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UK inflation remains over 10% as food prices rise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The price of food in the U.K. rose at the fastest pace in 45 years last month in, keeping inflation above 10% for a seventh straight month amid a cost-of-living crisis that has fueled a wave of strikes by government workers.Food prices jumped 19.2% in the 12 months through February, the biggest increase since August 1977, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday.Overall, consumer price inflation eased to 10.1%, from 10.4% the previous month, as the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel fell. The March figure was above the 9.8% rate economists had forecast.“The heat has been turned down on the bubbling cauldron of prices, but inflation is still scalding and interest rates look set to be pushed up again to try and cool it down rapidly,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown in London.The British government and Bank of England are struggling to prevent price increases triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from becoming embedded i...

What to know about KC shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Black teen Ralph Yarl was shot twice, in the head and arm, after going to the wrong home in Kansas City, Missouri, to pick up his younger brothers. Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man, told police he fired at honors student Yarl, 16, out of fear last week. But whether Lester will ultimately claim self-defense in court has yet to be seen. The case raises anew questions about race relations in the United States. Here’s a look at what happened, where the criminal case stands, how the teen is faring and the role gun laws in Missouri could play in the case. WHAT LED UP TO THE SHOOTING? Yarl mixed up an address. Instead of going to 115th Terrace to pick up his twin brothers Thursday night, Yarl showed up at Lester’s home on 115th Street, at 10 p.m.Lester told police he had just gotten in bed when he heard the doorbell. Before answering, he grabbed his revolver. Lester said he then saw Yarl pulling on the storm door handle, something Yarl disputes, accordi...

Suspect at large in German gym stabbing that wounded 4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Police are searching for a man suspected of carrying out a knife attack at a gym in the western German city of Duisburg that left four people seriously wounded, officials said Wednesday.Three people were in life-threatening condition, and one person was less seriously wounded, Duisburg police tweeted late Tuesday. They said all four victims are German citizens but didn’t immediately provide further details.Duisburg prosecutors said there had been no reportable developments in the case overnight.Authorities didn’t rule out the possibility of more than one attacker being involved, saying that “at least one perpetrator is on the run.”Police said that a “stabbing or cutting weapon” was used in the attack at a gym belonging to the John Reed Fitness chain.The company said in a statement that it deeply regretted the incident and expressed hope that the victims would recover quickly.Last month, a gunman stormed a service at his former Jehovah’s Witness hall in the ...

Stock market today: Asian trading mixed ahead of earnings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Wednesday, as investors took a wait-and-see stance ahead of earnings reports and possible moves by central banks. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.2% to finish at 28,606.76. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up nearly 0.1% to 7,365.50. South Korea’s Kospi gained less than 0.1% to 2,573.58. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1.2% to 20,410.16. The Shanghai Composite shed 0.6% to 3,371.66. News that China’s economic growth accelerated in the latest quarter, to an annual 4.5%, did not have much of an impact on share prices. While consumption and retail sales have grown, other indicators, such as industrial output and fixed-asset investments, were weaker and indicate an uneven recovery. “It may still be a worst-is-over story, but recovery has shown to be more gradual than a one-shot wonder,” Yeap Jun Rong, market analyst at IG, said in a report.Wall Street closed little changed after a day of meandering trading. The S&P 500 ...

Russia says Wagner fighters take two more blocks in Bakhmut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

Russia announced on Sunday (16 April) that Wagner mercenary troops, supported by airborne forces, had captured two additional city blocks in eastern Ukrainian city Bakhmut. Bakhmut was the target of a major Russian offensive.Wagner led Russia's effort to capture Bakhmut last summer, in the longest and most deadly battle of the war.The Russian defence ministry reported that Wagner assault squads took two blocks on the northwestern, and southeast parts of Bakhmut. Bakhmut has been largely destroyed by the fighting.The report added that Russian paratroopers were supporting Wagner, holding back Ukrainian forces at the flanks.Serhiy Cerevatyi is the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Military Command. He said that Wagner troops are acting like a battering-ram, and they attack dozens of time a day.He told Ukrainian Parliament's TV channel that the enemy had continued to attack his positions with a satanic zest.In a Friday intelligence update, the UK said that Ukrainian troops were forced ...

