Live Updates: All six workers missing after bridge collapse are presumed dead
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A cargo ship lost power and rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse and plunge into the river. Six workers who were repairing potholes on the bridge are missing and presumed dead. The search for the workers has been suspended until Wednesday morning. The bridge, part of I-695, spanned the Patapsco River and was a vital artery for shipping on the East Coast. The cargo ship, called Dali, lost power just before striking a column on the bridge. The ship's operator, Synergy Marine Group, and owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd, have been sued in the past for negligence and worker injuries. The cause of the collapse is under investigation, but terrorism is not suspected. The bridge collapse has disrupted shipping and trucking around the Port of Baltimore, leading to potential delays and shortages of goods. President Joe Biden plans to travel to Baltimore and offer federal resources for the search and rescue efforts. The bridge collapse is a major transportation emergency for Baltimore, and the mayor has declared a state of emergency. The collapse of major bridges due to ship collisions has resulted in 342 deaths worldwide since 1960. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. The bridge was rated as being in fair condition before the collapse. The Baltimore Orioles have canceled a rally and workout event in response to the collapse. The collapse of the bridge has caused traffic disruptions and warnings of delays. The ship involved in the collision, the Dali, was inspected in 2023 and found to have no deficiencies. The collapse of the bridge has led to concerns about the impact on supply chains and potential shortages of goods. The head of a supply chain management company warns of disruptions to ocean container shipping and East Coast trucking logistics. The collapse of the bridge has prompted offers of assistance from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and President Joe Biden. The collapse of the bridge is a developing mass casualty event, with at least two people pulled from the water and several others still missing. The bridge collapse is a major blow to transportation and commerce in the area. The collapse of the bridge is a tragic and unforeseen event, and the search and rescue efforts are ongoing. The collapse of the bridge has raised questions about the safety of bridges and the need for pier protection. The collapse of the bridge is a significant loss for the community, and the rebuilding process will be challenging. The collapse of the bridge has led to a state of shock and grief in Maryland. The collapse of the bridge has disrupted vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore. The collapse of the bridge has caused a decline in Maersk shares. The collapse of the bridge is being investigated by federal authorities, and there is no evidence of terrorism. The collapse of the bridge has prompted President Joe Biden to offer federal resources for the search and rescue efforts. The collapse of the bridge has resulted in the closure of all lanes on I-695 Key Bridge. Emergency responders are searching for at least seven people who are missing. The ship involved in the collision, the Dali, was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The collapse of the bridge is a major transportation emergency for Baltimore, and the mayor has declared a state of emergency. The collapse of the bridge is a developing mass casualty event, with several people still unaccounted for. The collapse of the bridge is a significant loss for the community, and the rebuilding process will be challenging. The collapse of the bridge has disrupted vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore. The collapse of the bridge has caused a decline in Maersk shares. The collapse of the bridge is being investigated by federal authorities, and there is no evidence of terrorism. The collapse of the bridge has prompted President Joe Biden to offer federal resources for the search and rescue efforts. The collapse of the bridge has resulted in the closure of all lanes on I-695 Key Bridge. Emergency responders are searching for at least seven people who are missing. The ship involved in the collision, the Dali, was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

#BridgeCollapse #Baltimore #FrancisScottKeyBridge #CargoShip #SearchAndRescue #SupplyChain #Transportation #Emergency

https://apnews.com/live/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-latest-2024


Chevron manager jailed in Venezuela amid crackdown on government critics
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Alejandro González, a former Venezuelan fighter pilot and employee of U.S. oil firm Chevron, was jailed in Venezuela on February 9, 2024. His arrest came hours after his ex-wife, human rights attorney Rocío San Miguel, was also arrested. The arrests are part of a larger crackdown on dissent by Nicolás Maduro's government, which threatens to unravel a political accord negotiated between Maduro, the Biden administration, and a U.S.-backed opposition coalition. Chevron, the only major U.S. oil company in Venezuela, stated that González's arrest was not related to the company. The arrests have raised concerns about the prospects of free and fair elections in Venezuela.

