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Scientists say they’ve confirmed evidence that humans arrived in the Americas far earlier than previously thought

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

(CNN) — When the discovery of fossilized footprints made in what’s now New Mexico was made public in 2021, it was a bombshell moment for archaeology, seemingly rewriting a chapter of the human story. Now new research is offering further evidence of their significance.While they look like they could have been made yesterday, the footprints were pressed into mud 21,000 to 23,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating of the seeds of an aquatic plant that were preserved above and below the fossils.This date dramatically pushed back the timeline of humans’ history in the Americas, the last landmass to be settled by prehistoric people. The 61 dated prints, which were discovered in the Tularosa Basin, near the edge of an ancient lake in White Sands National Park, were made at a time when many scientists think that massive ice sheets had sealed off human passage into North America, indicating that humans arrived in the region even earlier.However, some archaeologists questioned the age...

Get spooky: La Casa de los Trucos offers Halloween’s hottest tricks and trends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

Halloween enthusiasts, it’s time to get your ghoul on! With the spooky season just around the corner, House of Costumes, also known as La Casa de los Trucos, is your one-stop shop for all things Halloween.Celebrating its remarkable 51st year, La Casa de los Trucos is not just a costume store; it’s one of the world’s oldest active costume establishments. Whether you’re searching for masks, makeup, accessories, or magical touches, this iconic store has you covered.This year’s hottest costume trend? Barbie! With the recent Barbie movie release taking the world by storm, expect to see plenty of people stepping out as the iconic doll. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Wednesday Addams from the Addams Family is also making a comeback, and let’s not forget Thing! If these aren’t your style, don’t fret; La Casa de los Trucos boasts a staggering 15,000 styles to choose from, ensuring there’s something for everyone.La Casa de los Truco...

Kaczyński pulls out of Polish election debate. ‘I’ll be there,’ says Tusk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

Jarosław Kaczyński, Poland’s de facto ruler, has made his campaign to win re-election all about vilifying his main rival, Donald Tusk. But, given the opportunity to repeat his attacks against the liberal opposition leader on live TV, face to face, the Law and Justice (PiS) chief has bailed out.Leaders of all of the major parties were invited to next Monday’s big debate on TVP, Poland’s main state-run channel. It would have been the only clash between the longtime rivals ahead of the October 15 vote, in which Kaczyński’s right-wing party is seeking an unprecedented third term.Kaczyński, citing scheduling issues, has said he won’t make it.And, even though the channel — which largely toes the PiS party line — moved the debate from prime time to an early evening slot, the leader of the Civic Platform confirmed that he would still attend.“I hope Mr. Kaczyński can hear me,” Tusk told supporters at a rally Thursday. “Jarosław Kaczyński, maybe you hav...

Scottish Labour dares to dream again after thumping Rutherglen by-election win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

LONDON — “There is no part of this country where Labour can’t win,” Scottish Labour candidate — and soon-to-be-MP — Michael Shanks declared in his victory speech early Friday after the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.Such talk would have been preposterous until recently, thanks to the Scottish National Party’s near-dominance of all things Scottish politics under former leader Nicola Sturgeon. But the thumping win over the pro-independence party has Scottish Labour dreaming again.Shanks triumphed by a clear 31 percentage point margin in this week’s by-election, a result beyond wildest expectations even though Labour had been expected to re-take the seat.“It provides evidence that Scottish Labour is back in business,” Scottish politics expert James Mitchell, a professor at Edinburgh University, said.“Labour still has a lot of work to do but this result will make that much easier, not least as the goal of replacing the SNP as Sco...

NH armed carjacking spree suspect set to face a judge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

A man accused of carrying out an armed carjacking spree in New Hampshire will face a judge Friday following his dramatic arrest in Dracut, while his suspected accomplice awaits possible charges at the hospital, state police say.Nathan Saben, 35, who was nabbed Thursday after a wild police chase from Lawrence to Dracut, will be arraigned on criminal charges in Lowell District Court. Meanwhile, Jessica Tirone, 40, a woman believed to be his girlfriend, remains hospitalized at Lowell General-Saints campus and prosecutors are still determining whether she’ll be arraigned in court or at the hospital, a state police spokesman said Friday morning.Saben and Tirone were arrested after being found driving a black, 2012 Subaru Outback that Saben allegedly carjacked in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.Cellphone video showed what appeared to be Saben attempting to steal another vehicle after the Subaru went off of Route 110 in Dracut. The video showed the individual approach a sedan stuck in traff...

