Walter Flores was unemployed for 8 months in 2014 but is now working in sales for Workforce Solutions in Compton; Credit: Brian Watt/KPCC

California's unemployment rate continued its decline in December, ending the year at 7 percent, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

But in Compton, Willowbrook and the Florence-Graham section of Los Angeles County, it remains about double that, data show.

“You might have work this week. But next week, you won’t have work,” said James Hicks, 36, 0f Compton. He's worked in warehouses through staffing agencies, but said the jobs have always been temporary.

Statewide, California has added jobs at a faster rate than the United States for three straight years, according to Robert Kleinhenz, Chief Economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. He pointed out the statewide unemployment rate is now where it was June 2008. 

"All in all, with the recession now five years back in our rearview mirror, we’re finally at the point where we can say that we have shrugged off quite a bit of the pain that occurred back during those times," Kleinhenz said.

The Los Angeles County metro area saw a net gain of almost 71,000 jobs in 2014.  The County's overall unemployment rate has fallen to 7.9 percent from 9.2 percent a year ago.

But Compton's unemployment rate was 13 percent in December.

“I’d rather have a  full-time type of gig, working 40 hours a week, but right now, even if you get 25 hours, it’s a blessing,” said Hicks, the warehouse worker in Compton.

On Thursday, he interviewed to be a guard with a security firm, but was told there weren’t any positions available. He had another security guard job six months ago that he thought might become full time and permanent. 

"It was going all right for about two to three months, until they cut my hours and days," Hicks said. 

Walter Flores lives in La Mirada but currently works as an account executive in the Compton office of Workforce Solutions. He was unemployed for about eight months last year after a car accident.

"Losing what you love to do is a tough one, but I'm back," he said. "2015 is going to be a great year."

Flores said most major warehouse and logistics companies prefer to hire temporary workers through industrial staffing firms like the one where he's working because their needs are sporadic.  

But he said it's still a potential opportunity.

"It doesn't matter that it's a temporary position, as long as you put your foot in the door, and then you let the employer know how much value you are for the company," Flores said.  

Hicks, who's earned a GED, wants to find a program to study physical therapy. But first, he’d like to find a job. 

He said you can't judge Compton’s residents by its unemployment rate.

"Some of us out here who [are] looking for jobs, but sometimes it’s the luck of the draw," he said. "It’s kind of scarce out there.” 

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Embattled Korean Resource Center board president DJ Yoon takes interviews in a photo dated February 2014. ( ; Credit: Korean Resource Center via Flickr

In Los Angeles, another Asian American civil rights organization is in upheaval. A month after major layoffs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, the Korean Resource Center has lost more than half of its staff.  

The Korean Resource Center  is a leading advocate for low-income and undocumented Koreans. Its organizers worked on flipping Orange County from red to blue. Its legal staff provides free aid to immigrants. But 18 people have left in recent weeks, many upset with board president DJ Yoon and his management style. 

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Source: Streetwise Reports 11/12/2024

As 321gold's Bob Moriarty discussed the outcome of the BRICS conference in Russia and the state of the gold market with Robert Sinn of Goldfinger Capital, he lamented the need for more young gold bugs to enter the market as the yellow metal enters what he predicted will be a five- to 10-year bull market.

Sinn said at a recent conference, despite recent record gold prices, two-thirds of the seats were empty at gold panels with experts talking about likely windfalls in 2025.

"If you went to a gold conference last year, what was the average age?" Moriarty said during the interview posted last month, guessing 67 "or higher." "We have to get young people into the market, and we have not done that yet. The fact is that nobody's (at) the gold show because they all died of old age."

Moriarty said he expects there will be plenty of those windfalls coming in the bull market. He said there "absolutely has to be" more majors doing acquisitions.

Before the Bre-X scandal of the 1990s, in which fraudulent samples led to the collapse of the CA$6 billion company, most major mining companies had their own exploration departments, which many later cut, Moriarty pointed out.

"Since 2000, all of the exploration has been juniors," he said. "So, there has to be a lot more M&A activity. There has to be."

Yukon Projects Won't Go For 'Chump Change'

Gold hit its latest record high on October 30. It slid after the election, but most experts agree it is in a bull market and will continue to be.

