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Businesses’ changing credit usage a worrying trend: Equifax

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

TORONTO — Equifax Canada says new data suggests a significant shift in credit usage among businesses in the first quarter of 2023. The agency says the latest numbers highlight growing financial stress in the industrial and financial trades, and cast doubt on the stability of the Canadian economy. Equifax says businesses’ total outstanding balance on bank-issued instalment loans declined by 2.4 per cent from the first quarter last year.However, credit card balances grew by 15 per cent and lines of credit increased by 11 per cent. Equifax Canada’s head of commercial solutions Jeff Brown says in a press release that the decline in installment loans and the shift towards credit card usage could be impeding businesses’ growth potential and hindering their ability to make larger investments.The first quarter also saw a slowdown in new business openings, which Equifax says is a concerning trend.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2023.The Canadian Press

Daily horoscope for June 20, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. EDT today (2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Cancer into Leo.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, June 20, 2023:You are spontaneous, charming and entertaining. You are often dramatic and passionate. You need to be around warmhearted, levelheaded people. This year is about service to others, especially family. Therefore, take care of yourself so that you can be of support to someone. Is it time for a makeover?ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★For the next four weeks, your focus is on home, family and your private life. For many, this will be increased interaction with a parent. For others, it will be a focus on real estate, residential moves or redecorating and updating where you live. Tonight: Cocoon.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★The pace of your days will accelerate in the next four weeks, with a busy schedule of short trips, errands, appointments plus increased interaction with siblings, relati...

Olaf Scholz faces tricky balancing act in Germany-China talks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured) faces a delicate balancing act this week at German-Chinese government consultations in Berlin, seeking to maintain good ties with Germany's largest trade partner while complying with a G7 pledge to "de-risk" from Beijing.Scholz received Chinese premier Li Qiang for dinner in the chancellery on Monday evening (19 June) ahead of the seventh round of bilateral, biennial talks which are also the first face-to-face session since the COVID-19 pandemic.The summit takes place today (20 June) in the chancellery before Li and the Chinese ministers for trade and reform attend the German-Chinese forum for economic and technological cooperation.The fact Li chose Germany for his first overseas trip as premier reflects the special relationship between Europe and Asia's largest economies. Rapid Chinese expansion and demand for German cars and machinery fuelled Germany's own growth over the past two decades.China became Germany's single biggest trade partner in 2016...

Miss Manners: Why do they text me these boring pictures?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is there a nice response to let someone know that you don’t want pictures of what the weather is doing half an hour away from you?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: My party guest criticized my hosting to my face Advice | Miss Manners: Should I announce my tipping intentions upfront? Advice | Miss Manners: I was hurt that her caffeine fix was more important than my child’s party Advice | Miss Manners: A neighbor was inexcusably rude to our new acquaintance Advice | Miss Manners: Am I wrong to reply sarcastically to their terse texts? The pictures I’m getting are through text, and I just don’t understand the reason people send them. The weather doesn’t interest me a whole lot, so when people start talking about it, I get bored and almost completely zone it out. I feel like that’s ruder than telling someone not to send you pictures of the weather.I...

Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois ‘deeply disappointed’ by his coach’s comments in captaincy row

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois questioned Domenico Tedesco’s “reality” after the Belgium coach accused him of abandoning his teammates and faking an injury before a European Championship qualifier.Tedesco claimed Courtois didn’t turn up for Belgium’s training camp on Monday because the goalie was “offended” by his handling of the captaincy. After Courtois’ father denied there was a dispute within the squad and said his son was allowed to leave because of a knee inflammation, Tedesco told the media that Courtois was not injured.Courtois responded in a statement late Monday accompanied with a picture of him in a Belgium outfit and one hand on his heart, standing next to interim captain Romelu Lukaku, that he was “deeply disappointed” that Tedesco spoke publicly about their locker room conversation.He added that “the coach’s assessments do not fit with reality.” Courtois insisted he has a problem in his right knee and his decision to leave was taken after consultations b...

Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison teases ‘Once in a Lifetime’ show at DC’s Lincoln Theatre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

Hear our full chat on my podcast “Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Jerry Harrison at Lincoln Theatre (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); He played keys and guitar on countless Talking Heads hits from “Take Me to the River” to “Once in a Lifetime.”Now, this Thursday, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Harrison plays the Lincoln Theatre in D.C. al...

Tiroteo deja seis adolescentes heridos después de la celebración del Juneteenth, Día de la Emancipación, en Milwaukee

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

(CNN) — Seis adolescentes recibieron disparos después de una celebración de Juneteenth, el Día de la Emancipación, este lunes fuera del centro de Milwaukee, dijo la Policía.El Departamento de Policía de Milwaukee respondió alrededor de las 4:21 p.m. cerca de Rose Park después de que cuatro mujeres y dos hombres de entre 14 y 19 años resultaron heridos por disparos, dijo el jefe de policía Jeffrey B. Norman durante una conferencia de prensa. Las lesiones no ponían en peligro la vida de los heridos, agregó.¿En qué estados de EE.UU. es feriado por el Juneteenth, el Día de la Emancipación?La policía dice que cree que el tiroteo se debió a una pelea entre los adolescentes.Se cree que un hombre de 17 años es sospechoso y se encuentra entre los heridos, dijo Norman. La Policía dice que continúan investigando e identificando a otros posibles sospechosos.“Milwaukee, ¿qué está pasando con nuestros hijos?” dijo Norman. Agregó que ha sido parte de la celebración de Juneteenth durante ocho...

2023 Virginia Primary Election Results (Live Updates)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

Primary election results will be posted as they come in after the polls close Tuesday, June 21 at 7 p.m.WTOP has not included uncontested races on this list.Commonwealth’s Attorney:House of Delegates:State Senate:Source

Cardinals seek to extend win streak, play the Nationals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (30-43, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Washington Nationals (27-44, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Jordan Montgomery (3-7, 3.91 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 73 strikeouts); Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (3-5, 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 87 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -147, Nationals +125; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals will attempt to keep their three-game win streak alive when they visit the Washington Nationals.Washington has a 12-25 record in home games and a 27-44 record overall. Nationals hitters are batting a collective .262, which ranks third in the NL.St. Louis has a 17-22 record in road games and a 30-43 record overall. The Cardinals have gone 21-7 in games when they scored at least five runs.Tuesday’s game is the second meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Lane Thomas has 19 doubles, two triples and 11 home runs for the Nationals. Jeimer Candelario is 1...

Giants play the Padres with 1-0 series lead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:56 GMT

San Diego Padres (35-37, fourth in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (40-32, second in the NL West)San Francisco; Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Seth Lugo (0-0); Giants: Anthony DeSclafani (4-6, 4.31 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 60 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -113, Padres -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants bring a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the San Diego Padres.San Francisco is 40-32 overall and 19-17 at home. The Giants have a 21-7 record in games when they did not give up a home run.San Diego has a 35-37 record overall and a 16-17 record in road games. The Padres have a 14-9 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams meet Tuesday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Thairo Estrada leads the Giants with a .287 batting average, and has 16 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 14 walks and 28 RBI. Austin Slater is 12-for-23 with four RBI over the past 10 games.Fernando Tat...