Nearly 500 arrested in human trafficking

- A + A NEW YORK (Aug 12): Wall Street closed higher on Friday (Aug 12) as signs that inflation may have peaked in July increased investor confidence that a bull market could be under way and spurred the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to post their fourth straight week of gains. The S&P 500 is up 17.7% from a mid-June low, with the latest gains coming from data this week showing a slower-than-expected rise in the consumer price index and a surprise drop in producer prices last month. The S&P 500 crossed a closely watched technical level of 4,231 points, indicating the benchmark index has recouped half its losses since tumbling from the all-time peak in January. A 50% retracement for some signals a bull market. "It's really just a number, but it certainly makes investors feel better — at least those who bought near the bottom," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at Inverness Counsel in New York. "I wouldn't declare victory over this bear market … [Read more...] about S&P 500, Nasdaq close up for fourth straight week as optimism grows

Small business optimism remains near record lows, as small business owners believe that inflation, supply chain problems and tax increases pose serious threats to small businesses, according to a Friday poll by the Job Creator’s Network Foundation (JCNF). The poll’s Small Business IQ, an index of overall small business optimism, slightly increased to 52.8 in July compared to 52.7 in June. The index, scored out of one hundred, has fallen by nearly 17 points since last year, with this month’s rebound accounted for by a small increase in future expectations. (RELATED: ‘Hiring Has Never Been Harder’: Small Business Owners Can’t Find Workers, Report Says) “The White House and its allies in Congress are poised to greenlight the misnamed ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ later this week,” said Elaine Parker, president of the JCNF, in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “It couldn’t come at a worse time; rising prices are already squeezing Mainstreet and small business sentiment … [Read more...] about POLL: Small Business Optimism Remains Near Record Lows

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It’s a big week for sky watchers around the world with the famed Perseid meteor shower peaking now. The peak comes around the same time as a so-called “sturgeon supermoon,” which was officially at its fullest Thursday. Full moons have a nasty tendency to both be bright enough to wash out shooting stars and also stay above the horizon for much of the evening. While this is certainly less than ideal for what is typically the best time of the year for spotting meteors and fireballs, at least in the northern hemisphere, there are measures that can be taken to mitigate the effects of our biggest satellite. First of all, you can plan ahead a bit and check moonrise and moonset times for your location. The forecasts for maximum meteor activity vary a bit, but generally speaking, any time between now and Sunday morning gives you a decent chance to catch plenty of shooting stars. Something that’s much more … [Read more...] about The 2022 Perseid Meteor Shower Is Happening Now And The Nearly Full Moon Need Not Spoil It

Gold, gold prices Gold prices were flat on Monday in the international markets after solid US jobs report last week boosted the prospect of aggressive interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, lifting the dollar and bond yields. Spot gold was flat at $1,774.09 per ounce, as of 0121 GMT, after dropping 1 percent in the previous session. US gold futures were steady at $1,790.60. At 9:44am, gold contracts were trading 0.05 percent lower on the Multi-Commodity Exchange ( MCX ) at Rs 51,850 for 10 grams and silver added 0.07 percent at Rs 57,404 a kilogram. Precious metals gave up all the two days' consecutive gain as the US job report stood twice stronger than forecasted. US dollar, which moves opposite to gold prices, gained 0.82 percent on Friday may put pressure on precious metals today. However geopolitical tension between China and Taiwan may support the prices of gold at lower levels. Technically, after a marginal correction in precious metals, prices may rebound … [Read more...] about Gold Prices Today: Strong US jobs data to weigh in on yellow metal, support around Rs 51,500

(CTN News) – As of June 10 , the UK health officials were unable to determine if monkeypox had peaked in the UK , as they reported another 45 cases, making it the largest-ever epidemic outside of Africa. According to the UK’s Health Security Agency, men accounted for 99% of all instances, and nearly all of the 152 men who provided comprehensive information identified as gay, bisexual, or sexed with men. Almost 80% of cases were reported in London, and the median age was 38. “We cannot yet determine if the transmission has stopped increasing,” the agency said in a report, citing the reporting gap between when patients first noticed symptoms and when they were diagnosed with monkeypox . If someone comes into close physical contact with an infected person or their bed sheets or clothes, they can get monkeypox. Scientists claim that monkeypox is spread in geographically diffuse sexual networks, adding that some linkages extend beyond the UK. According to the … [Read more...] about Monkeypox Has Peaked In the UK, But Scientists Disagree As The Country Reports 45 New Cases