"We are still relatively constructive on gold," said Taylor Krystkowiak, investment strategist at Themes ETFs, according to a report by Ian Salisbury for Barron's. "Why does gold go up? It's geopolitical uncertainty, it's deficit spending, and it's inflation. Right now, all those stars are aligned."

Despite pushbacks during its rise, "gold continues to climb," Nick Fulton, managing partner at USA Pawn, told Newsweek. "When we saw US$2,600 an ounce gold, I thought US$2,800 by the end of the year. Now? We could see gold at US$3,000 an ounce happen in a 30-day time span."

Moriarty said the highest recent scores logged by sentiment indices on gold and silver, which are reflected in a scale of 0 to 100, are lower than he would expect at "88 for gold and 88 for silver."

"I would think it would be in the 90s, and it's not," he said. Silver, for instance, when it hit its all-time record high in 1980, had a score of 95, he said.

The juniors should be performing "three or four times higher, and they're not," Moriarty said.

"So, were in an interesting situation," he said. "We're going to have five to 10 years at least of a bull market. And when the dollar changes its value dramatically, it's going to drive gold and silver much higher."

Moriarty said the majors are "trying to go out and pick up copper projects now," which he doesn't think makes sense.

"The majors are always wrong," he said. "They're paying the most for projects at the very top. Projects are being given because they're not interested. But when you have four major projects in one small area in the Yukon (and) those projects are going into production, somebody is going to buy them. But I don't think they're going to buy them for chump change. I think it's going to cost some money."

BRICS Conference: 'Who Cares?'

The two also discussed the recent BRICS meeting Russia. An intergovernmental organization, BRICS is an acronym for founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates are all full members now and it has also expanded to add 13 new "partner nations."

But one thing it didn't do was settle on a common currency for the countries, which disappointed Moriarty.

"I think the BRICS meeting was really important, and I was hoping for kind of agreement on what the BRICS financial solution is, and they really didn't come up with it," he said. "It was a meet and greet, and they talked about opening commodities exchanges. Who cares?"

This potential currency would allow these nations to "assert their economic independence while competing with the existing international financial system," wrote Melissa Pistilli of Investing News Network. "The current system is dominated by the US dollar, which accounts for about 90 percent of all currency trading."

Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a colorful mockup of a BRICS bank note at the conference, but Moriarty wasn't impressed.

"They need to do something, but they haven't done it yet. "You've got dozens of countries that recognize (that) the stranglehold the United States has on the rest of the world geopolitically is a negative for the rest of the world. And they all agree that that needs to change, but nobody's talked about how to do it."

Sitka Gold Corp.

One company Moriarty and Sinn discussed was Sitka Gold Corp. (SIG:TSXV; SITKF:OTCQB; 1RF:FSE), which recently released high-grade intercepts from its RC Gold Project in the Tombstone Gold Belt of Yukon.

The standout results included one hole that returned 678.1 meters of 1.04 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) from surface, including 409.5 meters of 1.36 g/t Au, and 93 meters grading 2.57 g/t Au. The intercept also contained a high-grade core of 5.5 meters grading 17.59 g/t Au.

The results extended gold mineralization approximately 200 meters deeper than any previously drilled hole at the Blackjack deposit, signaling the potential for continued high-grade mineralization at depth and showing persistent mineralization throughout the entire 708.7-meter length of the hole.

Moriarty said the company is drilling Clear Creek on the RC property now, "and I think we're going to see a lot. More 400-, 500-, 600-meter intercepts. So, what's going to happen is the majors are going to wake up."

He predicted the company could be another Snowline Gold Corp. (SGD:CSE; SNWGF:OTCQB), which "has somewhere between seven and eight times the market cap" of Sitka. At the time of writing, Snowline had a market cap of CA$883 million to Sitka's CA$129 million.

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Important Disclosures:

1. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Snowline Gold Corp.
2. Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.
3. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.

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( Companies Mentioned: SIG:TSXV; SITKF:OTCQB; 1RF:FSE, )

Dual Solar TubingTiteflex Corp.’s FlexSure Division introduces FlexSure Dual Solar Tubing, a new method of connecting solar panels and a hot water storage tank - supply and return lines are

Working displays educate dealers and consumers.

Drainback systemThe Solar Usage Now SUN Equinox is an unpressurized and direct drainback solar system based on a storage tank concept different from usual systems. The system is virtually maintenance-free

Kentucky homeowners are beginning to look at solar to lower their energy costs.

