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New Diplomacy on the Horizon: U.S. and Russia Push Ahead Without Ukraine

  In a bold shift from previous diplomatic efforts, top U.S. and Russian officials have agreed to advance negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine—even as Ukrainian representatives remain notably absent. High-level talks held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussing the framework for future peace negotiations and steps toward restoring bilateral relations. The Trump administration’s approach, which prioritizes direct engagement with Moscow, marks a departure from longstanding principles that insisted on “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” Critics in Kyiv have voiced strong opposition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that any agreement reached without Ukraine’s participation would be unacceptable and would undermine the nation’s sovereignty. European leaders echoed these concerns, with several officials labeling the move as a dangerous precedent that could lead to a “dirty deal...

Canada’s Labour Market Adds 90,000 Jobs in April, Surpassing Predictions

 


In a surprising turn of events, Canada’s labour market exceeded expectations by adding 90,000 jobs in April 2024. This robust growth comes despite earlier predictions of a more modest increase. Economists had anticipated a gain of only 15,000 jobs, but the actual figures far surpassed that estimate.

Here are the key highlights from the latest Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada:

  1. Employment Growth: The Canadian economy experienced a significant boost, with employment rising by 0.4% in April. This positive trend follows six consecutive monthly declines in employment rates. Core-aged men (25 to 54 years old) and women both contributed to this growth, along with male youth aged 15 to 24.

  2. Part-Time Employment: The surge in employment was primarily driven by part-time jobs, which increased by 50,000 (1.4%) during the same period.

  3. Sector Breakdown: Several sectors saw notable gains. Employment rose in professional, scientific, and technical services (+26,000; +1.3%), accommodation and food services (+24,000; +2.2%), health care and social assistance (+17,000; +0.6%), and natural resources (+7,700; +2.3%). However, utilities experienced a decline (-5,000; -3.1%).

  4. Regional Impact: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and New Brunswick led the way in employment growth. Ontario added 25,000 jobs, while British Columbia saw an increase of 23,000. Quebec and New Brunswick also experienced gains of 19,000 and 7,800 jobs, respectively.

  5. Unemployment Rate: Despite the employment surge, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.1% in April. This stability followed a steady rise over the past year due to high interest rates affecting the economy.

In summary, Canada’s labour market demonstrated resilience and momentum in April, defying earlier projections. The unexpected surge in job creation bodes well for the country’s economic recovery, even amidst challenging circumstances.

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