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EU trade balance back to a surplus of €1 billion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

In the second quarter of 2023, after six quarters of registering a deficit, the EU trade balance was back to a surplus level due to declining energy prices. Recent trade data shows that in the second quarter of 2023, exports fell by 2.0% and imports by 3.5%, leading to a small trade surplus of €1 billion. This shows a clear improvement from the €155 billion deficit registered in the third quarter of 2022, the highest deficit level since 2019. The decrease in extra-EU imports in the second quarter of 2023 was related to a 15.6% drop in energy and a 10.9% decrease in raw materials, compared with the first quarter of 2023. As for exports, all sectors saw a decline, except for machinery & vehicles (+2.5%). The largest export decreases were for energy (-22.5%) and raw materials (-9.3%).Source dataset: ext_st_eu27_2020sitcIn the second quarter of 2023, the EU had a trade surplus of €15.6bn for food, drinks and tobacco and €48.5bn for chemicals. In the second quarter of 2023, the trade...

10 California metros among 20 costliest places to raise a child

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

Of the nation’s 20 costliest places to raises a family, half came from California.Related ArticlesHousing | Where are California’s biggest pay raises? Look inland Housing | Powell: Economy’s growth could require more Fed hikes to fight inflation Housing | Looking for a new car under $20,000? Good luck. Your choice has dwindled to just one vehicle Housing | California house hunters face record $4,359 monthly payment Housing | San Jose apartment deal hints at declining property values Jaclyn DeJohn, SmartAsset managing editor of economic analysis, analyzed data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator for 381 metropolitan areas to determine the average annual cost of raising one child, two children or three children under 4 for two working adults. The costs include childcare, housing, food, transportation and medical costs for the regions, according to SmartAsset.So what are the most expensive areas to ra...

Rams without a kicker after paring down to 53-man roster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

THOUSAND OAKS — The Rams have submitted their 53-man roster for opening weekend against the Seattle Seahawks, with the team announcing its remaining cuts a couple hours ahead of Tuesday’s 1 p.m. PT deadline, though more changes are surely afoot.For openers, the final roster does not include a kicker, as Tanner Brown was among those players who were waived with no recall. So, too, were offensive tackle A.J. Arcuri, defensive end T.J. Carter, linebacker Daniel Hardy, defensive back Quindell Johnson, receiver Tyler Johnson, tight end Nikola Kalinic, center Mike McAllister, defensive back Cameron McCutcheon, guard Grant Miller, receiver Xavier Smith, linebacker Keir Thomas, receiver Austin Trammell, quarterback Dresser Winn and linebacker Jaiden Woodbey.Related ArticlesNFL | J.J. Watt: 49ers’ Nick Bosa deserves record deal, but isn’t NFL’s best defender NFL | 49ers reveal 53-man roster: Who makes cut on Super Bowl-caliber roster? NFL | ...

Disneyland closing Haunted Mansion in January for queue expansion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

Disneyland plans to build on the lore of the Haunted Mansion with an expanded backstory involving Madame Leota, Master Gracey, a prosperous sea captain and a one-eyed cat following the summer release of Disney’s new “Haunted Mansion” live-action movie.Disneyland will close the Haunted Mansion in January to begin construction on the outdoor queue enhancements and will share more about the reopening of the attraction at a later date, according to Disneyland officials. The work will also include a new accessibility elevator for wheelchair users exiting the ride and a new retail shop at the attraction’s exit.Disneyland’s announcement comes just a few days before the Haunted Mansion Holiday version of the attraction returns on Friday, Sept. 1. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” holiday overlay traditionally remains in place through early January — when construction will start on the Haunted Mansion queue.Disneyland will share more Haunted Mansion construction details early next year. The H...

California judge accused of murdering wife wanted his concealed weapon permit to protect family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

An Orange County Superior Court judge accused of murdering his wife with a gun pulled from an ankle holster had obtained a permit to carry a concealed weapon out of a desire to protect her and others from harm, documents show.Judge Jeffrey Ferguson wrote in his renewal application for a concealed carry permit that he needed it because of his job on the bench and as a former prosecutor.“I wish to renew my CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon permit) for self-protection and protection of my immediate family due to my current, ongoing and past service in Orange County,” wrote Ferguson in his application, signed in March 2021 and obtained by the Southern California News Group.Ferguson first obtained a permit to carry a gun in 1994, while a deputy district attorney who frequently argued to send parolees back to prison.His concealed weapon permit was revoked after his Aug. 3 arrest.Court documents allege that the judge shot his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, through the chest with a .40-caliber Glock that...

