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Stock market today: Global shares mostly slip, while oil prices advance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares retreated on Friday although export-related Tokyo stocks got a boost as the dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen. U.S. futures edged lower while oil prices rose nearly $1. Investors are awaiting the release of a comprehensive report on the jobs market from the U.S. Labor Department later Friday. Economists expect it to show U.S. hiring slowed to 160,000 jobs last month from 199,000 in November. The hope is that the economy will remain just strong enough to stave off recession without reversing progress in taming inflation. The Federal Reserve is watching to see if current trends continue as it weighs the possibility of cutting interest rates.Rate cuts give a boost to prices for stocks and other investments, while also relaxing the pressure on the economy and financial system. “Sentiments are back on some wait-and-see, given that we may have to see a substantial weakening of the U.S. labor market to justify market pricing of a rate cut,” said Yeap J...

Bangladesh opposition calls for strike on election weekend as premier Hasina seeks forgiveness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s main opposition party called for general strikes on the weekend of the country’s parliamentary election, urging voters to join its boycott.This year, ballot stations are opening amid an increasingly polarized political culture led by two powerful women; current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader and former premier Khaleda Zia.Campaigning stopped at 8:00 a.m. on Friday. The Election Commission announced polling would be held in 299 constituencies out of 300 across the country on Sunday. As per the law, election in one constituency was postponed after an independent candidate died of natural causes.The Nationalist Party, headed by Zia, and other opposition parties are boycotting the election, saying there is no guarantee it will be free, fair and inclusive under Hasina’s administration.Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, a senior joint secretary general in Zia’s party, urged people not to vote on Sunday while calling for strikes. “The 48-hour...

In the news today: Foreign interference inquiry, sentencing hearing for London attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Initial foreign interference inquiry hearings to weigh confidentiality of informationA federal inquiry into foreign interference says its initial hearings will help identify ways to make information public, even though much of it will originate from classified documents and sources.In a public notice, the inquiry says the five days of hearings on national security and confidentiality of information, to begin Jan. 29, will help set the stage for the next public hearings, likely to take place at the end of March.The March hearings are expected to delve into allegations of foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, with a report on these matters due May 3.Sentencing hearing continues for man found guilty in London attack on Muslim familyA sentencing hearing is set to continue today for a man who killed four members of a Muslim family in London, O...

Nepal bars citizens from going to Russia or Ukraine for work, saying they are recruited as fighters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s government has banned its citizens from going to Russia or Ukraine for employment, saying many have been recruited by the Russian army to fight in the conflict there. The country’s Department of Employment issued a notice saying it had reports of Nepalese nationals in the Russian army being killed and was further investigating the matter.It is believed that at least 10 Nepalis have been killed in the fighting and four more have been captured by the Ukraine side. Tens of thousands of Nepalis go abroad in search of work every year and are required to get a permit from the government before leaving the country for employment. It is also believed that there are some Nepalis fighting as hired soldiers on the Ukrainian side, but that has not been confirmed by the government.The Associated Press

Tesla recalls over 1.6 million imported vehicles for problems with automatic steering, door latches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Tesla is recalling more than 1.6 million Model S, X, 3 and Y electric vehicles imported to China for problems with their automatic assisted steering functions and door latch controls. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced the recall on Friday. It said Tesla Motors in Beijing and Shanghai would use remote upgrade technology to fix the problems, so in most cases car owners would not need to visit Tesla service centers to get the upgrades.The recall due to problems with the automatic steering assist function applies to 1.6 million imported Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Ys.When the automatic steering function is engaged, drivers might misuse the combined driving function, increasing a risk of accidents, the notice said. The recall to fix the door unlock logic control for imported Model S and Model X EVs affects 7,538 vehicles made between Oct. 26, 2022 and Nov. 16, 2023. It is needed to prevent door latches from coming open during a coll...

Statistics Canada to release its December jobs report this morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is set to release its latest reading on the country’s job market this morning.The agency will publish its labour force survey for December.The report will include the unemployment rate for the final month of the year and whether the economy added or lost jobs.Canada’s unemployment rate edged up to 5.8 per cent in November even as the economy added 25,000 jobs. The softer job market conditions came as high interest rates continued to weigh on economic growth.The Bank of Canada’s next interest rate decision is set for Jan. 24 when it will also release its latest monetary policy report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The Canadian Press

Invasive clover in Yukon can help clean mine water, even in the cold: researcher

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

A pesky invasive plant found in many areas of Yukon could be put to use helping clean contaminated water from mines, research suggests.But the closure of Minto Mine, 240 kilometres north of Whitehorse, last summer means researchers have been stalled in their efforts to test what they found in a real world environment.Master’s degree student Taylor Belansky said a Sea-Can full of lab equipment for their pilot project remains on the site after the copper and gold mine was abandoned in May.Belansky’s work at Yukon University focused on bacteria that can remove nitrates from mine water by converting the contaminant into gas. But doing that most effectively depended on finding the right source of nutrients for the bacteria.She said she tested food sources ranging from wood chips to waste from the local brewery but found that invasive white sweet clover helped to remove 99 per cent of nitrates from the water.In practice, contaminated water would be pumped through long plexigla...

‘False start for winter’ in Quebec disappoints tourists, forces cities to adapt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

MONTREAL — An unusually mild start to winter in Quebec has discouraged tourists hoping for a winter wonderland, left litter visible on the streets of Montreal and at times diminished traffic to some of the province’s popular ski slopes.Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Jean-Philippe Bégin said that last month was southern Quebec’s second-warmest December on record after December 2015, with average temperatures several degrees above normal and relatively meagre snowfall in multiple cities. The mild conditions led the agency to label December 2023 a “false start for winter” in Quebec.Mild conditions continued into the first week of January in Montreal, where some tourists hoping to enjoy winter weather in picturesque Old Montreal said Wednesday they were disappointed to instead find a damp, grey cityscape.Yull Navarro, from Guadalajara, Mexico, said he was looking forward to seeing snow during his first visit to the city but could only find a single...

Mississippi deputy fatally shot during traffic stop by suspect who was killed by police after chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

BEAUMONT, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed during a traffic stop by a suspect who was killed by police following a car chase Thursday evening, authorities said.George County Deputy Jeremy Malone was killed after he stopped a vehicle around 5:15 p.m. on U.S. Route 98 in Rocky Creek, George County Sheriff Mitchell Mixon said in a statement.The suspect, who was not immediately identified, led police on a chase out of the county and the suspect was killed by police as the pursusit ended, Mixon said.After the suspect left George County, the chase went through Greene County into Perry County before the suspect was fatally shot on U.S. 98 near Beaumont, WLOX-TV reported. The Mississippi Department of Investigations will oversee investigations into the shootings.Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed the deputy’s death in a social media post. “Mississippi will always remember Deputy Malone,” Reeves wrote. “Our state remains deeply thankful fo...

Daily horoscope for January 5, 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:54:07 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping and important decisions from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. EST today (3:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Libra into Scorpio.Happy Birthday for Friday, Jan. 5, 2024:You are dedicated to your work and are capable of sacrifice. You’re a sophisticated perfectionist and a natural leader. Expect exciting changes this year, plus increased personal freedom. Seek out new opportunities and be ready to act fast on them. Travel will expand your horizons.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★This is a tremendous day for you in terms of productivity and getting things done. Long-range plans concerning inheritances and shared property can be dealt with. You might make travel plans. You might get permission from bosses or authority figures for a special project. You’re on fire! Tonight: Schmooze with others!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is an excellent day to deal with partners and close friends. However, because the Moon is opposite your sign, you wil...