NorthPort holds off Phoenix for second win

NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino in the PBA Philippine Cup. –PBA IMAGES MANILA, Philippines–NorthPort averted disaster on Friday night, turning back a hard-fighting Phoenix, 124-120, in the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao. The Batang Pier held off the conference-debuting Fuel Masters down the stretch behind the efforts of cornerstone Arvin Tolentino … Read more

With Venezuela’s election set for late July, President Nicolás Maduro holds all the cards

MEXICO CITY — Venezuela’s presidential election so far is a one-horse race for incumbent President Nicolás Maduro. That’s not for a lack of potential challengers, or because of any great affection from voters. It’s because he’s the only politician with the means for a campaign and a guaranteed spot on the ballot. Electoral authorities this … Read more

China trumpets rising car exports to Russia as its envoy holds talks in Ukraine

BEIJING — In Beijing and Kyiv, the divide between China and Europe over the war in Ukraine was on display this week. As a Chinese envoy crisscrossed Europe for talks on ending the war, his boss, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, trumpeted a sharp rise in China-Russia trade — which the West sees as providing an … Read more

European Central Bank holds interest rates, cuts inflation and growth forecasts

European Central Bank policymakers on Thursday lowered their annual inflation and growth forecasts, as they confirmed a widely expected hold of interest rates. Staff projections now see economic growth of 0.6% in 2024, from a previous forecast of 0.8%. They presented a more positive picture on inflation, with the forecast for the year brought to … Read more

Judge holds veteran journalist Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge source

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge held veteran investigative reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt on Thursday for refusing to divulge her source for a series of Fox News stories about a Chinese American scientist who was investigated by the FBI but never charged. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington imposed a fine of … Read more

The US Supreme Court Holds the Future of the Internet in Its Hands

The US Supreme Court seems torn over whether to trigger a radical transformation of the internet. The nation’s highest court heard arguments Monday over state laws in Florida and Texas that restrict how platforms like Facebook and YouTube moderate speech. If the court lets them take effect, social media feeds could look very different, with … Read more

Turkey holds interest rate at 45% for first time after 8 months of hikes

Turkish flag over a DenizBank building. Turkey is expected to head to the polls on Sunday. Ismail Ferdous | Bloomberg | Getty Images Turkey’s central bank held its key interest rate on Thursday, keeping it at 45% despite soaring inflation after eight consecutive months of hikes. The move was widely expected as the bank indicated … Read more

UK inflation holds steady at 4% in January as lower food prices help offset higher energy costs

LONDON — Inflation in the U.K. held steady at 4% in January as lower food prices helped offset an increase in energy costs, official figures showed Wednesday. The reading was better than expected as most economists expected inflation to rise modestly to around 4.2%. The Office for National Statistics said the monthly drop in food … Read more

UK inflation holds steady at 4%, lower than expected

London was the No. 2 most-visited city in the world for 2023, according to Euromonitor International. Karl Hendon | Moment | Getty Images LONDON — U.K. inflation held steady at 4% year-on-year in January on the back of easing prices for furniture and household goods, food and non-alcoholic beverages. Month-on-month, the headline consumer price index … Read more

Fake Limo Chauffeur Holds ‘Taylor Swift’ Pickup Sign at Las Vegas Airport and Hilarity Ensues

OK, this is hilarious. The sports business news outlet Front Office Sports dispatched a fake limo driver to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and had him hold a “Taylor Swift” pickup sign. The fake limo driver — dressed in a black suit, sans the tie — stood there patiently waiting as befuddled fans walked … Read more