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Poland’s central bank surprises with sharp interest rate cuts despite double-digit inflation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s central bank lowered its interest rates by 75 basis points on Wednesday despite the country’s double-digit inflation rate. The move prompted concerns that the central bank was wading into politics with a premature rate cut to help the populist governing party ahead of parliamentary elections next month.The National Bank of Poland’s monetary policy council announced that it was cutting the reference rate from 6.75% to 6%, and other interest rates by the same amount.The Polish currency, the zloty, immediately lost value against the dollar and euro.Economists had been expecting a rate cut, but not such a large one. Economic and political observers expressed surprise at such a big cut given that inflation, while declining after reaching over 18% earlier this year, is still running at slightly over 10% annually.But Poland’s robust economy is also showing some signs of slowing down and an election is approaching on Oct. 15 in which th...

Jesus Herrada wins Spanish Vuelta’s 11th stage. American rider Sepp Kuss keeps overall lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

VINUESA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s Jesús Herrada pulled away on an uphill climb to win the 11th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Wednesday, while American rider Sepp Kuss kept the race lead for a fourth straight day.Herrada separated from a small breakaway group including Geraint Thomas and crossed the finish line atop the category-one Laguna Negra ascent in 3 hours, 29 minutes. It was a third career win at the Vuelta for the 33-year-old Herrada. Romain Grégoire was second, three seconds behind. Thomas was fifth.Kuss was not challenged for the overall lead as main contenders led the peloton at the finish of the mostly flat 163.5-kilometer (101.5-mile) ride starting in Lerma in Spain’s north-central woodlands.Kuss stayed 26 seconds ahead of Marc Soler in the overall standings. Defending champion Remco Evenepoel is third, 1:09 back while three-time winner Primoz Roglic is 1:36 behind in fourth. Lenny Martinez, João Almeida, two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vinegaard, and Juan Ayuso are a...

Pirates star McCutchen done for the season after partially tearing his Achilles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen’s feel-good season is over.The Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter is heading to the 10-day injured list after partially tearing his left Achilles tendon while legging out a double in a victory over Milwaukee on Monday night.The 36-year-old McCutchen said initially he was “fine,” but further examination by the Pirates medical staff revealed the tear. Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that McCutchen will be in a walking boot for six weeks but that there has been no discussion of surgery.McCutchen hit .256 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs this season. He collected his 2,000th career hit in June and was one home run short of 300 when he limped into second base on Monday night following an RBI double down the left-field line.McCutchen, a five-time All-Star and the 2013 NL MVP while playing for Pittsburgh from 2009-17, is scheduled to be a free agent during the offseason. He has expressed repeatedly he did not view 2023 as a fa...

Lawsuit contends Constitution's 'insurrection' clause bars Trump from running again for president

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A liberal group on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to bar former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot in Colorado, arguing he is ineligible to run for the White House again under a rarely used clause in the U.S. Constitution aimed at candidates who have supported an “insurrection.”The lawsuit, citing the 14th Amendment, is likely the initial step in a legal challenge that seems destined for the U.S. Supreme Court. It was filed on behalf of six Republican and unaffiliated Colorado voters by the group Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington.It will jolt an already unsettled 2024 primary campaign that features the leading Republican candidate facing four separate criminal cases.Liberal groups have demanded that states’ top election officials bar Trump under the clause that prohibits those who “engaged in an insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution from holding higher office. None has taken that step, looking for guidance from the courts on how ...

Miami-Dade County commissioners defer vote for lease extension for ‘Miami Wilds’ theme park on Zoo Miami property

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

Miami-Dade County commissioners on Wednesday decided to defer a vote to renew a lease extension for a proposed “Miami Wilds” theme park on Zoo Miami property.Commissioners will meet again on Sept. 19 to discuss the lease renewal. During the the first 20 minutes of the meeting, tensions ran high as one man was escorted out of the building. “Yelling, sending mean emails, being rude and commenting social media, it will not get my vote,” said Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III.Several speakers weighed in on the proposed water park.“You’re throwing away Miami’s history for the fleeting joy of a water slide and we will remember,” said a speaker. “And this is the largest population, absolute largest population of Florida bonneted bats about anywhere else that need this space,” said a speakerOpinions on the proposed theme park have been mixed with environmental groups concerned that the development will threaten endangered wildlife, while dev...

