Reuters, Author at Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Trump vows to rename Denali as Mt McKinley

Reuters — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 01:47:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday he will rename Denali, Alaska natives’ name for North America’s tallest mountain, after William McKinley, the 25th U.S. president who was assassinated in 1901.

Police: Woman killed when set on fire on New York subway train

Reuters — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 01:39:00 +0000

NEW YORK >> Police arrested a man they said set a woman on fire while she appeared to be asleep on a New York City subway train on Sunday morning, killing her.

Suspect in German Christmas market attack held on murder charges

Reuters — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000

MAGDEBURG, Germany >> A man suspected of ploughing a car through crowds at a German Christmas market in an attack that killed five people and injured scores faces multiple charges of murder and attempted murder, police said on Sunday.

Trump threatens to retake control of Panama Canal unless deal reached

Reuters — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 22:31:00 +0000

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida >> President-elect Donald Trump threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal on Sunday, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage and drawing a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.

Starbucks workers expand strike in U.S. cities, including New York

Reuters — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 22:05:00 +0000

Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more U.S. cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.

Israeli strikes kill 17 in Gaza; hospital told to evacuate

Reuters — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 12:22:00 +0000

CAIRO, Egypt >> Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 17 Palestinians, eight of them at a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, medics said, as the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of a hospital in the north.

Death toll in German Christmas market attack rises to 5, over 200 hurt

Reuters — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 12:41:00 +0000

MAGDEBURG, Germany >> At least five people were killed in a car-ramming attack at a German Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg that also left more than 200 injured, officials said, and a Saudi man was arrested on suspicion of driving a car into the crowd.

Democrat accuses GOP of protecting Musk’s Chinese investments

Reuters — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> The top Democrat on the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee said today that Republicans in Congress were protecting Elon Musk’s Chinese investments by scrapping provisions restricting U.S. investments.

Stocks rally after inflation data but close lower for the week

Reuters — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

NEW YORK >> U.S. stocks rallied to close out the trading week today after two lackluster sessions as a cooler-than-expected inflation report and comments from Federal Reserve officials eased worries about the path of interest rates.

New weight-loss treatment becomes first FDA-approved drug for sleep apnea

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 23:40:00 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration today approved Eli Lilly’s weight-loss treatment, Zepbound, for obstructive sleep apnea, making it the first drug greenlighted to directly treat patients with the common sleeping disorder.

Consumer spending solid; inflation showing progress as year ends

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 21:20:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> U.S. consumer spending increased in November amid strong demand for a range of goods and services, underscoring the economy’s resilience, which saw the Federal Reserve this week projecting fewer interest rate cuts in 2025 than it had in September.

Starbucks workers’ union goes on strike in 3 major cities

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Some members of the workers’ union representing over 10,000 baristas at Starbucks began a five-day strike at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle starting today, citing unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules.

Senate passes funding bill, averts government shutdown

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilizing government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

Bird flu drives egg prices to all-time highs before Christmas

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:30:00 +0000

U.S. wholesale egg prices are shattering records as an accelerating outbreak of bird flu in laying hens slashes supplies while shoppers buy more to bake Christmas cookies and other holiday treats.

Elon Musk gives nod to German far-right party

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Billionaire Elon Musk, set to join President-elect Donald Trump’s administration as an outside adviser, waded into Germany’s election campaign today, calling the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) the country’s savior.

Starbucks workers’ union plans to strike in 3 U.S. cities

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 04:45:00 +0000

The workers’ union representing more than 10,000 baristas at Starbucks said its members will strike at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle on Friday morning, citing unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules.

FedEx to spin off its freight trucking business

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

FedEx announced the much-anticipated spinoff of its freight trucking division today, as it restructures its operations to focus on its core delivery business.

Deportations jumped in fiscal 2024, outpacing Trump years

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> U.S. deportations of immigrants rose in the past year to the highest level since 2014, according to a U.S. government report released today, part of a broader push by outgoing President Joe Biden to reduce illegal immigration.

Nick Dunlap named PGA Tour rookie of the year

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 22:00:00 +0000

Nick Dunlap, who became the first player to win as an amateur and a professional in the same season, has been named the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year for the 2024 season, the U.S.-based circuit said today.

Trump-backed spending deal fails in House, shutdown approaches

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:30:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> A spending bill backed by Donald Trump failed in the U.S. House of Representatives today as dozens of Republicans defied the president-elect, leaving Congress with no clear plan to avert a fast-approaching government shutdown that could disrupt Christmas travel.

FAA bans drones over New Jersey utility sites

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> The Federal Aviation Administration today said it was temporarily barring drone flights over 22 utility locations in New Jersey amid public concern.

