Jobs report’s big question mark: Will pay growth continue?
Business / International News / U.S. News

Jobs report’s big question mark: Will pay growth continue?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Is the U.S. job market finally healthy enough to lift Americans’ long-stagnant pay? Some tantalizing signs have suggested that wages are beginning to pick up after barely moving in the 6½ years since the Great Recession officially ended. On Friday, the government’s jobs report for November should offer some clues about whether … Continue reading

No designer babies, but summit calls for cautious research
Business / International News / Lifestyle / U.S. News

No designer babies, but summit calls for cautious research

WASHINGTON (AP) — A tool to edit human genes is nowhere near ready to use for pregnancy — but altering early embryos as part of careful laboratory research should be allowed as scientists and society continue to grapple with the ethical questions surrounding this revolutionary technology, organizers of an international summit concluded Thursday. “It would … Continue reading

Congress overwhelmingly backs 5-year transportation bill
Business / U.S. News

Congress overwhelmingly backs 5-year transportation bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — After years of stymied efforts to address the nation’s aging and congested highways and transit systems, Congress found the sweet spot for passage on Thursday — a 5-year, $305 billion bill laden with enough industry favors, parochial projects, safety improvements and union demands to gain overwhelming support. The bill was approved 359 … Continue reading

Asia extends global stock sell-off after ECB underwhelms
Business / International News / U.S. News

Asia extends global stock sell-off after ECB underwhelms

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks sank Friday, extending a sell-off in world markets after Europe’s central bank unveiled plans to stimulate the continent’s ailing economy that fell short of investor expectations. KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.9 percent to 19,556.50 and South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.9 percent to 1,975.27. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng … Continue reading

Sugar program draws Cruz’s ire, remains popular in Congress
Business / International News / U.S. News

Sugar program draws Cruz’s ire, remains popular in Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz says he wants to do away with government support for the sugar industry — a veiled dig at rival Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who has long supported sugar growers. Some conservatives like Cruz want to get rid of the program, which supports prices and protects growers … Continue reading

Yik Yak social media service can reveal user data to police
Business / International News / Lifestyle / U.S. News

Yik Yak social media service can reveal user data to police

WASHINGTON (AP) — Internet users of the Yik Yak social media app popular among college students aren’t nearly as anonymous as they believe: Missouri police within hours arrested a student accused of threatening violence, the latest in a string of such arrests at colleges in recent months involving threats of mass violence posted online using … Continue reading

Hong Kong tycoon buys $48.5M diamond at auction for daughter
Business / International News / U.S. News

Hong Kong tycoon buys $48.5M diamond at auction for daughter

GENEVA (AP) — An exceptionally large blue diamond sold Wednesday for 48.6 million Swiss francs ($48.5 million) — a record price for any jewel at auction, Sotheby’s said, culminating two Geneva auctions in which a convicted Hong Kong tycoon bought rare colored diamonds for his daughter. The 12.03-carat ‘Blue Moon’ diamond, set in a ring, … Continue reading

Asian stocks slump on Fed rate hike fears, commodity rout
Business / International News / U.S. News

Asian stocks slump on Fed rate hike fears, commodity rout

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks slid Friday following sharp losses on Wall Street as a slump in commodities markets deterred investors from riskier assets and expectations grew that the U.S. would soon move to raise interest rates. KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8 percent to 19,534.97 while South Korea’s Kospi shed … Continue reading

Advance Auto Parts misses Street 3Q forecasts, cuts guidance
Business / Lifestyle / U.S. News

Advance Auto Parts misses Street 3Q forecasts, cuts guidance

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — Advance Auto Parts Inc. reported a dip in its third-quarter profit, a disappointing outlook and disclosed CEO Darren R. Jackson will retire in January. Jackson cited the costs related to integrating General Parts International and a stronger U.S. dollar as factors in weighing down results for the quarter. The third-quarter “shortfall” … Continue reading

Tensions build over whether Paris climate deal is binding
Business / International News / U.S. News

Tensions build over whether Paris climate deal is binding

PARIS (AP) — France’s leadership is bristling at U.S. resistance to making a global climate accord under negotiation in Paris next month legally binding. French President Francois Hollande, whose country is hosting U.N. climate talks Nov. 30-Dec. 11, told reporters in Malta on Thursday that “if the deal is not legally binding, there is no … Continue reading