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Turkey hikes interest rates in another sign of economic normalcy. But markets expected more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s central bank raised its key interest rate Thursday, another sign of commitment to a traditional path of battling inflation but still falling below expectations after critics blamed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s economic policies for inflaming a cost-of-living crisis.The 2.5 percentage point hike — putting the rate at 17.5% — came a month after the bank unleashed a 8.5% increase, a reversal after more than a year of rate-cutting prompted by Erdogan.He believes lowering interest rates fights inflation, contradicting traditional economic theory that says the opposite. Central banks around the world have been hiking rates rapidly to battle spikes in consumer prices following the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine, but Turkey’s bank started cutting rates in late 2021.Since winning reelection in May, Erdogan has signaled a return to conventional policies by appointing two internationally respected economists to key positions.Former Merrill Lynch b...

EU climate chief Frans Timmermans says he wants to lead combined center-left bloc in Dutch elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — European Union climate chief Frans Timmermans said Thursday he wants to lead a combined campaign by two center-left parties that are joining forces ahead of Dutch parliamentary elections in late November.Timmermans is a vice president of the EU’s executive commission in charge of climate policy. He told Dutch national broadcaster NOS he has put himself forward as a candidate to lead the Labor Party and Green Left into the elections. The parties agreed Monday to form a united front on the left of the splintered Dutch political landscape.Timmermans is a member of the Labor Party and a former foreign minister. He says he wants to be the next Dutch prime minister and aims to unite the increasingly polarized nation. “I think it’s time for us in the Netherlands to grow closer together again instead of growing apart. The fragmentation in politics must be countered,” he said. “We have enormous challenges — the climate crisis, nature is not in good s...

77-year-old woman found dead in her Burbank home; death ruled homicide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

BURBANK, Ill. — Police in southwest suburban Burbank are searching for a suspect after an elderly woman was found dead in her home.Police said the 77-year-old was discovered by officers around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday after a well-being check in the 8500 block of South Normandy Avenue.The medical examiner has ruled the woman's death a homicide, saying she had multiple sharp force injuries. 10-month-old baby girl found dead in Woodlawn ID’d: CPD Burbank police believe this is an isolated incident and that there is no threat to the public.No one is in custody. An investigation is underway.

10-month-old baby girl found dead in Woodlawn ID'd: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago police are investigating an incident where a 10-month-old baby girl was found dead in Woodlawn Wednesday afternoon. The medical examiner's office identified her as Omega Coombs.According to police, the baby was found unresponsive in the 6500 block of South Ellis Avenue around 1:22 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Antioch police execute search warrant in criminal investigation after boy thrown from carnival ride Police said there were no visible signs of trauma. The child was transferred to Comer Children's Hospital where she was pronounced dead. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Dean's A-List Interviews: Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in 'Oppenheimer'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

Check out Dean's A-List Interviews where he sits down with Matt Damon and Emily Blunt on their roles in 'Oppenheimer.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

LIVE: Registered sex offender receives new charges after HCSO finds evidence of additional victim

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials in Hays County filed additional charges against a man registered as a sex offender after finding evidence of an additional victim.Hays County Sheriff’s Office said it learned 24-year-old Diego Alejandro Cortez, who was arrested earlier this month in connection with harboring a runaway child and child trafficking, also possessed pictures and videos that depicted child pornography. RELATED: Registered sex offender accused of finding 10-year-old victim on Snapchat, arrested in Hays County According to HCSO, on July 3, investigators found and identified a 13-year-old victim. HCSO said the girl was a second victim of Cortez's.A statement from HCSO said the victim was interviewed, and during that interview, the victim said she and Cortez had multiple sexual encounters."The victim’s statement was corroborated by the confession of Cortez, and evidence found on Cortez’s phone," HCSO said.As of Tuesday, Cortez was in the Hays County jail and charged wi...

APD: Officer involved in shooting in south Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An officer was involved in a shooting in south Austin Thursday morning, according to the Austin Police Department. APD tweeted Thursday morning it was responding to a "critical incident" in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road, which is near the intersection of South Lamar Boulevard. In another tweet, police said the incident was being investigated as an officer-involved shooting. It's not clear what agency the officer is with, and there is no information available yet on the person who was shot. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Environmental concerns over resolution to change lot sizes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council is set to discuss a resolution Thursday that, if approved, would initiate amendment changes to the city's land development code, which would ultimately lead to higher-density living in Austin neighborhoods. Some environmentalists are against the resolution because they think the resolution will have a negative impact on flooding. Council member Leslie Pool, District 7, introduced the resolution known as Home Options for Middle-Income Empowerment, or H.O.M.E. The main goal of the resolution is to decrease the minimum lot size requirement for single-family homes, from 5,750 square feet to 2,500 square feet, so that smaller homes can be built in hopes they will be cheaper for middle-class homebuyers. The amendments to the land development code would also allow existing single-family lots to subdivide to develop a variety of different housing types. Those include row houses, townhomes, and garden homes. "It will certainly make opportunities for middl...

Texas judge to weigh in on exceptions to state abortion laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The issue of exceptions to Texas' near-total abortion ban are in state court for a second day, after a long day of testimony Wednesday from some of the women who are suing the state, saying the laws put their lives, and their babies, at risk.During the often emotional testimony, the women shared stories of how they were unable to get a medical abortion during their pregnancies, despite having severe risks to their lives. At one point, the judge called a recess after one of the women got physically ill on the witness stand while recounting her experience of having to carry her baby to term — even though doctors told her halfway through her pregnancy that her daughter had no chance of survival. BACKGROUND: Texas women suing state over abortion ban, say their lives were at risk Samantha Casiano testified that doctors diagnosed her baby with a rare birth defect called anencephaly — in which parts of the skull and brain are missing. Often in tears, Casiano said docto...

'Hasn't sunk in:' Federal inmates released during pandemic can stay home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thousands of people convicted of non-violent, low-level federal crimes — then released during the COVID-19 pandemic — will not have to go back to prison following a recent decision by the Department of Justice that puts an end to lingering uncertainty. Kendrick Fulton at his job in Arlington delivering sodas (Courtesy Kendrick Fulton)"It really hasn't sunk in yet," Kendrick Fulton said. Fulton was sentenced to 33 years for selling cocaine.This is Fulton's 20th year in federal custody. KXAN first met him two years ago after he was released to home confinement in Round Rock. The arrangement was part of the CARES Act to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. In 2021, KXAN asked Fulton what he would say to people who felt he shouldn't have been released from prison and should have to serve his time behind bars."You know, for the people that say, 'You do the crime, you do the time.' I've done 17 years," he said.Now, a judge has commuted his sentence to 25 years. Wi...