Representative image (Source: Reuters) The Women and Child Development Ministry took a slew of measures in 2021 like introducing a bill to raise the marriageable age of women to 21, tackling rising malnutrition during the pandemic and ensuring safety and rehabilitation of over one lakh children who lost either of their parents to Covid. Even though children remained less susceptible to COVID-19, about 1.32 lakh of them lost either of their parents and were at an increased risk of being exploited and trafficked, proving to be a major concern for the ministry. Over 9,800 children were orphaned, 508 abandoned and 1.32 lakh lost either of their parents from April 2020 to December 7 this year during the pandemic, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said. Taking cognisance of the issue, the government earlier this year launched PM CARES for Children, a scheme that lends support to kids who were orphaned during the pandemic. NCPCR chairperson Priyank … [Read more...] about From Bill raising marriageable age of women to ensuring safety of Covid orphans, WCD had a busy 2021

- A + A (Aug 12): Wall Street's main indexes rose on Friday, setting the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq for a fourth straight week of gains on increasing evidence that inflation may have peaked. The S&P 500 is up 16.8% from its mid-June low, with the latest boost coming from a slower-than-expected rise in consumer prices and a surprise drop in producer prices in July. The benchmark index crossed a closely watched technical level of 4,231 points, indicating it has recovered 50% of its bear market loss. It was headed for fourth straight week of gains, its best performance since November 2021. "We're seeing a market that is focusing on inflation peaking and so the rally is continuing, although volume is rather light," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities. "Investors are becoming more optimistic in terms of the Fed not being as aggressive as the market previously had expected." While policymakers remain firm about a further … [Read more...] about Wall St set for weekly gains on signs of cooling inflation

- A + A A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (Aug 12, 2022) This report is produced by the Baltic Exchange. The Baltic Exchange, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Exchange, is the world's only independent source of maritime market information for the trading and settlement of physical and derivative contracts. Its international community of over 650 members encompasses the majority of world shipping interests and commits to a code of business conduct overseen by the Baltic. For daily freight market reports and assessments, please visit www.balticexchange.com . Capesize The Capesize market continues to dwell in the doldrums as any attempts to spark a rally were quickly dealt a hammer blow as the 5TC closed the week at US$10,898 (RM48,434). This rate level is less than a third of the same time last year. The market was reasonably active this week. The Pacific market had most of the majors requesting tonnage for their West … [Read more...] about Baltic Exchange shipping updates: Aug 12

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Peloton Interactive laid off 800 employees Friday — the at-home stationary bike company’s second round of job cuts — making it the latest major U.S. company to undergo massive layoffs this summer, as CEOs fear soaring inflation could tip the economy into a recession. Timeline Aug. 12, 2022 Peloton , which gained popularity as gyms shut their doors during the pandemic, announced a sweeping round of layoffs in a memo to employees obtained by Bloomberg , six months after the New York-based company cut another 2,800 jobs. Aug. 12, 2022 Texas-based home health services company Signify Health laid off 489 employees, a cost-cutting move that comes days after health care giant CVS made a bid to purchase the company, multiple outlets reported (Signify did not respond immediately to an inquiry from Forbes ). Aug. 11, 2022 Meditation app Calm laid off 90 employees (20% of its workforce), … [Read more...] about Peloton Reportedly Lays Off 800 Employees — Here Are The Major U.S. Job Cuts As Recession Fears Grow

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin My kids and I were talking on a ride home from school last year about the fact that CEOs are overwhelmingly white men. (Yes, random race discussions are just one benefit of having a mom focused professionally on issues of race and injustice.) I decided to quiz them and asked, “Of the top 500 companies, how many do you think have a Black CEO?” My middle schooler paused briefly, then blurted out “100.” Paralyzed by a stinging sense of dread, regret and guilt at having to burst her bubble, I hesitantly responded, “No, it’s five.” While that number has since risen to a record high of six , that leaves Black CEO representation in the Fortune 500 just over one percent—dismal by any measure. Unfortunately, this racial disparity for Black professionals remains consistent throughout a range of industries and professional areas, from Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic confirmation as the first Black female justice in the Supreme … [Read more...] about This Is Why Corporate DEI Tragically Fails Many Black Professionals