Early release scheme could put domestic abuse survivors at risk, minister admits as hundreds of inmates freed

US stocks rise near record after latest jobs report calms rattled bond market

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are rising near their all-time high on Friday after the latest jobs report cooled worries that a potentially hot U.S economy could make inflation much worse. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 percent and pulled within 1 perce. of its record set in August . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 164 points, or 0.3 percent, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.2 percent higher. All of Wall Street got a jolt after the U.S. government said employers across the country added 29,000 jobs to their payrolls last month. That was fewer than economists expected and a slowdown from August’s hiring rate of 133,000. More importantly for financial markets, it tamped down concerns that the U.S. economy could be so strong that it could fuel inflation even higher. Inflation has remained much worse than anyone would like, and the Federal Reserve recently raised its main interest rate for the first time in three years to try to rein in the painful increases for the cost of living. Even though Americans are feeling more frustrated about inflation and their finances, th

G7 nations will release 100 mil. barrels of oil and diesel fuel after prices soar

WASHINGTON — The Group of Seven industrial nations said Friday that they plan to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products in the coming weeks, starting with “substantial” amounts of diesel after the fuel recently hit record high prices in the United States. President Donald Trump said the diesel release would happen “immediately," while a G7 statement promised a “frontloaded substantial release” of diesel within the next 20 days. Trump and his Republican Party face pressure to address surging prices ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections , and Trump announced the action Friday on social media. The president's approval ratings on the economy hit a new low, according to an AP-NORC poll , as the Iran war and his trade battles have increased U.S. prices for oil and other goods. Gas prices in the U.S. and abroad have soared during the eight-month-long war , a cost Trump has repeatedly said is worth it for making sure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. The national average for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. was $6.37 on Friday, according to AAA, after hitting a recor

Paris fashion defies bruised luxury industry with golden glamour and skimpy outfits

PARIS — Saint Laurent sent out a river of gold, as giant chandeliers bathed a glossy black outdoor runway with golden light and the Eiffel Tower shimmered in the background. The extravagant show was attended by Catherine Deneuve, Kate Moss , Hailey Bieber and Rami Malek, while elsewhere at Paris Fashion Week Jennifer Lopez took her seat at Stella McCartney’s rain-soaked gardens. Rihanna turned out for the upstarts at the conceptual fashion house Matières Fécales, which translates as “fecal matter.” Whatever its financial troubles — and there are many — Paris retained its ability to assemble stellar front rows and impressive staging this season. Midway through spring-summer 2027, shows crystallized into three stories: glamour on a grand scale; a great undressing; and an industry working couture technique into T-shirts and jeans while asking itself, nervously, who all of this is for. Full-on glamour at Saint Laurent despite luxury sector losing its crown Last month, cosmetics giant L’Oréal overtook LVMH as France’s most valuable listed company. It's the first time since 2

Seoul's anger at Kyiv over POWs may reflect NK concerns

SEOUL — South Korea’s president threatened Friday to take unspecified punitive steps against Ukraine if it refuses to apologize over its revelation of a supposedly secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Seoul and Kyiv are embroiled in a diplomatic dispute, with Seoul strongly protesting against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer during his U.N. speech last week. South Korea accuses Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement on the transfer, but Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal. The arrival of the North Korean soldiers in mid-September could also spell trouble for South Korea's liberal government, which hopes to improve ties with Pyongyang. But despite an escalation in its rhetoric, many experts say Seoul isn't likely to take any drastic steps because maintaining good relations with Ukraine is in its national interests and will support its partnerships with other Western nations. The soldiers had been among thousands of North Korean troops sent to support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukra

Trump says S. Korea deal 'keeps getting better,' unveils $8.4 bil. oil recovery project

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday a deal with South Korea "keeps getting better," announcing a $8.4 billion "enhanced oil recovery project," as Seoul and Washington are working to implement the Asian country's investment commitment under their trade deal signed last year. Trump made the remarks in a social media post, after he unveiled the first package of South Korea's investment projects under the trade deal, including the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas and eight large-scale nuclear power plants. "I am thrilled to announce the Republic of Korea Deal keeps getting BETTER!" he wrote on Truth Social, referring to South Korea by its official name. "8.4 Billion Dollars for an enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Project. Producing more Oil and Gas means American Energy Dominance and Energy Security in the World for the Future!" He did not elaborate on the details of the project. EOR involves techniques to recover additional oil from existing oil fields. Trump's announcement came as a surprise as South Korea believes that the EOR project is not among those inclu

Life in US is fake luxurious: Mumbai man with $360k savings says he plans to return to India to take over father's business

South Africa mass shootings: What’s behind the sudden spike in gun crime? 46 dead in a week in 5 incidents

South Africa has recorded at least 46 deaths in five mass shootings in less than a week, renewing concerns over organised crime, illegal firearms, and violence in poorer communities despite a recent decline in the national murder rate.

Two men charged with suspected terror plot against Jewish community in Manchester

Salam Ahmadyan, 36 and Rahman Salehi, 34 were both charged on Friday with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist act

Christa Pike is on life support after ‘IV issue’ led to failed execution, attorneys say

The execution team worked for an hour to administer the lethal drugs, according to Pike's defense lawyer who counted at least seven needles in her arm

Dolly Parton's nephew wants more time to defend himself against restraining order from her estate

Dolly Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, is seeking more time to secure a lawyer in a legal battle involving a restraining order taken out by her estate

Florida's dengue outbreak is now the largest in the continental US in decades

Florida is experiencing its largest dengue outbreak in decades, with over 250 locally acquired cases reported this year

Michael Douglas confesses to affair with co-star he kept secret for 40 years

Douglas was ‘technically married’ to Diandra Luker at the time, he wrote in his memoir