Chargers’ 53-player roster has familiar look after they make their cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

COSTA MESA — Surprises? You wanted surprise cuts from Chargers general manager Tom Telesco?Didn’t happen.Since the Chargers decided to run it back with a roster that finished with a 10-7 regular-season record last season and advanced to the playoffs for only the third time in Telesco’s first 10 years as GM, it stood to reason that Tuesday’s cuts to an NFL-mandated 53 players would be predictable.After all, offseason moves were minimal, with the noteworthy exception of the addition of free agent linebacker Eric Kendricks following the departure of free agent linebacker Drue Tranquill. So, the roster assembled for the upcoming season was bound to look very much like last season’s roster.Naturally, things are likely to change.Injuries and inadequate play could necessitate alterations sooner rather than later.Nothing is set in stone.The season begins Sept. 10.“I feel like it’s time to play regular-season football,” Telesco said when asked during a video conference call with beat reporte...

Masked robbers pepper-spray California jewelry store owner and employee during $500,000 heist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

A Pasadena jewelry store is regrouping after three masked robbers broke in on Tuesday, Aug. 29 and stole expensive merchandise, authorities said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Unaccompanied minors face wearing IDs at California mall after fracas on Sunday Crime and Public Safety | Police break up melee involving 1,000 juveniles at California mall Crime and Public Safety | 2 suspects in $100,000 California jewelry store smash-and-grab arrested after police pursuit Crime and Public Safety | $100,000 in handbags stolen in mob robbery at California shopping center Crime and Public Safety | Dozens of thieves ransack Nordstrom at California mall The Pasadena Police Department responded to a call for a robbery at Jewels on Lake, a jewelry store at 415 S. Lake Avenue, at around 1:45 p.m.Investigators found that while the store’s owner was escorting a patron out, three men wearing masks ran inside and ...

Qakbot: Feds take down malware botnet that infected 200,000 U.S. computers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

Federal law enforcement officials have disrupted a malware known as Qakbot — a computer code used by cybercriminals to commit ransomware, financial fraud and other cyber crimes leading to massive losses worldwide, with a Southern California food-distribution company among the victims, they announced on Tuesday, Aug. 29.The Qakbot malware infected more than 700,000 victim computers worldwide, with 200,000 of those in the U.S., federal authorities said during a press conference in downtown Los Angeles, before its infrastructure was taken down.The malware was being deleted from those computers, preventing it from doing more harm.The operation also involved actions in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Romania and Latvia. The Department of Justice said authorities had seized more than $8.6 million in cryptocurrency in illicit profits.It’s the largest United States-led financial and technical disruption of an illegal botnet infrastructure, according to the Department o...

Venus Williams suffers her most lopsided U.S. Open loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

By HOWARD FENDRICH | AP Tennis WriterNEW YORK — There was a Williams sister out there in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night, much to the delight of spectators who offered a standing ovation at the end of the match. Except this time it was Venus, not Serena, and there was no ceremony, no formal farewell – and, unlike a year ago, no indication of what the future might hold.Her younger sister’s playing days are done after one last hurrah at Flushing Meadows in 2022, but Venus Williams is still competing, still striving, even if her age, 43, and a bum knee did her no favors on this muggy evening. Williams was eliminated by Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round of the U.S. Open, her most lopsided loss in 100 career matches at the Grand Slam tournament where she won the trophy in 2000 and 2001.The crowd, which seemed thrilled just to get a chance to see Williams play in person, sent her toward the locker room with applause and yells. She gave a quick wave and a sm...

The 10 most expensive homes that reported sold in Los Gatos the week of Aug. 14

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:20:40 GMT

In total, 10 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2.2 million. The average price per square foot was $1,120.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Aug. 14 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $985,000, single-family house in the 18400 block of Main BoulevardThe property in the 18400 block of Main Boulevard in Los Gatos has new owners. The price was $985,000. The house was built in 1983 and has a living area of 1,824 square feet. The price per square foot is $540. The house features four bedrooms and two bathrooms.9. $992,000, single-family residence in the 20900 block of Panorama DriveThe sale of the single family residence in the 20900 block of Panorama Drive in Los Gatos has been finalized. The price was $992,000, and the new owners took over the house in August. The house was built in 1974 and has a living area of 1,688 square feet. The...