers.

#Romania #Bulgaria #SchengenTravelZone #EuropeanUnion #BorderControl #Tourism #Trade

https://apnews.com/article/romania-bulgaria-schengen-eu-c8290cf515e6755f1fa57cf7be09abcb


Harrison Barnes keys big 3rd quarter that carries the Kings past the Jazz 127-106
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Harrison Barnes scored 24 points and led a big third-quarter run for the Sacramento Kings, helping them secure a 127-106 victory over the Utah Jazz. Keegan Murray also contributed 25 points for the Kings, while De'Aaron Fox had 24 points and 12 assists, and Domantas Sabonis recorded his 57th straight double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. This win marked the Kings' first season sweep against the Jazz since the 2001-02 season.

#HarrisonBarnes #SacramentoKings #UtahJazz #KeeganMurray #De'aaronFox #DomantasSabonis #Nba

https://apnews.com/article/jazz-kings-score-cba72228c373e57fd68920073360b488


Many Americans say immigrants contribute to economy but there's worry over risks, AP-NORC poll finds
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A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that many Americans believe immigrants contribute to the country's economic growth and offer important contributions to American culture. However, concerns about legal immigrants committing crimes have increased, particularly among Republicans. The poll also revealed that U.S. adults see fewer major benefits and more major risks from legal immigration compared to the past.

#Immigration #Poll #Economy #Risks #Republicans #Benefits

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-poll-border-security-biden-fentanyl-39246ef896ebccc51b67f6ed46de8061


Stock market today: S&P 500 sets a record after Wall Streets breaks out of its lull
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The S&P 500 climbed 44.91 points, or 0.9%, to 5,248.49, setting a new record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 477.75, or 1.2%, to 39,760.08. The Nasdaq composite gained 83.82, or 0.5%, to 16,399.52. Merck climbed 5% after federal regulators approved its treatment for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cintas jumped 8.2% after reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter. Trump Media & Technology Group rose another 14.2%. Robinhood Markets climbed 3.7% after unveiling its first credit card. Nvidia slumped 2.5%. GameStop tumbled 15%. Treasury yields slipped, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury falling to 4.19%. The U.S. government will release the latest monthly update on consumer spending on Friday. The S&P 500 is on track for a fifth straight winning month. Stocks generally tend to do the best when more than half the world's central banks are easing interest rates. Indexes were mixed across Europe and Asia, with Chinese stocks performing poorly.

#StockMarket #S&p500 #Record #WallStreet #Merck #Cintas #TrumpMedia&TechnologyGroup #RobinhoodMarkets #Nvidia #Gamestop #TreasuryYields #ConsumerSpending #InterestRates #China

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-china-rates-0ce28d7b2b92a6e7d43d67525d80558a


The Latest | Mexican president highlights contributions of migrant workers
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Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador highlighted the contributions of migrant workers to the US economy in response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Three Mexican workers were among those on the bridge when it collapsed, with two missing and one injured and rescued. López Obrador criticized the treatment of migrants by certain US politicians, stating that they deserve better treatment given the risks they take in performing difficult jobs. The bridge collapse occurred after a ship crashed into it, causing major damage and leading to the closure of the port in Baltimore. Recovery efforts are underway to search for the missing workers, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collapse.

#MexicanPresident #MigrantWorkers #BridgeCollapse #Baltimore

https://apnews.com/article/baltimore-bridge-collapse-latest-live-cf49bc860af7ba949961d8aeffa09901


Police had about 90 seconds to stop traffic before Baltimore bridge fell. 6 workers are feared dead
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During the middle of the night, a cargo ship lost steering capabilities and headed towards the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Police officers had about 90 seconds to stop traffic in both directions, but the bridge collapsed before they could fully respond. At least eight people went into the water, with two rescued and six missing and presumed dead. The collapse is causing disruptions to shipping and trucking, diverting traffic from one of the busiest ports on the East Coast. The crash is believed to be an accident, and investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances. The loss of the bridge is expected to impact commuter traffic and disrupt the shipping port. The search for the missing workers is complicated by the twisted metal and debris in the water. The crash is likely to create logistical challenges along the East Coast for months, if not longer. The Port of Baltimore has suspended ship traffic indefinitely. The ship involved in the crash is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and was chartered by Danish shipping giant Maersk. The vessel had passed inspections in June and September 2023. The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. President Joe Biden plans to visit Baltimore and expects the federal government to cover the cost of rebuilding the bridge.

#Baltimore #BridgeCollapse #CargoShip #FrancisScottKeyBridge #Accident #Investigation #Shipping #Trucking #PortOfBaltimore #LogisticalChallenges #GraceOceanPrivateLtd #Maersk #PresidentJoeBiden

https://apnews.com/article/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-03-27-2024-6a95340e5daeff6551fc999d23feb278


China's Xi issues a positive message in meeting with U.S. business leaders as relations improve
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China's nationalist leader Xi Jinping has called for closer trade ties with the U.S. during a meeting with top American business leaders in Beijing. Xi emphasized the mutually beneficial economic ties between the two countries, despite heavy U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports and accusations of undue Communist Party influence, unfair trade barriers, and theft of intellectual property. China's economy has struggled to recover from self-imposed COVID-19 restrictions, but Xi stated that China was contributing to world economic growth. The meeting included Stephen A. Schwarzman, the head of investment firm Blackstone. Trade and tariffs have been a focus in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election, and the Biden administration has shown little sign of moderating punitive measures against Chinese imports. China's economy has been affected by a crisis in its property market, an aging population, and high youth unemployment. However, foreign firms, including Apple, rely on China-based manufacturers and its consumer market. China's tone towards the U.S. has softened in recent months, and officials from both countries have visited each other. However, China maintains a hard line on issues it considers its 'core interests,' including its claims in the South China Sea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang. Xi aims to maintain strict party control while attracting foreign investment to support the economy.

#China #Us #Trade #Economy #XiJinping

https://apnews.com/article/china-us-trade-economy-xi-jinping-62568f1f1ba1f5d722e0e7795bb0bac6