«SFGate» (sfgate.com)

The U.S. housing market slump dragged into its fourth year in 2025, as sales remained stuck at a 30-year low with rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates keeping many prospective home shoppers shut out of the market. The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that sales of previously occupied U.S. homes totaled 4.06 million last year, flat versus 2024, when sales sank to the lowest level since 1995. The median national home price for all of last year rose 1.7% to $414,400, the NAR said. Читать дальше...

Lawyers for Nexperia and its Chinese owners have faced off in an Amsterdam courtroom over alleged corporate mismanagement. The case has sent shock waves through the global auto industry. The Dutch government effectively seized control of Nexperia in late September, citing national security concerns. This led to the replacement of its Chinese CEO Zhang Xuezheng. Lawyers for Zhang and Wingtech argued against an investigation, claiming they were blindsided by the Dutch move. Beijing temporarily blocked Nexperia chip exports in October... Читать дальше...

Lebanese authorities have arrested a Syrian citizen suspected of sending money to fighters loyal to former Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syria. Judicial officials say Ahmad Dunia was detained recently in Byblos, north of Beirut. He is being questioned over alleged links to Assad’s cousin Rami Makhlouf and a former Syrian army general. Dunia is described as the "financial arm" of Makhlouf, allegedly sending money to pro-Assad fighters in Syria’s coastal region. The arrest follows a Syrian security delegation's visit to Beirut... Читать дальше...

Wall Street is seeing positive results as big banks report increased profits. Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo have all shown strong earnings. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan says the U.S. economy remains resilient despite risks. However, tensions with the White House are rising. President Donald Trump is pushing to cap credit card interest rates at 10%, which banks oppose. They argue it would limit credit access and harm the economy. Despite these challenges, consumer spending and financial health metrics remain stable... Читать дальше...

President Donald Trump says that NATO should help the U.S. acquire Greenland and anything less than having the island in U.S. hands is unacceptable. His comments in a social media post Wednesday came hours before Vice President JD Vance was to host Danish and Greenlandic officials for talks. Trump argues that NATO should support the U.S. in acquiring Greenland to prevent Russian or Chinese influence. Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, is strategically important due to potential trade routes and mineral resources. Читать дальше...

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin has been notified that the Trump administration is investigating her after she organized and appeared in a video with other Democrats urging military service members to resist “illegal orders.” A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the matter to The Associated Press. The source was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Slotkin first posted the video on her X account in November. The inquiry marks another escalation in President Donald Trump’s reaction... Читать дальше...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Beijing, aiming to repair relations with China. It marks the first visit by a Canadian leader to China in nearly a decade. Carney plans to meet with Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping. China’s state media urged Canada to pursue a foreign policy independent of the United States. Carney is focused on trade, seeking new partnerships to reduce economic reliance on the U.S. Relations between Canada and China have been strained since 2018, with tariffs and diplomatic tensions. Читать дальше...

The avant-noise artist Kim Gordon debuted solo music 10 years ago. At that point, she was many decades into an established career as a revolutionary force in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth and the ’80s New York no wave scene. In the time since, she's released two solo albums. That includes 2024's “The Collective,” which earned Gordon her first Grammy nominations. She will release a third solo album titled “Play Me” on March 13. It is a beat-heavy provocation anchored with the unmistakable rasp of her deadpan intonations. Читать дальше...

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he expects President Donald Trump to interfere with the midterm elections. Schumer also says Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in major cities create chaos that voters will reject. In an interview with The Associated Press, Schumer argues economic concerns are solidifying among voters and he says Democrats plan to focus their campaign on costs, chaos and corruption linked to Trump's Republican administration. Schumer believes Democrats have a path to a Senate majority... Читать дальше...

Lawyers for former Colorado elections clerk Tina Peters will try to convince a state appeals court to overturn her conviction. Wednesday's hearing comes as her supporters, including President Donald Trump, continue to pressure the state to set her free. Peters was convicted of state crimes for orchestrating a data breach of Mesa County’s elections equipment, driven by false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential election. She is serving a nine-year prison sentence. Peters’ release... Читать дальше...