At the Safety 2016 expo it's clear OSHA's emphasis on preventing serious fall injuries and fatalities has caught the attention of PPE and facility safety vendors.

When it comes to ladder safety, avoiding fines and fatalities is a big concern. Three of OSHA’s top ten “serious” violations in 2015 were related to falls. Every day, one person dies in a ladder-related accident. Fall prevention is a focal point for safety leaders.

A New York appellate court ruled that a worker injured in an accident caused by a falling pipe should have been granted summary judgment on his Labor Law claim. Case: Jara-Salazar…

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Fall Into A Classroom by Joining Beaufort County School District's Fall Virtual Hiring Event! The Recruiting Team for Beaufort County School District (BCSD) in South Carolina is seeking the best and brightest teachersfor a January 2024 start! Located south ofCharleston and north of Savannah, the Beaufort County School District isa diverse community encompassing Bluffton, Beaufort, and Hilton Head. If you like plentiful sunshine, intercoastal waterways and hundreds of miles of beaches, it might be just the place for you! We are hosting a hiring event for upcoming December graduates interested in a certified teaching position in January! We pride ourselves on creating an amazing environment for new college graduates to thrive from around the country! We are excited to announce that we offer the following life-changing perks! $51,816 First Year Tacher Salary | One of the Top Paying Districts in South CarolinaLocality Supplement of $1,500 each year (Only $750 for January – May)Comprehensive Induction and Mentoring Program of Support for Career GrowthCompetitive Benefits and Retirement PackageNo Cost & Anonymous Virtual Mental Health CounselingEducational Support for TeachersPrime Opportunities for Internal Career MobilityAn Abundance of Professional Development OpportunitiesBeautiful Location, Weather and LifestyleClose to Charleston (SC), Savannah (GA) and Jacksonville (FL) We would love to invite you to register to our virtual hiring event which we will hold on November 14th, from 1pm-5pm. To get started, complete an application via Frontline. Once you have completed your online application, you will be ableto select an interview time that works best for you via Calendly. If you are ready to learn more about our school district, check out our Back to School Video, highlighting some of our schools in the county.  Are you wondering what makes Beaufort County School District so special? Our amazing teachers have the answers! ????✨ Check out these inspiring stories from our educators, sharing why they chose to join BCSD and what makes our community the perfect place to grow, learn, and make a difference. ❤️???? ???? Watch their stories here and discover the heart and passion that drive our schools! #WhyBCSD #LiveWhereYouLoveLoveWhereYouWork We cannot wait to meet you! The Recruiting TeamBeaufort County School District (SC)bcsdrecruiters@beaufort.k12.sc.usOffice Number: 843-379-6920

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

FALL into a career that changes lives!  Mark your calendar for the upcoming Virtual Hiring Event, become a teacher with Beaufort County School District, and start in January 2025!???? Why Join Beaufort County School District? ????Looking for a place where you can live where you love and love where you work? ???? Beaufort County School District is calling your name! Here’s why you should consider becoming part of our amazing team:✨ Locality Supplement - We value our educators and reward them for choosing to work in our beautiful community. ???? Affordable Afterschool Childcare - Peace of mind with affordable care for your little ones aged 5-12. ???? Two-Year Induction & Mentoring Program - We support our new teachers every step of the way. ????️ Prime Location - From the charm of Hilton Head Island to the vibrant communities of Bluffton and Beaufort, you’ll be working in some of the most desirable areas in the Lowcountry. ???? Close to Charleston & Savannah - Enjoy the perks of living near these historic cities. ???? Internal Career Mobility - Grow your career with us, and explore endless opportunities within the district. ???? Professional Development - We’re committed to your growth with ample opportunities to enhance your skills.Join us and make a difference in a place you’ll be proud to call home! ???? #BeaufortCountySchools #TeachingInParadise #CareerInEducation #JoinOurTeam

Consider refinancing private student loans if you can get a rate at least half a percentage point lower. If you have federal loans, think twice.

Titan B-Compliant Kits simplify product selection and provide a complete fall protection solution for roofing applications. Each kit contains a full-body harness, rope grab with permanently-attached lanyard with shock absorber pack, rope lifeline with locking snap hook, reusable stainless steel roof anchor with D-ring and waterproof storage container.

