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US applications for unemployment benefits come back down after last week’s big rise

AP Business Writer The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell markedly last week following a big increase the week before. Jobless claim applications declined by 22,000 to 220,000 for the week of Dec. 14, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 229,000 analysts were forecasting. Continuing claims, the total number of

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German lawmakers back plan to protect supreme court against meddling by authoritarians, extremists

BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers have approved legislation designed to protect the country’s highest court against possible future manipulation or obstruction by authoritarian or extremist politicians. Officials have cited experiences in Poland, Hungary and elsewhere as illustrating the need to bolster the Federal Constitutional Court. The measure was drawn up by the three parties in

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Carlsbad man arrested on suspicion of planning a mass shooting with Wisconsin school shooter

Alexander Paffendorf, 20, of Carlsbad was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the Madison, Wisconsin school shooting. The FBI says Paffendorf admitted to telling 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun, and that he would target a government building. Rupnow shot and killed a student Rubi Patricia Vergara,

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The Fed expects to cut rates more slowly in 2025. What that could mean for mortgages, debt and more

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s third interest rate cut of the year will likely have consequences for debt, savings, auto loans, mortgages and other forms of borrowing by consumers and businesses. But with inflation pressures still elevated and with concern that President-elect Donald Trump’s policies could fuel inflation, the Fed indicated

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EU leaders insist no decisions can be taken about Ukraine without Ukraine, or behind their backs

Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders insist no decisions can be taken about the future of Ukraine without its consent or behind their backs. Demonstrations of solidarity with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are mounting barely a month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Zelenskyy attended an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. Ukraine’s position

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Italy’s Salvini faces verdict for blocking migrants at sea. Case weighs limits of stemming migration

Associated Press MILAN (AP) — Italy’s deputy premier, Matteo Salvini, is sounding defiant as he awaits a verdict in Sicily for preventing some 100 migrants from disembarking a rescue boat in 2019 when he was interior minister. Salvini, who leads the Euroskeptic, anti-migrant League, told a rally last week that “defending the borders, the dignity,

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Romania’s political tumult continues as leftist party leaves talks to form pro-European coalition

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s leftist Social Democratic Party has withdrawn from negotiations to form a pro-European coalition government, extending political turmoil that has gripped the European Union country after a top court annulled a presidential election. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the PSD, said Thursday that his party was abandoning negotiations with three traditional

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