#Venezuela #Chevron #GovernmentCrackdown #HumanRights #Arrest #Dissent #Elections

https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-chevron-arrest-repression-election-642bd28577e5bf8df7e2ff00173a73a1


Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously approve second law that gives government more power to curb dissent
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Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously approved a new national security law on Tuesday that grants the government more power to quash dissent. The Safeguarding National Security Bill was passed during a special session of the Legislative Council. The law expands the authorities' ability to prosecute citizens for offenses including 'colluding with external forces' to commit illegal acts, as well as charge them with treason, insurrection, espionage, and disclosing state secrets. This law comes on top of a similar security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Critics are concerned that the new law will further erode civil liberties in Hong Kong. The law threatens stringent penalties for a wide range of actions authorities call threats to national security, with the most severe offenses punishable by life imprisonment. Lesser offenses, including the possession of seditious publications, could also lead to several years in jail. The law allows for criminal prosecutions for acts committed anywhere in the world. The legislative process was rushed through, with daily meetings held for a week following an appeal by Hong Kong leader John Lee to push the law through 'at full speed.' The law is set to take effect on Saturday. The passing of the law has been met with criticism from human rights organizations and foreign governments. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced the accelerated adoption of the bill, stating that it is a regressive step for the protection of human rights in Hong Kong. The chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee also condemned China's takeover of Hong Kong's legal, economic, and political system, stating that Hong Kong is no longer a place safe for democracy or global business. Businesspeople and journalists have expressed concerns that the broad law will affect their day-to-day work. The passing of this law marks another step in the political crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong that began with the pro-democracy protests in 2019.

#HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #Dissent #LegislativeCouncil #CivilLiberties #HumanRights #Pro-democracyProtests

https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-china-legislative-council-national-security-law-37e1aca2daef8a4f9f998f389ff3d7f5


Alec Baldwin seeks dismissal of grand jury indictment in fatal shooting of cinematographer
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Defense attorneys for Alec Baldwin are seeking the dismissal of a grand jury indictment against the actor in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie 'Rust' in New Mexico. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter. His attorneys argue that prosecutors unfairly stacked the deck against Baldwin in the grand jury proceedings, preventing the jury from hearing exculpatory evidence and witnesses. The motion also claims that the grand jury received inaccurate and one-sided testimony about the revolver involved in the shooting. The 'Rust' armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted in the shooting and is awaiting sentencing. Baldwin is scheduled for trial in July.

#AlecBaldwin #GrandJuryIndictment #FatalShooting #Cinematographer #Rust #InvoluntaryManslaughter #DefenseAttorneys #Prosecutors #ExculpatoryEvidence #Witnesses #HannahGutierrez-reed #Trial

https://apnews.com/article/baldwin-wants-indictment-dismissed-fatal-shooting-4862eabf74c8121c188a6684dd286f2b


Biden orders US military to set up temporary aid port for Gaza as famine threatens
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President Joe Biden has ordered the U.S. military to establish a temporary port off the coast of Gaza to deliver food and aid to Palestinian civilians affected by the Hamas-Israel war. The announcement was made during Biden's State of the Union speech, where he called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow more aid into Gaza and protect humanitarian workers. The move comes as the U.N. warns of near-famine conditions in Gaza and as efforts to reach a cease-fire before Ramadan appear stalled. The U.S. operation will likely take weeks to become operational and may involve the use of a floating pier. The U.S. is working with international partners, including Cyprus, to establish a maritime sea route for aid deliveries. The Biden administration's decision reflects frustration with Israel's response to calls for increased humanitarian access and protection for civilians in Gaza. The World Food Program reports that only one-fifth of the needed aid trucks entered Gaza in February. Critics argue that the temporary port is an expensive and inefficient solution to the crisis and that the U.S. should use its leverage to influence Israel's conduct in the war.

