Castelli's 21 leads Ponaganset past South Kingstown in return to Division I girls hoops

Associated Press
The Latest: Three of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks face Senate hearings
Three of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks prepared to face skepticism and intense grilling from Democratic senators during their confirmation hearings Thursday. 1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s second hearing: Kennedy will have the second of two confirmation hearings for his Health and Human Services Secretary nomination.
USA TODAY
RFK Jr., Patel and Gabbard: Trump nominees face high-stakes day at confirmation hearings
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel are each set to appear before lawmakers during a pivotal day of confirmation hearings Thursday.
AFP
Fury over prices in Croatia sparks growing retailer boycotts
Fed up with paying ever increasing prices at grocery stores and shopping outlets, Croatians have begun channeling their anger into a nascent boycott movement targeting retailers that shows signs of spreading across the Balkans.Croatians were also urged to avoid deliveries, banks, restaurants and cafes this Friday along with shopping online, paying bills or buying fuel for a day-long protest.
Reuters
Autonomous technology startup Avride partners with Grubhub to roll out food delivery robots
Autonomous technology startup Avride said on Thursday it has partnered with food delivery company Grubhub to deploy its robots on college campuses across the United States. Companies and colleges began testing sidewalk delivery robots after the pandemic started, aiming to address labor shortages, cut costs, and reduce dependence on cars for deliveries. Avride's first fleet of 100 robots is active at Ohio State University, where it also plans to introduce its next-generation models, the startup said.
Reuters
Lagarde's statement after ECB policy meeting
The Governing Council today decided to lower the three key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points. In particular, the decision to lower the deposit facility rate – the rate through which we steer the monetary policy stance – is based on our updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission.
USA TODAY
What's in the Gulf of Mexico? Meet its 'Hot Tub of Despair' and ancient corals.
You might be hearing about the gulf off the coast of the U.S. and Mexico. Here's what to know about the body of water the size of Alaska.
Yahoo Finance
Oracle debuts new AI agents as artificial intelligence war enters next battle
Oracle debuted its latest AI agent services as the AI wars turn toward automation.
AFP
El Salvador merchants no longer obliged to accept bitcoin
Merchants in El Salvador, the first country to make bitcoin legal tender, will no longer be obliged to accept the cryptocurrency as payment, under a reform adopted to comply with conditions for an international loan.The IMF had said the loan was "to address balance of payment needs and support the government’s economic reforms."
AFP
Israel cuts ties with UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel cut ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday after accusing it of providing cover for Hamas militants, a move likely to hamper its vital services after 15 months of war in Gaza.UNRWA has provided support for Palestinian refugees around the Middle East for more than 70 years, but has long clashed with Israeli officials, who have repeatedly accused it of undermining the country's security.
Reuters
Morocco stops German feed grain imports over foot-and-mouth disease
Morocco has halted imports of feed grains from Germany following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the head of Morocco's grain trade federation (FNCL) said on Thursday. The import suspension affected "all untreated plant-based feed intended for animal consumption from Germany due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak there," Omar Yacoubi told Reuters. A source at Morocco's food safety agency ONSSA confirmed that plant-based imports from Germany for animal feed had been "suspended" until Germany is declared free of foot and mouth again or certifies local regions that are free of the disease.
AFP
'I'm out of here': French town braces for rising floods
Floods had nearly encircled and seeped into a French town on Thursday, with officials warning that one nearby river could reach historic levels in coming days.The Vilaine river's level was on Thursday morning hovering just below that of historic floods in 2001, but was expected to rise further during the day, official alert body Vigicrues reported.
The Conversation
Why Trump’s meme coin is a cash grab
Roughly 80% of the coin supply will be distributed to its founders over the course of three years – and that could leave everyday investors holding the bag.
AFP
ECB cuts rate again as eurozone falters, with eye on Trump
The European Central Bank made a fresh interest rate cut Thursday as inflation eases and the eurozone economy flatlines, with a nervous eye on US President Donald Trump's protectionist agenda.The central bank cut its benchmark deposit rate by a further quarter point to 2.75 percent on Thursday, its fifth reduction since June last year and a move widely expected by observers.
Reuters
Holocaust survivor to return German award over far-right role in parliamentary vote
A 99-year-old Holocaust survivor said on Thursday he would return his federal order of merit award to the German state in protest over a parliamentary vote in which support from the far-right was used for the first time to secure a majority. Germany's main opposition conservatives, who are tipped to win a national election on Feb. 23, pushed through parliament on Wednesday a motion calling for a drastic crackdown on migration with the help of votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is polling in second place. Though the motion is non-binding, the AfD's role in passing it was symbolically important.
Associated Press
Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits last week as labor market shows continued strength
The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits fell last week in a sign that the labor market remains strong. Applications for jobless benefits fell by 16,000 to 207,000 for the week ending January 25, the Labor Department said Thursday. Analysts were expecting 225,000 new applications.
Yahoo Finance
American Airlines CEO ‘absolutely heartbroken’ after DC crash involving 64 passengers and crew, no survivors expected
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom on Thursday morning expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of those aboard a flight that collided with a military helicopter Wednesday night.
The Wall Street Journal
U.S. GDP Grew 2.5% in 2024
The U.S. economy grew 2.5% last year, slower than in 2023 but still at a solid pace thanks to strong spending by American consumers buoyed by low unemployment.
Reuters
France's Le Pen condemns death threats against those trying her
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Thursday said those behind death threats against a judge and prosecutors trying her in a graft trial should be punished, in her first comments on a police investigation into the abuse. Reuters reported this week that police are investigating threats against a judge and two prosecutors in the trial, which could derail Le Pen's hopes of running in the 2027 presidential vote where polls have her as frontrunner. Lead prosecutors Louise Neyton and Nicolas Barret have asked for a five-year ban from public office for Le Pen.
Associated Press
U.S. economy grows solid 2.3% from October to December, 2.8% for full year 2024
The American economy ended 2024 on a solid note with consumer spending continuing to drive growth. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that gross domestic product — the economy's output of goods and services — expanded at a 2.3% annual rate from October through December. Consumer spending grew at a 4.2% pace, fastest since January-March 2023 and up from 3.7% in July-September last year.
Yahoo Finance
GDP: US economy grows at slower-than-expected pace in fourth quarter
The latest reading on US economic growth and inflation comes as investors debate when, or if, the Federal Reserve will resume cutting interest rates in 2025.

