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US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. TikTok's future uncertain after appeals court rejects its bid to overturn possible US ban A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January - is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Stock market today: Wall Street drifts around its records after a solid jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting around their records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Friday and was just above its all-time high set on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 108 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.7%. Expectations rose among traders that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again at its next meeting in two weeks after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Gunman's steps after killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO gives police new clues in hunt for the killer NEW YORK (AP) — Police hunting the gunman who killed the head of the largest U.S. health insurer are piecing together new surveillance video from across New York City and evidence left behind by the shooter. Three days after the ambush, the gunman’s whereabouts and identity are still unknown, as is the reason for the killing. A law enforcement official says police have obtained surveillance images of the suspect on the subway system and visiting local establishments. The official who was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel. China's ban on key high-tech materials could have broad impact on industries, economy BANGKOK (AP) — China has banned exports of key materials used for a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, radar systems and CT scanners, swiping back at Washington after it expanded export controls to include dozens of Chinese companies that make equipment used to produce computer chips. Both sides say the controls are justified by national security concerns. Analysts say they could have a much wider impact on manufacturing in many industries and supply chains, depending on the ability of each side to compensate for loss of access to strategically important materials, equipment and components. Here's why this could be a tipping point in trade conflict between the two biggest economies.Former BBC News journalist Rory Cellan-Jones said the Parkinson’s community “felt absolutely left out in the cold”, after being honoured at Buckingham Palace. The broadcaster’s former technology correspondent, 66, was formally made an OBE by the Princess Royal for his services to journalism on Wednesday. Cellan-Jones announced in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and he has since contributed to a podcast, Movers And Shakers, discussing life with the disease. Discussing the success of the podcast, which also features Jeremy Paxman, Cellan-Jones told the PA news agency: “It’s been an absolute scream. “We’ve had the most extraordinary reaction from the Parkinson’s community. “There is a community which felt absolutely left out in the cold and this award was for services to journalism, but I can’t help but think that maybe that played some part too.” Cellan-Jones said he talked to Anne about fundraising for Parkinson’s and how technology could possibly be used to monitor the disease. The journalist added: “She showed real interest in it. “Mike Tindall, whose father’s got it, is very active in fundraising – so we talked about that.” Cellan-Jones said the OBE was “very unexpected when it came”, adding that he felt “very privileged”. He said his rescue dog from Romania, named Sophie, was “making slow progress” after becoming a social media sensation with thousands of people following her recovery online. Speaking at Buckingham Palace, Cellan-Jones said several courtiers had asked after Sophie, adding: “She’s still incredibly nervous. She’s waiting at home, she wouldn’t have liked it here – a bit too busy. “She’s making slow progress, but she’s wonderful, and she’s been very important to us.” Earlier on Wednesday, broadcaster Alan Yentob, 77, was formally made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King for services to the arts and media. The retired television executive, who was born in Stepney, London, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1968. Yentob stepped down from the role in the wake of the collapse of the charity Kids Company, where he was chairman. The broadcaster said Charles had been “incredibly supportive” of him. Discussing Charles, Yentob told the PA news agency: “He’s been incredibly supportive, as I said to him, on many fronts, including the fact that I was the chairman of Kids Company, and he was incredibly supportive of that in the most difficult times. “And I think the way he’s come out about his illness, and the way the Princess of Wales has too, has been admirable.” Yentob said it would be “reckless” to not support the BBC, adding “it’s a place which embraces everyone”. The broadcaster added: “If you look at the figures, it’s still doing well, even though a very substantial part of its income has been removed.” His most well-known band, featuring