#Biden #UsMilitary #TemporaryAidPort #Gaza #Famine #Hamas-israelWar #BenjaminNetanyahu #HumanitarianAid #Cease-fire #Ramadan #MaritimeSeaRoute #Cyprus #WorldFoodProgram

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-07-24-5657eedc005040694a9ab935ce3e39e5


Stock market today: Another winning week for Wall Street ends with more records
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Wall Street closed its latest winning week with more gains, pushing U.S. stocks to new heights. The S&P 500 rose 40.81 points, or 0.8%, to 5,137.08 a day after setting an all-time high. It’s been on a tremendous run and has climbed in 16 of the last 18 weeks because of excitement about cooling inflation and a mostly resilient U.S. economy.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #S&p500 #U.s.Stocks #Gains #Inflation #U.s.Economy

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-japan-record-096e6bab846437343ebaabeaf5275ae4


Stock market today: Wall Street drifts lower from record highs reached last week
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Stocks on Wall Street drifted lower, slightly below the record highs reached last week. The S&P 500 slipped 0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Domino’s Pizza reported stronger profit than expected, leading to one of the market's biggest gains. Amazon officially joined the Dow, replacing Walgreens Boots Alliance. Japanese stocks set more records. Treasury yields ticked higher, but the bond market was mostly quiet.

#StockMarket #WallStreet #S&p500 #DowJonesIndustrialAverage #Nasdaq #Domino'sPizza #Amazon #JapaneseStocks #TreasuryYields #BondMarket

https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-inflation-earnings-trading-285393710c170aaff6ede8ec5c7f5e90


What recession? Professional forecasters raise expectations for US economy in 2024
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The U.S. economy is expected to grow 2.2% in 2024, up from the previous prediction of 1.3%. Despite high interest rates, the job market and household spending have remained resilient. Factors behind the upgrade include government and household spending. Economists have also doubled their estimates for job gains this year. Inflation has been cooling since its peak two summers ago, and most forecasters expect interest rate cuts to begin by mid-June. However, high rates are still seen as the most significant risk to the economy, according to a survey by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE).

#UsEconomy #Recession #Forecasters #EconomicGrowth #InterestRates #Inflation #JobMarket #HouseholdSpending #Nabe

https://apnews.com/article/us-economy-recession-forecasters-strength-ed49d9bfa9a26b6301065b990169d387


Russian opposition figure Kara-Murza urges Russians from court not to give up after Navalny's death
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Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent Russian opposition figure serving a 25-year sentence for treason, urged Russians not to give up after the death of Alexei Navalny. Kara-Murza alleged the existence of a state-backed hit squad taking out opponents of President Vladimir Putin. He claimed there were two poisoning attempts against him in 2015 and 2017, and accused the Federal Security Service (FSB) of participating in his poisoning, as well as Navalny's poisoning in 2020 and the surveillance of Boris Nemtsov before his killing in 2015. Other opposition figures are either in prison, abroad, or dead. Navalny's family is campaigning to have his body returned to them, and his mother filed a lawsuit to contest officials' refusal to release his body. Russian authorities have said the cause of Navalny's death is still unknown and have refused to release his body for the next two weeks.

#RussianOpposition #AlexeiNavalny #VladimirPutin #Poisoning #State-backedHitSquad

https://apnews.com/article/russia-navalny-death-d5f54cf2aec6892b489c0c0a3a847efc


Robots and happy workers: Productivity surge helps explain US economy's surprising resilience
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Chronic worker shortages in the US have led many companies to invest in machines to do the work they can't find people to do. Batesville Tool & Die in Indiana struggled to attract factory workers to their community and turned to automation to keep up with customer demand. The productivity surge in the US economy has contributed to its surprising resilience. The article discusses the impact of automation on the workforce and the economy.

#Automation #Productivity #UsEconomy #WorkerShortages

https://apnews.com/article/inflation-pay-economy-productivity-workers-technology-prices-3abfb471535a3a2277a346b2480f8ed7


AP Top Stories February 14 A
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The House votes to impeach Mayorkas. A Democrat is elected in a House district previously represented by George Santos. Negotiators gather to work on an Israel-Hamas cease-fire. A car crashes into a Texas hospital emergency room.

https://apnews.com/video/texas-united-states-house-of-representatives-israel-new-york-austin-42f0c17957354a819165d95f456bc6de


