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US hiring cools but employers still add 209,000 jobs in sign of resilient economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER (AP Economics Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers pulled back on hiring in June but still delivered another month of solid job gains, evidence of a durable economy that has defied persistent forecasts of a recession. The latest sign of economic strength — a gain of 209,000 jobs last month — makes it all but certain that the Federal Reserve will resume its interest rate hikes later this month after having ended a streak of 10 rate increases that were intended to curb high inflation.The June hiring figure reported by the government Friday is the smallest in 2 1/2 years but still pointed to a healthy labor market that has produced a historically high number of advertised openings. The unemployment rate fell from 3.7% to 3.6%, near a five-decade low.Yet there were also signs in Friday’s report that the job market is cooling to a more sustainable pace of growth — a trend that, if sustained, could reassure the Fed that it...

Knicks castaway Obi Toppin lauded as ideal for ‘fast team’ Pacers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

The run-and-gun Pacers see a perfect fit for two players who got away from the Knicks.Although the Obi Toppin trade is not yet official, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle alluded to the acquisition as a boost to his team’s preferred rapid pace.“One of the statistics we happened upon — we have another deal that’s in the works that we can’t really talk about — but the rumored player in that deal [Toppin] is the No. 1 player in effective field-goal percentage in transition,” said Carlisle, who was referencing the combined percentages of the last two seasons. “And No. 2 is Tyrese [Haliburton]. And No. 3 is Bruce Brown. So our management team has done a great job of adding a couple of great pieces to what our identity is — a fast team.”Carlisle was speaking at the introductory press conference of Brown, who revealed Thursday that he took free agency meetings with only the Knicks and Pacers.The Knicks, restrained by their salary cap si...

Here comes another heat wave San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Another heat wave is on the way for San Diego County, with the National Weather Service saying it could be prolonged and warmer, even for the coast.The heat wave will begin to build next week for the inland area and is expected to expand near the coast, according NWS. The excessive heat will especially affect the inland valleys, mountains and deserts.Between July 10-18, weather officials are anticipating above average temperatures throughout the region. NWS says temperatures could reach record levels during this timeframe. Encinitas residents frustrated over limited parking The warming trend comes as high pressure centered over northern Mexico and southern New Mexico starts to gradually strengthen and move westward, weather officials explained.By the middle of next week, NWS says temperatures could be five to 10 degrees above average, with the lower deserts experiencing the most heat. For the coastal areas, weather officials explained that temperatures may warm due to...

8-year-old girl in ‘life-threatening condition’ after deadly school car crash in Wimbledon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

LONDON (AP) — An 8-year-old girl is in life-threatening condition in a hospital following a car crash at an elementary school in Wimbledon that claimed the life of another girl of the same age, London police said Friday.The Metropolitan Police also said a woman in her 40s is in critical condition following the crash Thursday in southwest London.A Land Rover crashed through a fence and hit a building at the Study Preparatory School for girls aged between 4 and 11.Police said the crash, which occurred while the children were having an end-of-year party in the garden, was not terror-related.The Met said a woman arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released on bail pending further investigation until later in the month. She was also taken to a hospital but her life was not in danger, police said. It was unclear whether she was still hospitalized.A number of other people, including a 7-month-old girl, were also taken to the hospital but were not in critica...

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu advances to third round at Wimbledon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu defeated 26th-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7) Friday in a second-round Wimbledon match that featured major momentum swings.Andreescu looked like she was heading for a routine victory after winning the first set and going up a break early in the second.R3 FOR BIANCABianca Andreescu is through to the 3rd round of #Wimbledon for the first time. Andreescu comes back from 2-5 down in the third set to defeat Kalinina. pic.twitter.com/7fm1aX8eGq— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) July 7, 2023However, Kalinina later broke back to even the second set at 4-4, and picked up another break in the deciding game to even the match at a set apiece.The Ukrainian had a break and a hold to go up 5-2 in the third set, but Andreescu stormed back to force a tiebreaker.Andreescu raced out to a 9-3 lead in the tiebreaker, but Kalinina saved four match points before the Canadian finally prevailed.Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., will next face the winner of a m...