Amazon workers strike at seven U.S. facilities

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO >> Amazon.com workers at seven U.S. facilities walked off the job early today during the holiday shopping rush as workers protest what they say is the retailing giant’s unfair treatment of its employees.

China’s Xi urges bigger international role for gambling hub Macau

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:12:00 +0000

MACAU >> China’s President Xi Jinping said Macau should “keep up with the trend of the times” and play a bigger role on the international stage, as he urged the world’s biggest gambling hub to never be complacent and show “courage” to change and innovate.

Georgia court disqualifies Fani Willis in Trump election case

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:30:00 +0000

A Georgia appeals court ruled today that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must be disqualified from prosecuting President-elect Donald Trump and several of his allies for attempting to interfere in the 2020 election in the U.S. state.

Putin denies Russian defeat in Syria, plans to meet Assad

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:43:00 +0000

MOSCOW >> Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia had not been defeated in Syria and that Moscow had made proposals to the new rulers in Damascus to maintain Russia’s military bases there.

Girl, 14, among those killed in Wisconsin school shooting

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 04:00:00 +0000

A 14-year-old girl and a teacher at her private Christian school were named by Wisconsin authorities on Wednesday night as the victims of a school shooter earlier this week.

Seoul: At least 100 North Korean troops killed in Ukraine

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 02:50:00 +0000

SEOUL >> At least 100 North Korean troops deployed to Russia have been killed with another 1,000 injured in combat against Ukrainian forces in intense fighting in the Kursk region, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday citing the country’s spy agency.

U.S. sues CVS over alleged illegal opioid prescriptions

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit today accusing pharmacy chain CVS of filling illegal opioid prescriptions and billing federal health insurance programs, contributing to a nationwide epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose.

Powell says Fed cannot hold bitcoin, not seeking to change that

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:03:00 +0000

NEW YORK >> Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank has no desire to be involved in any government effort to stockpile large amounts of bitcoin.

Apple hits out at Meta’s numerous interoperability requests

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BRUSSELS >> Apple today hit out at Meta Platforms, saying its numerous requests to access the iPhone maker’s software tools for its devices could impact users’ privacy and security, underscoring the intense rivalry between the two tech giants.

Australian search and rescue teams arrive in quake-hit Vanuatu

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:53:00 +0000

SYDNEY >> Australian rescue and medical teams have reached Vanuatu, authorities said on Thursday, to help efforts to save people trapped under collapsed buildings after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed at least 14 people and injured hundreds.

U.S. to extend airbag probe rather than require vehicle recall

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:35:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday it will not seek an immediate recall of airbag inflators in about 50 million U.S. vehicles assembled by 13 automakers and instead will conduct further investigation.

Amazon workers to strike at multiple U.S. warehouses

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 22:20:00 +0000

Thousands of Amazon.com workers will walk off the job on Thursday at 6 a.m. ET (1 a.m. Hawaii time), in the crucial final days of the holiday season, after union officials said the retailer failed to come to the bargaining table.

Wall Street tumbles over 1,100 points on Fed projection

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:40:00 +0000

NEW YORK >> Wall Street closed sharply lower today, with the Dow falling over 1,100 points after the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a rate cut as expected but signaled it will ease the pace of further cuts in the coming year.

Musk: Congress should not vote to extend funding

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> Elon Musk, tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to prune the federal government, today pressured Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap spending bill, which would trigger a partial government shutdown.

U.S. suffers 1st severe human case of bird flu; California declares emergency

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:38:00 +0000

The U.S. reported its first severe human case of bird flu today in a Louisiana resident who is hospitalized in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock.

Fed lowers key rate quarter-point; sees slower pace of cuts

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:08:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >. The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates a quarter percentage point today and signaled it will slow the pace at which borrowing costs fall any further, given a relatively stable unemployment rate and little recent improvement in inflation.

Trump pushes for FBI probe of Liz Cheney over Jan. 6 panel

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 19:05:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump today backed a call for the FBI to investigate fellow Republican former congresswoman Liz Cheney over her role in leading Congress’s probe of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.

Japan breaks annual visitor record in 11 months

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

TOKYO >> Japan set a new annual record for visitor arrivals with one month to spare, official data showed on Wednesday, as the weak yen helped propel the nation’s tourism boom.

Luigi Mangione indicted for murder in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

Reuters — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 23:16:00 +0000

NEW YORK >> Luigi Mangione sought to “sow terror” by shooting dead UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street this month, a New York prosecutor said today in announcing Mangione had been indicted for murder.