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Abbey Westbury
Transat AT posts $13.2-million loss, revenue declines from European units falls
MONTREAL – Transat A.T. Inc. (TSX:TRZ.B) continues to operate in the red.
TSX heads for negative session as Italian, Spanish borrowing costs rise
TORONTO – The Toronto stock market appeared heading for a lower open amid slight moves in oil and metal prices while Spain and Italy were in focus as both countries dealt with higher borrowing costs.
NATO chief says professionalism of Afghan security forces gives him confidence for 2014
CANBERRA, Australia – NATO’s chief says the professionalism of Afghan security forces and their recent suppression of Taliban attacks in Kabul gave him confidence they will be ready to handle their nation’s security by 2014.
Russia continues weapons trade with Syria despite escalating conflict
MOSCOW – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has accused Russia of sending attack helicopters to Syria, warning that the shipment “will escalate the conflict quite dramatically.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rejected Clinton’s claim, saying that Russia is only shipping air defence systems under previously signed contracts.
Canadian dollar advances amid rising borrowing costs for Spain, Italy
TORONTO – The Canadian dollar advanced Thursday amid slight moves in commodity prices and higher borrowing costs for Spain and Italy.
Weekly US unemployment aid applications rise to 386,000, a sign job market remains sluggish
WASHINGTON – More Americans sought unemployment aid last week, suggesting hiring remains sluggish.
EU to warn new Serbian president over nationalist rhetoric
BRUSSELS – The European Union will warn Serbia’s new president to tone down his nationalist statements if he wishes to see his nation progress toward membership in the bloc, officials said Thursday.
Tropical Storm Carlotta forms in the Pacific south of Mexico, expected to become a hurricane
MIAMI – Tropical Storm Carlotta has formed in the Pacific south of Mexico and is expected to become a hurricane.
Cheaper gas drives down measure of US consumer prices by most in 3 1/2 years
WASHINGTON – A measure of U.S. consumer prices fell in May by the most since December 2008 as gas costs dropped sharply. Outside food and energy, prices rose modestly.
Markets for both new and existing homes to moderate by the end of 2012: CMHC
OTTAWA – Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., expects both new and existing home markets to moderate through the end of the year.
Oil hovers below US$83 a barrel in Europe ahead of OPEC policy meeting
The price of oil hovered below US$83 a barrel Thursday as markets awaited an announcement from OPEC, where some members of the cartel were pushing for the group to cut crude production amid falling prices.
StatsCan says its new housing price index rose 0.2 per cent in April from March
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says its new housing price index rose 0.2 per cent in April, following a 0.3 per cent increase in March.
US current account trade deficit grew to $137.3 billion in first quarter, largest since 2008
WASHINGTON – The U.S. current account trade deficit widened in the first three months to the largest imbalance since late 2008, reflecting a big increase in imports in oil, cars and machinery and a drop in U.S. earnings on overseas investments.
Obama campaign uses celebrity access in critical fight for election money
WASHINGTON – You could call it “Checks and the City.”
Short list announced for $50,000 Sobey Art Award for contemporary work
HALIFAX – The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Sobey Art Foundation have announced the short list for this year’s Sobey Art Award.
India says Pakistan opens fire across frontier in Kashmir, killing 1 Indian soldier
SRINAGAR, India – Pakistani forces opened fire on Indian positions across their disputed frontier in Kashmir, killing one Indian soldier and drawing return fire in the Himalayan region, the Indian military said Thursday.
Ironman France says Lance Armstrong barred from race as he faces fresh doping allegations
PARIS – Organizers of Ironman France say Lance Armstrong can no longer compete in the triathlon this month after the U.S. anti-doping agency filed new charges that he doped as a Tour de France cyclist.
Repeat performance: Barrett umpires second perfect game of career as Giants’ Cain stops Astros
SAN FRANCISCO – Major league pitchers are going to start demanding Ted Barrett for their starts.
New tablet application hopes to cut through clutter for sports fans on Twitter
CHICAGO – When Philip Sanford goes to his favourite bar to watch his beloved Seton Hall Pirates, he brings along his phone charger so he also can follow the game on Twitter.
Sea of green shirts urging Ireland to seek shock result against defending champion Spain
GDANSK, Poland – Hordes of green-clad Ireland fans are refusing to let their team’s perilous position at the European Championship dampen the festive atmosphere ahead of its clash with Spain.
Experts work on skills to help recover art, other cultural treasures looted in Nazi era
BERLIN – Call them the looted treasure detectives.
1 of the pre-tournament favourites, Netherlands already close to elimination at Euro 2012
KHARKIV, Ukraine – They arrived with a star-studded squad and genuine hopes of the title. After two lacklustre displays, the Netherlands are down and almost out of the European Championship.
50 aid groups, UN agencies demand Israel lift Gaza blockade after more than 5 years
Fifty international aid groups and U.N. agencies on Thursday urged Israel to open Gaza’s borders, saying its border blockade violates international law and indiscriminately harms Gaza’s 1.6 million people.
Police: 8 court verdicts, 125 trials to open against football hooligans in Poland
WARSAW, Poland – Warsaw police say eight people have been convicted in summary procedures and 125 will go before courts following street fights involving Russian and Polish hooligans when their teams played a Euro 2012 match.