U.S. consumer confidence slumped to the lowest level in more than 11-1/2 years in January amid mounting anxiety over a sluggish labor market and high prices, which could see households becoming more cautious about spending. The surprise deterioration in confidence reported by the Conference Board on Tuesday was across political...
Trump Says US Won’t Help Iraq if It Picks Maliki as Prime Minister
President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Iraq against picking Nouri al-Maliki as its prime minister, saying the United States would no longer help the Middle Eastern country. "I'm hearing that the Great Country of Iraq might make a very bad choice by reinstalling Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister," Trump wrote...
Kern County Fire Department Seeks Public’s Help in a Bakersfield Arson Investigation
The Kern County Fire Department is asking the public for help identifying two people connected to an arson fire that occurred on Sterling Road in east Bakersfield. The fire happened on Saturday. The department’s Investigation Unit released a statement Tuesday seeking tips from anyone with information about the incident or...
US Has Told Ukraine It Must Sign Peace Deal With Russia to Get Security Guarantees, Source Says
The United States has told Ukraine that it must sign on to a peace deal with Russia in order to get U.S. security guarantees, a source familiar with internal discussions told Reuters on Tuesday. U.S. security guarantees are considered by Ukraine as the linchpin for any settlement ending Russia's four-year-old ...
Fresno Councilmembers Propose Making Government Contracts More Transparent
Miguel Arias is picking up fellow Fresno City Councilmember Brandon Vang’s push to make city contracts more transparent. The lawmaking duo will introduce a resolution at Thursday's city council meeting that would post consultant contracts and other economic disclosures on a single city webpage. The measure also requires additional disclosures...
India, EU Reach Landmark Trade Deal, Tariffs to Be Slashed on Most Goods
India and the European Union struck a long‑delayed deal on Tuesday that will slash tariffs on most goods, aiming to boost two‑way trade and reduce reliance on the United States amid growing global trade tensions. The deal is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs in...
Trump Says He Wants ‘Honest Investigation’ of Alex Pretti’s Killing
President Donald Trump promised a “very honorable and honest investigation” into the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, but again cast blame on him for carrying the legally permitted weapon that was seized from him before he was fatally shot. “You can’t walk in with guns,” Trump...
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Corporate Earnings Roll In, Medicare Rates Hit Insurers
The S&P 500 touched a record high and angled for its fifth advance in a row on Tuesday with a mixed reception for the latest earnings reports and a steep selloff in health insurers countering optimism ahead of megacap reports. UnitedHealth led losses in healthcare stocks and in the Dow...
Dollar Sinks to Four-Year Low as Intervention Risk Lifts Yen
The U.S. dollar sank to a near four-year low against a basket of currencies on Tuesday, as traders kept watch for possible coordinated currency intervention by U.S. and Japanese authorities and this week's Federal Reserve interest rate decision. The dollar has been under intense pressure this month from factors including...
US House Democratic Leaders Threaten Noem With Impeachment
Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday said if Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is not fired "immediately," they will begin impeachment proceedings against her. "The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith. Kristi Noem should be fired immediately,...