The departure of the chief executive of Dubai port giant DP World is the biggest fallout in the Middle East from U.S. Department of Justice documents which show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein tried to build a powerful network of political figures and business leaders across the region. DP World announced on...
Tree Blocks Road, Cuts Phone Lines in Merced County
A tree has fallen, blocking both lanes of El Capitan Way at Pepper Street in Merced County, the California Highway Patrol said Thursday. Phone and communication lines in the area are also down. Authorities urged drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes while crews respond. Updates are available...
How China Plans to Dominate Global Trade Long after Trump
BEIJING, Feb 19 - China sees an opening to turn President Donald Trump's tariffs to its advantage by reshaping global trade in ways that would insulate its $19 trillion economy from U.S. pressure far into the future. Beijing is exploiting the uncertainty created by Trump to try to stitch China's...
Merced County Traffic Impacted by Downed Power Poles
Several power poles are down and blocking the roadway at Snelling Road and La Paloma Road in Merced County on Thursday, authorities said. The California Highway Patrol in Merced reported the roadway is currently impacted and advised motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes while crews work to...
Where the US Is Building Up Military Force Near Iran
In recent weeks, the U.S. military has built up forces close to Iran, in what President Donald Trump has referred to as an “armada.” Trump is now deciding whether to take military action against Iran as soon as this weekend, officials said. But unlike last June, when the United States...
Uber Moves to Enact Stricter Background Checks for Drivers
Uber is taking steps to enact stricter background checks, after a New York Times investigation in December revealed that the ride-hailing giant’s policies allowed for drivers with many types of criminal convictions, including violent felonies. The company had barred drivers convicted of murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and terrorism. But in...
Chain Control in Effect on Highway 168 Near Lower Vista, CHP Says
Chain control restrictions are in place on Highway 168 in the four-lane section near Lower Vista at approximately 1,500 feet in elevation, according to the California Highway Patrol in Fresno on Thursday. Officials urged drivers heading into the mountains to ensure their vehicles are properly equipped for snowy conditions. While...
Trump Tells First Meeting of Board of Peace That $7 Billion Raised for Gaza
President Donald Trump told the first meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday that nations had contributed $7 billion to a Gaza reconstruction fund that aims to rebuild the enclave once Hamas disarms, an objective that is far from becoming a reality. The disarmament of Hamas militants and accompanying...
Oil Prices Rise 2% to Six-Month High on Concern Over Potential US-Iran Conflict
Oil prices rose about 2% on Thursday to their highest in six months, as traders worried about tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which stepped up military activity in the oil-producing Middle East. Brent futures were up $1.23, or 1.8%, to $71.58 a barrel at 1551 GMT. U.S. West Texas...
Bernie Sanders Warns of ‘Billionaire Class’ as California Wealth Tax Fight Intensifies
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders delivered a fiery warning to what he called the “billionaire class” at a rally Wednesday in Los Angeles in support of a tax initiative that would target California’s wealthiest residents. “The billionaire class no...