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UN economic forecast cites conflicts, sluggish trade, high interest and climate disasters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations issued a somber global economic forecast for 2024 on Thursday, pointing to challenges from escalating conflicts, sluggish global trade, persistently high interest rates and increasing climate disasters.In its flagship economic report, the U.N. projected that global economic growth would slow to 2.4% this year from an estimated 2.7% in 2023, which exceeds expectations. But both are still below the 3% growth rate before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, it said.The U.N. forecast is lower than those of the International Monetary Fund in October and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in late November.The IMF said it expects global growth to slow from an expected 3% in 2023 to 2.9% in 2024. The Paris-based OECD, comprising 38 mainly developed countries, estimated that international growth would also slow from an expected 2.9% in 2023 to 2.7% in 2024.The U.N.’s report — World Economic Situation and Prospects 2024 ...

Dozens more Jeffrey Epstein documents are now public. Here’s what we know so far

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The release of dozens of previously sealed court documents from a lawsuit involving Jeffrey Epstein might disappoint online sleuths who anticipated explosive new information.The roughly 60 documents released as of Thursday largely mention figures whose names were already known, including high-profile friends of Epstein’s and victims who have spoken publicly. In fact, the judge who made the call last month to release the information said she was doing so largely because much of it is already public.The plan to release the documents had prompted rumors that they contained a list of “clients” or “co-conspirators,” and misinformation about their contents is continuing to run rampant on social media. Still, the records do include some fresh details about the financier’s sexual abuse of teenage girls, and offer a reminder of how he leveraged his powerful connections to recruit his victims and help cover up his crimes.The documents unsealed this week are the latest of thous...

Colorado DAs: Desperate need for resources in state's mental health crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A group of Colorado district attorneys co-wrote an op-ed addressing major issues with mental health statewide that affect their judicial processes.The four district attorneys that represent over half the population of Colorado are banding together to demand the state make drastic improvements to mental health services and laws. Louisville psychiatric hospital facing 4 state investigations District Attorneys John Kellner of the 18th Judicial District (Elbert, Lincoln, Douglas and Arapahoe Counties), Michael Doughtery of the 20th Judicial District (Boulder), Michael Allen of the 4th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller), and Brian Mason of the 17th Judicial District (Adams County) writing the op-ed to address their concerns. These four districts represent over half of the state population.Their main point is a major backlog in cases waiting for competency evaluations before trial, a backlog that’s affecting cases across the judicial systemThe three major demands i...

Look of the Week: Jeremy Allen White drops his pants for the New York skyline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

(CNN) — Whether it be thanks to his big screen projects, breathless paparazzi photos — like those of him pounding the pavement in barely-there shorts, or spending a wholesome afternoon at the farmer’s market — or tabloid headlines, the appetite for actor Jeremy Allen White is, at present, seemingly unquenchable.While the Emmy-nominated actor was made in Chicago (the location of his widely-lauded drama series “The Bear”), White was born in New York. So it’s only right, then, that he’s given his hometown the gift of his latest, internet-breaking moment: an underwear ad campaign that marks his debut for Calvin Klein.Shot by photographer Mert Alas, the campaign imagery sees White frolicking on a sun-soaked rooftop either shirtless, or pantless, and sometimes both. (In all cases, he’s wearing what Calvin Klein describes as its “most emblematic” underwear.) When he is wearing a shirt, it’s a classic white tank top — à la Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Rock Hudso...

Cirque Italia Water Circus invites you to dive into a magical world under the big top

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

South Florida gets plenty wet during hurricane season, but we don’t mind rain if a Cirque performance comes with it. Cirque Italia Water Circus opens Thursday night in Miami — just over the Rickenbacker Causeway. Here’s Deco’s splashy preview of all under the big tent.Emiliano Fusco, juggler: “Dive into the magical world of Cirque Italia.”Drown in laughter and amazement at Cirque Italia’s Water Circus.Emiliano Fusco: “The water is pretty much like 70% of the show. It goes up in the center, and it’s like rain, so the performers in the middle, they get wet, splash the people sometimes. Actually, you can see images in each drop of the water, like, we play music from the ’50s, based on images about that. It’s something you don’t see everywhere. People get amazed every time they see it.”Emiliano Fusco: “We have performers from all over the world. Me and my brother, we do a juggling act, so we can pass stu...