singer Bryan Ferry, is famed for hits such as Love Is The Drug and More Than This – topping the singles charts once with a cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy. Discussing the honour, Manzanera told the PA news agency: “It’s very moving and humbling to be amongst all these people who do absolutely incredible things. “But, obviously, I am very happy to get it for services to music and music production, because I think music helps us all in our lives in terms of improving the fabric of our lives, and it’s a great support for so many people.” The musician said he discussed his upbringing in South America and central America with Anne, having grown up in Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba. Manzanera said Anne told him that her father, Prince Philip, “once flew a Viscount plane to Caracas airport”. He said his upbringing was central to his musicianship, adding: “It’s in my DNA, the rhythms of South America. “And the musicians that we’ve all come to know through the Buena Vista Social Club were the kind of music that I started playing guitar with. “It wasn’t Bert Weedon’s Play in a Day for me, it was the music of Cuba.” Actress Shobna Gulati, 58, was formally made an MBE for services to the cultural industries, Scottish professional golfer Stephen Gallacher, 50, was made an MBE and former Arup deputy chairwoman Dervilla Mitchell, 66, received a damehood for services to engineering.
We’ll try to refrain from bad baseball puns like “It’s a home run for animals!” and “Take a swing at adoption!” – but we’re weak and won’t really apologize. If you’re within eyeball range of the Angels’ Big A along the 57 freeway this month, you may notice a trio of adorable beasties staring back at you. “Adopt me!” it says over their furry little heads, and the A is ringed with the Angels’ distinctive halo. We’ll tell you how the Angels came to join forces with Social Compassion in Legislation animal activist Judie Mancuso to create the AdoptOC.com website aiming to boost shelter adoptions – it started with a Nextdoor request for cat traps, believe it or not – but first, let’s talk about why it’s important. Some 8 million animals land in American shelters each year, and as many as 1 million a year have been euthanized, according to national data kept by Animal Shelters Count . Deaths plunged during the pandemic, but they’re climbing again, hitting about 690,000 last year. The picture at Orange County’s biggest shelter, OC Animal Care, illustrates the trend on the local front. Things are far better than they were 15 years ago, when thousands of animals were euthanized each year, but hundreds are still put down every year, nonetheless. • Between January and September, 1,780 animals were euthanized at OC Animal Care, the vast majority of them young kittens (1,253). • In 2023, 2,084 animals were euthanized, the vast majority of them young kittens. • That was up quite a bit from 2022, when 1,563 animals were euthanized, the vast majority of them young kittens. Young kittens , people! The AdoptOC.com address leads to a page hosted by Mancuso’s Social Compassion website, linking to a multitude of area shelters and rescue organizations – OC Animal Care , PUP Laguna Beach , Promise 4 Paws , and shelters in Mission Viejo , Irvine , Newport Beach , San Clemente and Long Beach – as well as Petfinder and Adopt A Pet sites. Mancuso is ecstatic about what this can do for shelter animals. After all, there are 81 regular-season home games a year. “If we can do something at each game to promote pet adoption – all those people, all those eyeballs – it’s a coup,” Mancuso said. Mancuso crossed paths with Elizabeth Carpino, who’s married to Angels president John Carpino, on Nextdoor some years back. Carpino was looking for cat traps, which folks use to catch strays so they can be spayed/neutered/rehomed. Mancuso had some – but how could she be sure the captured cats wouldn’t be used for coyote food or somesuch? Carpino responded with a photograph of her Pet Lover license plate, which raises money for low-cost spay and neuter surgeries. The plate was a pet project of Mancuso’s Social Compassion in Legislation. A friendship was born. Recently, they got to brainstorming about how to help more animals. That big screen – maybe it could feature a pet of the week? They scrambled to get the website domain and put together content on responsible adoption and link to the shelters and rescues. This month, everything went live and the “Adopt OC” ad appeared on screen on the Big A. It’s expected to make 2 million impressions in December alone. In the 2000s, things were bleak. At OC Animal Care, the county’s largest shelter, some 13,000 animals were euthanized in a single year . That makes the 2,000 or so we’re seeing these days seem paltry. Thank things like California’s ban on pet store sales from commercial breeders, and more emphasis on chipping and spaying and neutering. So while almost half of shelter intakes were euthanized during the darkest days back then, nearly 95% of dogs and 79.5% of cats had live releases so far this year, according to OC statistics from January through September . That’s better than 2023 , when 94.1% of