US job growth soared in September, adding 336,000 positions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

Minneapolis (CNN) — The US job market surged in September, adding more jobs than expected for the second consecutive month, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Employers added 336,000 jobs last month. That’s above the 227,000 net gain recorded in August, a total that was upwardly revised by 40,000 positions.The unemployment rate held steady at 3.8% in August.Consensus estimates from economists were for 170,000 net jobs added and a jobless rate of 3.7%, according to Refinitiv.While September marks the 33rd consecutive month of job growth for the United States, the Federal Reserve has been aiming to slow the economy and cool down the labor market.This story is developing and will be updated.

US employers added a surprisingly strong 336,000 jobs in September in a sign of economic resilience

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s employers added 336,000 jobs in September, an unexpectedly robust gain that suggests that many companies remain confident enough to keep hiring despite high interest rates and a hazy outlook for the economy.Friday’s report from the Labor Department showed that hiring last month jumped from a 227,000 increase in August, which was revised sharply higher. July’s hiring was also healthier than initially estimated. The economy has now added a healthy average of 266,000 jobs a month in the past three months.The unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8%.The job market has defied an array of threats this year, notably high inflation and the rapid series of Fed interest rate hikes that were intended to conquer it. Though the Fed’s hikes have made loans much costlier, steady job growth has helped fuel consumer spending and kept the economy growing.The September hiring report comes at a time when the Fed is scrutinizing every piece of incoming economic ...

Shares in troubled British lender Metro Bank bounce back by a third as asset sale speculation swirls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Shares in the troubled British lender Metro Bank bounced back by a third on Friday on reports that it has been sounding out bigger rivals to buy a chunk of its assets.Sky News reported that advisers to the bank have contacted Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group among others. That helped the company’s share price rally by 30% to 48.5 pence on the London Stock Exchange, in the process recouping the previous day’s losses when the bank acknowledged the need to raise new capital.Metro Bank, which some analysts say may need to raise around 600 million pounds ($730 million) in capital to help it refinance debts, said it was looking at a range of options, including asset sales and the issuance of new shares. But it stressed that “no decision has been made on whether to proceed with any of these options.”Analysts are cautious about its ability to raise the money.Gary Greenwood, an equity research analyst for Shore Capital Markets, suggested that the busines...

KFOR commander calls on Kosovo and Serbia to return to talks to prevent future violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The NATO-led peacekeeping force on Friday called on both Kosovo and Serbia to return to the negotiating table to resolve their issues to prevent violence like the recent shootout between masked Serb gunmen and Kosovo police that left four people dead and sent tensions soaring in the region. Kosovo Force commander Maj. Gen. Angelo Michele Ristuccia called on both countries to “refrain from inflammatory and counterproductive rhetoric and help to create the necessary conditions for lasting security in Kosovo and across the region.”Ristuccia told a news conference that KFOR fully supported European Union-facilitated dialogue to normalize their ties.In February, the EU put forward a 10-point plan to end months of political crises. Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić gave their approval at the time, but with some reservations that haven’t been resolved. “If the parties do not come back to the table … and do no...

Economy adds 64K jobs in September, unemployment rate holds at 5.5%

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

Statistics Canada says the economy added 64,000 jobs last month as the country’s population continues to rapidly grow.The federal agency released its September labour force survey this morning, which finds the unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 per cent.Canada’s labour market has cooled over the last year amid higher interest rates, but the unemployment rate remains below pre-pandemic levels.The job gains last month were concentrated in part-time work, while there were more people working in educational services and transportation and warehousing.Meanwhile, jobs were shed in finance, insurance, real estate rental and leasing, construction and information and recreation.Average hourly wages continued to climb in September, rising five per cent from a year ago.