Castelli's 21 leads Ponaganset past South Kingstown in return to Division I girls hoops

Division I

North Kingstown 53, Bay View 52

Division II

North Providence 32, Prout 19

Non-league

Somerset-Berkley 50, Mt. Hope 33

Latest Stories

The Latest: Three of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks face Senate hearings

RFK Jr., Patel and Gabbard: Trump nominees face high-stakes day at confirmation hearings

Fury over prices in Croatia sparks growing retailer boycotts

Autonomous technology startup Avride partners with Grubhub to roll out food delivery robots

Lagarde's statement after ECB policy meeting

What's in the Gulf of Mexico? Meet its 'Hot Tub of Despair' and ancient corals.

Oracle debuts new AI agents as artificial intelligence war enters next battle

El Salvador merchants no longer obliged to accept bitcoin

Israel cuts ties with UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Morocco stops German feed grain imports over foot-and-mouth disease

'I'm out of here': French town braces for rising floods

Why Trump’s meme coin is a cash grab

ECB cuts rate again as eurozone falters, with eye on Trump

Holocaust survivor to return German award over far-right role in parliamentary vote

Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits last week as labor market shows continued strength

American Airlines CEO ‘absolutely heartbroken’ after DC crash involving 64 passengers and crew, no survivors expected

U.S. GDP Grew 2.5% in 2024

France's Le Pen condemns death threats against those trying her

U.S. economy grows solid 2.3% from October to December, 2.8% for full year 2024

GDP: US economy grows at slower-than-expected pace in fourth quarter