dogs and 71% of cats made it out alive, and bests 2022, when 94.8% of dogs and 77% of cats made it out alive. Michael Mavrovouniotis, animal lover, volunteer number-cruncher and close watcher of O.C. Animal Care, is heartened by the partnership with the Angels. It can only help. Mavrovouniotis pushed hard to convince the shelter to open its kennels to would-be adopters more often, rather than asking them to go online to schedule appointments with animals they only see in pictures. His research paper, published in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health , found that visitors strolling through kennels and meeting more dogs face-to-face resulted in more adoptions. “The statistics show that the save rate held up well in the first half of the year with kennel viewing hours helping adoptions. But it’s slipping a little in the 3rd Quarter,” he said by email. “The smart move for the shelter would be to expand viewing hours on weekends. That’s when most adopters want to visit.” OC’s shelter hosts fewer hours of open kennel viewing than many local shelters, he said: 21 hours a week in O.C. compared to 28 in Mission Viejo, 29.5 in Long Beach, 30 in Irvine, 36 in Los Angeles County and 48 in L.A. city. More hours would help, and campaigns like the one on the Big A will help. “Our local shelters have many wonderful adoptable animals,” he said. “Go visit and bring home a new loyal friend!” It could be a grand slam. Related ArticlesVan Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag’s assistant in the summer and had a four-game interim spell in charge following his compatriot’s sacking in October. He left the club in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s appointment but was only out of work for two weeks after being appointed Leicester’s new manager on a deal until 2027. The 48-year-old had a glittering playing career with United and was disappointed his return had to end so soon. “The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it,” he said. “So I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave. “The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. “But in the end I got my head around it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough, and I’ve managed myself, that you can think of a situation, me being there, I understand. “I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.” The Dutchman takes on a difficult job at the King Power Stadium as he is tasked with keeping Leicester in the Premier League. He inherits an influential dressing room, which has seen a number of managers come and go over the last few years. Van Nistelrooy revealed he has done his due diligence and also let the players know as well. “It’s the only way you can work. It’s mutual respect. I also mentioned to the players yesterday that I looked at the squad and started to make phone calls about players, because in football everyone knows everyone,” he said. “With two or three phone calls you hear stories about 20 players and for me it was important that you hear there are good characters there. That’s important, that there are good people there. “I look at the players how they play. I obviously don’t know them but I got general information and the individuals that they are a good bunch of people. That was important for me to get in.”Activating your credit card? Don’t skip the mobile wallet step
Lumina Gold Announces US$6.0 Million Wheaton Precious DrawIn the second period of their first preseason contest against the Boston Fleet, the Montreal Victoire took a penalty. But instead of bringing on the team's first penalty killing unit, the players on the ice were stuck. The team wasn't allowed to change lines until after the first face-off, leaving Boston to match up its top power play unit with three Montreal forwards and a defender, none of whom are typically first-unit penalty killers. The tired Montreal players got stuck on the ice for the full two-minute kill, a massive advantage for Boston on the power play. Welcome to the PWHL's new "no escape" rule. It's one of several changes the league has made to try to improve play in its second year. In this case, it's aimed at increasing scoring in a league where goals were hard to come by last season. From the jailbreak goal to the no escape rule, the PWHL hasn't been afraid to try different things. (PWHL) For players, it means every person needs to be prepared to kill penalties at any time. At one point on a penalty kill in the game against the Fleet, Montreal forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis, typically an offensive specialist, found herself playing defence. "I would never want Grant-Mentis to play D," Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie said after the game, which Boston won 3-1. "She needs to score goals. She doesn't need to stop them." The idea came from the league's rules and competition committee, chaired by league advisors and retired players, Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Meghan Duggan. The committee, which also included representatives from the ranks of players, coaches and GMs, suggested several tweaks for season two. The league's hockey operations