Electronic Arts vuelve a la carga con una franquicia que dejó sabores agridulces en su primera entrega. Además de la apuesta multijugador, ahora llega con una campaña individual muy sugerente.

Las Fallas han comenzado y ya no hay que respetar a nada ni a nadie. No existe la ley para las comisiones ni, por supuesto, el respeto. Bien lo sabemos los vecinos de la calle Sueca, que tenemos que soportar que se vulnere nuestra propiedad privada, que nos desafíen públicamente y que nadie nos ampare.

Calles cortadas por carpas, fiestas y ruidos hasta altas horas, petardos de gran potencia por doquier, cortes de tráfico, desvíos diarios de transporte público... Son algunas de las razones que convierten Valencia en una verdadera ciudad sin ley durante estos días fuertes de las Fallas.

Sales of personal luxury goods are projected to decline by 2% this year, marking the industry's weakest performance since the 2008-09 financial crisis. This downturn, attributed to price increases and economic uncertainty, has particularly impacted China, a key market for luxury brands. The shrinking customer base and shift towards higher price points have prompted concerns about the industry's recovery timeline.

"After a few very awkward family holiday dinners, my son started to stay away if she was going to be there."

Falling In Reverse have announced that they have been forced to cancel three of their upcoming shows

Chris "The Bear" Fallica delivers his best bet for NFL Week 11. Read why he's backing the Eagles to win and cover against the Commanders on Thursday Night Football.

Siemens reported a drop in profit at its industrial business on Thursday and lowered its sales target for next year, citing geopolitical risks like trade conflicts and weak consumer demand. The German engineering group said its industrial profit fell 7% to 3.12 billion euros ($3.29 billion) in the…

A weak currency typically raises the cost of imports. That can lead to prices of food, energy and raw materials rising, aggravating inflation.

In This Article: (Bloomberg) -- Kansai Electric Power Co. shares saw their biggest drop in at least 50 years after the Japanese utility said it plans to raise as much as ¥504.9 billion ($3.2 billion) from a share sale, fueling concerns about earnings dilution. Most Read from Bloomberg Kansai…

1. Gold prices fall for 4th straight day, silver remains steady; check the latest prices in your city  Upstox
2. Business News Live Today November 14, 2024: Niva Bupa share price dips over 3% after rising into the green on debut, See details of its ₹2,200 crore IPO  Hindustan Times
3. Gold prices today: Key market trends investors should know  CNBCTV18
4. Gold and silver prices today on 14-11-2024: Check latest rates in your city  Mint
5. Gold slips to further lows today on November 14: Know gold, silver rates in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and other cities  The Financial Express

Danny Jordaan's star as an administrator shone so brightly that he received praise from Nelson Mandela. He looked destined to illuminate the top office in world football by shooting to the top seat at FIFA, but ended up accused of fraud and theft.

Despite the loss, Pittsburgh played a strong game in all three zones on Wednesday, which could give them some momentum going forward

Experts say the region is currently in a drought, but as long as it doesn’t extend much longer, the dry weather is having a balanced impact on local agriculture.

Officials have issued rainfall and snowfall warnings for parts of B.C. on Wednesday as a fall storm moves across the province. Environment Canada says up to 90 millimetres of rainfall is expected to fall on parts of Metro Vancouver and Howe Sound.

Local government reform had been undertaken without preparation, Akel leader Stefanos Stefanou said on Wednesday. The two and a half years which had been granted while elections were postponed had not been used to do what was needed, resulting in playing catch up, he said. The relevant ministries “have not shown the necessary fervour” towards […]

KARACHI: The country’s Advance to Deposit Ratio (ADR) has been gradually contracting and stood at 37 per cent in June, down from 41pc in December.

This was revealed in the latest issue of A.F. Ferguson & Co’s PwC Banking Publication — Road to Sustainability. This year’s release features core themes like economy, credit penetration and digital transformation, carries insights from over 25 industry leaders, over 10 local and global surveys, snapshots of over 40 international banks and over 10 geographic regions.

“Investment to Deposit Ratio (IDR), on the other hand, has surged from 33pc in 2007 to 88pc in 2023 and 94pc in Jun-24,” the publication reported. These key benchmarks, relative to certain other economies, indicate an enormous potential for credit penetration in the country, it added. There was a sharp rise in profitability on the back of higher margins and non-funded income from different avenues. However, higher tax charges triggered disproportionate moderation in baseline profitability.