US inflation slows but remains elevated in sign that price pressures are easing only gradually
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Consumer inflation in the United States cooled last month yet remained elevated in the latest sign that the pandemic-fueled price surge is only gradually and fitfully coming under control. The consumer price index rose 0.3% from December to January, up from a 0.2% increase the previous month. Compared with a year ago, prices are up 3.1%. The latest reading is still well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target level. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, core prices climbed 0.4% last month, up from 0.3% in December. On a year-over-year basis, core prices were up 3.9% in January. The drivers of inflation have shifted from goods to services. Fed Chair Jerome Powell singled out persistently high services prices as a concern. The unexpectedly sticky inflation data sent stock and bond prices tumbling. Biden administration officials noted that average hourly pay, adjusted for inflation, rose in January and is 1.4% higher than it was a year earlier. However, the average work week has declined, leaving weekly inflation-adjusted pay slightly lower than it was a year earlier. Economists caution against assigning too much weight to January’s inflation data, noting that many companies impose annual price increases in the first month of the year. Forward-looking data suggests that inflation will continue to cool. The pace of wage growth has slowed, and consumers and business owners expect lower inflation in the coming months and years. Grocery prices rose 0.4% from December to January, the biggest such rise in a year, though compared with 12 months earlier, food prices are up just 1.2%. The costs of services, including auto insurance, apartment rents, and concert tickets, are still rising faster than they did before the pandemic and keeping overall inflation persistently high. The cost of car insurance has soared more than 20% compared with a year ago. Housing costs, particularly the price of home ownership, rose 0.6% from December to January, the biggest one-month jump since April. The Fed raised its key rate 11 times from March 2022 to July of last year in a drive to defeat high inflation. Most economists still think the Fed will start cutting its rate in June from its 22-year-high of roughly 5.4%.

#UsInflation #PricePressures #FederalReserve #Pandemic #Services #Goods

https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174


Recession risks are fading, business economists say, but political tensions pose threat to economy
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Just a quarter of business economists and analysts expect the United States to fall into recession this year. Respondents to a National Association of Business Economics survey expect year-over-year inflation to exceed 2.5% through 2024. Inflation has fallen from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.4% in December. The Fed has stopped raising rates and has signaled that it expects to reduce rates three times this year. Respondents are concerned about the chances of a conflict between China and Taiwan, conflict in the Middle East driving oil prices above $90 a barrel, and political instability in the United States before or after the Nov. 5 presidential election. 57% of respondents say budget policies need to be more disciplined. The most important objectives of government budget policy should be promoting medium- to long-term growth and reducing the federal deficit and debts. 7% cite the goal of reducing income inequality.

#Recession #BusinessEconomists #Inflation #FederalReserve #PoliticalTensions #UsEconomy

https://apnews.com/article/us-economy-interest-rates-federal-reserve-recession-3dc2a271c285ec78d7b889afa1e1f5eb


Family dreams and hopes 'shattered' following the death of Kenyan marathon world record-holder
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Kelvin Kiptum, the Kenyan marathon world record-holder, and his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, were killed in a car crash near the town of Kaptagat in western Kenya. Kiptum's family, including his father Samson Cheruiyot and wife Asenath Cheruiyot, expressed their devastation and shared their shattered dreams and hopes. Kiptum had promised to build his father a house and buy him a car through running. He was also planning to run the upcoming Rotterdam Marathon in under two hours and finance his wife's business ventures. Kiptum's father revealed that Kiptum had chosen to focus on running instead of furthering his studies in electrical engineering. Kiptum's record, set at the Chicago Marathon, was ratified by World Athletics just last week.

#Kenya #Marathon #WorldRecord #CarCrash

https://apnews.com/article/kelvin-kiptum-marathon-record-holder-death-family-807a4072e6bb96b11f24ce401c244456


