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The U.S. added 517,000  jobs in January, more than two and a half times what economists anticipated, as the unemployment rate nudged down to 3.4%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday. Economists had predicted that the nation would add roughly 187,000 jobs, and that the unemployment rate would nudge up to 3.6% from 3.5%, roughly where it has lingered for the past several months , The Wall Street Journal reported . Previously, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had estimated that the unemployment rate would climb to roughly 4.6% by the end of 2023, as markets slowed in response to the Fed’s anti-inflationary campaign of interest rate hikes, in a Dec. 14 press conference . At 3.4%, the unemployment rate hit the lowest level since May 1969 , as “widespread” job growth, led by 128,000 jobs added in the leisure and hospitality sector, pushed January’s job growth past the 2022 year-long average of 401,000 jobs per month, according to the BLS. Government … [Read more...] about Jobs Market Runs Red Hot In January, But Economists Fear Downturn Is Coming

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Pentagon has been tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon which flew over sensitive areas in Montana in recent days, apparently the latest of several such incursions. President Biden reportedly proposed that the intruder be shot down , but the Pentagon opposed this action, citing the risk of civilian casualties. In fact, bringing down this type of balloon may be extremely difficult, as it is likely to be highly resistant to the available weapons. It may look fragile, but the sheer size and construction of a stratospheric balloon makes it all but invulnerable. There is also the problem of getting to it. Such balloons ride high in the stratosphere , far above the airliners. They do this to take advantage of the change in wind direction with altitude to steer themselves to where they are needed like sailing ships, then circling above a point of interest. The U.S. military has its own stratospheric spy … [Read more...] about Busting That Chinese Spy Balloon Is Harder Than You Think (Updated)

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When the Pentagon revised its defense strategy to focus on China in 2018, no military service moved faster than the Marine Corps to begin making changes. Incoming Commandant General David Berger declared in his initial guidance the following year that Marines needed to be trained and equipped “to operate inside actively contested maritime spaces” in support of other naval forces. This wasn’t a new mission for the Corps, but because the spaces Berger had in mind were first and foremost in the Chinese littoral, the potential danger was unprecedented. China has been fielding increasingly capable antiship and antiaircraft missiles along its coast for some time, along with the overhead surveillance systems needed to find and track hostile forces. Other nations are doing the same, but not on the scale of China’s efforts; combined with Beijing’s huge naval shipbuilding program, the new missiles and sensors present a … [Read more...] about The Marine Corps’ Light Amphibious Warship Seems To Be Faltering. Here Is A Novel Solution.

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Tech entrepreneurs and companies with digital offerings may choose to expand their offerings to include physical products. An essential first step, of course, is developing an offering that truly addresses a market need. However, a great product alone won't guarantee success, and tech companies must be prepared for the unique challenges that come along with a physical launch. To help, the members of Forbes Technology Council offer 15 expert tips for moving into the physical product space. 1. Gauge Customer Response Although it’s important to get internal buy-in within your organization before moving into the product space, the real key to a successful marketing and sales approach is validating your value proposition within your customer base. Gauging customers’ perceptions and needs can help you tailor your strategy and ensure you’re creating products that deliver real value. - Kevin MacDonald , Bluesight 2. … [Read more...] about 15 Tips For Tech Companies Launching Physical Products

FILE PHOTO: Regional Director for the Western Pacific at the WHO, Takeshi Kasai The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially announced today, that the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is “far from over” in the Asia-Pacific region. Regional Director for the Western Pacific at the WHO, Takeshi Kasai, says… “Let me be clear. The epidemic is far from over in Asia and the Pacific. This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard, we need every country to keep preparing for large-scale community transmission, Countries with limited resources are a priority, such as Pacific Island nations, as they have to ship samples to other countries for diagnoses, and transportation restrictions are making that more difficult.” “We realise that there is no one right method to approach the crisis but there are common tactics, for example… Related news Is Erling Haaland the new Beethoven, Shakespeare, or Rembrandt? 8 hours ago … [Read more...] about “Far from over” in the Asia-Pacific region – WHO update

