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Business confidence returns to optimistic levels as economy gains yet more jobs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

Quick on the heels of better than expected jobs numbers from the Department of Labor, the state’s employers are reporting they feel more optimistic about the future than they have in months.According to the monthly Business Confidence Index published by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, confidence among the state’s business owners grew 2.8 points in July to 52.5%, moving from pessimistic territory to positive and reversing months of decline.“The confidence boost came as the United States and Massachusetts economies defied expectations of a recession in the face of 11 interest-rate increases by the Federal Reserve. The nation’s economy grew at a 2.4 percent annual rate in the second quarter, up from 2 percent in the first quarter, while inflation fell to a two-year low of 2.97 percent during June,” the Index reads, in part.Confidence reported by the state’s employers fell to pessimistic levels for the first time in years this May and stayed below 50% through June, with busi...

Deadline approaching for veterans exposed to toxins to file VA claims

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

Veterans who were potentially exposed to burn pits or toxic chemicals like Agent Orange have until Wednesday to register with the Department of Veterans Affairs if they want to take advantage of a limited opportunity provided under a new law.The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act, set a date of August 9 for veterans potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals to apply for benefits and have their claim backdated to August 2022, when the law was signed by President Biden.“When Congress passed the PACT Act last summer, it marked the biggest expansion of veterans benefits in history. But now we need every one of the five million eligible veterans who haven’t done so yet to take the steps to apply for these benefits. I’m encouraging every vet to sign up, to get a toxic exposure screening. This will ultimately mean better care and a lot of lives saved,” U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton told the Herald.In describing the PACT Act, ...

Multiple passengers dead after charter bus crashes in Pennsylvania, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Multiple passengers died after a charter bus carrying up to 50 people collided with a vehicle on an interstate in Pennsylvania, state police said.The crash happened at about 11:50 p.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 81 in Dauphin County’s Lower Paxton Township, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania State Police said. The bus flipped on its side.Police said in a statement that “multiple passengers” died.Multiple people also were taken to a hospital with injuries, but police didn’t immediately release further information.The Associated Press

Niger’s junta shuts airspace and accuses regional countries of planning to invade as deadline passes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger’s mutinous soldiers closed the country’s airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack, as the junta defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president.State television announced the move Sunday night, hours before the deadline set by West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which has warned of using military force if the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum isn’t returned to power.A spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, noted “the threat of intervention being prepared in a neighbouring country,” and said Niger’s airspace will be closed until further notice. The junta also claimed that two central African countries are preparing for an invasion, but did not say which ones, and called on the country’s population to defend it.The junta said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with “an energetic and immediate response.”International airlines have begun to divert flights around the airspace...

3 killed after firefighting helicopters collide in midair in Southern California, officials say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

CABAZON, Calif. (AP) — Three people were killed after two firefighting helicopters collided in Southern California on Sunday while fighting a blaze in Riverside County, emergency officials said.One of the helicopters landed safely. “Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and tragically all three members perished, which included one Cal Fire Division chief, one Cal Fire captain and one contract client pilot,” Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher said during a news conference early Monday. Fulcher did not identify the victims.Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department resources were dispatched to a reported structure fire near the intersection of Broadway Street and South Ronda Avenue in the community of Cabazon, Fulcher said.Shortly after the arrival of the first engine company, the fire was reported to have extended into the vegetation and a full wildland fire dispatch was initiated, which included fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.While battling the blaze, the tw...

An Ohio election that revolves around abortion rights is fueled by national groups and money

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Supporters of a ballot question in Ohio that would make it harder to change the state constitution and could determine the fate of abortion rights there say a yes vote will provide a “defense against out-of-state meddling.”Opponents argue that a yes vote would give “special interests the winning advantage.”But an analysis of campaign finance data shows that as both sides lambast out-of-state interests, they are largely funded by such donors. Even outside of the official coalitions for and against the measure, money, celebrity and influence from afar are fueling much of the last-ditch campaigning and misinformation about the measure, known as Issue 1, on Tuesday’s ballot.The coalition supporting the measure, called Protect Our Constitution, is funded almost entirely by billionaire Illinois business owner Richard Uihlein, who contributed $4 million of the campaign’s $4.8 million, according to campaign filings. The campaign’s largest Ohio-based d...

Lebanese helicopters to join Greek and Jordanian aircraft to help Cyprus fight a forest fire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Lebanon is sending two helicopters to join Greek and Jordanian aircraft in helping European Union member Cyprus fight a blaze that has scorched miles of mountainous terrain, an official said Monday.Cyprus Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis told The Associated Press that neighboring Lebanon is expected to send a pair of choppers as the wildfire continues to reignite on several fronts. Two Greek Canadair aircraft have been dispatched to help douse the fire in the mountains about 11 miles (17 kilometers) north of the coastal town of Limassol. Jordan is sending three aircraft of its own, including two Super Puma helicopters and a Russian-made Mi26 helicopter. The multinational effort is battling a blaze that has scorched as much as 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) of land. Environment Ministry Secretary Andreas Gregoriou, who is coordinating firefighting efforts, told state-run Cyprus News Agency that talks are ongoing with Israel for additional air ...

Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over water cannon incident in disputed South China Sea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine government summoned China’s ambassador on Monday and presented a strongly worded diplomatic protest over the Chinese coast guard’s use of water cannons in a weekend confrontation with Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, officials said.The tense hours-long standoff occurred Saturday near Second Thomas Shoal, which has been occupied for decades by Philippine forces stationed onboard a rusting, grounded navy ship but is also claimed by China. It was the latest flareup in long-seething territorial conflicts in the South China Sea involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.The United States, the European Union, Australia and Japan expressed support to the Philippines and concern over the Chinese actions. Washington renewed a warning that it is obliged to defend its longtime treaty ally if Philippine public vessels and forces come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.Philippine coas...

As ambassadors seek answers from Poilievre, Tory caucus offers foreign policy hints

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

OTTAWA — Ambassadors around Ottawa are looking for clues to decipher the Conservative Party’s foreign policy, as leader Pierre Poilievre offers few hints of how he’d approach the world stage as prime minister.In Ottawa, diplomats at several embassies describe feeling uncertain about whether Conservatives would stick to global climate commitments and continue staunchly supporting Ukraine. They would only speak about the matter if they were not directly identified, citing the risk of compromising diplomatic relations.Poilievre “is trying to establish his domestic economic narrative, and leaving heavy lifting on the foreign-policy side to others,” said Garry Keller, vice-president of lobby firm StrategyCorp.Keller, who was chief of staff to former Conservative foreign minister John Baird, said it’s common for embassies to seek out party leaders of all stripes, and for opposition leaders to be harder to reach until an election is imminent.Canadians don̵...

Sri Lanka air force plane crashes killing two trainee pilots onboard

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:32 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A Sri Lankan aircraft crashed Monday morning killing the two trainee pilots onboard, the country’s air force spokesman said.The Chinese-built PT-6 plane crashed during a training session after taking off from the air force academy in the China Bay base in the eastern city of Trincomalee which is about 260 kilometers (165 miles) east of the capital Colombo, according to air force spokesman Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe.He said the bodies of the two pilots were recovered.Wijesinghe did not elaborate on what caused the crash but said air force commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa has appointed a special investigation committee to probe the incident.Sri Lanka uses the PT-6 planes mainly to train new pilots. The air force runs the academy at the China Bay base, a former British air base that came under attack during World War II.Sri Lanka is a former British colony that gained independence in 1948.Bharatha Mallawarachi, The Associated Press