What to know about a shooting at Joel Osteen's megachurch
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A shooting occurred at Joel Osteen's megachurch in Houston, Texas. A woman entered the church and started shooting, resulting in her being killed by two off-duty officers. A young child with the woman was critically injured, and another man nearby was wounded. The shooter's motive remains unclear, and the weapon used was identified as an AR-style rifle. The shooter was identified as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno. The house of the suspect was searched, and it was located more than 50 miles away from the church. The shooting took place on Sunday afternoon, just before 2 p.m. The shooter entered the church wearing a trenchcoat and backpack, armed with a long rifle. Two off-duty officers confronted the shooter and returned fire. The suspect claimed to have a bomb, but no explosives were found. The shooter's son was shot in the head and is in critical condition. Another victim, a man in his 50s, was wounded in the hip. Worshippers inside the church reacted by taking cover and praying. Joel Osteen is the celebrity pastor of the megachurch and took over after his father's passing. The church is one of the largest megachurches in the U.S., regularly attended by 45,000 people. Osteen is known for preaching the prosperity gospel and has authored best-selling books. The shooting incident remains under investigation.

#Shooting #JoelOsteen #Megachurch #Houston #Texas

https://apnews.com/article/church-shooting-joel-osteen-texas-ea557401f2eef247020e34297159536a


US applications for unemployment benefits fall again despite recent layoff announcements
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The number of Americans filing for jobless claims fell last week despite more layoff announcements from high-profile companies recently. Applications for unemployment benefits fell by 9,000 to 218,000 for the week ending Feb. 3. The four-week average of claims increased by 3,750 to 212,250. Weekly unemployment claims are seen as a proxy for the number of U.S. layoffs in a given week. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate 11 times beginning in March of 2022 in an effort to bring down the four-decade high inflation. U.S. employers added 353,000 jobs in January, topping economists' predictions. Layoffs have increased recently across technology and media companies, including Google, Snap, and Verizon. In total, 1.87 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits during the week that ended Jan. 27, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week.

#UnemploymentBenefits #JoblessClaims #Layoffs #Labor

https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-cbb095de0d016fe9771f165e0b269fdc


Mexico overtakes China as the leading source of goods imported by US
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Mexico has surpassed China as the leading source of goods imported by the United States, reflecting growing tensions between Washington and Beijing. The value of goods imported from Mexico rose nearly 5% from 2022 to 2023, reaching over $475 billion, while the value of Chinese imports dropped 20% to $427 billion. This is the first time in over two decades that Mexican goods imported by the US have exceeded the value of Chinese imports. The shift in imports reflects US efforts to import from countries that are friendlier and closer to home, as well as supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Chinese manufacturers have established factories in Mexico to take advantage of the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, which allows for duty-free trade in North America for many products. The drop in US reliance on Chinese goods is also attributed to wariness of Beijing's economic policies and concerns about President Xi Jinping's reliability.

#Mexico #China #Imports #TradeTensions #Us-mexico-canadaTradeAgreement

https://apnews.com/article/china-goods-imports-trade-mexico-tariffs-trump-eaee6cec8bb3cadc1103ba60f986b76e


Stock market today: Wall Street slips from all-time high as cuts to rates look further off
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Stocks slipped following the latest evidence that the economy remains strong, which could delay the cuts to interest rates that Wall Street wants. The S&P 500 fell 15.80 points, or 0.3%, to 4,942.81 from the all-time high set Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 274.30, or 0.7%, to 38,380.12, and the Nasdaq composite edged down by 31.28, or 0.2%, to 15,597.68. Earnings season is near its midpoint, and roughly half the companies in the S&P 500 have reported their latest results. Companies that have been missing analysts’ estimates for earnings this reporting season have been seeing their stocks get punished even more than usual. Stocks broadly felt pressure from another jump for yields in the bond market. The Fed has yanked the federal funds rate to its highest level since 2001 to bring down high inflation. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said again in an interview broadcast Sunday that the Fed may cut interest rates three times this year because inflation has been cooling. But he also said in the interview on “60 Minutes” that the Fed is unlikely to begin in March, as many traders had earlier hoped. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.16% from 4.09% late Friday and from less than 3.80% late last year. The jump accelerated after a report showed U.S. services industries are growing more strongly than economists expected. Such signals of a solid economy could give the Fed more reason to pause before cutting rates, because they could keep upward pressure on inflation. Caterpillar, which is seen as a bellwether of global economic strength, rose 2% after its profit for the latest quarter topped forecasts. Air Products and Chemicals slumped 15.6% after it reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Boeing fell 1.3% after the discovery of another problem in some of its 737 fuselages that may delay deliveries of about 50 aircraft. Chinese stocks have struggled on worries about a troubled real-estate industry and a disappointing overall economic recovery. Stocks also fell nearly 1% in South Korea, but index movements were more modest across the rest of Asia and Europe.