Adames, Yelich lead Brewers past Mariners 6-5 in 11 innings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Willy Adames drove in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5 on Tuesday night.Joey Weimer scored on Adames’ groundout against reliever Justin Topa (0-1). Adames finished with three RBIs, including a run-scoring double in the third and a solo homer in the sixth.Christian Yelich hit a leadoff home run against Mariners starter Logan Gilbert and made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the third. Yelich then scored on Adames’ double to push Milwaukee’s lead to three.Yelich and Adames combined for five hits and five RBIs.“(Gilbert) was struggling a little bit, struggling with his command, and we jumped on it immediately and did a nice job,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “He settled in his last three innings and was very efficient. But you know, at the top of the order, those are the guys that we count on, and they had big nights.”Garrett Mitchell scored on a double-play grounder in the 10th to give the Brewers the ...

Braves visit the Padres on 8-game road win streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

Atlanta Braves (14-4, first in the NL East) vs. San Diego Padres (8-11, third in the NL West)San Diego; Wednesday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Charlie Morton (2-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 12 strikeouts); Padres: Nick Martinez (0-1, 5.60 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -120, Padres +100; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves will try to keep an eight-game road win streak alive when they face the San Diego Padres.San Diego has a 4-8 record in home games and an 8-11 record overall. Padres pitchers have a collective 4.36 ERA, which ranks eighth in the NL.Atlanta has a 14-4 record overall and a 10-1 record on the road. The Braves have a 6-0 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.The matchup Wednesday is the seventh meeting between these teams this season. The season series is tied 3-3.TOP PERFORMERS: Xander Bogaerts has three doubles and four home runs while hitting .347 for the Padres. Nelson Cruz is 13-for-37 with t...

Diamondbacks aim to keep win streak alive against the Cardinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (11-7, first in the NL West) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (7-11, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Wednesday, 1:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Madison Bumgarner (0-2, 7.90 ERA, 2.12 WHIP, eight strikeouts); Cardinals: Jake Woodford (0-2, 5.65 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -187, Diamondbacks +159; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks aim to keep their three-game win streak alive when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals.St. Louis is 4-8 at home and 7-11 overall. The Cardinals have the sixth-best team batting average in MLB play at .268.Arizona has an 11-7 record overall and a 6-5 record on the road. The Diamondbacks have an 8-0 record in games when they scored at least five runs.The teams meet Wednesday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Nolan Gorman leads the Cardinals with four home runs while slugging .611. Paul Goldschmidt is 12-for-41 with five doubles, a home run and seven RBI ...

Rockies bring home losing streak into matchup against the Pirates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (11-7, third in the NL Central) vs. Colorado Rockies (5-13, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Wednesday, 3:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Johan Oviedo (1-1, 2.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 19 strikeouts); Rockies: Austin Gomber (0-3, 8.16 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Pirates -122, Rockies +103; over/under is 11 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies look to stop their four-game home skid with a win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.Colorado is 5-13 overall and 3-6 at home. The Rockies have the seventh-best team batting average in MLB play at .257.Pittsburgh is 11-7 overall and 8-4 on the road. The Pirates are sixth in MLB play with 23 total home runs, averaging 1.3 per game.The teams meet Wednesday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Kris Bryant has four doubles and three home runs while hitting .314 for the Rockies. Bryant is 12-for-42 with a double and three home runs over the past 10 games.Bryan Reynolds has three doubles, a tr...

Giants take on the Marlins looking to break road slide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:24 GMT

San Francisco Giants (5-11, fourth in the NL West) vs. Miami Marlins (10-8, third in the NL East)Miami; Wednesday, 1:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Alex Cobb (0-1, 3.14 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 14 strikeouts); Marlins: Trevor Rogers (1-2, 4.20 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 16 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -110, Giants -109; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants will aim to end their four-game road skid in a matchup with the Miami Marlins.Miami is 7-5 in home games and 10-8 overall. The Marlins are 8-1 in games when they out-hit their opponents.San Francisco has a 5-11 record overall and a 3-7 record on the road. The Giants have hit 26 total home runs to rank fourth in the majors.The teams square off Wednesday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Arraez has four doubles, a triple and a home run for the Marlins. Jorge Soler is 10-for-34 with four doubles, four home runs and eight RBI over the last 10 games.J.D. Davis leads San Francisco with four ...