No injuries reported after crash involving NH State Police cruiser 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

A crash involving a New Hampshire state police cruiser caused major traffic delays but resulted in no injuries Thursday morning, police said. New Hampshire State Police in a statement said the crash happened around 6 a.m. on F.E. Everett Turnpike in Merrimack while a trooper was on scene at a separate single-vehicle crash. Police said the trooper was parked in his cruiser in the breakdown lane with his K-9 partner when a pick-up truck hit his cruiser from behind. Police later identified the pick-up truck driver as a 39-year-old man from Chester, New Hampshire. He was not injured. The trooper and his K-9 similarly avoided injury in the crash, according to police.Though no one was hurt, state police said the crash triggered a five-mile traffic backup stretching through the Bedford Tolls. The backup, in turn, “resulted in two other crashes on the Turnpike,” according to police. Police said an investigation was ongoing as of Thursday afternoon and asked anyone who witness...

Bruins lose wild one to Penguins, 6-5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

The Bruins, in theory, are built on goaltending and defense. Neither was on display at the Garden on Thursday night.Jeremy Swayman allowed a half dozen goals while the B’s defensemen could not clear the rebounds he was giving up, leading to a 6-5 loss and spoiling a Bruin comeback attempt.With Charlie McAvoy in the box for holding, Sidney Crosby put the Penguins up 6-5 when his shot from the top of the left circle deflected off of Hampus Lindholm and through Swayman’s pads with 8:41 left in the third.The B’s pulled Swayman with 2:41 and they had their chances to tie but just couldn’t get the equalizer.After trailing by three goals early in the second period, the B’s clawed back to tie with two goals in the second and then a beauty of a shorthanded goal by Brad Marchand at 3:08 of the third period. Charlie Coyle bulled his wayt through the neutral zone before moving it to Marchand at the blue line for a one-on-one battle with Kris Letang. Moving to his r...

Woman suspected of setting fire at gas pump, Target store

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in a suspected arson case that happened in November.The first fire occurred on Nov. 22 at an AM/PM gas station located at 4333 Home Ave. in the Ridgeview/Webster neighborhood, San Diego County Crime Stoppers along with San Diego police said in a news release Thursday. An unknown woman set fire to a gas pump, causing $10,000 in damages, per authorities.The second fire occurred at a Target store at 1288 Camino Del North in the Mission Valley area, according to Crime Stoppers. Following the gas pump fire, the woman then drove to Target and lit items on fire that caused around $750 in damages. Body found in freezer identified Surveillance video of the suspect vehicle, a two-toned green 2000s Subaru Outback model, shows it leaving the scene of the gas station fire.A suspect is being sought after two fires were set in San Diego -- one at a gas station and the other at a Target store. Both in...

Gas prices hit New Year's high in San Diego County: What's in store for 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

SAN DIEGO — San Diego County has started 2024 with a modest uptick in the average price of self-serve regular gasoline after a three-months retreat from last year's over $6 high.The average price on Jan. 1 was $4.779 at the county's pumps, according to figures from the AAA Oil Price Information Service — about $1.489 cheaper than the area's peak during an astronomical run-up in September of last year.However, prices have started to level-off — and rise slightly — after this decline from the last few months that brought some much needed relief to drivers at the pump, keeping the county at a price that set a record for the highest-ever average on the first day of the year.On Thursday, the price rose for the seventh time in nine days since hitting its lowest point in recent months on Dec. 22. According to AAA, the region stands at an average of about $4.782 per gallon of gas, up roughly three-tenths of a cent from Jan. 1. What to know about 2024 changes to the electric vehicle tax cr...

Children's Pool La Jolla seawall closed due to damage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:31:35 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The seawall at the Children’s Pool in La Jolla is closed because of damage from strong waves during winter swells. San Diego lifeguards are putting out safety warnings, while a local seal society club is calling for repairs on the wall to wait.“This is very hazardous ocean conditions,” said Lieutenant Lonnie Stephens with the City of San Diego Lifeguards.Double-digit foot waves continue to slam the San Diego coast, including knocking off sections of metal railings at the seawall at La Jolla’s Children’s Pool. The wall is closed to visitors to walk on.“Where you see structures that have been damaged by large waves or parking lots flooding, that is a tremendous amount of power,” Stephens said.The City of San Diego said its Parks and Recreation Department staff have examined the seawall and are preparing for the repairs.Robyn Davidoff, the chair of the Sierra Club Seal Society, said she is hoping the city will wait to repair until after the seal pupping season in mid-May.“...