#StockMarket #InterestRates #WallStreet #Economy #FederalReserve #Inflation #EarningsSeason

https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-china-tech-7db8f895604df7a7a15de3edae66b8e9


Biden has few choices as immigration takes center stage in U.S. politics
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President Biden is facing pressure from both Republicans and Democrats to address the immigration issue in the United States. He has reversed some of his predecessor's immigration policies but is now considering asylum restrictions. The 2024 presidential campaign is expected to focus on immigration, with Biden's potential rematch against former President Donald Trump. Democratic governors have called for action to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the influx of asylum seekers. Trump, on the other hand, is eager to rekindle his border message and has criticized Biden's approach. The future of a bipartisan immigration bill is uncertain, but Biden's Democratic allies are urging him to take action.

#Biden #Trump #Border #Immigration #Election

https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-border-immigration-election-c37b1596ecf27d208e94bef592e7e616


Where the jobs are: Strong hiring in most industries has far outpaced high-profile layoffs
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Blockbuster job growth in the past several months has coincided with high-profile layoff announcements by a number of large companies. Recent job cuts have been concentrated mainly in just a few sectors: technology, finance, and media. Layoffs have been dwarfed by consistently vigorous hiring, with a monthly average of 248,000 jobs added over the past six months. In January, American businesses and other employers added 353,000 jobs, the biggest monthly haul in a year. Several well-known companies, including , Spotify, and Facebook's parent Meta, have announced layoffs. Most industries have continued to add workers over the past three months, including manufacturers, restaurants, hotels, entertainment companies, and health care providers. The job cuts have been more concentrated in sectors such as technology. Companies tend to shed jobs for various reasons, such as changes in business strategy or to maintain profit margins. Layoffs even of significant magnitude, such as UPS' announcement to cut 12,000 jobs this year, do not significantly impact the vast U.S. economy. Overall, the job market is fundamentally healthy, with low levels of people seeking unemployment benefits and private-sector companies continuing to add workers.

#JobMarket #Hiring #Layoffs #Economy #Employment

https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-layoffs-unemployment-economy-inflation-29028a515cfd6250f3588254e77e6922


Live updates | 2024 Grammy Awards kick off after glitzy red carpet
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The 66th annual Grammy Awards have begun with the Premiere Ceremony, where several awards are being handed out. SZA and Phoebe Bridgers won the first Grammy of the day for best pop duo or group performance. Other notable moments include Dua Lipa's performance, Meryl Streep's presence at the event, and Taylor Swift's website crashing. The main telecast will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern, featuring performances by Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and more. SZA leads all nominees with nine nominations. The Grammy Awards are being held at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena.

#GrammyAwards #Sza #PhoebeBridgers #DuaLipa #MerylStreep #TaylorSwift #OliviaRodrigo #BillieEilish

https://apnews.com/live/2024-grammy-awards-updates-winners


Biden sanctions Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians and peace activists in West Bank
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President Joe Biden has issued an executive order imposing financial sanctions and visa bans on Israeli settlers in the West Bank who have been accused of attacking Palestinians and Israeli peace activists. The order targets four settlers involved in acts of violence, threats, and attempts to destroy or seize Palestinian property. The penalties aim to block them from using the U.S. financial system and prohibit American citizens from dealing with them. The order comes as violence by settlers has intensified during the Israel-Hamas war. Biden's order is a rare step against America's closest ally in the Middle East. The move reflects Biden's call for greater restraint from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in its military operations against Hamas. Palestinian authorities and rights groups have reported killings, arson attacks, and forced evacuations by settlers. The order aims to address the violence that poses a threat to peace, security, and stability in the region and undermines U.S. foreign policy objectives, including the viability of a two-state solution. Biden has reinvigorated calls for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Netanyahu has rejected the idea. The State Department has identified the four settlers and described the accusations against them. The Treasury Department has been given the authority to impose financial sanctions on settlers engaged in violence. The order is not meant to target U.S. citizens, but it provides an alert to financial institutions to look out for transactions that might benefit extremist settlers in the West Bank. The timing of the order is not related to domestic pressure facing Biden. The move was planned since November. The Israeli government was notified in advance of the sanctions. There are no plans to penalize far-right Israeli ministers who have defended the violence by settlers and called for settlement expansion. The order was released before Biden's campaign rally in a key presidential battleground state, where he faces criticism from Arab and Muslim leaders over his handling of the war with Hamas. The order is part of Biden's efforts to address the violence and work towards a durable peace in the region.