department, led by senior vice president of hockey operations, Jayna Hefford, had the final say on what the league would ultimately adopt. From linemates to lifemates, PWHL stars Poulin and Stacey navigate marriage and career Speed of PWHL game has Charge's Ronja Savolainen motivated to raise her level of play When they dug into data from last season, Hefford said league-wide scoring on the power play stood out. Power play efficiency was around 16 per cent, lower than the NHL average of 21 per cent. "Sixteen per cent feels low," Hefford said in an interview with CBC Sports. "It feels like we can do better than that." From 'jailbreak' to 'no escape' Trying different things has been a hallmark of the new league. First, there was the "jailbreak" goal, where a shorthanded goal frees the player from the penalty box. Then, the league let the team that finished atop the standings select its first-round playoff opponent among the third- and fourth-best teams. The league may not keep every new rule, but they're not afraid to try things and make mistakes, Hefford said. "We don't have to do it the way it's always been done, and we aren't just trying to be the NHL," Hefford said. "How can we make the game more engaging for fans is always a priority." WATCH | A burning question for each Canadian PWHL team ahead of 2nd season: 1 storyline for each Canadian PWHL team heading into the season 3 days ago Duration 7:30 Host Anastasia Bucsis is joined by women's hockey insider Karissa Donkin to preview the 2nd season of the Professional Women's Hockey League. Players and coaches learned about the new rule within the last few days, forcing them to adapt on the fly over preseason games this week. For a team like the Boston Fleet, which struggled to score throughout last season, it could provide opportunity. But it requires adaptation on the defensive side of the game. "You've got to know what you're doing, and you've got to be able to play every single position or at least know what their roles are so you don't get bitten," Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight said. Edmonton to host PWHL neutral site game between Toronto, Ottawa on Feb. 16 A burning question for each PWHL team ahead of the league's sophomore campaign Boston head coach Courtney Kessel said both her team and Montreal "tried some tricks" in the first game with the new rule. But trying to game the system won't fly. The rulebook says a team will receive a delay of game penalty if the team "intentionally places too many players on the ice to cause a stoppage of play and create confusion about which players must remain on the ice in the application of the new rule." Automatic game misconduct for illegal hits to head In Montreal, Cheverie wasn't sure what to think of the new rule yet. As a fan of order, it has forced some chaos into Cheverie's brain mid-game. Cheverie's coaching specialty is the penalty kill, and she wonders how it will change the job for those players. The PWHL aims to add more clarity to its rules around bodychecking this season. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) "I think that the purpose behind it is to create more scoring and that's OK, but I do really value the PK players on our team," she said. "With the jailbreak goal and now this rule about the PK, what role do our PK players have? We're taking more jobs away from players. We're taking roles away from players." While the "no escape" rule might be the most obvious change to the PWHL game in the second season, the league has also tried to add more clarity to its rules around bodychecking, and has opened up coach's challenges to delay of game penalties when the puck goes over the glass. If the coaching challenge is unsuccessful, the team will be assessed an additional penalty. First Person The PWHL is a gift for queer hockey fans like me There's also a league-wide drive to crack down on hits to the head. An illegal hit to the head will automatically result in a major penalty and game misconduct, and will result in a review with the league's central situation room. While the PWHL has embraced more physical play, Hefford is adamant that there's no place for hits to the head. "Considering the increase in physicality, there was nothing that alarmed us to do this," Hefford said. "I think it's just more generally as a hockey fan, we want the best players playing the game. We want to take care of everyone's safety no matter who it is on the ice, and we're just going to make sure that we get that right and we do everything we can to deter those kind of hits." After preseason games in Montreal and Toronto this week, GMs and coaches have the weekend to make their final roster decisions. Waivers will open on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET, and teams must have their rosters finalized by Wednesday at the same time. Teams can have 23 players on standard contracts, plus three reserve players. The regular-season will kick off on Saturday with the Toronto Sceptres hosting the Boston Fleet at 2 p.m. ET at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The game will be streamed on CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem, and CBC Sports App.