PHOTO: Flickr/USAID in Africa More than 55 countries have fewer than 10% of their populations vaccinated against Covid-19, the result of vaccine inequity that has yet to be adequately addressed. The Covax programme, created to ensure equity in global vaccine distribution, has been hit by production delays, export bans, and rich countries protecting their own first, according to a Nation Thailand report. Bruce Aylward from the World Health Organisation says wealthier nations that already have enough vaccines must donate more doses and sooner. “Manufacturers are making a choice not to ship to Covax, and high-income countries are making a choice not to get sufficient doses into these places fast enough. There’s no way to sugar-coat it.” According to data from the United Nations, around 61% of people in wealthy nations are vaccinated, compared with just 4% in low-income countries. The slow pace of vaccination is a concern for health experts, who say it will prolong the pandemic, … [Read more...] about Vaccine inequity means inoculation rate is still below 10% in over 55 countries

A trade group of local exporters of garments and hard goods such as furniture and footwear is set to promote Philippine-made products to Japanese buyers during the official visit of President Marcos Jr. to Japan next week, aiming to recapture a market worth about $250 million a year. Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (Fobap) president Robert Young told the Inquirer that he would be joining the Philippine leader’s trade delegation in Tokyo, where he is set to make a pitch to Japanese firms. “Our biggest buyer then was Yasuda, [which is] now buying from Thailand, India, Vietnam, and China,” said Young, referring to the Yasuda Co Ltd, whose businesses include the wholesale distribution of men’s and boys’ apparel and furnishings. Young said he would tackle the business-to-business aspects in the garments, apparel as well as furniture sectors during the trade mission. The Fobap official recalls that the Philippines used to ship at least one 40-foot container full of … [Read more...] about PH garments exporters to make fresh pitch to Japan

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Beach bike cruising is about to get a whole lot easier, thanks to Priority Bicycles . If you’ve followed my fandom of Priority Bicycles , then I have exciting news to share. The independent New York-based brand dedicated to making cycling simple for everyday riders, is releasing the Coast beach cruiser, the only electric, belt-driven beach cruiser on the market. If you weren’t sure you needed your breezy coastal ride to be even breezier, well, it turns out you do. You can ride further along the island or coastal route of your choice with this electric, belt-driven bike. Priority Bicycles remains the industry leader in high-quality, low-maintenance belt drive bicycles and is the creator of the award-winning Coast beach cruiser. Monday, the company announced its new e-Coast , the only electric, belt-driven beach cruiser on the market. The e-Coast is designed to combat coastal elements, the same salt, sand, … [Read more...] about Beach Cruising Is About To Get A Whole Lot Faster, Thanks To E-Coast By Priority Bicycles

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Titanic director James Cameron has finally admitted that Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jack “might’ve lived” at the end of the movie when the titular ocean liner crashed into an iceberg and sank, Variety and Rolling Stone reported Thursday, giving credence to an obsessive 25-year-old fan theory. Key Facts To celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary, Cameron participated in a National Geographic special, “Titanic: 25 Years Later With James Cameron,” in which three scientific tests were performed by stunt actors to determine if Jack could have fit on a makeshift raft along with Rose, which saved her life. In the one successful test, stunt actors who were roughly the same size as DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, who portrayed Rose, performed the “strenuous activities” that the characters went through in the film before they got off the sinking ship, before balancing on the raft with only the lower portions … [Read more...] about James Cameron Finally Admits ‘Jack Might’ve Lived’ On Raft At The End Of ‘Titanic’

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Gasoline prices are rising again – up more than 30 cents a gallon in the past month and around 15 cents in the last two weeks alone. Motorists should brace for more pain. One reason is that the global market for refined products is about to be upended by the latest European Union (EU) sanctions on Russia’s petroleum industry. On February 5, the EU will ban imports of Russian refined products like diesel, jet fuel, gasoline, and heating oil. While global oil markets have recently handled a similar ban on Russian crude imports quite well, these product sanctions could be far more disruptive. Markets for refined fuels are much more complex than for crude, with refineries configured to process certain types of feedstock crudes and to manufacture varying slates of products, depending on regional demand patterns. The issue for Europe is that it relies on Russia for about 40 percent of its refined product imports and … [Read more...] about EU’s Ban On Russian Diesel To Stoke Turmoil In Global Fuel Markets