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Bank of Japan survey shows manufacturers optimistic about economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among big Japanese manufacturers improved in July-September for the second straight quarter, according to a central bank survey released Monday.The Bank of Japan’s “tankan” quarterly survey measured business sentiment among major manufacturers at plus 9, up from plus 5 in June. Sentiment among major non-manufacturers rose four points to plus 27, in the sixth consecutive quarter of improvement and the most positive result in about three decades.The tankan survey, conducted every three months, measures corporate sentiment by subtracting the number of companies saying business conditions are negative from those replying they are positive.Tourism, which has lifted the world’s third largest economy in recent years, was hit by the pandemic. But incoming travelers have gradually returned to near pre-pandemic levels.The negative effects of COVID-19 on supplies of computer chips and other key parts for manufacturers have also gradually eased, with produc...

Former CFL great George Reed dead at 83

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

George Reed, one of the greatest running backs in CFL history, has died at the age of 83.The Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team Reed spent his 13-year pro career with, confirmed his passing Sunday. Reed died the day before his 84th birthday. Reed was widely known one of greatest running backs in Canadian Football League history after an unparalleled 13-year professional football career with the Roughriders. He retired in 1976 as the all-time leading rusher with 16,116 yards and 134 touchdowns – the latter still stands as a record.A nine-time CFL all-star, Reed was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 1965 and was runner-up for the award in 1968 and 1969. Reed was instrumental in winning the first-ever Grey Cup for Saskatchewan in 1966.His off field contributions were recognized with the Tom Pate Memorial Award for outstanding sportsmanship, contribution to his team and his community in 1976 and was named to the Order of Canada in 1978. He was inducted into the S...

Facing increasing pressure from customers, some miners are switching to renewable energy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

SOROWAKO, Indonesia (AP) — Red hot sparks fly through the air as a worker in a heat-resistant suit pokes a long metal rod into a nickel smelter, coaxing the molten metal from a crucible at a processing facility on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.The smelter run by global mining firm Vale and powered by electricity from three dams churns out 75,000 tons of nickel a year for use in batteries, electric vehicles, appliances and many other products. While the smelting creates heavy emissions of greenhouse gases, the power used is relatively clean. Such possible reductions in emissions come as demand for critical minerals like nickel and cobalt is surging as climate change hastens a transition to renewable energy. Mining operations account for some 4%-7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to global consulting firm McKinsey & Company. But some miners are moving to reduce use of fossil fuels in extracting and refining, partly due to pressure from downstream customers that w...

‘Farmbelt’ and Doug Ford highlight second Liberal leadership debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

The future of the Ontario Liberal Party and how to beat Premier Doug Ford were among the high-priority items discussed at the second leadership debate in Stratford, Ont., on Sunday. Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Liberal MPs Yasir Naqvi and Nate Erskine-Smith and MPP Ted Hsu all took part in the debate, which featured a strong focus on farming, climate change, infrastrucure, Indigenous issues and the province’s need for skilled labour.With the Ford government’s Greenbelt scandal fresh in people’s minds, Naqvi proposed Ontario create a farmbelt when it comes to protecting agricultural land in the province. “We have to protect our agriculture. That’s one of the thing’s I’m proposing is to create an Ontario farmbelt to build on the success of the Greenbelt,” the Ottawa Centre MP told the audience gathered at Stratford City Hall and online. Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie was quick to jump on that idea, adding she would go even further...

Motorcyclist killed in crash along Route 41 in Lake Forest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — A motorcyclist is dead after a crash in Lake Forest on Sunday afternoon, police say.According to Lake Forest police, the crash happened just after 4 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Route 41, near Westleigh Road.Police say the motorcyclist was driving north on Route 41 when they attempted to pass between a Kenworth Semi-tractor with a loaded trailer in the outside lane and another car driving in the inside lane. Police search for driver after man killed in hit-and-run crash in Logan Square According to police, while the motorcyclist was attempting the maneuver, he struck the rear driver's side of the trailer and was ejected from his motorcycle.Police say the motorcyclist was immediately killed in the accident and the driver of the semi was uninjured.Crews from the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team and the Lake County Coroner’s Office say an investigation into the crash is ongoing.Authorities have not yet identified anyone involved.