#Biden #IsraeliSettlers #WestBank #Palestinians #PeaceActivists #Violence #Sanctions #VisaBans #FinancialSystem #Two-stateSolution #IndependentPalestinianState #Hamas #BenjaminNetanyahu

https://apnews.com/article/biden-west-bank-israeli-settlers-palestinians-80f9e6be6f6a7bb75dc86360ac2fa6ce


Powell: Federal Reserve is on track to cut rates, though not likely for months
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The Federal Reserve signaled that it is nearing a rate cut, but the first cut is likely months away. The Fed wants to gain greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably to their 2% target before cutting rates. The central bank's key rate remains unchanged at about 5.4%, but the changes to its statement show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions. Most economists expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. The Fed wants to see strong growth, a strong labor market, and a continuation of the inflation slowdown before cutting rates. The U.S. economy is outperforming its counterparts overseas, with low unemployment and slowed inflation.

#FederalReserve #InterestRates #Inflation #RateCuts #EconomicGrowth

https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-prices-interest-rates-cuts-5880d78c4664484cf366bb1aeb2bb63d


US jobs report for January is likely to show that steady hiring growth extended into 2024
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The U.S. government is expected to report that employers added a solid 177,000 jobs in January. The unemployment rate is forecast to come in at 3.8%, which would mark two straight years of joblessness below 4%. The health of the economy is sure to weigh on voters ahead of the presidential election, with polls showing widespread dissatisfaction despite signs of the economy’s fundamental strength.

#UsJobsReport #HiringGrowth #UnemploymentRate #Economy #PresidentialElection

https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-f314482e7e9d85e7db0e3f8713bb6273


AP-NORC poll finds an uptick in positive ratings of U.S. economy, but it’s not boosting Biden
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A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 35 percent of U.S. adults call the national economy good, up from 30 percent a year ago. While 65 percent still call the economy poor, that’s an improvement from a year ago, when 76 percent called it poor. President Joe Biden's approval rating on handling the economy is at 35 percent. Democrats remain far more likely than Republicans to describe the economy as good, 58 percent to 15 percent. The poll of 1,152 adults was conducted Jan. 25–29, 2024.

#U.s.Economy #JoeBiden #Poll

https://apnews.com/article/biden-poll-survey-economy-trump-election-dca1b60f6749d5eb50bc0e7600814855


Baker Mayfield helps NFC to early lead over AFC in revamped Pro Bowl Games
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Baker Mayfield led the NFC to an early lead over the AFC in the revamped Pro Bowl Games. Mayfield won the Precision Passing skills challenge, beating C.J. Stroud. The Pro Bowl Games have a new format that replaced the traditional Pro Bowl tackle football game. The opening night skills winners earned three points each, which count towards their team's overall score. The NFC also won in the Closest To The Pin golf accuracy challenge, Dodgeball, and Snap Shots. The AFC won one of the Dodgeball games and also prevailed in High Stakes. The Pro Bowl Games will conclude with more skill events and a flag football game on Sunday.

#BakerMayfield #Nfc #Afc #ProBowlGames #PrecisionPassing #C.j.Stroud #ComebackPlayerOfTheYear #NfcSouth #JalenHurts #GenoSmith #TuaTagovailoa #GardnerMinshew #ClosestToThePin #Dodgeball #SnapShots #HighStakes #FlagFootball

https://apnews.com/article/pro-bowl-games-nfc-afc-ab53fd622091996bd94a0b65632d7121