The publication offered suggestions for sustained, long-term economic growth. One of the core themes discussed with industry leaders and senior professionals was the country’s economic outlook. Experts underscored the importance of addressing structural deficiencies to improve GDP growth and other key economic indicators.

Only 3pc of SMEs borrow from banks; 75pc farmers rely on informal sources for credit

“Consistent economic policies and actionable long-term roadmap of interventions were also stressed upon,” said the Banking Publication. Experts see increasing imports and consumption as harmful for balance of payments and foreign exchange reserves, it added.

“Opportunities for export diversification and import substitution are enormous, especially in agriculture and tech sectors,” said the report.

Agriculture and SMEs

According to the report, SMEs and agriculture are the backbone of the nation’s progress. “Contributing 40pc of GDP, SMEs constitute nearly 90pc of all private enterprises in Pakistan, generate 30pc in export earnings and employ one-third of the country’s workforce,” said the report. “Out of five million enterprises, fewer than three per cent borrowed from banks,” it reported.

It said around 75pc of farmers still rely on informal sources of credit. Despite its historic importance, access to affordable growth capital remains restrictive.

“Financing for these critical sectors has been declining over the years and currently stands below eight per cent of total loans,” said the Banking Publication. Lending to the private sector is at 12pc of GDP, it added.

According to the publication, deposits grew significantly by 24pc to reach Rs29.1 trillion in 2023, with a further increase of 12pc in June this year, touching Rs32.5tr.

“Advances rose by four per cent to Rs13tr, much lower than 16pc growth rate of 2022, with no further increase till June 2024,” the report added. A significant expansion of 42pc was noted in investments, which reached Rs25.6tr last year and rose by 19pc to Rs30.4tr by June this year.

Borrowings were up by 51pc to Rs11.3tr last year, and by 12pc in Jun-24.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024

1. Gold price today: MCX gold rate falls below ₹74,000 per 10 grams; silver price drops by ₹1,100 | Stock Market News  Mint
2. Gold prices fall for 4th straight day, silver remains steady; check the latest prices in your city  Upstox
3. Gold Price Today: Yellow metal prices continue their fall, tumble by Rs 2,000/10g this week  The Economic Times
4. Today Gold Rate 14-11-2024: Check latest prices in your city  Hindustan Times
5. Gold off Rs 4,775 per 10 gm from all-time highs; trade at Rs 75,000/10 gm  Zee Business

1. Chennai rains today: IMD warns of heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu districts, will there be a school holiday? | Today News  Mint
2. Tamil Nadu Weather Alert: 12 Dist Today, 21 Dists Tomorrow To Get Heavy Rains  Oneindia
3. Tamil Nadu Rains: IMD predicts heavy rains in Chennai and other districts, will schools close? Full foreca  The Economic Times
4. Tamil Nadu: Heavy rain lashes delta districts, schools closed  The Times of India
5. Govt. has started acquisition of private land for flood mitigation projects in the city: Udhayanidhi  The Hindu

Over-relying on AI-driven hiring tools means taking human intuition out of the hiring process. The result? You miss out on top talent and risk stifling long-term growth.

With the weather system weakening, IMD has withdrawn heavy rainfall alert for Chennai

Half the respondents said that they either hadn’t seen any gains or the returns had fallen short of their expectations in augmenting, assisting, or automating current processes or operation

Meanwhile, the dollar index was trading lower by 0.04 per cent at 105.98

Indian stock markets have shown notable volatility over the past two days, with sharp declines unsettling investors and signalling potential shifts in market sentiment

Fall in The 100 Acre Wood by Peter / Harrison Ellenshaw is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to Limited Edition of 495 pcs

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The country that once served as an example for media freedom in the region - the first to decriminalize defamation and adopt the world’s most liberal media laws - has somewhat lost its shine. ...

SURAT THANI - Searchers have found and recovered the body of an Indian tourist who fell from a cliff while walking to the top of a popular waterfall on Koh Samui.

Published in cooperation between Techopedia and the East Bay Express Starting a business in the East Bay can be an exciting opportunity, and while a lot of people postpone indefinitely, there’s no time like now. So, instead of waiting for the right market conditions (that never come) or for all the lucky starts to align, […]