Wendy’s newest Frosty tastes like a fan-favorite flavor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

New York (CNN) — Wendy’s is entering the pumpkin spice wars.For the first time, Wendy’s is adding a pumpkin spice-flavored Frosty to its menus for a limited time beginning September 12.Wendy’s said the new flavor “merges the same creamy, delectable texture Frosty fans know and love with hints of pumpkin and a blend of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for a taste of familiar fall flavors in every bite,” in a press release.For marketers, seasonal products are a crucial way to create buzz. Often, they pick items that make people feel a certain way — nostalgic, or excited for a new season — but that are too indulgent to buy more than a few times a year. The ‘limited-time only’ availability boosts the appeal.Adding pumpkin spice-flavored drinks seems like a no-brainer for Wendy’s since the flavor keeps growing in popularity, partly because of Starbucks. Their Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a reliable hit, making it an autumn(ish) mainstay that has given the coffee chain a seasonal sa...

Students evacuated from South Plantation High School after bomb threat reported

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

Students and staff were evacuated after a bomb threat was reported at a South Florida school.Plantation Police and the Broward Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad arrived at South Plantation High School, located at 1300 SW 54th Ave., Wednesday afternoon.7Skyforce hovered over the scene were students and staff were evacuated to the school’s football field. Officers and deputies were seen going into the school as they checked rooms for any potential threats. The students were moved to Heritage Park for dismissal. Parents were told to go into the first entrance of Heritage Park at Fig Tree Lane and Peters Road and go towards the back of the park at the roundabout to pick up their children. https://twitter.com/PlantationPD/status/1699465768218267878?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EtweetIn an abundance of caution, Plantation Park Elementary was placed on lockdown.Officers and deputies were seen going into the high school as they checked rooms for any potential thre...

Man accused of causing deadly crash in Miami appears in court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

A man accused of causing a deadly crash faced a judge.Alejandro Hall was ordered not to drive if he posts his $80,000 bond, Wednesday. The 24-year-old was charged with vehicular homicide and driving without a license.According to police, Hall slammed his Lamborghini into another car Monday night, which ejected the victim inside.The crash was so violent that it shut down the eastbound lanes of the 79th Street Causeway in Miami for hours.Officials said speed and alcohol may have been factors that lead to the incident.

Former German intelligence officer charged with treason for spying for Russia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

A former German intelligence employee was charged with treason for allegedly spying for Russia, according to German media reports.Germany’s federal prosecutor reportedly filed charges against Carsten L., a former senior employee of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), before the Berlin Court of Appeal.Police arrested him in December on suspicion of trading state secrets with Russian agents and sharing intelligence obtained through his work about the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.Another man, Arthur E., was also charged with treason as prosecutors believe he helped Carsten L. communicate with the Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB. Carsten L. was for many years the head of the BND department overseeing surveillance of phones, internet and satellite communication. Shortly before his arrest, he was promoted and put in charge of screening employees, according to German reports.He reportedly met Arthur E., a Russian businessman, at a party in Bavaria i...

‘Nice try:’ Ursula von der Leyen stays mute on second term as Commission president

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen refused to say if she will put herself forward for a second five-year term in the Berlaymont. “Nice try,” the German conservative told POLITICO with a large grin after being asked if she was running again, as she stepped out of a meeting with top MEPs in the European Parliament on Wednesday, surrounded by aides and bodyguards. Speculation is bubbling in Brussels about what von der Leyen will do after the European election next June, which will spark a reset of the bloc’s top jobs. Her name has also cropped up in discussions about who will succeed Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general of NATO. Even if she does declare an intention to stay in the Commission post, there is a major question mark about whether she would embrace the informal lead candidate (or Spitzenkandidat) process, or expect to be simply appointed as happened in 2019.Von der Leyen spent over an hour with the heads of the Parliament...