Church in North Lawndale hosts annual health fair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

CHICAGO — Faith leaders held a health fair on Saturday hoping to use their trusted voices to encourage community members to get checked out and vaccinated.The free event, which is hosted annually by the Greater Galilee Baptist Church in North Lawndale, has been taking place for the last 20 years. But since the pandemic, Pastor Steve Spiller Sr. says they expanded their services to include vaccines, COVID-19 testing and educational information on the virus."We want to make sure that we are proactive and making sure that this epidemic doesn't continue to invade our communities like it did before," Pastor Spiller said. What to know as fall vaccinations against COVID, flu and RSV get underway Spiller says he wants to get ahead of the virus, and so does Reverend Robin Hood, who got his flu shot and his COVID booster during Saturday's event."So our community can know. It is better for us to do this and protect our elders. Because that's one of the things that got me right away to do thi...

Cat separated from owner after Lyft trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Local cat owner Palash Pandey took to social media after being separated from his cat, Tux, following a rideshare trip on Saturday.Palash Pandey's cat, TuxAccording to Pandey, he took the trip to bring his cat in for medical care at a Banfield Pet Hospital location on Research Boulevard in Austin. When they arrived, he exited the vehicle and went around to the other side in order to retrieve Tux's carrier.But before he could, the Lyft driver began to drive away. "I like ran behind him, screaming like 'wait, wait, wait,' I banged on his windows hoping that he would notice me and just stop. But instead of that he just like, peeled off, he drove away," Pandey said. "I don't know how else you would perceive somebody who you just dropped off running behind you and banging on your windows and doors. I don't know if there's a charitable explanation for that."Pandey then attempted to contact the driver through the Lyft application, but did not receive a reply before using u...

Texas State's Ismail Mahdi leads FBS in all-purpose yardage, Bobcats off to best start since '05

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Sophomore running back Ismail Mahdi does a little bit of everything for the Texas State Bobcats.Through five games this season, Mahdi leads FBS with 934 all-purpose yards, averaging more than 20 yards per game than anyone else. Mahdi averages 186.8 all-purpose yards per game via rushing, receiving and returning, and the player closest to challenging him, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, averages 165.4 yards per game.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersIn the Bobcats' 50-36 win over Southern Miss on Saturday to kick off Sun Belt Conference play, Mahdi returned the opening kick 100 yards for a touchdown. He added 38 more return yards plus 89 rushing and 89 receiving yards to his tally for 316 all-purpose yards, plus three rushing scores to lead the Bobcats to victory. Mahdi's opening kickoff return touchdown was the first for Texas State since Willard Dearing did...

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey puts his myriad skills on display in four-touchdown game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey has been on the 49ers 19 days shy of a calendar year and it’s hard to remember life without him.McCaffrey has done some remarkable things since he arrived from the Carolina Panthers last Oct. 20 in exchange for four draft picks, but he broke new ground in Sunday’s 35-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.“It was a good day,” McCaffrey said.Good as in 106 yards on 20 carries and touchdowns runs of 1, 18 and 2 yards. Good as in seven receptions for 71 yards and a 6-yard touchdown from Brock Purdy. Good as in 11 first downs. McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 13 straight games, but never more than two.Had coach Kyle Shanahan been paying attention, McCaffrey could have joined Jerry Rice in 1990 and Ricky Watters in 1993 in the playoffs with five. Instead, Purdy finished off the scoring for the 49ers with a 1-yard sneak.“That would have been nice,” McCaffrey said as a smile split his face. &#...

Point Reyes: Search underway for missing swimmer following reports of shark attack off of Wildcat Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:44 GMT

POINT REYES — A search is underway after the U.S Coast Guard received reports Sunday morning that an individual was attacked by a shark and pulled under the water.A Coast Guard spokesperson told the Mercury News that they received calls about an alleged attack off of Wildcat Beach around 10:40 a.m. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Marin County Fire Department and the National Park Service have been engaged in a search and rescue mission since then.At 4:06 p.m., the Point Reyes National Seashore account posted on social media that they were still searching for the individual.The search continues for a missing person last seen in the water at Wildcat Beach this morning. On scene are personnel from NPS, Marin County/ Stinson Beach Fire, engines and UTVs, Reach 3 medical helicopter and a US Coast Guard helicopter and Cutter.— Point Reyes NPS (@PointReyesNPS) October 1, 2023There have been 210 shark attacks and incidents — 15 of them resulting in fatalities R...