6 charged in alleged straw donor scheme to help get Eric Adams elected New York City mayor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Six people were charged Friday in an alleged scheme to divert tens of thousands of dollars in public funds to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign months before his election.The indictment announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg does not implicate Adams or any other city employees. Rather, it describes a straw donor scheme orchestrated by individuals with business before the city who hoped to maximize their donations to the future mayor in exchange for political favors.“We allege a deliberate scheme to game the system in a blatant attempt to gain power,” Bragg said in a statement. “The New York City Campaign Finance Board program is meant to support our democracy and amplify the voices of New York City voters. When the integrity of that program is corrupted, all New Yorkers suffer.”Prosecutors said the scheme was led by Dwayne Montgomery, a former NYPD inspector currently listed as the director of integrity for the Teamsters Local 237, which represen...

Bell Media brands urge readers to download apps as Meta, Google block news

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

TORONTO — Some of Bell Media’s news brands are urging their social media followers to download their apps as Meta and Google move away from linking to Canadian news sites.CTV and BNN Bloomberg issued Instagram statements recommending people seeking their news look directly on their websites or visit their apps.CBC News prodded readers to make a similar move earlier this week.Other media companies including Toronto Star owner Torstar Corp., TVA and Videotron owner Quebecor Inc. and broadcaster Cogeco Inc. have suspended advertising on Meta’s platforms. The federal government, as well as the province of Quebec and the City of Montreal, said they plan to do the same.The moves come after Parliament last month passed the Online News Act, which will force digital giants to pay media outlets for  content they share or repurpose on their platforms when the act comes into effect later this year.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2023.—Meta funds a...

S&P/TSX composite up in late-morning trading as oil rises, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

TORONTO — Gains by the energy and base metal stocks helped lift Canada’s main stock index higher in late-morning trading as commodity prices rose and U.S. stock markets put in a mixed showing.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 58.44 points at 19,869.13.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 50.24 points at 33,872.02. The S&P 500 index was up 0.88 of a point at 4,412.47, while the Nasdaq composite was up 33.24 points at 13,712.28.The Canadian dollar traded for 75.21 cents US compared with 74.92 cents US on Thursday.The August crude oil contract was up US$1.14 at US$72.94 per barrel and the August natural gas contract was up four cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was up US$22.30 at US$1,937.70 an ounce and the September copper contract was up five cents at US$3.78 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

What will it take to stop Jersey Shore town from bulldozing its beach? $12M in fines hasn’t done it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. (AP) — Not even $12 million worth of fines is enough to stop a Jersey Shore town from bulldozing sand on its beach to bolster eroded spots in defiance of state environmental officials.The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection says North Wildwood once again carried out unauthorized repairs to its eroding dunes, most recently on June 5 without state approval and in violation of a February court order imposed by a judge trying to sort out the decade-long sand storm between the two parties.On Thursday, DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette wrote to North Wildwood officials offering one final attempt to resolve the matter without imposing additional penalties, and warning that the city’s conduct jeopardizes funding for future beach protection projects.Describing himself as “perplexed” by North Wildwood’s actions, LaTourette wrote that the city “has repeatedly engaged in destructive and illegal conduct in the name of tourism and, supposedly, public...

‘Missed opportunity’ for Canada at summit on climate reform of developing world loans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:11 GMT

OTTAWA — Foreign-aid and climate advocates say Ottawa needs to do much more to help developing countries brace for climate chaos without going broke, after Canada’s uninspiring contribution to a summit last month that aimed at reforming global finance.French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the summit in Paris, convening leaders from Africa and small island states, along with rich countries and financial institutions.The New Global Financing Pact was intended to start transforming the systems developing countries use to take on debt, seek bailouts and pay off loans, such as through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.The meeting came as countries across the developing world face devastating natural disasters, pandemics and inflation that have made them unable to pay back loans, with little funding left to fulfil their pledges to protect biodiversity.Caroline Brouillette, the head of Climate Action Network Canada, said the multilateral development banks aren̵...